Freedom251 › IT Operations Management Software
Google Cloud Observability
What Google Cloud Observability is
Google Cloud Observability is a web service for application monitoring, log management, and synthetic monitoring, with a hybrid deployment model. Its paid pricing is divided among logging storage and retention, monitoring data, Prometheus metrics, uptime checks, synthetic monitors, and trace ingestion. Logging storage is $0.50, paid once, with the first 50 GiB per project per month free. Logging retention is $0.01 a month according to retention; the default retention period has no retention cost. For monitoring data charged by ingested bytes, the first 150 MiB per billing account is free, but no price is listed. Managed Service for Prometheus metrics is $0.06 a month for the first 0–50 billion samples ingested, with tiered rates for higher volumes. Uptime checks are $0.30 a month after 1 million executions per project free. Synthetic monitors are $1.20 a month after 100 executions per billing account free. Trace ingestion is $0.20 a month after the first 2.5 million spans per billing account free. There is no free plan, although these usage allowances apply.
Who it suits
It suits teams looking for web-based monitoring across applications, logs, synthetic checks, metrics, and traces. Its hybrid deployment model may fit teams considering that deployment approach.
What it does well
- Covers application monitoring, log management, and synthetic monitoring
- Hybrid deployment model
- Lists usage allowances for several pricing categories
What to know first
- No free plan
- Charges depend on usage and retention categories
Limits
There is no free plan, though individual categories have allowances: 50 GiB of logging storage per project each month, 150 MiB of byte-ingested monitoring data per billing account, 1 million uptime-check executions per project, 100 synthetic-monitor executions per billing account and 2.5 million trace spans per billing account. Prometheus metrics include the first 0–50 billion ingested samples at the listed tier, with higher volumes charged at tiered rates.
Plans
| Plan | Billed and limits | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Logging storage | One-time charge · First 50 GiB/project/month free | $0.50, paid once |
| Logging retention | Billed monthly according to retention · Default retention period does not incur retention cost | $0.01 a month |
| Monitoring data | First 150 MiB per billing account free for metrics charged by bytes ingested | On request |
| Managed Service for Prometheus metrics | First 0–50 billion samples ingested tier · Prometheus-format metrics · Tiered rates for higher sample volumes | $0.06 a month |
| Uptime checks | 1 million executions per Google Cloud project free | $0.30 a month |
| Synthetic monitors | 100 executions per billing account free | $1.20 a month |
| Trace ingestion | First 2.5 million spans per billing account free | $0.20 a month |
As cloud.google.com lists them, read 20 Sept 2026. The maker's own page has the final word.
Getting started
- Visit the Google Cloud Observability website.
- Use the web platform.
- Choose the relevant pricing category for your observability workload.
Verdict
Google Cloud Observability groups several monitoring and logging workloads under separate pricing categories. Review the relevant allowances and rates for the workloads you need, noting that monitoring data has no listed price.
Questions
Is Google Cloud Observability free?
It has no free plan. Several usage categories include free allowances before charges apply.
What does Google Cloud Observability cost?
Logging storage is $0.50, paid once, logging retention is $0.01 a month, Managed Service for Prometheus metrics is $0.06 a month, uptime checks are $0.30 a month, synthetic monitors are $1.20 a month and trace ingestion is $0.20 a month. Monitoring data has no listed price; allowances and billing terms vary by category.
Which platforms does it support?
The listed platform is web.
What does Google Cloud Observability monitor?
It supports application monitoring, log management and synthetic monitoring.
What deployment model does it use?
Its deployment model is hybrid.