Side by side
mtail vs Rootprint
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 plan LinuxMacSelf-hosted+1
mtail provides a focused path from log output to monitoring metrics, with several export options and flexible deployment. Separate security and long-term storage systems are required, and it does not replace a searchable log archive.
Visit mtail Free plan APISelf-hosted
Rootprint combines searchable logs, trace details, and span-derived service views in a self-hosted package. Choose it when owning deployment and storage matters, while planning separate tools for metrics and alerting.
Visit RootprintThe facts
| mtail | Rootprint | |
|---|---|---|
| Free plan | Yes | Yes |
| Open source | Not published | Not published |
| Runs on | Linux, Mac, Self-hosted, Windows | API, Self-hosted |
| Lowest paid plan | Free or on request | Free or on request |
| Plans published | 1 | 1 |
| Maker | Not published | Not published |
| Website | google.github.io | rootprint.io |
| On log management software | #40 of 111 | #44 of 111 |
mtail: what it does well
- Free Apache-2.0 open-source software
- Extracts metrics from application logs
- Supports JSON and Prometheus scraping
- Runs on Linux, macOS, Windows, and Docker
- Can monitor multiple applications per machine
What to know first
- No SSL or HTTP authentication
- No transport security for logs
- Metric values do not persist across restarts
- Not designed for log search or data mining
Rootprint: what it does well
- Free Apache-2.0 self-hosted plan
- Full-text logs with field filters
- OpenTelemetry trace exploration
- Multiple object-storage choices
- Invite-based team access
What to know first
- No metrics or alerting
- Pre-1.0 and under active development
- Users pay compute and storage costs
- Latest pre-1.0 release only gets security fixes
Alternatives to mtail Alternatives to Rootprint The whole list