Log Management · head to head
CloudWatch vs Bugsnag
The short version
- Each has a real cost: CloudWatch the free tier covers 5 GB of log ingestion and 10 custom metrics a month, after which log ingestion is $0.50 per GB from 5 to 30 GB; Bugsnag owned by SmartBear rather than being independent
- They diverge on capability: CloudWatch covers Metrics collection, Bugsnag covers Error tracking.
Where they differ
Only the attributes on which CloudWatch and Bugsnag actually diverge.
| Attribute | CloudWatch | Bugsnag |
|---|---|---|
| Founded | 2006 | 2012 |
Identical on both: starting price (Free), pricing model (usage-based), free tier (Yes), platforms (Web, Api), user rating (Not yet rated), category (Log Management).
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 CloudWatch
- Metrics collection
- Log aggregation
- Dashboards
- Alarms and notifications
Only in Bugsnag
- Error tracking
- Crash reporting
- Release tracking
- Trend analysis
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.
CloudWatch
- Metrics and log collection for AWS workloadsnot Bugsnag
- Alarming on thresholds across AWS servicesnot Bugsnag
- Querying logs with Logs Insightsnot Bugsnag
- Live tailing logs during an incidentnot Bugsnag
- Distributed tracing alongside X-Raynot Bugsnag
Bugsnag
- Crash and error reporting for mobile and web applicationsnot CloudWatch
- Stability scores per releasenot CloudWatch
- Grouping errors by root cause across deploysnot CloudWatch
- Alerting when a release regressesnot CloudWatch
Where each one falls short
Documented limitations, not opinions. Every one is a constraint you would hit in normal use.
CloudWatch
- The free tier covers 5 GB of log ingestion and 10 custom metrics a month, after which log ingestion is $0.50 per GB from 5 to 30 GB
- Custom metrics are $0.30 each for the first 10,000, so instrumenting broadly gets expensive before volume discounts apply
- Each custom dashboard beyond the free three is $3 a month
- Alarms are billed at $0.10 per alarm metric a month, with high-resolution alarms costing more
- Log storage beyond the free 5 GB is $0.03 per GB per month on top of the ingestion charge
Bugsnag
- Owned by SmartBear rather than being independent
- The free tier covers 7,500 events a month
- Paid tiers are usage-priced by event volume rather than by seat, so a noisy release raises the bill
- Enterprise pricing is quote-only
Pricing, plan by plan
CloudWatch
Free- FreeFree
- Metrics collection
- Log aggregation
- Dashboards
Bugsnag
Free- FreeFree
- Error tracking
- Crash reporting
- Release tracking
Which should you pick?
Choose CloudWatch if
- You need metrics collection.
- You want to start without paying.
- You work on Web, Api.
- You also want log aggregation.
Choose Bugsnag if
- You need error tracking.
- You want to start without paying.
- You work on Web, Api.
- You also want crash reporting.
Questions people ask
- Is CloudWatch or Bugsnag better?
- Neither clearly leads. CloudWatch starts at Free and Bugsnag at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
- Which is cheaper, CloudWatch or Bugsnag?
- CloudWatch starts at Free and Bugsnag at Free.
- Does CloudWatch or Bugsnag run on more platforms?
- Both run on Web, Api, so platform support will not decide this one for you.
- Can I use CloudWatch for free?
- Both have a free tier, so you can try either at no cost before committing.
- What is CloudWatch best used for?
- CloudWatch is most often used for metrics and log collection for aws workloads, alarming on thresholds across aws services, querying logs with logs insights, live tailing logs during an incident. Of those, metrics and log collection for aws workloads and alarming on thresholds across aws services are not what Bugsnag is typically brought in for.
- What can CloudWatch do that Bugsnag cannot?
- CloudWatch covers Metrics collection, Log aggregation, Dashboards, Alarms and notifications. Bugsnag covers Error tracking, Crash reporting, Release tracking, Trend analysis. Both handle API, Webhooks, REST, Web support.