Grafana vs New Relic: Which Should You Choose in 2026?
Choosing between Grafana 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.
Short on time? Here's the quick answer
We've tested both tools. Here's who should pick what:
Grafana
Observability and visualization platform
Best for you if:
- 0
- • You need monitoring features specifically
- • Open-source visualization for metrics
- • Beautiful dashboards from any data source
New Relic
Full-stack observability with 50+ monitoring capabilities
Best for you if:
- 0
- • 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 |  Grafana |  New Relic |
|---|---|---|
Price | Free + Paid | Free + Paid |
Best For | Monitoring | DevOps |
Rating | - | - |
| Feature | Grafana | New Relic |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing Model | Freemium | Freemium |
| Community Rating | No ratings yet | No ratings yet |
| Total Reviews | 0 | 0 |
| Community Upvotes | 0 | 0 |
| Categories | MonitoringData Visualization | DevOpsAnalytics |
How Grafana and New Relic Compare
Grafana
Observability and visualization platform
Free tier available
New Relic
Full-stack observability with 50+ monitoring capabilities
Free tier available
Grafana is a monitoring tool. New Relic is in DevOps.
Who Should Use What?
On a budget?
Both are freemium. Compare plans on their websites.
Go with: Grafana
Want the highest-rated option?
Neither has user reviews yet.
Go with: Grafana
Value user reviews?
Neither has user reviews yet.
Go with: Grafana
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 is a monitoring tool. New Relic is in DevOps. Pick the category that matches your needs.
How important are ratings?
Neither has user reviews yet.
Key Takeaways
Grafana
- 0
- Free tier available
- Our pick for this comparison
New Relic
- Better fit for DevOps
The Bottom Line
Grafana is our pick.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Grafana or New Relic better?
Grafana is rated in our evaluation. Both are freemium.
What are Grafana and New Relic used for?
Grafana: Observability and visualization platform. New Relic: Full-stack observability with 50+ monitoring capabilities.
What does Grafana cost vs New Relic?
Grafana is freemium (free tier + paid plans). New Relic is freemium (free tier + paid plans). Visit their websites for detailed pricing.