Rows vs Google Looker Studio for Nonprofits
Rows brings AI-powered analysis into a spreadsheet environment where you can interrogate your data, automate imports, and build lightweight internal tools. Google Looker Studio is a free, polished dashboard builder deeply wired into Google's ecosystem. The core trade-off: Rows helps you find answers, Looker Studio helps you present them. Your choice hinges on whether your team needs active data exploration or shareable stakeholder reporting.
Quick Verdict
Choose based on your nonprofit's data needs:
Choose Rows if:
- •You want to ask AI questions about your data, not just view charts
- •Your team works in spreadsheets and wants AI-assisted analysis
- •You need live data from marketing platforms (Stripe, Salesforce, Google Ads)
- •You want lightweight internal tools running on live data
- •You need AI-powered data cleaning and pattern identification
Choose Google Looker Studio if:
- •Your primary goal is polished, shareable dashboards for boards or donors
- •Your data is primarily in Google's ecosystem (GA4, Ads, Sheets)
- •Budget is a hard constraint and you need a completely free solution
- •You want to embed interactive impact reports on your website
- •You report on website performance, digital fundraising, or email campaigns
At-a-Glance Comparison
| Feature | Rows | Google Looker Studio | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| Starting Price | Free (5 AI Tasks); Plus from $6/user/month | Free (full-featured); Pro $9/user/month | Looker Studio |
| Nonprofit Discount | None | Free; works with Google for Nonprofits | Looker Studio |
| AI Features | Built-in AI Analyst (Plus/Pro) | Gemini AI (Pro only, beta) | Rows |
| Primary Use | AI-powered data analysis and computation | Dashboard creation and reporting | Depends on need |
| Data Manipulation | Yes (spreadsheet + AI) | No (visualization only) | Rows |
| Google Data Sources | GA4, Ads, Sheets (native) | GA4, Ads, Sheets, BigQuery (native, free) | Looker Studio |
| Other Integrations | 70+ native (Salesforce, Stripe, HubSpot) | 100s of partner connectors (many paid) | Rows |
| Dashboard Publishing | Web app publish via link | Share link, embed, public/private | Looker Studio |
| Security Certifications | GDPR; SOC 2 not confirmed | SOC 1/2/3, GDPR, Google Cloud security | Looker Studio |
| Learning Curve | Moderate (familiar to spreadsheet users) | Moderate (non-Google connectors are tricky) | Tie |
| Mobile Experience | Responsive published apps (no native app) | Mobile app (Pro); responsive reports (free, limited) | Looker Studio |
| Best For | Analysts and data-savvy teams | All staff, board reporting, public dashboards | Depends on role |
Last updated: February 28, 2026. Pricing and features subject to change; verify with vendors.
Two Tools, Two Philosophies
Nonprofit data challenges fall into two broad categories: understanding what your data means and communicating that meaning to others. Rows and Google Looker Studio each excel at one of these challenges, which is why many data-mature organizations eventually use both. But for nonprofits just beginning to build a data practice, or those with limited capacity, choosing the right starting point matters enormously.
Rows is fundamentally a spreadsheet reimagined for the AI era. It feels familiar to anyone who has used Excel or Google Sheets, but adds a built-in AI analyst you can query in plain English, native connections to 70+ platforms, and the ability to publish your work as a live web application. Where traditional spreadsheets require formulas and manual data entry, Rows lets you ask "which donor segments had the highest retention last quarter?" and get an answer without writing a single formula.
Google Looker Studio takes the opposite approach. Rather than helping you analyze data, it helps you display data you have already analyzed or collected. Connect your Google Analytics account, Google Sheets, or a data warehouse, drag and drop chart components, and you have a polished, shareable dashboard that automatically refreshes. The tool is free, visually professional, and deeply wired into the Google Workspace ecosystem that most nonprofits already use.
This comparison will help you understand which tool fits your current needs, which might serve your organization as it scales, and whether a combination of both could be the right long-term strategy. We will cover pricing in honest detail, walk through the realistic workflow for nonprofit use cases, and give you a clear framework for making the decision.
