Dynatrace vs New Relic: Observability & APM Comparison (2026)

Dynatrace and New Relic are both observability and APM platforms, but they differ in their pricing models, free offerings, and specific features. Dynatrace offers full platform access, automatic root cause analysis, and live code troubleshooting, while New Relic provides a generous free tier with unlimited free basic users and 100 GB of free data ingest per month.

AI Citation Scorecard

How often each is cited by major AI engines when buyers ask observability & apm questions. Last 90 days across ChatGPT, Perplexity, Gemini, Claude, and Copilot.

Too early to call — probes still building data.
ChatGPT
Dynatrace
Tracking…
No data yet
New Relic
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No data yet
Perplexity
Dynatrace
Tracking…
No data yet
New Relic
Tracking…
No data yet
Gemini
Dynatrace
Tracking…
No data yet
New Relic
Tracking…
No data yet
Claude
Dynatrace
Tracking…
No data yet
New Relic
Tracking…
No data yet
Copilot
Dynatrace
Tracking…
No data yet
New Relic
Tracking…
No data yet
Scale:NoneLowFairStrongExcellent

Probes run hourly; each (engine × query) combo retests every ~3 days.

Pricing

Dynatrace
Starting price
$7/mo
Free tier
dynatrace.com
New Relic
Starting price
Free tier
Yes
newrelic.com

Key Features

Dynatrace
  • Full platform access
  • End-to-end observability
  • Custom metrics
  • Automatic root cause analysis
  • Live code troubleshooting
  • 15 months of retention
  • Integrates with major clouds
  • Continuous actionable insights
New Relic
  • 50+ capabilities in one platform
  • Unlimited free basic users
  • 100 GB of free data ingest/month
  • Data retention of at least 8 days

When to choose Dynatrace

Dynatrace is suitable for users who require comprehensive end-to-end observability with features like automatic root cause analysis and live code troubleshooting, and who can benefit from customizable pricing models for scalable usage.

When to choose New Relic

New Relic is suitable for users who need a free entry point into observability with a substantial free data ingest limit and unlimited basic users, and who prefer a pay-as-you-go model for scaling.

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the key differences in pricing and free offerings between Dynatrace and New Relic?
Dynatrace starts at $7/month and does not offer a free tier. New Relic offers a free tier with unlimited free basic users and 100 GB of free data ingest per month.
What specific features does Dynatrace offer that New Relic does not?
Dynatrace offers full platform access, end-to-end observability, custom metrics, automatic root cause analysis, live code troubleshooting, and 15 months of data retention. Dynatrace also integrates with Visual Studio Code, JetBrains, and Slack.
What specific features does New Relic offer that Dynatrace does not?
New Relic offers over 50 capabilities within one platform, unlimited free basic users, 100 GB of free data ingest per month, and data retention of at least 8 days. New Relic also provides unlimited hosts at no additional cost and Advanced Compute capabilities.
What are the disadvantages of Dynatrace?
Dynatrace's pricing can be complex, and it does not offer a free tier. It is billed by usage, and specific details on discounts are limited.
What are the disadvantages of New Relic?
New Relic's pricing can become complex with increased usage, and there are fees for data ingested beyond the free limit. The Standard edition has limited support, and advanced setups may require customization.

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