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Logging · head to head

Loki vs Splunk Enterprise

Loki logo

Loki

Logging

Like Prometheus but for Logs

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Splunk Enterprise logo

Splunk Enterprise

Logging

Enterprise Search, Monitoring, and Analytics

From
On request
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

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; Splunk Enterprise splunk Platform and Enterprise Security offerings carry no published rate and require contacting sales for a quote
  • They diverge on capability: Loki covers Label-based indexing, Splunk Enterprise covers Real-time monitoring.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 30 August 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Loki and Splunk Enterprise actually diverge.

Attributes where Loki and Splunk Enterprise differ
AttributeLokiSplunk Enterprise
Starting priceFreeOn request
Pricing modelopen-sourceusage-based
Free tierYesNo
Founded20142003

Identical on both: platforms (Web, Api), user rating (Not yet rated), category (Logging).

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

  • Label-based indexing
  • Real-time log streaming
  • LogQL query language

Only in Splunk Enterprise

  • Real-time monitoring
  • Advanced analytics
  • Compliance

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.

Loki

  • Aggregating application and infrastructure logs with label based indexingnot Splunk Enterprise
  • Querying logs alongside metrics in Grafananot Splunk Enterprise

Splunk Enterprise

  • Indexing and searching machine data and logs at enterprise scalenot Loki
  • Security information and event management via Enterprise Securitynot Loki
  • IT service intelligence and infrastructure observabilitynot 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

Splunk Enterprise

  • Splunk Platform and Enterprise Security offerings carry no published rate and require contacting sales for a quote
  • Four different pricing models are offered (activity, ingest, workload and entity based) and the applicable one depends on the product purchased
  • Published Observability Cloud rates start at $15 per host per month and are billed annually rather than monthly
  • Volume discounts are not published and require direct consultation with sales

Pricing, plan by plan

Loki

Free
  • FreeFree
    • Log aggregation
    • Label-based indexing
    • Real-time log streaming

Splunk Enterprise

On request
  • Starter$undefined/month
    • Log aggregation
    • Real-time monitoring
    • Advanced analytics

Which should you pick?

Choose Loki if

  • You need label-based indexing.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Web, Api.
  • You also want real-time log streaming.
Loki review

Choose Splunk Enterprise if

  • You need real-time monitoring.
  • You work on Web, Api.
  • You also want advanced analytics.
Splunk Enterprise review

Questions people ask

Is Loki or Splunk Enterprise better?
Neither clearly leads. Loki starts at Free and Splunk Enterprise at On request, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Loki or Splunk Enterprise?
Loki has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at Free for Loki and On request for Splunk Enterprise.
Does Loki or Splunk Enterprise run on more platforms?
Both run on Web, Api, so platform support will not decide this one for you.
Can I use Loki for free?
Yes. Loki has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. Splunk Enterprise starts at On request.
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 Splunk Enterprise is typically brought in for.
What can Loki do that Splunk Enterprise cannot?
Loki covers Label-based indexing, Real-time log streaming, LogQL query language. Splunk Enterprise covers Real-time monitoring, Advanced analytics, Compliance. Both handle Log aggregation, API, Webhooks, REST.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

Loki: What does it cost to use Grafana Loki?

Loki is open source and free under the AGPLv3 license for self-hosted deployments. Grafana's managed Cloud Logs service includes a free tier up to 50GB of logs at no cost.

Source
Splunk Enterprise: How much does Splunk Enterprise cost?

Splunk Enterprise pricing is not published online. Customers can try it free for 60 days without a credit card, but to obtain pricing for ongoing use, they must contact Splunk sales directly.

Source
Loki: Are there paid options for Loki beyond the free tier?

Yes. Grafana Cloud Logs offers paid tiers for teams and enterprises, and Enterprise Logs provides self-managed options with expert support for organizations with data localization or privacy requirements.

Source
Splunk Enterprise: Does Splunk Enterprise offer a free trial?

Yes, Splunk Enterprise offers a 60-day free trial that does not require a credit card to begin.

Source
Loki: What license does open source Loki use?

Loki is released under the AGPLv3 license, which requires you to share modifications and publish your source code if you deploy modifications publicly.

Source
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