New Relic vs Papertrail
A comprehensive head-to-head comparison of two leading log management solutions in 2026. Compare features, pricing, ratings, and more to find the right fit.
Quick Verdict
Choose New Relic if you need APM and prefer a free starting option. Choose Papertrail if you prioritize Log aggregation and want a free tier to start. New Relic has a higher user rating (4.3 vs 4.2).
New Relic vs Papertrail: At a Glance
| Criteria | New Relic | Papertrail |
|---|---|---|
| User Rating | 4.3 | 4.2 |
| Pricing | Free | Free |
| Pricing Model | freemium | per-account |
| Free Plan | ||
| Platforms | Web, Api, Mobile | Web, Api |
| Category | Log Management | Log Management |
| Founded | 2008 | 2011 |
Feature Comparison: New Relic vs Papertrail
| Feature | New Relic | Papertrail |
|---|---|---|
| APM | ||
| Infrastructure Monitoring | ||
| Log Management | ||
| Browser Monitoring | ||
| Synthetic Monitoring | ||
| Mobile Monitoring | ||
| Kubernetes Monitoring | ||
| AI Ops | ||
| AWS | ||
| Azure | ||
| GCP | ||
| Kubernetes | ||
| GitHub | ||
| Terraform | ||
| PagerDuty | ||
| Log aggregation | ||
| Real-time tail | ||
| Saved searches | ||
| System alerts | ||
| API | ||
| Webhooks | ||
| REST | ||
| Web support | ||
| Api support |
New Relic vs Papertrail: Pricing Breakdown
New Relic Pricing
Model: freemium
- 100GB free data
- 1 user
- Community support
- Unlimited data
- Alerting
- Dashboards
Papertrail Pricing
Model: per-account
- Log aggregation
- Real-time tail
- Saved searches
Pros and Cons
New Relic
Pros
- Highly rated by users (4.3/5)
- Free plan available to get started
- Available on 3 platforms (Web, Api, Mobile)
- Rich feature set with 15+ capabilities
- Strong APM functionality
- Strong Infrastructure Monitoring functionality
Cons
- May require time to learn advanced features
Papertrail
Pros
- Highly rated by users (4.2/5)
- Free plan available to get started
- Rich feature set with 9+ capabilities
- Strong Log aggregation functionality
- Strong Real-time tail functionality
Cons
- May require time to learn advanced features
Who Should Use New Relic vs Papertrail?
Choose New Relic if you:
- Need APM
- Want to start for free
- Work primarily on Web and Api
- Value Infrastructure Monitoring
Choose Papertrail if you:
- Need Log aggregation
- Want to start for free
- Work primarily on Web and Api
- Value Real-time tail
Frequently Asked Questions: New Relic vs Papertrail
Is New Relic better than Papertrail?
It depends on your needs. New Relic has a 4.3/5 user rating while Papertrail has 4.2/5. New Relic excels in APM and Infrastructure Monitoring, while Papertrail stands out with Log aggregation and Real-time tail. Consider your budget (Free vs Free), platform needs, and specific feature requirements.
Which is cheaper, New Relic or Papertrail?
New Relic offers a free plan and starts at Free. Papertrail offers a free plan and starts at Free. Compare the specific plan features to determine the best value for your use case.
Can I use New Relic and Papertrail together?
While both are log management tools, some teams use complementary software together. Check each product's API and integration capabilities for compatibility. However, most users find that one solution covers their core log management needs.
What are the main differences between New Relic and Papertrail?
The key differences include: pricing model (freemium vs per-account), platform support (Web, Api, Mobile vs Web, Api), and feature focus. New Relic emphasizes APM, Infrastructure Monitoring, Log Management while Papertrail focuses on Log aggregation, Real-time tail, Saved searches. User ratings differ slightly: 4.3 vs 4.2 out of 5.
Ready to choose?
Explore detailed reviews, user ratings, and pricing for both New Relic and Papertrail.