10 Best DevOps Tools in 2026

Updated: January 2026

Monitoring, observability, incident management, and DevOps tools

Key Takeaways

  • Datadog is our #1 pick for devops in 2026, scoring 92/100.
  • We analyzed 70 devops tools to create this ranking.
  • 6 tools offer free plans, perfect for getting started.
  • Average editorial score: 89/100 - high-quality category.
1
Datadog

Datadog

Cloud monitoring platform with APM, logs, and infrastructure metrics

92/100
Paid

Datadog monitors everything about your infrastructure and applications. Metrics, traces, logs, and more—unified observability that shows what's happening across your entire stack. The breadth of integrations is unmatched. Dashboards correlate signals from different sources. The platform scales with any infrastructure size. Engineering teams wanting comprehensive observability without stitching together tools choose Datadog for monitoring that covers the full picture.

2
Prometheus

Prometheus

Open-source monitoring and alerting toolkit

92/100
Free

Prometheus monitors systems with time-series metrics. Pull-based collection, powerful queries—the monitoring system Kubernetes was built around. The data model is proven. The ecosystem is vast. The Kubernetes integration is native. Infrastructure teams use Prometheus because cloud-native monitoring expects it.

3
Grafana

Grafana

Open-source analytics and monitoring platform

90/100
Freemium

Grafana visualizes metrics and logs from any data source. Dashboards that make sense of operational data—the visualization layer for observability stacks. The query support is universal. Dashboards are flexible. The community shares thousands of templates. Operations teams building observability use Grafana to visualize data regardless of where it comes from.

4
OpenTelemetry

OpenTelemetry

Observability framework for cloud-native software

90/100
Free

OpenTelemetry provides observability standards for applications. Traces, metrics, and logs with vendor-neutral APIs—the standard that unifies observability instrumentation. The standard is becoming universal. The vendor neutrality prevents lock-in. The community is huge. Applications instrumenting for observability use OpenTelemetry for standard instrumentation.

5
PagerDuty

PagerDuty

Incident management and response platform

90/100
Paid

PagerDuty manages incidents and on-call scheduling. The platform that defined modern incident response—alerting and escalation at enterprise scale. The incident management is comprehensive. The integrations are extensive. The brand is synonymous with on-call. Organizations with serious incident management use PagerDuty for established alerting.

6
New Relic

New Relic

Full-stack observability platform for modern applications

88/100
Freemium

New Relic provides observability for everything. APM, infrastructure, logs, synthetics—comprehensive monitoring from a company that helped define the category. The coverage is complete. The integrations are extensive. The platform is proven. Organizations wanting comprehensive observability consider New Relic for full-stack monitoring.

7
Loki

Loki

Log aggregation by Grafana Labs

88/100
Free

Loki stores logs for Grafana with efficiency. Like Prometheus but for logs—log aggregation designed for cost-effective storage and Grafana integration. The storage is efficient. The Grafana integration is native. The model matches Prometheus. Grafana users needing log storage choose Loki for logs that integrate naturally.

8
Statuspage

Statuspage

Status page service by Atlassian

88/100
Paid

Statuspage communicates status during incidents. Atlassian's status page solution—incident communication to customers. The status updates are clear. The Atlassian integration exists. The brand is established. Organizations communicating status use Statuspage for incident communication.

9
Dynatrace

Dynatrace

Full-stack observability and AIOps platform

86/100
Paid

Dynatrace provides enterprise observability with AI that understands application topology automatically. Monitoring, tracing, logs, and user experience—all connected by AI that identifies root causes. The automatic instrumentation is comprehensive. The AI genuinely reduces investigation time. The scale handles enterprise complexity. Large enterprises wanting unified observability with AI-assisted analysis choose Dynatrace for intelligent monitoring at scale.

10
Honeycomb

Honeycomb

Observability for distributed systems

86/100
Freemium

Honeycomb provides observability for distributed systems. Query your production data, explore unknowns, debug what you didn't anticipate—observability that helps you understand rather than just monitor. The query model is powerful. High-cardinality data works. The approach challenges traditional monitoring. Engineering teams debugging distributed systems choose Honeycomb for observability that handles modern complexity.

What is DevOps Software?

Monitoring, observability, incident management, and DevOps tools

According to our analysis of 10+ tools, the devops software market offers solutions for teams of all sizes, from solo professionals to enterprise organizations. The best devops tools in 2026 combine powerful features with intuitive interfaces.

Common Features of DevOps Software

Automation

Automate repetitive devops tasks to save time

Collaboration

Work together with team members in real-time

Analytics & Reporting

Track progress and measure performance

Security

Protect sensitive data with enterprise-grade security

Who Uses DevOps Software?

DevOps software is used by a wide range of professionals and organizations:

  • Small businesses looking to streamline operations and compete with larger companies
  • Enterprise teams needing scalable solutions for complex devops needs
  • Freelancers and consultants managing multiple clients and projects
  • Startups seeking cost-effective tools that can grow with them

How to Choose the Right DevOps Software

When evaluating devops tools, consider these key factors:

  1. Identify your specific needs. What problems are you trying to solve? List your must-have features versus nice-to-haves.
  2. Consider your budget. 6 tools in our top 10 offer free plans, including Prometheus and Grafana.
  3. Evaluate ease of use. A powerful tool is useless if your team won't adopt it. Look for intuitive interfaces and good onboarding.
  4. Check integrations. Ensure the tool works with your existing tech stack (CRM, communication tools, etc.).
  5. Read real user reviews. Our community reviews provide honest feedback from actual users.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the best devops software in 2026?

Based on our analysis of features, user reviews, and overall value, Datadog ranks as the #1 devops tool in 2026 with a score of 92/100. Other top-rated options include Prometheus and Grafana.

Are there free devops tools available?

Yes! Prometheus, Grafana, OpenTelemetry offer free plans. In total, 6 of the top 10 devops tools have free or freemium pricing options.

How do you rank devops tools?

Our rankings are based on multiple factors: editorial analysis of features and usability (40%), community reviews and ratings (30%), pricing value (15%), and integration capabilities (15%). We regularly update rankings as tools evolve and new reviews come in.

What should I look for in devops software?

Key factors to consider include: core features that match your workflow, ease of use and learning curve, pricing that fits your budget, quality of customer support, integrations with your existing tools, and scalability as your needs grow.

Our Ranking Methodology

At Toolradar, we combine editorial expertise with community insights to rank devops tools:

40%
Editorial Analysis
Features, UX, innovation
30%
User Reviews
Real feedback from verified users
15%
Pricing Value
Cost vs. features offered
15%
Integrations
Ecosystem compatibility

Rankings are updated regularly as we receive new reviews and as tools release updates. Last updated: January 2026.

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