OpenObserve is an open-source observability platform for logs, metrics, and traces with low storage costs. Compare features, pricing, and alternatives.
Category
DevOps
Pricing
Freemium, from Free (self-hosted open source); Cloud from $0.50/GB ingested
Verified
Not yet
Last updated
July 19, 2026
Founded
2022
Headquarters
Menlo Park, California, USA
Free PlanWeb AppFree TrialAPIAIFreemium
Overview
OpenObserve is an open-source, cloud-native observability platform unifying logs, metrics, traces, real user monitoring, session replay, and error tracking, founded in 2022 and headquartered in Menlo Park, California.
Its main pitch is dramatically lower storage costs than incumbent tools like Elasticsearch and Datadog, achieved through a compression-focused architecture built on object storage that eliminates separate database management.
Key Features
OpenObserve unifies logs, metrics, traces, RUM, session replay, and error tracking in a single platform queryable with both SQL and PromQL.
AI-powered features, including an AI SRE agent for incident management and an AI assistant, are currently offered free during a preview period, alongside enterprise features like SSO, RBAC, federated search, and audit trails.
Pricing
OpenObserve offers a perpetually free, self-hosted open-source edition, and a self-hosted Enterprise edition that remains free for up to 50 GB of daily ingestion.
Its Cloud Professional tier is pay-as-you-go at 0.50 dollars per GB ingested and 0.01 dollars per GB queried, with unlimited users and no per-seat charges, while a custom-priced Cloud Enterprise tier adds extended retention, AI features, and premium support.
Key Features
Unified observability data — Combines logs, metrics, traces, real user monitoring, session replay, and error tracking in one platform.
Low-cost storage architecture — Built-in compression on object storage delivers up to 140x lower storage costs compared to Elasticsearch.
SQL and PromQL querying — Query observability data using familiar SQL or PromQL syntax.
AI SRE agent — AI-assisted incident management agent to accelerate root-cause analysis, free during preview.
Zero database management — Runs on object storage without requiring separate database administration.
Data pipelines and redaction — Enterprise pipelines for data transformation and sensitive data redaction.
SSO, RBAC, and audit trail — Enterprise-grade access control, single sign-on, and audit logging for compliance-driven teams.
Pros & Cons
Pros
Significantly lower storage costs than Elasticsearch or Datadog
Unifies logs, metrics, traces, and RUM in a single platform
Generous free self-hosted Enterprise tier up to 50GB per day
Backed by a strong Series A and adoption from Fortune 100 companies
Simple, transparent cloud pricing with no per-seat charges
Cons
Younger platform with a less mature ecosystem than Elastic or Datadog
Advanced AI features are still in preview
Enterprise features like SSO and audit trail require a paid tier at scale
Smaller third-party integration marketplace than established APM vendors
Self-Hosted Enterprise Free up to 50GB/day ingestion N/A
Cloud Professional $0.50/GB ingestion, $0.01/GB query Pay as you go
Cloud Enterprise Custom Custom
Frequently Asked Questions
Is OpenObserve free?
Yes, the self-hosted open-source edition is free perpetually, and the self-hosted Enterprise edition is free for up to 50GB of daily ingestion.
How does OpenObserve compare to Elasticsearch or Datadog?
OpenObserve claims up to 140x lower storage costs than Elasticsearch by using a compression-focused architecture on object storage, while also unifying logs, metrics, and traces in one platform.
What data types does OpenObserve support?
It supports logs, metrics, traces, real user monitoring, session replay, and error tracking in a single platform.
Does OpenObserve require a separate database?
No, OpenObserve runs on object storage and does not require separate database management.
What is OpenObserve's AI SRE agent?
It is an AI-powered incident management feature that helps accelerate root-cause analysis, currently offered free during a preview period.
Can I self-host OpenObserve at large scale?
Yes, though the free self-hosted Enterprise tier covers up to 50GB per day; beyond that, pricing requires contacting OpenObserve's sales team.
How much does OpenObserve Cloud cost?
Cloud Professional is pay-as-you-go at $0.50 per GB ingested and $0.01 per GB queried, with a 30 percent discount for annual commitments; Cloud Enterprise is custom-priced.