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Head-to-head · eBPF Observability Tools

DeepFlow vs groundcover

  • Updated Oct 2026
  • Both researched from official sources
  • 5 checks side by side
Higher score DeepFlow #2 in eBPF Observability Tools 9.1/10 Open source ✓ 4 of 4 features Visit DeepFlow
groundcover #3 in eBPF Observability Tools 9.0/10 Free plan Free plan✓ 0 of 4 features Visit groundcover

DeepFlow leads on 0 checks, groundcover on 0, and 5 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 scoreDeepFlow · 9.1/10
  • Free planonly groundcover
  • Most featuresDeepFlow · 4 of 4

DeepFlow scores higher on our rubric for ebpf observability tools: 9.1 against 9.0 out of 10; our editors rank them #2 and #3.

DeepFlow is the better fit for open-source full-stack observability. groundcover is the better fit for teams needing traces, RUM, and correlations.

  • DeepFlow fits best

    Open-source full-stack observability

  • groundcover fits best

    Teams needing traces, RUM, and correlations

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 DeepFlow 9.1/10 Visit ↗ groundcover 9.0/10 Visit ↗
At a glance
Editor score 9.1 9.0
Ranking #2 in eBPF Observability Tools #3 in eBPF Observability Tools
Best for Open-source full-stack observability Teams needing traces, RUM, and correlations
Pricing model Free Free plan + paid
Starting price Open source $30/unit/mo
Free plan Not checked yet ✓ (best)
Free trial — —
Deployment Cloud, Self-hosted Cloud, Self-hosted
Platforms Web, Windows, Linux, Android Web
Support Email, Phone, Docs Community
Integrations 6 integrations 8 integrations
Built for Small business, Mid-market, Enterprise Small business, Mid-market, Enterprise
Features DeepFlow 4/4 · groundcover 0/4
Kubernetes support ✓ (best) Not checked yet
Network visibility ✓ (best) Not checked yet
Application tracing ✓ (best) Not checked yet
Kernel profiling ✓ (best) Not checked yet
Specs
Deployment model Hybrid Hybrid
Supported operating systems Linux, Windows, Android Not checked yet
Our review
Pros
  • Zero-instrumentation tracing with universal service maps
  • Continuous on-CPU and off-CPU profiling
  • Integrations with Prometheus, OpenTelemetry, and Grafana
  • Collects application telemetry without code changes
  • Correlates traces with logs, metrics, and infrastructure events
  • Combines distributed tracing, dependency mapping, and RUM
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
  • Free plan includes only 12-hour data retention
  • RBAC support is available only on the Enterprise plan
  • Self-hosted deployment is priced at $50 per host monthly
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 →

groundcover is a cloud-native observability platform for engineering teams operating Kubernetes and other cloud environments. Its eBPF sensor collects application metrics and traces without application code changes, covering API calls,…

Read the review →
  1. DeepFloweBPF Observability Tools 9.1Open source
  2. groundcovereBPF Observability Tools 9.0Free plan

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

  • groundcover — where it wins

    • Collects application telemetry without code changes
    • Correlates traces with logs, metrics, and infrastructure events
    • Combines distributed tracing, dependency mapping, and RUM

    Where it doesn't

    • Free plan includes only 12-hour data retention
    • RBAC support is available only on the Enterprise plan
    • Self-hosted deployment is priced at $50 per host monthly

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