Hey, if you’re knee-deep in logs and feeling like Graylog’s setup is more puzzle than powerhouse, you’re not alone. I’ve been there-chasing down configs, tweaking pipelines, and wondering why something as crucial as log management feels like a full-time job. The good news? In 2025, there are some seriously solid alternatives out there from leading companies that make the whole thing smoother, faster, and less of a headache. Whether you’re after open-source flexibility, cloud-native speed, or full-on observability stacks, these tools let you focus on what matters: keeping your systems humming without the endless infra tweaks. Let’s dive into the top ones that devs and ops teams are raving about right now.
1. AppFirst
AppFirst operates as a platform where developers specify application needs, and the system takes care of provisioning infrastructure across different clouds. It includes logging, monitoring, and alerting right from the start, along with options for centralized auditing of changes and visibility into costs per app and environment. Deployment comes in SaaS or self-hosted flavors, working with AWS, Azure, and GCP without requiring custom code for setup like Terraform or YAML.
The focus stays on letting developers handle apps end-to-end, skipping the usual DevOps hurdles. Security standards come built-in, and the setup enforces cloud best practices automatically. It’s designed for teams that want to provision resources quickly, with features for compute, databases, messaging, networking, and secrets management. Overall, it aims to cut down on overhead by abstracting away the infrastructure details.
Key Highlights:
- Built-in logging, monitoring, and alerting for applications
- Centralized auditing of infrastructure changes
- Cost visibility broken down by app and environment
- Supports AWS, Azure, and GCP
- SaaS or self-hosted deployment
- Includes security standards by default
Pros:
- Reduces need for infrastructure code or custom tooling
- Allows developers to own apps without DevOps involvement
- Provides multi-cloud flexibility
- Offers transparent audit logs for changes
Cons:
- Relies on abstraction which might limit fine-grained control for advanced users
- No public pricing details available
- Primarily geared toward app provisioning rather than deep log analytics
Contact Information:
- Website: www.appfirst.dev
2. Sematext
Sematext Cloud brings together logs, metrics, and traces into a single view for full-stack observability. It handles log analysis and unifies Docker logs, events, and metrics, with synthetic monitoring for uptime, user interactions, SSL certificates, and network timings. The platform supports real-time monitoring across various environments and integrates with many tools, turning data into insights for performance and costs.
Users can track changes through an audit trail for alerts, dashboards, and access, and it works for teams dealing with modern stacks. Pricing follows a pay-as-you-use model with customizable plans, including a 14-day free trial that requires no credit card. Excess data gets rejected based on set limits to avoid unexpected charges, and paid versions include full access to observability features like integrations and advanced analytics.
Key Highlights:
- Unifies logs, metrics, and traces in one platform
- Synthetic monitoring for uptime and performance checks
- Audit trail for tracking changes to configurations
- Over 100 integrations with various tools
- Pay-as-you-use pricing with data volume limits
- 14-day free trial available
Pros:
- Combines multiple observability aspects without separate tools
- Helps detect issues faster through unified views
- Predictable costs with no overage fees
- Free trial lets users test without commitment
Cons:
- Cloud-based only, no self-hosted option mentioned
- Focus on volume limits might constrain heavy users
- Requires setup for integrations to maximize value
Contact Information:
- Website: sematext.com
- Phone: +1 347-480-1610
- Email: info@sematext.com
- LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/company/sematext-international-llc
- Facebook: www.facebook.com/Sematext
- Twitter: x.com/sematext
3. Splunk
Splunk functions as an AI-native platform for security and observability, ingesting logs, metrics, traces, and events from diverse sources like clouds or on-premises setups. It supports real-time insights and manages data lifecycles, with tools for threat detection, investigation, and response powered by AI. Monitoring covers environments, stacks, and networks, optimizing based on impact and reducing alert noise through correlation.
The system includes application performance monitoring and IT service intelligence for anomaly detection and proactive fixes. Deployment works across AWS, Azure, GCP, private clouds, or on-site, with over 2000 integrations via a marketplace. AI features enable natural language queries and workflow automation, focusing on troubleshooting and model building for operational data.
