Softwr

Networking · head to head

Splunk vs VictoriaMetrics

Splunk logo

Splunk

Networking

Turn Data Into Doing

From
On request
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
VictoriaMetrics logo

VictoriaMetrics

Cloud

Fast, cost-effective time series database for metrics

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Only VictoriaMetrics has a free tier, so it costs nothing to try first.
  • Each has a real cost: Splunk no prices are published on any plan; every model requires contacting sales for an estimate; VictoriaMetrics promQL compatibility is very close but not identical, and MetricsQL extensions do not port back
  • They diverge on capability: Splunk covers Log aggregation, VictoriaMetrics covers PromQL compatible.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Splunk and VictoriaMetrics actually diverge.

Attributes where Splunk and VictoriaMetrics differ
AttributeSplunkVictoriaMetrics
Starting priceOn requestFree
Pricing modelquoteOpen source, no licence fee
Free tierNoYes
PlatformsWeb, ApiLinux, Docker, Kubernetes, Self-hosted
CategoryNetworkingCloud
Founded2003Unknown

Identical on both: 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 Splunk

  • Log aggregation
  • Real-time monitoring
  • Data visualization
  • Full-text search
  • Custom dashboards
  • Alert management
  • Anomaly detection
  • Log parsing

Only in VictoriaMetrics

  • PromQL compatible
  • Low resource use
  • Single binary or cluster
  • Remote write target

What people use each for

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

Splunk

  • Log search and analysis across infrastructurenot VictoriaMetrics
  • SIEM, SOAR and UEBA for a security operations teamnot VictoriaMetrics
  • Application performance and infrastructure monitoringnot VictoriaMetrics
  • Cloud, private cloud or on-premises deploymentnot VictoriaMetrics

VictoriaMetrics

  • Keeping months or years of Prometheus metrics without the memory costnot Splunk
  • High-cardinality metrics where Prometheus strugglesnot Splunk
  • Consolidating metrics from many Prometheus instances into one queryable storenot Splunk

Where each one falls short

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

Splunk

  • No prices are published on any plan; every model requires contacting sales for an estimate
  • Three separate pricing models, workload, ingest and entity, so the same deployment costs different amounts depending on which was signed
  • Ingest pricing bills on data volume, so cost tracks how much you log rather than how much value you get from it
  • Security, observability and platform are priced separately

VictoriaMetrics

  • PromQL compatibility is very close but not identical, and MetricsQL extensions do not port back
  • Smaller community than Prometheus, so fewer guides and third-party integrations
  • The clustered version has meaningfully more moving parts than the single binary suggests
  • Some enterprise features sit outside the open-source offering

Pricing, plan by plan

Splunk

On request
  • Observability Cloud - Infrastructure$15/month
    • Infrastructure monitoring for per host/month pricing
    • Unlimited users and ability to scale to petabytes of data
  • Observability Cloud - App & Infra$60/month
    • App and infrastructure monitoring for per host/month pricing billed annually
  • Observability Cloud - End-to-End$75/month
    • End-to-end observability for per host/month pricing billed annually
  • On-Call$5/month
    • On-call management for per user per month pricing billed annually
    • Covers up to 10 seats

VictoriaMetrics

Free
  • VictoriaMetricsFree
    • Full functionality
    • No data limits
    • Community support

Which should you pick?

Choose Splunk if

  • You need log aggregation.
  • You work on Web, Api.
  • You also want real-time monitoring.
Splunk review

Choose VictoriaMetrics if

  • You need promql compatible.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Linux, Docker, Kubernetes, Self-hosted.
  • You also want low resource use.
VictoriaMetrics review

Questions people ask

Is Splunk or VictoriaMetrics better?
Neither clearly leads. Splunk starts at On request and VictoriaMetrics at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Splunk or VictoriaMetrics?
VictoriaMetrics has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at On request for Splunk and Free for VictoriaMetrics.
Does Splunk or VictoriaMetrics run on more platforms?
Splunk runs on Web, Api. VictoriaMetrics runs on Linux, Docker, Kubernetes, Self-hosted.
Can I use VictoriaMetrics for free?
Yes. VictoriaMetrics has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. Splunk starts at On request.
What is Splunk best used for?
Splunk is most often used for log search and analysis across infrastructure, siem, soar and ueba for a security operations team, application performance and infrastructure monitoring, cloud, private cloud or on-premises deployment. Of those, log search and analysis across infrastructure and siem, soar and ueba for a security operations team are not what VictoriaMetrics is typically brought in for.
What can Splunk do that VictoriaMetrics cannot?
Splunk covers Log aggregation, Real-time monitoring, Data visualization, Full-text search. VictoriaMetrics covers PromQL compatible, Low resource use, Single binary or cluster, Remote write target.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

Splunk: What is Splunk's pricing model?

Splunk offers activity-based, ingest, or workload pricing options depending on the product. Splunk Observability Cloud and AppDynamics use per-host or per-vCPU monthly pricing billed annually. Splunk Cloud Platform and Splunk Enterprise require custom quotes from sales.

Source
VictoriaMetrics: Is VictoriaMetrics free?

The open-source version is free with no data limits. An enterprise edition and cloud service are paid.

Splunk: How much does Splunk Enterprise cost?

Splunk Enterprise pricing requires contact with sales. The vendor offers data-ingest or workload pricing options, supports unlimited users, and can scale to petabytes of data, but specific rates are not published online.

Source
VictoriaMetrics: Does it replace Prometheus?

It can, but most teams keep Prometheus for scraping and use VictoriaMetrics as the long-term store behind it.

Splunk: What are the differences between Splunk's pricing options?

Splunk offers multiple pricing models: ingest-based pricing charges according to data volume brought into the system; workload-based pricing charges based on computing resources consumed by workloads. Both models apply to Splunk Enterprise and Splunk Cloud Platform. Standard support is included with product purchases; premium support is available as an add-on.

Source
VictoriaMetrics: Is PromQL fully supported?

Very nearly. It implements PromQL and extends it with MetricsQL, though a small number of edge-case behaviours differ.

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