Software · head to head
New Relic vs Palo Alto Networks
The short version
- Only New Relic has a free tier, so it costs nothing to try first.
- Each has a real cost: New Relic data ingest costs can be high for large-scale deployments with high logging volume, making budgeting difficult; Palo Alto Networks enterprise-focused pricing model
- They diverge on capability: New Relic covers APM, Palo Alto Networks covers Advanced threat prevention.
Where they differ
Only the attributes on which New Relic and Palo Alto Networks actually diverge.
| Attribute | New Relic | Palo Alto Networks |
|---|---|---|
| Starting price | Free | On request |
| Pricing model | Unknown | subscription |
| Free tier | Yes | No |
| Platforms | Web, Api, Mobile | Cloud, On-premises, Hybrid |
| Founded | 2008 | 2005 |
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 New Relic
- APM
- Infrastructure Monitoring
- Log Management
- Browser Monitoring
- Synthetic Monitoring
- Mobile Monitoring
- Kubernetes Monitoring
- AI Ops
Only in Palo Alto Networks
- Advanced threat prevention
- Threat detection and response
- Cloud security
- Endpoint protection
- Network security
- API protection
- Incident response
- Threat intelligence
Both cover
- AWS
- Azure
- SOC2
- HIPAA
- ISO27001
- Cloud deployment
What people use each for
The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.
New Relic
- Application monitoringnot Palo Alto Networks
- Infrastructure monitoringnot Palo Alto Networks
- Error trackingnot Palo Alto Networks
- Performance optimizationnot Palo Alto Networks
Palo Alto Networks
- Enterprise network security and threat protectionnot New Relic
- Cloud-native application protectionnot New Relic
- Identity and access securitynot New Relic
- Security operations and incident responsenot New Relic
Where each one falls short
Documented limitations, not opinions. Every one is a constraint you would hit in normal use.
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
Palo Alto Networks
- Enterprise-focused pricing model
- Complex implementation required
Pricing, plan by plan
New Relic
FreeNo published plan breakdown. See the New Relic review.
Palo Alto Networks
On request- Enterprise$undefined/year
- Threat prevention
- Detection and response
- Cloud security
Which should you pick?
Choose New Relic if
- You need apm.
- You want to start without paying.
- You work on Web, Api, Mobile.
- You also want infrastructure monitoring.
Choose Palo Alto Networks if
- You need advanced threat prevention.
- You work on Cloud, On-premises, Hybrid.
- You also want threat detection and response.
Questions people ask
- Is New Relic or Palo Alto Networks better?
- Neither clearly leads. New Relic starts at Free and Palo Alto Networks at On request, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
- Which is cheaper, New Relic or Palo Alto Networks?
- New Relic has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at Free for New Relic and On request for Palo Alto Networks.
- Does New Relic or Palo Alto Networks run on more platforms?
- New Relic runs on Web, Api, Mobile. Palo Alto Networks runs on Cloud, On-premises, Hybrid.
- Can I use New Relic for free?
- Yes. New Relic has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. Palo Alto Networks starts at On request.
- What is New Relic best used for?
- New Relic is most often used for application monitoring, infrastructure monitoring, error tracking, performance optimization. Of those, application monitoring and infrastructure monitoring are not what Palo Alto Networks is typically brought in for.
- What can New Relic do that Palo Alto Networks cannot?
- New Relic covers APM, Infrastructure Monitoring, Log Management, Browser Monitoring. Palo Alto Networks covers Advanced threat prevention, Threat detection and response, Cloud security, Endpoint protection. Both handle AWS, Azure, SOC2, HIPAA.
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.
SourceNew 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.
SourceNew 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.
SourceNew 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.
SourceNew 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.
SourceNew 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.
SourceRelated pages
More on Palo Alto Networks
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