Apache SkyWalking vs Uptrace

Apache SkyWalking9.4Visit Uptrace8.8Visit

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

vs

Uptrace #5 in Distributed Tracing Tools 8.8/10 Free plan · 14-day trial Free planFree trial✓ 0 of 3 features Visit Uptrace

• Apache SkyWalking fits best

  Broad, self-hosted observability teams

• Uptrace fits best

  Flexible hybrid tracing with rich integrations

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	Apache SkyWalking 9.4/10 Visit ↗	Uptrace 8.8/10 Visit ↗
At a glance
Editor score	9.4	8.8
Ranking	#1 in Distributed Tracing Tools	#5 in Distributed Tracing Tools
Best for	Broad, self-hosted observability teams	Flexible hybrid tracing with rich integrations
Pricing model	Free	Free plan + paid
Starting price	Free plan	$39/mo
Free plan	✓	✓
Free trial	—	14 days
Deployment	Self-hosted	Cloud, Self-hosted
Platforms	Web, Windows, Linux	Web
Support	Community, Docs	Email, Community, Docs
Integrations	7 integrations	5 integrations
Built for	Small business, Mid-market, Enterprise	Solo, Small business, Mid-market, Enterprise
Features Apache SkyWalking 0/3 · Uptrace 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.	Trace waterfalls, dependency maps, and distributed transaction tracing OpenTelemetry, PromQL, logs, metrics, and broad integrations Managed cloud, free self-hosting, and commercial on-premises options
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.	Cloud costs increase with telemetry volume Commercial on-premises deployments require a paid edition Its broad observability scope may exceed tracing-only needs
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 →	Uptrace is an OpenTelemetry-native application performance monitoring and observability platform for engineering and DevOps teams. It collects traces, metrics, and logs, then combines distributed tracing, trace waterfalls, service… 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.

• Uptrace — where it wins

  • Trace waterfalls, dependency maps, and distributed transaction tracing
  • OpenTelemetry, PromQL, logs, metrics, and broad integrations
  • Managed cloud, free self-hosting, and commercial on-premises options

  Where it doesn't

  • Cloud costs increase with telemetry volume
  • Commercial on-premises deployments require a paid edition
  • Its broad observability scope may exceed tracing-only needs

• Apache SkyWalking9.4/10 · Free plan

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

  Visit siteFull verdict →
• Uptrace8.8/10 · Free plan · 14-day trial

  A flexible tracing platform with broad telemetry, dashboard, alerting, and notification support.

  Visit UptraceFull verdict →