Elastic APM vs New Relic
A comprehensive head-to-head comparison of two leading log management solutions in 2026. Compare features, pricing, ratings, and more to find the right fit.
Quick Verdict
Choose Elastic APM if you need Performance monitoring and prefer a free starting option. Choose New Relic if you prioritize APM and want a free tier to start. Both are rated 4.3/5 by users.
Elastic APM vs New Relic: At a Glance
| Criteria | Elastic APM | New Relic |
|---|---|---|
| User Rating | 4.3 | 4.3 |
| Pricing | Free | Free |
| Pricing Model | open-source | freemium |
| Free Plan | ||
| Platforms | Web, Api | Web, Api, Mobile |
| Category | Log Management | Log Management |
| Founded | 2011 | 2008 |
Feature Comparison: Elastic APM vs New Relic
| Feature | Elastic APM | New Relic |
|---|---|---|
| Performance monitoring | ||
| Error tracking | ||
| Transaction tracing | ||
| Custom metrics | ||
| API | ||
| Webhooks | ||
| REST | ||
| Web support | ||
| Api support | ||
| APM | ||
| Infrastructure Monitoring | ||
| Log Management | ||
| Browser Monitoring | ||
| Synthetic Monitoring | ||
| Mobile Monitoring | ||
| Kubernetes Monitoring | ||
| AI Ops | ||
| AWS | ||
| Azure | ||
| GCP | ||
| Kubernetes | ||
| GitHub | ||
| Terraform | ||
| PagerDuty |
Elastic APM vs New Relic: Pricing Breakdown
Elastic APM Pricing
Model: open-source
- Performance monitoring
- Error tracking
- Transaction tracing
New Relic Pricing
Model: freemium
- 100GB free data
- 1 user
- Community support
- Unlimited data
- Alerting
- Dashboards
Pros and Cons
Elastic APM
Pros
- Highly rated by users (4.3/5)
- Free plan available to get started
- Rich feature set with 9+ capabilities
- Strong Performance monitoring functionality
- Strong Error tracking functionality
Cons
- May require time to learn advanced features
New Relic
Pros
- Highly rated by users (4.3/5)
- Free plan available to get started
- Available on 3 platforms (Web, Api, Mobile)
- Rich feature set with 15+ capabilities
- Strong APM functionality
- Strong Infrastructure Monitoring functionality
Cons
- May require time to learn advanced features
Who Should Use Elastic APM vs New Relic?
Choose Elastic APM if you:
- Need Performance monitoring
- Want to start for free
- Work primarily on Web and Api
- Value Error tracking
Choose New Relic if you:
- Need APM
- Want to start for free
- Work primarily on Web and Api
- Value Infrastructure Monitoring
Frequently Asked Questions: Elastic APM vs New Relic
Is Elastic APM better than New Relic?
It depends on your needs. Elastic APM has a 4.3/5 user rating while New Relic has 4.3/5. Elastic APM excels in Performance monitoring and Error tracking, while New Relic stands out with APM and Infrastructure Monitoring. Consider your budget (Free vs Free), platform needs, and specific feature requirements.
Which is cheaper, Elastic APM or New Relic?
Elastic APM offers a free plan and starts at Free. New Relic offers a free plan and starts at Free. Compare the specific plan features to determine the best value for your use case.
Can I use Elastic APM and New Relic together?
While both are log management tools, some teams use complementary software together. Check each product's API and integration capabilities for compatibility. However, most users find that one solution covers their core log management needs.
What are the main differences between Elastic APM and New Relic?
The key differences include: pricing model (open-source vs freemium), platform support (Web, Api vs Web, Api, Mobile), and feature focus. Elastic APM emphasizes Performance monitoring, Error tracking, Transaction tracing while New Relic focuses on APM, Infrastructure Monitoring, Log Management. User ratings differ slightly: 4.3 vs 4.3 out of 5.
Ready to choose?
Explore detailed reviews, user ratings, and pricing for both Elastic APM and New Relic.