Software · head to head
Graylog Plus vs Airbrake
The short version
- Only Airbrake has a free tier, so it costs nothing to try first.
- Each has a real cost: Graylog Plus pricing is not published on the product pages; Airbrake data retention is 30 days on every plan, including the $799 a month Business tier
- They diverge on capability: Graylog Plus covers Log aggregation, Airbrake covers Error tracking.
Where they differ
Only the attributes on which Graylog Plus and Airbrake actually diverge.
| Attribute | Graylog Plus | Airbrake |
|---|---|---|
| Starting price | On request | Free |
| Pricing model | subscription | usage-based |
| Free tier | No | Yes |
| Founded | 2011 | 2008 |
Identical on both: platforms (Web, Api), user rating (Not yet rated), category (Unknown).
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 Graylog Plus
- Log aggregation
- SIEM capabilities
- Advanced parsing
- Compliance
Only in Airbrake
- Error tracking
- Performance monitoring
- Deploy tracking
- Custom notifications
Both cover
- API
- Webhooks
- REST
- Web support
- Api support
What people use each for
The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.
Graylog Plus
- Centralised log collection, search and analysisnot Airbrake
- SIEM and threat detection through Graylog Securitynot Airbrake
- Self-hosting log management on your own infrastructurenot Airbrake
- API security monitoringnot Airbrake
- Compliance reporting from retained log datanot Airbrake
Airbrake
- Error and exception monitoring for web applicationsnot Graylog Plus
- Performance monitoring alongside error trackingnot Graylog Plus
- Alerting a team when a deploy introduces a spike in errorsnot Graylog Plus
- Tracking errors across multiple projects in one accountnot Graylog Plus
Where each one falls short
Documented limitations, not opinions. Every one is a constraint you would hit in normal use.
Graylog Plus
- Pricing is not published on the product pages
- Split across several editions, Graylog Open, Enterprise, Security and API Security, so log management and SIEM are separate purchases
- The open edition is source-available rather than fully open source, and the guided setup, prebuilt content and AI assistance are Enterprise features
Airbrake
- Data retention is 30 days on every plan, including the $799 a month Business tier
- The entry plan at $19 a month covers 25,000 errors and 7,500 events
- Errors beyond the plan quota are billed on demand
- Audit logs and spike forgiveness require the Pro tier
- The lowest tier is limited to 1 user and 1 team
Pricing, plan by plan
Graylog Plus
On request- Starter$undefined/month
- Log aggregation
- SIEM capabilities
- Advanced parsing
Airbrake
Free- FreeFree
- Error tracking
- Performance monitoring
- Deploy tracking
Which should you pick?
Choose Graylog Plus if
- You need log aggregation.
- You work on Web, Api.
- You also want siem capabilities.
Choose Airbrake if
- You need error tracking.
- You want to start without paying.
- You work on Web, Api.
- You also want performance monitoring.
Questions people ask
- Is Graylog Plus or Airbrake better?
- Neither clearly leads. Graylog Plus starts at On request and Airbrake at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
- Which is cheaper, Graylog Plus or Airbrake?
- Airbrake has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at On request for Graylog Plus and Free for Airbrake.
- Does Graylog Plus or Airbrake run on more platforms?
- Both run on Web, Api, so platform support will not decide this one for you.
- Can I use Airbrake for free?
- Yes. Airbrake has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. Graylog Plus starts at On request.
- What is Graylog Plus best used for?
- Graylog Plus is most often used for centralised log collection, search and analysis, siem and threat detection through graylog security, self-hosting log management on your own infrastructure, api security monitoring. Of those, centralised log collection, search and analysis and siem and threat detection through graylog security are not what Airbrake is typically brought in for.
- What can Graylog Plus do that Airbrake cannot?
- Graylog Plus covers Log aggregation, SIEM capabilities, Advanced parsing, Compliance. Airbrake covers Error tracking, Performance monitoring, Deploy tracking, Custom notifications. Both handle API, Webhooks, REST, Web support.