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Logging · head to head

Grafana Loki vs Langfuse

Grafana Loki logo

Grafana Loki

Logging

Log Aggregation for Grafana Stack

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Langfuse logo

Langfuse

Software Development

Simple pricing for projects of all sizes

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; Langfuse free Hobby plan limited to 2 users and 30-day data retention

Where they differ

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

Attributes where Grafana Loki and Langfuse differ
AttributeGrafana LokiLangfuse
PlatformsSelf-hosted (open source), Managed (Grafana Cloud Logs), Enterprise (self-managed with support)Web
CategoryLoggingSoftware Development
Founded2014Unknown

Identical on both: starting price (Free), pricing model (freemium), 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 Langfuse

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 Langfuse
  • Teams needing index-free log aggregation for high-volume environmentsnot Langfuse

Langfuse

No use cases recorded yet. See the Langfuse review.

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

Langfuse

  • Free Hobby plan limited to 2 users and 30-day data retention
  • Overage pricing applies beyond included units; graduated rates from $8.00 per 100k units down to $6.00 per 100k units at 50M+ volume

Pricing, plan by plan

Grafana Loki

Free

No published plan breakdown. See the Grafana Loki review.

Langfuse

Free
  • HobbyFree
    • 50k units/month
    • 30-day data retention
    • 2 users maximum
  • Core$29/month
    • 100k units/month
    • 90-day data retention
    • Unlimited users
  • Pro$199/month
    • 100k units/month
    • 3-year data retention
    • SOC2 & ISO27001 compliance
  • Enterprise$2499/month
    • Custom rate limits
    • Dedicated support engineer
    • SCIM API & audit logs

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 Langfuse if

  • You want to start without paying.
Langfuse review

Questions people ask

Is Grafana Loki or Langfuse better?
Neither clearly leads. Grafana Loki starts at Free and Langfuse at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Grafana Loki or Langfuse?
Grafana Loki starts at Free and Langfuse at Free.
Does Grafana Loki or Langfuse run on more platforms?
Grafana Loki runs on Self-hosted (open source), Managed (Grafana Cloud Logs), Enterprise (self-managed with support). Langfuse 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 Langfuse is typically brought in for.
What can Grafana Loki do that Langfuse 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
Langfuse: What does Langfuse cost?

Langfuse starts at $29/month for the Core plan (100k units/month). Pro costs $199/month with 3-year data retention. Enterprise costs $2499/month for custom rate limits and dedicated support.

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
Langfuse: Does Langfuse have a free plan?

Yes, the Hobby plan is free with 50k units/month, 30-day data retention, and support for up to 2 users.

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

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

Source
Langfuse: What happens if I exceed my unit limits on Langfuse?

Overage pricing applies with graduated rates: $8.00 per 100k units for 100k-1M units, $7.00 per 100k units for 1M-10M units, $6.50 per 100k units for 10M-50M units, and $6.00 per 100k units for 50M+ units.

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
Langfuse: Are there discounts available on Langfuse?

Early-stage startups receive 50% off the first year. Research and student accounts qualify for up to 100% off. Non-profits receive $199 monthly credits.

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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