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Logging · head to head

New Relic vs Splunk Enterprise

New Relic logo

New Relic

Logging

Observability made simple

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 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; Splunk Enterprise splunk Platform and Enterprise Security offerings carry no published rate and require contacting sales for a quote
  • They diverge on capability: New Relic covers APM, Splunk Enterprise covers Log aggregation.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 30 August 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which New Relic and Splunk Enterprise actually diverge.

Attributes where New Relic and Splunk Enterprise differ
AttributeNew RelicSplunk Enterprise
Starting priceFreeOn request
Pricing modelUnknownusage-based
Free tierYesNo
PlatformsWeb, Api, MobileWeb, Api
Founded20082003

Identical on both: 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

  • APM
  • Infrastructure Monitoring
  • Log Management
  • Browser Monitoring
  • Synthetic Monitoring
  • Mobile Monitoring
  • Kubernetes Monitoring
  • AI Ops

Only in Splunk Enterprise

  • Log aggregation
  • Real-time monitoring
  • Advanced analytics
  • Compliance
  • API
  • Webhooks
  • REST
  • Web support

What people use each for

The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.

New Relic

  • Application monitoringnot Splunk Enterprise
  • Infrastructure monitoringnot Splunk Enterprise
  • Error trackingnot Splunk Enterprise
  • Performance optimizationnot Splunk Enterprise

Splunk Enterprise

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

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

New Relic

Free

No published plan breakdown. See the New Relic review.

Splunk Enterprise

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

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.
New Relic review

Choose Splunk Enterprise if

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

Questions people ask

Is New Relic or Splunk Enterprise better?
Neither clearly leads. New Relic 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, New Relic or Splunk Enterprise?
New Relic has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at Free for New Relic and On request for Splunk Enterprise.
Does New Relic or Splunk Enterprise run on more platforms?
New Relic runs on Web, Api, Mobile. Splunk Enterprise runs on Web, Api.
Can I use New Relic for free?
Yes. New Relic has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. Splunk Enterprise 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 Splunk Enterprise is typically brought in for.
What can New Relic do that Splunk Enterprise cannot?
New Relic covers APM, Infrastructure Monitoring, Log Management, Browser Monitoring. Splunk Enterprise covers Log aggregation, Real-time monitoring, Advanced analytics, Compliance.

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.

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
New 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.

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
New 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.

Source
New 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.

Source
New 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.

Source
New 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.

Source
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