Software · head to head
Dynatrace Logs vs Loki
The short version
- Each has a real cost: Dynatrace Logs log ingest and processing is billed at $0.20 per GiB, separately from retention and from query; Loki the Grafana Cloud free tier caps log ingestion at 50 GB a month with 14 day retention
- They diverge on capability: Dynatrace Logs covers Log analysis, Loki covers Log aggregation.
Where they differ
Only the attributes on which Dynatrace Logs and Loki actually diverge.
| Attribute | Dynatrace Logs | Loki |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing model | subscription | open-source |
| Founded | 2005 | 2014 |
Identical on both: starting price (Free), free tier (Yes), platforms (Web, Api), 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 Dynatrace Logs
- Log analysis
- AI-powered insights
- Metrics integration
- Automated root cause
Only in Loki
- Log aggregation
- Label-based indexing
- Real-time log streaming
- LogQL query language
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.
Dynatrace Logs
- Ingesting and processing application and infrastructure logsnot Loki
- Querying logs alongside traces and metrics in one platformnot Loki
- Log driven alerting within an existing Dynatrace deploymentnot Loki
Loki
- Aggregating application and infrastructure logs with label based indexingnot Dynatrace Logs
- Querying logs alongside metrics in Grafananot Dynatrace Logs
Where each one falls short
Documented limitations, not opinions. Every one is a constraint you would hit in normal use.
Dynatrace Logs
- Log ingest and processing is billed at $0.20 per GiB, separately from retention and from query
- Querying logs is charged in addition to ingest, either pay per query or as bundled queries
- Log analytics requires the same annual platform commitment as the rest of the Dynatrace platform
Loki
- The Grafana Cloud free tier caps log ingestion at 50 GB a month with 14 day retention
- Paid log pricing is split across three separate meters, at $0.050 per GB processed, $0.400 per GB written and $0.100 per GB retained
- Retaining logs is billed separately from ingesting them, so keeping data costs on an ongoing basis rather than once
- The Pro plan carries a $19 a month platform fee before any usage charges
Pricing, plan by plan
Dynatrace Logs
Free- FreeFree
- Log analysis
- AI-powered insights
- Metrics integration
Loki
Free- FreeFree
- Log aggregation
- Label-based indexing
- Real-time log streaming
Which should you pick?
Choose Dynatrace Logs if
- You need log analysis.
- You want to start without paying.
- You work on Web, Api.
- You also want ai-powered insights.
Choose Loki if
- You need log aggregation.
- You want to start without paying.
- You work on Web, Api.
- You also want label-based indexing.
Questions people ask
- Is Dynatrace Logs or Loki better?
- Neither clearly leads. Dynatrace Logs starts at Free and Loki at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
- Which is cheaper, Dynatrace Logs or Loki?
- Dynatrace Logs starts at Free and Loki at Free.
- Does Dynatrace Logs or Loki run on more platforms?
- Both run on Web, Api, so platform support will not decide this one for you.
- Can I use Dynatrace Logs for free?
- Both have a free tier, so you can try either at no cost before committing.
- What is Dynatrace Logs best used for?
- Dynatrace Logs is most often used for ingesting and processing application and infrastructure logs, querying logs alongside traces and metrics in one platform, log driven alerting within an existing dynatrace deployment. Of those, ingesting and processing application and infrastructure logs and querying logs alongside traces and metrics in one platform are not what Loki is typically brought in for.
- What can Dynatrace Logs do that Loki cannot?
- Dynatrace Logs covers Log analysis, AI-powered insights, Metrics integration, Automated root cause. Loki covers Log aggregation, Label-based indexing, Real-time log streaming, LogQL query language. Both handle API, Webhooks, REST, Web support.
Related pages
More on Dynatrace Logs
Keep looking
Other head to heads
- Dynatrace Logs vs Elastic Stack
- Dynatrace Logs vs New Relic
- Dynatrace Logs vs Datadog Logs
- Dynatrace Logs vs Coralogix
- Dynatrace Logs vs Grafana Loki
- Dynatrace Logs vs CloudWatch
- Dynatrace Logs vs Dynatrace
- Dynatrace Logs vs InfluxDB
- Dynatrace Logs vs Airbrake
- Dynatrace Logs vs AppDynamics
- Dynatrace Logs vs Axiom
- Dynatrace Logs vs Azure Monitor
- Dynatrace Logs vs Better Stack
- Dynatrace Logs vs Bugsnag
- Dynatrace Logs vs Elastic
- Dynatrace Logs vs Elastic APM
- Dynatrace Logs vs Elasticsearch Service
- Dynatrace Logs vs ELK Stack
- Loki vs Elastic Stack
- Loki vs New Relic
- Loki vs Datadog Logs
- Loki vs Coralogix
- Loki vs Grafana Loki
- Loki vs CloudWatch
- Loki vs Dynatrace
- Loki vs InfluxDB
- Loki vs Airbrake
- Loki vs AppDynamics
- Loki vs Axiom
- Loki vs Azure Monitor
- Loki vs Better Stack
- Loki vs Bugsnag
- Loki vs Elastic
- Loki vs Elastic APM
- Loki vs Elasticsearch Service
- Loki vs ELK Stack


