Prometheus vs Grafana: Which Should You Choose in 2026?
Choosing between Prometheus and Grafana 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.
By Toolradar Team · Last updated February 28, 2026 · Methodology
Short on time? Here's the quick answer
We've tested both tools. Here's who should pick what:
Prometheus
Monitoring and alerting toolkit
Best for you if:
- • You need something completely free
- • Prometheus is an open-source monitoring system with a time-series database
- • It collects metrics, provides alerting, and powers Grafana dashboards
Grafana
Observability and visualization platform
Best for you if:
- • You want the higher-rated option (9.0/10 vs 8.8/10)
- • Open-source visualization for metrics
- • Beautiful dashboards from any data source
| At a Glance |  Prometheus |  Grafana |
|---|---|---|
Price | Free | Free + Paid |
Best For | Data Visualization | Data Visualization |
Rating | 88/100 | 90/100 |
| Feature | Prometheus | Grafana |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing Model | Free | Freemium |
| Editorial Score | 88 | 90 |
| Community Rating | No ratings yet | No ratings yet |
| Total Reviews | 0 | 0 |
| Community Upvotes | 0 | 0 |
| Categories | Data VisualizationMonitoring | Data VisualizationMonitoring |
How Prometheus and Grafana Compare
Prometheus
Monitoring and alerting toolkit
Free · 88/100 score
Grafana
Observability and visualization platform
Free tier available · 90/100 score
Who Should Use What?
On a budget?
Prometheus is free. Grafana is freemium.
Go with: Prometheus
Want the highest-rated option?
Prometheus: 88/100. Grafana: 90/100.
Go with: Grafana
Value user reviews?
Neither has user reviews yet.
Go with: Grafana
3 Questions to Help You Decide
What's your budget?
Prometheus is free. Grafana is freemium. Go with Prometheus if free matters most.
What's your use case?
Both are data visualization tools. Compare their specific features to decide.
How important are ratings?
Grafana scores higher: 90/100 vs 88/100.
Key Takeaways
Grafana
- Higher score: 90/100 vs 88
- Free tier available
- Our pick for this comparison
Prometheus
- Completely free
The Bottom Line
Grafana (90/100) is our pick. That said, Prometheus is free — hard to beat on price.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Prometheus or Grafana better?
Grafana scores 90/100 in our evaluation. Prometheus is free and Grafana is freemium.
What are Prometheus and Grafana used for?
Prometheus: Monitoring and alerting toolkit. Grafana: Observability and visualization platform.
What does Prometheus cost vs Grafana?
Prometheus is completely free. Grafana is freemium (free tier + paid plans). Visit their websites for detailed pricing.