Heap vs Looker: Full Comparison (2026)
Pricing, features, scores, and a clear verdict on which one is right for you.
The bottom line
Heap positions itself as "automatically capture everything users do" 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 — Heap uses a freemium approach and Looker a enterprise-based model, which affects how costs scale as your team grows. Heap 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
| Heap | Looker | |
|---|---|---|
| Our score | 80/100 | 83/100 |
| Starting price | Free | Free |
| Free tier | Yes | No |
| Best for | Automatically capture everything users do | Data that drives decisions |
Pricing comparison
Calculate your cost
Feature comparison
core
| Feature | Heap | Looker |
|---|---|---|
| Auto-capture events | Yes | No |
| Funnel analysis | Yes | No |
| Retention analysis | Yes | No |
| User segmentation | Yes | No |
| Session replay | Yes | No |
| LookML modeling | No | Yes |
| Dashboards | 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 Heap means going without LookML modeling, Dashboards, Explores (which Looker offers). Choosing Looker means losing Auto-capture events, Funnel analysis, Retention analysis. 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
Heap (201-500 employees) has the engineering bench to ship features across many fronts but may iterate slower on individual requests. Looker (1001-5000 employees) typically ships faster on its core product but may lag on peripheral features. Consider which matters more for your roadmap.
Choose Heap if...
- You want a free tier to get started
- You value an intuitive, easy-to-use interface
- 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 Heap or Looker better?
Looker scores 83/100 compared to Heap's 80/100 on VendorVS. However, the best choice depends on your needs — Heap excels at ease of use (8/10) while Looker scores 6/10.
How much does Heap cost compared to Looker?
Heap starts at free (free tier available). Looker starts at free. Heap is the more affordable option.
Does Heap or Looker have a free plan?
Heap offers a free tier. Looker does not — its cheapest plan starts at $null/mo.
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