New Relic is a great tool for full-stack observability and application performance monitoring (APM) – but it’s not for everyone. For some teams, the pricing alone can be a dealbreaker. Others struggle with the steep learning curve, and many find themselves paying for features they rarely use. Whatever issue you may be facing, we’re here to point you toward a better fit. In this blog, we’ll walk you through 7 powerful New Relic alternatives available in 2025. We have broken them down across categories like full-stack monitoring, uptime tracking, error reporting, and open-source tools, so you can find the right fit based on your budget, team size, and tech stack. Key takeaways New Relic is still strong, but its cost and complexity may not suit every team, especially startups or those with focused needs. UptimeRobot is great for simple, affordable uptime and endpoint monitoring. Datadog and Dynatrace offer powerful full-stack observability but come at a premium. Sentry and Better Stack cater to developer and incident-response workflows with a modern, lightweight experience. Grafana is ideal if you want open-source flexibility and custom dashboards. Choosing the right tool depends on your stack, budget, team size, and how deep you want to go with performance data. Why switch from New Relic? New Relic is powerful, but for many teams, it’s overkill and overpriced. It can feel too complex for everyday needs, and the pricing model, especially seat-based billing, often comes across as rigid and expensive. Here are the top reasons why users want to switch from New Relic. High pricing as workloads scale: New Relic charges based on data ingestion and user seats. While it may seem flexible, many users find it costly and complex, particularly for small businesses and startups. Rapid scaling often leads to steep, unpredictable costs. Essential features are locked behind expensive tiers, and the free version is too limited for serious use. “The pricing model is a bit complex and potentially expensive, especially for large teams or organizations with a high volume of data. The platform provides a lot of detailed data and metrics, which can be useful but a bit overwhelming as well. Has Limited customization. Limited Free Tier, Support can be slow sometimes.” – G2 Complex interface for smaller teams: Many smaller teams find New Relic’s interface overwhelming. It has a steep learning curve and includes many features they don’t need. This complexity makes onboarding and daily use difficult for teams that only require basic monitoring. “Let’s talk about the UI. It’s functional, no doubt, but it could use a bit of a facelift to enhance the user experience. A simpler and more intuitive interface would make navigating through the various monitoring features a joy. New Relic, take note: a clean and user-friendly UI can go a long way in keeping us users engaged and productive.” – Capterra Feature bloat for users needing only specific monitoring: Some users only require core features like APM traces and slow query analysis, but are still required to pay for the full platform. They report that most of the suite goes unused, yet the bundled pricing offers no flexibility. This makes it difficult to justify the cost for teams with simpler, more focused needs. “Hi, I use New Relic only for investigating when web applications have performance issues, so I look into the methods that were active, the SQL queries, etc. It works quite well, but it is too expensive. I also think I don’t really have use for a lot of the features New Relic provides. I only want to analyse the system when incidents occur. Does any of you know a good, cheaper, maybe even open source, alternative for that type of application analysis?” – Reddit Desire for more open or modular tools: Developers increasingly prefer observability tools that are open-source, self-hostable, and easy to integrate into existing pipelines. New Relic’s closed ecosystem and bundled approach don’t offer that kind of flexibility. 7 best alternatives to New Relic We’ve selected 7 of the best New Relic alternatives to help you find the right fit for your team and needs. 1. UptimeRobot UptimeRobot is a lightweight, cloud-based monitoring service built for simplicity, speed, and ease of use. It tracks the availability and responsiveness of websites, APIs, servers, and scheduled jobs with checks running as often as every minute. Unlike full-stack observability platforms like New Relic, which require installation and deep instrumentation across your application stack, UptimeRobot works externally with no code changes or agents needed. This makes it ideal for small teams, solo developers, and startups looking for reliable uptime and endpoint monitoring without the complexity or overhead of traditional APM tools. Key features: Monitor availability with multiple types: HTTP(s), Ping, Port, Keyword, SSL Certificate, Domain Expiry, and Cron Job (Heartbeat) checks. Monitoring intervals as short as 30 seconds or 1 minute for rapid issue detection. Customizable public status pages to share real-time service health with stakeholders. More than 17 integration options, including email, SMS, voice calls, push notifications, and native support for Slack, MS Teams, PagerDuty, Telegram, and more. SSL certificate and domain expiry monitoring to prevent avoidable outages. Scheduled maintenance windows to avoid false alerts during planned downtimes. Monthly email reports summarizing uptime and incident history across monitors. Notification-only sub-users are included in all plans, with full-featured sub-users available on the Team and Enterprise tiers. Detailed logs with