Head-to-head · Llm Monitoring
Datadog LLM Observability vs Arize AX
Datadog LLM Observability leads on 0 checks, Arize AX on 1, and 4 are even. Who comes out ahead on the 5 yes/no, price and count checks where we have data for both products. The editor score weighs everything else too.
Our verdict
- Highest scoreDatadog LLM Observability · 9.1/10
- Lowest starting priceArize AX · $50/mo
- Free planboth
- Most featuresDatadog LLM Observability · 3 of 3
Datadog LLM Observability scores higher on our rubric for llm monitoring: 9.1 against 8.8 out of 10; our editors rank them #2 and #4.
Arize AX is cheaper to start at $50/mo against $160/mo. On deployment options, Arize AX gives you Both where Datadog LLM Observability offers Cloud.
Datadog LLM Observability is the better fit for teams already using Datadog. Arize AX is the better fit for teams needing RAG diagnostics and agent evaluations.
- Datadog LLM Observability fits best
Teams already using Datadog
- Arize AX fits best
Teams needing RAG diagnostics and agent evaluations
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Side by side
| Feature | Datadog LLM Observability 9.1/10 Visit ↗ | Arize AX 8.8/10 Visit ↗ |
|---|---|---|
| At a glance | ||
| Editor score | 9.1 | 8.8 |
| Ranking | #2 in Llm Monitoring | #4 in Llm Monitoring |
| Best for | Teams already using Datadog | Teams needing RAG diagnostics and agent evaluations |
| Pricing model | Free plan + paid | Free plan + paid |
| Starting price | $160/mo | $50/mo (best) |
| Free plan | ✓ | ✓ |
| Free trial | — | — |
| Deployment | Cloud | Cloud, Self-hosted |
| Platforms | Web | Web |
| Support | Docs | Email, Community, Docs |
| Integrations | 10 integrations | 18 integrations |
| Built for | Small business, Mid-market, Enterprise | Small business, Mid-market, Enterprise |
| Features Datadog LLM Observability 3/3 · Arize AX 2/3 | ||
| LLM tracing | ✓ | ✓ |
| Evaluation support | ✓ | ✓ |
| Alerts | ✓ (best) | Not checked yet |
| Specs | ||
| Deployment options | Cloud | Both |
| Trace retention | 15 days | Not checked yet |
| LLM providers | OpenAI, Anthropic, Gemini, Vertex AI, AWS Bedrock | Not checked yet |
| Our review | ||
| Pros |
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| Cons |
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| Our verdict | Datadog LLM Observability, now presented as Agent Observability, helps engineering teams monitor and troubleshoot LLM-powered applications and agents in development and production. It records model calls and workflows at span level,… Read the review → |
Arize AX is an AI engineering platform for teams building and monitoring AI agents and applications. It captures production traces, helps surface recurring issues, and supports quality evaluations and experiments comparing prompts, models,… Read the review → |
Strengths and trade-offs
Datadog LLM Observability — where it wins
- Links agent traces with backend services, infrastructure, and user sessions
- Combines evaluations, datasets, experiments, and annotations
- Free plan includes up to 40K LLM spans per month and full feature access
Where it doesn't
- Cloud-only deployment
- Free and Pro plans both retain traces for 15 days
- Pro costs $160/month with annual billing; extra spans are metered
Arize AX — where it wins
- Combines retrieval tracing with retrieval-quality diagnostics.
- Evaluates LLMs, agents, sessions, and traces using several evaluator types.
- Free and Pro plans include unlimited users and evaluations.
Where it doesn't
- AX Free caps usage at 25,000 trace spans and 1 GB ingestion per month.
- AX Pro includes 30-day retention and caps monthly ingestion at 10 GB.
- Self-hosted deployment is offered only on Enterprise, with custom pricing.
- Datadog LLM Observability9.1/10 · Free plan
LLM tracing and evaluation with Datadog context, plus a free plan and cloud-only deployment.
Visit DatadogFull verdict → - Arize AX8.8/10 · Free plan
A broad monitoring toolkit with RAG diagnostics, agent evaluations, and a free tier.
Visit Arize AXFull verdict →
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All llm monitoring comparisons → · Full ranking →
Reviewed by iTechGuides Editors · Editorial team · Updated Oct 2026
Last updated · How we research and update