Prometheus vs Zabbix: Pricing and Ratings Compared (2026)
Entry prices and free plans as read on each vendor's pricing page, and user ratings as published on review sites, for Prometheus and Zabbix side by side. This page compares data; it is not a hands-on review.
On the data: On the data below the two are close or not directly comparable, so we do not name a winner for this pair.
Short on time? Here's the quick answer
Based on published vendor pricing and features and on public review data, here's who should pick what:
Prometheus
Monitoring and alerting toolkit
Best for you if:
- • You want a fully free tool (Zabbix requires payment)
Zabbix
The universal, open-source observability solution for IT & OT infrastructure.
Best for you if:
- • You want 100% open-source with no license fees, leading to exceptionally low TCO
| At a Glance | Prometheus | Zabbix |
|---|---|---|
Starts at | Free 100% free | Free plan, paid from $50/mo, billed monthly Cloud Nano plan |
Category | DevOps Monitoring | Monitoring Cloud & Infrastructure |
Rating | 4.5/5 G2 4.5 61 reviews | 4.5/5 G2 4.3 · Capterra 4.7 320 reviews |
Free plan | Yes | Yes |
Watch out for | Storage costs grow linearly with metric cardinality and retention period | Cloud prices are starting points. Config and storage add. Annual is 10% off the monthly Cloud bill. |
Choose Prometheus or Zabbix?
Choose Prometheus if
- You want a fully free tool (Zabbix requires payment)
- You want industry standard
- You want great for metrics
- You work in DevOps, not monitoring
Choose Zabbix if
- You want 100% open-source with no license fees, leading to exceptionally low TCO
- You want highly adaptable and scalable, suitable for diverse and large enterprise environments
- You work in monitoring, not DevOps
In-Depth Analysis
Prometheus
Monitoring and alerting toolkit
Prometheus is 100% free and open source (Apache 2.0).
Watch out
Storage costs grow linearly with metric cardinality and retention period
Strengths
- Pro: Industry standard
- Pro: Great for metrics
- Pro: Open source
Weaknesses
- Con: Long-term storage
- Con: Learning curve
Key features
Zabbix
The universal, open-source observability solution for IT & OT infrastructure.
Zabbix the software is a download.
Watch out
Cloud prices are starting points. Config and storage add. Annual is 10% off the monthly Cloud bill.
Strengths
- Pro: 100% open-source with no license fees, leading to exceptionally low TCO
- Pro: Highly adaptable and scalable, suitable for diverse and large enterprise environments
- Pro: Comprehensive monitoring capabilities for a wide range of IT and OT infrastructure
- Pro: Flexible deployment options: on-premise, managed cloud, or third-party cloud
- Pro: Strong security features and compliance focus, trusted by global enterprises
Weaknesses
- Con: Requires technical expertise for on-premise deployment and advanced configuration
- Con: Initial setup and customization might be complex for new users without prior experience
Key features
Plans and prices: Prometheus vs Zabbix
| Tool | Plans and prices | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Prometheus |
| prometheus.io read Oct 2, 2026 |
| Zabbix |
| zabbix.com/cloud read Nov 1, 2026 |
Prices as read on each vendor's own pricing page on the date shown. Plans are listed per tool and are not matched against the other tool's plans: a plan name or price in one column says nothing about the same row in the other. Details on Prometheus pricing and Zabbix pricing.
Key Takeaways
Prometheus
- Choose if you want monitoring and alerting toolkit
Zabbix
- Choose if you want the universal, open-source observability solution for IT & OT infrastructure
What the data shows
On the data below the two are close or not directly comparable, so we do not name a winner for this pair.
- User ratings are within 0.2 points (4.5/5 from 61 reviews for Prometheus, 4.5/5 from 320 reviews for Zabbix).
- Zabbix starts at $50/mo, billed monthly; Prometheus has no public paid plan price on file.
- Both have a free plan.
Criteria: user rating (only above 20 reviews on both sides, gap of 0.2 or more), entry price (only on the same billing basis), free plan. How we rate
Frequently Asked Questions
How do Prometheus and Zabbix compare in 2026?
On the data below the two are close or not directly comparable, so we do not name a winner for this pair. User ratings are within 0.2 points (4.5/5 from 61 reviews for Prometheus, 4.5/5 from 320 reviews for Zabbix). Zabbix starts at $50/mo, billed monthly; Prometheus has no public paid plan price on file. Both have a free plan.
What are Prometheus and Zabbix used for?
Prometheus: Monitoring and alerting toolkit. Zabbix: The universal, open-source observability solution for IT & OT infrastructure.
What does Prometheus cost vs Zabbix?
Prometheus is free. Zabbix's cheapest paid plan is Cloud Nano at $50/mo, billed monthly; it also has a free plan. Prices read on the vendors' pricing pages, latest check Nov 1, 2026.
What's the main difference between Prometheus and Zabbix?
Prometheus's main strength: industry standard. Zabbix's main strength: 100% open-source with no license fees, leading to exceptionally low TCO.