Grafana vs Prometheus
Updated June 2026 · A structured head-to-head comparison.
Open-source metrics and alerting.
The verdict
Both Grafana and Prometheus are credible error tracking tools, and the right pick comes down to your priorities.
Choose Grafana if you want broader platform coverage. Open-source dashboards and observability.
Prometheus — Open-source metrics and alerting.
Grafana vs Prometheus: side by side
| Dimension | Grafana | Prometheus |
|---|---|---|
| Starting price | Free – $19/mo | Free |
| Free plan | Yes | Yes |
| Pricing model | Freemium | Open source |
| Best for | Devops Teams, Developers | Devops Teams, Developers |
| Platforms | Web, Self Hosted, ApiWinner | Self Hosted |
| Rating | 4.6/5 | 4.6/5 |
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
Prometheus key facts
- Vendor
- CNCF
- Pricing
- Open source — Free
- Free tier
- Yes
- Platforms
- Self Hosted
- Best for
- Devops Teams, Developers
- Editor rating
- 4.6 / 5
- Founded
- 2012
- Headquarters
- Open source (CNCF)
Frequently asked questions
Is Grafana better than Prometheus?
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 Prometheus cheaper?
Grafana is the more affordable of the two to get started, at free – $19/mo. Grafana starts at free – $19/mo; Prometheus starts at free.
Can Grafana replace Prometheus?
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.