Raygun vs New Relic: Which is Better in 2026?
Choosing between Raygun 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. SolarWinds is our overall Monitoring pick. Hookdeck is our free Monitoring pick. Pick Raygun if you need monitoring.
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:
Raygun
Error and performance monitoring
Best for you if:
- • You want error monitoring
New Relic
Full-stack observability with 50+ monitoring capabilities
Best for you if:
- • You want a free tier before you commit
| At a Glance | Raygun | New Relic |
|---|---|---|
Starts at | $4/month Small Business | Free Free plan |
Category | Monitoring Debugging | DevOps Analytics |
Rating | 4.3/5 G2 4.3 · Capterra 4.4 147 reviews | 4.4/5 G2 4.4 · Capterra 4.5 783 reviews |
Free plan | No | Yes |
Watch out for | User limits (1 for Small Business, 2 for Startup) are restrictive. | Data ingest overages at $0.40/GB (Standard) |
Choose Raygun or New Relic?
Choose Raygun if
- You want error monitoring
- You want APM features
- Budget matters ($4/month vs Free)
- You work in monitoring, not DevOps
Choose New Relic if
- You want a free tier before you commit
- You want generous free tier
- You want full-stack observability
- You work in DevOps, not monitoring
In-Depth Analysis
Raygun
Error and performance monitoring
Raygun's pricing for the 'Small Business' tier at $4/month for 10K error events and 100K sessions is very competitive, offering a low entry point for basic monitoring.
Watch out
User limits (1 for Small Business, 2 for Startup) are restrictive.
Strengths
- Pro: Error monitoring
- Pro: APM features
- Pro: Good for debugging
- Pro: Fair pricing
- Pro: Good features
Weaknesses
- Con: Less known
- Con: Feature gaps
- Con: Better alternatives exist
- Con: Learning curve
- Con: Support varies
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
- Pro: Generous free tier
- Pro: Full-stack observability
- Pro: AI insights
Weaknesses
- Con: Complex to set up
- Con: Data can be expensive
Key features
Pricing: Raygun vs New Relic
| Plan | Raygun | New Relic |
|---|---|---|
| Tier 1 | $4 month Small Business | Free Free |
| Tier 2 | $16 month Startup | $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 Raygun pricing and New Relic pricing.
Key Takeaways
New Relic
- Higher user rating: 4.4/5 vs 4.3/5
- Larger review base (783 reviews)
- Free tier available
- Our pick for this comparison
Raygun
- Better fit for monitoring
The Bottom Line
New Relic wins this matchup. SolarWinds is our overall Monitoring pick. Hookdeck is our free Monitoring pick.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Raygun or New Relic better in 2026?
New Relic wins this matchup. SolarWinds is our overall Monitoring pick. Hookdeck is our free Monitoring pick. Pick Raygun for monitoring workflows (main strength: error monitoring). Pick New Relic for DevOps workflows (main strength: generous free tier).
What are Raygun and New Relic used for?
Raygun: Error and performance monitoring. New Relic: Full-stack observability with 50+ monitoring capabilities.
What does Raygun cost vs New Relic?
Raygun's paid plans start at $4/month (Small Business). New Relic's paid plans start at Free (Standard).
What's the main difference between Raygun and New Relic?
Raygun's main strength: error monitoring. New Relic's main strength: generous free tier.