Grafana OnCall vs PagerDuty: Which Should You Choose in 2026?
Choosing between Grafana OnCall and PagerDuty 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:
Grafana OnCall
On-call management for Grafana
Best for you if:
- • You need automation features specifically
- • Grafana OnCall is an open-source on-call management and alerting system
- • It routes alerts, manages schedules, and escalates incidents integrated with Grafana
PagerDuty
Incident management platform
Best for you if:
- • You want the higher-rated option (8.6/10 vs 8.4/10)
- • You need workflow automation features specifically
- • Incident management for on-call teams
- • Smart routing gets the right person every time
| At a Glance |  Grafana OnCall |  PagerDuty |
|---|---|---|
Price | Free + Paid | Free + Paid |
Best For | Automation | Workflow Automation |
Rating | 84/100 | 86/100 |
| Feature | Grafana OnCall | PagerDuty |
|---|---|---|
| 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 | AutomationMonitoring | Workflow AutomationMonitoring |
How Grafana OnCall and PagerDuty Compare
Grafana OnCall
On-call management for Grafana
Free tier available · 84/100 score
PagerDuty
Incident management platform
Free tier available · 86/100 score
Grafana OnCall is a automation tool. PagerDuty is in workflow automation.
Who Should Use What?
On a budget?
Both are freemium. Compare plans on their websites.
Go with: Grafana OnCall
Want the highest-rated option?
Grafana OnCall: 84/100. PagerDuty: 86/100.
Go with: PagerDuty
Value user reviews?
Neither has user reviews yet.
Go with: PagerDuty
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?
Grafana OnCall is a automation tool. PagerDuty is in workflow automation. Pick the category that matches your needs.
How important are ratings?
PagerDuty scores higher: 86/100 vs 84/100.
Key Takeaways
PagerDuty
- Higher score: 86/100 vs 84
- Free tier available
- Our pick for this comparison
Grafana OnCall
- Better fit for automation
The Bottom Line
PagerDuty (86/100) is our pick.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Grafana OnCall or PagerDuty better?
PagerDuty scores 86/100 in our evaluation. Both are freemium.
What are Grafana OnCall and PagerDuty used for?
Grafana OnCall: On-call management for Grafana. PagerDuty: Incident management platform.
What does Grafana OnCall cost vs PagerDuty?
Grafana OnCall is freemium (free tier + paid plans). PagerDuty is freemium (free tier + paid plans). Visit their websites for detailed pricing.