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Software · head to head

Azure Monitor vs Splunk

Azure Monitor logo

Azure Monitor

Software

Azure's Monitoring and Diagnostics Service

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: Azure Monitor billed per GB ingested across three separate log plans, Auxiliary, Basic and Analytics, so the plan chosen changes the rate as much as the volume does; Splunk no prices are published on any plan; every model requires contacting sales for an estimate
  • They diverge on capability: Azure Monitor covers Log collection, Splunk covers Log aggregation.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Azure Monitor and Splunk actually diverge.

Attributes where Azure Monitor and Splunk differ
AttributeAzure MonitorSplunk
Founded20102003

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 Azure Monitor

  • Log collection
  • Metrics collection
  • Alerts and notifications

Only in Splunk

  • Log aggregation
  • Real-time monitoring
  • Data visualization
  • Full-text search
  • Alert management
  • Anomaly detection
  • Log parsing

Both cover

  • Custom dashboards
  • API
  • Webhooks
  • REST
  • Web support
  • Api support

What people use each for

The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.

Azure Monitor

  • Collecting logs and metrics from Azure resourcesnot Splunk
  • Alerting on metric thresholds and log queriesnot Splunk
  • Application performance monitoring through Application Insightsnot Splunk
  • Long-term log retention for compliancenot Splunk
  • Querying operational data with KQLnot Splunk

Splunk

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

Where each one falls short

Documented limitations, not opinions. Every one is a constraint you would hit in normal use.

Azure Monitor

  • Billed per GB ingested across three separate log plans, Auxiliary, Basic and Analytics, so the plan chosen changes the rate as much as the volume does
  • Only the first 5 GB a month of Analytics logs is free per billing account
  • Retention beyond the base period is charged per GB per month, up to 2 years interactive and 12 years long term
  • Log queries and search jobs are billed per GB scanned, so investigating an incident costs money
  • Alert rules are billed per time series for metrics and by execution frequency for logs
  • The pricing page shows placeholders rather than rates until a region and currency are chosen

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

Azure Monitor

Free
  • FreeFree
    • Log collection
    • Metrics collection
    • Alerts and notifications

Splunk

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

Which should you pick?

Choose Azure Monitor if

  • You need log collection.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Web, Api.
  • You also want metrics collection.
Azure Monitor 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 Azure Monitor or Splunk better?
Neither clearly leads. Azure Monitor 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, Azure Monitor or Splunk?
Azure Monitor starts at Free and Splunk at Free.
Does Azure Monitor or Splunk run on more platforms?
Both run on Web, Api, so platform support will not decide this one for you.
Can I use Azure Monitor for free?
Both have a free tier, so you can try either at no cost before committing.
What is Azure Monitor best used for?
Azure Monitor is most often used for collecting logs and metrics from azure resources, alerting on metric thresholds and log queries, application performance monitoring through application insights, long-term log retention for compliance. Of those, collecting logs and metrics from azure resources and alerting on metric thresholds and log queries are not what Splunk is typically brought in for.
What can Azure Monitor do that Splunk cannot?
Azure Monitor covers Log collection, Metrics collection, Alerts and notifications. Splunk covers Log aggregation, Real-time monitoring, Data visualization, Full-text search. Both handle Custom dashboards, API, Webhooks, REST.
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