New Relic vs SolarWinds Server and Application Monitor comparison

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New Relic Logo
24,375 views|19,316 comparisons
94% willing to recommend
SolarWinds Logo
5,107 views|3,370 comparisons
87% willing to recommend
Comparison Buyer's Guide
Executive Summary
Updated on Jun 27, 2023

We performed a comparison between New Relic and SolarWinds Server and Application Monitor based on real PeerSpot user reviews in five categories. After reading all of the collected data, you can find our conclusion below.

  • Ease of Deployment: New Relic has a straightforward and simple initial setup, while SolarWinds Server and Application Monitor's setup can be complex and time-consuming, varying from a few hours to two months depending on the size of the infrastructure. Some users rate SolarWinds' setup a ten out of ten, while others find it difficult.
  • Features: New Relic provides detailed insights into applications, effective alerts, and traceability. It also has a flexible dashboard and query design, comprehensive monitoring, and transparent pricing. On the other hand, SolarWinds Server and Application Monitor offers simple installation, monitoring of components and cables, and infrastructure mapping.
  • Pricing: New Relic has a monthly or yearly licensing model with additional fees for extra features or data ingestion. Pricing is seen as expensive by some, but reasonable by others. SolarWinds Server and Application Monitor's pricing is based on the number of devices and modules, with no additional costs and a yearly licensing model that can vary depending on the dollar rate.
  • Service and Support: Some customers have positive experiences with both, while others have negative feedback. The availability of documentation for New Relic is generally well-regarded. SolarWinds' support team is described as both knowledgeable and responsive by some, but others mention long wait times and a lack of initial knowledge.
  • ROI: SolarWinds Server and Application Monitor has been shown to have a beneficial impact on server and application performance, resulting in increased productivity and decreased downtime. In comparison, New Relic's ROI has elicited mixed feedback, with some users experiencing positive outcomes and others not.

Comparison Results: New Relic offers more comprehensive application information, reliable monitoring, scalability, accurate alerts, and better dashboard design. It also has a simpler user interface and provides a complete platform for monitoring and analytical features. While SolarWinds Server and Application Monitor has valuable features, it lacks code-level application monitoring and software-defined network monitoring capability, and has room for improvement in various areas such as stability, flexibility, and pricing.

To learn more, read our detailed New Relic vs. SolarWinds Server and Application Monitor Report (Updated: May 2024).
771,170 professionals have used our research since 2012.
Featured Review
Quotes From Members
We asked business professionals to review the solutions they use.
Here are some excerpts of what they said:
Pros
"It gives insights to non-technical people about what technical issues are most important, how much it impacts customers, and potentially, where we should be targeting our development teams when they have time.""The integration and configuration of New Relic is straightforward and easy.""What I like best about New Relic APM is its user interface because it's simple. The most valuable feature of New Relic APM is end-to-end monitoring.""Their technical support is pretty good and responsive. We have a real good relationship with them.""Support for plug-ins (RMQ, Redis etc.) is a valuable feature.""The synthetic alert is the most valuable feature in New Relic APM. I also like the time travel feature and find traceability useful in the solution. New Relic APM also has good response times.""The alert mechanism is quite accurate when something goes wrong in your system. For example, if you have hundreds of APIs on your server, and any of the APIs is not performing well, you get an alert. When there is a drop or change in the threshold value, the beauty of New Relic is that within a fraction of seconds, all the stakeholders who are configured in the New Relic system will get an alert. That's one good thing.""The product's initial setup phase was very easy."

More New Relic Pros →

"Manage Groups: The capability to group appropriate devices gives better visibility of sites, categories, or critical regions. The same can be used to represent a dashboard for higher management.""The application dependency feature identifies issues between applications and servers or within the network where the application is hosted. It highlights related problems, whether related to packet processing or other issues, enabling the creation of alerts and reports accordingly.""The most valuable feature is the Access Rights Manager.""I adore the NTA module that provides deep details on ingress/egress traffic for any interface. With a few clicks, you can correlate who is accessing what and when, beside the bandwidth consuming applications/users.""The solution is end-to-end from the network and the application to the processes. Everything about the enterprise infrastructure is being covered by the solution. It's easy to use and easy to navigate and one of the leaders among monitoring solutions.""Monitoring of processes and services is the most valuable feature. It is not necessarily just the server alone in terms of the CPU or the memory. We can go in-depth into services and processes.""The more valuable feature of this solution is the Exchange feature.""Features like monitoring and infrastructure dependency mapping are valuable to us."

More SolarWinds Server and Application Monitor Pros →

Cons
"The customization of the start and end time is kind of cool.""New Relic is very slow, and the app is a bit frustrating to use, which is something that has been happening a lot in the past year. During the last six months, I have noticed that it has become extremely laggy.""They should bring the pricing down to be more competitive.""New Relic needs to improve is the user data schema.""The browser isn't exactly reliable.""There are certain features that are not supported in New Relic, such as CATSEARCH, which allows you to do a full-text search.""New Relic APM could improve error debugging and the correlation with the logs. We are receiving some alerts or alarms but we need to correlate with the error log, but it is difficult if it is more than seven months retention period, it is hard to trace. We need this especially for getting historical information.""The solution must provide better support for Azure Web Apps service."

