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Graylog Plus vs Elasticsearch Service

Graylog Plus logo

Graylog Plus

Software

Enterprise Log Aggregation and SIEM

From
On request
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Elasticsearch Service logo

Elasticsearch Service

Software

Managed Elasticsearch Cloud Service

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Only Elasticsearch Service 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; Elasticsearch Service the 99.95 percent monthly uptime SLA applies only to the Platinum and Enterprise subscription tiers
  • They diverge on capability: Graylog Plus covers Log aggregation, Elasticsearch Service covers Full-text search.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Graylog Plus and Elasticsearch Service actually diverge.

Attributes where Graylog Plus and Elasticsearch Service differ
AttributeGraylog PlusElasticsearch Service
Starting priceOn requestFree
Pricing modelsubscriptionusage-based
Free tierNoYes

Identical on both: platforms (Web, Api), user rating (Not yet rated), category (Unknown), founded (2011).

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 Elasticsearch Service

  • Full-text search
  • Scalability
  • High availability
  • Security

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 Elasticsearch Service
  • SIEM and threat detection through Graylog Securitynot Elasticsearch Service
  • Self-hosting log management on your own infrastructurenot Elasticsearch Service
  • API security monitoringnot Elasticsearch Service
  • Compliance reporting from retained log datanot Elasticsearch Service

Elasticsearch Service

  • Managed Elasticsearch without running the clusternot Graylog Plus
  • Log and observability data storage and searchnot Graylog Plus
  • Full-text search behind an applicationnot Graylog Plus
  • Deployments needing a specific cloud region across AWS, Azure or GCPnot 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

Elasticsearch Service

  • The 99.95 percent monthly uptime SLA applies only to the Platinum and Enterprise subscription tiers
  • Serverless does not yet support traffic filtering, cross-project search or bring-your-own-key encryption
  • Serverless runs on AWS, GCP and Azure only, against 60 regions for the hosted option
  • Per-unit prices are not published; hosted is resource-based and serverless usage-based

Pricing, plan by plan

Graylog Plus

On request
  • Starter$undefined/month
    • Log aggregation
    • SIEM capabilities
    • Advanced parsing

Elasticsearch Service

Free
  • FreeFree
    • Full-text search
    • Scalability
    • High availability

Which should you pick?

Choose Graylog Plus if

  • You need log aggregation.
  • You work on Web, Api.
  • You also want siem capabilities.
Graylog Plus review

Choose Elasticsearch Service if

  • You need full-text search.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Web, Api.
  • You also want scalability.
Elasticsearch Service review

Questions people ask

Is Graylog Plus or Elasticsearch Service better?
Neither clearly leads. Graylog Plus starts at On request and Elasticsearch Service at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Graylog Plus or Elasticsearch Service?
Elasticsearch Service has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at On request for Graylog Plus and Free for Elasticsearch Service.
Does Graylog Plus or Elasticsearch Service run on more platforms?
Both run on Web, Api, so platform support will not decide this one for you.
Can I use Elasticsearch Service for free?
Yes. Elasticsearch Service 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 Elasticsearch Service is typically brought in for.
What can Graylog Plus do that Elasticsearch Service cannot?
Graylog Plus covers Log aggregation, SIEM capabilities, Advanced parsing, Compliance. Elasticsearch Service covers Full-text search, Scalability, High availability, Security. Both handle API, Webhooks, REST, Web support.
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Related pages

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