Updown vs Datadog: Which is Better in 2026?
Choosing between Updown and Datadog 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: Datadog wins this matchup. SolarWinds is our overall Monitoring pick. UptimeRobot is our free Monitoring pick. Pick Updown if you need its specific feature set.
Short on time? Here's the quick answer
We've tested both tools. Here's who should pick what:
Updown
Simple and inexpensive website and server monitoring with global checks and flexible alerts.
Best for you if:
- • You want simple and easy to set up
- • You want cost-effective, pay-as-you-go pricing
Datadog
Cloud monitoring, security, and AI investigations for DevOps
Best for you if:
- • You want a free tier before you commit
- • You want comprehensive platform
- • You want great visualizations
| At a Glance | Updown | Datadog |
|---|---|---|
Starts at | Custom | FreeFree tier available |
Best For | Monitoring | Monitoring |
Rating | - | 4.4/5 |
Free plan | No | Yes |
Choose Updown or Datadog?
Choose Updown if
Simple and inexpensive website and server monitoring with global checks and flexible alerts.
- You want simple and easy to set up
- You want cost-effective, pay-as-you-go pricing
Choose Datadog if
Cloud monitoring, security, and AI investigations for DevOps
- You want a free tier before you commit
- You want comprehensive platform
- You want great visualizations
| Feature | Updown | Datadog |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing Model | Paid | Freemium |
| User Rating | No ratings yet | ★4.4/5 726 reviews |
| Categories | MonitoringDevOps | MonitoringLog Management |
In-Depth Analysis
Updown
Simple and inexpensive website and server monitoring with global checks and flexible alerts.
Updown offers a very fair and transparent pricing model, especially for users with high monitoring needs.
Watch out
No mention of overage pricing
Strengths
- +Simple and easy to set up.
- +Cost-effective, pay-as-you-go pricing.
- +Comprehensive monitoring types beyond just HTTP(S).
- +Reliable downtime confirmation from multiple locations.
- +Direct technical support from the product developer.
Weaknesses
- -SMS alerts incur additional costs.
- -Limited information on advanced reporting or analytics features beyond basic uptime/performance.
Key features
Datadog
Cloud monitoring, security, and AI investigations for DevOps
Datadog is the most comprehensive observability platform, infrastructure monitoring, APM, logs, RUM, security, and 750+ integrations in one place.
Watch out
APM requires Infrastructure Monitoring on the SAME hosts: you cannot buy APM alone. Most pricing pages only show the APM price
Strengths
- +Comprehensive platform
- +Great visualizations
- +700+ integrations
Weaknesses
- -Complex pricing
- -Can be expensive
Key features
Pricing: Updown vs Datadog
| Plan | Updown | Datadog |
|---|---|---|
| Tier 1 | 5 € 200,000 credits | Free Free |
| Tier 2 | 10 € 500,000 credits | $15 /host/month (annual) Infrastructure Pro |
| Tier 3 | 25 € 1,500,000 credits | $23 /host/month (annual) Infrastructure Enterprise |
| Tier 4 | 40 € 3,000,000 credits | $31 /host/month (annual, with Infra) APM |
| Tier 5 | 100 € 10,000,000 credits | $40 /host/month (annual, with Infra) APM Enterprise |
| Tier 6 | 500 € 60,000,000 credits | N/A |
Pricing verified from each vendor's public pricing page. Compare in detail on Updown pricing and Datadog pricing.
Who Should Use What?
On a budget?
Datadog has a free tier. Updown is paid only.
Go with: Datadog
Want the highest-rated option?
Datadog is rated 4.4/5. Updown has no ratings yet.
Go with: Datadog
Value user reviews?
Updown: no ratings yet. Datadog: 726 reviews (4.4/5).
Go with: Datadog
3 Questions to Help You Decide
What's your budget?
Updown is paid. Datadog is freemium. Datadog lets you start free.
What's your use case?
Both are monitoring tools. Compare their specific features to decide.
How important are ratings?
Datadog is rated 4.4/5; Updown has no ratings yet.
Key Takeaways
Datadog
- Free tier available
- Our pick for this comparison
Updown
- Choose if you want simple and inexpensive website and server monitoring with global checks and flexible alerts
The Bottom Line
Datadog wins this matchup. SolarWinds is our overall Monitoring pick. UptimeRobot is our free Monitoring pick.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Updown or Datadog better?
Datadog is rated in our evaluation. Updown is paid and Datadog is freemium.
What are Updown and Datadog used for?
Updown: Simple and inexpensive website and server monitoring with global checks and flexible alerts.. Datadog: Cloud monitoring, security, and AI investigations for DevOps.
What does Updown cost vs Datadog?
Updown is a paid tool. Datadog is freemium (free tier + paid plans). Visit their websites for detailed pricing.