Rootly vs Runbook: Which Should You Choose in 2026?
Choosing between Rootly and Runbook 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 want the higher-rated option (8.0/10 vs 7.6/10)
- • 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
Runbook
Automated incident response procedures
Best for you if:
- • You need documentation features specifically
- • Runbook is an operations platform for automating incident response
- • It creates playbooks for handling alerts and production issues
| At a Glance |  Rootly |  Runbook |
|---|---|---|
Price | Free + Paid | Free + Paid |
Best For | Team Chat | Documentation |
Rating | 80/100 | 76/100 |
| Feature | Rootly | Runbook |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing Model | Freemium | Freemium |
| Editorial Score | 80 | 76 |
| Community Rating | No ratings yet | No ratings yet |
| Total Reviews | 0 | 0 |
| Community Upvotes | 0 | 0 |
| Categories | Team ChatWorkflow Automation | DocumentationWorkflow Automation |
How Rootly and Runbook Compare
Rootly
Incident management for modern teams
Free tier available · 80/100 score
Runbook
Automated incident response procedures
Free tier available · 76/100 score
Rootly is a team chat tool. Runbook is in documentation.
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. Runbook: 76/100.
Go with: Rootly
Value user reviews?
Neither has user reviews yet.
Go with: Rootly
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. Runbook is in documentation. Pick the category that matches your needs.
How important are ratings?
Rootly scores higher: 80/100 vs 76/100.
Key Takeaways
Rootly
- Higher score: 80/100 vs 76
- Free tier available
- Our pick for this comparison
Runbook
- Better fit for documentation
The Bottom Line
Rootly (80/100) is our pick.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Rootly or Runbook better?
Rootly scores 80/100 in our evaluation. Both are freemium.
What are Rootly and Runbook used for?
Rootly: Incident management for modern teams. Runbook: Automated incident response procedures.
What does Rootly cost vs Runbook?
Rootly is freemium (free tier + paid plans). Runbook is freemium (free tier + paid plans). Visit their websites for detailed pricing.