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Web Development · head to head

Rollup vs Thanos

Rollup logo

Rollup

Web Development

JavaScript module bundler built for libraries

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Thanos logo

Thanos

Cloud

Highly available Prometheus with long-term object storage

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Each has a real cost: Rollup slower than the Go and Rust bundlers that followed it, since it is written in JavaScript; Thanos several components — sidecar, store, querier, compactor, ruler — each with its own configuration and failure modes
  • They diverge on capability: Rollup covers Tree shaking, Thanos covers Global query.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 29 August 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Rollup and Thanos actually diverge.

Attributes where Rollup and Thanos differ
AttributeRollupThanos
PlatformsLinux, macOS, WindowsKubernetes, Linux, Docker
CategoryWeb DevelopmentCloud

Identical on both: starting price (Free), pricing model (Open source, no licence fee), free tier (Yes), user rating (Not yet rated).

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 Rollup

  • Tree shaking
  • Clean output
  • Multiple output formats
  • Plugin API

Only in Thanos

  • Global query
  • Object storage retention
  • Deduplication
  • Downsampling

What people use each for

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

Rollup

  • Publishing a JavaScript library in several module formatsnot Thanos
  • Builds where output size and cleanliness matter more than build speednot Thanos
  • Producing ES module output for consumers who will bundle it themselvesnot Thanos

Thanos

  • Querying metrics across many clusters or regions from one placenot Rollup
  • Retaining metrics for years without local disk growthnot Rollup
  • Removing the gap that appears when a single Prometheus instance restartsnot Rollup

Where each one falls short

Documented limitations, not opinions. Every one is a constraint you would hit in normal use.

Rollup

  • Slower than the Go and Rust bundlers that followed it, since it is written in JavaScript
  • Application concerns like dev servers and hot reloading are not its job, so app builds need Vite on top
  • Configuration for non-trivial applications gets verbose compared with tools that assume more

Thanos

  • Several components — sidecar, store, querier, compactor, ruler — each with its own configuration and failure modes
  • The compactor is a common source of operational trouble and must not run twice against the same bucket
  • Query latency over object storage is meaningfully higher than local Prometheus
  • Object storage costs and API request charges become real at high volume

Pricing, plan by plan

Rollup

Free
  • RollupFree
    • Full functionality
    • Commercial use permitted
    • Community support

Thanos

Free
  • ThanosFree
    • Full functionality
    • No usage limits
    • Community support

Which should you pick?

Choose Rollup if

  • You need tree shaking.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Linux, macOS, Windows.
  • You also want clean output.
Rollup review

Choose Thanos if

  • You need global query.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Kubernetes, Linux, Docker.
  • You also want object storage retention.
Thanos review

Questions people ask

Is Rollup or Thanos better?
Neither clearly leads. Rollup starts at Free and Thanos at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Rollup or Thanos?
Rollup starts at Free and Thanos at Free.
Does Rollup or Thanos run on more platforms?
Rollup runs on Linux, macOS, Windows. Thanos runs on Kubernetes, Linux, Docker.
Can I use Rollup for free?
Both have a free tier, so you can try either at no cost before committing.
What is Rollup best used for?
Rollup is most often used for publishing a javascript library in several module formats, builds where output size and cleanliness matter more than build speed, producing es module output for consumers who will bundle it themselves. Of those, publishing a javascript library in several module formats and builds where output size and cleanliness matter more than build speed are not what Thanos is typically brought in for.
What can Rollup do that Thanos cannot?
Rollup covers Tree shaking, Clean output, Multiple output formats, Plugin API. Thanos covers Global query, Object storage retention, Deduplication, Downsampling.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

Rollup: Is Rollup free?

Yes, open source under the MIT licence.

Thanos: Is Thanos free?

Yes, open source and CNCF-incubating. Costs are the object storage it uses.

Rollup: Rollup or webpack?

Rollup is the usual choice for libraries thanks to cleaner output and better tree shaking. webpack remains stronger for complex applications with heavy asset handling.

Thanos: Does Thanos replace Prometheus?

No. It runs alongside existing Prometheus servers, adding global query, deduplication and long-term storage.

Rollup: Do I need Rollup if I use Vite?

Not directly. Vite uses Rollup for production builds, so you already benefit from it.

Thanos: Thanos or VictoriaMetrics?

Thanos layers onto Prometheus using object storage and is the more established multi-cluster answer. VictoriaMetrics is a separate store aiming at lower resource use and fewer moving parts.

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