Grafana vs New Relic
Grafana is open-source observability platform for metrics visualization, dashboards, and alerting from any data source, while New Relic is full-stack observability platform with APM, infrastructure, logs, and browser monitoring. Grafana is open source and can be self-hosted, giving you full control over your data. Grafana is built for teams wanting open-source dashboards and visualization, whereas New Relic targets engineering teams wanting all-in-one observability.
| Feature | Grafana | New Relic |
|---|---|---|
| Free tier available | ✓ | ✓ |
| Open source | ✓ | — |
| APM | — | ✓ |
| Alerting | ✓ | — |
| Browser | — | ✓ |
| Dashboards | ✓ | — |
| Data Sources | ✓ | — |
| Infrastructure | — | ✓ |
| Logs | — | ✓ |
| Open Source | ✓ | — |
| Synthetics | — | ✓ |
Pricing: Both Grafana and New Relic are free. You can try both without spending a dollar.
Feature gaps: Grafana offers Alerting, Dashboards and Data Sources that New Relic lacks. New Relic brings APM, Browser and Infrastructure that Grafana does not have.
Team fit: Grafana is geared toward any size teams, while New Relic is aimed at enterprise teams. Pick the one that matches where your team is today and where it is headed — migrating tools later is always painful.
Open source: Grafana is open source, meaning you can self-host, audit the code, and avoid vendor lock-in. New Relic is proprietary — you are trusting the vendor with your data and uptime.
Where each tool shines: Grafana's biggest strengths are: open source and transparent. customizable dashboards give real-time visibility into project progress. New Relic's biggest strengths are: includes apm as a core feature, purpose-built for monitoring workflows. includes infrastructure as a core feature, purpose-built for monitoring workflows.
Watch out for: With Grafana, users commonly note that may lack some advanced features. With New Relic, the main complaint is that free plan exists but key features are locked behind the paid upgrade.
choose Grafana if
- Your profile matches its sweet spot: teams wanting open-source dashboards and visualization
- You need self-hosting, data sovereignty, or the ability to audit source code
- You specifically need Alerting and Dashboards
- You care about customizable dashboards give real-time visibility into project progress
- Your team size fits the any size profile Grafana is designed for
choose New Relic if
- You need a tool built for engineering teams wanting all-in-one observability
- You specifically need APM and Browser
- You care about includes infrastructure as a core feature, purpose-built for monitoring workflows
- Your team size fits the enterprise profile New Relic is designed for
- The free tier works for you: free 100 gb/mo
frequently asked
What is the difference between Grafana and New Relic?
Grafana is open-source observability platform for metrics visualization, dashboards, and alerting from any data source, while New Relic is full-stack observability platform with APM, infrastructure, logs, and browser monitoring. Grafana is open source and can be self-hosted, giving you full control over your data. Grafana is built for teams wanting open-source dashboards and visualization, whereas New Relic targets engineering teams wanting all-in-one observability.
Should I use Grafana or New Relic?
Grafana gives you open source and self-hosting; New Relic is a managed service. Which trade-off works for you?
When should I choose Grafana over New Relic?
Choose Grafana if Your profile matches its sweet spot: teams wanting open-source dashboards and visualization; You need self-hosting, data sovereignty, or the ability to audit source code; You specifically need Alerting and Dashboards; You care about customizable dashboards give real-time visibility into project progress; Your team size fits the any size profile Grafana is designed for.
When should I choose New Relic over Grafana?
Choose New Relic if You need a tool built for engineering teams wanting all-in-one observability; You specifically need APM and Browser; You care about includes infrastructure as a core feature, purpose-built for monitoring workflows; Your team size fits the enterprise profile New Relic is designed for; The free tier works for you: free 100 gb/mo.
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