Rootly vs PagerDuty: Which Should You Choose in 2026?
Choosing between Rootly and PagerDuty 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:
Rootly
Incident management for modern teams
Best for you if:
- • You need team chat features specifically
- • Rootly is an incident management platform for modern DevOps teams
- • It automates incident response with Slack integration and retrospectives
PagerDuty
Incident management platform
Best for you if:
- • You want the higher-rated option (8.6/10 vs 8.0/10)
- • You need workflow automation features specifically
- • Incident management for on-call teams
- • Smart routing gets the right person every time
| At a Glance |  Rootly |  PagerDuty |
|---|---|---|
Price | Free + Paid | Free + Paid |
Best For | Team Chat | Workflow Automation |
Rating | 80/100 | 86/100 |
| Feature | Rootly | PagerDuty |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing Model | Freemium | Freemium |
| Editorial Score | 80 | 86 |
| Community Rating | No ratings yet | No ratings yet |
| Total Reviews | 0 | 0 |
| Community Upvotes | 0 | 0 |
| Categories | Team ChatWorkflow Automation | Workflow AutomationMonitoring |
How Rootly and PagerDuty Compare
Rootly
Incident management for modern teams
Free tier available · 80/100 score
PagerDuty
Incident management platform
Free tier available · 86/100 score
Rootly is a team chat tool. PagerDuty is in workflow automation.
Who Should Use What?
On a budget?
Both are freemium. Compare plans on their websites.
Go with: Rootly
Want the highest-rated option?
Rootly: 80/100. PagerDuty: 86/100.
Go with: PagerDuty
Value user reviews?
Neither has user reviews yet.
Go with: PagerDuty
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?
Rootly is a team chat tool. PagerDuty is in workflow automation. Pick the category that matches your needs.
How important are ratings?
PagerDuty scores higher: 86/100 vs 80/100.
Key Takeaways
PagerDuty
- Higher score: 86/100 vs 80
- Free tier available
- Our pick for this comparison
Rootly
- Better fit for team chat
The Bottom Line
PagerDuty (86/100) is our pick.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Rootly or PagerDuty better?
PagerDuty scores 86/100 in our evaluation. Both are freemium.
What are Rootly and PagerDuty used for?
Rootly: Incident management for modern teams. PagerDuty: Incident management platform.
What does Rootly cost vs PagerDuty?
Rootly is freemium (free tier + paid plans). PagerDuty is freemium (free tier + paid plans). Visit their websites for detailed pricing.