Software · head to head
Logz.io vs Grafana Loki
Logz.io
Software
AI-Powered Log Analytics and Monitoring Platform
- From
- $99/month
- Rated
- -
The short version
- Only Grafana Loki has a free tier, so it costs nothing to try first.
- Each has a real cost: Logz.io saaS-only with no self-hosting option; 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: Logz.io covers AI-powered insights, Grafana Loki covers Label-based indexing.
Where they differ
Only the attributes on which Logz.io and Grafana Loki actually diverge.
| Attribute | Logz.io | Grafana Loki |
|---|---|---|
| Starting price | $99/month | Free |
| Pricing model | Unknown | freemium |
| Free tier | No | Yes |
| Platforms | Cloud (SaaS), Web | Self-hosted (open source), Managed (Grafana Cloud Logs), Enterprise (self-managed with support) |
Identical on both: user rating (Not yet rated), category (Unknown), founded (2014).
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 Logz.io
- AI-powered insights
- Elasticsearch integration
- Alert management
- Security analytics
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.
Logz.io
- Log monitoringnot Grafana Loki
- Application performancenot Grafana Loki
- Security analyticsnot Grafana Loki
- Troubleshootingnot Grafana Loki
Grafana Loki
- Cost-sensitive organisations deploying Kubernetes and Prometheus ecosystemsnot Logz.io
- Teams needing index-free log aggregation for high-volume environmentsnot Logz.io
Where each one falls short
Documented limitations, not opinions. Every one is a constraint you would hit in normal use.
Logz.io
- SaaS-only with no self-hosting option
- High pricing for long data retention periods, with steep cost increases for larger data volumes
- UI can take up to 10 seconds to load
- Geo-location data is old and inaccurate
- Expensive for smaller companies with limited log volumes
- Data retention limitations at 14 days may not meet compliance requirements
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
Logz.io
$99/month- Pro$99/month
- Log management
- Real-time search
- Basic alerts
- Enterprise$custom/mo
- All Pro features
- Advanced security
- Dedicated support
Grafana Loki
FreeNo published plan breakdown. See the Grafana Loki review.
Which should you pick?
Choose Logz.io if
- You need ai-powered insights.
- You work on Cloud (SaaS), Web.
- You also want elasticsearch integration.
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.
Questions people ask
- Is Logz.io or Grafana Loki better?
- Neither clearly leads. Logz.io starts at $99/month and Grafana Loki at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
- Which is cheaper, Logz.io or Grafana Loki?
- Grafana Loki has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at $99/month for Logz.io and Free for Grafana Loki.
- Does Logz.io or Grafana Loki run on more platforms?
- Logz.io runs on Cloud (SaaS), Web. 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. Logz.io starts at $99/month.
- What is Logz.io best used for?
- Logz.io is most often used for log monitoring, application performance, security analytics, troubleshooting. Of those, log monitoring and application performance are not what Grafana Loki is typically brought in for.
- What can Logz.io do that Grafana Loki cannot?
- Logz.io covers AI-powered insights, Elasticsearch integration, Alert management, Security analytics. Grafana Loki covers Label-based indexing, LogQL language, Cost-effective. Both handle Log aggregation, API, Webhooks, REST.
Answered from the vendors’ own pages
Logz.io: Does Logz.io support self-hosting?
No. Logz.io is a fully SaaS platform with no self-hosting option, limiting flexibility for organizations with on-premises requirements or specific data residency needs.
SourceLogz.io: Is Logz.io based on open-source ELK Stack?
Logz.io is built on the ELK Stack (Elasticsearch, Logstash, Kibana) but uses managed hosting. Note that Elasticsearch and Kibana switched to non-open-source licenses (SSPL) in February 2021, which may have legal implications.