Elastic vs Datadog: Which Should You Choose in 2026?
Choosing between Elastic and Datadog 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
The Search AI Company powering search, observability, and security with open and flexible solutions.
Best for you if:
- • Search, observability, and security platform
- • Powers enterprise search and logging
Datadog
Cloud monitoring platform
Best for you if:
- • You want the higher-rated option (9.0/10 vs 8.6/10)
- • Cloud monitoring and security platform
- • Unified observability across infrastructure
| At a Glance |  Elastic |  Datadog |
|---|---|---|
Price | Free + Paid | Free + Paid |
Best For | Monitoring | Monitoring |
Rating | 86/100 | 90/100 |
| Feature | Elastic | Datadog |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing Model | Freemium | Freemium |
| Editorial Score | 86 | 90 |
| Community Rating | No ratings yet | No ratings yet |
| Total Reviews | 0 | 0 |
| Community Upvotes | 0 | 0 |
| Categories | MonitoringLog Management | MonitoringLog Management |
How Elastic and Datadog Compare
Elastic
The Search AI Company powering search, observability, and security with open and flexible solutions.
Free tier available · 86/100 score
Datadog
Cloud monitoring platform
Free tier available · 90/100 score
Who Should Use What?
On a budget?
Both are freemium. Compare plans on their websites.
Go with: Elastic
Want the highest-rated option?
Elastic: 86/100. Datadog: 90/100.
Go with: Datadog
Value user reviews?
Neither has user reviews yet.
Go with: Datadog
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 monitoring tools. Compare their specific features to decide.
How important are ratings?
Datadog scores higher: 90/100 vs 86/100.
Key Takeaways
Datadog
- Higher score: 90/100 vs 86
- Free tier available
- Our pick for this comparison
Elastic
The Bottom Line
Datadog (90/100) is our pick.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Elastic or Datadog better?
Datadog scores 90/100 in our evaluation. Both are freemium.
What are Elastic and Datadog used for?
Elastic: The Search AI Company powering search, observability, and security with open and flexible solutions.. Datadog: Cloud monitoring platform.
What does Elastic cost vs Datadog?
Elastic is freemium (free tier + paid plans). Datadog is freemium (free tier + paid plans). Visit their websites for detailed pricing.