The main difference between SigNoz, Sumo Logic, and CubeAPM is their approach to observability. SigNoz is OpenTelemetry-native and available as OSS or SaaS, Sumo Logic is a cloud-based observability and security platform, and CubeAPM delivers OpenTelemetry-native full-stack observability with predictable pricing.

As systems scale, teams face trade-offs between cost and operational effort. Sumo Logic is fully managed but often associated with high costs and a steep learning curve. SigNoz offers flexibility and OpenTelemetry-native design, but managing ClickHouse and the platform can add operational overhead.

CubeAPM addresses these challenges by combining full-stack observability with predictable pricing and minimal operational overhead. Built on OpenTelemetry, CubeAPM uses smart sampling and self-hosting to deliver predictable observability costs.

SigNoz vs Sumo Logic vs CubeAPM: Comparison Table

Features	CubeAPM	SigNoz	Sumo Logic
Known for	OpenTelemetry-native full-stack observability	OpenTelemetry-first observability (OSS + SaaS)	Enterprise infrastructure & network monitoring
Multi-Agent Support	Yes (OTel, New Relic, Datadog, Elastic)	Partial (OTel collectors)	Partial(OTel collectors)
MELT Support	Full MELT coverage	Full MELT coverage	Full MELT coverage
Setup	Self-hosted but vendor-managed	SaaS and Self-hosted	SaaS only
Pricing	Ingestion-based: $0.15/GB	Teams:$49/month Logs:$0.3/GB Traces: $0.3/GB Metrics: $0.1/mil samples	Credits-based: estimated $3.14/TB scanned
Sampling Strategy	Smart sampling	Head-based + Tail-based sampling	Probabilistic + Tail-based + Pattern filtering sampling
Data Retention	Infinite Retention (no extra cost)	Logs and Traces: 15-day Metrics: 30-day	Normalized Logs: 90 Security Signals: Up to 2 years
Support TAT	Within minutes	No details	1hr to 1day

SigNoz vs Sumo Logic vs CubeAPM: Feature-by-Feature Breakdown

Multi-Agent Support

CubeAPM: CubeAPM supports true multi-agent ingestion by offering native compatibility with multiple commonly used agents and pipelines, including OpenTelemetry, Datadog, New Relic, and Elastic-compatible shippers. This allows teams to ingest telemetry from different sources and coexist with other observability stacks.

SigNoz: SigNoz provides partial multi-agent support through OpenTelemetry. It supports OpenTelemetry SDKs for languages such as Java, Go, Python, Node.js, and .NET, with telemetry ingested via OpenTelemetry collectors.

Sumo Logic: Sumo Logic provides partial multi-agent support by supporting OpenTelemetry ingestion and integrations with common data collection tools such as Fluent Bit and Logstash, alongside its own collection mechanisms.

MELT Support (Metrics, Events, Logs, Traces)

CubeAPM:  Supports full MELT observability by unifying metrics, events, logs, and traces in a single platform. It enables correlation across telemetry types to support end-to-end visibility and faster troubleshooting.

SigNoz:  Supports FULL MELT observability through OpenTelemetry, covering metrics, logs, and traces within a unified interface. Telemetry is collected and correlated using OpenTelemetry instrumentation and collectors.

Sumo Logic: Supports MELT observability by combining metrics, logs, and traces within its cloud platform. Its analytics capabilities allow teams to explore and correlate telemetry data across different sources.

Deployment (Self-Host / Setup)

CubeAPM: Provides self-hosted or BYOC (Bring Your Own Cloud) deployment managed by the vendor. It keeps telemetry inside your infrastructure, ensuring compliance and low-latency data access.

SigNoz: SigNoz supports both self-hosted and cloud deployments. Self-hosted setups typically run on Kubernetes and require teams to manage core components, while SigNoz Cloud provides a managed alternative.

Sumo Logic: Sumo Logic is a cloud-only SaaS platform with no self-hosted or on-prem deployment option. All data ingestion, processing, and storage are handled within Sumo Logic–managed environments.

Pricing: Approximate Cost for Small, Mid-Sized & Large Teams

*Disclaimer: Pricing comparisons are based on standardized Small/Medium/Large team profiles defined in our internal benchmarking sheet. Actual costs may vary by usage, region, and plan. Please verify current pricing with each vendor.

