The main difference between Grafana, SigNoz, and CubeAPM lies in scope and simplicity. Grafana focuses on visualization and dashboards, SigNoz targets developer-side tracing and metrics, while CubeAPM unifies full-stack observability—metrics, logs, traces, and events—into one OpenTelemetry-native platform with self-hosting, unlimited retention, and predictable $0.15 / GB pricing.

As systems scale, teams using Grafana or SigNoz often face fragmented telemetry pipelines, limited retention, and rising costs tied to separate tools or plug-ins. These gaps make troubleshooting slower and cost management unpredictable.

CubeAPM removes that compromise. It runs inside your own cloud or on-prem for full data control, managed like SaaS with no operational burden. Teams gain unified MELT visibility, 95 % compression through smart sampling, and up to 80 % lower spend compared to traditional stacks.

Grafana vs SigNoz vs CubeAPM — Comparison Table

Grafana vs SigNoz vs CubeAPM: Feature-by-Feature Breakdown

Multi-Agent Support

CubeAPM

CubeAPM supports multiple agents out of the box, including OpenTelemetry, Prometheus, Datadog, New Relic, and Elastic. This flexibility allows teams to migrate gradually from legacy APMs or mix existing agents within one unified backend. CubeAPM automatically maps telemetry from different sources without configuration changes—ideal for hybrid or multi-cloud teams.

Grafana

Grafana offers wide integration support for Prometheus, StatsD, InfluxDB, and full OpenTelemetry ingestion through Tempo and Loki. While its plugin model is powerful, it often requires additional configuration and backend tuning. It suits engineering teams that already maintain their own observability stack and prefer a customizable, open-source ecosystem.

SigNoz

SigNoz is built natively on OpenTelemetry and works well with its SDKs and collectors. It provides easy instrumentation for popular languages and frameworks but lacks compatibility with older proprietary agents. It’s best for developer-first teams that rely on code-level tracing and prefer lightweight, self-managed setups.

MELT Support (Metrics, Events, Logs, Traces)

CubeAPM

CubeAPM delivers complete MELT coverage in one backend. Metrics, logs, traces, and events are correlated automatically, reducing troubleshooting time by up to 40%. The unified data model helps teams quickly identify issues across layers—from user behavior to infrastructure—without switching between tools.

Grafana

Grafana supports MELT through its modular stack: Loki for logs, Tempo for traces, and Mimir for metrics. While powerful, this distributed approach requires separate setup and scaling for each service. It’s most effective for DevOps teams already invested in open-source observability tools who need a visualization-first solution.

SigNoz

SigNoz provides full MELT coverage with strong tracing and metrics capabilities but limited log correlation. It’s ideal for teams focused on application performance and debugging rather than end-to-end infrastructure visibility.

Deployment Options

CubeAPM

CubeAPM runs self-hosted inside your VPC or on-prem for full data control, yet is managed like SaaS—no maintenance, scaling, or upgrade overhead. Teams benefit from SaaS simplicity with the compliance advantages of local data storage, making it ideal for regulated or data-sensitive environments.

Grafana

Grafana can be self-hosted or deployed via Grafana Cloud. While the open-source version offers flexibility, it demands more hands-on maintenance and performance tuning. Grafana Cloud simplifies setup but stores telemetry externally, which may not fit strict data residency requirements.

SigNoz

SigNoz offers both self-hosted and managed cloud versions. The self-hosted option is easy to install using Docker or Kubernetes but can require more manual resource management at scale. It’s a good choice for startups looking to deploy OpenTelemetry quickly without complex licensing.

