Log Management · head to head
Fluentd vs Datadog Logs
Datadog Logs
Log Management
Log Management and Analytics
- From
- $0.1/per GB ingested per month
- Rated
- -
The short version
- Only Fluentd has a free tier, so it costs nothing to try first.
- Each has a real cost: Fluentd fluentd needs more than 60 MB of memory at runtime, against roughly 450 KB for Fluent Bit; Datadog Logs complex, multi-tiered pricing model based on ingestion, indexing, and storage; can become expensive at scale
- They diverge on capability: Fluentd covers Log collection, Datadog Logs covers Log ingestion.
Where they differ
Only the attributes on which Fluentd and Datadog Logs actually diverge.
| Attribute | Fluentd | 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 Fluentd
- Log collection
- Data parsing
- Filtering and buffering
- Event routing
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.
Fluentd
- Unified log collection and routing from many sources to many destinationsnot Datadog Logs
- Parsing and transforming log records before forwardingnot Datadog Logs
- Aggregating logs from containers into Elasticsearch, S3 or a SIEMnot Datadog Logs
Datadog Logs
- Centralised log aggregation and analysisnot Fluentd
- Multi-source log correlation with metrics and tracesnot Fluentd
- Root cause analysis and troubleshootingnot Fluentd
- Security monitoring and threat detectionnot Fluentd
Where each one falls short
Documented limitations, not opinions. Every one is a constraint you would hit in normal use.
Fluentd
- Fluentd needs more than 60 MB of memory at runtime, against roughly 450 KB for Fluent Bit
- Fluentd is built as a Ruby gem and depends on other gems, so a Ruby runtime is required
- Its capability comes from over 1,000 external plugins rather than built in functionality, so each added input or output is a separate dependency
- The Fluent Bit documentation states that cloud providers have switched from Fluentd to Fluent Bit for performance and compatibility and calls Fluent Bit the next generation solution
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
Fluentd
Free- FreeFree
- Log collection
- Data parsing
- Filtering and buffering
Datadog Logs
$0.1/per GB ingested per monthNo published plan breakdown. See the Datadog Logs review.
Which should you pick?
Choose Fluentd if
- You need log collection.
- You want to start without paying.
- You work on Web, Api.
- You also want data parsing.
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 Fluentd or Datadog Logs better?
- Neither clearly leads. Fluentd 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, Fluentd or Datadog Logs?
- Fluentd has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at Free for Fluentd and $0.1/per GB ingested per month for Datadog Logs.
- Does Fluentd or Datadog Logs run on more platforms?
- Fluentd runs on Web, Api. Datadog Logs runs on Cloud (AWS, Azure, Google Cloud, Oracle Cloud).
- Can I use Fluentd for free?
- Yes. Fluentd has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. Datadog Logs starts at $0.1/per GB ingested per month.
- What is Fluentd best used for?
- Fluentd is most often used for unified log collection and routing from many sources to many destinations, parsing and transforming log records before forwarding, aggregating logs from containers into elasticsearch, s3 or a siem. Of those, unified log collection and routing from many sources to many destinations and parsing and transforming log records before forwarding are not what Datadog Logs is typically brought in for.
- What can Fluentd do that Datadog Logs cannot?
- Fluentd covers Log collection, Data parsing, Filtering and buffering, Event routing. Datadog Logs covers Log ingestion, Full-text search, Custom dashboards, Log-based metrics. Both handle API, Webhooks, REST, Web support.