Amplitude vs Looker: Full Comparison (2026)
Pricing, features, scores, and a clear verdict on which one is right for you.
The bottom line
Amplitude positions itself as "product analytics for digital teams" while Looker goes after "data that drives decisions" — so the right pick depends on which problem you're actually solving. They take different commercial approaches — Amplitude uses a freemium approach and Looker a enterprise-based model, which affects how costs scale as your team grows. Amplitude lets you start for free, which means you can validate the fit before committing budget. Looker requires a paid commitment upfront, so make sure it matches your workflow before signing.
At a glance
| Amplitude | Looker | |
|---|---|---|
| Our score | 82/100 | 83/100 |
| Starting price | Free | Free |
| Free tier | Yes | No |
| Best for | Product analytics for digital teams | Data that drives decisions |
Pricing comparison
Calculate your cost
Feature comparison
core
| Feature | Amplitude | Looker |
|---|---|---|
| Funnel analysis | Yes | No |
| Retention analysis | Yes | No |
| Behavioral cohorts | Plus+ | No |
| Session replay | Add-on | No |
| Dashboards | Yes | Yes |
| LookML modeling | No | Yes |
| Explores | No | Yes |
| Scheduled deliveries | No | Yes |
| Alerts | No | Yes |
Ratings breakdown
What the data tells us
Key capabilities you'd miss
Choosing Amplitude means going without LookML modeling, Explores, Scheduled deliveries (which Looker offers). Choosing Looker means losing Funnel analysis, Retention analysis, Behavioral cohorts. These are the features that typically drive the final decision — check whether your workflow depends on any of them before committing.
What company size tells you
Looker (1001-5000 employees) has the engineering bench to ship features across many fronts but may iterate slower on individual requests. Amplitude (1,000+ employees) typically ships faster on its core product but may lag on peripheral features. Consider which matters more for your roadmap.
Plan flexibility
Amplitude offers 4 tiers, giving you finer control over what you pay for at each growth stage. Looker's 2-tier structure is simpler to evaluate but may force you into a higher plan sooner for features you need.
Choose Amplitude if...
- You want a free tier to get started
- You value powerful features over simplicity
- You need enterprise-grade capabilities
Choose Looker if...
- You're ready to invest from $null/mo
- You value powerful features over simplicity
- You need enterprise-grade capabilities
Frequently asked questions
Is Amplitude or Looker better?
Looker scores 83/100 compared to Amplitude's 82/100 on VendorVS. However, the best choice depends on your needs — Amplitude excels at ease of use (7/10) while Looker scores 6/10.
How much does Amplitude cost compared to Looker?
Amplitude starts at free (free tier available). Looker starts at free. Amplitude is the more affordable option.
Does Amplitude or Looker have a free plan?
Amplitude offers a free tier. Looker does not — its cheapest plan starts at $null/mo.
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