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Head-to-head · Runtime Monitoring Software

SolarWinds Observability vs Elastic APM

  • Updated Oct 2026
  • Both researched from official sources
  • 4 checks side by side
Higher score SolarWinds Observability #5 in Runtime Monitoring Software 9.0/10 From $8/mo (annual) · 30-day trial ✓ 3 of 6 features Visit SolarWinds
Elastic APM #8 in Runtime Monitoring Software 8.7/10 Free plan · 14-day trial Free plan✓ 3 of 6 features Visit Elastic

SolarWinds Observability leads on 0 checks, Elastic APM on 1, and 3 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 scoreSolarWinds Observability · 9.0/10
  • Free planonly Elastic APM

SolarWinds Observability scores higher on our rubric for runtime monitoring software: 9.0 against 8.7 out of 10; our editors rank them #5 and #8.

Elastic APM offers free plan; SolarWinds Observability doesn't.

SolarWinds Observability is the better fit for teams needing modular APM and infrastructure monitoring. Elastic APM is the better fit for teams wanting flexible cloud or self-hosted APM.

  • SolarWinds Observability fits best

    Teams needing modular APM and infrastructure monitoring

  • Elastic APM fits best

    Teams wanting flexible cloud or self-hosted APM

Advertiser disclosure: iTechGuides is reader-supported. We may earn a commission when you click some links. How we rank.

Side by side

Feature SolarWinds Observability 9.0/10 Visit ↗ Elastic APM 8.7/10 Visit ↗
At a glance
Editor score 9.0 8.7
Ranking #5 in Runtime Monitoring Software #8 in Runtime Monitoring Software
Best for Teams needing modular APM and infrastructure monitoring Teams wanting flexible cloud or self-hosted APM
Pricing model Paid Free plan + paid
Starting price $8/mo Not published
Free plan — ✓ (best)
Free trial — —
Free trial length 30 days 14 days
Deployment Cloud, Self-hosted Cloud, Self-hosted
Platforms Web, Windows, Linux Web, Linux, Windows, macOS
Support Docs, Community Phone, Docs · 24/7
Built for Small business, Mid-market, Enterprise Small business, Mid-market, Enterprise
Features SolarWinds Observability 3/6 · Elastic APM 3/6
Distributed tracing ✓ ✓
Error tracking Not published Not published
Continuous profiling Not published Not published
Service maps Not published Not published
Real user monitoring ✓ ✓
Log correlation ✓ ✓
Our review
Pros
  • Connects distributed traces with application logs and service context.
  • Adds live code profiling, exception tracking, and service topology maps.
  • Offers cloud and self-hosted deployment across application and infrastructure monitoring.
  • Distributed traces, transaction exploration, and service maps
  • Browser and mobile real-user monitoring
  • Correlates application performance with logs and other telemetry
Cons
  • Application, log, database, and digital-experience modules have separate pricing.
  • The $8-per-node monthly entry price is for Self-Hosted and billed annually.
  • No free plan; trials last 30 days.
  • Hosted plan prices cover Elastic Cloud, not standalone APM
  • Self-managed free plan is limited to Basic features
  • Service maps and APM correlations are listed for Platinum
Our verdict

SolarWinds Observability brings application performance monitoring together with infrastructure, network, database, log, and digital-experience monitoring. It is aimed at IT operations and DevOps teams that need to investigate application…

Read the review →

Elastic APM collects performance data from Elastic APM agents and OpenTelemetry SDKs for analysis in Elastic Observability. Development and operations teams can inspect requests across services, investigate transactions and spans, view…

Read the review →
  1. SolarWinds ObservabilityRuntime Monitoring Software 9.0From $8/mo (annual) · 30-day trial
  2. Elastic APMRuntime Monitoring Software 8.7Free plan · 14-day trial

Strengths and trade-offs

  • SolarWinds Observability — where it wins

    • Connects distributed traces with application logs and service context.
    • Adds live code profiling, exception tracking, and service topology maps.
    • Offers cloud and self-hosted deployment across application and infrastructure monitoring.

    Where it doesn't

    • Application, log, database, and digital-experience modules have separate pricing.
    • The $8-per-node monthly entry price is for Self-Hosted and billed annually.
    • No free plan; trials last 30 days.

  • Elastic APM — where it wins

    • Distributed traces, transaction exploration, and service maps
    • Browser and mobile real-user monitoring
    • Correlates application performance with logs and other telemetry

    Where it doesn't

    • Hosted plan prices cover Elastic Cloud, not standalone APM
    • Self-managed free plan is limited to Basic features
    • Service maps and APM correlations are listed for Platinum
  • SolarWinds Observability9.0/10 · From $8/mo (annual) · 30-day trial

    Modular monitoring for application services and the infrastructure they depend on.

    Visit SolarWindsFull verdict →
  • Elastic APM8.7/10 · Free plan · 14-day trial

    Flexible APM with tracing, service maps, and browser and mobile monitoring.

    Visit ElasticFull verdict →

More comparisons

All runtime monitoring software comparisons → · Full ranking →

Reviewed by iTechGuides Editors · Editorial team · Updated Oct 2026

Last updated · How we research and update