Best Splunk Observability Cloud Alternatives in 2026
The top Splunk Observability Cloud alternatives are Zabbix, Datadog Infrastructure Monitoring and Netdata: 15 metrics monitoring tools our editors would look at instead of Splunk Observability Cloud, in our ranking order.
Splunk Observability Cloud: Unified observability across metrics, traces, logs, infrastructure, applications, and services. Where it falls short: paid plans cost $15 to $75 per host per month with annual billing.
Switching from Splunk Observability Cloud? For most metrics monitoring tools buyers the best Splunk Observability Cloud alternative is Zabbix, built for broad, open-source hybrid infrastructure monitoring. On a budget, Google Cloud Managed Service for Prometheus starts at $0.02/mo, against $15/mo for Splunk Observability Cloud. Google Cloud Managed Service for Prometheus offers the most data retention (730 days).
Why People Look for a Splunk Observability Cloud Alternative
- Paid plans cost $15 to $75 per host per month with annual billing
- Customer-managed deployment is not available
- Query language is proprietary rather than open source
- No self-hosted option — 3 of the alternatives below have it
- Paid from $15/mo — Google Cloud Managed Service for Prometheus is $0.02/mo
Quick Picks by What You Need
- Best overallZabbix9.4
Broad, open-source hybrid infrastructure monitoring
Visit Zabbix - Lowest priceGoogle Cloud Managed Service for Prometheus7.7
Paid plans from $0.02/mo
Visit Google Cloud Managed Service for Prometheus - Best free optionZabbix9.4
Has a free plan
Visit Zabbix - Most data retentionGoogle Cloud Managed Service for Prometheus7.7
730 days
Visit Google Cloud Managed Service for Prometheus - Best for self-hosted optionDynatrace Infrastructure Monitoring8.8
Self-hosted option (Splunk Observability Cloud: no)
Visit Dynatrace Infrastructure Monitoring
All 15 Splunk Observability Cloud Alternatives, Ranked
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.
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Best forBroad, open-source hybrid infrastructure monitoring
- Better than Splunk Observability Cloud:
- Editor score 9.4 vs 8.4
A broad monitoring platform with free self-hosting and managed cloud options.
9.4/10★★★★★Visit Zabbix -
Best forCloud-first teams needing broad observability
- Better than Splunk Observability Cloud:
- Editor score 9.3 vs 8.4
Broad cloud observability with strong integrations, but host-based pricing can add cost.
9.3/10★★★★★Visit Datadog -
Best forAffordable real-time hybrid monitoring
- Better than Splunk Observability Cloud:
- Editor score 9.1 vs 8.4
Affordable per-second hybrid monitoring for infrastructure, services, VMs, containers, and networks.
9.1/10★★★★★Visit Netdata -
Best forEngineers building open-source metrics stacks
- Better than Splunk Observability Cloud:
- Editor score 9.0 vs 8.4
A flexible Prometheus stack for engineers building open-source metrics monitoring.
9.0/10★★★★☆Visit Prometheus -
Best forAI-assisted hybrid and cloud infrastructure monitoring
- Better than Splunk Observability Cloud:
- Self-hosted option
- Paid from: $7/mo vs $15/mo
- Editor score 8.8 vs 8.4
AI-assisted infrastructure monitoring with broad hybrid-cloud coverage and tiered pricing.
- SLO tracking
- Self-hosted option
- Custom metrics
8.8/10★★★★☆Visit Dynatrace -
Best forEnterprise self-hosted infrastructure monitoring
- Better than Splunk Observability Cloud:
- Editor score 8.7 vs 8.4
Broad infrastructure coverage with a free community edition and costly paid self-hosted tiers.
8.7/10★★★★☆Visit Checkmk -
Best forEnterprise hybrid infrastructure estates
- Better than Splunk Observability Cloud:
- Self-hosted option
- Paid from: $8/mo vs $15/mo
- Editor score 8.6 vs 8.4
Broad hybrid infrastructure monitoring with node-based pricing and self-hosted deployment.
- Self-hosted option
8.6/10★★★★☆Visit SolarWinds -
Best forAzure-centered infrastructure monitoring
- Better than Splunk Observability Cloud:
- Editor score 8.5 vs 8.4
A deep Azure monitoring suite for teams managing cloud, hybrid, and multicloud systems.
8.5/10★★★★☆Visit Azure Monitor -
Best forFree, extensible self-hosted monitoring
A free, extensible self-hosted monitor with broad infrastructure coverage and integrations.
