New Relic vs Lightstep: Which is Better in 2026?
Choosing between New Relic and Lightstep 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. Our overall Monitoring pick is Better Uptime. Our free Monitoring pick is Datadog MCP Server. Pick Lightstep if you need a free tier to start with.
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 want generous free tier
- • You want full-stack observability
Lightstep
Distributed tracing and observability
Best for you if:
- • You want good distributed tracing
- • You want servicenow owned
| At a Glance | New Relic | |
|---|---|---|
Starts at | FreeFree tier available | FreeFree tier available |
Best For | DevOps | DevOps |
Rating | 4.4/5 | 4.3/5 |
Free plan | Yes | Yes |
Choose New Relic or Lightstep?
Choose New Relic if
Full-stack observability with 50+ monitoring capabilities
- You want generous free tier
- You want full-stack observability
Choose Lightstep if
Distributed tracing and observability
- You want good distributed tracing
- You want servicenow owned
| Feature | New Relic | Lightstep |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing Model | Freemium | Freemium |
| User Rating | ★4.4/5 784 reviews | ★4.3/5 21 reviews |
| Categories | DevOpsAnalytics | DevOpsDebugging |
In-Depth Analysis
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
- +Generous free tier
- +Full-stack observability
- +AI insights
Weaknesses
- -Complex to set up
- -Data can be expensive
Key features
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
- +Good distributed tracing
- +Servicenow owned
- +OpenTelemetry support
- +Change intelligence
- +Good UX
Weaknesses
- -Expensive
- -Enterprise focused
- -Integration effort
- -Less known
- -Competition from free tools
Key features
Pricing: New Relic vs Lightstep
| Plan | New Relic | Lightstep |
|---|---|---|
| Tier 1 | Free Free | Custom Subscription |
| Tier 2 | $10 Standard | N/A |
| Tier 3 | $349 Pro | N/A |
| Tier 4 | Enterprise | N/A |
Pricing verified from each vendor's public pricing page. Compare in detail on New Relic pricing and Lightstep 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 (784 reviews). Lightstep: 4.3/5 (21 reviews).
Go with: New Relic
Value user reviews?
New Relic: 784 reviews (4.4/5). Lightstep: 21 reviews (4.3/5).
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?
Both are devops tools. Compare their specific features to decide.
How important are ratings?
New Relic is rated higher: 4.4/5 vs 4.3/5.
Key Takeaways
New Relic
- Higher user rating: 4.4/5 vs 4.3/5
- Larger review base (784 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. Our overall Monitoring pick is Better Uptime. Our free Monitoring pick is Datadog MCP Server.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is New Relic or Lightstep better?
New Relic is rated in our evaluation. Both are freemium.
What are New Relic and Lightstep used for?
New Relic: Full-stack observability with 50+ monitoring capabilities. Lightstep: Distributed tracing and observability.
What does New Relic cost vs Lightstep?
New Relic is freemium (free tier + paid plans). Lightstep is freemium (free tier + paid plans). Visit their websites for detailed pricing.