Key Highlights:
- Ingests logs, metrics, traces from any source
- AI for threat detection and response
- Monitors across clouds and on-premises
- Reduces alert noise with event correlation
- Supports OpenTelemetry and agents
- Marketplace with many integrations
Pros:
- Handles complex, multi-source data unification
- Speeds up detection and resolution with AI
- Flexible deployment in various environments
- Extensible with custom apps and add-ons
Cons:
- Can feel overwhelming for simple log needs
- No pricing transparency on the site
- Heavy reliance on integrations for full coverage
- AI features might require learning curve
Contact Information:
- Website: www.splunk.com
- Phone: 1 866.438.7758
- Email: info@splunk.com
- Address: 3098 Olsen Drive San Jose, California 95128
- LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/company/splunk
- Facebook: www.facebook.com/splunk
- Twitter: x.com/splunk
- Instagram: www.instagram.com/splunk
4. Datadog
Datadog delivers an observability and security platform that pulls in logs, metrics, traces, and events from pretty much any source. It covers infrastructure, applications, networks, databases, and serverless setups, with extras like real-time user monitoring, synthetic tests, and cloud cost tracking. The whole thing runs in the cloud and leans hard into AI for anomaly detection, alert noise reduction, and incident handling.
Users get a unified view across stacks, plus tools for workflow automation and bits of AI assistance. Deployment stays fully hosted, with a marketplace for integrations and add-ons. Pricing details stay behind a contact form, though a limited free tier exists for basic use.
Key Highlights:
- Handles logs, metrics, traces, and events in one place
- Includes synthetic monitoring and real user monitoring
- Offers cloud cost management features
- Provides AI-driven insights and incident tools
- Supports OpenTelemetry natively
- Marketplace for extensions and integrations
Pros:
- Covers a wide range of monitoring needs without separate tools
- Strong integration library saves setup time
- AI features help cut through alert fatigue
- Works across cloud and on-premises environments
Cons:
- Pricing requires direct contact for details
- Can get complex when enabling many features
- Heavy use might push costs up quickly
- Learning curve for less experienced users
Contact Information:
- Website: www.datadoghq.com
- Phone: 866 329-4466
- Email: info@datadoghq.com
- Address: 620 8th Ave 45th Floor, New York, NY 10018
- LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/company/datadog
- Twitter: x.com/datadoghq
- Instagram: www.instagram.com/datadoghq
- App Store: apps.apple.com/app/datadog/id1391380318
- Google Play: play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.datadog.app
5. Grafana
Grafana centers around visualization and brings metrics, logs, traces, and profiles together into dashboards. Grafana Cloud handles the hosting part, while the open-source version lets users run it themselves. It connects to hundreds of data sources and includes managed backends like Mimir for metrics, Loki for logs, and Tempo for traces.
The cloud offering comes with a generous free tier that covers decent amounts of data and includes enterprise plugins. Paid plans unlock higher limits and extra features like incident management and on-call tools. Users often pair it with Prometheus or OpenTelemetry setups.
Key Highlights:
- Dashboards for metrics, logs, traces, and profiles
- Managed backends in the cloud version
- Free tier with solid data allowances
- Synthetic monitoring and performance testing options
- Incident response and alerting tools
- Works with Prometheus, OpenTelemetry, and many others
Pros:
- Flexible visualization that fits most data sources
- Free tier works well for smaller setups
- Open-source core gives deployment choices
- Easy to extend with plugins
Cons:
- Users usually need separate storage backends
- Full observability requires combining multiple components
- Advanced features move to paid plans
- Dashboard creation takes some practice
Contact Information:
- Website: grafana.com
- Email: info@grafana.com
- LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/company/grafana-labs
- Facebook: www.facebook.com/grafana
- Twitter: x.com/grafana
6. Papertrail
Papertrail offers cloud-hosted log management that gathers syslog and text logs from servers, apps, and devices into one searchable place. It provides real-time tailing, search across archives, and basic alerting on patterns. Setup usually takes minutes since it accepts logs over standard protocols.
A free plan handles small volumes with limited retention, while paid plans start low and scale with usage. The 30-day trial gives full access to paid features. It works well as a lightweight addition to existing tools rather than a complete observability suite.
