Rollbar vs New Relic: Which is Better in 2026?
Choosing between Rollbar 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 Rollbar if you need debugging.
Short on time? Here's the quick answer
We've tested both tools. Here's who should pick what:
Rollbar
Real-time error tracking and debugging
Best for you if:
- • You want good error tracking
- • You want many integrations
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 | Rollbar | New Relic |
|---|---|---|
Starts at | FreeFree tier available | FreeFree tier available |
Best For | Debugging | DevOps |
Rating | 4.5/5 | 4.4/5 |
Free plan | Yes | Yes |
Choose Rollbar or New Relic?
Choose Rollbar if
Real-time error tracking and debugging
- You want good error tracking
- You want many integrations
- Your work is debugging-shaped, not DevOps-shaped
Choose New Relic if
Full-stack observability with 50+ monitoring capabilities
- You want generous free tier
- You want full-stack observability
- Budget matters (Free vs Free)
- Your work is DevOps-shaped, not debugging-shaped
| Feature | Rollbar | New Relic |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing Model | Freemium | Freemium |
| User Rating | ★4.5/5 435 reviews | ★4.4/5 783 reviews |
| Categories | DebuggingBug Tracking | DevOpsAnalytics |
In-Depth Analysis
Rollbar
Real-time error tracking and debugging
Rollbar's pricing is fair, offering a generous free tier with 5K events/month.
Watch out
Overage fees for exceeding event limits
Strengths
- +Good error tracking
- +Many integrations
- +Real-time alerts
- +Fair pricing
- +Good SDKs
Weaknesses
- -UI could improve
- -Less features than Sentry
- -Event limits
- -Documentation gaps
- -Smaller community
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: Rollbar vs New Relic
| Plan | Rollbar | New Relic |
|---|---|---|
| Tier 1 | Free Free | Free Free |
| Tier 2 | $12.5 month Essentials | $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 Rollbar pricing and New Relic pricing.
Who Should Use What?
On a budget?
Both are freemium. Compare plans on their websites.
Go with: Rollbar
Want the highest-rated option?
Rollbar: 4.5/5 (435 reviews). New Relic: 4.4/5 (783 reviews).
Go with: Rollbar
Value user reviews?
Rollbar: 435 reviews (4.5/5). 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?
Rollbar is a debugging tool. New Relic is in DevOps. Pick the category that matches your needs.
How important are ratings?
Rollbar is rated higher: 4.5/5 vs 4.4/5.
Key Takeaways
New Relic
- Larger review base (783 reviews)
- Free tier available
- Our pick for this comparison
Rollbar
- Higher user rating: 4.5/5 vs 4.4/5
- Better fit for debugging
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 Rollbar or New Relic better?
New Relic is rated in our evaluation. Both are freemium.
What are Rollbar and New Relic used for?
Rollbar: Real-time error tracking and debugging. New Relic: Full-stack observability with 50+ monitoring capabilities.
What does Rollbar cost vs New Relic?
Rollbar is freemium (free tier + paid plans). New Relic is freemium (free tier + paid plans). Visit their websites for detailed pricing.