Grafana vs Grafana Tempo
Updated June 2026 · A structured head-to-head comparison.
High-scale distributed tracing backend
The verdict
Both Grafana and Grafana Tempo are credible error tracking tools, and the right pick comes down to your priorities.
Choose Grafana if you want a higher overall rating (4.6/5). Open-source dashboards and observability.
Grafana Tempo — High-scale distributed tracing backend
Grafana vs Grafana Tempo: side by side
| Dimension | Grafana | Grafana Tempo |
|---|---|---|
| Starting price | Free – $19/mo | Free |
| Free plan | Yes | Yes |
| Pricing model | Freemium | Open source |
| Best for | Devops Teams, Developers | Sre, Devops |
| Platforms | Web, Self Hosted, Api | Self Hosted, Api |
| Rating | 4.6/5Winner | 4.3/5 |
Grafana key facts
- Vendor
- Grafana Labs
- Pricing
- Freemium — Free – $19/mo
- Free tier
- Yes
- Platforms
- Web, Self Hosted, Api
- Best for
- Devops Teams, Developers
- Editor rating
- 4.6 / 5
- Founded
- 2014
- Headquarters
- New York, NY, USA
Grafana Tempo key facts
- Vendor
- Grafana Labs
- Pricing
- Open source — Free
- Free tier
- Yes
- Platforms
- Self Hosted, Api
- Best for
- Sre, Devops
- Editor rating
- 4.3 / 5
- Founded
- 2020
- Headquarters
- New York, USA
Frequently asked questions
Is Grafana better than Grafana Tempo?
Neither is universally better — Grafana edges ahead on overall rating, but the best choice depends on price, platforms, and your use case. See the side-by-side table above.
Is Grafana or Grafana Tempo cheaper?
Grafana is the more affordable of the two to get started, at free – $19/mo. Grafana starts at free – $19/mo; Grafana Tempo starts at free.
Can Grafana replace Grafana Tempo?
Yes for most teams — both are error tracking tools with heavily overlapping features. The main trade-offs are pricing and platform support, covered in the comparison above.