Grafana Loki vs New Relic
A comprehensive head-to-head comparison of two leading log management solutions in 2026. Compare features, pricing, ratings, and more to find the right fit.
Quick Verdict
Choose Grafana Loki if you need Log aggregation and prefer a free starting option. Choose New Relic if you prioritize APM and want a free tier to start. Grafana Loki has a higher user rating (4.5 vs 4.3).
Grafana Loki vs New Relic: At a Glance
| Criteria | Grafana Loki | New Relic |
|---|---|---|
| User Rating | 4.5 | 4.3 |
| Pricing | Free | Free |
| Pricing Model | open-source | freemium |
| Free Plan | ||
| Platforms | Web, Api | Web, Api, Mobile |
| Category | Log Management | Log Management |
| Founded | 2014 | 2008 |
Feature Comparison: Grafana Loki vs New Relic
| Feature | Grafana Loki | New Relic |
|---|---|---|
| Log aggregation | ||
| Label-based indexing | ||
| LogQL language | ||
| Cost-effective | ||
| API | ||
| Webhooks | ||
| REST | ||
| Web support | ||
| Api support | ||
| APM | ||
| Infrastructure Monitoring | ||
| Log Management | ||
| Browser Monitoring | ||
| Synthetic Monitoring | ||
| Mobile Monitoring | ||
| Kubernetes Monitoring | ||
| AI Ops | ||
| AWS | ||
| Azure | ||
| GCP | ||
| Kubernetes | ||
| GitHub | ||
| Terraform | ||
| PagerDuty |
Grafana Loki vs New Relic: Pricing Breakdown
Grafana Loki Pricing
Model: open-source
- Log aggregation
- Label-based indexing
- LogQL language
New Relic Pricing
Model: freemium
- 100GB free data
- 1 user
- Community support
- Unlimited data
- Alerting
- Dashboards
Pros and Cons
Grafana Loki
Pros
- Highly rated by users (4.5/5)
- Free plan available to get started
- Rich feature set with 9+ capabilities
- Strong Log aggregation functionality
- Strong Label-based indexing functionality
Cons
- May require time to learn advanced features
New Relic
Pros
- Highly rated by users (4.3/5)
- Free plan available to get started
- Available on 3 platforms (Web, Api, Mobile)
- Rich feature set with 15+ capabilities
- Strong APM functionality
- Strong Infrastructure Monitoring functionality
Cons
- May require time to learn advanced features
Who Should Use Grafana Loki vs New Relic?
Choose Grafana Loki if you:
- Need Log aggregation
- Want to start for free
- Work primarily on Web and Api
- Value Label-based indexing
Choose New Relic if you:
- Need APM
- Want to start for free
- Work primarily on Web and Api
- Value Infrastructure Monitoring
Frequently Asked Questions: Grafana Loki vs New Relic
Is Grafana Loki better than New Relic?
It depends on your needs. Grafana Loki has a 4.5/5 user rating while New Relic has 4.3/5. Grafana Loki excels in Log aggregation and Label-based indexing, while New Relic stands out with APM and Infrastructure Monitoring. Consider your budget (Free vs Free), platform needs, and specific feature requirements.
Which is cheaper, Grafana Loki or New Relic?
Grafana Loki offers a free plan and starts at Free. New Relic offers a free plan and starts at Free. Compare the specific plan features to determine the best value for your use case.
Can I use Grafana Loki and New Relic together?
While both are log management tools, some teams use complementary software together. Check each product's API and integration capabilities for compatibility. However, most users find that one solution covers their core log management needs.
What are the main differences between Grafana Loki and New Relic?
The key differences include: pricing model (open-source vs freemium), platform support (Web, Api vs Web, Api, Mobile), and feature focus. Grafana Loki emphasizes Log aggregation, Label-based indexing, LogQL language while New Relic focuses on APM, Infrastructure Monitoring, Log Management. User ratings differ slightly: 4.5 vs 4.3 out of 5.
Ready to choose?
Explore detailed reviews, user ratings, and pricing for both Grafana Loki and New Relic.