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Logging · head to head

Grafana Loki vs Weights & Biases

Grafana Loki logo

Grafana Loki

Logging

Log Aggregation for Grafana Stack

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Weights & Biases logo

Weights & Biases

Machine Learning

Developer tools for machine learning

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; Weights & Biases pricing can be prohibitive for large teams without enterprise discounts
  • They diverge on capability: Grafana Loki covers Log aggregation, Weights & Biases covers Experiment tracking.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Grafana Loki and Weights & Biases actually diverge.

Attributes where Grafana Loki and Weights & Biases differ
AttributeGrafana LokiWeights & Biases
Pricing modelfreemiumUnknown
PlatformsSelf-hosted (open source), Managed (Grafana Cloud Logs), Enterprise (self-managed with support)Web, Python SDK, REST API
CategoryLoggingMachine Learning
Founded20142017

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
  • Api support

Only in Weights & Biases

  • Experiment tracking
  • Dataset versioning
  • Model registry
  • Hyperparameter sweeps
  • Collaborative dashboards
  • PyTorch
  • TensorFlow
  • Keras

Both cover

  • Web 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 Weights & Biases
  • Teams needing index-free log aggregation for high-volume environmentsnot Weights & Biases

Weights & Biases

  • Machine learningnot Grafana Loki
  • Data analysisnot Grafana Loki
  • Model trainingnot Grafana Loki
  • Predictive analyticsnot 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

Weights & Biases

  • Pricing can be prohibitive for large teams without enterprise discounts
  • Limited integrations compared to some competitors
  • Dashboard customization options limited on lower plans
  • Requires some setup and configuration knowledge

Pricing, plan by plan

Grafana Loki

Free

No published plan breakdown. See the Grafana Loki review.

Weights & Biases

Free
  • FreeFree
    • 5 model seats
    • 5 GB storage
    • 1 GB/month Weave ingestion
  • Pro$60/month
    • 10 seats
    • 100 GB storage
    • Private projects
  • Teams$179/month
    • Team collaboration
    • Advanced analytics
    • Dedicated support

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 Weights & Biases if

  • You need experiment tracking.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Web, Python SDK, REST API.
  • You also want dataset versioning.
Weights & Biases review

Questions people ask

Is Grafana Loki or Weights & Biases better?
Neither clearly leads. Grafana Loki starts at Free and Weights & Biases at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Grafana Loki or Weights & Biases?
Grafana Loki starts at Free and Weights & Biases at Free.
Does Grafana Loki or Weights & Biases run on more platforms?
Grafana Loki runs on Self-hosted (open source), Managed (Grafana Cloud Logs), Enterprise (self-managed with support). Weights & Biases runs on Web, Python SDK, REST API.
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 Weights & Biases is typically brought in for.
What can Grafana Loki do that Weights & Biases cannot?
Grafana Loki covers Log aggregation, Label-based indexing, LogQL language, Cost-effective. Weights & Biases covers Experiment tracking, Dataset versioning, Model registry, Hyperparameter sweeps. Both handle Web support.

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
Weights & Biases: Does Weights & Biases have a free plan?

Yes. The Free tier includes 5 model seats, 5 GB storage, and 1 GB/month Weave ingestion. Academic users get unlimited tracked hours, 200 GB storage, and 100 seats at no cost.

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
Weights & Biases: What are the paid plans for Weights & Biases?

Pro starts at $60/month with 10 seats and 100 GB storage. Team plans start at $179/month. Enterprise pricing is custom.

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

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

Source
Weights & Biases: What machine learning features does W&B provide?

Weights & Biases captures hyperparameters, metrics, and model outputs automatically. Features include experiment tracking, interactive Reports for sharing findings, Artifacts for managing datasets and models, advanced hyperparameter sweeps, and model deployment tools.

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
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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