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Log Management · head to head

CloudWatch vs Splunk

CloudWatch logo

CloudWatch

Log Management

AWS Monitoring and Observability

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Splunk logo

Splunk

Network & Connectivity

Turn Data Into Doing

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

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; Splunk no prices are published on any plan; every model requires contacting sales for an estimate
  • They diverge on capability: CloudWatch covers Metrics collection, Splunk covers Real-time monitoring.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which CloudWatch and Splunk actually diverge.

Attributes where CloudWatch and Splunk differ
AttributeCloudWatchSplunk
CategoryLog ManagementNetwork & Connectivity
Founded20062003

Identical on both: starting price (Free), pricing model (usage-based), free tier (Yes), platforms (Web, Api), user rating (Not yet rated).

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
  • Dashboards
  • Alarms and notifications

Only in Splunk

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

Both cover

  • Log aggregation
  • 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 Splunk
  • Alarming on thresholds across AWS servicesnot Splunk
  • Querying logs with Logs Insightsnot Splunk
  • Live tailing logs during an incidentnot Splunk
  • Distributed tracing alongside X-Raynot Splunk

Splunk

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

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

CloudWatch

Free
  • FreeFree
    • Metrics collection
    • Log aggregation
    • Dashboards

Splunk

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

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 dashboards.
CloudWatch review

Choose Splunk if

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

Questions people ask

Is CloudWatch or Splunk better?
Neither clearly leads. CloudWatch 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, CloudWatch or Splunk?
CloudWatch starts at Free and Splunk at Free.
Does CloudWatch or Splunk 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 Splunk is typically brought in for.
What can CloudWatch do that Splunk cannot?
CloudWatch covers Metrics collection, Dashboards, Alarms and notifications. Splunk covers Real-time monitoring, Data visualization, Full-text search, Custom dashboards. Both handle Log aggregation, API, Webhooks, REST.
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