Grafana Tempo
Grafana Tempo: A self-hosted Tempo backend for Grafana-centered tracing and trace analysis. Ranked #4 of 32 in Distributed Tracing Tools by our editors (9.0/10); pricing: Free plan; best for grafana-based trace storage and analysis.
At a glance
- Editor score9.0 / 10
- PricingFree plan
- Best forGrafana-based trace storage and analysis
- Free planYes
- Paid fromFree
- OpenTelemetry supportYes
- Founded2014 · New York, New York, USA
- Facts checked20 Sep 2026
Where it wins
- OpenTelemetry, Jaeger, and Zipkin ingestion support
- TraceQL, service graphs, and span metrics in one backend
- Object-storage retention with monolithic or microservices deployment
Where it doesn't
- Self-managed deployment requires Linux or API-based infrastructure
- Grafana Cloud Traces is a separate managed offering
- Platform coverage is narrower than some distributed tracing tools
Our verdict on Grafana Tempo
Grafana Tempo is an open-source distributed tracing backend for teams operating microservices and other distributed systems. It ingests trace data through OpenTelemetry, Jaeger, and Zipkin protocols, stores traces in object storage, and supports TraceQL searches. Teams already working with Grafana can use Tempo for trace visualization, while its self-hosted deployment model fits organizations that want control over their tracing infrastructure.
Its strongest advantage is ecosystem fit. Tempo connects with Grafana, Grafana Mimir, Prometheus, Grafana Loki, OpenTelemetry, Jaeger, Zipkin, Kafka, Amazon S3, Google Cloud Storage, and Microsoft Azure Blob Storage. It can generate span metrics and service graphs, giving teams additional ways to examine distributed-system behavior beyond individual traces. Tail-based sampling is available through Alloy or the OpenTelemetry Collector, and deployments can use monolithic or microservices modes.
Tempo is open source with a free plan, and the published product details describe configurable self-managed retention through object storage rather than fixed product tiers. Grafana Cloud Traces is a separate managed offering with usage pricing, so organizations should distinguish that service from the Tempo OSS backend when evaluating operating responsibility and cost. Tempo is a strong fit for Grafana-based teams comfortable running Linux or self-hosted infrastructure. Teams seeking a broadly verified set of platforms or a single managed tracing product should consider alternatives with a closer fit to those requirements.
Your product? Our editors can test Grafana Tempo in depth and publish a review, labelled as paid · from $149/mo →
Grafana Tempo pricing
Grafana Tempo fact sheet
| Free plan | Yes |
|---|---|
| Paid from | Free |
| OpenTelemetry support | Yes |
| Service map | Yes |
| Tail-based sampling | Yes |
| Trace retention | Not verified |
| Deployment model | Self_hosted |
| Pricing basis | Not verified |
| Deployment | Self-hosted |
| Platforms | Linux |
| Support | Community, Docs |
| Built for | Small business, Mid-market, Enterprise (editorial estimate) |
| Integrations | 11 integrations: Grafana, Grafana Mimir, Prometheus, Grafana Loki, OpenTelemetry, Jaeger … See all → |
| Pricing | Free plan (source) |
| Website | grafana.com |
| Facts checked | 20 Sep 2026 |
Grafana Tempo integrations
Grafana Tempo lists 11 integrations on its own site.
- Grafana
- Grafana Mimir
- Prometheus
- Grafana Loki
- OpenTelemetry
- Jaeger
- Zipkin
- Kafka
- Amazon S3
- Google Cloud Storage
- Microsoft Azure Blob Storage
See all Grafana Tempo integrations →
Alternatives to Grafana Tempo
- Apache SkyWalkingA broad self-hosted stack that connects traces, topology, metrics, logs, profiles, and alerts.9.4
- JaegerA flexible self-hosted tracer for teams that need control over sampling and storage.9.2
- SigNozFull-stack tracing and observability with a free edition and $49 monthly Teams tier.9.1
See all Grafana Tempo alternatives →
Grafana Tempo vs the competition
- Grafana Tempo vs Apache SkyWalking
- Grafana Tempo vs Jaeger
- Grafana Tempo vs SigNoz
- Grafana Tempo vs Uptrace
- Grafana Tempo vs Pinpoint
- Grafana Tempo vs OpenZipkin
Compare Grafana Tempo with any tool side by side →
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Reviewed by iTechGuides Editors · Editorial team · Updated Oct 2026
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