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Elastic Stack vs Langfuse

Elastic Stack logo

Elastic Stack

Logging

Search, Observability, and Security Solutions

From
On request
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Langfuse logo

Langfuse

Software Development

Simple pricing for projects of all sizes

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Only Langfuse has a free tier, so it costs nothing to try first.
  • Each has a real cost: Elastic Stack self-managed deployment requires licensing based on node count and RAM usage; Langfuse free Hobby plan limited to 2 users and 30-day data retention

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Elastic Stack and Langfuse actually diverge.

Attributes where Elastic Stack and Langfuse differ
AttributeElastic StackLangfuse
Starting priceOn requestFree
Pricing modelsubscriptionfreemium
Free tierNoYes
PlatformsCloud-hosted, Self-managed, Docker, Kubernetes (ECK)Web
CategoryLoggingSoftware Development
Founded2011Unknown

Identical on both: user rating (Not yet rated).

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 Stack

  • Full-text search
  • Log analytics
  • Security monitoring
  • Alerting
  • API
  • Webhooks
  • REST
  • Web support

Only in Langfuse

Nothing recorded that Elastic Stack does not also cover.

What people use each for

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

Elastic Stack

  • Distributed search and analytics engine for production-scale workloadsnot Langfuse
  • Full-text search and vector search with approximate nearest neighbour supportnot Langfuse
  • Security event tracking with field-level and document-level access controlnot Langfuse
  • Machine learning capabilities including anomaly detection and forecastingnot Langfuse

Langfuse

No use cases recorded yet. See the Langfuse review.

Where each one falls short

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

Elastic Stack

  • Self-managed deployment requires licensing based on node count and RAM usage
  • Serverless option has pending features including traffic filtering and bring-your-own-key encryption
  • Hosted deployment requires custom resource configuration for cluster management
  • Pricing models differ significantly across Hosted, Serverless, and Self-managed options

Langfuse

  • Free Hobby plan limited to 2 users and 30-day data retention
  • Overage pricing applies beyond included units; graduated rates from $8.00 per 100k units down to $6.00 per 100k units at 50M+ volume

Pricing, plan by plan

Elastic Stack

On request

No published plan breakdown. See the Elastic Stack review.

Langfuse

Free
  • HobbyFree
    • 50k units/month
    • 30-day data retention
    • 2 users maximum
  • Core$29/month
    • 100k units/month
    • 90-day data retention
    • Unlimited users
  • Pro$199/month
    • 100k units/month
    • 3-year data retention
    • SOC2 & ISO27001 compliance
  • Enterprise$2499/month
    • Custom rate limits
    • Dedicated support engineer
    • SCIM API & audit logs

Which should you pick?

Choose Elastic Stack if

  • You need full-text search.
  • You work on Cloud-hosted, Self-managed, Docker, Kubernetes (ECK).
  • You also want log analytics.
Elastic Stack review

Choose Langfuse if

  • You want to start without paying.
Langfuse review

Questions people ask

Is Elastic Stack or Langfuse better?
Neither clearly leads. Elastic Stack starts at On request and Langfuse at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Elastic Stack or Langfuse?
Langfuse has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at On request for Elastic Stack and Free for Langfuse.
Does Elastic Stack or Langfuse run on more platforms?
Elastic Stack runs on Cloud-hosted, Self-managed, Docker, Kubernetes (ECK). Langfuse runs on Web.
Can I use Langfuse for free?
Yes. Langfuse has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. Elastic Stack starts at On request.
What is Elastic Stack best used for?
Elastic Stack is most often used for distributed search and analytics engine for production-scale workloads, full-text search and vector search with approximate nearest neighbour support, security event tracking with field-level and document-level access control, machine learning capabilities including anomaly detection and forecasting. Of those, distributed search and analytics engine for production-scale workloads and full-text search and vector search with approximate nearest neighbour support are not what Langfuse is typically brought in for.
What can Elastic Stack do that Langfuse cannot?
Elastic Stack covers Full-text search, Log analytics, Security monitoring, Alerting.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

Elastic Stack: How much does Elastic Stack cost?

Elastic does not publish specific pricing on the Elastic Stack product page. Users can start a 14-day free trial with no credit card required, but ongoing subscription pricing requires contacting their sales team.

Source
Langfuse: What does Langfuse cost?

Langfuse starts at $29/month for the Core plan (100k units/month). Pro costs $199/month with 3-year data retention. Enterprise costs $2499/month for custom rate limits and dedicated support.

Source
Elastic Stack: What deployment options are available for Elastic Stack?

Users can deploy Elastic Stack on Elastic Cloud (hosted on AWS, Google Cloud, or Azure) or download it for self-managed deployment. Pricing for managed cloud hosting must be obtained by starting a trial or contacting sales.

Source
Langfuse: Does Langfuse have a free plan?

Yes, the Hobby plan is free with 50k units/month, 30-day data retention, and support for up to 2 users.

Source
Langfuse: What happens if I exceed my unit limits on Langfuse?

Overage pricing applies with graduated rates: $8.00 per 100k units for 100k-1M units, $7.00 per 100k units for 1M-10M units, $6.50 per 100k units for 10M-50M units, and $6.00 per 100k units for 50M+ units.

Source
Langfuse: Are there discounts available on Langfuse?

Early-stage startups receive 50% off the first year. Research and student accounts qualify for up to 100% off. Non-profits receive $199 monthly credits.

Source
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