What Is Rows?
Rows (rows.com) is an AI-powered spreadsheet platform that positions itself as the evolution of Excel and Google Sheets for teams that need more than formulas. The core product looks and feels like a familiar spreadsheet, but adds three layers of capability that most spreadsheet tools do not offer: a built-in AI analyst you can converse with, native live data connections to 70+ platforms, and a publishing engine that turns any spreadsheet into an interactive web application.
AI Analyst
Ask questions, get answers, no formulas required
The AI Analyst is Rows' defining feature. Type a question in plain English and get back charts, pivot tables, trend analyses, or written summaries. The analyst can clean inconsistent data, extract tables from PDFs or images, search the web for context, and run Python code on your behalf.
- Natural language queries ("Show me donors by retention rate")
- Document ingestion: extract data from PDFs and screenshots
- Web search and scraping for data enrichment
- 14 proprietary AI functions (sentiment analysis, summarization)
Live Data Connections
70+ native integrations, no manual exports
Rather than manually exporting data from each platform and uploading it, Rows connects directly to your live data sources and automatically refreshes. This eliminates the most time-consuming part of spreadsheet-based reporting for most nonprofits.
- CRM: Salesforce, HubSpot (native connectors)
- Payments: Stripe (useful for donation tracking)
- Marketing: Google Ads, Facebook Ads, LinkedIn, GA4
- Databases: BigQuery, Snowflake, REST APIs
Key Strengths for Nonprofits
- Fundraising campaign analysis by combining Stripe data with campaign attribution
- Grant reporting by consolidating multi-source data with AI-generated summaries
- Marketing analytics: social media, search, and email in one spreadsheet
- Lightweight internal tools: budget trackers, volunteer logs, donor pipelines
- Research: AI web scraping for competitive intelligence and sector benchmarks
- Financial reporting with automated bank data connections
Important Limitations
Rows' free tier is too limited for real nonprofit use (5 AI Tasks per month). The Plus plan at $6-8/user/month provides 200 AI Tasks per month, which is more usable. Rows does not offer a nonprofit discount, and SOC 2 compliance has not been publicly confirmed, which may be a concern for organizations handling sensitive beneficiary data.
What Is Google Looker Studio?
Google Looker Studio (formerly Google Data Studio, rebranded in 2022) is a free, cloud-based data visualization tool from Google. Its core purpose is turning data from various sources into interactive, shareable dashboards and reports without coding. Unlike Rows, Looker Studio does not let you manipulate or analyze data, it only displays data you connect to it. Think of it as a presentation layer for data that has been collected and cleaned elsewhere.
Visualization and Dashboards
Polished, shareable reports for any audience
Looker Studio's strength is producing professional-grade visual reports that anyone can read and interact with. Drag-and-drop chart components, date range selectors, and filter controls make it easy to build dashboards that non-technical board members and donors can navigate on their own.
- Unlimited reports and users on the free tier
- Share via link (view-only or edit access)
- Embed interactive dashboards on websites via iframe
- Pre-built templates for nonprofits available from organizations like Whole Whale
Google Ecosystem Integration
Native connections to tools nonprofits already use
For nonprofits using Google Workspace (which most get free through Google for Nonprofits), Looker Studio is a natural extension. The native connectors for Google's own products are free, fast, and require no additional setup beyond linking your account.
- Google Analytics 4 (website traffic, conversion tracking)
- Google Ads (campaign performance, ROI)
- Google Sheets (the universal bridge to any other data source)
- Google Search Console (SEO and organic reach performance)
Key Strengths for Nonprofits
- Zero cost for core features, making it accessible to all nonprofits regardless of budget
- Public-facing impact dashboards embeddable on donor-facing pages
- Board and executive reporting with automatic data refresh
- Grant reporting dashboards that funders can access directly via a shared link
- SOC 1/2/3 and GDPR compliance through Google Cloud infrastructure
- Real-time collaboration with multiple editors simultaneously
Important Limitations
Looker Studio cannot manipulate or clean data, it only visualizes. Non-Google connectors (Mailchimp, Salesforce, CRMs) often require paid third-party tools like Supermetrics or Windsor.ai, adding $20-350/month to costs. Performance can be slow with large blended datasets, and data blending is capped at 5 sources per chart. The free tier has no AI features; Gemini AI is Pro-only and still in beta.
