Grafana stack (Mimir + Loki + Tempo) vs OpenObserve
Self-host pick — both replace New Relic (APM / observability platform).
Both Grafana stack (Mimir + Loki + Tempo) and OpenObserve self-host as a replacement for New Relic (APM / observability platform). Pick OpenObserve if you want the lighter footprint — 15min single-binary or docker run, $15-40/mo vps; storage backed by s3-compatible object storage keeps cost predictable. Pick Grafana stack (Mimir + Loki + Tempo) if you need teams that already have Grafana expertise and want best-of-breed components rather than a single product — 1h docker-compose for the full LGTM stack and $30-100/mo vps depending on retention; s3-backed for traces and logs.
| Grafana stack (Mimir + Loki + Tempo)open-source | OpenObserveopen-source | |
|---|---|---|
| License | AGPL-3.0 | AGPL-3.0 |
| Setup time | 1h docker-compose for the full LGTM stack | 15min single-binary or docker run |
| Monthly cost | $30-100/mo VPS depending on retention; S3-backed for traces and logs. | $15-40/mo VPS; storage backed by S3-compatible object storage keeps cost predictable. |
| GitHub | grafana/grafana | openobserve/openobserve |
| Replaces | New Relic + 1 other | New Relic + 1 other |
Good fit for
Grafana stack (Mimir + Loki + Tempo)
Teams that already have Grafana expertise and want best-of-breed components rather than a single product.
Weak at:Operational complexity — four components to run instead of one; gluing dashboards takes a week vs SigNoz's defaults.
OpenObserve
Log-heavy stacks moving off Datadog/New Relic that want predictable S3-backed storage costs.
Weak at:APM/services view is less polished than SigNoz's; better at logs than at deep distributed-trace exploration.
In a terminal? npx -y github:SolvoHQ/os-alt-cli new-relic prints New Relic's self-host options including both —
how the CLI works →
FAQ
Which is easier to self-host, Grafana stack (Mimir + Loki + Tempo) or OpenObserve?
Grafana stack (Mimir + Loki + Tempo): 1h docker-compose for the full LGTM stack. OpenObserve: 15min single-binary or docker run.
What does each cost to run?
Grafana stack (Mimir + Loki + Tempo): $30-100/mo VPS depending on retention; S3-backed for traces and logs.. OpenObserve: $15-40/mo VPS; storage backed by S3-compatible object storage keeps cost predictable.. Both projects are free and open source.
Do Grafana stack (Mimir + Loki + Tempo) and OpenObserve replace the same SaaS?
Yes — both are open-source alternatives to New Relic.