New Relic vs Sentry: Which is Better in 2026?
Choosing between New Relic and Sentry 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
Sentry
Application monitoring & error tracking
Best for you if:
- • You need monitoring features specifically
- • Error tracking for developers
- • Performance monitoring
| At a Glance |  New Relic |  Sentry |
|---|---|---|
Starts at | $10/moStandard | $26/month (annual)Team |
Best For | DevOps | Monitoring |
Rating | - | - |
Choose New Relic or Sentry?
Choose New Relic if
Full-stack observability with 50+ monitoring capabilities
- Generous free tier
- Full-stack observability
- AI insights
- Budget matters ($10/mo vs $26/month (annual))
- Your work is DevOps-shaped, not monitoring-shaped
Choose Sentry if
Application monitoring & error tracking
- Excellent error grouping
- Good integrations ecosystem
- Useful context in errors
- Your work is monitoring-shaped, not DevOps-shaped
| Feature | New Relic | Sentry |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing Model | Freemium | Freemium |
| User Rating | ★4.4/5 780 reviews | ★4.5/5 265 reviews |
| Categories | DevOpsAnalytics | MonitoringDebugging |
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
Sentry
Application monitoring & error tracking
Strengths
- +Excellent error grouping
- +Good integrations ecosystem
- +Useful context in errors
- +Free tier available
Weaknesses
- -Can be expensive at scale
- -Complex setup for some features
- -UI can be overwhelming
Key features
Pricing: New Relic vs Sentry
| Plan | New Relic | Sentry |
|---|---|---|
| Tier 1 | Free Free | Free Developer |
| Tier 2 | $10 Standard | $26 month (annual) Team |
| Tier 3 | $349 Pro | $80 month (annual) Business |
| Tier 4 | Enterprise | custom Enterprise |
Pricing verified from each vendor's public pricing page. Compare in detail on New Relic pricing and Sentry 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?
Neither has user reviews yet.
Go with: New Relic
Value user reviews?
Neither has user reviews yet.
Go with: Sentry
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. Sentry is in monitoring. Pick the category that matches your needs.
How important are ratings?
Neither has user reviews yet.
Key Takeaways
Sentry
- 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
Sentry is our pick.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is New Relic or Sentry better?
Sentry is rated in our evaluation. Both are freemium.
What are New Relic and Sentry used for?
New Relic: Full-stack observability with 50+ monitoring capabilities. Sentry: Application monitoring & error tracking.
What does New Relic cost vs Sentry?
New Relic is freemium (free tier + paid plans). Sentry is freemium (free tier + paid plans). Visit their websites for detailed pricing.