Sentry vs New Relic: Which is Better in 2026?
Choosing between Sentry 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.
Short on time? Here's the quick answer
We've tested both tools. Here's who should pick what:
Sentry
Application monitoring & error tracking
Best for you if:
- • You need monitoring features specifically
- • Error tracking for developers
- • Performance monitoring
New Relic
Full-stack observability with 50+ monitoring capabilities
Best for you if:
- • You need DevOps features specifically
- • Full-stack observability platform with APM, infrastructure monitoring, and logs
- • Generous free tier: 100GB/month data ingest + 1 full-access user
| At a Glance |  Sentry |  New Relic |
|---|---|---|
Starts at | FreeFree tier available | FreeFree tier available |
Best For | Monitoring | DevOps |
Rating | 4.5/5 | 4.4/5 |
Choose Sentry or New Relic?
Choose Sentry if
Application monitoring & error tracking
- Excellent error grouping
- Good integrations ecosystem
- Useful context in errors
- Your work is monitoring-shaped, not DevOps-shaped
Choose New Relic if
Full-stack observability with 50+ monitoring capabilities
- Generous free tier
- Full-stack observability
- AI insights
- Budget matters (Free vs Free)
- Your work is DevOps-shaped, not monitoring-shaped
| Feature | Sentry | New Relic |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing Model | Freemium | Freemium |
| User Rating | ★4.5/5 265 reviews | ★4.4/5 780 reviews |
| Categories | MonitoringDebugging | DevOpsAnalytics |
In-Depth Analysis
Sentry
Application monitoring & error tracking
Strengths
- +Excellent error grouping
- +Good integrations ecosystem
- +Useful context in errors
- +Free tier available
Weaknesses
- -Can be expensive at scale
- -Complex setup for some features
- -UI can be overwhelming
Key features
New Relic
Full-stack observability with 50+ monitoring capabilities
Strengths
- +Generous free tier
- +Full-stack observability
- +AI insights
Weaknesses
- -Complex to set up
- -Data can be expensive
Key features
Pricing: Sentry vs New Relic
| Plan | Sentry | New Relic |
|---|---|---|
| Tier 1 | Free Developer | Free Free |
| Tier 2 | $26 month (annual) Team | $10 Standard |
| Tier 3 | $80 month (annual) Business | $349 Pro |
| Tier 4 | custom Enterprise | Enterprise |
Pricing verified from each vendor's public pricing page. Compare in detail on Sentry pricing and New Relic pricing.
Who Should Use What?
On a budget?
Both are freemium. Compare plans on their websites.
Go with: Sentry
Want the highest-rated option?
Sentry: 4.5/5 (265 reviews). New Relic: 4.4/5 (780 reviews).
Go with: Sentry
Value user reviews?
Sentry: 265 reviews (4.5/5). New Relic: 780 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?
Sentry is a monitoring tool. New Relic is in DevOps. Pick the category that matches your needs.
How important are ratings?
Sentry is rated higher: 4.5/5 vs 4.4/5.
Key Takeaways
Sentry
- Higher user rating: 4.5/5 vs 4.4/5
- Free tier available
- Our pick for this comparison
New Relic
- Larger review base (780 reviews)
- Better fit for DevOps
The Bottom Line
Sentry is our pick.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Sentry or New Relic better?
Sentry is rated in our evaluation. Both are freemium.
What are Sentry and New Relic used for?
Sentry: Application monitoring & error tracking. New Relic: Full-stack observability with 50+ monitoring capabilities.
What does Sentry cost vs New Relic?
Sentry is freemium (free tier + paid plans). New Relic is freemium (free tier + paid plans). Visit their websites for detailed pricing.