OpenObserve vs Splunk Observability Cloud: Pricing Comparison (2026)
OpenObserve and Splunk Observability Cloud both start at Free on their entry tier.
See price history: OpenObserve · Splunk Observability Cloud
OpenObserve is a Datadog/Splunk/New Relic alternative positioned on transparent pay-as-you-go pricing with no per-seat or per-host fees. Cloud PAYG: $0.50/GB ingestion + $0.01/GB query (30% off with annual commit). Includes 15-month metrics retention + 30-day non-metrics retention default. Enterprise adds SSO/RBAC, AI SRE agent, BYO bucket infinite retention. Self-hosted OSS is free; Self-hosted Enterprise free up to 50GB/day.
Splunk Observability Cloud is Cisco-owned enterprise observability with three quote-based pricing models: Entity (per-host, predictable), Ingest (per data volume, unlimited searches), and Workload (aligned to search patterns). Includes Infrastructure Monitoring, APM, Digital Experience Analytics, Log Observer, and IT Service Intelligence in one platform. No public list prices — all deals go through sales. 14-day free trial available. Acquired by Cisco in 2024.
All plans compared
| # | Plan | OpenObserve monthly | OpenObserve annual | Splunk Observability Cloud monthly | Splunk Observability Cloud annual |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Cloud Professional (PAYG) / Entity Pricing | 0 | 0 | custom | custom |
| 2 | Cloud Enterprise / Ingest Pricing | custom | custom | custom | custom |
| 3 | Self-hosted (OSS) / Workload Pricing | 0 | 0 | custom | custom |
| 4 | Self-hosted Enterprise | 0 | 0 | — | — |
What each is best for
OpenObserve is a Datadog/Splunk/New Relic alternative positioned on transparent pay-as-you-go pricing with no per-seat or per-host fees. Cloud PAYG: $0.50/GB ingestion + $0.01/GB query (30% off with annual commit). Includes 15-month metrics retention + 30-day non-metrics retention default. Enterprise adds SSO/RBAC, AI SRE agent, BYO bucket infinite retention. Self-hosted OSS is free; Self-hosted Enterprise free up to 50GB/day.
Splunk Observability Cloud is Cisco-owned enterprise observability with three quote-based pricing models: Entity (per-host, predictable), Ingest (per data volume, unlimited searches), and Workload (aligned to search patterns). Includes Infrastructure Monitoring, APM, Digital Experience Analytics, Log Observer, and IT Service Intelligence in one platform. No public list prices — all deals go through sales. 14-day free trial available. Acquired by Cisco in 2024.
At a glance
| OpenObserve | Splunk Observability Cloud | |
|---|---|---|
| Free plan | Yes | — |
| Entry price | Free | Free |
| Enterprise available | Yes | Yes |
| Pricing model | Per Usage | Per Usage |
| Last verified | August 18, 2026 | August 18, 2026 |
| Full pricing | View full pricing | View full pricing |
Pricing last verified August 18, 2026. Tracked daily.