Key Highlights:
- Cloud-based syslog and text log aggregation
- Real-time search and tailing
- Basic pattern-based alerts
- Archives with longer retention on paid plans
- Free plan for low-volume use
- 30-day full-featured trial
Pros:
- Quick to set up and start sending logs
- Simple interface for everyday searches
- Free tier covers basic needs
- Works with existing syslog setups
Cons:
- Limited to logs only, no metrics or traces
- Advanced analysis stays basic
- Retention and volume caps on lower plans
- Owned by SolarWinds, which carries past baggage
Contact Information:
- Website: www.papertrail.com
- Phone: +1-866-530-8040
- Email: sales@solarwinds.com
- Address: 7171 Southwest Parkway Bldg 400 Austin, Texas 78735
- LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/company/solarwinds
- Facebook: www.facebook.com/SolarWinds
- Twitter: x.com/papertrailapp
- Instagram: www.instagram.com/solarwindsinc
7. Loggly
Loggly runs as a cloud-hosted service that pulls in logs from pretty much any source without needing special agents. It handles everything from aggregation to fast search across large volumes, with built-in parsing that breaks events into fields for easier querying. Users get dashboards, charts, and alerts based on patterns or thresholds, all through a web interface that keeps things straightforward.
The platform stays fully managed in the cloud, so no servers to run. A free trial lets people test the full setup before picking a paid plan, which scales with log volume and retention needs. It works well for teams already sending syslog or text logs and wanting quick visibility without much setup fuss.
Key Highlights:
- Accepts logs from dozens of sources without agents
- Fast search and automatic event parsing
- Built-in dashboards and charting
- Pattern-based alerts
- Fully cloud-hosted
- Free trial available
Pros:
- Gets up and running fast
- Handles high volumes without local storage worries
- Simple sharing of saved searches and dashboards
- Good for basic log consolidation
Cons:
- Retention and volume limits depend on plan
- Advanced analytics stay fairly basic
- No on-premises option
- Part of SolarWinds family
Contact Information:
- Website: www.loggly.com
- LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/company/loggly
- Twitter: x.com/loggly
8. Logmanager
Logmanager offers a platform that combines log management with SIEM capabilities in one interface. It started as an in-house fix for complicated tools and grew into a product that handles collection, storage, analysis, and security event monitoring. Deployment can be on-premises or in the cloud, depending on what users prefer.
The system focuses on keeping things simple while covering compliance reports, correlation rules, and long-term archiving. Pricing stays behind a contact form, but a demo or trial is usually available. It suits environments that need both operational logs and security oversight without juggling separate tools.
Key Highlights:
- Combines log management and SIEM features
- On-premises or cloud deployment
- Built-in compliance reporting
- Event correlation rules
- Long-term log archiving
- Single interface for everything
Pros:
- Reduces tool sprawl for ops and security
- Flexible deployment choices
- Straightforward interface for daily use
- Covers regulatory needs out of the box
Cons:
- Smaller community compared to open-source options
- Pricing details require contact
- Less public documentation
- Might feel niche outside Europe
Contact Information:
- Website: logmanager.com
- Email: support@logmanager.com
- Address: Zubateho 295/5, 150 00 Praha 5
- LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/company/logmanager
9. Elastic
Elastic builds on Elasticsearch, Kibana, Beats, and Logstash to create a full search and analytics stack. People use it for logging, metrics, security events, or any data that needs fast search and visualization. The core stays open source, while Elastic Cloud offers a managed version with extra features like machine learning and security tools.
Users can run it themselves or let Elastic host everything. A free trial exists for the cloud service, and the self-hosted path costs nothing for basic use. It scales from small setups to huge clusters and works with almost any data format.
Key Highlights:
- Elasticsearch for storage and search
- Kibana for dashboards and visualization
- Beats and Logstash for data collection
- Machine learning and security features available
- Self-hosted or managed cloud
- Free core with paid add-ons
Pros:
- Extremely flexible for any data type
- Huge ecosystem and community
- Powerful full-text search
- Scales horizontally with ease
Cons:
- Self-hosted version needs tuning and upkeep
- Resource-heavy on large clusters
- Paid features locked behind license
- Steep learning curve for advanced use
Contact Information:
- Website: www.elastic.co
- LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/company/elastic-co
- Facebook: www.facebook.com/elastic.co
- Twitter: x.com/elastic
10. Fluentd
Fluentd acts as an open-source log collector that sits between data sources and storage backends. It uses a plugin system to connect hundreds of inputs and outputs, keeping the core light while handling buffering, routing, and basic parsing. Companies run it on servers or in containers to forward logs to places like Elasticsearch, S3, or databases.
Everything stays free under Apache license, and the project lives under CNCF. Configuration happens through text files, and reliability comes from built-in retry and buffer options. It fits well in Kubernetes or any setup that already uses multiple logging tools.
