Softwr

Log Management · head to head

Graylog Plus vs Grafana Loki

Graylog Plus logo

Graylog Plus

Log Management

Enterprise Log Aggregation and SIEM

From
On request
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Grafana Loki logo

Grafana Loki

Log Management

Log Aggregation for Grafana Stack

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Only Grafana Loki 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; 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
  • They diverge on capability: Graylog Plus covers SIEM capabilities, Grafana Loki covers Label-based indexing.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Graylog Plus and Grafana Loki actually diverge.

Attributes where Graylog Plus and Grafana Loki differ
AttributeGraylog PlusGrafana Loki
Starting priceOn requestFree
Pricing modelsubscriptionfreemium
Free tierNoYes
PlatformsWeb, ApiSelf-hosted (open source), Managed (Grafana Cloud Logs), Enterprise (self-managed with support)
Founded20112014

Identical on both: user rating (Not yet rated), category (Log Management).

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 Grafana Loki

  • Label-based indexing
  • LogQL language
  • Cost-effective

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

Grafana Loki

  • Cost-sensitive organisations deploying Kubernetes and Prometheus ecosystemsnot Graylog Plus
  • Teams needing index-free log aggregation for high-volume environmentsnot 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

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

Pricing, plan by plan

Graylog Plus

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

Grafana Loki

Free

No published plan breakdown. See the Grafana Loki review.

Which should you pick?

Choose Graylog Plus if

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

Choose Grafana Loki if

  • You need label-based indexing.
  • 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 logql language.
Grafana Loki review

Questions people ask

Is Graylog Plus or Grafana Loki better?
Neither clearly leads. Graylog Plus starts at On request and Grafana Loki at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Graylog Plus or Grafana Loki?
Grafana Loki has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at On request for Graylog Plus and Free for Grafana Loki.
Does Graylog Plus or Grafana Loki run on more platforms?
Graylog Plus runs on Web, Api. Grafana Loki runs on Self-hosted (open source), Managed (Grafana Cloud Logs), Enterprise (self-managed with support).
Can I use Grafana Loki for free?
Yes. Grafana Loki 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 Grafana Loki is typically brought in for.
What can Graylog Plus do that Grafana Loki cannot?
Graylog Plus covers SIEM capabilities, Advanced parsing, Compliance. Grafana Loki covers Label-based indexing, LogQL language, Cost-effective. Both handle Log aggregation, API, Webhooks, REST.
ShareXLinkedInRedditWhatsAppEmail

Related pages

More on Graylog Plus

More on Grafana Loki

Keep looking

Other head to heads