--- title: 'Logfire vs Datadog: AI-Native Observability Built on Open Standards' description: Compare Logfire and Datadog for AI observability. See how Logfire delivers AI-first features with OpenTelemetry and pricing that doesn't penalize modern architectures. canonical: https://pydantic.dev/logfire/vs-datadog last-reviewed: 2026-07-13 --- > Markdown version of [Logfire vs Datadog](https://pydantic.dev/logfire/vs-datadog) — the canonical HTML page. > > Site index: [/llms.txt](https://pydantic.dev/llms.txt) --- # Logfire vs Datadog Both provide application observability but differ in how they treat AI. Datadog added LLM observability as a separate module where AI traces live apart from application traces, while Logfire was built for AI applications from the start with full-stack visibility: LLM calls, database queries, and API requests in one trace, at a fraction of the cost. Datadog monitors everything but treats AI as an afterthought. Logfire is built for AI applications from the ground up—with OpenTelemetry, SQL queries, and pricing that doesn't penalize modern architectures. [Try Logfire free](https://logfire.pydantic.dev/) ## Quick comparison | Feature | Logfire | Datadog | | ------------------ | ------------------------------ | ------------------------------------- | | Architecture | OpenTelemetry-native | Proprietary agents | | Pricing Model | Per-span ($2/million) | Per-host + ingestion + custom metrics | | Host Fees | None | $15-40/host/month | | AI/LLM Support | First-class, one function call | Add-on, separate product | | Query Language | SQL (PostgreSQL) | Proprietary | | Setup | 3 lines of code | Agent deployment per host | | Autoscaling Impact | Linear cost increase | High-water-mark billing spikes | ## Pricing comparison | Scenario | Datadog | Logfire | Savings | | ----------------------------------- | ---------- | ----------------- | ------- | | Hobby (2 hosts, 5M spans) | $101/mo | $0/mo (free tier) | 100% | | Startup (10 hosts, 100M spans) | $560/mo | $180/mo | 68% | | Scale-up (50-150 hosts, 500M spans) | $9,860/mo | $980/mo | 90% | | High-volume (500 hosts, 2B spans) | $33,550/mo | $3,980/mo | 88% | \*Logfire Cloud Pro pricing ($2/million spans). Enterprise pricing available on request. ## Why teams choose Logfire ### AI-First, Not AI-Afterthought Logfire was built for AI applications. One function call gives you token tracking, cost monitoring per model, LLM-specific conversation history panels, tool call inspection, and streaming support. All of this appears in the same trace as your database queries and API calls, so when an agent fails you see the complete picture. Datadog added LLM observability as a separate product module — it works, but LLM traces live apart from application traces, so you're context-switching between views to debug a single failure. ### OpenTelemetry Native Logfire is built on OTel from day one—your instrumentation is portable, no vendor lock-in. Datadog uses proprietary agents; while they support OTel export, it's not the native path, and OTel metrics are treated as expensive "custom metrics." ### SQL Queries, Not Proprietary DSL Query your data with standard PostgreSQL SQL—AI assistants write excellent queries for you. Your team already knows SQL; use that knowledge. Datadog uses a proprietary query language with a learning curve. ### Pricing That Doesn't Penalize Modern Practices Datadog's per-host model penalizes microservices, autoscaling, and serverless. Running 10 microservices across 10 small instances costs 10x more than one big server. Logfire charges for data, not infrastructure decisions. ## Which should you choose? ### Choose Logfire if... - You're building AI-native applications and want first-class AI observability - You want simple per-span pricing without host fees or metric surcharges - You want portable instrumentation with OpenTelemetry, not vendor lock-in - Your infrastructure scales dynamically and you don't want billing surprises - You prefer familiar SQL over learning a proprietary query language ### Choose Datadog if... - You're already deeply integrated with Datadog's ecosystem - You need comprehensive infrastructure metrics alongside APM - You need specific compliance certifications or integrations Datadog offers ## FAQ **How much can I save switching from Datadog to Logfire?** Teams typically save 68-90% compared to Datadog. A startup with 10 hosts and 100M spans pays ~$560/month with Datadog vs ~$180/month with Logfire. At scale (500 hosts, 2B spans), savings can reach 88%. The savings come from simpler pricing: $2/million spans, no host fees, no custom metrics fees. **Why is Datadog so much more expensive?** Datadog's pricing has several pain points: per-host fees ($15-40/month each), high-water-mark billing (a traffic spike that adds 10 temporary hosts bills you for all 10 all month), and expensive custom metrics charges. OpenTelemetry metrics are treated as custom metrics with cardinality charges. Logfire charges $2 per million spans—that's it. **Does Logfire have infrastructure monitoring like Datadog?** Logfire focuses on application and AI observability. For infrastructure metrics, you can use Logfire alongside your existing infrastructure monitoring or use any OTel-compatible metrics solution. Many teams find they don't need host-level metrics when they have good application traces. **Can I migrate from Datadog to Logfire?** Yes. Because Logfire is built on OpenTelemetry and Datadog supports OTel export, you can run both in parallel during migration, routing spans to both during transition. Logfire accepts standard OTel data, so you can start sending traces without changing your app, then gradually migrate instrumentation to Logfire SDKs for the best experience. For teams currently using Datadog's proprietary agent rather than OTel, updating the instrumentation layer is a one-time lift that also removes Datadog vendor lock-in. **How does AI/LLM support compare?** Datadog added LLM observability as a separate product—it works, but AI isn't central to the platform. Logfire was built for the AI era. One function call (`logfire.instrument_openai()`) gives you token tracking, cost monitoring, LLM-specific panels, tool call inspection, and streaming support. ## Ready to switch from Datadog? Get started with 10 million free spans per month. No credit card required. Start free: https://logfire.pydantic.dev/ — [View pricing](https://pydantic.dev/pricing) --- See also: [Logfire alternatives](https://pydantic.dev/logfire/alternatives) ([markdown](https://pydantic.dev/logfire/alternatives.md)), [Pydantic Logfire](https://pydantic.dev/logfire) ([markdown](https://pydantic.dev/logfire.md)), and [pricing](https://pydantic.dev/pricing.md).