More New Relic Cons →

"SolarWinds Server and Application Monitor could improve the server monitoring and the web application monitoring features are not good. Microsoft SCOM has better server monitoring.""The setup was complex. We had local support to assist us.""SAM's software-defined network monitoring capability is also low and could be improved.""Some custom applications cannot be monitored, and a lot more applications need to be included.""PerfStack can be made more effective. I am sure SolarWinds already has a plan for the same in coming versions.""I think they need to make reporting easier and more simple & dynamic.""The templates could use improvement. Currently, they are quite complex. They should have drag-and-drop functionality instead. It would make it easier to use.""In terms of the dashboards on offer, they should work to improve them. The types of dashboards that you get in terms of the graphs on offer aren't ideal right now."

More SolarWinds Server and Application Monitor Cons →

Pricing and Cost Advice
  • "New Relic is either free with low retention and minimal functionalities, or expensive with full options and retention."
  • "The monthly cost os $1000 per server per month, but it could be even more. We pay about $250 for the server, and then New Relic wants over $1000 to give us statistics on those servers."
  • "Cost is significant with a lot of extras."
  • "It would be nice if we could buy it annually instead of monthly."
  • "If it’s the right tool, it doesn’t matter what it costs because you’re going to get it back many-fold from your productivity."
  • "I recommend using the free version of New Relic. If you like the free version and understand its importance for your company, you can move to the trial. Then, you can migrate to the paid version."
  • "There is a picture which goes to your browser and it monitors requests from other users. However, it's impossible to use now because the price is very high. The feature is very nice, but I tried it during the trial period, and the current price makes it impossible to use."
  • "They gave us aggressive discounts when they were brought in for the first time, but they have also kept them for the year-on-year renewals, which has been absolutely fine."
  • More New Relic Pricing and Cost Advice →

  • "I have always said SolarWinds is very “proud” of their products, meaning they are expensive. I cannot afford to purchase all the licenses I need for all the SolarWinds products."
  • "When planning for the number of licenses to purchase, make sure you understand all of the elements within an application required to really understand performance well. In our case, we quickly came to the conclusion that an unlimited license for SAM was the way to go."
  • "Nagios XI, WhatsUpGold, Uptime Software, PRTG, Manage Engine, and SpiceWorks are the other tools that have lower pricing and licensing costs. However, they can't compete with SolarWinds when it comes to the features and functionality that SolarWinds can provide."
  • "I would advise potential buyers to wait until the end of the quarter, end of year, or other time to place orders. There are actually great deals to be had at those times if your budget cycle can match up."
  • "Pricing and licensing is fair for what you get. It does have a great bang-for-the-buck appeal."
  • "SAM is not per server so the pricing model can be deceiving. If you have an enterprise environment, you will quickly exceed your licensing quickly. You should know this before going in."
  • "Understanding the counts of objects to monitor will determine the licensing need. In terms of pricing, it’s not cheap but it’s not expensive as larger vendors whose products don’t have all the features or integrations."
  • "The product might cost you $30,000 USD to buy, but scaling this solution requires the purchase of additional polling engines at $20,000 USD each."
  • More SolarWinds Server and Application Monitor Pricing and Cost Advice →

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    Questions from the Community
    Top Answer:There are many factors and we know little about your requirements (size of org, technology stack, management systems, the scope of implementation). Our goal was to consolidate APM and infra… more »
    Top Answer:It allows the restriction of privileges and control of users.
    Top Answer:The solution only supports the cloud platform and not on-premises. Therefore, they should assess supporting the licensing on-premises as well.
    Top Answer:The price is too high. The tool is overpriced. We don't need all the features. The product must minimize the features and reduce the price. It all comes down to pricing. The customers find it pretty… more »
    Top Answer:The biggest pain point is root cause analysis. It is difficult to analyze, assess, and warn my IT department about what will happen in the next five hours. It is also difficult to use AIOps to reduce… more »
    Ranking
    Views
    24,375
    Comparisons
    19,316
    Reviews
    32
    Average Words per Review
    531
    Rating
    8.2
    Views
    5,107
    Comparisons
    3,370
    Reviews
    11
    Average Words per Review
    443
    Rating
    7.3
    Comparisons
    Also Known As
    New Relic Browser, New Relic Applied Intelligence, New Relic Insights, New Relic Synthetics, New Relic Servers, New Relic APM
    SolarWinds SAM
    Learn More
    Overview

    New Relic

    New Relic is a prominent application performance management (APM) and a real-time monitoring solution. This cloud-based platform is tailored for both small developers and large enterprises to track and optimize application performance.

