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Head-to-head · eBPF Observability Tools

DeepFlow vs ApexData

  • Updated Oct 2026
  • Both researched from official sources
  • 4 checks side by side
Higher score DeepFlow #2 in eBPF Observability Tools 9.1/10 Open source ✓ 4 of 4 features Visit DeepFlow
ApexData #6 in eBPF Observability Tools 8.7/10 Pricing on request ✓ 3 of 4 features Visit ApexData

DeepFlow leads on 0 checks, ApexData on 0, and 4 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 scoreDeepFlow · 9.1/10
  • Most featuresDeepFlow · 4 of 4

DeepFlow scores higher on our rubric for ebpf observability tools: 9.1 against 8.7 out of 10; our editors rank them #2 and #6.

DeepFlow is the better fit for open-source full-stack observability. ApexData is the better fit for application dependency and SQL analysis.

  • DeepFlow fits best

    Open-source full-stack observability

  • ApexData fits best

    Application dependency and SQL analysis

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Side by side

Feature DeepFlow 9.1/10 Visit ↗ ApexData 8.7/10 Visit ↗
At a glance
Editor score 9.1 8.7
Ranking #2 in eBPF Observability Tools #6 in eBPF Observability Tools
Best for Open-source full-stack observability Application dependency and SQL analysis
Pricing model Free Paid
Starting price Open source Pricing on request
Free plan Not checked yet Not checked yet
Free trial — —
Deployment Cloud, Self-hosted Cloud, Self-hosted
Platforms Web, Windows, Linux, Android Web
Integrations 6 integrations 7 integrations
Built for Small business, Mid-market, Enterprise Small business, Mid-market, Enterprise
Features DeepFlow 4/4 · ApexData 3/4
Kubernetes support ✓ ✓
Network visibility ✓ ✓
Application tracing ✓ ✓
Kernel profiling ✓ (best) Not checked yet
Specs
Deployment model Hybrid Hybrid
Supported operating systems Linux, Windows, Android Linux
Our review
Pros
  • Zero-instrumentation tracing with universal service maps
  • Continuous on-CPU and off-CPU profiling
  • Integrations with Prometheus, OpenTelemetry, and Grafana
  • Maps application dependencies and discovers HTTP and gRPC endpoints automatically
  • Captures SQL and identifies slow queries, missing indexes, and N+1 patterns
  • Supports SaaS, on-premise, and air-gapped deployment models
Cons
  • Covers a wide scope rather than a narrowly focused workflow
  • Cloud Edition is described as testing or beta
  • Requires Kubernetes or infrastructure observability needs to justify its breadth
  • Contact-sales pricing makes upfront cost comparison harder
  • Supports Linux environments rather than a broader operating-system range
  • Its feature set is most relevant to modern applications and Kubernetes environments
Our verdict

DeepFlow is an open-source observability platform from Yunshan Networks for cloud infrastructure and cloud-native applications. It uses eBPF and related technologies to collect application metrics, request logs, distributed traces, network…

Read the review →

ApexData is an eBPF-based observability platform for development and reliability teams operating modern applications, particularly in Kubernetes environments. It provides real-time application dependency mapping, automatic HTTP and gRPC…

Read the review →
  1. DeepFloweBPF Observability Tools 9.1Open source
  2. ApexDataeBPF Observability Tools 8.7Pricing on request

Strengths and trade-offs

  • DeepFlow — where it wins

    • Zero-instrumentation tracing with universal service maps
    • Continuous on-CPU and off-CPU profiling
    • Integrations with Prometheus, OpenTelemetry, and Grafana

    Where it doesn't

    • Covers a wide scope rather than a narrowly focused workflow
    • Cloud Edition is described as testing or beta
    • Requires Kubernetes or infrastructure observability needs to justify its breadth

  • ApexData — where it wins

    • Maps application dependencies and discovers HTTP and gRPC endpoints automatically
    • Captures SQL and identifies slow queries, missing indexes, and N+1 patterns
    • Supports SaaS, on-premise, and air-gapped deployment models

    Where it doesn't

    • Contact-sales pricing makes upfront cost comparison harder
    • Supports Linux environments rather than a broader operating-system range
    • Its feature set is most relevant to modern applications and Kubernetes environments

More comparisons

All eBPF observability tools comparisons → · Full ranking →

Reviewed by iTechGuides Editors · Editorial team · Updated Oct 2026

Last updated · How we research and update