Pricing: Approximate Cost for Small, Medium & Large Teams

Cost for Small Teams (~30):

• CubeAPM: $2,080
• Grafana: $3,870
• SigNoz: $4,600

Cost for Mid-Sized Teams (~125):

• CubeAPM: $7,200
• Grafana: $11,875
• SigNoz: $16,000

Cost for Large Teams (~250):

• CubeAPM: $15,200
• Grafana: $26,750
• SigNoz: $34,000

CubeAPM Cost for Small, Medium, and Large Teams

Based on verified vendor pricing data, CubeAPM operates on a simple, all-inclusive model of $0.15 per GB of data ingested — with no extra charges for infrastructure, storage, or user licenses. Whether tracking logs, metrics, or traces, CubeAPM’s unified pricing brings complete predictability and transparency across every telemetry type.
Here is a cost breakdown for large, medium, and small teams:

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

This structure makes CubeAPM ideal for startups, SaaS platforms, and enterprises handling multi-terabyte telemetry workloads each month. Most teams report 60%+ lower total cost of ownership compared to Grafana Cloud or SigNoz.

Grafana Cloud: Cost for Small, Medium, and Large Teams

Grafana’s modular pricing combines base plan fees and per-GB ingestion charges.

• Pro plan: $19/month usage
• Logs:$0.50/GB ingested
• Traces: $0.50 / GB ingested

Here is a cost breakdown for large, medium, and small teams:

• Small teams (~30): $3,870
• Mid-sized teams (~125): $11,875
• Large teams (~250): $26,750

While Grafana’s modular approach gives flexibility for small environments, costs climb quickly once data volume exceeds a few terabytes per month. The need to manage multiple pricing tiers and data backends often leads to unpredictable costs, especially for growing DevOps teams and enterprise-scale monitoring.

SigNoz: Cost for Small, Medium, and Large Teams

SigNoz uses a transparent, usage-based pricing structure designed for engineering teams that want control over their ingestion costs. It separates billing by telemetry type—logs, traces, and metrics—allowing teams to scale gradually as observability needs grow.

SigNoz Pricing Overview

• Teams: $49 per month
• Logs: $0.3 per GB ingested
• Traces: $0.3 per GB ingested
• Metrics: $0.10 per million samples
• Free self-hosted edition available

This pay-as-you-grow model keeps the entry barrier low for small teams but can add up as data volumes expand across multiple services and environments.

Team-Size Cost Breakdown
Small teams (~30): $4,600
Mid-sized teams (~125): $16,000
Large teams (~250): $34,000

SigNoz remains an appealing choice for developer-first teams that prioritize OpenTelemetry tracing and metrics. However, because logs, traces, and metrics are billed separately, scaling across distributed systems can make long-term costs unpredictable. At enterprise scale, total spend is generally 30–40% higher than CubeAPM’s unified $0.15/GB model, though still lower than traditional enterprise APM platforms.

Sampling Strategy

CubeAPM

CubeAPM’s Smart Sampling combines context-aware logic and 95% compression, retaining high-value error and latency traces while dropping redundant data. This approach maintains accuracy in high-throughput systems, reducing storage costs without losing observability fidelity.

Grafana

Grafana uses probabilistic and tail sampling depending on configuration in Tempo or Loki. It works well for general metrics but lacks CubeAPM’s contextual precision, often capturing too much or too little data.

SigNoz

SigNoz applies tail-based sampling through OpenTelemetry SDKs. While effective for moderate workloads, it requires manual tuning to achieve optimal balance between detail and cost.

Log Retention

CubeAPM

CubeAPM provides unlimited retention at no extra cost. All telemetry remains in your own cloud storage, ensuring compliance and long-term auditability without additional storage fees.

Grafana

Grafana Cloud retains logs for 15–30 days by default, with longer retention available at extra cost. This works for short-term monitoring but becomes expensive for long-term security or compliance data.

SigNoz

SigNoz offers flexible retention depending on plan and infrastructure. Self-hosted users can set custom policies, while managed plans typically offer 30 days for metrics and 15 days for logs and traces.

Support Channel & TAT & Pricing

CubeAPM

CubeAPM provides real-time support via Slack and WhatsApp with response times measured in minutes. This level of direct access to core engineers helps production teams resolve issues quickly and avoid extended downtime.

