Software · head to head
Sematext vs Grafana Loki
The short version
- Each has a real cost: Sematext the $5 Basic plan caps ingestion at 500 MB a day and retains logs for 7 days; Grafana Loki grafana Cloud Logs Pro plan includes only 30-day retention; retention beyond 30 days requires Enterprise plan with minimum $25,000 annual commitment
- They diverge on capability: Sematext covers APM, Grafana Loki covers Label-based indexing.
Where they differ
Only the attributes on which Sematext and Grafana Loki actually diverge.
| Attribute | Sematext | Grafana Loki |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing model | usage-based | freemium |
| Platforms | Web, Api | Self-hosted (open source), Managed (Grafana Cloud Logs), Enterprise (self-managed with support) |
| Founded | 2007 | 2014 |
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 Sematext
- APM
- Metrics monitoring
- Anomaly detection
Only in Grafana Loki
- Label-based indexing
- LogQL language
- Cost-effective
Both cover
- Log aggregation
- API
- Webhooks
- REST
- Web support
- Api support
What people use each for
The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.
Sematext
- Centralised log management and search across servicesnot Grafana Loki
- Infrastructure and application monitoring alongside logsnot Grafana Loki
Grafana Loki
- Cost-sensitive organisations deploying Kubernetes and Prometheus ecosystemsnot Sematext
- Teams needing index-free log aggregation for high-volume environmentsnot Sematext
Where each one falls short
Documented limitations, not opinions. Every one is a constraint you would hit in normal use.
Sematext
- The $5 Basic plan caps ingestion at 500 MB a day and retains logs for 7 days
- Ingestion and storage are billed on separate meters, at $0.10 per GB received and $0.15 per GB stored
- Retention is a plan property rather than a setting, so keeping logs longer means moving tier
- The published pricing page renders Standard and Pro figures from unresolved template placeholders, so only the Basic numbers are actually readable
Grafana Loki
- Grafana Cloud Logs Pro plan includes only 30-day retention; retention beyond 30 days requires Enterprise plan with minimum $25,000 annual commitment
- Open-source version requires self-hosting all infrastructure including storage and scaling
Pricing, plan by plan
Sematext
Free- FreeFree
- Log aggregation
- APM
- Metrics monitoring
Grafana Loki
FreeNo published plan breakdown. See the Grafana Loki review.
Which should you pick?
Choose Sematext if
- You need apm.
- You want to start without paying.
- You work on Web, Api.
- You also want metrics monitoring.
Choose Grafana Loki if
- You need label-based indexing.
- You want to start without paying.
- You work on Self-hosted (open source), Managed (Grafana Cloud Logs), Enterprise (self-managed with support).
- You also want logql language.
Questions people ask
- Is Sematext or Grafana Loki better?
- Neither clearly leads. Sematext starts at Free and Grafana Loki at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
- Which is cheaper, Sematext or Grafana Loki?
- Sematext starts at Free and Grafana Loki at Free.
- Does Sematext or Grafana Loki run on more platforms?
- Sematext runs on Web, Api. Grafana Loki runs on Self-hosted (open source), Managed (Grafana Cloud Logs), Enterprise (self-managed with support).
- Can I use Sematext for free?
- Both have a free tier, so you can try either at no cost before committing.
- What is Sematext best used for?
- Sematext is most often used for centralised log management and search across services, infrastructure and application monitoring alongside logs. Of those, centralised log management and search across services and infrastructure and application monitoring alongside logs are not what Grafana Loki is typically brought in for.
- What can Sematext do that Grafana Loki cannot?
- Sematext covers APM, Metrics monitoring, Anomaly detection. Grafana Loki covers Label-based indexing, LogQL language, Cost-effective. Both handle Log aggregation, API, Webhooks, REST.