Head-to-Head Feature Comparison
AI and Data Analysis Capabilities
Rows
Rows' AI Analyst is its core differentiator. Available on Plus ($6-8/user/month) and Pro tiers, it allows you to ask questions in plain English and get data insights, charts, or cleaned datasets in return. The analyst can extract data from PDFs, search the web, and run Python scripts on your behalf. It is powered by OpenAI models and represents a mature, production-ready AI layer built into the spreadsheet experience.
Winner for AI: Rows
Google Looker Studio
Looker Studio's AI capabilities come through Gemini, available on the Pro tier ($9/user/month) and currently in beta. Gemini Conversational Analytics lets you ask natural language questions about your data. The feature is promising but still maturing as of early 2026. The free tier has no AI features at all. For nonprofits seeking AI-assisted analysis without paying for Pro, Looker Studio does not deliver.
AI requires Pro; still in beta
Data Visualization and Reporting
Rows
Rows produces charts and visualizations as part of spreadsheet work, but they are functional rather than presentation-ready. Published spreadsheets can be shared as web apps, giving stakeholders access to live data. The visual output is adequate for internal reporting but does not match the polish of dedicated BI tools. Rows is not the right choice if your primary goal is creating board-ready visual reports.
Good for analysis, not for polished reports
Google Looker Studio
Looker Studio's core strength is visualization. The drag-and-drop interface, wide chart library, customizable themes, and responsive layout options make it the clear winner for producing professional dashboards. Reports can be shared publicly, restricted to specific viewers, embedded on websites via iframe, or scheduled for automatic email delivery (Pro). The nonprofit community has embraced Looker Studio precisely because of this visual quality at zero cost.
Winner for visualization: Looker Studio
Data Sources and Connectivity
Rows
Rows has 70+ native integrations including Salesforce, HubSpot, Stripe, Google Ads, Facebook Ads, LinkedIn, and database platforms like BigQuery and Snowflake. A native Salesforce connector gives it an edge for nonprofits on that CRM. For tools without native connectors, Zapier and Make integrations (which themselves require subscriptions) can bridge the gap to thousands of additional applications. Neither Rows nor Looker Studio has native connectors for common nonprofit-specific CRMs like Bloomerang, Blackbaud, or EveryAction.
Google Looker Studio
Looker Studio offers hundreds of connectors through its partner gallery, but the most valuable native connectors are all Google products. For non-Google platforms, most connectors are third-party (often $20-350+/month). The popular workaround, exporting data to Google Sheets and connecting Sheets as a data source, is free and widely documented in the nonprofit tech community. This workaround works well for static or weekly-refreshed data, but is not suitable for real-time reporting.
Verdict: Rows wins for active data platform connections. Looker Studio wins for Google ecosystem data. For most nonprofit CRMs, both tools require workarounds.
Collaboration and Sharing
Rows
Rows supports real-time collaborative editing, workspaces with folder organization, and role-based permissions. Spreadsheets can be published as interactive web apps shareable via link. Guest member access is limited on free and Plus tiers (3 and 10 guests, respectively) and more generous on Pro. Version history is available on all tiers (7 days on free, up to 2 years on Pro).
Google Looker Studio
Looker Studio's sharing model is simpler and more open: share via link with view or edit permissions, publish publicly, or embed via iframe. Real-time collaboration with unlimited editors is free. The Pro tier adds organizational asset ownership (reports are not tied to individual Google accounts), team workspaces with role-based access control, and scheduled delivery to Google Chat. For nonprofits worried about losing access to reports if a staff member leaves, the Pro organizational ownership feature is genuinely valuable.
Verdict: Looker Studio wins for public sharing and embedding. Both are comparable for internal collaboration.