data retention from 3 to 24 months based on your plan. Traceroute support and log export in CSV format for in-depth analysis. Location-specific monitoring to ensure alerts reflect regional availability issues. Slow response time alerts based on custom thresholds, helping identify performance issues before outages occur. ProsConsEasy setup that lets you start monitoring in under 30 seconds with just a few clicks.Focuses mainly on uptime – lacks full observability or in-depth diagnosticsAffordable pricing, with a forever-free plan that lets you monitor up to 50 services at 5-minute intervals.Not ideal for teams that need deep infrastructure or application-level monitoringSimple, clean interface that’s easy to use for any team–Multi-channel alerting to keep you informed, anytime, anywhere–Useful for quickly spotting outages or service interruptions–Cloud-based, simple external third-party service compared to those that you need to install on your server– Ideal for: UptimeRobot is ideal for startups, solo developers, and small teams who need simple, affordable website and API uptime monitoring. It excels as a complement or front-line replacement for teams focused on service health and endpoint responsiveness, without the overhead of full-stack observability. Start monitoring in 30 seconds 2. Better Stack Better Stack is a modern monitoring and incident management platform that brings together uptime monitoring, log management, and alerting in a clean, developer-friendly interface. It’s a strong New Relic alternative for lean teams and startups seeking simplicity, speed, and cost-efficiency. Key features: Uptime monitoring with incident screenshots Fast, structured log search and live tailing Beautiful, customizable status pages for transparency Clean, intuitive UI optimized for developer workflows Real-time alerting via Slack, Microsoft Teams, email, and more ProsConsExtremely easy to set up and use.Lacks deep APM features compared to tools like New Relic or Datadog.Affordable pricing, especially for startups and small teams.Limited infrastructure monitoring capabilities.Transparent incident communication with status pages.Fewer analytics and visualization options out of the box.Seamless integrations with popular DevOps tools.– Ideal for: Better Stack is ideal for startups, lean engineering teams, and modern DevOps workflows that need fast, reliable uptime monitoring, log management, and alerting. It’s a great choice for teams that want essential observability features without the overhead or cost of full-scale platforms.Want to see how UptimeRobot looks against Better Stack? Take a look at our comparison page for more details. 3. Datadog Datadog and New Relic both offer strong monitoring capabilities, but Datadog stands out with a broader feature set. While New Relic focuses on application performance monitoring, Datadog also covers network performance, log management, and security monitoring. Its flexible pricing, cloud-native integrations, and ability to correlate metrics, logs, and traces make Datadog a scalable, all-in-one solution for complex observability needs. Key features: Robust full-stack observability (APM, infrastructure, logs, and more) Real-time, customizable dashboards Automated anomaly detection and alerting 600+ integrations with popular services and cloud tools Support for hybrid, on-prem, and cloud-native setups ProsConsMassive library of integrations – monitor nearly anything.Pricing is steep, especially as data volume grows.Easy deployment with excellent support.Can be difficult to integrate with large, DB-heavy apps.Highly customizable dashboards.Confusing pricing model.Strong visibility across distributed systems.Overwhelming UI for new users. Ideal for: Datadog is best for large enterprises or fast-scaling companies that need a comprehensive and flexible monitoring platform across cloud, on-prem, and hybrid infrastructures. 4. Dynatrace Dynatrace is an enterprise-grade observability platform that unifies infrastructure monitoring, APM, security, and business analytics in a single AI-powered interface. Designed for large-scale, cloud-native environments, it provides deep visibility and automation across complex application ecosystems. Compared to New Relic, Dynatrace is a better fit for enterprises that need scalable, automated insights with less manual setup. Key features: Full-stack observability: APM, distributed tracing, infrastructure, and profiling AI-powered root cause detection and automated remediation Security monitoring with threat protection and automated forensics Custom analytics for real-time business insights Supports 700+ technologies and platforms ProsConsDeep AI-driven insights, automated diagnostics.Pricing can be high for smaller teams.Seamless integration into observability pipelines (like OpenTelemetry, Grafana).Steep learning curve due to the depth of features.Excellent out-of-the-box dashboards and service-level analytics.Onboarding could be more user-friendly.Clear end-to-end visibility into large, distributed systems.– Ideal for: Dynatrace stands out as a top choice for enterprises running complex, cloud-native, or microservice-heavy applications that need deep, intelligent observability with automated issue detection and resolution. To learn more about the complex world of observability, check out our complete observability guide. 