Elastic APM vs Dynatrace: Which Should You Choose in 2026?
Choosing between Elastic APM and Dynatrace 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.
By Toolradar Team · Last updated February 28, 2026 · Methodology
Short on time? Here's the quick answer
We've tested both tools. Here's who should pick what:
Elastic APM
Application performance monitoring for Elastic Stack
Best for you if:
- • You want to try before committing
- • You need data visualization features specifically
- • Elastic APM is application performance monitoring integrated with the Elastic Stack
- • It traces requests, identifies bottlenecks, and correlates errors with logs and metrics
Dynatrace
Full-stack observability and AIOps platform
Best for you if:
- • You want the higher-rated option (8.6/10 vs 8.4/10)
- • You need monitoring features specifically
- • Dynatrace is an AI-powered observability platform for monitoring applications and infrastructure
- • It provides APM, infrastructure monitoring, and AIOps with automatic root cause analysis
| At a Glance |  Elastic APM |  Dynatrace |
|---|---|---|
Price | Free + Paid | Paid |
Best For | Data Visualization | Monitoring |
Rating | 84/100 | 86/100 |
| Feature | Elastic APM | Dynatrace |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing Model | Freemium | Paid |
| Editorial Score | 84 | 86 |
| Community Rating | No ratings yet | No ratings yet |
| Total Reviews | 0 | 0 |
| Community Upvotes | 0 | 0 |
| Categories | Data VisualizationMonitoring | MonitoringLog Management |
How Elastic APM and Dynatrace Compare
Elastic APM
Application performance monitoring for Elastic Stack
Free tier available · 84/100 score
Dynatrace
Full-stack observability and AIOps platform
Paid · 86/100 score
Elastic APM is a data visualization tool. Dynatrace is in monitoring.
Who Should Use What?
On a budget?
Elastic APM has a free tier. Dynatrace is paid only.
Go with: Elastic APM
Want the highest-rated option?
Elastic APM: 84/100. Dynatrace: 86/100.
Go with: Dynatrace
Value user reviews?
Neither has user reviews yet.
Go with: Dynatrace
3 Questions to Help You Decide
What's your budget?
Elastic APM is freemium. Dynatrace is paid. Elastic APM lets you start free.
What's your use case?
Elastic APM is a data visualization tool. Dynatrace is in monitoring. Pick the category that matches your needs.
How important are ratings?
Dynatrace scores higher: 86/100 vs 84/100.
Key Takeaways
Dynatrace
- Higher score: 86/100 vs 84
- Our pick for this comparison
Elastic APM
- Has a free tier
- Better fit for data visualization
The Bottom Line
Dynatrace (86/100) is our pick. Elastic APM has a free tier if you want to test without paying.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Elastic APM or Dynatrace better?
Dynatrace scores 86/100 in our evaluation. Elastic APM is freemium and Dynatrace is paid.
What are Elastic APM and Dynatrace used for?
Elastic APM: Application performance monitoring for Elastic Stack. Dynatrace: Full-stack observability and AIOps platform.
What does Elastic APM cost vs Dynatrace?
Elastic APM is freemium (free tier + paid plans). Dynatrace is a paid tool. Visit their websites for detailed pricing.