New Relic vs Splunk: Which Should You Choose in 2026?
Choosing between New Relic and Splunk 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:
- 0
- • 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
Splunk
Data platform for security and observability
Best for you if:
- 0
- • You need security monitoring features specifically
- • Log management and analysis platform
- • Search terabytes of logs in seconds
| At a Glance |  New Relic |  Splunk |
|---|---|---|
Price | Free + Paid | Paid |
Best For | DevOps | Security Monitoring |
Rating | - | - |
| Feature | New Relic | Splunk |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing Model | Freemium | Paid |
| Community Rating | No ratings yet | No ratings yet |
| Total Reviews | 0 | 0 |
| Community Upvotes | 0 | 0 |
| Categories | DevOpsAnalytics | Security MonitoringLog Management |
How New Relic and Splunk Compare
New Relic
Full-stack observability with 50+ monitoring capabilities
Free tier available
Splunk
Data platform for security and observability
Paid
New Relic is a DevOps tool. Splunk is in security monitoring.
Who Should Use What?
On a budget?
New Relic has a free tier. Splunk is paid only.
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: New Relic
3 Questions to Help You Decide
What's your budget?
New Relic is freemium. Splunk is paid. New Relic lets you start free.
What's your use case?
New Relic is a DevOps tool. Splunk is in security monitoring. Pick the category that matches your needs.
How important are ratings?
Neither has user reviews yet.
Key Takeaways
New Relic
- 0
- Free tier available
- Our pick for this comparison
Splunk
- Better fit for security monitoring
The Bottom Line
New Relic is our pick.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is New Relic or Splunk better?
New Relic is rated in our evaluation. New Relic is freemium and Splunk is paid.
What are New Relic and Splunk used for?
New Relic: Full-stack observability with 50+ monitoring capabilities. Splunk: Data platform for security and observability.
What does New Relic cost vs Splunk?
New Relic is freemium (free tier + paid plans). Splunk is a paid tool. Visit their websites for detailed pricing.