Softwr

Software · head to head

Fluentd vs Splunk Cloud

Fluentd logo

Fluentd

Software

Open Source Data Collector for Unified Logging

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Splunk Cloud logo

Splunk Cloud

Software

Cloud-Based Log Management and Analytics

From
$675/year
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

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; Splunk Cloud significantly higher pricing than competitors like Datadog and Elastic
  • They diverge on capability: Fluentd covers Log collection, Splunk Cloud covers Log aggregation.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Fluentd and Splunk Cloud actually diverge.

Attributes where Fluentd and Splunk Cloud differ
AttributeFluentdSplunk Cloud
Starting priceFree$675/year
Pricing modelopen-sourceUnknown
Free tierYesNo
PlatformsWeb, ApiWeb
Founded20112003

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

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 Splunk Cloud

  • Log aggregation
  • Real-time analytics
  • Machine learning
  • Advanced dashboards
  • Compliance tools
  • Cloud scalability

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 Splunk Cloud
  • Parsing and transforming log records before forwardingnot Splunk Cloud
  • Aggregating logs from containers into Elasticsearch, S3 or a SIEMnot Splunk Cloud

Splunk Cloud

  • Log monitoringnot Fluentd
  • Application performancenot Fluentd
  • Security analyticsnot Fluentd
  • Troubleshootingnot 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

Splunk Cloud

  • Significantly higher pricing than competitors like Datadog and Elastic
  • Per-GB ingest costs of $150+/day make budget forecasting difficult
  • Extended retention adds substantial additional costs
  • Enterprise Security add-on costs $25-45/GB/day on top of base pricing

Pricing, plan by plan

Fluentd

Free
  • FreeFree
    • Log collection
    • Data parsing
    • Filtering and buffering

Splunk Cloud

$675/year

No published plan breakdown. See the Splunk Cloud 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.
Fluentd review

Choose Splunk Cloud if

  • You need log aggregation.
  • You also want real-time analytics.
Splunk Cloud review

Questions people ask

Is Fluentd or Splunk Cloud better?
Neither clearly leads. Fluentd starts at Free and Splunk Cloud at $675/year, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Fluentd or Splunk Cloud?
Fluentd has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at Free for Fluentd and $675/year for Splunk Cloud.
Does Fluentd or Splunk Cloud run on more platforms?
Fluentd runs on Web, Api. Splunk Cloud runs on Web.
Can I use Fluentd for free?
Yes. Fluentd has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. Splunk Cloud starts at $675/year.
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 Splunk Cloud is typically brought in for.
What can Fluentd do that Splunk Cloud cannot?
Fluentd covers Log collection, Data parsing, Filtering and buffering, Event routing. Splunk Cloud covers Log aggregation, Real-time analytics, Machine learning, Advanced dashboards. Both handle API, Webhooks, REST, Web support.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

Splunk Cloud: How is Splunk Cloud priced?

Splunk Cloud uses two pricing models: legacy per-GB ingest at $150+/GB/day or newer workload pricing ranging from $3,000 to $400,000/month depending on pack size. Simpler deployments offer ingest pricing with 5GB/day at $675/year.

Source
Splunk Cloud: What is included with Splunk Cloud storage?

Storage is included for a default retention period, typically 90 days for hot/warm data, with extended retention costing extra.

Source
Splunk Cloud: Is Splunk Cloud managed or do I need to manage infrastructure?

Splunk Cloud is a fully managed SaaS offering where Cisco (current owner) handles infrastructure, upgrades, and scaling.

Source
Splunk Cloud: What makes Splunk Cloud expensive compared to alternatives?

Splunk remains the highest-priced major log platform, but offers the most powerful query language (SPL) and the deepest enterprise security ecosystem.

Source
ShareXLinkedInRedditWhatsAppEmail

Related pages

More on Fluentd

More on Splunk Cloud

Keep looking

Other head to heads