Crashlytics vs Rollbar: What are the differences?

Introduction

Crashlytics and Rollbar are both popular error monitoring tools used by developers to track and debug issues in their software applications. While they serve a similar purpose, there are significant differences between the two tools that developers should consider when choosing the right tool for their needs. Here are the key differences between Crashlytics and Rollbar:

1. Integration with Ecosystem: Crashlytics is tightly integrated with the Google ecosystem, especially with Firebase, which offers a suite of tools for app development. Rollbar, on the other hand, provides integrations with a wide range of platforms and programming languages, making it suitable for applications built on various frameworks and technologies.

2. Real-time error reporting: Crashlytics provides real-time error reporting, immediate crash insights, and the ability to track crashes and their impact on user experience. Rollbar also offers real-time error reporting but goes further by providing live error alerts, error rate tracking, and other advanced error monitoring features.

3. Customizable error groupings: Rollbar allows developers to customize how errors and exceptions are grouped and aggregated, enabling them to better understand and manage their application's errors. Crashlytics, on the other hand, doesn't offer as much flexibility in error grouping, which may be a limitation for some developers.

4. Error tracking scope: Crashlytics primarily focuses on mobile applications, offering excellent support for monitoring crashes and issues in Android and iOS apps. Rollbar, on the other hand, supports a wide range of platforms including web applications, servers, and backend systems, making it suitable for monitoring errors across different parts of a software ecosystem.

5. Workflow and collaboration features: Rollbar provides features like assigning errors to team members, commenting on errors, and integrating with project management tools, making it easier for teams to collaborate and resolve issues efficiently. Crashlytics, although it offers some collaboration features, may not have the same level of workflow customization and collaboration options as Rollbar.

6. Pricing and business model: Crashlytics is a free tool provided by Firebase, with limited features and usage quotas. It is often bundled with other Firebase services, making it a cost-effective choice for small-scale app development. Rollbar, on the other hand, offers various pricing plans based on usage, which may be more suitable for large-scale applications or businesses with specific error monitoring requirements.

In summary, Crashlytics offers tight integration with the Google ecosystem, real-time error reporting, but may have limited error grouping and collaboration features. Rollbar, on the other hand, provides broader platform support, customizable error grouping, advanced error monitoring features, and more robust collaboration options. The choice between Crashlytics and Rollbar depends on the specific needs and requirements of the software development project.