Security and Compliance
Rows
Rows is GDPR compliant with a formal Data Protection Officer, annual compliance audits, and a signed Data Processing Agreement available. However, SOC 2 certification has not been publicly confirmed, which is a notable gap for organizations with enterprise security requirements. HIPAA compliance is not supported. For nonprofits handling general operational data, Rows' security posture is likely sufficient, but those handling sensitive health or social service data should proceed cautiously.
Google Looker Studio
Looker Studio inherits Google Cloud's enterprise-grade security infrastructure, including SOC 1, SOC 2, and SOC 3 certifications, GDPR compliance, ISO certifications, and FedRAMP authorization for core features. Gemini AI features are not yet FedRAMP-covered. Note that HIPAA coverage for Looker Studio specifically should be verified directly with Google, as coverage varies by product within the Google ecosystem.
Verdict: Looker Studio wins on security certifications and compliance track record.
Pricing Breakdown
Rows Pricing
AI-powered spreadsheet platform
Free: $0/month
- • 5 AI Tasks per month (very limited)
- • Manual data import only
- • 10 integration account connections
- • 3 guest members
- • 7-day version history
Plus: $6-8/user/month
(annual vs monthly billing)
- • 200 AI Tasks per month
- • Daily automated data refresh
- • 10 guest members
- • 30-day version history
Pro: $59-79/month base + $6-8/user
- • 1,000 AI Tasks per month
- • Minute-level automation
- • 100 integration connections
- • 200 guest members
- • 2-year version history
- • Dedicated Customer Success Manager
No nonprofit discount available. Nonprofits pay standard pricing.
Google Looker Studio Pricing
Free BI and dashboard tool from Google
Free: $0/month (full-featured)
- • Unlimited reports and users
- • Full visualization features
- • All native Google connectors
- • Real-time collaboration
- • Embed via iframe
- • Public sharing
Pro: $9/user/month
- • Organizational asset ownership
- • Team workspaces with role-based access
- • 200 scheduled report deliveries
- • Gemini AI (conversational analytics, beta)
- • Mobile app access
- • Google Cloud support
Works with Google for Nonprofits. Eligible 501(c)(3)s can access free Google Workspace alongside Looker Studio at no additional cost.
Total Cost of Ownership: 3 Nonprofit Scenarios
| Scenario | Rows Annual Cost | Looker Studio Annual Cost |
|---|---|---|
| Small nonprofit (1 analyst, basic reporting) 1 user, standard analysis needs | $72-96/year (Plus plan) | $0/year (free tier) |
| Mid-size nonprofit (3 analysts, active AI use) 3 users, frequent AI queries, team collaboration | $216-288/year (Plus, 3 users) | $324/year (Pro, 3 users) or $0 (free) |
| Larger nonprofit (Pro with automation) Minute-level automation, advanced AI, team | $828-1,068/year (Pro base + 3 users) | $324-1,080/year (Pro, 3-10 users) |
For most nonprofits, Looker Studio's free tier covers the majority of reporting needs at zero cost. Rows becomes cost-competitive only when your team needs active AI-assisted analysis and live data connections that justify the subscription.
Note: Prices may be outdated or inaccurate.
Nonprofit Discounts and Special Pricing
Rows Nonprofit Pricing
No Nonprofit Discount Available
As of early 2026, Rows does not offer a nonprofit or charitable organization pricing program. All organizations pay standard rates. There is no education discount program publicly documented either.
Nonprofits should budget for standard Rows pricing: $6-8/user/month for the Plus plan or $59-79/month base plus user fees for the Pro plan. Contact Rows at [email protected] to inquire about any unlisted nonprofit arrangements for larger organizations.
Google Looker Studio Nonprofit Value
Effectively Free for Nonprofits
Google Looker Studio's core product is free with no usage limits. For nonprofits enrolled in Google for Nonprofits (which provides free or discounted Google Workspace), Looker Studio integrates seamlessly at no additional cost. Most nonprofits will never need the $9/user/month Pro tier.
