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CloudWatch vs Splunk Enterprise

CloudWatch logo

CloudWatch

Software

AWS Monitoring and Observability

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Splunk Enterprise logo

Splunk Enterprise

Software

Enterprise Search, Monitoring, and Analytics

From
On request
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

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; Splunk Enterprise splunk Platform and Enterprise Security offerings carry no published rate and require contacting sales for a quote
  • They diverge on capability: CloudWatch covers Metrics collection, Splunk Enterprise covers Real-time monitoring.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which CloudWatch and Splunk Enterprise actually diverge.

Attributes where CloudWatch and Splunk Enterprise differ
AttributeCloudWatchSplunk Enterprise
Starting priceFreeOn request
Free tierYesNo
Founded20062003

Identical on both: pricing model (usage-based), 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 CloudWatch

  • Metrics collection
  • Dashboards
  • Alarms and notifications

Only in Splunk Enterprise

  • Real-time monitoring
  • Advanced analytics
  • Compliance

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

Splunk Enterprise

  • Indexing and searching machine data and logs at enterprise scalenot CloudWatch
  • Security information and event management via Enterprise Securitynot CloudWatch
  • IT service intelligence and infrastructure observabilitynot 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 Enterprise

  • Splunk Platform and Enterprise Security offerings carry no published rate and require contacting sales for a quote
  • Four different pricing models are offered (activity, ingest, workload and entity based) and the applicable one depends on the product purchased
  • Published Observability Cloud rates start at $15 per host per month and are billed annually rather than monthly
  • Volume discounts are not published and require direct consultation with sales

Pricing, plan by plan

CloudWatch

Free
  • FreeFree
    • Metrics collection
    • Log aggregation
    • Dashboards

Splunk Enterprise

On request
  • Starter$undefined/month
    • Log aggregation
    • Real-time monitoring
    • Advanced analytics

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 Enterprise if

  • You need real-time monitoring.
  • You work on Web, Api.
  • You also want advanced analytics.
Splunk Enterprise review

Questions people ask

Is CloudWatch or Splunk Enterprise better?
Neither clearly leads. CloudWatch starts at Free and Splunk Enterprise at On request, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, CloudWatch or Splunk Enterprise?
CloudWatch has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at Free for CloudWatch and On request for Splunk Enterprise.
Does CloudWatch or Splunk Enterprise 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?
Yes. CloudWatch has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. Splunk Enterprise starts at On request.
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 Enterprise is typically brought in for.
What can CloudWatch do that Splunk Enterprise cannot?
CloudWatch covers Metrics collection, Dashboards, Alarms and notifications. Splunk Enterprise covers Real-time monitoring, Advanced analytics, Compliance. Both handle Log aggregation, API, Webhooks, REST.
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Related pages

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