Key Highlights:
- Unified logging layer with plugins
- Buffering and retry mechanisms
- Lightweight core footprint
- Works with containers and servers
- Fully open source
- CNCF graduated project
Pros:
- No licensing cost ever
- Connects almost anything to anything
- Reliable delivery with buffers
- Active plugin ecosystem
Cons:
- Only collects and forwards, no built-in search
- Configuration can get messy at scale
- Needs separate storage and UI
- Debugging plugin issues takes time
Contact Information:
- Website: www.fluentd.org
- Facebook: www.facebook.com/pages/Fluentd/196064987183037
- Twitter: x.com/fluentd
11. Logz.io
Logz.io runs a cloud observability platform built on top of open-source tools like ELK and Grafana, but fully managed. It pulls together logs, metrics, and traces into one place, adds some AI for root cause suggestions and automated insights, and keeps the interface familiar to anyone who has used Kibana before. Users drop in their data, and the system handles scaling, updates, and storage without much hands-on work.
The service stays completely hosted, with a free trial that gives full access for a limited period. Paid plans scale by ingested volume and retention length. It works for teams that like the open-source stack but do not want to run clusters themselves.
Key Highlights:
- Managed ELK and Grafana stack
- Combines logs, metrics, and traces
- AI-driven issue suggestions
- Cloud-only deployment
- Familiar Kibana-style interface
- Free trial available
Pros:
- No need to manage Elasticsearch clusters
- Keeps the open-source feel with less ops work
- Unified view across telemetry types
- Easy migration path from self-hosted ELK
Cons:
- Still tied to Elasticsearch pricing curves at large scale
- Less control than running it yourself
- AI features limited to higher plans
- Cloud-only, no on-prem option
Contact Information:
- Website: logz.io
- Email: sales@logz.io
- Address: 77 Sleeper St, Boston, MA 02210, USA
- LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/company/logz-io
- Twitter: x.com/logzio
12. OpenObserve
OpenObserve delivers an open-source observability platform designed from scratch for logs, metrics, traces, and profiles. It focuses on keeping storage costs low while still offering fast search and dashboards, using a columnar format and object storage under the hood. Users can run it on Kubernetes or bare metal, or use the managed cloud version.
Everything stays free for self-hosted use, while the cloud edition has a free tier and paid plans based on usage. The project moves fast and targets teams that find traditional ELK setups too heavy or expensive.
Key Highlights:
- Handles logs, traces, metrics, and profiles
- Columnar storage for lower costs
- Self-hosted or managed cloud
- Open-source core
- Built-in dashboarding
- Free tier in cloud version
Pros:
- Much cheaper storage than Elasticsearch-based tools
- Single binary or container deployment
- Good performance on object storage
- No vendor lock-in on self-hosted
Cons:
- Younger project, smaller community
- Fewer third-party integrations so far
- Some features still catching up
- Documentation can lag behind releases
Contact Information:
- Website: openobserve.ai
- Address: 3000 Sand Hill Rd Building 1, Suite 260, Menlo Park, CA 94025
- LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/company/openobserve
- Twitter: x.com/OpenObserve
13. Exabeam
Exabeam concentrates on security analytics and SIEM replacement with heavy use of behavioral modeling. It ingests logs, builds user and entity baselines, then flags deviations with AI-driven risk scoring. The platform also automates parts of investigation and response workflows.
Deployment happens in the cloud as a managed service. Pricing and trials require a demo request. It fits environments that already have basic log collection and want the next layer of threat detection on top.
Key Highlights:
- Behavioral UEBA analytics
- Automated investigation workflows
- Risk scoring for users and devices
- Cloud-hosted SIEM alternative
- Insider threat focus
- Timeline-based case view
Pros:
- Strong on user and entity behavior
- Cuts down alert fatigue with scoring
- Automates routine investigation steps
- Clean incident timelines
Cons:
- Needs decent log ingestion to build baselines
- Not a general-purpose log management tool
- Pricing stays opaque without sales contact
- Less flexible for non-security use cases
Contact Information:
- Website: www.exabeam.com
- Phone: 1.844.392.2326
- Email: info@exabeam.com
- Address: 385 Interlocken Crescent Suite 1050 Broomfield, CO 80021
- LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/company/exabeam
- Twitter: x.com/exabeam
- Instagram: www.instagram.com/exabeam
14. DNIF HYPERCLOUD
DNIF HYPERCLOUD works as a cloud SIEM and log platform that tries to keep costs predictable even with high volumes. It stores data in a way that avoids rehydration delays and offers instant access to older events. The system links related alerts into threat campaigns and includes user behavior analytics.