The Google for Nonprofits program is available to eligible 501(c)(3) organizations in the United States. Enrollment provides free access to Google Workspace Business Starter, discounted Workspace tiers, and access to other Google products including Looker Studio. Apply at google.com/nonprofits.
Ease of Use and Learning Curve
Rows: Spreadsheet Familiar, New Paradigm
Rows feels familiar to spreadsheet users but requires learning new concepts: how data imports work differently from traditional spreadsheets, how the AI Analyst query syntax works best, and how to publish and share spreadsheets as web apps. The learning curve is real but not steep for technically comfortable staff.
Looker Studio: Intuitive Builder, Complex Connections
Looker Studio's drag-and-drop report builder is approachable for non-technical users, and pre-built nonprofit templates from organizations like Whole Whale eliminate starting-from-scratch effort. However, connecting non-Google data sources and writing calculated field formulas frequently frustrates beginners.
Implementation Timeline
Realistic time to first useful output
| Milestone | Rows | Looker Studio |
|---|---|---|
| Account setup and first login | 30 minutes | 30 minutes |
| First data import or connection | 1-2 hours | 1-3 hours (varies by source) |
| First useful analysis or report | 2-4 hours | 2-4 hours |
| Team proficiency | 2-4 weeks | 1-3 weeks |
| Full workflow integration | 1-2 months | 1-2 months |
Integration and Compatibility for Nonprofits
Neither Rows nor Google Looker Studio has native connectors for most nonprofit-specific CRMs (Bloomerang, Blackbaud Raiser's Edge, EveryAction, DonorPerfect, Little Green Light). Both tools rely on workarounds for these platforms. Understanding the workarounds is essential for planning your data workflow.
| Tool/Platform | Rows Connection | Looker Studio Connection |
|---|---|---|
| Google Analytics 4 | Native connector (free) | Native connector (free, excellent) |
| Google Ads | Native connector (free) | Native connector (free) |
| Google Sheets | Import/export (free) | Native connector (free) |
| Salesforce | Native connector (free with Rows) | Third-party connector (paid, e.g., Windsor.ai) |
| Stripe (donations) | Native connector (free with Rows) | Third-party connector or Sheets export |
| HubSpot | Native connector (free with Rows) | Third-party connector or Sheets export |
| Mailchimp | Via Zapier/Make (additional cost) | Third-party connector (Supermetrics, Catchr) |
| Bloomerang | CSV export or via Zapier/Make | CSV export to Google Sheets |
| Blackbaud Raiser's Edge | CSV export or API (technical) | CSV export to Google Sheets |
| Facebook Ads | Native connector (free with Rows) | Third-party connector |
| BigQuery | Native connector (free with Rows) | Native connector (free in Looker Studio) |
The Google Sheets Workaround
For Looker Studio users, the "Google Sheets bridge" is the most common free workaround for non-supported platforms. Export your CRM or fundraising data to a CSV, upload it to Google Sheets, and connect that sheet to Looker Studio. This is free, well-documented, and used successfully by thousands of nonprofits. The limitation is that it is manual (not real-time) unless you set up automated exports from your CRM. Rows users can also import from Google Sheets, but the native integration library gives Rows a meaningful advantage for teams using Salesforce, Stripe, or HubSpot.
