New Relic vs SolarWinds: Which is Better in 2026?
Choosing between New Relic and SolarWinds 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 is our overall pick for DevOps workflows. Pick SolarWinds 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
SolarWinds
Drive operational resilience with unified visibility and AI-powered insights across your IT environment.
Best for you if:
- • You need monitoring features specifically
- • Provides unified visibility and AI-powered insights for IT operations.
- • Offers solutions for monitoring, database management, incident response, and IT service management.
| At a Glance |  New Relic | |
|---|---|---|
Starts at | FreeFree tier available | $7/moMonitoring & Observability |
Best For | DevOps | Monitoring |
Rating | 4.4/5 | 4.4/5 |
Free plan | Yes | No |
Choose New Relic or SolarWinds?
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 SolarWinds if
Drive operational resilience with unified visibility and AI-powered insights across your IT environment.
- Comprehensive suite of IT management tools under one platform
- AI-powered insights and automation for proactive issue resolution
- Supports diverse IT environments including on-premise, cloud, and hybrid
- Your work is monitoring-shaped, not DevOps-shaped
| Feature | New Relic | SolarWinds |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing Model | Freemium | Paid |
| User Rating | ★4.4/5 780 reviews | ★4.4/5 864 reviews |
| Categories | DevOpsAnalytics | MonitoringCloud & Infrastructure |
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
Value 75/100. 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)
SolarWinds
Drive operational resilience with unified visibility and AI-powered insights across your IT environment.
Strengths
- +Comprehensive suite of IT management tools under one platform
- +AI-powered insights and automation for proactive issue resolution
- +Supports diverse IT environments including on-premise, cloud, and hybrid
- +Flexible deployment options (self-hosted and SaaS)
- +Strong focus on operational resilience and unified visibility
Weaknesses
- -No free tier or trial explicitly mentioned for individual products
- -Requires integration and setup for full benefit across complex IT landscapes
Key features
Value 70/100. SolarWinds' pricing structure is quite varied, with 'Monitoring & Observability' at $7/node/month appearing fair for comprehensive visibility.
Watch out: Potential for high node/database count costs
Pricing: New Relic vs SolarWinds
| Plan | New Relic | SolarWinds |
|---|---|---|
| Tier 1 | Free Free | $7/node/month Monitoring & Observability |
| Tier 2 | $10 Standard | $142/database/month Database |
| Tier 3 | $349 Pro | $39/technician/month Service Management |
| Tier 4 | Enterprise | N/A |
Pricing verified from each vendor's public pricing page. Compare in detail on New Relic pricing and SolarWinds pricing.
Who Should Use What?
On a budget?
New Relic has a free tier. SolarWinds is paid only.
Go with: New Relic
Want the highest-rated option?
New Relic: 4.4/5 (780 reviews). SolarWinds: 4.4/5 (864 reviews).
Go with: New Relic
Value user reviews?
New Relic: 780 reviews (4.4/5). SolarWinds: 864 reviews (4.4/5).
Go with: SolarWinds
3 Questions to Help You Decide
What's your budget?
New Relic is freemium. SolarWinds is paid. New Relic lets you start free.
What's your use case?
New Relic is a DevOps tool. SolarWinds is in monitoring. Pick the category that matches your needs.
How important are ratings?
Both are rated 4.4/5.
Key Takeaways
New Relic
- Free tier available
- Our pick for this comparison
SolarWinds
- Larger review base (864 reviews)
- Better fit for monitoring
The Bottom Line
New Relic is our pick.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is New Relic or SolarWinds better?
New Relic is rated in our evaluation. New Relic is freemium and SolarWinds is paid.
What are New Relic and SolarWinds used for?
New Relic: Full-stack observability with 50+ monitoring capabilities. SolarWinds: Drive operational resilience with unified visibility and AI-powered insights across your IT environment..
What does New Relic cost vs SolarWinds?
New Relic is freemium (free tier + paid plans). SolarWinds is a paid tool. Visit their websites for detailed pricing.