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.
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:
- • Full-stack observability platform with APM, infrastructure monitoring, and logs
- • Generous free tier: 100GB/month data ingest + 1 full-access user
Lightstep
Distributed tracing and observability
Best for you if:
- • Lightstep is an observability platform for distributed tracing and monitoring
- • It correlates traces, metrics, and logs to debug microservices issues
| At a Glance |  New Relic | |
|---|---|---|
Starts at | FreeFree tier available | FreeFree tier available |
Best For | DevOps | DevOps |
Rating | 4.4/5 | 4.3/5 |
Choose New Relic or Lightstep?
Choose New Relic if
Full-stack observability with 50+ monitoring capabilities
- Generous free tier
- Full-stack observability
- AI insights
Choose Lightstep if
Distributed tracing and observability
- Good distributed tracing
- Servicenow owned
- OpenTelemetry support
| Feature | New Relic | Lightstep |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing Model | Freemium | Freemium |
| User Rating | ★4.4/5 780 reviews | ★4.3/5 21 reviews |
| Categories | DevOpsAnalytics | DevOpsDebugging |
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
Lightstep
Distributed tracing and observability
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 (780 reviews). Lightstep: 4.3/5 (21 reviews).
Go with: New Relic
Value user reviews?
New Relic: 780 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 (780 reviews)
- Free tier available
- Our pick for this comparison
Lightstep
- Choose if you want distributed tracing and observability
The Bottom Line
New Relic is our pick.
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.