Pros and Cons for Nonprofits
Rows
Pros
- Mature AI Analyst available on paid tiers for genuine data exploration
- Native Salesforce, Stripe, and HubSpot connectors valuable for fundraising data
- Data manipulation within the tool: clean, transform, and compute without external ETL
- Build lightweight internal apps (budget trackers, donor pipelines) with live data
- AI can extract data from PDFs and images (useful for grant documents)
Cons
- ✗No nonprofit discount; free tier is too restricted for real use
- ✗SOC 2 compliance not publicly confirmed, a concern for sensitive data
- ✗Visualizations are functional but not as polished as dedicated BI tools
- ✗No native connectors for Bloomerang, Blackbaud, or most nonprofit CRMs
- ✗AI Task limits (200/month on Plus) can constrain heavy analytical users
Google Looker Studio
Pros
- Completely free for all core features with no usage limits
- Polished, professional dashboards suitable for boards, donors, and grant funders
- Iframe embedding for public-facing impact reports on your website
- Enterprise-grade security (SOC 1/2/3, GDPR, Google Cloud infrastructure)
- Free nonprofit-specific templates from Whole Whale and other community resources
- Seamless integration with Google for Nonprofits program
Cons
- ✗Cannot manipulate or clean data; requires pre-cleaned data sources
- ✗Non-Google platform connectors often require paid third-party tools
- ✗Performance issues with large blended datasets (slow load times common)
- ✗Data blending limited to 5 sources per chart
- ✗No AI features on the free tier; Gemini is Pro-only and still in beta
Data Privacy, Security, and Compliance
For nonprofits handling donor information, beneficiary data, or sensitive program metrics, data security is not a nice-to-have. Understanding what certifications each platform holds, and what their limits are, is essential before committing to a data tool.
| Security Dimension | Rows | Looker Studio |
|---|---|---|
| GDPR Compliance | Confirmed (DPA available) | Confirmed (Google Cloud) |
| SOC 2 Certification | Not publicly confirmed | SOC 1, SOC 2, SOC 3 |
| HIPAA Compliance | Not supported | Verify with Google directly |
| Data Processing Agreement | Available on request | Standard Google DPA |
| Encryption at Rest | Confirmed | Confirmed (Google Cloud AES-256) |
| Encryption in Transit | TLS | TLS (Google Cloud) |
| ISO Certifications | Not publicly documented | ISO 27001, ISO 42001 |
Recommendation for Sensitive Data
For nonprofits handling sensitive beneficiary data (healthcare, social services, domestic violence, mental health), Google Looker Studio's confirmed SOC 2 and enterprise Google Cloud security provides a stronger compliance foundation. For organizations handling general operational data (fundraising metrics, program outcomes, marketing analytics), both tools are appropriate. Regardless of which tool you choose, avoid loading personally identifiable information directly into these platforms when possible. Use aggregate or anonymized datasets for reporting whenever your use case permits.
Which Tool Should Your Nonprofit Choose?
The choice between Rows and Google Looker Studio ultimately comes down to your nonprofit's primary data challenge. These are fundamentally different tools designed for different stages of the data workflow.
Choose Rows When:
- You have a data-savvy analyst or program manager who needs to explore, question, and clean data actively
- Your organization uses Salesforce, Stripe, or HubSpot and needs live native connections
- You want AI to answer questions about your data without writing complex formulas or queries
- You need to consolidate and analyze data from multiple marketing platforms in one place
- You want to build lightweight internal tools (donor pipelines, budget trackers) that run on live data
Choose Google Looker Studio When:
- Your data is already clean and organized, and you primarily need to display it for others
- Budget is a hard constraint and you need a completely free, production-ready solution
- You use Google Workspace and want seamless integration with GA4, Ads, and Sheets
- You want to publish public-facing impact reports on your website via embedding
- Board and donor reporting with polished, professional dashboards is your primary use case
Five Questions to Guide Your Decision
- 1
Do you need to analyze data or present it?
If analysis is the primary need, Rows. If presentation is, Looker Studio.
- 2
What is your budget for data tools?
If zero budget, Looker Studio. If $72+/year is available for real utility, consider Rows Plus.
- 3
Where does your most important data live?
Google ecosystem (GA4, Ads, Sheets)? Looker Studio. Salesforce, Stripe, HubSpot? Rows has an edge.
- 4
Who will use the tool?
Technical analyst? Either works. Non-technical staff creating reports? Looker Studio's templates help more. Executives reviewing dashboards? Looker Studio's visual output is cleaner.
- 5
Do you handle sensitive beneficiary data?
If yes, Looker Studio's confirmed SOC 2 and Google Cloud infrastructure provide stronger compliance assurance.
