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Logging · head to head

Grafana Loki vs Humanloop

Grafana Loki logo

Grafana Loki

Logging

Log Aggregation for Grafana Stack

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Humanloop logo

Humanloop

Software Development

The LLM evals platform for enterprises

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Each has a real cost: Grafana Loki grafana Cloud Logs Pro plan includes only 30-day retention; retention beyond 30 days requires Enterprise plan with minimum $25,000 annual commitment; Humanloop no published pricing for standard plans; customers must contact sales for quotes

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Grafana Loki and Humanloop actually diverge.

Attributes where Grafana Loki and Humanloop differ
AttributeGrafana LokiHumanloop
Pricing modelfreemiumusage-based
PlatformsSelf-hosted (open source), Managed (Grafana Cloud Logs), Enterprise (self-managed with support)Web
CategoryLoggingSoftware Development
Founded2014Unknown

Identical on both: starting price (Free), free tier (Yes), 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 Grafana Loki

  • Log aggregation
  • Label-based indexing
  • LogQL language
  • Cost-effective
  • API
  • Webhooks
  • REST
  • Web support

Only in Humanloop

Nothing recorded that Grafana Loki does not also cover.

What people use each for

The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.

Grafana Loki

  • Cost-sensitive organisations deploying Kubernetes and Prometheus ecosystemsnot Humanloop
  • Teams needing index-free log aggregation for high-volume environmentsnot Humanloop

Humanloop

  • LLM prompt management and evaluationnot Grafana Loki
  • AI workflow automation and testingnot Grafana Loki
  • Model monitoring and logging at scalenot Grafana Loki

Where each one falls short

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

Grafana Loki

  • Grafana Cloud Logs Pro plan includes only 30-day retention; retention beyond 30 days requires Enterprise plan with minimum $25,000 annual commitment
  • Open-source version requires self-hosting all infrastructure including storage and scaling

Humanloop

  • No published pricing for standard plans; customers must contact sales for quotes
  • Billing based on logs created per API call, making costs unpredictable without usage estimates
  • Separate charges apply from AI providers (OpenAI, Anthropic, etc.) using customer's own API keys, adding external costs

Pricing, plan by plan

Grafana Loki

Free

No published plan breakdown. See the Grafana Loki review.

Humanloop

Free
  • Free TrialFree
    • 2 members
    • 50 evaluation runs
    • 10,000 logs per month
  • Startup Program$null/contact-sales
    • Tailored pricing for early-stage, VC-backed startups
  • Enterprise$null/contact-sales
    • Custom pricing
    • SSO + SAML authentication
    • Role-based access controls

Which should you pick?

Choose Grafana Loki if

  • You need log aggregation.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Self-hosted (open source), Managed (Grafana Cloud Logs), Enterprise (self-managed with support).
  • You also want label-based indexing.
Grafana Loki review

Choose Humanloop if

  • You want to start without paying.
Humanloop review

Questions people ask

Is Grafana Loki or Humanloop better?
Neither clearly leads. Grafana Loki starts at Free and Humanloop at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Grafana Loki or Humanloop?
Grafana Loki starts at Free and Humanloop at Free.
Does Grafana Loki or Humanloop run on more platforms?
Grafana Loki runs on Self-hosted (open source), Managed (Grafana Cloud Logs), Enterprise (self-managed with support). Humanloop runs on Web.
Can I use Grafana Loki for free?
Both have a free tier, so you can try either at no cost before committing.
What is Grafana Loki best used for?
Grafana Loki is most often used for cost-sensitive organisations deploying kubernetes and prometheus ecosystems, teams needing index-free log aggregation for high-volume environments. Of those, cost-sensitive organisations deploying kubernetes and prometheus ecosystems and teams needing index-free log aggregation for high-volume environments are not what Humanloop is typically brought in for.
What can Grafana Loki do that Humanloop cannot?
Grafana Loki covers Log aggregation, Label-based indexing, LogQL language, Cost-effective.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

Grafana Loki: Is there a free tier for Grafana Cloud?

Yes, Grafana Cloud has a Free Forever plan at no cost with no registration required. The free tier is suitable for personal projects and early-stage startups.

Source
Humanloop: How much does Humanloop cost?

Humanloop offers a free trial with 2 members and 10,000 logs per month. Startup program and Enterprise plans require contacting sales for custom pricing based on usage needs.

Source
Grafana Loki: How long is data retained in Grafana's free plan?

The free tier retains metrics, logs, traces, and profiles for 14 days.

Source
Humanloop: What are the limits on Humanloop's free trial plan?

Free trial includes 2 members, 50 evaluation runs, and 10,000 logs per month with access to all features at limited volume.

Source
Grafana Loki: What is the minimum cost for Grafana Enterprise?

Grafana Enterprise has a minimum annual commitment of 25,000 dollars.

Source
Humanloop: How is Humanloop usage billed?

Humanloop bills based on logs created per API call to prompts, tools, evaluators, or flows. Separate charges apply from external AI providers like OpenAI and Anthropic using the customer's own API keys.

Source
Grafana Loki: Do I need a credit card to use Grafana's free tier?

No, Grafana Cloud's Free Forever plan requires no credit card to get started.

Source
Humanloop: Does Humanloop offer discounts for nonprofits or academics?

Academic and nonprofit pricing is available upon request, requiring contact with sales for customized rates.

Source
Grafana Loki: How is Grafana Cloud billed?

Grafana Cloud Pro starts at 19 dollars per month with usage-based charges on top. Billing is monthly based on your consumption. Grafana offers automatic volume discounts based on your spending.

Source
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