Looker Studio: free with native BigQuery connector. Metabase: free self-hosted or $100/month cloud. For WordPress store owners with WooCommerce data flowing into BigQuery, the BI tool decision comes down to one question: Do you want zero infrastructure, or full control?

Most WooCommerce stores should choose Looker Studio. Here is why—and when Metabase makes sense instead.

The WooCommerce BigQuery Dashboard Problem#

You have got your WooCommerce events flowing into BigQuery. Purchase data, cart behavior, product views—all sitting in tables waiting to become insights. Now you need to visualize it.

Generic BI tool comparisons do not help. They compare features in abstract without considering what WordPress store owners actually need: a way to turn BigQuery ecommerce data into dashboards they can use, preferably without hiring a data engineer.

43.5% of websites run WordPress (W3Techs, 2024). Many of those are ecommerce stores. Most do not have dedicated BI teams. The tool needs to match the reality.

Looker Studio: Zero Infrastructure, Native Integration#

Looker Studio is entirely free with native BigQuery connector requiring no infrastructure setup. That is the headline. No monthly fees. No user limits. No enterprise plans hiding the features you actually need.

For WooCommerce stores with data in BigQuery, Looker Studio offers:

• Native BigQuery connector: Click, authenticate, select your tables. Done.
• 1270+ additional connectors (Valiotti, 2025) if you need to blend data from other sources
• Google ecosystem integration: Same account, same authentication, familiar interface
• Drag-and-drop visualization: No SQL required for basic dashboards
• Sharing and embedding: Send links, embed in websites, schedule email reports

The cost structure is simple: you pay for BigQuery storage and query costs, which for most WooCommerce stores runs under $10/month. Looker Studio itself? Zero.

You may be interested in: Why Your First-Party Data Is Your AI Secret Weapon

Metabase: Control and Customization#

Metabase takes a different approach. Metabase Cloud starts at $100/month for 5 users, or self-host for free with infrastructure costs (AgencyAnalytics, 2025).

The value proposition is control:

• Self-hosting option: Run on your own servers, your own cloud, your own rules
• SQL-first approach: Write custom queries, create saved questions, build complex analysis
• Embedded analytics: Embed dashboards in your own applications with full white-labeling
• Open source: Inspect the code, contribute, customize
• Data compliance: Keep everything on infrastructure you control

For the right use case, Metabase delivers significant value. Floryn switched from Looker to Metabase saving 67% of BI costs (Metabase blog, 2025)—though their requirements included embedded analytics and self-hosting that many WooCommerce stores do not need.

The Decision Framework for WooCommerce Stores#

Here is the honest assessment:

Choose Looker Studio If:

• You want dashboards today without infrastructure setup
• Your team is non-technical or has limited BI experience
• You are already in the Google ecosystem (GA4, Google Ads)
• You need to share dashboards with clients or team members easily
• Your budget for BI tools is “as close to zero as possible”

Choose Metabase If:

• You need self-hosting for data compliance or security requirements
• You want to embed analytics in your own customer-facing applications
• Your team includes SQL-proficient analysts who want query flexibility
• You are building a data platform that needs white-labeled dashboards
• You have technical resources to manage infrastructure

For most WordPress stores with WooCommerce data in BigQuery, Looker Studio provides the simplest path to dashboards that actually get used.

Setup Comparison: Real-World Effort#

Let us compare what it actually takes to go from “data in BigQuery” to “dashboard on screen”:

Looker Studio Setup

1. Sign in with Google account
2. Create new report
3. Add BigQuery connector
4. Authorize access to your BigQuery project
5. Select dataset and tables
6. Build visualizations

Time to first dashboard: 15-30 minutes

Metabase Cloud Setup

1. Create Metabase account
2. Set up organization
3. Add BigQuery as data source
4. Configure service account credentials
5. Test connection
6. Build visualizations

Time to first dashboard: 30-60 minutes, plus $100/month

Metabase Self-Hosted Setup

1. Provision server (DigitalOcean, AWS, etc.)
2. Install Docker or Java runtime
3. Deploy Metabase
4. Configure SSL and domain
5. Add BigQuery data source
6. Configure service account credentials
7. Build visualizations

Time to first dashboard: 2-4 hours, plus ongoing server management

The infrastructure difference is real. If you do not need self-hosting, you are paying for complexity you will not use.

You may be interested in: Why Your First-Party Data Is Your AI Secret Weapon

What About Advanced Analysis?#

Both tools support SQL for advanced users. Looker Studio has Custom Query mode. Metabase has native SQL questions. The difference is emphasis—Metabase assumes SQL proficiency, Looker Studio treats it as optional.

For WooCommerce analytics, the common dashboards (revenue trends, product performance, customer behavior) do not require custom SQL. Drag-and-drop handles them. When you do need SQL, both tools support it.

Getting Your WooCommerce Data Into BigQuery#

Neither Looker Studio nor Metabase helps you get data into BigQuery in the first place. That is a separate problem.

Transmute Engine™ routes your WooCommerce events directly to BigQuery alongside GA4, Facebook CAPI, and other destinations. Your ecommerce data lands in BigQuery tables ready for visualization—no ETL pipelines or data engineering required.

Once your data is in BigQuery, connect either BI tool. Most stores will find Looker Studio native connector the fastest path to insights.

Key Takeaways#

• Looker Studio is free with native BigQuery integration—the simplest choice for most WooCommerce stores
• Metabase offers self-hosting and embedded analytics for stores with specific compliance or customization needs
• Metabase Cloud costs $100/month minimum; self-hosting is free but requires infrastructure management
• Looker Studio 1270+ connectors mean you can blend BigQuery data with other sources easily
• For most WordPress ecommerce use cases, start with Looker Studio—upgrade to Metabase only if you hit its limits

Ready to get your WooCommerce data into BigQuery? Transmute Engine routes your events directly to BigQuery for visualization in either tool.