Looker vs Klipfolio

Looker is a forerunner in the business intelligence field for a reason; it generates reports that include easy sharing via link, automatic scheduling and a level of granular detail that allows for deeper analysis below the surface. It excels in its filter and drill-down features and creates unique URLs when users make changes to data, leading to enhanced sharing. However, one of its biggest strengths could also be considered one of its biggest weaknesses: its proprietary programming language, LookML which is used to construct SQL queries in the platform. While a flexible and powerful data querying language, of course, LookML isn’t the most accessible to non-technical users, which means that Looker requires an IT or data team to access its full capabilities and has a steep learning curve. Users also note that its data visualizations, while simple and easy to understand, are quite basic and lacking in customization options, particularly in comparison to competitors. Some users say that it may be more appropriate for internal reporting than presentation to shareholders and end-users because of its bare-bones visualization options. However, Looker truly shines when used by enterprises, with its scalability and data accessibility making it a stellar solution that can align departments and provide thousands of users access to data insights. Its price point reflects this, with its pricing being prohibitive to startups as about 88% of users who comment on its cost remark. Overall, Looker is a solid pick for larger businesses that have a team of power users who can maximize its functionality and set it up to deliver to employees across an entire organization.

Klipfolio is a business intelligence tool that empowers users to visualize, analyze and share business data to track product trends. With powerful data querying capabilities via SQL and APIs, the solution integrates well with a multitude of applications. Users leverage its rich visualization libraries and strong data modeling capabilities to create impactful data dashboards, though some users said that the platform was sometimes buggy and had a limited scope in managing complex KPIs. With its vast range of features, users create and share reports on data that matters via URLs, PDFs, scheduled emails and snapshots to power decision-making processes. Approximately 96% of users who mentioned the platform’s support services said that the team was helpful and responsive. Most of the users who mentioned pricing said that the solution was affordable for organizations of all sizes and provided value for money. The solution does have some limitations though. All users who reviewed it for speed said that the platform slowed down, especially when applying filters, large file uploads and data refresh. Of users who reviewed its data integration capabilities, some said that the data source limit of 10 MB that comes with certain pricing plans can be limiting, especially when working with larger Excel and CSV files. Of users who mentioned cost, a few said that the additional fee for the periodic data refresh feature was a burden, though the introductory free trial offer could be quite attractive for new users. In summary, Klipfolio is a web and cloud-based BI solution that offers a range of data integration, KPI monitoring and dashboarding capabilities to empower data-driven decision-making across organizations.