5. Grafana Grafana is a strong open-source monitoring and visualization tool that unifies data from sources like Prometheus, Graphite, and MySQL into customizable, interactive dashboards. It’s a great alternative to New Relic for teams that want more control, lower costs, and the ability to build a tailored observability stack. Key features: Wide range of visualizations: graphs, heatmaps, histograms, geomaps, and more Data source plugins allow real-time rendering without data ingestion Built-in alerting system with centralized management and silencing Data transformations across queries and sources for powerful analysis Rich annotations from multiple data sources with detailed metadata ProsConsHigh-quality, interactive dashboards with various visualization types.Steep learning curve.Supports multiple data sources (such as Prometheus, MySQL, InfluxDB).UI can feel clunky or crowded at times.Powerful query builder and customization options.Log analysis capabilities are limited compared to full-stack APM tools.Ideal for interpreting large datasets with clear, visual insights.Setup and configuration can require command-line work for advanced use. Ideal for: Organizations on a tight budget that need beautiful, customizable dashboards from multiple data sources. Grafana is especially popular with DevOps teams and cloud-native environments where observability tools are already in place and just need a powerful visualization layer. Are you interested in other tools like Grafana? Have a look at our top 10 observability tools of 2025. 6. Sentry Sentry is an application and error monitoring platform designed to provide developers with real-time error notifications and detailed reports. Unlike New Relic, which covers full-stack observability, Sentry focuses solely on error monitoring, giving teams targeted insights without the overhead of a broader APM platform. Key features: Real-time error detection and reporting Developer-focused error tracking and release health Performance monitoring to identify and address bottlenecks Open-source version for self-hosting and customization Supports error monitoring for over 30 programming languages ProsConsProvides granular yet simple insights for bug resolution.The entry price may be high for small projects.Plug-and-play setup that is easy to implement.Error limits can be restrictive on lower-tier plans.Strong GitHub and workflow integrations.Some advanced features and integrations are only available in paid plans.Excellent enterprise support.– Ideal for: Sentry is best suited for front-end and mobile teams who need a robust, lightweight solution for real-time error monitoring and performance insights. Sentry helps these teams quickly detect and resolve issues, improving user experience across different platforms and devices. 7. AppDynamics AppDynamics is an enterprise-grade application performance management (APM) solution that offers deep, end-to-end visibility across applications, infrastructure, and business transactions. In contrast to New Relic’s simpler and more flexible interface, AppDynamics is designed for complex, large-scale environments, providing advanced transaction mapping and detailed diagnostics. Key features: Rich business metrics and transaction insights End-user experience monitoring Code-level diagnostics and root cause analysis Anomaly detection and alerting Full-stack observability ProsConsSimple UI/UX.High cost, especially for large organizations.24/7 customer support.It can be slow or clunky when accessing critical data quickly.Effectively detects and monitors problematic transactions.–Easy setup of servers, analytics, metrics, and alerts.–Integrates smoothly with tools like CloudWatch, Dynatrace, and ServiceNow.– Ideal for: This tool is best for large enterprises that need deep diagnostic capabilities and end-to-end visibility across complex, distributed environments. Comparison table of New Relic alternatives ToolBest forStandout featurePricing modelUptimeRobotLightweight uptime monitoringSimple setup and quick alerts for downtime trackingFree plan available + paid plans from $7/monthBetter StackStartups and lean engineering teamsBeautiful UI and fast uptime + log setupFree plan available + paid plans from $29/monthDatadogComplex, multi-cloud environmentsComprehensive monitoring across apps, infrastructure, logs, and moreFree plan + paid plans starting at $15 per host per monthDynatraceLarge enterprises with heavy automation needsAI-powered root cause analysis for performance issuesFull stack monitoring plans starting at $0.08 per hour for 8 GiB hostGrafanaOpen-source stack and custom dashboardsHighly flexible dashboard creationFree plan + tiered plans starting at $19/monthSentryDev teams focused on app errorsSession replays of user actions before and after an issueFree for solo developers; paid plans start at $26/monthAppDynamicsEnterprises needing deep app + business insightsBusiness transaction mapping for complex environmentsFree trial available; tiered enterprise pricing Choosing the right alternative for you With so many tools available, it can be tough to figure out which one’s the best fit for your team. Whether you’re after something simple, open-source, or ready to scale, there’s an option that’ll work for you. Here’s a quick guide to help you decide based on your team’s size, technical needs, and budget. UptimeRobot UptimeRobot is the right alternative for you if: You only need basic uptime checks and alerting for websites, APIs, or services. You prefer a fast, code-free setup with no agents or server instrumentation. Your team doesn’t need deep observability or full-stack APM features. You’re looking for a cost-effective solution to track service availability. You want to complement an existing observability stack with simple, external checks. Datadog/Dynatrace Pick Datadog or Dynatrace when: You’re managing complex systems across multi-cloud or hybrid environments. Your organization