Log Management · head to head
Splunk Enterprise vs Datadog Logs
Splunk Enterprise
Log Management
Enterprise Search, Monitoring, and Analytics
- From
- On request
- Rated
- -
Datadog Logs
Log Management
Log Management and Analytics
- From
- $0.1/per GB ingested per month
- Rated
- -
The short version
- Each has a real cost: Splunk Enterprise splunk Platform and Enterprise Security offerings carry no published rate and require contacting sales for a quote; Datadog Logs complex, multi-tiered pricing model based on ingestion, indexing, and storage; can become expensive at scale
- They diverge on capability: Splunk Enterprise covers Log aggregation, Datadog Logs covers Log ingestion.
Where they differ
Only the attributes on which Splunk Enterprise and Datadog Logs actually diverge.
| Attribute | Splunk Enterprise | Datadog Logs |
|---|---|---|
| Starting price | On request | $0.1/per GB ingested per month |
| Platforms | Web, Api | Cloud (AWS, Azure, Google Cloud, Oracle Cloud) |
| Founded | 2003 | 2010 |
Identical on both: pricing model (usage-based), free tier (No), user rating (Not yet rated), category (Log Management).
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 Splunk Enterprise
- Log aggregation
- Real-time monitoring
- Advanced analytics
- Compliance
Only in Datadog Logs
- Log ingestion
- Full-text search
- Custom dashboards
- Log-based metrics
Both cover
- API
- Webhooks
- REST
- Web support
- Api support
What people use each for
The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.
Splunk Enterprise
- Indexing and searching machine data and logs at enterprise scalenot Datadog Logs
- Security information and event management via Enterprise Securitynot Datadog Logs
- IT service intelligence and infrastructure observabilitynot Datadog Logs
Datadog Logs
- Centralised log aggregation and analysisnot Splunk Enterprise
- Multi-source log correlation with metrics and tracesnot Splunk Enterprise
- Root cause analysis and troubleshootingnot Splunk Enterprise
- Security monitoring and threat detectionnot Splunk Enterprise
Where each one falls short
Documented limitations, not opinions. Every one is a constraint you would hit in normal use.
Splunk Enterprise
- Splunk Platform and Enterprise Security offerings carry no published rate and require contacting sales for a quote
- Four different pricing models are offered (activity, ingest, workload and entity based) and the applicable one depends on the product purchased
- Published Observability Cloud rates start at $15 per host per month and are billed annually rather than monthly
- Volume discounts are not published and require direct consultation with sales
Datadog Logs
- Complex, multi-tiered pricing model based on ingestion, indexing, and storage; can become expensive at scale
- Ingestion pricing of $0.10/GB can accumulate rapidly for high-volume logging environments
Pricing, plan by plan
Splunk Enterprise
On request- Starter$undefined/month
- Log aggregation
- Real-time monitoring
- Advanced analytics
Datadog Logs
$0.1/per GB ingested per monthNo published plan breakdown. See the Datadog Logs review.
Which should you pick?
Choose Splunk Enterprise if
- You need log aggregation.
- You work on Web, Api.
- You also want real-time monitoring.
Choose Datadog Logs if
- You need log ingestion.
- You work on Cloud (AWS, Azure, Google Cloud, Oracle Cloud).
- You also want full-text search.
Questions people ask
- Is Splunk Enterprise or Datadog Logs better?
- Neither clearly leads. Splunk Enterprise starts at On request and Datadog Logs at $0.1/per GB ingested per month, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
- Which is cheaper, Splunk Enterprise or Datadog Logs?
- Splunk Enterprise starts at On request and Datadog Logs at $0.1/per GB ingested per month.
- Does Splunk Enterprise or Datadog Logs run on more platforms?
- Splunk Enterprise runs on Web, Api. Datadog Logs runs on Cloud (AWS, Azure, Google Cloud, Oracle Cloud).
- What is Splunk Enterprise best used for?
- Splunk Enterprise is most often used for indexing and searching machine data and logs at enterprise scale, security information and event management via enterprise security, it service intelligence and infrastructure observability. Of those, indexing and searching machine data and logs at enterprise scale and security information and event management via enterprise security are not what Datadog Logs is typically brought in for.
- What can Splunk Enterprise do that Datadog Logs cannot?
- Splunk Enterprise covers Log aggregation, Real-time monitoring, Advanced analytics, Compliance. Datadog Logs covers Log ingestion, Full-text search, Custom dashboards, Log-based metrics. Both handle API, Webhooks, REST, Web support.
Related pages
More on Splunk Enterprise
More on Datadog Logs
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