Everything runs managed in the cloud. Access starts after contacting sales for a demo or trial. It appeals to organizations frustrated with traditional SIEM pricing at scale.
Key Highlights:
- Flat storage approach for long retention
- No rehydration waits for old data
- Threat campaign correlation
- User behavior analytics
- Cloud-only deployment
- Automation for SOC workflows
Pros:
- Keeps older data instantly searchable
- Lower cost per ingested volume
- Groups alerts into campaigns
- Reduces manual correlation work
Cons:
- Smaller footprint outside certain regions
- Requires sales contact for any details
- Less known compared to bigger players
- Limited public integration list
Contact Information:
- Website: dnif.it
- Address: NETMONASTERY Systems Inc, Mountain View, California, USA
15. Corner Bowl Server Manager
Corner Bowl Server Manager comes as Windows-focused software that mixes log management, SIEM functions, and basic server monitoring in one package. It collects logs from Windows, Linux, Azure, and some network devices, either with agents or without, and keeps them for compliance checks like PCI, NIST, or GDPR. Users also get resource monitoring for CPU, disk space, services, and a few built-in intrusion detection rules.
Installation happens on-premises on a Windows server, and licensing works per monitored host or device. A free trial runs fully featured for a set period. It tends to show up in smaller or mid-sized setups that already run a lot of Windows and want one tool instead of several separate ones.
Key Highlights:
- Windows and Linux log collection with or without agents
- Built-in compliance templates for common standards
- Resource and service monitoring included
- Basic intrusion detection rules
- On-premises Windows installation
- Free trial available
Pros:
- Covers logs and basic monitoring in one license
- Simple setup for Windows-heavy environments
- Direct Event Log batch import for audits
- No cloud dependency
Cons:
- Interface feels dated compared to modern tools
- Limited scalability for very large environments
- Mostly Windows-centric feature set
- Documentation stays fairly basic
Contact Information:
- Website: www.cornerbowlsoftware.com
- Phone: 801-910-4256
- Email: info@CornerBowlSoftware.com
- Address: 982 Splendor Valley Rd Kamas UT, 84036 USA
- LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/company/corner-bowl-software
- Twitter: x.com/BowlCorner
16. Securonix
Securonix delivers a cloud-native SIEM that bundles UEBA, SOAR functions, and threat intelligence into a single platform. It leans on agentic AI to cut false positives, automate investigations, and link related alerts together. Data stays hot and searchable for a full year without extra rehydration steps, and reporting targets compliance needs like SEC or GDPR.
Everything runs managed in the cloud with pricing based on data volume and features. Access starts after a demo and sales conversation. It fits organizations that already deal with tool sprawl and want one system for detection through response.
Key Highlights:
- Combines SIEM, UEBA, and SOAR in one cloud platform
- Agentic AI for alert handling and automation
- Year-long hot data access
- Built-in compliance reporting
- Cloud-native deployment
- Threat intelligence integration
Pros:
- Reduces need for separate security tools
- Automation lowers daily analyst workload
- Keeps older data instantly available
- Single pane for investigation and response
Cons:
- Pricing and contracts require sales contact
- Heavy reliance on cloud connectivity
- Best value appears at larger data volumes
- Learning curve for the AI-driven workflows
Contact Information:
- Website: www.securonix.com
- Email: info@securonix.com
- Address: 400 Concar Dr, San Mateo, CA 94402
- LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/company/securonix
- Twitter: x.com/Securonix
Wrapping It Up
At the end of the day, swapping out Graylog usually comes down to one simple question: what’s the thing that annoys you the most right now? Is it the constant Elasticsearch tuning, the surprise invoices, the pipeline syntax that feels like writing assembly, or just the fact that you’re still running a cluster in 2026?
Whatever it is, something on this list solves exactly that itch without forcing you into a whole new set of problems. Some options are basically “set it and forget it” clouds, others are “here’s the repo, good luck,” and a few sit in that sweet middle where you get modern features without selling your soul to a vendor.
Try a couple, break them a little on purpose, see which one doesn’t make you want to throw your laptop out the window. When you finally land on the one that just works, you’ll wonder why you waited this long. Logs shouldn’t feel like a second job.
