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Log Management · head to head

Logstash vs Airbrake

Logstash logo

Logstash

Log Management

Data Processing Pipeline for Ingestion

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Airbrake logo

Airbrake

Log Management

Error Tracking and Performance Monitoring

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Each has a real cost: Logstash logstash's source is dual licensed: code outside the x-pack directory is Apache License 2.0, but code inside x-pack (which carries several of Logstash's monitoring and management features) is licensed under the Elastic License, not a fully open source license; Airbrake data retention is 30 days on every plan, including the $799 a month Business tier
  • They diverge on capability: Logstash covers Data ingestion, Airbrake covers Error tracking.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Logstash and Airbrake actually diverge.

Attributes where Logstash and Airbrake differ
AttributeLogstashAirbrake
Pricing modelopen-sourceusage-based
Founded20112008

Identical on both: starting price (Free), free tier (Yes), platforms (Web, Api), 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 Logstash

  • Data ingestion
  • Event parsing
  • Data transformation
  • Multiple input sources

Only in Airbrake

  • Error tracking
  • Performance monitoring
  • Deploy tracking
  • Custom notifications

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.

Logstash

  • Log monitoringnot Airbrake
  • Application performancenot Airbrake
  • Security analyticsnot Airbrake
  • Troubleshootingnot Airbrake

Airbrake

  • Error and exception monitoring for web applicationsnot Logstash
  • Performance monitoring alongside error trackingnot Logstash
  • Alerting a team when a deploy introduces a spike in errorsnot Logstash
  • Tracking errors across multiple projects in one accountnot Logstash

Where each one falls short

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

Logstash

  • Logstash's source is dual licensed: code outside the x-pack directory is Apache License 2.0, but code inside x-pack (which carries several of Logstash's monitoring and management features) is licensed under the Elastic License, not a fully open source license

Airbrake

  • Data retention is 30 days on every plan, including the $799 a month Business tier
  • The entry plan at $19 a month covers 25,000 errors and 7,500 events
  • Errors beyond the plan quota are billed on demand
  • Audit logs and spike forgiveness require the Pro tier
  • The lowest tier is limited to 1 user and 1 team

Pricing, plan by plan

Logstash

Free
  • FreeFree
    • Data ingestion
    • Event parsing
    • Data transformation

Airbrake

Free
  • FreeFree
    • Error tracking
    • Performance monitoring
    • Deploy tracking

Which should you pick?

Choose Logstash if

  • You need data ingestion.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Web, Api.
  • You also want event parsing.
Logstash review

Choose Airbrake if

  • You need error tracking.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Web, Api.
  • You also want performance monitoring.
Airbrake review

Questions people ask

Is Logstash or Airbrake better?
Neither clearly leads. Logstash starts at Free and Airbrake at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Logstash or Airbrake?
Logstash starts at Free and Airbrake at Free.
Does Logstash or Airbrake run on more platforms?
Both run on Web, Api, so platform support will not decide this one for you.
Can I use Logstash for free?
Both have a free tier, so you can try either at no cost before committing.
What is Logstash best used for?
Logstash is most often used for log monitoring, application performance, security analytics, troubleshooting. Of those, log monitoring and application performance are not what Airbrake is typically brought in for.
What can Logstash do that Airbrake cannot?
Logstash covers Data ingestion, Event parsing, Data transformation, Multiple input sources. Airbrake covers Error tracking, Performance monitoring, Deploy tracking, Custom notifications. Both handle API, Webhooks, REST, Web support.
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