Softwr

Logging · head to head

New Relic vs Timber

New Relic logo

New Relic

Logging

Observability made simple

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 data ingest costs can be high for large-scale deployments with high logging volume, making budgeting difficult; Timber vector requires manual deployment and configuration for production use
  • They diverge on capability: New Relic covers APM, 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 and Timber actually diverge.

Attributes where New Relic and Timber differ
AttributeNew RelicTimber
Pricing modelUnknownusage-based
PlatformsWeb, Api, MobileWeb, Api
Founded20082016

Identical on both: starting price (Free), free tier (Yes), 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 Timber

  • Structured logging
  • Context integration
  • Real-time tail
  • Archive storage
  • 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 Timber
  • Infrastructure monitoringnot Timber
  • Error trackingnot Timber
  • Performance optimizationnot Timber

Timber

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

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

Free

No published plan breakdown. See the New Relic review.

Timber

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

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 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 or Timber better?
Neither clearly leads. New Relic 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 or Timber?
New Relic starts at Free and Timber at Free.
Does New Relic or Timber run on more platforms?
New Relic runs on Web, Api, Mobile. Timber 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 Timber is typically brought in for.
What can New Relic do that Timber cannot?
New Relic covers APM, Infrastructure Monitoring, Log Management, Browser Monitoring. Timber covers Structured logging, Context integration, Real-time tail, Archive storage.

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
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: 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
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: 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
Share

Related pages

More on New Relic

More on Timber

Keep looking

Other head to heads