An APM host is a host that is actively generating traces data and an Infra host is any physical or virtual OS instance that you monitor with any observability tool.

Transparent pricing plays a critical role in how observability scales with data volume and team size. Below is a cost comparison for small, mid-sized, and large teams, derived from verified vendor pricing and estimated monthly ingestion rates.

Cost for Small Teams (~30):

CubeAPM: $2,080
SigNoz: $4,600
Sumo Logic: $4,641

Cost for Mid-Sized Teams (~125):

CubeAPM: $7,200
SigNoz: $16,000
Sumo Logic: $16,065

Cost for Large Teams (~250):

CubeAPM: $15,200
SigNoz: $34,000
Sumo Logic: $33,915

These figures highlight how CubeAPM’s ingestion-based pricing ensures predictable costs at scale, while SigNoz’s hybrid cloud model and Sumo Logic’s credit-based pricing can escalate significantly as telemetry grows.

CubeAPM: Cost for Small, Medium & Large Teams

CubeAPM follows a simple ingestion-based model at $0.15 per GB, with no user or host charges and optional add-ons like $0.01/GB for data transfer and $0.02/GB for infra.

• Small teams (~30): $2,080 / month
  
• Mid-sized teams (~125): $7,200 / month
  
• Large teams (~250): $15,200 / month
  

This transparent pricing makes CubeAPM ideal for startups and enterprises ingesting multiple terabytes each month.

SigNoz: Cost for Small, Medium & Large Teams

SigNoz Cloud begins at $49/month base, plus usage-based fees — around $0.30/GB for logs and traces and $0.10 per million metric samples. Self-hosted deployments depend on local infrastructure and storage costs.

• Small teams (~30): $4,600 / month
  
• Mid-sized teams (~125): $16,000 / month
  
• Large teams (~250): $34,000 / month

SigNoz’s model suits small engineering teams looking for open-source flexibility, though costs rise quickly as ingestion volume and retention needs expand.

Sumo Logic: Cost for Small, Medium & Large Teams

Sumo Logic uses a credit-based pricing model with variable burn rates across telemetry types and includes $3.14 per TB scanned, making costs usage-dependent.

• Small teams (~30): $4,641 / month
  
• Mid-sized teams (~125): $16,065 / month
  
• Large teams (~250): $33,915 / month

While flexible, this model results in variable costs, as total spend increases as usage grows over time.

Sampling Strategy

CubeAPM: CubeAPM uses AI-driven smart sampling that automatically retains high-value data such as errors, latency spikes, and anomalous traces while discarding noise. This approach reduces telemetry volume by up to 95%, keeps diagnostic context intact, and makes observability costs predictable at scale.

SigNoz: SigNoz supports head-based and tail-based sampling via OpenTelemetry. Head-based sampling filters traces at ingest time, while tail-based sampling evaluates complete traces based on criteria like latency or errors. Sampling is configured through the OTEL Collector.

Sumo Logic: Sumo Logic supports probabilistic sampling, tail-based sampling, and pattern-based filtering. This lets teams control trace volume by random sampling, outcome-based retention, or attribute-based filtering for more granular control at scale.

Log Retention

CubeAPM: CubeAPM offers unlimited data retention at no extra cost, with all telemetry stored inside your own cloud or data center. There are no tiered retention limits, no add-on charges, and no time caps — teams can retain logs, metrics, traces, and events as long as needed for compliance and analysis.

SigNoz: SigNoz applies default retention limits by data type. Based on its official pricing and documentation, logs and traces are retained for 15 days by default, while metrics are retained for 30 days. Extending retention requires higher cloud plans or additional storage when self-hosted, increasing operational and infrastructure costs.

Sumo Logic: Sumo Logic uses data-type–specific, configurable retention. Based on official documentation, normalized logs are retained for 90 days, security signals for up to 2 years, and audit/system data for 30 days by default. Raw log retention is configurable by partition, ranging from 1 day up to 5,000 days, depending on the customer’s plan and configuration.

Support Channel & TAT

CubeAPM: Offers real-time Email, Slack, and WhatsApp support directly with core engineers, ensuring minute-level response times for production-critical workloads.

SigNoz: Offers support through email, Slack, GitHub, and community channels, with no publicly documented support turnaround time (TAT).

