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Datadog vs Prometheus + Grafana
Datadog vs Prometheus + Grafana
A side-by-side look at Datadog (the paid SaaS) and Prometheus + Grafana (the open source alternative). Use this page to decide if the switch fits your team and workflow.
| Datadog | Prometheus + Grafana | |
|---|---|---|
| Tagline | Infrastructure and application monitoring. | Open source metrics collection and dashboards. |
| License | Proprietary SaaS | Apache-2.0 / AGPL-3.0 (Grafana) |
| Pricing | From $15/host/month (Infrastructure). | Free to self-host · optional paid hosted plan |
| Self-host option | No | Yes — difficulty 3/5 |
| Hosted cloud available | Yes (only option) | Yes |
| Desktop apps | Varies by product | Web only |
| Mobile apps | Official apps typically available | None official |
Ad slot — between tables
Best for
The industry-standard metrics stack for infrastructure.
Prometheus + Grafana strengths
- De-facto standard metrics stack.
- Massive exporter ecosystem.
- Grafana dashboards are industry standard.
Prometheus + Grafana weaknesses
- No built-in long-term storage by default.
- Alert routing requires Alertmanager learning.
- Not a turn-key APM — more assembly required.
What's the catch with Datadog?
- Notoriously expensive once volume grows.
- Bills can spike unexpectedly.
- Vendor lock-in with proprietary agents.
Still unsure?
Check the full list of alternatives to Datadog: see Datadog alternatives, or learn more about Prometheus + Grafana on its project page.