8.3/10★★★★☆Visit Icinga -
Best forScalable Prometheus-compatible metrics storage
A flexible Prometheus-compatible metrics store with free self-hosting and managed cloud options.
8.2/10★★★★☆Try VictoriaMetrics -
Best forFlexible SQL and time-series data platforms
A broad metrics backend with open-source, self-managed, and managed deployment options.
8.1/10★★★★☆Visit InfluxDB -
Best forAgentless hybrid infrastructure monitoring
A broad, agentless monitoring platform for teams managing hybrid environments.
8.0/10★★★★☆Visit LogicMonitor -
Best forCost-conscious hybrid IT operations monitoring
Broad hybrid monitoring with a low per-device starting price and paid-only access.
7.9/10★★★★☆Visit ScienceLogic -
Best forGoogle Cloud infrastructure teams
A cloud-native monitoring service for Google Cloud infrastructure and hybrid environments.
7.8/10★★★★☆Visit Google Cloud -
Best forManaged Prometheus on Google Cloud
- Better than Splunk Observability Cloud:
- Self-hosted option
- Paid from: $0.02/mo vs $15/mo
- Data retention: 730 days vs 416 days
Managed Prometheus with global PromQL, multiple ingestion paths, and 24-month retention.
- SLO tracking
- Self-hosted option
- Custom metrics
7.7/10★★★★☆Visit Google Cloud
Splunk Observability Cloud Alternatives: Common Questions
What is the best alternative to Splunk Observability Cloud?
Zabbix: #1 in our Metrics Monitoring Tools ranking, with an editor score of 9.4 out of 10. A broad monitoring platform with free self-hosting and managed cloud options.
Is there a free alternative to Splunk Observability Cloud?
Yes. Zabbix, Datadog Infrastructure Monitoring, Netdata, Prometheus and Checkmk have a free plan or a free tier (9 of the 15 alternatives on this page).
What is the cheapest paid alternative to Splunk Observability Cloud?
Of the alternatives here that publish a price, Google Cloud Managed Service for Prometheus starts lowest, at $0.02/mo.
Why do people look for Splunk Observability Cloud alternatives?
Paid plans cost $15 to $75 per host per month with annual billing; Customer-managed deployment is not available; Query language is proprietary rather than open source.
Which Splunk Observability Cloud alternative has the most data retention?
Google Cloud Managed Service for Prometheus, with 730 days.
How do I switch from Splunk Observability Cloud?
Export your data from Splunk Observability Cloud (most tools have an export in their settings). Sign up for the alternative; start on its free plan or trial if it has one. Import your export and set up the integrations your team relies on. Run both side by side for a short while, then cancel Splunk Observability Cloud.
How to Switch from Splunk Observability Cloud
- Export your data from Splunk Observability Cloud (most tools have an export in their settings).
- Sign up for the alternative; start on its free plan or trial if it has one.
- Import your export and set up the integrations your team relies on.
- Run both side by side for a short while, then cancel Splunk Observability Cloud.
Splunk Observability Cloud vs Each Alternative
| # | Tool | Free plan | Paid from | Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 9 | Splunk Observability Cloud | Yes | $15/mo | 8.4 |
| 1 | Zabbix | Yes | €245/mo | 9.4 |
| 2 | Datadog Infrastructure Monitoring | Yes | $15/unit/mo | 9.3 |
| 3 | Netdata | Yes | $4.50/unit/mo | 9.1 |
| 4 | Prometheus | Yes | Free | 9.0 |
| 5 | Dynatrace Infrastructure Monitoring | No | $7/mo | 8.8 |
| 6 | Checkmk | Yes | €190/mo | 8.7 |
| 7 | SolarWinds Hybrid Cloud Observability | No | $8/device/mo | 8.6 |
| 8 | Azure Monitor | No | 8.5 | |
| 9 | Icinga | Yes | 8.3 | |
| 10 | VictoriaMetrics | Yes | 8.2 | |
| 11 | InfluxDB | Yes | $0.002/GB usage-based | 8.1 |
| 12 | LogicMonitor | No | $16/mo | 8.0 |
| 13 | ScienceLogic SL1 | 7.9 | ||
| 14 | Google Cloud Monitoring | Yes | 7.8 | |
| 15 | Google Cloud Managed Service for Prometheus | No | $0.02/mo | 7.7 |
Reviewed by iTechGuides Editors · Editorial team · Updated Oct 2026
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