Freedom251 › Distributed Tracing Tools
Grafana Tempo
What Grafana Tempo is
Grafana Tempo is free, self-hosted software for Linux. It supports OpenTelemetry, provides a service map, and includes tail-based sampling. These capabilities make it relevant to teams planning a Linux deployment for tracing-related work. Because the deployment model is self-hosted, operators manage where the software runs rather than using a hosted service described in these facts. Linux is the listed platform, so teams should plan around that environment. The product is marked as free and includes a free plan. Grafana Tempo was founded in 2014 and is headquartered in New York, New York, USA. Its stated capabilities give evaluators three clear areas to consider: whether OpenTelemetry support is needed, whether a service map fits their workflow, and whether tail-based sampling is useful. The entry does not list other platforms, hosted deployment, or additional pricing terms.
Who it suits
Grafana Tempo suits teams seeking a free, self-hosted Linux product with OpenTelemetry support, service maps, and tail-based sampling. It is intended for environments prepared to operate the deployment themselves.
What it does well
- Free plan
- Self-hosted deployment
- Linux platform
- OpenTelemetry support
- Service map and tail-based sampling
What to know first
- Linux is the only listed platform
- Self-hosted operation requires local deployment management
- No hosted deployment is listed
Verdict
Grafana Tempo is a focused free option for Linux teams that want self-hosted tracing capabilities. Its fit depends on accepting operator-managed deployment and the specific listed feature set.
Facts from Grafana Tempo's own pages
- Founded
- 2014 · grafana.com, 23 Sept 2026
- Headquarters
- New York, New York, USA · grafana.com, 23 Sept 2026
Where Grafana Tempo stands on Freedom251
- Distributed Tracing Tools#24 of 32