Softwr

Log Management · head to head

ELK Stack vs Palo Alto Networks

ELK Stack logo

ELK Stack

Log Management

Open Source Search and Log Analytics

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Palo Alto Networks logo

Palo Alto Networks

Network & Connectivity

Enterprise cybersecurity platform

From
On request
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Only ELK Stack has a free tier, so it costs nothing to try first.
  • Each has a real cost: ELK Stack the free Basic self managed subscription excludes machine learning, alerting, single sign on via SAML or OpenID Connect, LDAP and Active Directory authentication, field and document level security, searchable snapshots and cross cluster replication; Palo Alto Networks enterprise-focused pricing model
  • They diverge on capability: ELK Stack covers Full-text search, Palo Alto Networks covers Advanced threat prevention.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which ELK Stack and Palo Alto Networks actually diverge.

Attributes where ELK Stack and Palo Alto Networks differ
AttributeELK StackPalo Alto Networks
Starting priceFreeOn request
Pricing modelopen-sourcesubscription
Free tierYesNo
PlatformsWeb, ApiCloud, On-premises, Hybrid
CategoryLog ManagementNetwork & Connectivity
Founded20112005

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 ELK Stack

  • Full-text search
  • Data visualization
  • Log aggregation
  • Time-series analytics
  • 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.

ELK Stack

  • Centralised log search and analytics over Elasticsearchnot Palo Alto Networks
  • Dashboards and visualisation of machine data in Kibananot Palo Alto Networks
  • Self managing a search and observability cluster on your own hardwarenot Palo Alto Networks

Palo Alto Networks

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

Where each one falls short

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

ELK Stack

  • The free Basic self managed subscription excludes machine learning, alerting, single sign on via SAML or OpenID Connect, LDAP and Active Directory authentication, field and document level security, searchable snapshots and cross cluster replication
  • Cross cluster operations require the same subscription tier on every cluster involved
  • The 99.95 percent monthly uptime SLA applies only to the Platinum and Enterprise subscription tiers
  • Three deployment models are priced on three different bases: resource based for Cloud Hosted, usage based for Serverless and licence based on nodes and RAM for self managed
  • Elastic Cloud Serverless does not yet support traffic filtering, cross project search or bring your own key
  • The pricing page publishes no rate for any tier

Palo Alto Networks

  • Enterprise-focused pricing model
  • Complex implementation required

Pricing, plan by plan

ELK Stack

Free
  • FreeFree
    • Full-text search
    • Data visualization
    • Log aggregation

Palo Alto Networks

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

Which should you pick?

Choose ELK Stack if

  • You need full-text search.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Web, Api.
  • You also want data visualization.
ELK Stack 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 ELK Stack or Palo Alto Networks better?
Neither clearly leads. ELK Stack 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, ELK Stack or Palo Alto Networks?
ELK Stack has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at Free for ELK Stack and On request for Palo Alto Networks.
Does ELK Stack or Palo Alto Networks run on more platforms?
ELK Stack runs on Web, Api. Palo Alto Networks runs on Cloud, On-premises, Hybrid.
Can I use ELK Stack for free?
Yes. ELK Stack has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. Palo Alto Networks starts at On request.
What is ELK Stack best used for?
ELK Stack is most often used for centralised log search and analytics over elasticsearch, dashboards and visualisation of machine data in kibana, self managing a search and observability cluster on your own hardware. Of those, centralised log search and analytics over elasticsearch and dashboards and visualisation of machine data in kibana are not what Palo Alto Networks is typically brought in for.
What can ELK Stack do that Palo Alto Networks cannot?
ELK Stack covers Full-text search, Data visualization, Log aggregation, Time-series analytics. Palo Alto Networks covers Advanced threat prevention, Threat detection and response, Cloud security, Endpoint protection. Both handle Web support.
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