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New Relic vs Prometheus

Side-by-side comparison of New Relic and Prometheus. Data-driven analysis for CTOs and engineering leaders.

Technical Profile

New Relic

Scalability
very high
Performance
very high
Learning Curve
moderate
Maturity
mature
Languages: Any via agents

Prometheus

Scalability
high
Performance
high
Learning Curve
moderate
Maturity
mature
Languages: Go, PromQL

When to Use

New Relic

  • +Full-stack observability
  • +Complex applications
  • +Cloud-native architecture
  • +Need unified platform

Avoid New Relic when

  • -Simple monitoring needs
  • -Very cost-sensitive
  • -On-premise only

Prometheus

  • +Kubernetes environments
  • +Metrics-focused monitoring
  • +Time-series data
  • +Cloud-native apps

Avoid Prometheus when

  • -Log-centric monitoring
  • -Long-term storage critical
  • -Simple setups

Compliance & Security

New Relic

SOC 2GDPRHIPAAPCI-DSS

Security Features

EncryptionAudit LogsRBACMFA

Prometheus

SOC 2GDPRHIPAAPCI-DSS

Security Features

EncryptionAudit LogsRBACMFA

Operations

New Relic

Maintenance
low
Monitoring
low
Backup/Recovery
simple
Hosting: cloud

Prometheus

Maintenance
medium
Monitoring
medium
Backup/Recovery
moderate
Hosting: self-hosted, managed

Frequently Asked Questions

How does scalability compare between New Relic and Prometheus?

New Relic offers very-high scalability, while Prometheus offers high scalability. Consider your expected traffic and data volume when choosing.

Which has the easier learning curve: New Relic or Prometheus?

New Relic has a moderate learning curve, while Prometheus has a moderate learning curve. Factor in your team's existing skills and onboarding timeline.

What are the pricing differences between New Relic and Prometheus?

New Relic uses a usage-based pricing model starting at Free tier, then $99/month with a free tier. Prometheus uses a free pricing model with a free tier. Evaluate total cost of ownership including operational overhead.

Which option is better for compliance: New Relic or Prometheus?

New Relic supports SOC 2, GDPR, HIPAA, PCI-DSS. Prometheus supports SOC 2, GDPR, HIPAA, PCI-DSS. Always verify current certifications directly with the vendor.

Need help deciding between New Relic vs Prometheus?

Use our interactive decision tool for a personalized recommendation.