New Relic vs Grafana: Which is Better 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:
- • 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:
- • You need monitoring features specifically
- • Open-source visualization for metrics
- • Beautiful dashboards from any data source
| At a Glance |  New Relic |  Grafana |
|---|---|---|
Starts at | FreeFree tier available | FreeFree tier available |
Best For | DevOps | Monitoring |
Rating | 4.4/5 | 4.5/5 |
Choose New Relic or Grafana?
Choose New Relic if
Full-stack observability with 50+ monitoring capabilities
- Generous free tier
- Full-stack observability
- AI insights
- Budget matters (Free vs Free)
- Your work is DevOps-shaped, not monitoring-shaped
Choose Grafana if
Observability and visualization platform
- Powerful dashboards
- Many data sources
- Open source
- Your work is monitoring-shaped, not DevOps-shaped
| Feature | New Relic | Grafana |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing Model | Freemium | Freemium |
| User Rating | ★4.4/5 780 reviews | ★4.5/5 107 reviews |
| Categories | DevOpsAnalytics | MonitoringData Visualization |
In-Depth Analysis
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
Grafana
Observability and visualization platform
Strengths
- +Powerful dashboards
- +Many data sources
- +Open source
Weaknesses
- -Complex setup
- -Resource intensive
Key features
Pricing: New Relic vs Grafana
| Plan | New Relic | Grafana |
|---|---|---|
| Tier 1 | Free Free | Free Free |
| Tier 2 | $10 Standard | $19 month base Pro |
| Tier 3 | $349 Pro | $25000 year minimum Enterprise |
| Tier 4 | Enterprise | N/A |
Pricing verified from each vendor's public pricing page. Compare in detail on New Relic pricing and Grafana pricing.
Who Should Use What?
On a budget?
Both are freemium. Compare plans on their websites.
Go with: New Relic
Want the highest-rated option?
New Relic: 4.4/5 (780 reviews). Grafana: 4.5/5 (107 reviews).
Go with: Grafana
Value user reviews?
New Relic: 780 reviews (4.4/5). Grafana: 107 reviews (4.5/5).
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?
Grafana is rated higher: 4.5/5 vs 4.4/5.
Key Takeaways
Grafana
- Higher user rating: 4.5/5 vs 4.4/5
- Free tier available
- Our pick for this comparison
New Relic
- Larger review base (780 reviews)
- Better fit for DevOps
The Bottom Line
Grafana is our pick.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is New Relic or Grafana better?
Grafana 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.