xMatters vs FireHydrant: Which Should You Choose in 2026?
Choosing between xMatters and FireHydrant 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:
xMatters
Incident management and alerting
Best for you if:
- • You need internal comms features specifically
- • xMatters is an incident management platform for IT operations
- • It provides alerting, on-call management, and incident resolution
FireHydrant
Incident management for engineering teams
Best for you if:
- • You want the higher-rated option (8.2/10 vs 7.8/10)
- • You want to try before committing
- • You need workflow automation features specifically
- • FireHydrant is an incident management platform for modern engineering teams
- • It automates incident response, tracks status, and generates post-mortems
| At a Glance |  xMatters |  FireHydrant |
|---|---|---|
Price | Paid | Free + Paid |
Best For | Internal Comms | Workflow Automation |
Rating | 78/100 | 82/100 |
| Feature | xMatters | FireHydrant |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing Model | Paid | Freemium |
| Editorial Score | 78 | 82 |
| Community Rating | No ratings yet | No ratings yet |
| Total Reviews | 0 | 0 |
| Community Upvotes | 0 | 0 |
| Categories | Internal CommsWorkflow Automation | Workflow AutomationIncident Management |
How xMatters and FireHydrant Compare
xMatters
Incident management and alerting
Paid · 78/100 score
FireHydrant
Incident management for engineering teams
Free tier available · 82/100 score
xMatters is a internal comms tool. FireHydrant is in workflow automation.
Who Should Use What?
On a budget?
FireHydrant has a free tier. xMatters is paid only.
Go with: FireHydrant
Want the highest-rated option?
xMatters: 78/100. FireHydrant: 82/100.
Go with: FireHydrant
Value user reviews?
Neither has user reviews yet.
Go with: FireHydrant
3 Questions to Help You Decide
What's your budget?
xMatters is paid. FireHydrant is freemium. FireHydrant lets you start free.
What's your use case?
xMatters is a internal comms tool. FireHydrant is in workflow automation. Pick the category that matches your needs.
How important are ratings?
FireHydrant scores higher: 82/100 vs 78/100.
Key Takeaways
FireHydrant
- Higher score: 82/100 vs 78
- Free tier available
- Our pick for this comparison
xMatters
- Better fit for internal comms
The Bottom Line
FireHydrant (82/100) is our pick.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is xMatters or FireHydrant better?
FireHydrant scores 82/100 in our evaluation. xMatters is paid and FireHydrant is freemium.
What are xMatters and FireHydrant used for?
xMatters: Incident management and alerting. FireHydrant: Incident management for engineering teams.
What does xMatters cost vs FireHydrant?
xMatters is a paid tool. FireHydrant is freemium (free tier + paid plans). Visit their websites for detailed pricing.