Software · head to head
Traefik vs Grafana
The short version
- Each has a real cost: Traefik requires Kubernetes or container knowledge; Grafana the free tier retains metrics, logs and traces for 14 days only
- They diverge on capability: Traefik covers API Gateway, Grafana covers Dashboard creation.
Where they differ
Only the attributes on which Traefik and Grafana actually diverge.
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 Traefik
- API Gateway
- Load Balancing
- SSL/TLS Termination
- Kubernetes
- Docker
- Consul
- etcd
- Linux support
Only in Grafana
- Dashboard creation
- Alerting
- Data source integration
- Visualization plugins
- API
- Webhooks
- REST
- Web support
What people use each for
The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.
Traefik
- API gateway for microservices architecturenot Grafana
- Kubernetes ingress controllernot Grafana
- Container and VM traffic routingnot Grafana
- Cloud-native application managementnot Grafana
Grafana
- Dashboards and visualisation over metrics, logs and tracesnot Traefik
- Running observability across infrastructure and applicationsnot Traefik
Where each one falls short
Documented limitations, not opinions. Every one is a constraint you would hit in normal use.
Traefik
- Requires Kubernetes or container knowledge
- Complex configuration for advanced features
Grafana
- The free tier retains metrics, logs and traces for 14 days only
- Free is capped at 10,000 active metric series and 50 GB each of logs and traces a month
- The Pro plan carries a $19 a month platform fee before any usage charges
- Logs and traces are billed on three separate meters, at $0.050 per GB processed, $0.400 per GB written and $0.100 per GB retained
- Retaining data is an ongoing charge rather than a one off, so historical data costs every month it exists
Pricing, plan by plan
Traefik
FreeNo published plan breakdown. See the Traefik review.
Grafana
Free- FreeFree
- Dashboard creation
- Alerting
- Data source integration
Which should you pick?
Choose Traefik if
- You need api gateway.
- You want to start without paying.
- You work on Kubernetes, Docker, Cloud.
- You also want load balancing.
Choose Grafana if
- You need dashboard creation.
- You want to start without paying.
- You work on Web, Api.
- You also want alerting.
Questions people ask
- Is Traefik or Grafana better?
- Neither clearly leads. Traefik starts at Free and Grafana at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
- Which is cheaper, Traefik or Grafana?
- Traefik starts at Free and Grafana at Free.
- Does Traefik or Grafana run on more platforms?
- Traefik runs on Kubernetes, Docker, Cloud. Grafana runs on Web, Api.
- Can I use Traefik for free?
- Both have a free tier, so you can try either at no cost before committing.
- What is Traefik best used for?
- Traefik is most often used for api gateway for microservices architecture, kubernetes ingress controller, container and vm traffic routing, cloud-native application management. Of those, api gateway for microservices architecture and kubernetes ingress controller are not what Grafana is typically brought in for.
- What can Traefik do that Grafana cannot?
- Traefik covers API Gateway, Load Balancing, SSL/TLS Termination, Kubernetes. Grafana covers Dashboard creation, Alerting, Data source integration, Visualization plugins.
Related pages
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