Logging · head to head
Grafana Loki vs Logz.io
The short version
- Only Grafana Loki has a free tier, so it costs nothing to try first.
- 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; Logz.io saaS-only with no self-hosting option
- They diverge on capability: Grafana Loki covers Label-based indexing, Logz.io covers AI-powered insights.
- Prices and features above were last checked on 2 September 2026.
Where they differ
Only the attributes on which Grafana Loki and Logz.io actually diverge.
| Attribute | Grafana Loki | Logz.io |
|---|---|---|
| Starting price | Free | $99/month |
| Pricing model | freemium | Unknown |
| Free tier | Yes | No |
| Platforms | Self-hosted (open source), Managed (Grafana Cloud Logs), Enterprise (self-managed with support) | Cloud (SaaS), Web |
Identical on both: user rating (Not yet rated), category (Logging), founded (2014).
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
- Label-based indexing
- LogQL language
- Cost-effective
Only in Logz.io
- AI-powered insights
- Elasticsearch integration
- Alert management
- Security analytics
Both cover
- Log aggregation
- API
- Webhooks
- REST
- Web support
- Api support
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 Logz.io
- Teams needing index-free log aggregation for high-volume environmentsnot Logz.io
Logz.io
- Log monitoringnot Grafana Loki
- Application performancenot Grafana Loki
- Security analyticsnot Grafana Loki
- Troubleshootingnot 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
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
Grafana Loki
FreeNo published plan breakdown. See the Grafana Loki review.
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 Grafana Loki if
- You need label-based indexing.
- 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 logql language.
Choose Logz.io if
- You need ai-powered insights.
- You work on Cloud (SaaS), Web.
- You also want elasticsearch integration.
Questions people ask
- Is Grafana Loki or Logz.io better?
- Neither clearly leads. Grafana Loki 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, Grafana Loki or Logz.io?
- Grafana Loki has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at Free for Grafana Loki and $99/month for Logz.io.
- Does Grafana Loki or Logz.io run on more platforms?
- Grafana Loki runs on Self-hosted (open source), Managed (Grafana Cloud Logs), Enterprise (self-managed with support). Logz.io runs on Cloud (SaaS), Web.
- Can I use Grafana Loki for free?
- Yes. Grafana Loki has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. Logz.io starts at $99/month.
- 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 Logz.io is typically brought in for.
- What can Grafana Loki do that Logz.io cannot?
- Grafana Loki covers Label-based indexing, LogQL language, Cost-effective. Logz.io covers AI-powered insights, Elasticsearch integration, Alert management, Security analytics. Both handle Log aggregation, API, Webhooks, REST.
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.
SourceLogz.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.
SourceGrafana Loki: How long is data retained in Grafana's free plan?
The free tier retains metrics, logs, traces, and profiles for 14 days.
SourceLogz.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.
Grafana Loki: What is the minimum cost for Grafana Enterprise?
Grafana Enterprise has a minimum annual commitment of 25,000 dollars.
SourceGrafana 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.
SourceGrafana 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.
SourceRelated pages
More on Grafana Loki
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