Looker vs Weaviate: Full Comparison (2026)
Pricing, features, scores, and a clear verdict on which one is right for you.
The bottom line
Looker positions itself as "data that drives decisions" while Weaviate goes after "the ai-native vector database" — so the right pick depends on which problem you're actually solving. They take different commercial approaches — Looker uses a enterprise-based model and Weaviate a freemium approach, which affects how costs scale as your team grows. Weaviate 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. Looker (founded 2012) has had more time to build out its ecosystem and integrations, while Weaviate (2019) tends to move faster on modern UX and newer workflows.
At a glance
| Looker | Weaviate | |
|---|---|---|
| Our score | 83/100 | 83/100 |
| Starting price | Free | Free |
| Free tier | No | Yes |
| Best for | Data that drives decisions | The AI-native vector database |
Pricing comparison
Calculate your cost
Feature comparison
core
| Feature | Looker | Weaviate |
|---|---|---|
| LookML modeling | Yes | No |
| Dashboards | Yes | No |
| Explores | Yes | No |
| Scheduled deliveries | Yes | No |
| Alerts | Yes | No |
| Vector search | No | Yes |
| Hybrid search | No | Yes |
| Multi-modal | No | Yes |
| GraphQL API | No | Yes |
| REST API | No | Yes |
Ratings breakdown
What the data tells us
Key capabilities you'd miss
Choosing Looker means going without Vector search, Hybrid search, Multi-modal (which Weaviate offers). Choosing Weaviate means losing LookML modeling, Dashboards, Explores. 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
Weaviate (51-200 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 Looker if...
- You're ready to invest from $null/mo
- You value powerful features over simplicity
- You need enterprise-grade capabilities
Choose Weaviate if...
- You want a free tier to get started
- You value powerful features over simplicity
- Getting strong value for money is a priority
Frequently asked questions
Is Looker or Weaviate better?
Looker scores 83/100 compared to Weaviate's 83/100 on VendorVS. However, the best choice depends on your needs — Looker excels at ease of use (6/10) while Weaviate scores 7/10.
How much does Looker cost compared to Weaviate?
Looker starts at free. Weaviate starts at free (free tier available). Looker is the more affordable option.
Does Looker or Weaviate have a free plan?
Weaviate offers a free tier. Looker does not — its cheapest plan starts at $null/mo.
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