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Datadog vs Ubuntu

Datadog logo

Datadog

Software

Modern monitoring & security

From
$15/month
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Ubuntu logo

Ubuntu

Software

Enterprise Linux distribution with 15-year support options.

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Only Ubuntu has a free tier, so it costs nothing to try first.
  • Each has a real cost: Datadog consumption-based pricing model makes costs hard to predict and can scale quickly; Ubuntu free version supported only by community; no official Canonical support without Pro subscription

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Datadog and Ubuntu actually diverge.

Attributes where Datadog and Ubuntu differ
AttributeDatadogUbuntu
Starting price$15/monthFree
Pricing modelUnknownfreemium
Free tierNoYes
PlatformsWeb, Linux, Windows, macOSDesktop, Server, Cloud, IoT, Edge, WSL
Founded2010Unknown

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

  • Infrastructure monitoring
  • Application performance monitoring
  • Log management
  • Real user monitoring
  • Synthetic monitoring
  • Security monitoring
  • Network monitoring
  • Serverless monitoring

Only in Ubuntu

Nothing recorded that Datadog does not also cover.

What people use each for

The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.

Datadog

  • Infrastructure monitoringnot Ubuntu
  • Application performancenot Ubuntu
  • Security monitoringnot Ubuntu
  • Log analysisnot Ubuntu
  • Cloud monitoringnot Ubuntu

Ubuntu

  • Individual developers and small teams using free Ubuntu for laptops and serversnot Datadog
  • Cloud and data centre deployments requiring certified, supported Linux operating systemnot Datadog
  • Organisations needing FIPS-certified or DISA-STIG-hardened Linux for government and regulated environmentsnot Datadog
  • AI and machine learning teams using Ubuntu Desktop with pre-optimised toolchainsnot Datadog
  • IoT and edge computing deployments using Ubuntu Corenot Datadog

Where each one falls short

Documented limitations, not opinions. Every one is a constraint you would hit in normal use.

Datadog

  • Consumption-based pricing model makes costs hard to predict and can scale quickly
  • Add-on modules significantly increase costs: custom metrics, indexed spans, extended retention
  • No free tier for production monitoring
  • High costs for organizations with large amounts of log data or high-cardinality metrics

Ubuntu

  • Free version supported only by community; no official Canonical support without Pro subscription
  • Ubuntu Pro required for enterprise compliance certifications (FIPS, DISA-STIG); free version does not include these
  • Ubuntu Pro pricing is proprietary and varies based on cloud deployment (AWS, Azure, GCP); no published per-machine or per-user pricing
  • Ubuntu Pro + Support adds 24/7 support costs on top of base subscription; total cost for enterprise-grade support not transparent
  • Personal/free tier limited to 5 machines; any larger deployment requires paid enterprise subscription

Pricing, plan by plan

Datadog

$15/month
  • Infrastructure Monitoring$15/month
    • Host monitoring
    • Basic dashboards
  • APM$31/month
    • Application performance monitoring
    • Trace collection
  • Log Management$0.1/gb
    • Log indexing
    • Search and filter

Ubuntu

Free
  • Ubuntu (Free)Free
    • Desktop, Server, Core and Cloud editions
    • Community support
    • Standard security updates (5 years LTS)
  • Ubuntu Pro (Personal)Free
    • Extended Security Maintenance (10 years)
    • Kernel Livepatch
    • Landscape management
  • Ubuntu Pro (Enterprise)$null/variable
    • 10 years Extended Security Maintenance
    • FIPS 140, DISA-STIG, CIS compliance
    • Kernel Livepatch
  • Ubuntu Pro + Support$null/variable
    • All Ubuntu Pro features
    • 24/7 break-fix and bug-fix support
    • Expert assistance for infrastructure and applications

Which should you pick?

Choose Datadog if

  • You need infrastructure monitoring.
  • You work on Web, Linux, Windows, macOS.
  • You also want application performance monitoring.
Datadog review

Choose Ubuntu if

  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Desktop, Server, Cloud, IoT, Edge, WSL.
Ubuntu review

Questions people ask

Is Datadog or Ubuntu better?
Neither clearly leads. Datadog starts at $15/month and Ubuntu at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Datadog or Ubuntu?
Ubuntu has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at $15/month for Datadog and Free for Ubuntu.
Does Datadog or Ubuntu run on more platforms?
Datadog runs on Web, Linux, Windows, macOS. Ubuntu runs on Desktop, Server, Cloud, IoT, Edge, WSL.
Can I use Ubuntu for free?
Yes. Ubuntu has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. Datadog starts at $15/month.
What is Datadog best used for?
Datadog is most often used for infrastructure monitoring, application performance, security monitoring, log analysis. Of those, infrastructure monitoring and application performance are not what Ubuntu is typically brought in for.
What can Datadog do that Ubuntu cannot?
Datadog covers Infrastructure monitoring, Application performance monitoring, Log management, Real user monitoring.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

Datadog: How is Datadog pricing structured?

Datadog uses consumption-based pricing tied to data volume ingested, hosts monitored, and products enabled. Infrastructure Monitoring starts at $15/host/month, APM at $31/host/month, and Log Management at $0.10/GB for indexed logs.

Source
Ubuntu: Is Ubuntu free?

Yes. Ubuntu is free to download and use in all editions. Community support is also available at no cost. Ubuntu Pro subscriptions are optional and provide extended support and compliance tools.

Source
Datadog: Does Datadog offer a free tier?

Datadog offers a free trial but not a permanent free tier for production monitoring. Pricing begins with paid plans only.

Source
Ubuntu: How long is Ubuntu LTS support?

Standard Ubuntu LTS releases receive 5 years of security maintenance. Ubuntu Pro extends this to 10 years, expandable to 15 years with the Legacy add-on.

Source
Datadog: What integrations does Datadog support?

Datadog offers 1000+ built-in integrations including AWS, Kubernetes, Docker, Azure, GCP, and most major cloud platforms and services.

Source
Ubuntu: What compliance certifications does Ubuntu Pro provide?

Ubuntu Pro provides compliance tools for FIPS 140, DISA-STIG, CIS, FedRAMP and PCI-DSS standards.

Source
Datadog: Can Datadog monitor Kubernetes clusters?

Yes. The Datadog Agent runs as a DaemonSet to provide real-time visibility into pods, nodes, deployments, and control-plane health across major Kubernetes distributions including EKS, AKS, GKE, OpenShift, and others.

Source
Datadog: How can I reduce Datadog costs?

Datadog bills based on indexed logs, custom metrics, and high-cardinality tags. Costs can be unpredictable and may run 2-3x estimates. Prepaying annually can secure 5-15% discounts.

Source
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