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Logging · head to head

New Relic Logs vs Timber

New Relic Logs logo

New Relic Logs

Logging

Log Management and Analysis

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Timber logo

Timber

Logging

Structured Logging as a Service

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Each has a real cost: New Relic Logs log data counts against the same 100 GB monthly free ingest allowance shared with every other telemetry type, so logs compete with metrics and traces for it; Timber vector requires manual deployment and configuration for production use
  • They diverge on capability: New Relic Logs covers Log ingestion, Timber covers Structured logging.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 30 August 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which New Relic Logs and Timber actually diverge.

Attributes where New Relic Logs and Timber differ
AttributeNew Relic LogsTimber
Pricing modelfreemiumusage-based
Founded20082016

Identical on both: starting price (Free), free tier (Yes), 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 New Relic Logs

  • Log ingestion
  • Full-text search
  • Logs-in-context
  • Custom dashboards

Only in Timber

  • Structured logging
  • Context integration
  • Real-time tail
  • Archive storage

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.

New Relic Logs

  • Centralised log management alongside metrics and tracesnot Timber
  • Searching and alerting on application logs in context with performance datanot Timber

Timber

  • Building observability pipelines for log aggregationnot New Relic Logs
  • Real-time data processing and transformationnot New Relic Logs
  • Integrating multiple data sources into centralized systemsnot New Relic Logs

Where each one falls short

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

New Relic Logs

  • Log data counts against the same 100 GB monthly free ingest allowance shared with every other telemetry type, so logs compete with metrics and traces for it
  • Ingest beyond that is $0.40 per GB, rising to $0.60 per GB on the Data Plus option
  • Full platform users cost $349 each a month on Pro with an annual commitment, or $418.80 paying monthly
  • The Standard edition caps additional full platform users at 5
  • Core users are $49 a month each even though basic users are free

Timber

  • Vector requires manual deployment and configuration for production use
  • No hosted SaaS version available
  • Limited GUI tools for pipeline management

Pricing, plan by plan

New Relic Logs

Free
  • Free TierFree
    • 100 GB per month data ingest
    • Unlimited basic users
    • 1 full platform user
  • Standard Edition$49/month
    • Up to 5 full platform users
    • Core users 49 dollars per user per month
    • Additional full platform users at 99 dollars each
  • Pro Edition$349/year
    • Unlimited full platform users
    • Core users at 49 dollars per user per month
    • Full platform users at 349 dollars per user annually or 418.80 dollars monthly
  • Enterprise Edition$null/mo
    • Unlimited full platform users
    • Custom pricing
    • FedRAMP and HIPAA support

Timber

Free
  • FreeFree
    • Structured logging
    • Context integration
    • Real-time tail

Which should you pick?

Choose New Relic Logs if

  • You need log ingestion.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Web, Api.
  • You also want full-text search.
New Relic Logs review

Choose Timber if

  • You need structured logging.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Web, Api.
  • You also want context integration.
Timber review

Questions people ask

Is New Relic Logs or Timber better?
Neither clearly leads. New Relic Logs starts at Free and Timber at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, New Relic Logs or Timber?
New Relic Logs starts at Free and Timber at Free.
Does New Relic Logs or Timber run on more platforms?
Both run on Web, Api, so platform support will not decide this one for you.
Can I use New Relic Logs for free?
Both have a free tier, so you can try either at no cost before committing.
What is New Relic Logs best used for?
New Relic Logs is most often used for centralised log management alongside metrics and traces, searching and alerting on application logs in context with performance data. Of those, centralised log management alongside metrics and traces and searching and alerting on application logs in context with performance data are not what Timber is typically brought in for.
What can New Relic Logs do that Timber cannot?
New Relic Logs covers Log ingestion, Full-text search, Logs-in-context, Custom dashboards. Timber covers Structured logging, Context integration, Real-time tail, Archive storage. Both handle API, Webhooks, REST, Web support.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

New Relic Logs: Is New Relic free?

New Relic offers a free tier with 100 GB per month of data ingest, 1 full platform user, and unlimited basic users.

Source
Timber: Is Timber/Vector free to use?

Yes, Vector is open-source software with no licensing costs. You deploy it yourself with no dependencies or runtime fees, though infrastructure hosting costs apply depending on your deployment.

Source
New Relic Logs: What does New Relic charge for data beyond the free tier?

New Relic charges 0.40 dollars per gigabyte for data beyond the 100 GB free monthly allowance. Data Plus tier costs 0.60 dollars per GB and includes up to 90-day extended retention.

Source
Timber: Does Vector offer enterprise support?

The website focuses on self-hosted deployment without mentioning commercial support tiers, suggesting enterprise support may require community resources or custom arrangements.

Source
New Relic Logs: What is the Pro plan pricing?

The Pro Edition costs 349 dollars per user per year for full platform users, or 418.80 dollars per month. Unlimited full platform users are included.

Source
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