Sumo Logic: Provides Email and Phone support through tiered Standard and Premium plans with defined SLAs. For Critical (P1) incidents, response time is 1 hour on Standard and 30 minutes on Premium. For Low-priority issues, response time is 2 business days on Standard and 1 business day on Premium, with SLAs varying by severity and plan.

Known For

CubeAPM: Known for OpenTelemetry-native full-stack observability, predictable ingestion-based pricing, unlimited data retention, and self-hosted/BYOC deployments. CubeAPM is designed for teams that need end-to-end MELT visibility with full data control and fast incident resolution.

SigNoz: Known for being an OpenTelemetry-native observability platform built on ClickHouse, available as both a managed SaaS and a self-hosted option. SigNoz is commonly used by teams adopting OpenTelemetry for application tracing, logs, and metrics with an open, vendor-neutral approach.

Sumo Logic: Known for enterprise-grade infrastructure and network monitoring, particularly in hybrid and on-prem environments. LogicMonitor is widely used for monitoring servers, networks, and cloud resources at scale, with strong alerting and topology mapping.

Which Tool Is Best for You? Why Brands Choose CubeAPM

CubeAPM combines full-stack MELT visibility, strict data sovereignty, and transparent ingestion-based pricing in a single OpenTelemetry-native platform—ideal for teams who want performance, compliance, and simplicity without vendor lock-in.

Key Benefits of Choosing CubeAPM

• Full-Stack MELT Coverage: Unified observability for metrics, events, logs, and traces with built-in APM, Infra, RUM, and Synthetic Monitoring.
  
• Predictable Pricing: Simple $0.15 / GB ingestion model with no per-user, host, or feature-based charges.
  
• Smart Sampling Efficiency: Context-aware sampling retains critical latency and error traces while reducing noise and cost.
  
• Unlimited Retention: Store all telemetry in your own cloud with no extra storage or archival fees.
  
• Self-Host / BYOC Deployment: Maintain full control of your data for regulation compliance while enjoying SaaS-like management.
  
• Real-Time Human Support: Direct Slack / WhatsApp access to core engineers with minute-level response times.
  
• Multi-Agent Compatibility: Works seamlessly with OpenTelemetry, Prometheus, Datadog, New Relic, and Elastic for effortless migration.
  
• Faster MTTR: Correlates logs, metrics, and traces in one view—cutting troubleshooting time by up to 40 %.
  
• Lower Total Cost of Ownership: Reduces observability spend by 60–80 % compared to credit- or host-based platforms.

SigNoz vs Sumo Logic vs CubeAPM: Use Cases

Below are the top scenarios where each platform fits best based on team size, architecture, and observability goals.

Choose CubeAPM if

• You want an end-to-end observability platform that balances power, control, and cost efficiency.
• You need full MELT coverage—metrics, events, logs, and traces—in one OpenTelemetry-native stack.
• You prefer self-host or BYOC deployment to maintain compliance and data sovereignty.
• You aim to reduce observability costs by 60–80% through simple $0.15/GB ingestion pricing.
• You value real-time Slack/WhatsApp support and smart sampling for faster root-cause detection.

Choose SigNoz if

• You’re a developer-focused team that values open-source flexibility and transparency.
• You want to self-host your observability stack using Helm, Docker, or Kubernetes.
• Your applications are instrumented with OpenTelemetry SDKs and require minimal setup.
• You’re a cost-conscious engineering team looking for control over data and infra management.

Choose Sumo Logic if:

You’re an enterprise organization focused on security, scale, and compliance-driven analytics.

• You need centralized observability and SIEM capabilities across multi-cloud environments.
  
• You prefer a fully managed SaaS solution with up to 365 days of log retention.
  
• You manage large ingestion volumes requiring automated correlation across logs and metrics.
  

Conclusion

Both SigNoz and Sumo Logic bring solid capabilities to the observability stack—SigNoz offering open-source flexibility and Sumo Logic delivering enterprise-grade analytics. However, teams often face high costs and retention limits as data volumes grow.

CubeAPM addresses these challenges with predictable $0.15/GB ingestion pricing, unlimited retention, and self-hosted or BYOC deployment for complete data control. Its unified MELT coverage, unlimited retention, and minute-level support help teams cut observability costs by up to 80%.

FAQs