Grafana

Grafana users rely mainly on community forums and email-based support. Pro and Enterprise tiers include ticketed help, but response times can stretch to several hours or days.

SigNoz

SigNoz offers standard email and in-app chat support, with faster response for paying customers. It’s sufficient for small teams but lacks the immediacy of live engineering channels.

Known For

CubeAPM

Known for OpenTelemetry-native observability, unlimited retention, and predictable pricing, CubeAPM combines self-host flexibility with SaaS simplicity. It’s the preferred choice for teams prioritizing compliance, full MELT coverage, and transparent cost scaling.

Grafana

Known for rich visual dashboards and a vast plugin ecosystem, Grafana remains the go-to for open-source observability and visualization-first workloads.

SigNoz

Known for developer-first tracing and easy OpenTelemetry setup, SigNoz appeals to small teams needing quick visibility into application performance without enterprise overhead.

Which Tool Is Best for You? Why Brands Choose CubeAPM

Benefits of Choosing CubeAPM

• Full Data Sovereignty: All telemetry stays within your own cloud or VPC for complete compliance with SOC 2, HIPAA, GDPR, and regional data-residency laws.
• Unified MELT Visibility: One backend for Metrics, Events, Logs, and Traces—eliminating tool sprawl, plug-in maintenance, and context switching.
• Predictable Pricing: Flat ingestion cost of $0.15 per GB across all telemetry types—no per-user, per-host, or feature-based fees.
• Unlimited Retention: Retain logs, metrics, and traces indefinitely without paying per-GB storage premiums.
• Smart Sampling Efficiency: Context-aware sampling with up to 95 % compression while preserving critical latency and error data—optimized performance with lower costs.
• Multi-Agent Compatibility: Works natively with OpenTelemetry, Prometheus, Datadog, and New Relic agents, enabling easy migration from existing setups.
• API Access: Retrieve and manage all telemetry through open APIs at no additional cost.
• Real-Time Support: Direct Slack and WhatsApp access to core engineers with response times measured in minutes.

Grafana vs SigNoz vs CubeAPM: Use Cases

Choose Grafana if

You need deep visualization and alerting flexibility for Prometheus, Loki, or Tempo metrics. Grafana is ideal for DevOps teams already running self-managed telemetry pipelines and looking for a unified dashboarding layer.
It’s best suited for:

• Teams comfortable managing multiple open-source backends.
• Organizations prioritizing visual analytics and alerting over full-stack observability.
• Use cases where data volume is moderate and compliance requirements are minimal.

Choose SigNoz if

You want a lightweight, developer-focused observability platform built on OpenTelemetry. SigNoz is ideal for engineering teams that primarily track traces and metrics to debug application performance.
It’s best suited for:

• Developer-led teams focused on performance optimization and error tracking.
• Startups needing simple tracing without complex multi-layer infrastructure monitoring.
• Environments with lower data ingestion where cost predictability is less critical.

Choose CubeAPM if

You want full-stack observability across applications, infrastructure, and user experience—all in one OpenTelemetry-native platform. CubeAPM provides self-hosting, unlimited retention, and predictable $0.15/GB pricing, giving enterprises control and cost efficiency.
It’s best suited for:

• SRE and platform teams managing Kubernetes, microservices, and cloud workloads.
• Organizations with strict data residency, compliance, or long-term retention needs.
• Teams that want real-time support, 95% sampling efficiency, and up to 80% lower observability spend compared to legacy APMs

Conclusion

Grafana and SigNoz both offer capable observability options but fall short of delivering unified MELT visibility without extra setup or plug-ins. Their modular structures often increase overhead and fragment telemetry across systems.

CubeAPM brings everything together in one OpenTelemetry-native stack—covering logs, metrics, traces, and infra under a single backend. It simplifies scaling, improves data control, and cuts the time needed to resolve issues.

For teams aiming to consolidate tools, streamline operations, and gain real-time visibility without complexity, CubeAPM is the clear choice.