Datadog vs New Relic vs Sentry: What are the differences?

Introduction

In this article, we will compare the key differences between Datadog, New Relic, and Sentry. These are popular monitoring tools used by companies to track and analyze the performance of their applications and infrastructure.

1. Integration Capabilities: Datadog stands out when it comes to integration capabilities. It provides extensive integrations with a wide range of services and platforms, allowing users to collect and analyze data from various sources easily. New Relic and Sentry also offer integrations, but they are not as extensive as Datadog's.

2. Application Performance Monitoring: New Relic is known for its strong application performance monitoring (APM) capabilities. It offers detailed insights into application performance, such as response times, error rates, and transaction traces. Datadog and Sentry also provide APM features, but New Relic is often regarded as more specialized in this area.

3. Alerting and Notification: Datadog offers advanced alerting and notification features. It allows users to set up custom alerts based on specific metrics or events and receive notifications through various channels like email, SMS, or messaging platforms. New Relic and Sentry also provide alerting capabilities but may not have the same level of flexibility and customization as Datadog.

4. Logging and Log Management: Sentry is primarily focused on error monitoring and log management. It excels in capturing and analyzing errors and exceptions in applications, providing detailed stack traces and relevant information for debugging. Datadog and New Relic also support logging and log management but may not have the same level of depth and specialization as Sentry.

5. Infrastructure Monitoring: Datadog offers comprehensive infrastructure monitoring capabilities. It allows users to monitor servers, containers, networks, and cloud services, providing insights into resource utilization, performance metrics, and status. New Relic and Sentry also provide infrastructure monitoring features, but Datadog is often considered more robust in this regard.

6. Cost and Pricing Model: Each tool offers different pricing models and structures. Datadog's pricing is based on the number of hosts or services monitored and the retention period for data. New Relic's pricing depends on the number of monitored entities and the level of features required. Sentry has a free plan with limited features and offers different pricing tiers based on the number of events captured and the retention period. It's important to evaluate the pricing models and choose the one that aligns best with your specific requirements and budget.

In summary, Datadog, New Relic, and Sentry differ in terms of integration capabilities, application performance monitoring, alerting and notification, logging and log management, infrastructure monitoring, and cost/pricing models. Evaluating these differences can help you choose the right monitoring tool for your organization based on your specific needs and priorities.