Prometheus vs Grafana OnCall: Which Should You Choose in 2026?
Choosing between Prometheus and Grafana OnCall 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 want the higher-rated option (8.8/10 vs 8.4/10)
- • You need something completely free
- • You need data visualization features specifically
- • Prometheus is an open-source monitoring system with a time-series database
- • It collects metrics, provides alerting, and powers Grafana dashboards
Grafana OnCall
On-call management for Grafana
Best for you if:
- • You need automation features specifically
- • Grafana OnCall is an open-source on-call management and alerting system
- • It routes alerts, manages schedules, and escalates incidents integrated with Grafana
| At a Glance |  Prometheus |  Grafana OnCall |
|---|---|---|
Price | Free | Free + Paid |
Best For | Data Visualization | Automation |
Rating | 88/100 | 84/100 |
| Feature | Prometheus | Grafana OnCall |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing Model | Free | Freemium |
| Editorial Score | 88 | 84 |
| Community Rating | No ratings yet | No ratings yet |
| Total Reviews | 0 | 0 |
| Community Upvotes | 0 | 0 |
| Categories | Data VisualizationMonitoring | AutomationMonitoring |
How Prometheus and Grafana OnCall Compare
Prometheus
Monitoring and alerting toolkit
Free · 88/100 score
Grafana OnCall
On-call management for Grafana
Free tier available · 84/100 score
Prometheus is a data visualization tool. Grafana OnCall is in automation.
Who Should Use What?
On a budget?
Prometheus is free. Grafana OnCall is freemium.
Go with: Prometheus
Want the highest-rated option?
Prometheus: 88/100. Grafana OnCall: 84/100.
Go with: Prometheus
Value user reviews?
Neither has user reviews yet.
Go with: Prometheus
3 Questions to Help You Decide
What's your budget?
Prometheus is free. Grafana OnCall is freemium. Go with Prometheus if free matters most.
What's your use case?
Prometheus is a data visualization tool. Grafana OnCall is in automation. Pick the category that matches your needs.
How important are ratings?
Prometheus scores higher: 88/100 vs 84/100.
Key Takeaways
Prometheus
- Higher score: 88/100 vs 84
- Completely free
- Our pick for this comparison
Grafana OnCall
- Better fit for automation
The Bottom Line
Prometheus (88/100) is our pick.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Prometheus or Grafana OnCall better?
Prometheus scores 88/100 in our evaluation. Prometheus is free and Grafana OnCall is freemium.
What are Prometheus and Grafana OnCall used for?
Prometheus: Monitoring and alerting toolkit. Grafana OnCall: On-call management for Grafana.
What does Prometheus cost vs Grafana OnCall?
Prometheus is completely free. Grafana OnCall is freemium (free tier + paid plans). Visit their websites for detailed pricing.