Software · head to head
Datadog Logs vs Graylog
Datadog Logs
Software
Log Management and Analytics
- From
- $0.1/per GB ingested per month
- Rated
- -
The short version
- Only Graylog 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; Graylog graylog Enterprise starts at $15,000 per year and Graylog Security at $18,000 per year, priced by daily volume or annual consumption
- They diverge on capability: Datadog Logs covers Log ingestion, Graylog covers Log aggregation.
Where they differ
Only the attributes on which Datadog Logs and Graylog actually diverge.
| Attribute | Datadog Logs | Graylog |
|---|---|---|
| Starting price | $0.1/per GB ingested per month | Free |
| Pricing model | usage-based | open-source |
| Free tier | No | Yes |
| Platforms | Cloud (AWS, Azure, Google Cloud, Oracle Cloud) | Web, Api |
| Founded | 2010 | 2011 |
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
- Custom dashboards
- Log-based metrics
Only in Graylog
- Log aggregation
- Parsing and extraction
- Real-time analytics
Both cover
- Full-text search
- 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 Graylog
- Multi-source log correlation with metrics and tracesnot Graylog
- Root cause analysis and troubleshootingnot Graylog
- Security monitoring and threat detectionnot Graylog
Graylog
- Centralising and searching application and infrastructure logsnot Datadog Logs
- Running a SIEM with threat detection and investigation workflowsnot Datadog Logs
- Self-hosting log management without per-GB SaaS billingnot 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
Graylog
- Graylog Enterprise starts at $15,000 per year and Graylog Security at $18,000 per year, priced by daily volume or annual consumption
- Correlation engine, scheduled and custom reports, compliance reports and teams management are Enterprise-only
- Data tiering across hot, warm and archive storage is an Enterprise feature, not available in Graylog Open
- Graylog Open carries community support only; professional support requires a paid edition
- UEBA anomaly detection, Sigma rules, MITRE ATT&CK alignment and SOAR automation are limited to Graylog Security
Pricing, plan by plan
Datadog Logs
$0.1/per GB ingested per monthNo published plan breakdown. See the Datadog Logs review.
Graylog
Free- FreeFree
- Log aggregation
- Full-text search
- Parsing and extraction
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 custom dashboards.
Choose Graylog if
- You need log aggregation.
- You want to start without paying.
- You work on Web, Api.
- You also want parsing and extraction.
Questions people ask
- Is Datadog Logs or Graylog better?
- Neither clearly leads. Datadog Logs starts at $0.1/per GB ingested per month and Graylog at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
- Which is cheaper, Datadog Logs or Graylog?
- Graylog 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 Graylog.
- Does Datadog Logs or Graylog run on more platforms?
- Datadog Logs runs on Cloud (AWS, Azure, Google Cloud, Oracle Cloud). Graylog runs on Web, Api.
- Can I use Graylog for free?
- Yes. Graylog 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 Graylog is typically brought in for.
- What can Datadog Logs do that Graylog cannot?
- Datadog Logs covers Log ingestion, Custom dashboards, Log-based metrics. Graylog covers Log aggregation, Parsing and extraction, Real-time analytics. Both handle Full-text search, API, Webhooks, REST.
Related pages
More on Datadog Logs
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