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Kubernetes vs New Relic

Kubernetes logo

Kubernetes

Technology

Production-grade container orchestration

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
New Relic logo

New Relic

Logging

Observability made simple

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Each has a real cost: Kubernetes complex initial setup and configuration with multiple interdependent components; New Relic data ingest costs can be high for large-scale deployments with high logging volume, making budgeting difficult
  • They diverge on capability: Kubernetes covers Container orchestration, New Relic covers APM.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Kubernetes and New Relic actually diverge.

Attributes where Kubernetes and New Relic differ
AttributeKubernetesNew Relic
PlatformsLinux, Cloud (AWS, GCP, Azure)Web, Api, Mobile
CategoryTechnologyLogging
Founded20142008

Identical on both: starting price (Free), pricing model (Unknown), free tier (Yes), user rating (Not yet rated).

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 Kubernetes

  • Container orchestration
  • Automatic scaling
  • Self-healing
  • Service discovery
  • Load balancing
  • Storage orchestration
  • Automated rollouts
  • Secret management

Only in New Relic

  • APM
  • Infrastructure Monitoring
  • Log Management
  • Browser Monitoring
  • Synthetic Monitoring
  • Mobile Monitoring
  • Kubernetes Monitoring
  • AI Ops

What people use each for

The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.

Kubernetes

  • Microservices deploymentnot New Relic
  • Cloud-native applicationsnot New Relic
  • CI/CD pipelinesnot New Relic
  • Multi-cloud deploymentsnot New Relic
  • Edge computingnot New Relic

New Relic

  • Application monitoringnot Kubernetes
  • Infrastructure monitoringnot Kubernetes
  • Error trackingnot Kubernetes
  • Performance optimizationnot Kubernetes

Where each one falls short

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

Kubernetes

  • Complex initial setup and configuration with multiple interdependent components
  • Significant resource requirements for both hardware infrastructure and specialized human expertise
  • Expensive specialized talent in Kubernetes domain; hiring costs prohibitive for many organizations
  • New security challenges around container isolation and network security requiring robust measures
  • Requires continuous maintenance and updates to stay current with releases and security patches

New Relic

  • Data ingest costs can be high for large-scale deployments with high logging volume, making budgeting difficult
  • Core user licensing model adds complexity to pricing with distinction between full platform users and basic users
  • Default logs obfuscation may miss some sensitive patterns requiring custom configuration
  • Retention limits even on paid tiers require additional storage for long-term compliance requirements

Pricing, plan by plan

Kubernetes

Free

No published plan breakdown. See the Kubernetes review.

New Relic

Free

No published plan breakdown. See the New Relic review.

Which should you pick?

Choose Kubernetes if

  • You need container orchestration.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Linux, Cloud (AWS, GCP, Azure).
  • You also want automatic scaling.
Kubernetes review

Choose New Relic if

  • You need apm.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Web, Api, Mobile.
  • You also want infrastructure monitoring.
New Relic review

Questions people ask

Is Kubernetes or New Relic better?
Neither clearly leads. Kubernetes starts at Free and New Relic at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Kubernetes or New Relic?
Kubernetes starts at Free and New Relic at Free.
Does Kubernetes or New Relic run on more platforms?
Kubernetes runs on Linux, Cloud (AWS, GCP, Azure). New Relic runs on Web, Api, Mobile.
Can I use Kubernetes for free?
Both have a free tier, so you can try either at no cost before committing.
What is Kubernetes best used for?
Kubernetes is most often used for microservices deployment, cloud-native applications, ci/cd pipelines, multi-cloud deployments. Of those, microservices deployment and cloud-native applications are not what New Relic is typically brought in for.
What can Kubernetes do that New Relic cannot?
Kubernetes covers Container orchestration, Automatic scaling, Self-healing, Service discovery. New Relic covers APM, Infrastructure Monitoring, Log Management, Browser Monitoring.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

Kubernetes: What is Kubernetes used for?

Kubernetes is a container orchestration platform that automates deployment, scaling, and management of containerized applications across clusters of machines.

Source
New Relic: Does New Relic offer a free tier?

Yes, New Relic's free tier is perpetual with no credit card required. It includes 100 GB of free data ingest monthly, one Full Platform User with access to all 50+ capabilities, and unlimited Basic Users for querying and dashboard creation.

Source
Kubernetes: Is Kubernetes free?

Yes, Kubernetes is free, open-source software maintained by the Cloud Native Computing Foundation. However, running Kubernetes clusters requires infrastructure investment.

Source
New Relic: How much does New Relic cost for paid plans?

Paid plans start at $49 per month per core user. New Relic uses consumption-based pricing where you pay only for what you use. Annual commitment options are available with volume discounts for larger teams.

Source
Kubernetes: How hard is it to learn Kubernetes?

Kubernetes has a steep learning curve. It requires deep knowledge of containerization, networking, and distributed systems. Teams without prior container experience should expect significant training time.

Source
New Relic: What data retention is included in New Relic's free tier?

The free tier includes a minimum of 8 days data retention for troubleshooting. Paid plans offer extended retention periods and customizable data retention policies.

Source
New Relic: How many integrations does New Relic support?

New Relic provides access to 780+ integrations and unlimited hosts at no additional cost. These include monitoring integrations for various cloud services, databases, and applications.

Source
New Relic: Can I use New Relic to monitor multiple cloud providers?

Yes, New Relic is cloud-agnostic and supports monitoring across AWS, Google Cloud, Azure, and on-premises infrastructure in a single platform.

Source
New Relic: What is New Relic's ownership structure today?

New Relic was acquired by TPG and Francisco Partners on July 31, 2023, for $6.5 billion and transitioned from a publicly traded company to a private company in November 2023.

Source
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