Log Management · head to head
Filebeat vs Datadog Logs
Datadog Logs
Log Management
Log Management and Analytics
- From
- $0.1/per GB ingested per month
- Rated
- -
The short version
- Only Filebeat has a free tier, so it costs nothing to try first.
- Each has a real cost: Filebeat filebeat ships only as part of the Elastic Stack and has no standalone commercial license; using it in production requires deploying Elasticsearch and typically Kibana alongside it.; Datadog Logs complex, multi-tiered pricing model based on ingestion, indexing, and storage; can become expensive at scale
- They diverge on capability: Filebeat covers File tailing, Datadog Logs covers Log ingestion.
Where they differ
Only the attributes on which Filebeat and Datadog Logs actually diverge.
| Attribute | Filebeat | Datadog Logs |
|---|---|---|
| Starting price | Free | $0.1/per GB ingested per month |
| Pricing model | open-source | usage-based |
| Free tier | Yes | No |
| Platforms | Web, Api | Cloud (AWS, Azure, Google Cloud, Oracle Cloud) |
| Founded | 2011 | 2010 |
Identical on both: user rating (Not yet rated), category (Log Management).
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 Filebeat
- File tailing
- Log forwarding
- Event parsing
- Input harvesting
Only in Datadog Logs
- Log ingestion
- Full-text search
- Custom dashboards
- Log-based metrics
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.
Filebeat
- Log monitoringnot Datadog Logs
- Application performancenot Datadog Logs
- Security analyticsnot Datadog Logs
- Troubleshootingnot Datadog Logs
Datadog Logs
- Centralised log aggregation and analysisnot Filebeat
- Multi-source log correlation with metrics and tracesnot Filebeat
- Root cause analysis and troubleshootingnot Filebeat
- Security monitoring and threat detectionnot Filebeat
Where each one falls short
Documented limitations, not opinions. Every one is a constraint you would hit in normal use.
Filebeat
- Filebeat ships only as part of the Elastic Stack and has no standalone commercial license; using it in production requires deploying Elasticsearch and typically Kibana alongside it.
Datadog Logs
- Complex, multi-tiered pricing model based on ingestion, indexing, and storage; can become expensive at scale
- Ingestion pricing of $0.10/GB can accumulate rapidly for high-volume logging environments
Pricing, plan by plan
Filebeat
Free- FreeFree
- File tailing
- Log forwarding
- Event parsing
Datadog Logs
$0.1/per GB ingested per monthNo published plan breakdown. See the Datadog Logs review.
Which should you pick?
Choose Filebeat if
- You need file tailing.
- You want to start without paying.
- You work on Web, Api.
- You also want log forwarding.
Choose Datadog Logs if
- You need log ingestion.
- You work on Cloud (AWS, Azure, Google Cloud, Oracle Cloud).
- You also want full-text search.
Questions people ask
- Is Filebeat or Datadog Logs better?
- Neither clearly leads. Filebeat starts at Free and Datadog Logs at $0.1/per GB ingested per month, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
- Which is cheaper, Filebeat or Datadog Logs?
- Filebeat has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at Free for Filebeat and $0.1/per GB ingested per month for Datadog Logs.
- Does Filebeat or Datadog Logs run on more platforms?
- Filebeat runs on Web, Api. Datadog Logs runs on Cloud (AWS, Azure, Google Cloud, Oracle Cloud).
- Can I use Filebeat for free?
- Yes. Filebeat has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. Datadog Logs starts at $0.1/per GB ingested per month.
- What is Filebeat best used for?
- Filebeat is most often used for log monitoring, application performance, security analytics, troubleshooting. Of those, log monitoring and application performance are not what Datadog Logs is typically brought in for.
- What can Filebeat do that Datadog Logs cannot?
- Filebeat covers File tailing, Log forwarding, Event parsing, Input harvesting. Datadog Logs covers Log ingestion, Full-text search, Custom dashboards, Log-based metrics. Both handle API, Webhooks, REST, Web support.