Software · head to head
New Relic vs Sumo Logic
The short version
- Each has a real cost: New Relic data ingest costs can be high for large-scale deployments with high logging volume, making budgeting difficult; Sumo Logic neither the Essentials nor the Enterprise Suite package lists a price on the pricing page; both link to Contact Sales
- They diverge on capability: New Relic covers APM, Sumo Logic covers Log aggregation.
Where they differ
Only the attributes on which New Relic and Sumo Logic actually diverge.
| Attribute | New Relic | Sumo Logic |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing model | Unknown | usage-based |
| Platforms | Web, Api, Mobile | Web, Api |
| Founded | 2008 | 2010 |
Identical on both: starting price (Free), free tier (Yes), 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 Sumo Logic
- Log aggregation
- Metrics collection
- Real-time analytics
- Custom dashboards
- 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 Sumo Logic
- Infrastructure monitoringnot Sumo Logic
- Error trackingnot Sumo Logic
- Performance optimizationnot Sumo Logic
Sumo Logic
- Cloud-native log analytics across applications and infrastructurenot New Relic
- Running a SIEM with MITRE ATT&CK mapped detections and UEBAnot New Relic
- Compliance and audit readiness reporting from log datanot 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
Sumo Logic
- Neither the Essentials nor the Enterprise Suite package lists a price on the pricing page; both link to Contact Sales
- Quoted per GB figures assume an annual commitment, an average of 1 GB of log ingest per day and a US deployment region
- Pricing varies by the AWS deployment region chosen, so the same volume costs differently in Dublin, Frankfurt, Sydney or Tokyo
- Flex pricing bills per TB scanned rather than per GB ingested, so query activity drives the bill
- Feature activation is subject to minimum volume, minimum user counts and service requirements confirmed at the time of the transaction
- The API is limited to four calls per section, ten concurrent in-flight requests, and query processing times out after two minutes
- Self-serve credit card purchase is capped at $25,000; larger purchases must go through sales or a reseller
Pricing, plan by plan
New Relic
FreeNo published plan breakdown. See the New Relic review.
Sumo Logic
Free- FreeFree
- Log aggregation
- Metrics collection
- Real-time 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.
Choose Sumo Logic if
- You need log aggregation.
- You want to start without paying.
- You work on Web, Api.
- You also want metrics collection.
Questions people ask
- Is New Relic or Sumo Logic better?
- Neither clearly leads. New Relic starts at Free and Sumo Logic at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
- Which is cheaper, New Relic or Sumo Logic?
- New Relic starts at Free and Sumo Logic at Free.
- Does New Relic or Sumo Logic run on more platforms?
- New Relic runs on Web, Api, Mobile. Sumo Logic runs on Web, Api.
- Can I use New Relic for free?
- Both have a free tier, so you can try either at no cost before committing.
- 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 Sumo Logic is typically brought in for.
- What can New Relic do that Sumo Logic cannot?
- New Relic covers APM, Infrastructure Monitoring, Log Management, Browser Monitoring. Sumo Logic covers Log aggregation, Metrics collection, Real-time analytics, Custom dashboards.
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
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