Software · head to head
Datadog Logs vs Grafana Loki
Datadog Logs
Software
Log Management and Analytics
- From
- $0.1/per GB ingested per month
- Rated
- -
The short version
- Only Grafana Loki has a free tier, so it costs nothing to try first.
- Each has a real cost: Datadog Logs complex, multi-tiered pricing model based on ingestion, indexing, and storage; can become expensive at scale; Grafana Loki grafana Cloud Logs Pro plan includes only 30-day retention; retention beyond 30 days requires Enterprise plan with minimum $25,000 annual commitment
- They diverge on capability: Datadog Logs covers Log ingestion, Grafana Loki covers Log aggregation.
Where they differ
Only the attributes on which Datadog Logs and Grafana Loki actually diverge.
| Attribute | Datadog Logs | Grafana Loki |
|---|---|---|
| Starting price | $0.1/per GB ingested per month | Free |
| Pricing model | usage-based | freemium |
| Free tier | No | Yes |
| Platforms | Cloud (AWS, Azure, Google Cloud, Oracle Cloud) | Self-hosted (open source), Managed (Grafana Cloud Logs), Enterprise (self-managed with support) |
| Founded | 2010 | 2014 |
Identical on both: 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 Datadog Logs
- Log ingestion
- Full-text search
- Custom dashboards
- Log-based metrics
Only in Grafana Loki
- Log aggregation
- Label-based indexing
- LogQL language
- Cost-effective
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.
Datadog Logs
- Centralised log aggregation and analysisnot Grafana Loki
- Multi-source log correlation with metrics and tracesnot Grafana Loki
- Root cause analysis and troubleshootingnot Grafana Loki
- Security monitoring and threat detectionnot Grafana Loki
Grafana Loki
- Cost-sensitive organisations deploying Kubernetes and Prometheus ecosystemsnot Datadog Logs
- Teams needing index-free log aggregation for high-volume environmentsnot Datadog Logs
Where each one falls short
Documented limitations, not opinions. Every one is a constraint you would hit in normal use.
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
Grafana Loki
- Grafana Cloud Logs Pro plan includes only 30-day retention; retention beyond 30 days requires Enterprise plan with minimum $25,000 annual commitment
- Open-source version requires self-hosting all infrastructure including storage and scaling
Pricing, plan by plan
Datadog Logs
$0.1/per GB ingested per monthNo published plan breakdown. See the Datadog Logs review.
Grafana Loki
FreeNo published plan breakdown. See the Grafana Loki review.
Which should you pick?
Choose Datadog Logs if
- You need log ingestion.
- You work on Cloud (AWS, Azure, Google Cloud, Oracle Cloud).
- You also want full-text search.
Choose Grafana Loki if
- You need log aggregation.
- You want to start without paying.
- You work on Self-hosted (open source), Managed (Grafana Cloud Logs), Enterprise (self-managed with support).
- You also want label-based indexing.
Questions people ask
- Is Datadog Logs or Grafana Loki better?
- Neither clearly leads. Datadog Logs starts at $0.1/per GB ingested per month and Grafana Loki at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
- Which is cheaper, Datadog Logs or Grafana Loki?
- Grafana Loki has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at $0.1/per GB ingested per month for Datadog Logs and Free for Grafana Loki.
- Does Datadog Logs or Grafana Loki run on more platforms?
- Datadog Logs runs on Cloud (AWS, Azure, Google Cloud, Oracle Cloud). Grafana Loki runs on Self-hosted (open source), Managed (Grafana Cloud Logs), Enterprise (self-managed with support).
- Can I use Grafana Loki for free?
- Yes. Grafana Loki has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. Datadog Logs starts at $0.1/per GB ingested per month.
- What is Datadog Logs best used for?
- Datadog Logs is most often used for centralised log aggregation and analysis, multi-source log correlation with metrics and traces, root cause analysis and troubleshooting, security monitoring and threat detection. Of those, centralised log aggregation and analysis and multi-source log correlation with metrics and traces are not what Grafana Loki is typically brought in for.
- What can Datadog Logs do that Grafana Loki cannot?
- Datadog Logs covers Log ingestion, Full-text search, Custom dashboards, Log-based metrics. Grafana Loki covers Log aggregation, Label-based indexing, LogQL language, Cost-effective. Both handle API, Webhooks, REST, Web support.
Related pages
More on Datadog Logs
More on Grafana Loki
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