Bugsnag vs New Relic: Which is Better in 2026?
Choosing between Bugsnag and New Relic comes down to understanding what each tool does best. This comparison breaks down the key differences so you can make an informed decision based on your specific needs, not marketing claims.
Bottom line: New Relic wins this matchup. SolarWinds is our overall Monitoring pick. Hookdeck is our free Monitoring pick. Pick Bugsnag if you need monitoring.
Short on time? Here's the quick answer
Based on published vendor pricing and features and on public review data, here's who should pick what:
Bugsnag
Error monitoring with diagnostic data for debugging
Best for you if:
- • You want good error monitoring
New Relic
Full-stack observability with 50+ monitoring capabilities
Best for you if:
- • You want generous free tier
| At a Glance | Bugsnag | New Relic |
|---|---|---|
Starts at | Free Free plan | Free Free plan |
Category | Monitoring Debugging | DevOps Analytics |
Rating | 4.4/5 G2 4.3 · Capterra 4.7 · SourceForge 4.0 55 reviews | 4.4/5 G2 4.4 · Capterra 4.5 783 reviews |
Free plan | Yes | Yes |
Watch out for | Higher tiers may have user minimums | Data ingest overages at $0.40/GB (Standard) |
Choose Bugsnag or New Relic?
Choose Bugsnag if
- You want good error monitoring
- You want stability scoring
- You work in monitoring, not DevOps
Choose New Relic if
- You want generous free tier
- You want full-stack observability
- You work in DevOps, not monitoring
In-Depth Analysis
Bugsnag
Error monitoring with diagnostic data for debugging
The Free tier is generous for individual developers or very small projects with 7.5K events/month.
Watch out
Higher tiers may have user minimums
Strengths
- Pro: Good error monitoring
- Pro: Stability scoring
- Pro: Release tracking
- Pro: Many integrations
- Pro: Good mobile support
Weaknesses
- Con: Expensive at scale
- Con: Event limits
- Con: UI could improve
- Con: Less features than Sentry
- Con: Pricing tiers limiting
Key features
New Relic
Full-stack observability with 50+ monitoring capabilities
New Relic's freemium model is generous, offering 100 GB/month and a full platform user for free.
Watch out
Data ingest overages at $0.40/GB (Standard)
Strengths
- Pro: Generous free tier
- Pro: Full-stack observability
- Pro: AI insights
Weaknesses
- Con: Complex to set up
- Con: Data can be expensive
Key features
Pricing: Bugsnag vs New Relic
| Plan | Bugsnag | New Relic |
|---|---|---|
| Tier 1 | $0 Free | Free Free |
| Tier 2 | Custom Select | $10 Standard |
| Tier 3 | Custom Preferred | $349 Pro |
| Tier 4 | Custom Enterprise | Enterprise |
Pricing verified from each vendor's public pricing page. Compare in detail on Bugsnag pricing and New Relic pricing.
Key Takeaways
New Relic
- Larger review base (783 reviews)
- Free tier available
- Our pick for this comparison
Bugsnag
- Better fit for monitoring
The Bottom Line
New Relic wins this matchup. SolarWinds is our overall Monitoring pick. Hookdeck is our free Monitoring pick.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Bugsnag or New Relic better in 2026?
New Relic wins this matchup. SolarWinds is our overall Monitoring pick. Hookdeck is our free Monitoring pick. Pick Bugsnag for monitoring workflows (main strength: good error monitoring). Pick New Relic for DevOps workflows (main strength: generous free tier).
What are Bugsnag and New Relic used for?
Bugsnag: Error monitoring with diagnostic data for debugging. New Relic: Full-stack observability with 50+ monitoring capabilities.
What does Bugsnag cost vs New Relic?
Bugsnag pricing is on their site. New Relic's paid plans start at Free (Standard).
What's the main difference between Bugsnag and New Relic?
Bugsnag's main strength: good error monitoring. New Relic's main strength: generous free tier.