Softwr

Logging · head to head

Graylog vs Timber

Graylog logo

Graylog

Logging

Log Aggregation and Analysis Platform

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Timber logo

Timber

Logging

Structured Logging as a Service

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Each has a real cost: Graylog graylog Enterprise starts at $15,000 per year and Graylog Security at $18,000 per year, priced by daily volume or annual consumption; Timber vector requires manual deployment and configuration for production use
  • They diverge on capability: Graylog covers Log aggregation, Timber covers Structured logging.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 30 August 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Graylog and Timber actually diverge.

Attributes where Graylog and Timber differ
AttributeGraylogTimber
Pricing modelopen-sourceusage-based
Founded20112016

Identical on both: starting price (Free), free tier (Yes), platforms (Web, Api), user rating (Not yet rated), category (Logging).

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

  • Log aggregation
  • Full-text search
  • Parsing and extraction
  • Real-time analytics

Only in Timber

  • Structured logging
  • Context integration
  • Real-time tail
  • Archive storage

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

  • Log aggregation and analysis for SecOps teamsnot Timber
  • IT and DevOps monitoring and troubleshootingnot Timber
  • Enterprise security event monitoringnot Timber

Timber

  • Building observability pipelines for log aggregationnot Graylog
  • Real-time data processing and transformationnot Graylog
  • Integrating multiple data sources into centralized systemsnot Graylog

Where each one falls short

Documented limitations, not opinions. Every one is a constraint you would hit in normal use.

Graylog

  • Graylog Enterprise starts at $15,000 per year and Graylog Security at $18,000 per year, priced by daily volume or annual consumption
  • Correlation engine, scheduled and custom reports, compliance reports and teams management are Enterprise-only
  • Data tiering across hot, warm and archive storage is an Enterprise feature, not available in Graylog Open
  • Graylog Open carries community support only; professional support requires a paid edition
  • UEBA anomaly detection, Sigma rules, MITRE ATT&CK alignment and SOAR automation are limited to Graylog Security

Timber

  • Vector requires manual deployment and configuration for production use
  • No hosted SaaS version available
  • Limited GUI tools for pipeline management

Pricing, plan by plan

Graylog

Free
  • FreeFree
    • Log aggregation
    • Full-text search
    • Parsing and extraction

Timber

Free
  • FreeFree
    • Structured logging
    • Context integration
    • Real-time tail

Which should you pick?

Choose Graylog if

  • You need log aggregation.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Web, Api.
  • You also want full-text search.
Graylog review

Choose Timber if

  • You need structured logging.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Web, Api.
  • You also want context integration.
Timber review

Questions people ask

Is Graylog or Timber better?
Neither clearly leads. Graylog starts at Free and Timber at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Graylog or Timber?
Graylog starts at Free and Timber at Free.
Does Graylog or Timber run on more platforms?
Both run on Web, Api, so platform support will not decide this one for you.
Can I use Graylog for free?
Both have a free tier, so you can try either at no cost before committing.
What is Graylog best used for?
Graylog is most often used for log aggregation and analysis for secops teams, it and devops monitoring and troubleshooting, enterprise security event monitoring. Of those, log aggregation and analysis for secops teams and it and devops monitoring and troubleshooting are not what Timber is typically brought in for.
What can Graylog do that Timber cannot?
Graylog covers Log aggregation, Full-text search, Parsing and extraction, Real-time analytics. Timber covers Structured logging, Context integration, Real-time tail, Archive storage. Both handle API, Webhooks, REST, Web support.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

Graylog: Does Graylog have a free version?

Yes. Graylog Open is a free, open-source option for collecting, storing, searching, and analyzing log data. However, it includes only community support.

Source
Timber: Is Timber/Vector free to use?

Yes, Vector is open-source software with no licensing costs. You deploy it yourself with no dependencies or runtime fees, though infrastructure hosting costs apply depending on your deployment.

Source
Graylog: How much does Graylog Enterprise cost?

Graylog Enterprise pricing starts at $15,000/year based on daily log volume or annual data consumption. Exact pricing requires contacting sales.

Source
Timber: Does Vector offer enterprise support?

The website focuses on self-hosted deployment without mentioning commercial support tiers, suggesting enterprise support may require community resources or custom arrangements.

Source
Graylog: What is the difference between Graylog Enterprise and Security editions?

Graylog Security starts at $18,000/year and includes advanced threat detection capabilities beyond the Enterprise edition. Both include technical support.

Source
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