Software Alternatives, Accelerators & Startups

Google StackDriver VS Google Cloud Monitoring

Compare Google StackDriver VS Google Cloud Monitoring and see what are their differences

This page does not exist

Google StackDriver logo Google StackDriver

Stackdriver provides monitoring services for cloud-powered applications.

Google Cloud Monitoring logo Google Cloud Monitoring

Gain visibility into the performance, uptime, and overall health of cloud-powered apps on Google Cloud and other cloud or on-premises environments.
  • Google StackDriver Landing page
    Landing page //
    2023-05-11
  • Google Cloud Monitoring Landing page
    Landing page //
    2023-08-01

Google StackDriver features and specs

  • Comprehensive Monitoring
    Google StackDriver provides extensive monitoring capabilities for applications running on Google Cloud Platform (GCP), Amazon Web Services (AWS), and even on-premises systems. This centralized monitoring offers seamless integration and a unified view of the health of your entire infrastructure.
  • Integrated Logging
    StackDriver includes powerful logging capabilities that allow you to collect, analyze, and visualize logs from various sources. Its integration with Google Cloud Logging allows for easy search, alerting, and insights.
  • Alerting and Incident Response
    StackDriver comes with advanced alerting features that notify you of any issues in real-time. It supports multiple channels like email, SMS, and third-party services, helping you respond proactively to incidents.
  • Auto-Generated Dashboards
    StackDriver provides auto-generated dashboards for various GCP and AWS services, making it easier for users to start monitoring their cloud resources immediately without extensive configuration.
  • Integration with Other Google Services
    Being a part of Google Cloud, StackDriver seamlessly integrates with other Google services such as BigQuery, Cloud Storage, and Google Kubernetes Engine, among others, providing more robust data analysis and visualization capabilities.

Possible disadvantages of Google StackDriver

  • Cost
    The pricing for StackDriver can become expensive, especially for large-scale applications with a significant number of resources and logs. Costs can quickly escalate based on usage, making budgeting a challenge.
  • Complexity
    While StackDriver offers a comprehensive set of features, the platform can be complex to set up and configure correctly, particularly for newcomers or smaller teams without dedicated DevOps resources.
  • AWS Integration Limitations
    Although StackDriver supports AWS, the integration is not as deep as it is with GCP. Some advanced features and metrics may not be available for AWS resources, limiting its effectiveness for multi-cloud environments.
  • Learning Curve
    The extensive functionality of StackDriver comes with a steep learning curve. Users may require significant time and training to fully leverage all the features and to set up effective monitoring and alerting systems.
  • Data Retention Limitations
    StackDriver's data retention policies might be restrictive for some use cases. By default, log data retention is limited, and extending the retention period can incur additional costs, affecting long-term analysis and auditing.

Google Cloud Monitoring features and specs

  • Integration with Google Cloud Platform
    Google Cloud Monitoring offers seamless integration with other Google Cloud services, allowing for unified monitoring and easy setup for users already using Google Cloud products.
  • Comprehensive Metrics and Alerts
    It provides a wide range of metrics and customizable alerts, enabling users to closely monitor their applications and systems for any issues and take proactive measures.
  • Custom Dashboards
    Users can create custom dashboards to visualize important metrics in a way that makes sense for their specific needs, enhancing the ability to quickly spot trends and anomalies.
  • Scalability
    The platform is designed to scale easily, handling the needs of both small applications and large, complex systems without a loss in performance or manageability.
  • Built-In Logging and Tracing
    Google Cloud Monitoring integrates with Google Cloud Logging and Cloud Trace, providing deeper insights by correlating logs and traces with metrics.

Possible disadvantages of Google Cloud Monitoring

  • Complexity for New Users
    For users who are not already familiar with Google Cloud Platform, the initial learning curve can be quite steep due to the vast array of features and settings.
  • Cost
    While there is a free tier, the pricing can become expensive as usage grows, especially for larger deployments that require advanced features and more data processed.
  • Limited Third-Party Integrations
    Compared to some dedicated monitoring solutions, Google Cloud Monitoring may have fewer integrations with third-party services and tools, which can be a limitation for some users.
  • Regional Availability
    Some features may have limited availability depending on the region, which could affect users operating in locations where certain services are not fully supported.
  • Potential for Information Overload
    Due to the comprehensive range of metrics and notifications, users may find themselves overwhelmed with information if dashboards and alerts are not carefully configured.

Analysis of Google StackDriver

Overall verdict

  • Google StackDriver is considered a good solution for operations management within the Google Cloud ecosystem. It offers comprehensive monitoring and logging capabilities, making it an advantageous choice for organizations already utilizing Google Cloud services.

Why this product is good

  • Google StackDriver, now known as Google Cloud Operations Suite, is generally regarded as a robust tool for monitoring, logging, and debugging applications running on Google Cloud Platform (GCP) and on-premises. It integrates seamlessly with other Google Cloud services, providing a unified view of your resources. Its features like real-time monitoring, alerting, and metric visualization help in maintaining application performance and reliability.

Recommended for

    Google StackDriver is recommended for organizations using Google Cloud Platform looking to leverage integrated monitoring and logging solutions. It is especially beneficial for DevOps teams, system administrators, and developers who need detailed insights and alerting for GCP-hosted applications. Businesses seeking a unified monitoring solution for hybrid environments that include both cloud and on-premises systems will also find it beneficial.

Google StackDriver videos

Google Stackdriver Monitoring | Walkthrough, Thoughts, and Review

Google Cloud Monitoring videos

Cloud Monitoring in a minute

More videos:

  • Tutorial - How to Get Started with Google Cloud Monitoring

Category Popularity

0-100% (relative to Google StackDriver and Google Cloud Monitoring)
Monitoring Tools
91 91%
9% 9
Dev Ops
0 0%
100% 100
Log Management
100 100%
0% 0
Developer Tools
100 100%
0% 0

User comments

Share your experience with using Google StackDriver and Google Cloud Monitoring. For example, how are they different and which one is better?
Log in or Post with

Social recommendations and mentions

Based on our record, Google Cloud Monitoring should be more popular than Google StackDriver. It has been mentiond 7 times since March 2021. We are tracking product recommendations and mentions on various public social media platforms and blogs. They can help you identify which product is more popular and what people think of it.

Google StackDriver mentions (1)

  • 10 Best Cloud Monitoring Tools for 2025
    Formerly Stackdriver, Google Cloud Operations Suite offers monitoring, logging, and diagnostics for applications on Google Cloud Platform. It provides real-time insights and integrates seamlessly with other Google Cloud services. - Source: dev.to / 5 months ago

Google Cloud Monitoring mentions (7)

View more

What are some alternatives?

When comparing Google StackDriver and Google Cloud Monitoring, you can also consider the following products

Devo - Devo delivers real-time operational & business value from analytics on streaming and historical data to operations.

Amazon CloudWatch - Amazon CloudWatch is a monitoring service for AWS cloud resources and the applications you run on AWS.

Komodor - The Kubernetes native troubleshooting platform

Cortex Project - Horizontally scalable, highly available, multi-tenant, long term Prometheus.

AppDynamics - Get real-time insight from your apps using Application Performance Managementโ€”how theyโ€™re being used, how theyโ€™re performing, where they need help.

Google Cloud Functions - A serverless platform for building event-based microservices.