Database & Data Management · head to head
Couchbase vs New Relic

Couchbase
Database & Data Management
The modern database for enterprise applications
- From
- Free
- Rated
- -
The short version
- Each has a real cost: Couchbase the free tier is a single node with 8 GB of storage and forum support only; New Relic data ingest costs can be high for large-scale deployments with high logging volume, making budgeting difficult
- They diverge on capability: Couchbase covers JSON Document Model, New Relic covers APM.
Where they differ
Only the attributes on which Couchbase and New Relic actually diverge.
Identical on both: starting price (Free), free tier (Yes), 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 Couchbase
- JSON Document Model
- SQL++ Query
- Full-text Search
- Eventing
- Analytics
- Mobile Sync
- Multi-dimensional Scaling
- Kafka
Only in New Relic
- APM
- Infrastructure Monitoring
- Log Management
- Browser Monitoring
- Synthetic Monitoring
- Mobile Monitoring
- Kubernetes Monitoring
- AI Ops
Both cover
- Kubernetes
What people use each for
The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.
Couchbase
- Running a distributed NoSQL document database as a managed servicenot New Relic
- Mobile sync and offline first applications backed by a cloud databasenot New Relic
New Relic
- Application monitoringnot Couchbase
- Infrastructure monitoringnot Couchbase
- Error trackingnot Couchbase
- Performance optimizationnot Couchbase
Where each one falls short
Documented limitations, not opinions. Every one is a constraint you would hit in normal use.
Couchbase
- The free tier is a single node with 8 GB of storage and forum support only
- Node rates are hourly and quoted as starting figures, from $0.15 an hour on Basic to $0.49 on Enterprise
- The Developer Pro and Enterprise plans require 3 nodes, so the hourly rate multiplies before any usage
- Backup storage is billed separately at $0.07 per GB a month, and analytics backups at $0.14
- Support response time is a plan feature, at 8 hours on Developer Pro against 30 minutes on Enterprise
- AI and analytics run as separately priced planes at up to $0.86 an hour per node
New Relic
- Data ingest costs can be high for large-scale deployments with high logging volume, making budgeting difficult
- Core user licensing model adds complexity to pricing with distinction between full platform users and basic users
- Default logs obfuscation may miss some sensitive patterns requiring custom configuration
- Retention limits even on paid tiers require additional storage for long-term compliance requirements
Pricing, plan by plan
Couchbase
Free- CommunityFree
- Full features
- Community support
- Self-managed
- Capella FreeFree
- Managed service
- Limited resources
- Cloud hosted
New Relic
FreeNo published plan breakdown. See the New Relic review.
Which should you pick?
Choose Couchbase if
- You need json document model.
- You want to start without paying.
- You work on Linux, Windows, Mac, Docker, Web.
- You also want sql++ query.
Choose New Relic if
- You need apm.
- You want to start without paying.
- You work on Web, Api, Mobile.
- You also want infrastructure monitoring.
Questions people ask
- Is Couchbase or New Relic better?
- Neither clearly leads. Couchbase starts at Free and New Relic at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
- Which is cheaper, Couchbase or New Relic?
- Couchbase starts at Free and New Relic at Free.
- Does Couchbase or New Relic run on more platforms?
- Couchbase runs on Linux, Windows, Mac, Docker, Web. New Relic runs on Web, Api, Mobile.
- Can I use Couchbase for free?
- Both have a free tier, so you can try either at no cost before committing.
- What is Couchbase best used for?
- Couchbase is most often used for running a distributed nosql document database as a managed service, mobile sync and offline first applications backed by a cloud database. Of those, running a distributed nosql document database as a managed service and mobile sync and offline first applications backed by a cloud database are not what New Relic is typically brought in for.
- What can Couchbase do that New Relic cannot?
- Couchbase covers JSON Document Model, SQL++ Query, Full-text Search, Eventing. New Relic covers APM, Infrastructure Monitoring, Log Management, Browser Monitoring. Both handle Kubernetes.
Answered from the vendors’ own pages
New Relic: Does New Relic offer a free tier?
Yes, New Relic's free tier is perpetual with no credit card required. It includes 100 GB of free data ingest monthly, one Full Platform User with access to all 50+ capabilities, and unlimited Basic Users for querying and dashboard creation.
SourceNew Relic: How much does New Relic cost for paid plans?
Paid plans start at $49 per month per core user. New Relic uses consumption-based pricing where you pay only for what you use. Annual commitment options are available with volume discounts for larger teams.
SourceNew Relic: What data retention is included in New Relic's free tier?
The free tier includes a minimum of 8 days data retention for troubleshooting. Paid plans offer extended retention periods and customizable data retention policies.
SourceNew Relic: How many integrations does New Relic support?
New Relic provides access to 780+ integrations and unlimited hosts at no additional cost. These include monitoring integrations for various cloud services, databases, and applications.
SourceNew Relic: Can I use New Relic to monitor multiple cloud providers?
Yes, New Relic is cloud-agnostic and supports monitoring across AWS, Google Cloud, Azure, and on-premises infrastructure in a single platform.
SourceNew Relic: What is New Relic's ownership structure today?
New Relic was acquired by TPG and Francisco Partners on July 31, 2023, for $6.5 billion and transitioned from a publicly traded company to a private company in November 2023.
SourceRelated pages
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- New Relic vs PostgreSQL
- New Relic vs Airtable
- New Relic vs Amazon Aurora
- New Relic vs Elasticsearch
- New Relic vs PlanetScale
- New Relic vs Azure SQL
- New Relic vs ClickHouse
- New Relic vs DuckDB
- New Relic vs DynamoDB
- New Relic vs MariaDB
- New Relic vs Oracle Database
- New Relic vs Amazon RDS
- New Relic vs Amazon Redshift
- New Relic vs Apache Druid
- New Relic vs Cassandra
- New Relic vs CouchDB
- New Relic vs Firebolt
- New Relic vs Elastic Stack
- New Relic vs Datadog Logs
- New Relic vs Coralogix
- New Relic vs Grafana Loki
- New Relic vs CloudWatch
- New Relic vs Dynatrace
- New Relic vs InfluxDB
- New Relic vs Airbrake
- New Relic vs AppDynamics
- New Relic vs Axiom
- New Relic vs Azure Monitor
- New Relic vs Better Stack
- New Relic vs Bugsnag
- New Relic vs Dynatrace Logs
- New Relic vs Elastic
- New Relic vs Elastic APM
- New Relic vs Elasticsearch Service
- New Relic vs ELK Stack

