Netdata
Real-time infrastructure monitoring with per-second metrics, dashboards and alerts.
81.2k GitHub stars · GPL-3.0 · last code push Oct 29, 2026 · GitHub · Website
Open-source and self-hosted alternatives to Datadog
Metrics, logs and dashboards. Grafana plus Prometheus is the standard pairing; SigNoz bundles metrics, traces and logs in one product.
Category: Monitoring & uptime · GitHub data as of Oct 29, 2026 · FAQ · Cost & self-hosting
| Project | What it is | License | GitHub stars | Last release | Runs as | Hosted plan |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Netdata Active GPL-3.0 | Real-time infrastructure monitoring with per-second metrics, dashboards and alerts. | GPL-3.0 | 81.2k | Oct 23, 2026 | Self-hosted web app | Yes, from the project |
| Grafana Active AGPL-3.0 | The open and composable observability and data visualization platform. Visualize metrics, logs, and traces from multiple sources like Prometheus, Loki, Elasticsearch, InfluxDB, Postgres and many more. | AGPL-3.0 | 77.6k | Oct 27, 2026 | Self-hosted web app | Yes, from the project |
| Prometheus Active Apache-2.0 | The Prometheus monitoring system and time series database. | Apache-2.0 | 66.9k | Oct 28, 2026 | Self-hosted web app | Not confirmed |
| SigNoz Active Mixed or custom | SigNoz is an open-source, OpenTelemetry-native observability platform for your team and their AI agents. | Mixed or custom | 32.5k | Oct 29, 2026 | Self-hosted web app | Yes, from the project |
Are they still maintained?
4 of 4 Datadog alternatives here had a code push or release in the last 180 days (checked Oct 29, 2026).
- Netdata: active, last activity Oct 29, 2026 (0 days ago)
- Grafana: active, last activity Oct 29, 2026 (0 days ago)
- Prometheus: active, last activity Oct 29, 2026 (0 days ago)
- SigNoz: active, last activity Oct 29, 2026 (0 days ago)
See every project in the "Is it still maintained?" tracker →
What switching from Datadog costs
Datadog: current plans and prices are on Datadog's pricing page.
| Alternative | How you run it | Software cost | What you pay for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Netdata | Your server, or the project's hosted plan | $0 (GPL-3.0) | A server you rent (or own), or the project's paid hosted plan. |
| Grafana | Your server, or the project's hosted plan | $0 (AGPL-3.0) | A server you rent (or own), or the project's paid hosted plan. |
| Prometheus | Your server | $0 (Apache-2.0) | A server you rent or own, plus your time for updates and backups. |
| SigNoz | Your server, or the project's hosted plan | $0 (Mixed or custom, check terms) | A server you rent (or own), or the project's paid hosted plan. |
Self-hosting basics: Netdata, Grafana, Prometheus and SigNoz need a server, which can be a small cloud server or a spare machine at home. For a sense of scale, DigitalOcean's price list shows a 1 GiB server at $6/month and 2 GiB at $12/month (checked Oct 29, 2026). Check each project's documented requirements before choosing a size, and budget time for updates and backups.
Don't want to run a server? Netdata, Grafana and SigNoz offer a hosted plan run by the project itself. Prices change, so check each project's site.
License check: SigNoz does not use a single standard open-source license that GitHub can detect. Read the license before using it in a business.
The options in more detail
Grafana
The open and composable observability and data visualization platform. Visualize metrics, logs, and traces from multiple sources like Prometheus, Loki, Elasticsearch, InfluxDB, Postgres and many more.
77.6k GitHub stars · AGPL-3.0 · last code push Oct 29, 2026 · GitHub · Website
Prometheus
The Prometheus monitoring system and time series database.
66.9k GitHub stars · Apache-2.0 · last code push Oct 29, 2026 · GitHub · Website
SigNoz
SigNoz is an open-source, OpenTelemetry-native observability platform for your team and their AI agents.
32.5k GitHub stars · Mixed or custom · last code push Oct 29, 2026 · GitHub · Website
Datadog alternatives: common questions
What is the best open-source alternative to Datadog?
It depends on how you use Datadog. Of the 4 options here, Netdata is the most followed on GitHub (81.2k stars) and is actively maintained, with its latest release on Oct 23, 2026.
Is there a self-hosted Datadog alternative?
Yes. Netdata, Grafana, Prometheus and SigNoz run on a server you control, so your data stays with you. If you'd rather not run a server, Netdata, Grafana and SigNoz also offer a hosted plan from the people who make them.
Is there a free alternative to Datadog?
Yes. Every project on this page can be downloaded and used at no cost from its public repository. Server apps are free software, but you pay for the server they run on. Check the license of SigNoz before using it in a business.
Are these Datadog alternatives still maintained?
As of Oct 29, 2026, 4 of 4 had a code push or release in the last 180 days. None are flagged as inactive or archived. We re-check every project weekly.
How much does it cost to switch from Datadog?
The software itself is free. For server apps, the main cost is hosting: as a reference point, DigitalOcean lists a 1 GiB server at $6/month and a 2 GiB server at $12/month (checked Oct 29, 2026). Check each project's documented requirements before choosing a size. The hidden cost is time: moving your data and, for self-hosted apps, keeping up with updates and backups.
Are all of these really open source?
Not all under a standard license. SigNoz: GitHub could not identify a single standard license for this repository (often a mix of open-source and commercial parts). Read the LICENSE file before using it. The others use OSI-approved open-source licenses.
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