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Head-to-head · Debugging Software

Airbrake vs Lightrun

  • Updated Oct 2026
  • Both researched from official sources
  • 4 checks side by side
Higher score Airbrake #2 in Debugging Software 8.8/10 Free plan · 30-day trial Free planFree trial✓ 0 of 5 features Visit Airbrake
Lightrun #6 in Debugging Software 8.4/10 Pricing on request ✓ 3 of 5 features Visit Lightrun

Airbrake leads on 1 check, Lightrun on 0, and 3 are even. Who comes out ahead on the 4 yes/no, price and count checks where we have data for both products. The editor score weighs everything else too.

Our verdict

  • Highest scoreAirbrake · 8.8/10
  • Free planonly Airbrake
  • Free trialonly Airbrake
  • Most featuresLightrun · 3 of 5

Airbrake scores higher on our rubric for debugging software: 8.8 against 8.4 out of 10; our editors rank them #2 and #6.

Airbrake offers free plan; Lightrun doesn't.

Airbrake is the better fit for teams tracking application errors and releases. Lightrun is the better fit for teams debugging live services without redeploys.

  • Airbrake fits best

    Teams tracking application errors and releases

  • Lightrun fits best

    Teams debugging live services without redeploys

Advertiser disclosure: iTechGuides is reader-supported. Vendors can pay for top positions in our rankings and for a place on other products' pages, and we may earn a commission when you click some links. Bought places stand at the number bought; this page and our disclosure say so. Paying vendors may get a fuller, more detailed review from our editors, and that review can change their score. How we rank.

Side by side

Feature Airbrake 8.8/10 Visit ↗ Lightrun 8.4/10 Visit ↗
At a glance
Editor score 8.8 8.4
Ranking #2 in Debugging Software #6 in Debugging Software
Best for Teams tracking application errors and releases Teams debugging live services without redeploys
Pricing model Free plan + paid Paid
Starting price $17/mo —
Free plan ✓ (best) —
Free trial 30 days —
Deployment Cloud, Mobile Cloud, Self-hosted
Platforms Web, iOS, Android Web
Integrations 12 integrations 100+ integrations
Features Airbrake 0/5 · Lightrun 3/5
Remote debugging Not checked yet ✓ (best)
Browser debugging Not checked yet Not checked yet
Mobile debugging Not checked yet Not checked yet
Profiling tools Not checked yet ✓ (best)
IDE integration Not checked yet ✓ (best)
Specs
Concurrent sessions Not checked yet Not checked yet
Supported languages Not checked yet Java, JavaScript, TypeScript, Python, .NET
Our review
Pros
  • Groups errors with backtraces, breadcrumbs and real-time alerts
  • Tracks deployments and supports source maps and performance monitoring
  • Offers unlimited projects and integrations on the Dev + errors plan
  • Add dynamic logs and capture snapshots from running applications.
  • Debug across Kubernetes pods and instances, with metrics and traces.
  • Connect IDE plugins and APIs to observability tools and MCP workflows.
Cons
  • Dev + errors is limited to 1 user and 1 team
  • Unlimited users and teams require higher-priced plans
  • Paid plan prices shown are billed annually
  • Runtime Context pricing is custom and requires contacting sales.
  • There is no free plan for the Runtime Context debugging product.
  • On-prem deployment and custom SSO integrations are Enterprise plan features.
Our verdict

Airbrake is a hosted error and performance monitoring service for developers and technical teams. It captures application errors, groups related issues and sends real-time alerts, with context such as backtraces, breadcrumbs, affected…

Read the review →

Lightrun gives engineering teams a way to investigate running applications by adding dynamic logs, snapshots, metrics and traces at runtime, without redeploying. Developers can also capture variables and stack frames, evaluate expressions…

Read the review →
  1. AirbrakeDebugging Software 8.8Free plan · 30-day trial
  2. LightrunDebugging Software 8.4Pricing on request

Strengths and trade-offs

  • Airbrake — where it wins

    • Groups errors with backtraces, breadcrumbs and real-time alerts
    • Tracks deployments and supports source maps and performance monitoring
    • Offers unlimited projects and integrations on the Dev + errors plan

    Where it doesn't

    • Dev + errors is limited to 1 user and 1 team
    • Unlimited users and teams require higher-priced plans
    • Paid plan prices shown are billed annually

  • Lightrun — where it wins

    • Add dynamic logs and capture snapshots from running applications.
    • Debug across Kubernetes pods and instances, with metrics and traces.
    • Connect IDE plugins and APIs to observability tools and MCP workflows.

    Where it doesn't

    • Runtime Context pricing is custom and requires contacting sales.
    • There is no free plan for the Runtime Context debugging product.
    • On-prem deployment and custom SSO integrations are Enterprise plan features.
  • Airbrake8.8/10 · Free plan · 30-day trial

    Tracks application errors and releases, with a free plan and paid tiers from $17/month annually.

    Visit AirbrakeFull verdict →
  • Lightrun8.4/10 · Pricing on request

    Add runtime logs, snapshots, metrics and traces to investigate live applications without redeploying.

    Visit LightrunFull verdict →

More comparisons

All debugging software comparisons → · Full ranking →

Reviewed by iTechGuides Editors · Editorial team · Updated Oct 2026

Last updated · How we research and update