Google Cloud Logging
Google Cloud Logging: A capable Google Cloud logging service with usage-based pricing and broad routing options. Ranked #3 of 109 in Log Management Software by our editors (9.2/10); pricing: Free plan; best for google Cloud environments.
At a glance
- Editor score9.2 / 10
- PricingFree plan
- Best forGoogle Cloud environments
- Free planYes
- Paid from$0.01/GB/mo
- Facts checked24 Sep 2026
Where it wins
- First 50 GiB per project per month is free
- SQL analysis, live tail, metrics, and alerting are included
- Routes logs to BigQuery, Cloud Storage, Pub/Sub, and more
Where it doesn't
- Cloud-only deployment limits fit for self-managed environments
- Usage-based billing requires monitoring log ingestion
- Storage includes up to 30 days in log buckets
Our verdict on Google Cloud Logging
Google Cloud Logging is a managed service for collecting, storing, searching, analyzing, monitoring, and alerting on log data. It is designed for teams operating Google Cloud resources, while also accepting logs from applications, on-premises systems, and other cloud providers. Logs Explorer supports searching, sorting, querying, and analysis, and the service can create log-based metrics and alerting policies from collected entries.
Pricing follows usage rather than conventional subscription tiers. The Usage-based plan charges $0.50 per GiB for streaming logs into storage, with the first 50 GiB per project per month free. The plan includes up to 30 days of storage in log buckets and does not add a separate charge for querying or analyzing log data. Regional log buckets provide configurable retention, while Log Router can send filtered log streams to Cloud Storage, BigQuery, Pub/Sub, custom log buckets, and other supported destinations.
Its strongest fit is a Google Cloud environment that benefits from close connections to Cloud Monitoring, Error Reporting, Cloud Trace, Google Kubernetes Engine, Compute Engine, Cloud Run, and App Engine. SQL-based Log Analytics, structured JSON logging, configurable parsers, live tailing, and alerting support investigation and operational monitoring. The tradeoff is deployment scope: Cloud Logging is cloud-only, and usage-based ingestion means teams need to watch GiB consumption as log volume grows. Choose it for Google Cloud-centered operations and connected workloads; consider a different category option if self-managed deployment is a requirement.
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Google Cloud Logging pricing
All 3 Google Cloud Logging plans and prices →
Google Cloud Logging fact sheet
| Free plan | Yes |
|---|---|
| Paid from | $0.01/GB/mo |
| Included ingestion | Not verified |
| Log retention | 30 days |
| Log pipelines | Yes |
| Archive export | Yes |
| Live log tailing | Yes |
| Deployment options | Cloud |
| Structured log parsing | Not verified |
| Deployment | Cloud |
| Platforms | Web |
| Support | Docs, Community |
| Built for | Small business, Mid-market, Enterprise (editorial estimate) |
| Integrations | 4 integrations: Cloud Monitoring, Cloud Storage, BigQuery, Pub/Sub |
| Pricing | Free plan (source) |
| Website | cloud.google.com |
| Facts checked | 24 Sep 2026 |
Google Cloud Logging integrations
Google Cloud Logging lists 4 integrations on its own site.
- Cloud Monitoring
- Cloud Storage
- BigQuery
- Pub/Sub
Alternatives to Google Cloud Logging
- ELK StackA flexible open-source log stack with broad deployment options and layered pricing.9.4
- Splunk EnterpriseA broad, self-managed log analytics platform for large enterprises with sales-led pricing.9.3
- Amazon CloudWatch LogsA broad AWS-native log service with strong routing and analysis, priced by usage rather than fixed plans.9.1
See all Google Cloud Logging alternatives →
Google Cloud Logging vs the competition
- Google Cloud Logging vs ELK Stack
- Google Cloud Logging vs Splunk Enterprise
- Google Cloud Logging vs Amazon CloudWatch Logs
- Google Cloud Logging vs Elastic Observability
- Google Cloud Logging vs Sumo Logic
- Google Cloud Logging vs Oracle Cloud Infrastructure Logging
Compare Google Cloud Logging with any tool side by side →
Also Ranked In
Google Cloud Logging is ranked in 3 of our directories.
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Reviewed by iTechGuides Editors · Editorial team · Updated Oct 2026
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