Software · head to head
Loki vs Datadog Logs
Datadog Logs
Software
Log Management and Analytics
- From
- $0.1/per GB ingested per month
- Rated
- -
The short version
- Only Loki has a free tier, so it costs nothing to try first.
- Each has a real cost: Loki the Grafana Cloud free tier caps log ingestion at 50 GB a month with 14 day retention; Datadog Logs complex, multi-tiered pricing model based on ingestion, indexing, and storage; can become expensive at scale
- They diverge on capability: Loki covers Log aggregation, Datadog Logs covers Log ingestion.
Where they differ
Only the attributes on which Loki and Datadog Logs actually diverge.
| Attribute | Loki | Datadog Logs |
|---|---|---|
| Starting price | Free | $0.1/per GB ingested per month |
| Pricing model | open-source | usage-based |
| Free tier | Yes | No |
| Platforms | Web, Api | Cloud (AWS, Azure, Google Cloud, Oracle Cloud) |
| Founded | 2014 | 2010 |
Identical on both: 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 Loki
- Log aggregation
- Label-based indexing
- Real-time log streaming
- LogQL query language
Only in Datadog Logs
- Log ingestion
- Full-text search
- Custom dashboards
- Log-based metrics
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.
Loki
- Aggregating application and infrastructure logs with label based indexingnot Datadog Logs
- Querying logs alongside metrics in Grafananot Datadog Logs
Datadog Logs
- Centralised log aggregation and analysisnot Loki
- Multi-source log correlation with metrics and tracesnot Loki
- Root cause analysis and troubleshootingnot Loki
- Security monitoring and threat detectionnot Loki
Where each one falls short
Documented limitations, not opinions. Every one is a constraint you would hit in normal use.
Loki
- The Grafana Cloud free tier caps log ingestion at 50 GB a month with 14 day retention
- Paid log pricing is split across three separate meters, at $0.050 per GB processed, $0.400 per GB written and $0.100 per GB retained
- Retaining logs is billed separately from ingesting them, so keeping data costs on an ongoing basis rather than once
- The Pro plan carries a $19 a month platform fee before any usage charges
Datadog Logs
- Complex, multi-tiered pricing model based on ingestion, indexing, and storage; can become expensive at scale
- Ingestion pricing of $0.10/GB can accumulate rapidly for high-volume logging environments
Pricing, plan by plan
Loki
Free- FreeFree
- Log aggregation
- Label-based indexing
- Real-time log streaming
Datadog Logs
$0.1/per GB ingested per monthNo published plan breakdown. See the Datadog Logs review.
Which should you pick?
Choose Loki if
- You need log aggregation.
- You want to start without paying.
- You work on Web, Api.
- You also want label-based indexing.
Choose Datadog Logs if
- You need log ingestion.
- You work on Cloud (AWS, Azure, Google Cloud, Oracle Cloud).
- You also want full-text search.
Questions people ask
- Is Loki or Datadog Logs better?
- Neither clearly leads. Loki starts at Free and Datadog Logs at $0.1/per GB ingested per month, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
- Which is cheaper, Loki or Datadog Logs?
- Loki has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at Free for Loki and $0.1/per GB ingested per month for Datadog Logs.
- Does Loki or Datadog Logs run on more platforms?
- Loki runs on Web, Api. Datadog Logs runs on Cloud (AWS, Azure, Google Cloud, Oracle Cloud).
- Can I use Loki for free?
- Yes. Loki has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. Datadog Logs starts at $0.1/per GB ingested per month.
- What is Loki best used for?
- Loki is most often used for aggregating application and infrastructure logs with label based indexing, querying logs alongside metrics in grafana. Of those, aggregating application and infrastructure logs with label based indexing and querying logs alongside metrics in grafana are not what Datadog Logs is typically brought in for.
- What can Loki do that Datadog Logs cannot?
- Loki covers Log aggregation, Label-based indexing, Real-time log streaming, LogQL query language. Datadog Logs covers Log ingestion, Full-text search, Custom dashboards, Log-based metrics. Both handle API, Webhooks, REST, Web support.