Softwr

Software · head to head

Logstash vs New Relic

Logstash logo

Logstash

Software

Data Processing Pipeline for Ingestion

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
New Relic logo

New Relic

Software

Observability made simple

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; New Relic data ingest costs can be high for large-scale deployments with high logging volume, making budgeting difficult
  • They diverge on capability: Logstash covers Data ingestion, New Relic covers APM.

Where they differ

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

Attributes where Logstash and New Relic differ
AttributeLogstashNew Relic
Pricing modelopen-sourceUnknown
PlatformsWeb, ApiWeb, Api, Mobile
Founded20112008

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

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
  • API
  • Webhooks
  • REST
  • Web support

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.

Logstash

  • Log monitoringnot New Relic
  • Application performancenot New Relic
  • Security analyticsnot New Relic
  • Troubleshootingnot New Relic

New Relic

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

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

Logstash

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

New Relic

Free

No published plan breakdown. See the New Relic review.

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 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 Logstash or New Relic better?
Neither clearly leads. Logstash 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, Logstash or New Relic?
Logstash starts at Free and New Relic at Free.
Does Logstash or New Relic run on more platforms?
Logstash runs on Web, Api. New Relic runs on Web, Api, Mobile.
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 New Relic is typically brought in for.
What can Logstash do that New Relic cannot?
Logstash covers Data ingestion, Event parsing, Data transformation, Multiple input sources. New Relic covers APM, Infrastructure Monitoring, Log Management, Browser Monitoring.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

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
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
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
ShareXLinkedInRedditWhatsAppEmail

Related pages

More on Logstash

More on New Relic

Keep looking

Other head to heads