Using Both Tools Together
Many data-mature nonprofits use Rows and Looker Studio in tandem. Rows handles the analytical work: connecting data sources, running AI queries, cleaning datasets, and building the underlying metrics. Looker Studio then visualizes those refined datasets as polished dashboards for stakeholders. This combination is more powerful than either tool alone and is a natural evolution for organizations that start with Looker Studio and later need deeper analytical capability.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Google Looker Studio completely free for nonprofits?
Yes, Google Looker Studio's core product is completely free with no usage limits. You get unlimited reports, unlimited users, and full access to all visualization features at no cost. A Pro tier at $9/user/month adds team workspaces, organizational asset ownership, and Gemini AI features, but most nonprofits never need it. Since Looker Studio integrates with the free Google for Nonprofits program, eligible 501(c)(3)s can access a powerful data tool without any additional budget.
Does Rows offer a nonprofit discount?
No, Rows does not offer a nonprofit discount program as of early 2026. Nonprofits pay standard pricing: Free (very limited at 5 AI Tasks per month), Plus at $6-8/user/month (200 AI Tasks per month), or Pro at $59-79/month base plus user fees (1,000 AI Tasks per month). For nonprofits on a tight budget, the lack of a nonprofit discount makes Rows harder to justify compared to free alternatives like Google Looker Studio.
Can Rows and Google Looker Studio both connect to nonprofit CRMs like Bloomerang or Blackbaud?
Neither tool has native connectors for most nonprofit-specific CRMs like Bloomerang, Blackbaud Raiser's Edge, EveryAction, or DonorPerfect. The common workaround for both is exporting data from your CRM into a CSV or Google Sheets, then importing it. Rows also offers a Salesforce native connector and can connect to additional tools via Zapier or Make. Looker Studio has a well-documented "export to Google Sheets, then connect" workflow that many nonprofits use successfully and at no cost.
What is the fundamental difference between Rows and Google Looker Studio?
Rows is an AI-powered spreadsheet tool where you can analyze, manipulate, and ask questions about data using an AI analyst. It is an active data exploration environment. Google Looker Studio is a visualization and reporting tool where you connect data sources and design dashboards or reports. You cannot transform or clean data inside Looker Studio. The fundamental difference: Rows is for doing analysis, Looker Studio is for presenting results. Many organizations use both: Rows to analyze and Looker Studio to share dashboards.
Which tool is better for nonprofit board reporting?
Google Looker Studio is generally better for board reporting. It produces polished, professional dashboards that can be shared via a link or embedded on a page. Reports are interactive and visually compelling. The tool also lets you schedule automated report delivery (on the Pro tier). Rows is better for internal analytical work that informs what goes into board reports, but its published spreadsheets are less visually polished than Looker Studio dashboards.
Can I embed Google Looker Studio reports on my nonprofit's website?
Yes, Google Looker Studio supports embedding via iframes. You can publish interactive dashboards on your nonprofit's website, donor portal, or annual report pages. This is a popular and free feature for nonprofits that want to show real-time program metrics to the public. Rows also supports publishing spreadsheets as interactive web apps that can be shared via link, but iframe embedding with the same flexibility as Looker Studio is more limited.
Does Google Looker Studio have AI features?
Yes, but only on the Pro tier and currently in beta. Looker Studio Pro includes Gemini Conversational Analytics, which lets you ask natural language questions about your data. This feature is in preview as of early 2026. The free version of Looker Studio has no AI features. In contrast, Rows' AI Analyst is available on paid tiers (Plus and Pro) and is a more mature capability, letting you clean data, ask complex questions, search the web, and extract insights from documents.
Which tool is easier to learn for non-technical nonprofit staff?
Both tools have a moderate learning curve, but for different reasons. Rows feels familiar to spreadsheet users but requires learning new data import concepts and a different cell paradigm. Once the AI Analyst is working, non-technical staff can ask questions in plain English. Looker Studio's drag-and-drop builder is visually intuitive, but connecting non-Google data sources can frustrate beginners. For a team already using Google Workspace, Looker Studio has a shallower on-ramp. For teams comfortable with Excel or Google Sheets who want AI assistance, Rows may be easier long-term.
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