Papertrail vs New Relic: Which is Better in 2026?
Choosing between Papertrail and New Relic 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 Spiceworks. Pick Papertrail if you need a free tier to start with.
Short on time? Here's the quick answer
We've tested both tools. Here's who should pick what:
Papertrail
Real-time log aggregation and analysis for DevOps
Best for you if:
- • You want very simple to use
- • You want fast search
New Relic
Full-stack observability with 50+ monitoring capabilities
Best for you if:
- • You want generous free tier
- • You want full-stack observability
| At a Glance | Papertrail | New Relic |
|---|---|---|
Starts at | FreeFree tier available | FreeFree tier available |
Best For | DevOps | DevOps |
Rating | 4.4/5 | 4.4/5 |
Free plan | Yes | Yes |
Choose Papertrail or New Relic?
Choose Papertrail if
Real-time log aggregation and analysis for DevOps
- You want very simple to use
- You want fast search
- Budget matters (Free vs Free)
Choose New Relic if
Full-stack observability with 50+ monitoring capabilities
- You want generous free tier
- You want full-stack observability
| Feature | Papertrail | New Relic |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing Model | Freemium | Freemium |
| User Rating | ★4.4/5 51 reviews | ★4.4/5 783 reviews |
| Categories | DevOpsLog Management | DevOpsAnalytics |
In-Depth Analysis
Papertrail
Real-time log aggregation and analysis for DevOps
Papertrail's pricing is fair, especially with a generous free tier and a competitive Pro plan at $7/month for 1GB.
Watch out
Overage fees for exceeding data limits
Strengths
- +Very simple to use
- +Fast search
- +Affordable
Weaknesses
- -Limited analysis features
- -Search window limits
- -Not for advanced use cases
Key features
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
Pricing: Papertrail vs New Relic
| Plan | Papertrail | New Relic |
|---|---|---|
| Tier 1 | Free Free | Free Free |
| Tier 2 | $7 month Pro | $10 Standard |
| Tier 3 | N/A | $349 Pro |
| Tier 4 | N/A | Enterprise |
Pricing verified from each vendor's public pricing page. Compare in detail on Papertrail pricing and New Relic pricing.
Who Should Use What?
On a budget?
Both are freemium. Compare plans on their websites.
Go with: Papertrail
Want the highest-rated option?
Papertrail: 4.4/5 (51 reviews). New Relic: 4.4/5 (783 reviews).
Go with: Papertrail
Value user reviews?
Papertrail: 51 reviews (4.4/5). New Relic: 783 reviews (4.4/5).
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?
Both are rated 4.4/5.
Key Takeaways
New Relic
- Larger review base (783 reviews)
- Free tier available
- Our pick for this comparison
Papertrail
- Choose if you want real-time log aggregation and analysis for DevOps
The Bottom Line
New Relic wins this matchup. Our overall Monitoring pick is Better Uptime. Our free Monitoring pick is Spiceworks.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Papertrail or New Relic better?
New Relic is rated in our evaluation. Both are freemium.
What are Papertrail and New Relic used for?
Papertrail: Real-time log aggregation and analysis for DevOps. New Relic: Full-stack observability with 50+ monitoring capabilities.
What does Papertrail cost vs New Relic?
Papertrail is freemium (free tier + paid plans). New Relic is freemium (free tier + paid plans). Visit their websites for detailed pricing.