New Relic vs Raygun: Which is Better in 2026?
Choosing between New Relic and Raygun 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 Raygun if you need monitoring.
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 to try before committing
- • 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
Raygun
Error and performance monitoring
Best for you if:
- • You need monitoring features specifically
- • Raygun is an error monitoring and application performance platform
- • It provides crash reporting, real user monitoring, and diagnostics
| At a Glance |  New Relic |  Raygun |
|---|---|---|
Starts at | FreeFree tier available | $4/monthSmall Business |
Best For | DevOps | Monitoring |
Rating | 4.4/5 | 4.3/5 |
Free plan | Yes | No |
Choose New Relic or Raygun?
Choose New Relic if
Full-stack observability with 50+ monitoring capabilities
- Generous free tier
- Full-stack observability
- AI insights
- Your work is DevOps-shaped, not monitoring-shaped
Choose Raygun if
Error and performance monitoring
- Error monitoring
- APM features
- Good for debugging
- Budget matters ($4/month vs Free)
- Your work is monitoring-shaped, not DevOps-shaped
| Feature | New Relic | Raygun |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing Model | Freemium | Paid |
| User Rating | ★4.4/5 784 reviews | ★4.3/5 146 reviews |
| Categories | DevOpsAnalytics | MonitoringDebugging |
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
Raygun
Error and performance monitoring
Raygun's pricing for the 'Small Business' tier at $4/month for 10K error events and 100K sessions is very competitive, offering a low entry point for basic monitoring.
Watch out
User limits (1 for Small Business, 2 for Startup) are restrictive.
Strengths
- +Error monitoring
- +APM features
- +Good for debugging
- +Fair pricing
- +Good features
Weaknesses
- -Less known
- -Feature gaps
- -Better alternatives exist
- -Learning curve
- -Support varies
Key features
Pricing: New Relic vs Raygun
| Plan | New Relic | Raygun |
|---|---|---|
| Tier 1 | Free Free | $4 month Small Business |
| Tier 2 | $10 Standard | $16 month Startup |
| 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 Raygun pricing.
Who Should Use What?
On a budget?
New Relic has a free tier. Raygun is paid only.
Go with: New Relic
Want the highest-rated option?
New Relic: 4.4/5 (784 reviews). Raygun: 4.3/5 (146 reviews).
Go with: New Relic
Value user reviews?
New Relic: 784 reviews (4.4/5). Raygun: 146 reviews (4.3/5).
Go with: New Relic
3 Questions to Help You Decide
What's your budget?
New Relic is freemium. Raygun is paid. New Relic lets you start free.
What's your use case?
New Relic is a DevOps tool. Raygun is in monitoring. Pick the category that matches your needs.
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
Raygun
- Better fit for monitoring
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 Raygun better?
New Relic is rated in our evaluation. New Relic is freemium and Raygun is paid.
What are New Relic and Raygun used for?
New Relic: Full-stack observability with 50+ monitoring capabilities. Raygun: Error and performance monitoring.
What does New Relic cost vs Raygun?
New Relic is freemium (free tier + paid plans). Raygun is a paid tool. Visit their websites for detailed pricing.