requires full-stack observability, including infrastructure, logs, metrics, and traces. You benefit from advanced features like AI-powered incident detection, automated root-cause analysis, and service maps. You’re part of an enterprise or large-scale team that can invest in implementation and training. You need robust integrations with DevOps, security, and automation tools. Grafana Grafana is best suited for you if: You want full control over your monitoring stack, including the option to self-host. You have technical resources capable of integrating and managing custom dashboards. Your team works with diverse data sources and needs to bring them into one visual interface. You’re seeking an open-source solution with no licensing fees. You value rich visualizations and flexible query building across time-series data. Sentry Choose Sentry when: You’re a front-end or mobile development team focused on user-impacting errors. You need real-time alerts on exceptions, crashes, and performance issues in your code. You want actionable insights with stack traces, breadcrumbs, and profiling. You value seamless integrations into your development and CI/CD pipelines. You prefer tools that empower developers to take ownership of error resolution. Real user feedback & case studies UptimeRobot Users love UptimeRobot for its quick setup and reliability during critical incidents. They appreciate how simple and no-fuss it is, ensuring service uptime, particularly during high-pressure moments. “We use UptimeRobot to monitor the key websites for our visitors, customers, and donors. Setting up monitors has been quick and easy. The frequent pings and notification features have been particularly helpful for tracking down outage ranges that happen outside normal operating hours.” – Andrew H. Case study: Heineken Heineken utilizes UptimeRobot to monitor critical web services, ensuring service availability across its global network. With real-time alerts, Heineken can promptly address issues, even during off-hours, preventing disruptions in delivery operations. The mobile app and status pages further enhance their incident response capabilities. Read the entire case study here: Heineken case study Better Stack BetterStack is growing rapidly thanks to its developer-focused UX. Users appreciate its easy implementation and how it simplifies incident management. “Setting up uptime monitoring and incident alerts was incredibly simple, and I was able to get everything running within minutes. The dashboards are clean and visually appealing, making it easy to track performance at a glance.” – Ashish P. Datadog Datadog is a powerhouse for full-stack observability, with teams praising its deep insights. However, users note that it can become expensive as workloads scale. “Datadog has a product to solve almost any observability problem you may have. It’s simple to implement into your workflow, and data will start enriching the rest of the products immediately.” – Ivan M. AppFolio uses Datadog to monitor and manage its cloud-based applications, providing real-time insights into performance and infrastructure. By leveraging Datadog’s capabilities, AppFolio has improved its troubleshooting efficiency and optimized its service performance. Case study: AppFolio Get a detailed look at AppFolio’s experience with Datadog: AppFolio case study Sentry Development teams praise Sentry for quickly surfacing error hotspots, enabling faster debugging and issue resolution. Developers value its simplicity and precision in error tracking. “I’ve had a few issues, middle of the night alerts at work that, without Sentry, I’d have had a very confusing time to solve. The fact that it pointed me to the pain point and let me see what the user saw was invaluable.” — Ste O. Case study: Duolingo Duolingo uses Sentry to track errors in real-time, improving the quality of their app and providing faster response times to user issues. Sentry’s detailed error tracking helps Duolingo pinpoint issues and fix them before users are impacted. Read more on how Duolingo benefits from Sentry: Duolingo case study Conclusion We hope this guide has provided you with the insights needed to find a monitoring and observability tool that suits your needs. Ultimately, choosing the right New Relic alternative in 2025 depends on your team’s specific requirements, scale, and priorities. If you’re looking for something lightweight and quick to set up, UptimeRobot and Better Stack are great choices. They’re perfect for lean teams and startups that need reliable uptime monitoring, log management, and alerting, without the heavy overhead. For teams focused on debugging and code-level visibility, Sentry shines with its developer-friendly UX and ability to quickly pinpoint performance issues and errors. If you need deep, enterprise-grade observability, Datadog and Dynatrace stand out with powerful APM, infrastructure insights, and scalability, though they come with a higher price tag. Finally, if you’re building a custom stack or prefer an open-source solution with full dashboard flexibility, Grafana is the way to go. But before you make a decision, don’t forget to take advantage of free trials or freemium plans. Most of these tools offer free tiers, so testing a selected few in your environment will help you make an informed choice. No matter what platform you opt for, we highly recommend incorporating UptimeRobot as a core layer in your observability stack. Its simplicity, reliability, and fast alerting make it an invaluable tool for tracking service availability and keeping your team proactive. 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