ClearML vs Spotlight by Backplanes: Which is Better in 2026?
Choosing between ClearML and Spotlight by Backplanes 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: ClearML is our overall pick for developer tools workflows. Pick Spotlight by Backplanes if you need AI agents.
Short on time? Here's the quick answer
We've tested both tools. Here's who should pick what:
ClearML
Open-source MLOps platform for experiment tracking
Best for you if:
- • You need developer tools features specifically
- • ClearML is an open-source MLOps platform for experiment tracking and model management
- • It automates ML pipelines, tracks experiments, and manages model deployment at scale
Spotlight by Backplanes
Understand, improve, and track your AI agent sessions
Best for you if:
- • You need something completely free
- • You need AI agents features specifically
- • Provides detailed session reports for AI agents (Claude Code & Codex).
- • Automatically captures agent activity, redacts PII, and highlights key findings.
| At a Glance |  ClearML |  Spotlight by Backplanes |
|---|---|---|
Starts at | FreeFree tier available | FreeFree tier available |
Best For | Developer Tools | AI Agents |
Rating | 4.7/5 | - |
Free plan | Yes | Yes |
Choose ClearML or Spotlight by Backplanes?
Choose ClearML if
Open-source MLOps platform for experiment tracking
- MLOps platform
- Experiment tracking
- Data management
- Your work is developer tools-shaped, not AI agents-shaped
Choose Spotlight by Backplanes if
Understand, improve, and track your AI agent sessions
- Provides deep visibility into AI agent behavior that is otherwise invisible.
- Helps optimize agent performance and identify cost-saving opportunities.
- Offers tailored reports for different organizational roles (security, engineering, finance).
- You want a fully free tool (ClearML requires payment)
- Your work is AI agents-shaped, not developer tools-shaped
| Feature | ClearML | Spotlight by Backplanes |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing Model | Freemium | Free |
| User Rating | ★4.7/5 13 reviews | No ratings yet |
| Categories | Developer ToolsAnalytics | AI AgentsAnalytics |
In-Depth Analysis
ClearML
Open-source MLOps platform for experiment tracking
Strengths
- +MLOps platform
- +Experiment tracking
- +Data management
- +Open source core
- +Self-hostable
Weaknesses
- -Learning curve
- -UI complex
- -Documentation dense
- -Enterprise expensive
- -Smaller community
Key features
Value 85/100. ClearML's pricing is quite generous, especially with its robust Community tier offering 100GB storage and 1M API calls for free.
Watch out: Scale/Enterprise pricing is custom, potentially high
Spotlight by Backplanes
Understand, improve, and track your AI agent sessions
Strengths
- +Provides deep visibility into AI agent behavior that is otherwise invisible.
- +Helps optimize agent performance and identify cost-saving opportunities.
- +Offers tailored reports for different organizational roles (security, engineering, finance).
- +Free for individuals and teams, making it accessible.
- +Easy installation via a single command-line script.
Weaknesses
- -Supports specific AI agent platforms (Claude Code and Codex), limiting broader applicability.
- -Org-level features for attribution and specific controls require direct contact with the vendor for setup.
Key features
Pricing: ClearML vs Spotlight by Backplanes
| Plan | ClearML | Spotlight by Backplanes |
|---|---|---|
| Tier 1 | Free Community | N/A |
| Tier 2 | $15 month per user Pro | N/A |
| Tier 3 | custom Scale | N/A |
| Tier 4 | custom Enterprise | N/A |
Pricing verified from each vendor's public pricing page. Compare in detail on ClearML pricing and Spotlight by Backplanes pricing.
Who Should Use What?
On a budget?
Spotlight by Backplanes is free. ClearML is freemium.
Go with: Spotlight by Backplanes
Want the highest-rated option?
ClearML is rated 4.7/5. Spotlight by Backplanes has no ratings yet.
Go with: ClearML
Value user reviews?
ClearML: 13 reviews (4.7/5). Spotlight by Backplanes: no ratings yet.
Go with: ClearML
3 Questions to Help You Decide
What's your budget?
ClearML is freemium. Spotlight by Backplanes is free. Go with Spotlight by Backplanes if free matters most.
What's your use case?
ClearML is a developer tools tool. Spotlight by Backplanes is in AI agents. Pick the category that matches your needs.
How important are ratings?
ClearML is rated 4.7/5; Spotlight by Backplanes has no ratings yet.
Key Takeaways
ClearML
- Free tier available
- Our pick for this comparison
Spotlight by Backplanes
- Completely free
- Better fit for AI agents
The Bottom Line
ClearML is our pick. That said, Spotlight by Backplanes is free, hard to beat on price.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is ClearML or Spotlight by Backplanes better?
ClearML is rated in our evaluation. ClearML is freemium and Spotlight by Backplanes is free.
What are ClearML and Spotlight by Backplanes used for?
ClearML: Open-source MLOps platform for experiment tracking. Spotlight by Backplanes: Understand, improve, and track your AI agent sessions.
What does ClearML cost vs Spotlight by Backplanes?
ClearML is freemium (free tier + paid plans). Spotlight by Backplanes is completely free. Visit their websites for detailed pricing.