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Datadog Logs vs Splunk

Datadog Logs logo

Datadog Logs

Software

Log Management and Analytics

From
$0.1/per GB ingested per month
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Splunk logo

Splunk

Software

Turn Data Into Doing

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Only Splunk 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; Splunk no prices are published on any plan; every model requires contacting sales for an estimate
  • They diverge on capability: Datadog Logs covers Log ingestion, Splunk covers Log aggregation.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Datadog Logs and Splunk actually diverge.

Attributes where Datadog Logs and Splunk differ
AttributeDatadog LogsSplunk
Starting price$0.1/per GB ingested per monthFree
Free tierNoYes
PlatformsCloud (AWS, Azure, Google Cloud, Oracle Cloud)Web, Api
Founded20102003

Identical on both: pricing model (usage-based), 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
  • Log-based metrics

Only in Splunk

  • Log aggregation
  • Real-time monitoring
  • Data visualization
  • Alert management
  • Anomaly detection
  • Log parsing

Both cover

  • Full-text search
  • Custom dashboards
  • 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 Splunk
  • Multi-source log correlation with metrics and tracesnot Splunk
  • Root cause analysis and troubleshootingnot Splunk
  • Security monitoring and threat detectionnot Splunk

Splunk

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

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

Datadog Logs

$0.1/per GB ingested per month

No published plan breakdown. See the Datadog Logs review.

Splunk

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

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 log-based metrics.
Datadog Logs review

Choose Splunk if

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

Questions people ask

Is Datadog Logs or Splunk better?
Neither clearly leads. Datadog Logs starts at $0.1/per GB ingested per month and Splunk at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Datadog Logs or Splunk?
Splunk 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 Splunk.
Does Datadog Logs or Splunk run on more platforms?
Datadog Logs runs on Cloud (AWS, Azure, Google Cloud, Oracle Cloud). Splunk runs on Web, Api.
Can I use Splunk for free?
Yes. Splunk 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 Splunk is typically brought in for.
What can Datadog Logs do that Splunk cannot?
Datadog Logs covers Log ingestion, Log-based metrics. Splunk covers Log aggregation, Real-time monitoring, Data visualization, Alert management. Both handle Full-text search, Custom dashboards, API, Webhooks.
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