Best Kubernetes Monitoring in 2026
Updated
Kubernetes monitoring helps you follow the health and activity of workloads and the systems around them. Compared on control-plane monitoring, Kubernetes logs, and distributed tracing, these tools can be assessed for the signals they make available; alerting channels and data retention add detail about how teams receive and keep those signals. Managed Kubernetes support, free plans, and paid-from pricing are also useful points of comparison. Middleware and Netdata are among the entries, alongside Datadog Kubernetes Monitoring. Consider which kinds of visibility and operational coverage matter in your environment, then weigh the listed capabilities and costs against those needs.
25 of 25 with known pricing have a free tier;2 of 5 with known code status publish open-source code;2 apps show full bars: free, open, on most devices and documented.
| # | App | Signal | Free tier | Open code | Devices | From | Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | CheckmkWeb · Windows · Mac · Linux · Android · iPhone · Self-hosted · API | Full bars | 6 of 6 | $275/mo | 8.2 | ||
| 2 | NetdataWeb · Windows · Mac · Linux · Android · iPhone · Self-hosted · API | Full bars | 6 of 6 | $4.50/mo | 8.2 | ||
| 3 | Grafana Cloud Application ObservabilityWeb · Windows · Mac · Linux · Android · iPhone · API · Extension | Three bars | No | 6 of 6 | $0.03/mo | 6.8 | |
| 4 | MiddlewareWeb · Windows · Mac · Linux · Android · iPhone · API · Extension | Three bars | No | 6 of 6 | $0.30/mo | 6.8 | |
| 5 | Sumo LogicWeb · Windows · Mac · Linux · API | Three bars | No | 4 of 6 | Free | 6.7 | |
| 6 | Datadog Kubernetes MonitoringWeb · Windows · Mac · Linux · Self-hosted · API | Three bars | 4 of 6 | $1/mo | 6.6 | ||
| 7 | Dynatrace Kubernetes MonitoringWeb · Linux · Android · iPhone · Self-hosted · API | Three bars | 4 of 6 | $1.40/mo | 6.6 | ||
| 8 | RadarWeb · Windows · Mac · Linux · Self-hosted · API | Three bars | 4 of 6 | $149/mo | 6.6 | ||
| 9 | HoneycombWeb · Android · iPhone · Self-hosted · API | Three bars | 3 of 6 | $150/mo | 6.5 | ||
| 10 | IcingaWeb · Windows · Linux · Self-hosted · API | Three bars | 3 of 6 | $166.67/mo | 6.5 | ||
| 11 | ManageEngine Applications ManagerWeb · Windows · Linux · Android · iPhone | Two bars | 5 of 6 | $32.92/mo | 6.5 | ||
| 12 | New Relic Kubernetes MonitoringWeb · Windows · Linux · Self-hosted | Three bars | 3 of 6 | $29.08/mo | 6.5 | ||
| 13 | PrometheusWeb · Windows · Mac · Linux · Self-hosted | Three bars | 4 of 6 | Free | 6.5 | ||
| 14 | SigNozWeb · Android · iPhone · Self-hosted · API | Three bars | 3 of 6 | $19/mo | 6.5 | ||
| 15 | VictoriaMetricsWeb · Windows · Mac · Linux · Self-hosted · API | Three bars | 4 of 6 | $200/mo | 6.5 | ||
| 16 | WatchlogWeb · Windows · Linux · Self-hosted · API | Three bars | 3 of 6 | $4.99/mo | 6.5 | ||
| 17 | CorootWeb · Windows · Linux · Self-hosted · API | Three bars | 3 of 6 | $1/mo | 6.4 | ||
| 18 | groundcoverWeb · Linux · Self-hosted | Two bars | 2 of 6 | $30/mo | 6.4 | ||
| 19 | PersesWeb · Mac · Linux · Self-hosted · API | Three bars | 3 of 6 | Free | 6.4 | ||
| 20 | avuru obsWeb · Linux · Self-hosted · API | Two bars | 2 of 6 | Free | 6.3 | ||
| 21 | Chronosphere Application ObservabilityWeb · API | Two bars | 1 of 6 | 6.3 | |||
| 22 | Grafana k6Linux | Two bars | 1 of 6 | $19/mo | 6.3 | ||
| 23 | PixieWeb · Linux · Self-hosted | Two bars | 2 of 6 | Free | 6.3 | ||
| 24 | SkoonerWeb · Self-hosted | Two bars | 1 of 6 | Free | 6.3 | ||
| 25 | smartctl_exporterLinux · Self-hosted | Two bars | 1 of 6 | Free | 6.3 |
Compare all 25 in a table
| # | App | Score | Free plan | From | Free plan | Paid from | Control-plane monitoring | Kubernetes logs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Checkmk | 8.2 | Free plan | $275/mo | Yes | |||
| 2 | Netdata | 8.2 | Free plan | $4.50/mo | Yes | 4.5 /mo | ||
| 3 | Grafana Cloud Application Observability | 6.8 | Free plan | $0.03/mo | Yes | |||
| 4 | Middleware | 6.8 | Free plan | $0.30/mo | Yes | |||
| 5 | Sumo Logic | 6.7 | Free plan | Free | Yes | |||
| 6 | Datadog Kubernetes Monitoring | 6.6 | Free plan | $1/mo | Yes | 1 /mo | Yes | Yes |
| 7 | Dynatrace Kubernetes Monitoring | 6.6 | $1.40/mo | No | ||||
| 8 | Radar | 6.6 | Free plan | $149/mo | Yes | 149 /mo | No | |
| 9 | Honeycomb | 6.5 | Free plan | $150/mo | Yes | 150 /mo | ||
| 10 | Icinga | 6.5 | Free plan | $166.67/mo | Yes | |||
| 11 | ManageEngine Applications Manager | 6.5 | Free plan | $32.92/mo | Yes | |||
| 12 | New Relic Kubernetes Monitoring | 6.5 | Free plan | $29.08/mo | Yes | |||
| 13 | Prometheus | 6.5 | Free plan | Free | ||||
| 14 | SigNoz | 6.5 | Free plan | $19/mo | Yes | 49 /mo | ||
| 15 | VictoriaMetrics | 6.5 | Free plan | $200/mo | Yes | 200 /mo | ||
| 16 | Watchlog | 6.5 | Free plan | $4.99/mo | Yes | 4.99 /mo | ||
| 17 | Coroot | 6.4 | Free plan | $1/mo | Yes | 1 /mo | ||
| 18 | groundcover | 6.4 | Free plan | $30/mo | Yes | 30 /mo | ||
| 19 | Perses | 6.4 | Free plan | Free | Yes | |||
| 20 | avuru obs | 6.3 | Free plan | Free | Yes | Yes | ||
| 21 | Chronosphere Application Observability | 6.3 | ||||||
| 22 | Grafana k6 | 6.3 | Free plan | $19/mo | Yes | |||
| 23 | Pixie | 6.3 | Free plan | Free | ||||
| 24 | Skooner | 6.3 | Free plan | Free | ||||
| 25 | smartctl_exporter | 6.3 | Free plan | Free | Yes | Yes |
Is your app on this list?
Numbered spots on this list can be sponsored, and a sponsored row is labelled as paid.