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Logging · head to head

Filebeat vs Logz.io

Filebeat logo

Filebeat

Logging

Lightweight Shipper for Logs

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Logz.io logo

Logz.io

Logging

AI-Powered Log Analytics and Monitoring Platform

From
$99/month
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

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.; Logz.io saaS-only with no self-hosting option
  • They diverge on capability: Filebeat covers File tailing, Logz.io covers Log aggregation.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 2 September 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Filebeat and Logz.io actually diverge.

Attributes where Filebeat and Logz.io differ
AttributeFilebeatLogz.io
Starting priceFree$99/month
Pricing modelopen-sourceUnknown
Free tierYesNo
PlatformsWeb, ApiCloud (SaaS), Web
Founded20112014

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

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 Logz.io

  • Log aggregation
  • AI-powered insights
  • Elasticsearch integration
  • Alert management
  • Security analytics

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 monitoring
  • Application performance
  • Security analytics
  • Troubleshooting

Logz.io

  • Log monitoring
  • Application performance
  • Security analytics
  • Troubleshooting

Both are used for log monitoring, application performance, security analytics, troubleshooting, on those jobs the choice comes down to price and fit rather than capability.

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.

Logz.io

  • SaaS-only with no self-hosting option
  • High pricing for long data retention periods, with steep cost increases for larger data volumes
  • UI can take up to 10 seconds to load
  • Geo-location data is old and inaccurate
  • Expensive for smaller companies with limited log volumes
  • Data retention limitations at 14 days may not meet compliance requirements

Pricing, plan by plan

Filebeat

Free
  • FreeFree
    • File tailing
    • Log forwarding
    • Event parsing

Logz.io

$99/month
  • Pro$99/month
    • Log management
    • Real-time search
    • Basic alerts
  • Enterprise$undefined/mo
    • All Pro features
    • Advanced security
    • Dedicated support

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.
Filebeat review

Choose Logz.io if

  • You need log aggregation.
  • You work on Cloud (SaaS), Web.
  • You also want ai-powered insights.
Logz.io review

Questions people ask

Is Filebeat or Logz.io better?
Neither clearly leads. Filebeat starts at Free and Logz.io at $99/month, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Filebeat or Logz.io?
Filebeat has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at Free for Filebeat and $99/month for Logz.io.
Does Filebeat or Logz.io run on more platforms?
Filebeat runs on Web, Api. Logz.io runs on Cloud (SaaS), Web.
Can I use Filebeat for free?
Yes. Filebeat has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. Logz.io starts at $99/month.
What is Filebeat best used for?
Filebeat is most often used for log monitoring, application performance, security analytics, troubleshooting.
What can Filebeat do that Logz.io cannot?
Filebeat covers File tailing, Log forwarding, Event parsing, Input harvesting. Logz.io covers Log aggregation, AI-powered insights, Elasticsearch integration, Alert management. Both handle API, Webhooks, REST, Web support.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

Filebeat: What does Filebeat cost?

Filebeat is free and open source. There are no licensing fees for the software itself.

Source
Logz.io: Does Logz.io support self-hosting?

No. Logz.io is a fully SaaS platform with no self-hosting option, limiting flexibility for organizations with on-premises requirements or specific data residency needs.

Source
Filebeat: Is Filebeat free for commercial use?

Yes. Filebeat is open and free to use for any purpose, including commercial applications.

Source
Logz.io: Is Logz.io based on open-source ELK Stack?

Logz.io is built on the ELK Stack (Elasticsearch, Logstash, Kibana) but uses managed hosting. Note that Elasticsearch and Kibana switched to non-open-source licenses (SSPL) in February 2021, which may have legal implications.

Filebeat: Do I need to pay for Elastic Cloud to use Filebeat?

No. Filebeat works independently without any Elastic Cloud subscription, though Elastic Cloud is offered as an optional paid deployment option.

Source
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