Exceptionless vs New Relic: Which is Better in 2026?
Choosing between Exceptionless and New Relic 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: New Relic is our overall pick for DevOps workflows. Pick Exceptionless if you need debugging.
Short on time? Here's the quick answer
We've tested both tools. Here's who should pick what:
Exceptionless
Open-source error and event logging
Best for you if:
- • You need debugging features specifically
- • Exceptionless is an open-source error and event logging service for applications
- • It captures exceptions, logs, and events with real-time dashboards and notifications
New Relic
Full-stack observability with 50+ monitoring capabilities
Best for you if:
- • You need DevOps features specifically
- • Full-stack observability platform with APM, infrastructure monitoring, and logs
- • Generous free tier: 100GB/month data ingest + 1 full-access user
| At a Glance |  New Relic | |
|---|---|---|
Starts at | $15/monthSmall | $10/moStandard |
Best For | Debugging | DevOps |
Rating | - | - |
Choose Exceptionless or New Relic?
Choose Exceptionless if
Open-source error and event logging
- Real-time error tracking
- Open-source option available
- Self-hosting capability
- Your work is debugging-shaped, not DevOps-shaped
Choose New Relic if
Full-stack observability with 50+ monitoring capabilities
- Generous free tier
- Full-stack observability
- AI insights
- Budget matters ($10/mo vs $15/month)
- Your work is DevOps-shaped, not debugging-shaped
| Feature | Exceptionless | New Relic |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing Model | Freemium | Freemium |
| User Rating | No ratings yet | ★4.4/5 780 reviews |
| Categories | DebuggingMonitoring | DevOpsAnalytics |
In-Depth Analysis
Exceptionless
Open-source error and event logging
Strengths
- +Real-time error tracking
- +Open-source option available
- +Self-hosting capability
- +Event logging and aggregation
- +Multiple language SDKs
Weaknesses
- -Smaller community than competitors
- -Documentation could be improved
- -Enterprise features may lag
- -Self-hosting requires maintenance
- -Limited integrations compared to larger tools
Key features
New Relic
Full-stack observability with 50+ monitoring capabilities
Strengths
- +Generous free tier
- +Full-stack observability
- +AI insights
Weaknesses
- -Complex to set up
- -Data can be expensive
Key features
Pricing: Exceptionless vs New Relic
| Plan | Exceptionless | New Relic |
|---|---|---|
| Tier 1 | Free Free | Free Free |
| Tier 2 | $15 month Small | $10 Standard |
| Tier 3 | $49 month Medium | $349 Pro |
| Tier 4 | $99 month Large | Enterprise |
| Tier 5 | $199 month Extra Large | N/A |
| Tier 6 | $499 month Enterprise | N/A |
Pricing verified from each vendor's public pricing page. Compare in detail on Exceptionless pricing and New Relic pricing.
Who Should Use What?
On a budget?
Both are freemium. Compare plans on their websites.
Go with: Exceptionless
Want the highest-rated option?
Neither has user reviews yet.
Go with: Exceptionless
Value user reviews?
Neither has user reviews yet.
Go with: New Relic
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?
Exceptionless is a debugging tool. New Relic is in DevOps. Pick the category that matches your needs.
How important are ratings?
Neither has user reviews yet.
Key Takeaways
New Relic
- Free tier available
- Our pick for this comparison
Exceptionless
- Better fit for debugging
The Bottom Line
New Relic is our pick.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Exceptionless or New Relic better?
New Relic is rated in our evaluation. Both are freemium.
What are Exceptionless and New Relic used for?
Exceptionless: Open-source error and event logging. New Relic: Full-stack observability with 50+ monitoring capabilities.
What does Exceptionless cost vs New Relic?
Exceptionless is freemium (free tier + paid plans). New Relic is freemium (free tier + paid plans). Visit their websites for detailed pricing.