Datadog vs New Relic
Compare Datadog and New Relic on deployment, pricing and source model before you shortlist.
Scroll horizontally to compare every column →
| Attribute |  DatadogOther license |  New RelicOther license |
|---|---|---|
| Category | Monitoring & Observability | Monitoring & Observability |
| Primary focus | Observe infrastructure and applications | Application and infrastructure telemetry in one workflow |
| Deployment | Web | Not specified |
| Source model | Other license | Other license |
| Pricing model | paid | freemium |
| API available | Yes | Not specified |
| Vendor website | Visit vendor ↗ | Visit vendor ↗ |
| ITHub profile | View full profile → | View full profile → |
ⓘ Confirm technical details and prices with each vendor before making a decision. Want a third tool in the mix? Open the interactive comparison →
Start with the architecture and workload
Both products target managed full-stack observability. The practical decision is usually driven by telemetry coverage, query workflow, pricing dimensions, team access and how much configuration is required to reach a useful incident view.
Compare them with identical applications, hosts, telemetry volume and retention. Do not compare a small trial in one platform with a projected production configuration in the other.
Compare these first
- Agent and OpenTelemetry support
- Logs, metrics, traces and browser coverage
- Query language and investigation workflow
- Ingestion, retention, users and feature-based pricing
Shortlist Datadog when
Shortlist Datadog when broad infrastructure integrations and a unified managed workflow match the team's operating model.
Shortlist New Relic when
Shortlist New Relic when its telemetry model, query experience and current account structure fit the team's data and user patterns.
Run this proof of concept
Send the same OpenTelemetry and infrastructure data to both platforms for a bounded trial. Rebuild two production dashboards and three alerts, then compare investigation time and the projected bill.
Migration and rollback
Inventory data, identities, integrations and configuration. Test export, import and rollback with production-like data.
Security and operations
Compare access controls, audit evidence, upgrade ownership, observability and recovery procedures.
Total cost
Model licensing, infrastructure, support, data transfer and operator time at the expected scale.
Frequently asked questions
Is Datadog or New Relic open source?
Datadog is not open source (proprietary or source-available). New Relic is not open source (proprietary or source-available).
What is the pricing model for Datadog vs New Relic?
Datadog uses a paid pricing model. New Relic uses a freemium pricing model. Confirm current rates with each vendor before deciding.
Can Datadog and New Relic be self-hosted?
Datadog is not offered as a self-hosted option. New Relic is not offered as a self-hosted option.