Apache SkyWalking vs SigNoz

Apache SkyWalking9.4Visit SigNoz9.1Visit

Higher score Apache SkyWalking #1 in Distributed Tracing Tools 9.4/10 Free plan Free plan✓ 0 of 3 features Visit site

vs

SigNoz #3 in Distributed Tracing Tools 9.1/10 Free plan · 30-day trial Free planFree trial✓ 0 of 3 features Visit SigNoz

• Apache SkyWalking fits best

  Broad, self-hosted observability teams

• SigNoz fits best

  Full-stack tracing on a modest budget

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Side by side

Feature	Apache SkyWalking 9.4/10 Visit ↗	SigNoz 9.1/10 Visit ↗
At a glance
Editor score	9.4	9.1
Ranking	#1 in Distributed Tracing Tools	#3 in Distributed Tracing Tools
Best for	Broad, self-hosted observability teams	Full-stack tracing on a modest budget
Pricing model	Free	Free plan + paid
Starting price	Free plan	$49/mo
Free plan	✓	✓
Free trial	—	30 days
Deployment	Self-hosted	Cloud, Self-hosted
Platforms	Web, Windows, Linux	Web
Support	Community, Docs	Live chat, Email, Community
Integrations	7 integrations	45+ integrations
Built for	Small business, Mid-market, Enterprise	Solo, Small business, Mid-market, Enterprise
Features Apache SkyWalking 0/3 · SigNoz 0/3
OpenTelemetry support	Not checked yet	Not checked yet
Service map	Not checked yet	Not checked yet
Tail-based sampling	Not checked yet	Not checked yet
Specs
Trace retention	Not checked yet	Not checked yet
Deployment model	Self_hosted	Hybrid
Pricing basis	Not checked yet	Not checked yet
Our review
Pros	Combines tracing, topology maps, metrics, logs, profiling, and browser monitoring. Connects OpenTelemetry, Zipkin, Prometheus, Telegraf, and Zabbix telemetry. Supports Docker, Kubernetes, service meshes, eBPF, and multiple storage systems.	Combines traces, logs, metrics, alerts, and infrastructure visibility OpenTelemetry support with flamegraphs, dependency maps, and trace funnels Unlimited teammates and hosts on the $49 monthly Teams plan
Cons	Self-hosted deployment requires teams to operate the OAP backend and web interfaces. Its broad scope may exceed the needs of teams seeking tracing only. A hosted SaaS workflow is not the product's deployment model.	Teams pricing grows with telemetry ingestion volume Community Edition requires customer-managed deployment Advanced enterprise support and security features are reserved for Enterprise
Our verdict	Apache SkyWalking is an open-source application performance monitoring and observability platform for distributed, microservices, cloud-native, and container-based applications. It is aimed at teams that want to run their own observability… Read the review →	SigNoz is an open-source observability platform for engineering teams monitoring cloud-native applications. It brings application performance monitoring, distributed tracing, logs, metrics, dashboards, alerts, and infrastructure visibility… Read the review →

Strengths and trade-offs

• Apache SkyWalking — where it wins

  • Combines tracing, topology maps, metrics, logs, profiling, and browser monitoring.
  • Connects OpenTelemetry, Zipkin, Prometheus, Telegraf, and Zabbix telemetry.
  • Supports Docker, Kubernetes, service meshes, eBPF, and multiple storage systems.

  Where it doesn't

  • Self-hosted deployment requires teams to operate the OAP backend and web interfaces.
  • Its broad scope may exceed the needs of teams seeking tracing only.
  • A hosted SaaS workflow is not the product's deployment model.

• SigNoz — where it wins

  • Combines traces, logs, metrics, alerts, and infrastructure visibility
  • OpenTelemetry support with flamegraphs, dependency maps, and trace funnels
  • Unlimited teammates and hosts on the $49 monthly Teams plan

  Where it doesn't

  • Teams pricing grows with telemetry ingestion volume
  • Community Edition requires customer-managed deployment
  • Advanced enterprise support and security features are reserved for Enterprise

• Apache SkyWalking9.4/10 · Free plan

  A broad self-hosted stack that connects traces, topology, metrics, logs, profiles, and alerts.

  Visit siteFull verdict →
• SigNoz9.1/10 · Free plan · 30-day trial

  Full-stack tracing and observability with a free edition and $49 monthly Teams tier.

  Visit SigNozFull verdict →