The Problem
Why teams leave Looker
Opaque enterprise pricing starting at ~$5K/month
LookML creates proprietary data modeling dependency
Google Cloud ecosystem lock-in
Steep learning curve for LookML development
Limited embedding without enterprise tier
Slow query performance with complex models
What We Build Instead
Your custom bi & analytics tool
BI platform with semantic data layer — no proprietary language
Fast dashboards connected directly to your data warehouse
Self-service exploration for non-technical users
Embeddable analytics for customer-facing products
Works with any cloud provider, not just GCP
Automated data models generated from your schema
The Math
Looker vs. custom build
Based on 30 seats at $95/seat/month, with ~10% annual SaaS price increases.
Keep paying Looker
Build with 86 SaaS
3-year savings with 30 seats
$33,110
29% less than Looker
Pricing Breakdown
Looker tier pricing vs. one-time custom build
Compare what you pay per seat across Looker's tiers against a single investment in software you own forever.
| Tier | Monthly/Seat | Annual/Seat | Key Features |
|---|---|---|---|
| Standard | $95/mo | $95/mo | 50 Explores, 25 users, Google Sheets integration, Basic dashboards |
| Enterprise | $150/mo | $150/mo | Unlimited Explores, Unlimited users, Embedded analytics, Custom themes |
| Embed | $200/mo | $200/mo | White-label embedding, Customer-facing analytics, API access, Multi-tenant |
| Custom Build by 86 SaaS | $40,000–$70,000 one-time | $0/seat | Unlimited users, full ownership, no recurring fees |
Migration Timeline
From Looker to ownership — week by week
A structured migration plan to move off Looker in 8-14 weeks with zero downtime.
Discovery & Audit
1 weekAudit LookML models, Explores, dashboards, and data connections. Map business logic in LookML.
Architecture & Design
2 weeksDesign BI platform with semantic data layer using standard SQL instead of LookML. Plan embedding strategy.
Core Development
4-8 weeksBuild semantic layer, dashboard engine, self-service exploration, and embeddable analytics.
Data Migration & Testing
1-2 weeksRecreate key dashboards and Explores, validate data accuracy, and test embedded views.
Deployment & Training
1 weekDeploy platform, train analysts, configure embedding in customer products.
Total build time
8-14 weeks
Feature Comparison
What you keep, what you skip, and why
A transparent comparison of Looker features vs. your custom-built alternative.
| Feature | Looker | Custom Build | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Data Exploration | |||
| Dashboard Creation | |||
| Semantic Data Layer | Standard SQL — no proprietary LookML | ||
| Embedded Analytics | |||
| Self-Service Exploration | |||
| Scheduled Deliveries | |||
| Multi-Cloud Support | Works with any cloud provider, not just GCP | ||
| Data Actions | |||
| LookML Modeling | Replaced by standard SQL-based data modeling | ||
| Looker Marketplace | Replaced by custom-built models for your data | ||
| Unlimited Users | No per-user pricing — deploy org-wide | ||
| Data Ownership | Your infrastructure, no GCP dependency |
Your custom build focuses on the features your team actually uses — typically 15-20% of what Looker offers — built exactly for your workflow.
How It Works
From Looker to ownership in 8-14 weeks
Free Audit
We analyze your Looker usage and identify exactly which features your team actually uses.
Scope & Build
We build your custom bi & analytics tool with only the features you need. 8-14 weeks.
Deploy & Migrate
We deploy to your infrastructure, migrate your data from Looker, and train your team.
You Own It
Full source code, documentation, and optional maintenance retainer. No vendor lock-in. Ever.