Elastic APM vs SigNoz: Which Should You Choose in 2026?
Choosing between Elastic APM and SigNoz 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:
- • Elastic APM is application performance monitoring integrated with the Elastic Stack
- • It traces requests, identifies bottlenecks, and correlates errors with logs and metrics
SigNoz
Open-source APM and observability
Best for you if:
- • SigNoz is an open-source observability platform for metrics and traces
- • It provides APM, logs, and distributed tracing in one tool
| At a Glance |  Elastic APM |  SigNoz |
|---|---|---|
Price | Free + Paid | Free + Paid |
Best For | Data Visualization | Data Visualization |
Rating | 84/100 | 84/100 |
| Feature | Elastic APM | SigNoz |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing Model | Freemium | Freemium |
| Editorial Score | 84 | 84 |
| Community Rating | No ratings yet | No ratings yet |
| Total Reviews | 0 | 0 |
| Community Upvotes | 0 | 0 |
| Categories | Data VisualizationMonitoring | Data VisualizationMonitoring |
How Elastic APM and SigNoz Compare
Elastic APM
Application performance monitoring for Elastic Stack
Free tier available · 84/100 score
SigNoz
Open-source APM and observability
Free tier available · 84/100 score
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. SigNoz: 84/100.
Go with: Elastic APM
Value user reviews?
Neither has user reviews yet.
Go with: Elastic APM
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?
Both are data visualization tools. Compare their specific features to decide.
How important are ratings?
Both score 84/100.
Key Takeaways
Elastic APM
- Free tier available
- Our pick for this comparison
SigNoz
The Bottom Line
Elastic APM (84/100) is our pick.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Elastic APM or SigNoz better?
Elastic APM scores 84/100 in our evaluation. Both are freemium.
What are Elastic APM and SigNoz used for?
Elastic APM: Application performance monitoring for Elastic Stack. SigNoz: Open-source APM and observability.
What does Elastic APM cost vs SigNoz?
Elastic APM is freemium (free tier + paid plans). SigNoz is freemium (free tier + paid plans). Visit their websites for detailed pricing.