Software · head to head
AppDynamics vs Loki
The short version
- Each has a real cost: AppDynamics appdynamics.com/pricing returns a 301 redirect to Splunk's observability pricing page; the product is now sold as Splunk AppDynamics; Loki the Grafana Cloud free tier caps log ingestion at 50 GB a month with 14 day retention
- They diverge on capability: AppDynamics covers Application performance monitoring, Loki covers Log aggregation.
Where they differ
Only the attributes on which AppDynamics and Loki actually diverge.
| Attribute | AppDynamics | Loki |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing model | usage-based | open-source |
| Founded | 2008 | 2014 |
Identical on both: starting price (Free), free tier (Yes), platforms (Web, Api), user rating (Not yet rated), category (Unknown).
What each one covers
Drawn from each product's published feature list. An absence here means we hold no record of it - not that the product lacks it.
Only in AppDynamics
- Application performance monitoring
- Distributed tracing
- Real-time analytics
- Alert management
Only in Loki
- Log aggregation
- Label-based indexing
- Real-time log streaming
- LogQL query language
Both cover
- API
- Webhooks
- REST
- Web support
- Api support
What people use each for
The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.
AppDynamics
- Application performance monitoring for Java, .NET and other enterprise application stacksnot Loki
- Business transaction tracing across distributed application tiersnot Loki
- Infrastructure monitoring priced per vCPUnot Loki
Loki
- Aggregating application and infrastructure logs with label based indexingnot AppDynamics
- Querying logs alongside metrics in Grafananot AppDynamics
Where each one falls short
Documented limitations, not opinions. Every one is a constraint you would hit in normal use.
AppDynamics
- appdynamics.com/pricing returns a 301 redirect to Splunk's observability pricing page; the product is now sold as Splunk AppDynamics
- Infrastructure Edition starts at $6 per vCPU per month billed annually, so cost scales with core count rather than host count
- Premium Edition starts at $33 per host per month and Enterprise Edition at $50 per host per month, both billed annually
- The published figures are starting prices only, with volume pricing requiring a sales quote
Loki
- The Grafana Cloud free tier caps log ingestion at 50 GB a month with 14 day retention
- Paid log pricing is split across three separate meters, at $0.050 per GB processed, $0.400 per GB written and $0.100 per GB retained
- Retaining logs is billed separately from ingesting them, so keeping data costs on an ongoing basis rather than once
- The Pro plan carries a $19 a month platform fee before any usage charges
Pricing, plan by plan
AppDynamics
Free- FreeFree
- Application performance monitoring
- Distributed tracing
- Real-time analytics
Loki
Free- FreeFree
- Log aggregation
- Label-based indexing
- Real-time log streaming
Which should you pick?
Choose AppDynamics if
- You need application performance monitoring.
- You want to start without paying.
- You work on Web, Api.
- You also want distributed tracing.
Choose Loki if
- You need log aggregation.
- You want to start without paying.
- You work on Web, Api.
- You also want label-based indexing.
Questions people ask
- Is AppDynamics or Loki better?
- Neither clearly leads. AppDynamics starts at Free and Loki at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
- Which is cheaper, AppDynamics or Loki?
- AppDynamics starts at Free and Loki at Free.
- Does AppDynamics or Loki run on more platforms?
- Both run on Web, Api, so platform support will not decide this one for you.
- Can I use AppDynamics for free?
- Both have a free tier, so you can try either at no cost before committing.
- What is AppDynamics best used for?
- AppDynamics is most often used for application performance monitoring for java, .net and other enterprise application stacks, business transaction tracing across distributed application tiers, infrastructure monitoring priced per vcpu. Of those, application performance monitoring for java, .net and other enterprise application stacks and business transaction tracing across distributed application tiers are not what Loki is typically brought in for.
- What can AppDynamics do that Loki cannot?
- AppDynamics covers Application performance monitoring, Distributed tracing, Real-time analytics, Alert management. Loki covers Log aggregation, Label-based indexing, Real-time log streaming, LogQL query language. Both handle API, Webhooks, REST, Web support.