LibreNMS vs New Relic: Which is Better in 2026?
Choosing between LibreNMS 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:
LibreNMS
Automated network discovery, monitoring, and alerting for your entire infrastructure.
Best for you if:
- • You need something completely free
- • You need monitoring features specifically
- • Automatically discovers and monitors network devices.
- • Provides flexible alerting and extensive device support.
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 |  LibreNMS |  New Relic |
|---|---|---|
Starts at | FreeFree tier available | FreeFree tier available |
Best For | Monitoring | DevOps |
Rating | 4.7/5 | 4.4/5 |
Choose LibreNMS or New Relic?
Choose LibreNMS if
Automated network discovery, monitoring, and alerting for your entire infrastructure.
- Open-source and free to use
- Comprehensive automatic network discovery
- Highly flexible and customizable alerting
- You want a fully free tool (New Relic requires payment)
- 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 | LibreNMS | New Relic |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing Model | Free | Freemium |
| User Rating | ★4.7/5 14 reviews | ★4.4/5 780 reviews |
| Categories | MonitoringDevOps | DevOpsAnalytics |
In-Depth Analysis
LibreNMS
Automated network discovery, monitoring, and alerting for your entire infrastructure.
Strengths
- +Open-source and free to use
- +Comprehensive automatic network discovery
- +Highly flexible and customizable alerting
- +Scalable architecture with distributed polling
- +Strong community support and active development
Weaknesses
- -Requires self-hosting and technical expertise for setup and maintenance
- -No official commercial support plans mentioned (community-driven)
- -Mobile app mentioned by a third-party, not directly by LibreNMS
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: LibreNMS vs New Relic
| Plan | LibreNMS | New Relic |
|---|---|---|
| Tier 1 | N/A | Free Free |
| Tier 2 | N/A | $10 Standard |
| Tier 3 | N/A | $349 Pro |
| Tier 4 | N/A | Enterprise |
Pricing verified from each vendor's public pricing page. Compare in detail on LibreNMS pricing and New Relic pricing.
Who Should Use What?
On a budget?
LibreNMS is free. New Relic is freemium.
Go with: LibreNMS
Want the highest-rated option?
LibreNMS: 4.7/5 (14 reviews). New Relic: 4.4/5 (780 reviews).
Go with: LibreNMS
Value user reviews?
LibreNMS: 14 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?
LibreNMS is free. New Relic is freemium. Go with LibreNMS if free matters most.
What's your use case?
LibreNMS is a monitoring tool. New Relic is in DevOps. Pick the category that matches your needs.
How important are ratings?
LibreNMS 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
LibreNMS
- Completely free
- Higher user rating: 4.7/5 vs 4.4/5
- Better fit for monitoring
The Bottom Line
New Relic is our pick. That said, LibreNMS is free, hard to beat on price.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is LibreNMS or New Relic better?
New Relic is rated in our evaluation. LibreNMS is free and New Relic is freemium.
What are LibreNMS and New Relic used for?
LibreNMS: Automated network discovery, monitoring, and alerting for your entire infrastructure.. New Relic: Full-stack observability with 50+ monitoring capabilities.
What does LibreNMS cost vs New Relic?
LibreNMS is completely free. New Relic is freemium (free tier + paid plans). Visit their websites for detailed pricing.