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Elastic APM vs Palo Alto Networks

Elastic APM logo

Elastic APM

Software

Application Performance Monitoring from Elastic

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Palo Alto Networks logo

Palo Alto Networks

Software

Enterprise cybersecurity platform

From
On request
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Only Elastic APM has a free tier, so it costs nothing to try first.
  • Each has a real cost: Elastic APM pricing is not published on the product page; cost follows the underlying Elastic deployment rather than being quoted per host or per service; Palo Alto Networks enterprise-focused pricing model
  • They diverge on capability: Elastic APM covers Performance monitoring, Palo Alto Networks covers Advanced threat prevention.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Elastic APM and Palo Alto Networks actually diverge.

Attributes where Elastic APM and Palo Alto Networks differ
AttributeElastic APMPalo Alto Networks
Starting priceFreeOn request
Pricing modelopen-sourcesubscription
Free tierYesNo
PlatformsWeb, ApiCloud, On-premises, Hybrid
Founded20112005

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 Elastic APM

  • Performance monitoring
  • Error tracking
  • Transaction tracing
  • Custom metrics
  • API
  • Webhooks
  • REST
  • Api support

Only in Palo Alto Networks

  • Advanced threat prevention
  • Threat detection and response
  • Cloud security
  • Endpoint protection
  • Network security
  • API protection
  • Incident response
  • Threat intelligence

Both cover

  • Web support

What people use each for

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

Elastic APM

  • Distributed tracing across microservicesnot Palo Alto Networks
  • Auto-instrumenting Java, .NET, Python, Go, Node.js, Ruby, PHP and C++ servicesnot Palo Alto Networks
  • OpenTelemetry-native collection through the Elastic distributionsnot Palo Alto Networks
  • Correlating latency and errors with machine learningnot Palo Alto Networks
  • Monitoring LLM calls alongside application tracesnot Palo Alto Networks

Palo Alto Networks

  • Enterprise network security and threat protectionnot Elastic APM
  • Cloud-native application protectionnot Elastic APM
  • Identity and access securitynot Elastic APM
  • Security operations and incident responsenot Elastic APM

Where each one falls short

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

Elastic APM

  • Pricing is not published on the product page; cost follows the underlying Elastic deployment rather than being quoted per host or per service
  • Self-managed deployment means running and scaling Elasticsearch yourself
  • Serverless does not carry every capability the hosted option does

Palo Alto Networks

  • Enterprise-focused pricing model
  • Complex implementation required

Pricing, plan by plan

Elastic APM

Free
  • FreeFree
    • Performance monitoring
    • Error tracking
    • Transaction tracing

Palo Alto Networks

On request
  • Enterprise$undefined/year
    • Threat prevention
    • Detection and response
    • Cloud security

Which should you pick?

Choose Elastic APM if

  • You need performance monitoring.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Web, Api.
  • You also want error tracking.
Elastic APM review

Choose Palo Alto Networks if

  • You need advanced threat prevention.
  • You work on Cloud, On-premises, Hybrid.
  • You also want threat detection and response.
Palo Alto Networks review

Questions people ask

Is Elastic APM or Palo Alto Networks better?
Neither clearly leads. Elastic APM starts at Free and Palo Alto Networks at On request, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Elastic APM or Palo Alto Networks?
Elastic APM has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at Free for Elastic APM and On request for Palo Alto Networks.
Does Elastic APM or Palo Alto Networks run on more platforms?
Elastic APM runs on Web, Api. Palo Alto Networks runs on Cloud, On-premises, Hybrid.
Can I use Elastic APM for free?
Yes. Elastic APM has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. Palo Alto Networks starts at On request.
What is Elastic APM best used for?
Elastic APM is most often used for distributed tracing across microservices, auto-instrumenting java, .net, python, go, node.js, ruby, php and c++ services, opentelemetry-native collection through the elastic distributions, correlating latency and errors with machine learning. Of those, distributed tracing across microservices and auto-instrumenting java, .net, python, go, node.js, ruby, php and c++ services are not what Palo Alto Networks is typically brought in for.
What can Elastic APM do that Palo Alto Networks cannot?
Elastic APM covers Performance monitoring, Error tracking, Transaction tracing, Custom metrics. Palo Alto Networks covers Advanced threat prevention, Threat detection and response, Cloud security, Endpoint protection. Both handle Web support.
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