looker-studio vs dashthis
Looker Studio vs DashThis — features, pricing, and which to choose for your SEO workflow in 2026.
Quick Verdict
Looker Studio and DashThis represent two completely different approaches to SEO reporting. Looker Studio gives you Google's powerful but complex data visualization platform for free, while DashThis offers pre-built automation at $49/month. The choice comes down to whether you want maximum flexibility or maximum convenience.
Most agencies and consultants face this exact decision: build custom dashboards in Looker Studio or pay for DashThis to handle the heavy lifting. One requires significant setup time but connects to virtually any data source. The other gets you professional reports in minutes but costs real money for what Google provides free.
Feature Comparison
Looker Studio connects directly to Google Search Console, GA4, Google Ads, and dozens of third-party connectors through its Community Connectors program. You can pull data from Semrush, Ahrefs, Facebook Ads, and hundreds of other sources into completely custom dashboards. The platform handles complex data blending, calculated fields, and advanced filtering that most reporting tools can't match. DashThis focuses purely on automation and client presentation. It connects to 30+ marketing platforms including all major SEO tools, but the real value is in its pre-built templates and automated report generation. You select your data sources, choose a template, and DashThis handles the rest. Reports auto-generate and can be scheduled for automatic delivery to clients. Where Looker Studio excels in data manipulation and custom visualizations, DashThis wins on speed to value. Looker Studio dashboards can take hours or days to build properly. DashThis reports are ready in under 30 minutes.
Pricing Comparison
Looker Studio is completely free for unlimited dashboards and viewers. The only costs come from third-party connector subscriptions (typically $10-50/month) if you need data beyond Google's native integrations. For most SEO use cases pulling Search Console and GA4 data, you pay nothing. DashThis starts at $49/month for 3 dashboards and scales to $449/month for unlimited dashboards with white-label branding. The pricing jumps significantly if you need more than a handful of clients, making it expensive for larger agencies. However, the time savings often justify the cost—agencies bill the dashboard setup time to clients anyway.
Best For
Looker Studio is better when you need complex data analysis, custom calculations, or integration with unusual data sources. If you're comfortable with data visualization tools and want complete control over dashboard design, the free price point makes it unbeatable. It's ideal for in-house teams and consultants who can invest setup time upfront. DashThis works better for agencies managing multiple clients who need consistent, professional-looking reports delivered automatically. The pre-built templates and one-click report generation save significant time, especially when you're billing clients for reporting services. It's worth the cost if you value speed over customization.
The Verdict
Choose Looker Studio if budget is a concern or you need advanced data manipulation features. The learning curve is steep, but the platform is genuinely powerful and costs nothing. Choose DashThis if you're running an agency and need to deliver client reports quickly and consistently. The time savings justify the monthly fee, especially when you can bill setup costs to clients.