Log Management · head to head
CloudWatch vs Datadog Logs
Datadog Logs
Log Management
Log Management and Analytics
- From
- $0.1/per GB ingested per month
- Rated
- -
The short version
- Only CloudWatch has a free tier, so it costs nothing to try first.
- 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; Datadog Logs complex, multi-tiered pricing model based on ingestion, indexing, and storage; can become expensive at scale
- They diverge on capability: CloudWatch covers Metrics collection, Datadog Logs covers Log ingestion.
Where they differ
Only the attributes on which CloudWatch and Datadog Logs actually diverge.
| Attribute | CloudWatch | Datadog Logs |
|---|---|---|
| Starting price | Free | $0.1/per GB ingested per month |
| Free tier | Yes | No |
| Platforms | Web, Api | Cloud (AWS, Azure, Google Cloud, Oracle Cloud) |
| Founded | 2006 | 2010 |
Identical on both: pricing model (usage-based), 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 Datadog Logs
- Log ingestion
- Full-text search
- Custom dashboards
- Log-based metrics
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 Datadog Logs
- Alarming on thresholds across AWS servicesnot Datadog Logs
- Querying logs with Logs Insightsnot Datadog Logs
- Live tailing logs during an incidentnot Datadog Logs
- Distributed tracing alongside X-Raynot Datadog Logs
Datadog Logs
- Centralised log aggregation and analysisnot CloudWatch
- Multi-source log correlation with metrics and tracesnot CloudWatch
- Root cause analysis and troubleshootingnot CloudWatch
- Security monitoring and threat detectionnot 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
Datadog Logs
- Complex, multi-tiered pricing model based on ingestion, indexing, and storage; can become expensive at scale
- Ingestion pricing of $0.10/GB can accumulate rapidly for high-volume logging environments
Pricing, plan by plan
CloudWatch
Free- FreeFree
- Metrics collection
- Log aggregation
- Dashboards
Datadog Logs
$0.1/per GB ingested per monthNo published plan breakdown. See the Datadog Logs review.
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 Datadog Logs if
- You need log ingestion.
- You work on Cloud (AWS, Azure, Google Cloud, Oracle Cloud).
- You also want full-text search.
Questions people ask
- Is CloudWatch or Datadog Logs better?
- Neither clearly leads. CloudWatch starts at Free and Datadog Logs at $0.1/per GB ingested per month, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
- Which is cheaper, CloudWatch or Datadog Logs?
- CloudWatch has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at Free for CloudWatch and $0.1/per GB ingested per month for Datadog Logs.
- Does CloudWatch or Datadog Logs run on more platforms?
- CloudWatch runs on Web, Api. Datadog Logs runs on Cloud (AWS, Azure, Google Cloud, Oracle Cloud).
- Can I use CloudWatch for free?
- Yes. CloudWatch has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. Datadog Logs starts at $0.1/per GB ingested per month.
- 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 Datadog Logs is typically brought in for.
- What can CloudWatch do that Datadog Logs cannot?
- CloudWatch covers Metrics collection, Log aggregation, Dashboards, Alarms and notifications. Datadog Logs covers Log ingestion, Full-text search, Custom dashboards, Log-based metrics. Both handle API, Webhooks, REST, Web support.
Related pages
More on Datadog Logs
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