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AppDynamics vs Splunk

A

AppDynamics

Software

Enterprise Application Performance Management

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Splunk logo

Splunk

Software

Turn Data Into Doing

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

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; Splunk no prices are published on any plan; every model requires contacting sales for an estimate
  • They diverge on capability: AppDynamics covers Application performance monitoring, Splunk covers Log aggregation.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which AppDynamics and Splunk actually diverge.

Attributes where AppDynamics and Splunk differ
AttributeAppDynamicsSplunk
Founded20082003

Identical on both: starting price (Free), pricing model (usage-based), 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

Only in Splunk

  • Log aggregation
  • Real-time monitoring
  • Data visualization
  • Full-text search
  • Custom dashboards
  • Anomaly detection
  • Log parsing

Both cover

  • Alert management
  • 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 Splunk
  • Business transaction tracing across distributed application tiersnot Splunk
  • Infrastructure monitoring priced per vCPUnot Splunk

Splunk

  • Log search and analysis across infrastructurenot AppDynamics
  • SIEM, SOAR and UEBA for a security operations teamnot AppDynamics
  • Application performance and infrastructure monitoringnot AppDynamics
  • Cloud, private cloud or on-premises deploymentnot 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

Splunk

  • No prices are published on any plan; every model requires contacting sales for an estimate
  • Three separate pricing models, workload, ingest and entity, so the same deployment costs different amounts depending on which was signed
  • Ingest pricing bills on data volume, so cost tracks how much you log rather than how much value you get from it
  • Security, observability and platform are priced separately

Pricing, plan by plan

AppDynamics

Free
  • FreeFree
    • Application performance monitoring
    • Distributed tracing
    • Real-time analytics

Splunk

Free
  • FreeFree
    • Log aggregation
    • Real-time monitoring
    • Data visualization

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.
AppDynamics review

Choose Splunk if

  • You need log aggregation.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Web, Api.
  • You also want real-time monitoring.
Splunk review

Questions people ask

Is AppDynamics or Splunk better?
Neither clearly leads. AppDynamics starts at Free and Splunk at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, AppDynamics or Splunk?
AppDynamics starts at Free and Splunk at Free.
Does AppDynamics or Splunk 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 Splunk is typically brought in for.
What can AppDynamics do that Splunk cannot?
AppDynamics covers Application performance monitoring, Distributed tracing, Real-time analytics. Splunk covers Log aggregation, Real-time monitoring, Data visualization, Full-text search. Both handle Alert management, API, Webhooks, REST.
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