New Relic vs Grafana: Which Should You Choose in 2026?
Choosing between New Relic and Grafana 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:
New Relic
Full-stack observability with 50+ monitoring capabilities
Best for you if:
- 0
- • 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
Grafana
Observability and visualization platform
Best for you if:
- 0
- • You need monitoring features specifically
- • Open-source visualization for metrics
- • Beautiful dashboards from any data source
| At a Glance |  New Relic |  Grafana |
|---|---|---|
Price | Free + Paid | Free + Paid |
Best For | DevOps | Monitoring |
Rating | - | - |
| Feature | New Relic | Grafana |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing Model | Freemium | Freemium |
| Community Rating | No ratings yet | No ratings yet |
| Total Reviews | 0 | 0 |
| Community Upvotes | 0 | 0 |
| Categories | DevOpsAnalytics | MonitoringData Visualization |
How New Relic and Grafana Compare
New Relic
Full-stack observability with 50+ monitoring capabilities
Free tier available
Grafana
Observability and visualization platform
Free tier available
New Relic is a DevOps tool. Grafana is in monitoring.
Who Should Use What?
On a budget?
Both are freemium. Compare plans on their websites.
Go with: New Relic
Want the highest-rated option?
Neither has user reviews yet.
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?
New Relic is a DevOps tool. Grafana is in monitoring. Pick the category that matches your needs.
How important are ratings?
Neither has user reviews yet.
Key Takeaways
New Relic
- 0
- Free tier available
- Our pick for this comparison
Grafana
- Better fit for monitoring
The Bottom Line
New Relic is our pick.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is New Relic or Grafana better?
New Relic is rated in our evaluation. Both are freemium.
What are New Relic and Grafana used for?
New Relic: Full-stack observability with 50+ monitoring capabilities. Grafana: Observability and visualization platform.
What does New Relic cost vs Grafana?
New Relic is freemium (free tier + paid plans). Grafana is freemium (free tier + paid plans). Visit their websites for detailed pricing.