Traceloop vs OpenTelemetry: Which Should You Choose in 2026?
Choosing between Traceloop and OpenTelemetry 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 22, 2026 · Methodology
Short on time? Here's the quick answer
We've tested both tools. Here's who should pick what:
Traceloop
Accelerate LLM application development with continuous evaluation and monitoring.
Best for you if:
- • You need real-time analytics features specifically
- • Provides continuous evaluation and monitoring for LLM applications.
- • Offers instant visibility into LLM performance and quality with built-in and custom metrics.
OpenTelemetry
Observability framework for cloud-native software
Best for you if:
- • You want the higher-rated option (9.0/10 vs 0.0/10)
- • You need something completely free
- • You need api tools features specifically
- • OpenTelemetry is an open-source observability framework for traces and metrics
- • It standardizes instrumentation across languages for monitoring tools
| At a Glance |  Traceloop |  OpenTelemetry |
|---|---|---|
Price | Free + Paid | Free |
Best For | Real-Time Analytics | API Tools |
Rating | —/100 | 90/100 |
| Feature | Traceloop | OpenTelemetry |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing Model | Freemium | Free |
| Editorial Score | — | 90 |
| Community Rating | No ratings yet | No ratings yet |
| Total Reviews | 0 | 0 |
| Community Upvotes | 0 | 0 |
| Categories | Real-Time AnalyticsMonitoring | API ToolsDebugging |
How Traceloop and OpenTelemetry Compare
Traceloop
Accelerate LLM application development with continuous evaluation and monitoring.
Free tier available
OpenTelemetry
Observability framework for cloud-native software
Free · 90/100 score
Traceloop is a real-time analytics tool. OpenTelemetry is in api tools.
Who Should Use What?
On a budget?
OpenTelemetry is free. Traceloop is freemium.
Go with: OpenTelemetry
Want the highest-rated option?
OpenTelemetry scores 90/100. Traceloop is unrated.
Go with: OpenTelemetry
Value user reviews?
Neither has user reviews yet.
Go with: OpenTelemetry
3 Questions to Help You Decide
What's your budget?
Traceloop is freemium. OpenTelemetry is free. Go with OpenTelemetry if free matters most.
What's your use case?
Traceloop is a real-time analytics tool. OpenTelemetry is in api tools. Pick the category that matches your needs.
How important are ratings?
Not all tools have been rated yet.
Key Takeaways
OpenTelemetry
- Higher score: 90/100 vs unrated
- Completely free
- Our pick for this comparison
Traceloop
- Better fit for real-time analytics
The Bottom Line
OpenTelemetry (90/100) is our pick.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Traceloop or OpenTelemetry better?
OpenTelemetry scores 90/100 in our evaluation. Traceloop is freemium and OpenTelemetry is free.
What are Traceloop and OpenTelemetry used for?
Traceloop: Accelerate LLM application development with continuous evaluation and monitoring.. OpenTelemetry: Observability framework for cloud-native software.
What does Traceloop cost vs OpenTelemetry?
Traceloop is freemium (free tier + paid plans). OpenTelemetry is completely free. Visit their websites for detailed pricing.