Compare tools

Grafana vs Prometheus

Compare Grafana and Prometheus on deployment, pricing and source model before you shortlist.

Scroll horizontally to compare every column →

Attribute	GrafanaOpen source	PrometheusOpen source
Category	Monitoring & Observability	Monitoring & Observability
Primary focus	Open source dashboards and observability across many data sources	Open-source, pull-based metrics monitoring and alerting toolkit
Deployment	Self-hosted / Web	Self-hosted
Source model	Open source	Open source
Pricing model	freemium	open source
API available	Yes	Yes
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 →

Technical decision guide

Start with the architecture and workload

Grafana and Prometheus usually solve different layers of the same monitoring stack. Prometheus collects and queries time-series metrics; Grafana visualizes Prometheus and many other data sources. Many production designs use both.

Decide whether you need a metrics system, a visualization layer or a complete managed observability service. Treating these projects as direct substitutes can leave collection, storage or alerting requirements uncovered.

Compare these first

Metrics collection and service discovery
Time-series storage and retention
Dashboard and multi-source visualization
Alert rules, routing and high availability

Shortlist Grafana when

Use Grafana when the requirement is dashboards and exploration across Prometheus or other supported data sources.

Shortlist Prometheus when

Use Prometheus when the requirement is metric scraping, time-series queries and alert-rule evaluation in a cloud-native ecosystem.

Run this proof of concept

Deploy Prometheus against a representative service, connect Grafana, create one recording rule, dashboard and actionable alert, then test component restart and data retention behavior.

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.

Verify with official sources:Prometheus overview ↗Grafana documentation ↗

Evaluation methodology · Corrections process

Limits to confirm

Do not shortlist until these are tested

Grafana

Budget for upgrades, backups and incident ownership in the self-hosted operating model.
Test API coverage, authentication, rate limits and failure handling against the target workflow.
Confirm the exact license and support model for every component you plan to run.

Prometheus

Budget for upgrades, backups and incident ownership in the self-hosted operating model.
Test API coverage, authentication, rate limits and failure handling against the target workflow.
Confirm the exact license and support model for every component you plan to run.

Official sources and directory fields checked for this comparison on October 3, 2026. Recheck current release notes, prices and plan limits before procurement.

Frequently asked questions

Is Grafana or Prometheus open source?

Grafana is open source. Prometheus is open source.

What is the pricing model for Grafana vs Prometheus?

Grafana uses a freemium pricing model. Prometheus uses an open source pricing model. Confirm current rates with each vendor before deciding.

Can Grafana and Prometheus be self-hosted?

Grafana is self-hostable. Prometheus is self-hostable.