Imply vs Loki: Which Should You Choose in 2026?
Choosing between Imply and Loki 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:
Imply
Decouple your observability and security tools for faster, cheaper, and more open data analysis.
Best for you if:
- • You need monitoring features specifically
- • Decouples observability and security data stacks for efficiency.
- • Enables faster queries and significant cost reductions without workflow changes.
Loki
Log aggregation by Grafana Labs
Best for you if:
- • You want the higher-rated option (8.8/10 vs 0.0/10)
- • You need something completely free
- • You need data visualization features specifically
- • Loki is an open-source log aggregation system designed for Grafana
- • It indexes metadata instead of full text for cost-effective log storage
| At a Glance |  Imply |  Loki |
|---|---|---|
Price | Paid | Free |
Best For | Monitoring | Data Visualization |
Rating | —/100 | 88/100 |
| Feature | Imply | Loki |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing Model | Paid | Free |
| Editorial Score | — | 88 |
| Community Rating | No ratings yet | No ratings yet |
| Total Reviews | 0 | 0 |
| Community Upvotes | 0 | 0 |
| Categories | MonitoringLog Management | Data VisualizationMonitoring |
How Imply and Loki Compare
Imply
Decouple your observability and security tools for faster, cheaper, and more open data analysis.
Paid
Loki
Log aggregation by Grafana Labs
Free · 88/100 score
Imply is a monitoring tool. Loki is in data visualization.
Who Should Use What?
On a budget?
Loki is free. Imply is paid.
Go with: Loki
Want the highest-rated option?
Loki scores 88/100. Imply is unrated.
Go with: Loki
Value user reviews?
Neither has user reviews yet.
Go with: Loki
3 Questions to Help You Decide
What's your budget?
Imply is paid. Loki is free. Go with Loki if free matters most.
What's your use case?
Imply is a monitoring tool. Loki is in data visualization. Pick the category that matches your needs.
How important are ratings?
Not all tools have been rated yet.
Key Takeaways
Loki
- Higher score: 88/100 vs unrated
- Completely free
- Our pick for this comparison
Imply
- Better fit for monitoring
The Bottom Line
Loki (88/100) is our pick.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Imply or Loki better?
Loki scores 88/100 in our evaluation. Imply is paid and Loki is free.
What are Imply and Loki used for?
Imply: Decouple your observability and security tools for faster, cheaper, and more open data analysis.. Loki: Log aggregation by Grafana Labs.
What does Imply cost vs Loki?
Imply is a paid tool. Loki is completely free. Visit their websites for detailed pricing.