Datadog vs. New Relic: A Comprehensive Comparison
Published: May 15, 2025 | 18 min read
Overview
When it comes to modern application performance monitoring (APM) and observability, Datadog and New Relic are two leading platforms. This analysis compares their features, pricing, and use cases to help you make an informed decision.
Core Features
Datadog
- Infrastructure Monitoring: Real-time visibility into servers, containers, and cloud services
- APM: Distributed tracing and code-level performance insights
- Log Management: Centralized log collection and analysis
- Synthetic Monitoring: Proactive monitoring of user journeys
- Security Monitoring: Threat detection and compliance monitoring
New Relic
- Full-Stack Observability: End-to-end visibility across applications
- AI-Powered Insights: Anomaly detection and root cause analysis
- Mobile Monitoring: Performance tracking for mobile applications
- Browser Monitoring: Real user monitoring (RUM) for web applications
- Vulnerability Management: Security monitoring and compliance
Performance Comparison
Strengths of Datadog
- Superior container and orchestration monitoring
- More flexible dashboard customization
- Broader third-party integrations
- Strong DevOps workflow integration
Strengths of New Relic
- More comprehensive APM features
- Better AI/ML-powered insights
- Stronger focus on developer experience
- More intuitive UI for non-technical users
Pricing Models
Datadog
- Infrastructure: $15-23 per host/month
- APM: $31-40 per host/month
- Log Management: $0.10 per million log events
- Custom metrics: $0.05 per custom metric/month
New Relic
- Free tier available (limited features)
- Pro plan: $99/user/month (full platform access)
- Enterprise: Custom pricing
- Data retention: 30 days standard, longer retention available
Use Case Recommendations
Choose Datadog If:
- You need comprehensive infrastructure monitoring
- Your stack includes containers and microservices
- You require extensive third-party integrations
- Your team values customizable dashboards
Choose New Relic If:
- You need deep application performance insights
- Your team includes non-technical stakeholders
- You want strong AI-powered analytics
- You prefer an all-in-one observability solution
Implementation Considerations
Deployment
- Both offer SaaS solutions with easy onboarding
- Datadog has a steeper learning curve but more flexibility
- New Relic provides more guided setup and onboarding
Integration
- Datadog: 500+ integrations
- New Relic: 300+ integrations
- Both support custom integrations via APIs