Airbrake vs Sentry: What are the differences?

Introduction

In this guide, we will compare the key differences between Airbrake and Sentry, two popular error monitoring tools. Both Airbrake and Sentry are used to track and diagnose errors in software applications, but they have some distinct features that set them apart from each other.

1. Pricing Model: One of the major differences between Airbrake and Sentry is their pricing model. Airbrake offers tiered pricing based on the number of projects and users, with different features available at each pricing level. On the other hand, Sentry provides a free tier that allows users to monitor a limited number of events per month, and they also offer multiple paid plans based on the number of events and additional features needed.

2. Deployment Options: Another significant difference between Airbrake and Sentry lies in their deployment options. Airbrake is a cloud-based solution, which means that users do not have to worry about infrastructure management and can access their error data from anywhere with an internet connection. On the contrary, Sentry offers both a cloud-based option and the ability to deploy on-premises, making it suitable for organizations with specific security or compliance requirements.

3. Error Aggregation and Grouping: Airbrake and Sentry utilize different approaches when it comes to error aggregation and grouping. Airbrake groups similar errors based on the error message, stack trace, and other factors. While this approach can be effective in reducing noise, it may also overlook unique errors that occur in different parts of the codebase. Sentry, on the other hand, uses an intelligent grouping algorithm that takes into account contextual information such as user data, environment variables, and more. This helps in better categorization and understanding of errors.

4. Integrations and Ecosystem: Both Airbrake and Sentry offer integrations with popular development and productivity tools, but there are differences in the range and depth of their integrations. Airbrake provides integrations with services like GitHub, JIRA, Slack, and more. On the other hand, Sentry offers a wide range of integrations including GitHub, GitLab, Bitbucket, and various popular frameworks and platforms like Python, JavaScript, Ruby, and more. The extensive ecosystem offered by Sentry allows for seamless integration with different development environments.

5. Customization and Extensibility: When it comes to customization and extensibility, Airbrake and Sentry have different capabilities. Airbrake allows users to create custom error parameters and filters to enhance error tracking and reporting. However, Sentry takes customization a step further by providing users with the ability to create custom event data and attributes, as well as the option to define and track custom metrics. This level of customization and extensibility can be valuable for teams that require more fine-grained control over their error monitoring.

6. Alerting and Notifications: The way Airbrake and Sentry handle alerting and notifications also differs. Airbrake provides email notifications for error events, allowing users to stay updated on critical issues. Additionally, Airbrake supports integrations with tools like Slack and HipChat for real-time notifications. On the other hand, Sentry offers a more flexible notification system that allows users to configure various channels for alerting, including email, Slack, webhooks, and more. This flexibility in notification configuration provides users with more control over receiving alerts.

In Summary, Airbrake and Sentry differ in their pricing models, deployment options, error aggregation strategies, integrations and ecosystem, customization and extensibility features, as well as alerting and notification capabilities. These differences allow users to choose the tool that best suits their specific needs and requirements.