Software · head to head
Graylog Plus vs CloudWatch
The short version
- Only CloudWatch 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; CloudWatch the free tier covers 5 GB of log ingestion and 10 custom metrics a month, after which log ingestion is $0.50 per GB from 5 to 30 GB
- They diverge on capability: Graylog Plus covers SIEM capabilities, CloudWatch covers Metrics collection.
Where they differ
Only the attributes on which Graylog Plus and CloudWatch actually diverge.
| Attribute | Graylog Plus | CloudWatch |
|---|---|---|
| Starting price | On request | Free |
| Pricing model | subscription | usage-based |
| Free tier | No | Yes |
| Founded | 2011 | 2006 |
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
- SIEM capabilities
- Advanced parsing
- Compliance
Only in CloudWatch
- Metrics collection
- Dashboards
- Alarms and notifications
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.
Graylog Plus
- Centralised log collection, search and analysisnot CloudWatch
- SIEM and threat detection through Graylog Securitynot CloudWatch
- Self-hosting log management on your own infrastructurenot CloudWatch
- API security monitoringnot CloudWatch
- Compliance reporting from retained log datanot CloudWatch
CloudWatch
- Metrics and log collection for AWS workloadsnot Graylog Plus
- Alarming on thresholds across AWS servicesnot Graylog Plus
- Querying logs with Logs Insightsnot Graylog Plus
- Live tailing logs during an incidentnot Graylog Plus
- Distributed tracing alongside X-Raynot 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
CloudWatch
- The free tier covers 5 GB of log ingestion and 10 custom metrics a month, after which log ingestion is $0.50 per GB from 5 to 30 GB
- Custom metrics are $0.30 each for the first 10,000, so instrumenting broadly gets expensive before volume discounts apply
- Each custom dashboard beyond the free three is $3 a month
- Alarms are billed at $0.10 per alarm metric a month, with high-resolution alarms costing more
- Log storage beyond the free 5 GB is $0.03 per GB per month on top of the ingestion charge
Pricing, plan by plan
Graylog Plus
On request- Starter$undefined/month
- Log aggregation
- SIEM capabilities
- Advanced parsing
CloudWatch
Free- FreeFree
- Metrics collection
- Log aggregation
- Dashboards
Which should you pick?
Choose Graylog Plus if
- You need siem capabilities.
- You work on Web, Api.
- You also want advanced parsing.
Choose CloudWatch if
- You need metrics collection.
- You want to start without paying.
- You work on Web, Api.
- You also want dashboards.
Questions people ask
- Is Graylog Plus or CloudWatch better?
- Neither clearly leads. Graylog Plus starts at On request and CloudWatch at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
- Which is cheaper, Graylog Plus or CloudWatch?
- CloudWatch has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at On request for Graylog Plus and Free for CloudWatch.
- Does Graylog Plus or CloudWatch run on more platforms?
- Both run on Web, Api, so platform support will not decide this one for you.
- Can I use CloudWatch for free?
- Yes. CloudWatch 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 CloudWatch is typically brought in for.
- What can Graylog Plus do that CloudWatch cannot?
- Graylog Plus covers SIEM capabilities, Advanced parsing, Compliance. CloudWatch covers Metrics collection, Dashboards, Alarms and notifications. Both handle Log aggregation, API, Webhooks, REST.