Exploring Looker (Google), Apache Superset & Visivo
Looker (Google) vs. Apache Superset vs. Visivo
Compare key features, capabilities, and differentiators between Looker (Google), Apache Superset, Visivo. This comprehensive analysis will help you make an informed decision for your data visualization needs.
Quick Comparison
Key features and capabilities at a glance
| Feature | Looker (Google) | Apache Superset | Visivo |
|---|---|---|---|
| Deployment Model | Cloud-hosted (Google Cloud) | Self-host (Apache OSS), Preset Cloud (managed), Docker deployment | Open-source, Cloud Service, Self-hosted |
| Pricing | Commercial (Proprietary); enterprise pricing (no free tier) | Open-source (Apache 2.0); Preset Cloud offers paid hosting/support | Open source (GPL-3.0) |
| Cost | $$$$$ | $ | $ |
| Git Integration | |||
| CI/CD & Testing | |||
| Real-time | |||
| AI Features | |||
| Visual to Code | |||
| DAG-Based |
Target Users & Use-Cases
Each BI tool is designed with specific user personas in mind.
Looker (Google)
Apache Superset
Visivo
Ease of Development & Deployment
Development experience directly impacts team productivity and time-to-value.
Looker (Google)
Apache Superset
Visivo
Key Integrations & Ecosystem
A robust ecosystem of integrations is essential for modern BI tools.
Looker (Google)
Apache Superset
Visivo
Visualization Capabilities
The ability to create compelling visualizations is key to data storytelling.
Looker (Google)
Robust web dashboards and exploratory interface. Good selection of chart types; custom visualizations via plugins or custom code. Highly customizable via LookML for data logic, but visual formatting is UI-driven (some limitations vs. Tableau).
Apache Superset
Rich set of visualizations (bar, line, time-series, big number, etc.) via built-in plugins. Dashboards support filters and cross-highlighting. Customization is decent (colors, chart options) but not as polished as Tableau. Can create custom viz plugins with React/D3 if needed.
Visivo
Highly custom UI with easy defaults
Detailed Differentiators
Each platform's unique strengths and limitations.
Looker (Google)
Apache Superset
Visivo
Security & Architecture
Critical considerations for enterprise deployments.
Looker (Google)
DB Access: Yes (direct read queries to DB with cached results). Virtualization: No internal engine – relies on source DB ('in-database' analytics). Push: No, pull-based queries (though persistent derived tables can be pushed into DB). Other: Fine-grained RBAC; row-level security; SSO/SAML support.
Apache Superset
DB Access: Yes, connects directly to databases with provided creds (queries run in DB). Virtualization: No internal data storage beyond caches – queries are delegated to sources. Push: No, data is pulled via queries on demand or scheduled caching. Other: Supports row-level security filters and role-based access to datasets/dashboards. Uses your DB's security for data access (you supply read-only creds).
Visivo
No db access required. Very strong security features due to the DAG-based access controls and the push based deployment model.
Why Visivo Stands Out
While each platform has its strengths, Visivo offers unique advantages for modern data teams.
Ready to Experience Modern BI?
Try Visivo today and see how it transforms your data analytics workflow.
$ curl -fsSL https://visivo.sh | bash