    New Relic's strength lies in its comprehensive toolset that enables developers to diagnose and resolve issues quickly, ensuring high uptime and optimal performance of applications. The platform offers a wide range of features including real-time application monitoring, detailed performance insights, customizable dashboards, and in-depth analytics. It supports numerous programming languages and integrates with existing development workflows, making it a versatile choice for diverse IT environments.

    What are the key features of New Relic?

    • APM: Provides detailed insights into application performance, helping to identify bottlenecks and areas for improvement.

    • Infrastructure Monitoring: Monitors cloud, on-premises, and hybrid infrastructures to provide visibility into the health of servers and networks.

    • Real User Monitoring: Captures and analyzes end-user interactions to help understand the user experience across web and mobile applications.

    • Synthetic Monitoring: Uses simulated traffic to test and optimize websites and applications before they go live.

    • Dashboard and Visualization: Customizable dashboards that display key metrics and trends, facilitating quick decision-making and reporting.

    When evaluating New Relic, you should focus on the ROI aspects such as improved application performance, reduced downtime, and enhanced customer satisfaction. The platform's ability to provide actionable insights helps to preemptively address potential issues, thereby saving costs and improving operational efficiency.

    New Relic is widely implemented across various industries, including technology, e-commerce, finance, and media, where ensuring smooth application performance is critical to business success. Companies in these sectors use New Relic to gain a competitive edge by ensuring their digital services are reliable and perform at peak efficiency.

    In summary, New Relic is an essential tool for businesses seeking to enhance their application performance through advanced monitoring and real-time analytics. Its comprehensive features and flexible pricing make it a suitable choice for organizations aiming to optimize their digital operations effectively.


    SolarWinds Server & Application Monitor (SAM) delivers powerful application and server monitoring capabilities for IT pros, enabling them to diagnose and troubleshoot performance issues faster. Do not let slow applications and downtime impact your end-users and business services. Pinpoint the root cause of application issues across various layers of the IT stack. SolarWinds SAM is affordable and easy to deploy, use, and customize. You can automatically discover your system's environment and start monitoring in about an hour. No professional services or consultation needed.

    Sample Customers
    World Fuel Services, Verizon, FootLocker, McDonald's, Trainline, Mondia Media, Confused, Costa Coffee, Ryanair, Marks & Spencer, William Hill, Delivery Hero, Skyscanner, BASF, DAZN, Veygo, Virtuo, movingimage, talabat, Australia Post, Tokopedia, Seven Network, Virgin Australia, Zomato, BigBasket, Mercado Libre, Lending Club
    Andr. L. Riis AS, NetSuite
    Top Industries
    REVIEWERS
    Financial Services Firm23%
    Computer Software Company18%
    Media Company9%
    Retailer8%
    VISITORS READING REVIEWS
    Educational Organization30%
    Financial Services Firm14%
    Computer Software Company11%
    Manufacturing Company5%
    REVIEWERS
    Financial Services Firm20%
    Construction Company13%
    Recruiting/Hr Firm7%
    Energy/Utilities Company7%
    VISITORS READING REVIEWS
    Educational Organization41%
    Computer Software Company10%
    Government8%
    Financial Services Firm6%
    Company Size
    REVIEWERS
    Small Business35%
    Midsize Enterprise30%
    Large Enterprise35%
    VISITORS READING REVIEWS
    Small Business14%
    Midsize Enterprise36%
    Large Enterprise50%
    REVIEWERS
    Small Business36%
    Midsize Enterprise15%
    Large Enterprise49%
    VISITORS READING REVIEWS
    Small Business11%
    Midsize Enterprise48%
    Large Enterprise41%
    Buyer's Guide
    New Relic vs. SolarWinds Server and Application Monitor
    May 2024
    Find out what your peers are saying about New Relic vs. SolarWinds Server and Application Monitor and other solutions. Updated: May 2024.
    771,170 professionals have used our research since 2012.

    New Relic is ranked 3rd in Application Performance Monitoring (APM) and Observability with 152 reviews while SolarWinds Server and Application Monitor is ranked 18th in Application Performance Monitoring (APM) and Observability with 38 reviews. New Relic is rated 8.6, while SolarWinds Server and Application Monitor is rated 8.0. The top reviewer of New Relic writes "Has a simple user interface and end-to-end monitoring and self-healing features". On the other hand, the top reviewer of SolarWinds Server and Application Monitor writes "We use this product for base and application monitoring. ". New Relic is most compared with Dynatrace, Datadog, Elastic Observability, Grafana and Prometheus, whereas SolarWinds Server and Application Monitor is most compared with Azure Monitor, Dynatrace, AppDynamics, Prometheus and Tanium. See our New Relic vs. SolarWinds Server and Application Monitor report.

    See our list of best Application Performance Monitoring (APM) and Observability vendors.

    We monitor all Application Performance Monitoring (APM) and Observability reviews to prevent fraudulent reviews and keep review quality high. We do not post reviews by company employees or direct competitors. We validate each review for authenticity via cross-reference with LinkedIn, and personal follow-up with the reviewer when necessary.