Loggly vs Serilog: What are the differences?

Introduction

In this article, we will compare Loggly and Serilog and outline the key differences between these two logging frameworks. Both Loggly and Serilog are widely used for application logging, but they have distinct features that set them apart. Let's dive into the differences!

1. Integration with Logging Platforms: Loggly is a cloud-based log management service that allows you to centralize and analyze logs in real time. It provides out-of-the-box integration with popular logging platforms like Logstash, Fluentd, and AWS CloudWatch. On the other hand, Serilog is a .NET logging library that focuses on structured logging. It can be easily integrated into various platforms such as ASP.NET, .NET Core, and Xamarin.

2. Logging Approaches: Loggly primarily follows the traditional logging approach, where log statements are written to different log files or streams. It provides powerful search and filtering capabilities to make log exploration easier. Serilog, on the other hand, adopts a structured logging approach. It encourages developers to log structured data using key-value pairs, making it easier to analyze and aggregate logs.

3. Flexibility and Customization: Loggly offers a wide range of built-in features for log analysis, such as dashboards, real-time alerts, and search query language. It provides a user-friendly interface for configuration and customization. In contrast, Serilog provides a highly flexible and extensible logging framework. It allows developers to build their own sinks, enrichers, and formatters, providing a more tailored logging experience.

4. Performance and Scalability: Loggly is a cloud-based service that automatically scales resources based on log volume, making it suitable for handling large log volumes and high traffic applications. Serilog, being a library, relies on the hosting environment for scalability. It can be scaled horizontally by leveraging distributed logging frameworks like Seq or by routing logs to a scalable storage backend.

5. Pricing Model: Loggly has a pricing model based on log volume, where you pay based on the amount of data ingested per day or month. It offers various plans suitable for different log volumes and retention periods. Serilog, being an open-source library, is free to use and does not have any direct costs associated with it. However, additional costs may be incurred if you choose to use third-party services for log storage or analysis.

6. Language and platform support: Loggly supports log collection from various sources and platforms, including different programming languages like Java, Python, and Ruby. It provides SDKs and libraries for easy integration. Serilog, being a .NET logging library, primarily targets the .NET ecosystem. It offers support for different .NET platforms like ASP.NET, .NET Core, and Xamarin, and provides specific packages for integration with these platforms.

In summary, Loggly is a cloud-based log management service with extensive integration options, while Serilog is a flexible .NET logging library that promotes structured logging. Loggly offers a user-friendly interface and powerful log analysis features, while Serilog provides a high level of customization and extensibility. Loggly's pricing model is based on log volume, whereas Serilog is free to use. Finally, Loggly supports log collection from multiple platforms and languages, while Serilog is primarily focused on the .NET ecosystem.