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Head-to-head · Database Monitoring

SolarWinds SQL Sentry vs SolarWinds Database Observability

  • Updated Oct 2026
  • Both researched from official sources
  • 4 checks side by side
Higher score SolarWinds SQL Sentry #5 in Database Monitoring 8.7/10 Pricing on request · 14-day trial Free trial✓ 3 of 3 features Visit SolarWinds
SolarWinds Database Observability #22 in Database Monitoring 6.9/10 From $70/mo (annual) · 30-day trial Free trial✓ 3 of 3 features Visit SolarWinds

SolarWinds SQL Sentry leads on 0 checks, SolarWinds Database Observability 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 scoreSolarWinds SQL Sentry · 8.7/10
  • Free trialboth

SolarWinds SQL Sentry scores higher on our rubric for database monitoring: 8.7 against 6.9 out of 10; our editors rank them #5 and #22.

On deployment model, SolarWinds Database Observability gives you Hybrid where SolarWinds SQL Sentry offers Self-hosted.

SolarWinds SQL Sentry is the better fit for SQL Server performance specialists. SolarWinds Database Observability is the better fit for teams wanting priced database observability.

  • SolarWinds SQL Sentry fits best

    SQL Server performance specialists

  • SolarWinds Database Observability fits best

    Teams wanting priced database observability

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Side by side

Feature SolarWinds SQL Sentry 8.7/10 Visit ↗ SolarWinds Database Observability 6.9/10 Visit ↗
At a glance
Editor score 8.7 6.9
Ranking #5 in Database Monitoring #22 in Database Monitoring
Best for SQL Server performance specialists Teams wanting priced database observability
Pricing model Paid Paid
Starting price Pricing on request · 14-day trial $70/mo
Free plan — —
Free trial 14 days 30 days
Free trial length 14 days 30 days
Deployment Self-hosted Cloud
Platforms Web, Windows Web
Features SolarWinds SQL Sentry 3/3 · SolarWinds Database Observability 3/3
Query profiling ✓ ✓
Wait and lock analysis ✓ ✓
Execution plans ✓ ✓
Specs
Supported databases SQL Server; Azure SQL Database; Azure SQL Managed Instance; SQL Server Analysis Services; Azure Synapse Analytics MongoDB, MySQL, Oracle, PostgreSQL, Redis, SAP HANA, SQL Server
Deployment model Self-hosted Hybrid
Data retention Not checked yet Not checked yet
Our review
Pros
  • Detailed top-query, waits, and execution-plan analysis
  • Blocking and deadlock analysis with visualization
  • Historical monitoring, alerting, and storage forecasting
  • Real-time and historical performance monitoring
  • Query profiling with raw and visual explain plans
  • Blocking, wait, and lock analysis for SQL Server
Cons
  • Coverage centers on Microsoft database platforms
  • Pricing uses a sales-quote model
  • The free license is limited to the SQL Sentry database host
  • No free plan
  • Starts at $70 per database instance per month
  • Agent-based telemetry collection is required
Our verdict

SolarWinds SQL Sentry is a database performance monitoring and analysis product for professionals managing SQL Server, Azure SQL Database, SQL Server Analysis Services, Amazon RDS for SQL Server, and related infrastructure. It supports…

Read the review →

SolarWinds Database Observability is a web and API-based monitoring service for teams responsible for database health across on-premises, cloud, and hybrid environments. It covers real-time and historical performance metrics, custom…

Read the review →
  1. SolarWinds SQL SentryDatabase Monitoring 8.7Pricing on request · 14-day trial
  2. SolarWinds Database ObservabilityDatabase Monitoring 6.9From $70/mo (annual) · 30-day trial

Strengths and trade-offs

  • SolarWinds SQL Sentry — where it wins

    • Detailed top-query, waits, and execution-plan analysis
    • Blocking and deadlock analysis with visualization
    • Historical monitoring, alerting, and storage forecasting

    Where it doesn't

    • Coverage centers on Microsoft database platforms
    • Pricing uses a sales-quote model
    • The free license is limited to the SQL Sentry database host

  • SolarWinds Database Observability — where it wins

    • Real-time and historical performance monitoring
    • Query profiling with raw and visual explain plans
    • Blocking, wait, and lock analysis for SQL Server

    Where it doesn't

    • No free plan
    • Starts at $70 per database instance per month
    • Agent-based telemetry collection is required
  • SolarWinds SQL Sentry8.7/10 · Pricing on request · 14-day trial

    A deep SQL Server monitoring suite with strong query analysis and Microsoft-platform focus.

    Visit SolarWindsFull verdict →
  • SolarWinds Database Observability6.9/10 · From $70/mo (annual) · 30-day trial

    A paid observability suite with deep query diagnostics for cloud and self-hosted databases.

    Visit SolarWindsFull verdict →

More comparisons

All database monitoring comparisons → · Full ranking →

Reviewed by iTechGuides Editors · Editorial team · Updated Oct 2026

Last updated · How we research and update