Papertrail vs New Relic
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 Papertrail if you need Log aggregation and prefer a free starting option. Choose New Relic if you prioritize APM and want a free tier to start. New Relic has a higher user rating (4.3 vs 4.2).
Papertrail vs New Relic: At a Glance
| Criteria | Papertrail | New Relic |
|---|---|---|
| User Rating | 4.2 | 4.3 |
| Pricing | Free | Free |
| Pricing Model | per-account | freemium |
| Free Plan | ||
| Platforms | Web, Api | Web, Api, Mobile |
| Category | Log Management | Log Management |
| Founded | 2011 | 2008 |
Feature Comparison: Papertrail vs New Relic
| Feature | Papertrail | New Relic |
|---|---|---|
| Log aggregation | ||
| Real-time tail | ||
| Saved searches | ||
| System alerts | ||
| API | ||
| Webhooks | ||
| REST | ||
| Web support | ||
| Api support | ||
| APM | ||
| Infrastructure Monitoring | ||
| Log Management | ||
| Browser Monitoring | ||
| Synthetic Monitoring | ||
| Mobile Monitoring | ||
| Kubernetes Monitoring | ||
| AI Ops | ||
| AWS | ||
| Azure | ||
| GCP | ||
| Kubernetes | ||
| GitHub | ||
| Terraform | ||
| PagerDuty |
Papertrail vs New Relic: Pricing Breakdown
Papertrail Pricing
Model: per-account
- Log aggregation
- Real-time tail
- Saved searches
New Relic Pricing
Model: freemium
- 100GB free data
- 1 user
- Community support
- Unlimited data
- Alerting
- Dashboards
Pros and Cons
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
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
Who Should Use Papertrail vs New Relic?
Choose Papertrail if you:
- Need Log aggregation
- Want to start for free
- Work primarily on Web and Api
- Value Real-time tail
Choose New Relic if you:
- Need APM
- Want to start for free
- Work primarily on Web and Api
- Value Infrastructure Monitoring
Frequently Asked Questions: Papertrail vs New Relic
Is Papertrail better than New Relic?
It depends on your needs. Papertrail has a 4.2/5 user rating while New Relic has 4.3/5. Papertrail excels in Log aggregation and Real-time tail, while New Relic stands out with APM and Infrastructure Monitoring. Consider your budget (Free vs Free), platform needs, and specific feature requirements.
Which is cheaper, Papertrail or New Relic?
Papertrail offers a free plan and starts at Free. New Relic 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 Papertrail and New Relic 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 Papertrail and New Relic?
The key differences include: pricing model (per-account vs freemium), platform support (Web, Api vs Web, Api, Mobile), and feature focus. Papertrail emphasizes Log aggregation, Real-time tail, Saved searches while New Relic focuses on APM, Infrastructure Monitoring, Log Management. User ratings differ slightly: 4.2 vs 4.3 out of 5.
Ready to choose?
Explore detailed reviews, user ratings, and pricing for both Papertrail and New Relic.