Elastic APM vs Honeycomb: Which Should You Choose in 2026?
Choosing between Elastic APM and Honeycomb 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 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
Honeycomb
Observability for distributed systems
Best for you if:
- • You want the higher-rated option (8.6/10 vs 8.4/10)
- • You need api tools features specifically
- • Honeycomb is an observability platform for debugging production systems fast
- • It provides high-cardinality event analysis for understanding complex distributed systems
| At a Glance |  Elastic APM | |
|---|---|---|
Price | Free + Paid | Free + Paid |
Best For | Data Visualization | API Tools |
Rating | 84/100 | 86/100 |
| Feature | Elastic APM | Honeycomb |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing Model | Freemium | Freemium |
| Editorial Score | 84 | 86 |
| Community Rating | No ratings yet | No ratings yet |
| Total Reviews | 0 | 0 |
| Community Upvotes | 0 | 0 |
| Categories | Data VisualizationMonitoring | API ToolsDebugging |
How Elastic APM and Honeycomb Compare
Elastic APM
Application performance monitoring for Elastic Stack
Free tier available · 84/100 score
Honeycomb
Observability for distributed systems
Free tier available · 86/100 score
Elastic APM is a data visualization tool. Honeycomb is in api tools.
Who Should Use What?
On a budget?
Both are freemium. Compare plans on their websites.
Go with: Elastic APM
Want the highest-rated option?
Elastic APM: 84/100. Honeycomb: 86/100.
Go with: Honeycomb
Value user reviews?
Neither has user reviews yet.
Go with: Honeycomb
3 Questions to Help You Decide
What's your budget?
Both are freemium. Pricing won't help you decide here.
What's your use case?
Elastic APM is a data visualization tool. Honeycomb is in api tools. Pick the category that matches your needs.
How important are ratings?
Honeycomb scores higher: 86/100 vs 84/100.
Key Takeaways
Honeycomb
- Higher score: 86/100 vs 84
- Free tier available
- Our pick for this comparison
Elastic APM
- Better fit for data visualization
The Bottom Line
Honeycomb (86/100) is our pick.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Elastic APM or Honeycomb better?
Honeycomb scores 86/100 in our evaluation. Both are freemium.
What are Elastic APM and Honeycomb used for?
Elastic APM: Application performance monitoring for Elastic Stack. Honeycomb: Observability for distributed systems.
What does Elastic APM cost vs Honeycomb?
Elastic APM is freemium (free tier + paid plans). Honeycomb is freemium (free tier + paid plans). Visit their websites for detailed pricing.