Honeybadger vs New Relic: Which is Better in 2026?
Choosing between Honeybadger 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 Honeybadger if you need monitoring.
Short on time? Here's the quick answer
We've tested both tools. Here's who should pick what:
Honeybadger
All-in-one error tracking, application performance monitoring, and uptime checks for web apps.
Best for you if:
- • You need monitoring features specifically
- • Combines error tracking, logging, and APM in one platform.
- • Provides real-time alerts, rich context, and smart de-duping for faster debugging.
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 |  Honeybadger |  New Relic |
|---|---|---|
Starts at | FreeFree tier available | FreeFree tier available |
Best For | Monitoring | DevOps |
Rating | 4.7/5 | 4.4/5 |
Choose Honeybadger or New Relic?
Choose Honeybadger if
All-in-one error tracking, application performance monitoring, and uptime checks for web apps.
- All-in-one monitoring solution reduces tool sprawl
- Developer-friendly with easy setup for various frameworks
- Provides rich context for errors, speeding up debugging
- Your work is monitoring-shaped, not DevOps-shaped
Choose New Relic if
Full-stack observability with 50+ monitoring capabilities
- Generous free tier
- Full-stack observability
- AI insights
- Your work is DevOps-shaped, not monitoring-shaped
| Feature | Honeybadger | New Relic |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing Model | Freemium | Freemium |
| User Rating | ★4.7/5 19 reviews | ★4.4/5 780 reviews |
| Categories | MonitoringLog Management | DevOpsAnalytics |
In-Depth Analysis
Honeybadger
All-in-one error tracking, application performance monitoring, and uptime checks for web apps.
Strengths
- +All-in-one monitoring solution reduces tool sprawl
- +Developer-friendly with easy setup for various frameworks
- +Provides rich context for errors, speeding up debugging
- +Proactive monitoring for uptime and background jobs
- +Bootstrapped company focused on developer needs
Weaknesses
- -Advanced features like longer data retention and more dashboards are tied to higher-tier plans
- -Limited users and resources on the free Developer plan
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: Honeybadger vs New Relic
| Plan | Honeybadger | New Relic |
|---|---|---|
| Tier 1 | $0 /mo Developer | Free Free |
| Tier 2 | $26 /mo Team | $10 Standard |
| Tier 3 | $80 /mo Business | $349 Pro |
| Tier 4 | N/A | Enterprise |
Pricing verified from each vendor's public pricing page. Compare in detail on Honeybadger pricing and New Relic pricing.
Who Should Use What?
On a budget?
Both are freemium. Compare plans on their websites.
Go with: Honeybadger
Want the highest-rated option?
Honeybadger: 4.7/5 (19 reviews). New Relic: 4.4/5 (780 reviews).
Go with: Honeybadger
Value user reviews?
Honeybadger: 19 reviews (4.7/5). New Relic: 780 reviews (4.4/5).
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?
Honeybadger is a monitoring tool. New Relic is in DevOps. Pick the category that matches your needs.
How important are ratings?
Honeybadger is rated higher: 4.7/5 vs 4.4/5.
Key Takeaways
New Relic
- Larger review base (780 reviews)
- Free tier available
- Our pick for this comparison
Honeybadger
- Higher user rating: 4.7/5 vs 4.4/5
- Better fit for monitoring
The Bottom Line
New Relic is our pick.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Honeybadger or New Relic better?
New Relic is rated in our evaluation. Both are freemium.
What are Honeybadger and New Relic used for?
Honeybadger: All-in-one error tracking, application performance monitoring, and uptime checks for web apps.. New Relic: Full-stack observability with 50+ monitoring capabilities.
What does Honeybadger cost vs New Relic?
Honeybadger is freemium (free tier + paid plans). New Relic is freemium (free tier + paid plans). Visit their websites for detailed pricing.