AppDynamics vs New Relic
Compare AppDynamics and New Relic on features, pricing, and buyer fit using the same researched criteria.
AppDynamics
Cisco APM / observability — Infrastructure from ~$6/vCPU/mo; Premium (infra+apps) from $33/vCPU/mo annual; Enterprise $50/vCPU; often Cisco EA quote. Does not outrank Datadog 8.6.
Best for
- • Cisco-aligned estates that will model vCPU Premium $33 (not $6 infra-only) as APM TCO
- • APM buyers comparing AppDynamics to Dynatrace DPS and Datadog modules
- • Teams already in a Cisco EA who will not self-serve Datadog tiles
Starting from $33.00/user/mo
No free plan
VS
Our verdict
There is no universal winner between AppDynamics and New Relic. Choose AppDynamics when Cisco-aligned estates that will model vCPU Premium $33 (not $6 infra-only) as APM TCO. Choose New Relic when Teams that want APM + logs + infra in one ingest bill. Criterion scores come from approved SoftwareGlimpse editorial assessments and first-party research — not hands-on lab testing.
AppDynamics is better for
- ✓ Security & admin
New Relic is better for
- ✓ Starting pricing
- ✓ Free plan
Tie
- • Integrations
Choose AppDynamics if: Cisco-aligned estates that will model vCPU Premium $33 (not $6 infra-only) as APM TCO
Choose New Relic if: Teams that want APM + logs + infra in one ingest bill
New Relic
Observability — Free 100 GB ingest + 1 full user; Standard from $10 first full user then $99; data $0.40/GB after 100 GB; Pro $349/full user annual.
Best for
- • