Honeycomb vs New Relic: Which Should You Choose in 2026?
Choosing between Honeycomb 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.
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:
Honeycomb
Observability for distributed systems
Best for you if:
- • You need api tools features specifically
- • Honeycomb is an observability platform for debugging production systems fast
- • It provides high-cardinality event analysis for understanding complex distributed systems
New Relic
Observability made simple
Best for you if:
- • You want the higher-rated option (8.7/10 vs 8.6/10)
- • You need data visualization 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 | |
|---|---|---|
Price | Free + Paid | Free + Paid |
Best For | API Tools | Data Visualization |
Rating | 86/100 | 87/100 |
| Feature | Honeycomb | New Relic |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing Model | Freemium | Freemium |
| Editorial Score | 86 | 87 |
| Community Rating | No ratings yet | No ratings yet |
| Total Reviews | 0 | 0 |
| Community Upvotes | 0 | 0 |
| Categories | API ToolsDebugging | Data VisualizationMonitoring |
How Honeycomb and New Relic Compare
Honeycomb
Observability for distributed systems
Free tier available · 86/100 score
New Relic
Observability made simple
Free tier available · 87/100 score
Honeycomb is a api tools tool. New Relic is in data visualization.
Who Should Use What?
On a budget?
Both are freemium. Compare plans on their websites.
Go with: Honeycomb
Want the highest-rated option?
Honeycomb: 86/100. New Relic: 87/100.
Go with: New Relic
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?
Honeycomb is a api tools tool. New Relic is in data visualization. Pick the category that matches your needs.
How important are ratings?
New Relic scores higher: 87/100 vs 86/100.
Key Takeaways
New Relic
- Higher score: 87/100 vs 86
- Free tier available
- Our pick for this comparison
Honeycomb
- Better fit for api tools
The Bottom Line
New Relic (87/100) is our pick.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Honeycomb or New Relic better?
New Relic scores 87/100 in our evaluation. Both are freemium.
What are Honeycomb and New Relic used for?
Honeycomb: Observability for distributed systems. New Relic: Observability made simple.
What does Honeycomb cost vs New Relic?
Honeycomb is freemium (free tier + paid plans). New Relic is freemium (free tier + paid plans). Visit their websites for detailed pricing.