Side by side
Central Logging vs SolarWinds Log Analyzer
Both stand on log management software. Which one you can start free with, which one lets you read the code, and what each costs once you pay.
Free trial APILinuxMac+2
Central Logging combines self-hosted log management with alerting, cron checks, uptime, and latency monitoring. Its one-node design and stated ingest limit make it more appropriate for small teams than very large logging environments.
Visit Central Logging Free trial LinuxSelf-hostedWindows
SolarWinds Log Analyzer combines broad event collection with filtering, live viewing, performance correlation, and alert routing. Its paid, self-hosted model and annual billing make deployment and budget planning important considerations.
Visit SolarWinds Log AnalyzerThe facts
| Central Logging | SolarWinds Log Analyzer | |
|---|---|---|
| Free plan | A free trial | A free trial |
| Open source | Not published | Not published |
| Runs on | API, Linux, Mac, Self-hosted, Web | Linux, Self-hosted, Windows |
| Lowest paid plan | Unlimited license: $187, paid once | SolarWinds Observability Self-Hosted (includes Log Analyzer): $8 a month |
| Plans published | 2 | 4 |
| Maker | Not published | SolarWinds Log Analyzer |
| Website | centrallogging.com | solarwinds.com |
| On log management software | #76 of 111 | #72 of 111 |
Central Logging: what it does well
- Self-hosted on the customer’s server
- SQL and full-text log search
- Alerts for logs, cron, uptime, and latency
- Nightly S3-compatible backups
- No telemetry or call-home
What to know first
- Single-node deployment
- Designed for under roughly 10GB daily ingest
- Default retention is 15 days
- No support contracts
SolarWinds Log Analyzer: what it does well
- Collects syslog, SNMP, Windows, and VMware events
- Filters logs without complex queries
- Streams live events with 10-second refreshes
- Correlates logs with performance metrics
- Supports custom alerts and security rules
What to know first
- No free plan
- Self-hosted deployment is required
- Windows collection needs an agent or forwarder
- Starting price requires annual billing
Alternatives to Central Logging Alternatives to SolarWinds Log Analyzer The whole list