Lightstep vs New Relic: Which is Better in 2026?
Choosing between Lightstep 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 wins this matchup. SolarWinds is our overall Monitoring pick. Hookdeck is our free Monitoring pick. Pick Lightstep if you need a free tier to start with.
Short on time? Here's the quick answer
Based on published vendor pricing and features and on public review data, here's who should pick what:
Lightstep
Distributed tracing and observability
Best for you if:
- • You want good distributed tracing
New Relic
Full-stack observability with 50+ monitoring capabilities
Best for you if:
- • You want generous free tier
| At a Glance | New Relic | |
|---|---|---|
Starts at | Free Free plan | Free Free plan |
Category | DevOps Debugging | DevOps Analytics |
Rating | 4.3/5 G2 4.6 · Capterra 3.0 21 reviews | 4.4/5 G2 4.4 · Capterra 4.5 783 reviews |
Free plan | Yes | Yes |
Watch out for | n/a | Data ingest overages at $0.40/GB (Standard) |
Choose Lightstep or New Relic?
Choose Lightstep if
- You want good distributed tracing
- You want servicenow owned
Choose New Relic if
- You want generous free tier
- You want full-stack observability
In-Depth Analysis
Lightstep
Distributed tracing and observability
Lightstep's 'Custom' pricing for its Subscription tier, especially with its EOL in March 2026, makes it an expensive and uncertain choice.
Strengths
- Pro: Good distributed tracing
- Pro: Servicenow owned
- Pro: OpenTelemetry support
- Pro: Change intelligence
- Pro: Good UX
Weaknesses
- Con: Expensive
- Con: Enterprise focused
- Con: Integration effort
- Con: Less known
- Con: Competition from free tools
Key features
New Relic
Full-stack observability with 50+ monitoring capabilities
New Relic's freemium model is generous, offering 100 GB/month and a full platform user for free.
Watch out
Data ingest overages at $0.40/GB (Standard)
Strengths
- Pro: Generous free tier
- Pro: Full-stack observability
- Pro: AI insights
Weaknesses
- Con: Complex to set up
- Con: Data can be expensive
Key features
Pricing: Lightstep vs New Relic
| Plan | Lightstep | New Relic |
|---|---|---|
| Tier 1 | Custom Subscription | 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 Lightstep pricing and New Relic pricing.
Key Takeaways
New Relic
- Higher user rating: 4.4/5 vs 4.3/5
- Larger review base (783 reviews)
- Free tier available
- Our pick for this comparison
Lightstep
- Choose if you want distributed tracing and observability
The Bottom Line
New Relic wins this matchup. SolarWinds is our overall Monitoring pick. Hookdeck is our free Monitoring pick.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Lightstep or New Relic better in 2026?
New Relic wins this matchup. SolarWinds is our overall Monitoring pick. Hookdeck is our free Monitoring pick. Pick Lightstep for DevOps workflows (main strength: good distributed tracing). Pick New Relic for DevOps workflows (main strength: generous free tier).
What are Lightstep and New Relic used for?
Lightstep: Distributed tracing and observability. New Relic: Full-stack observability with 50+ monitoring capabilities.
What does Lightstep cost vs New Relic?
Lightstep pricing is on their site. New Relic's paid plans start at Free (Standard).
What's the main difference between Lightstep and New Relic?
Lightstep's main strength: good distributed tracing. New Relic's main strength: generous free tier.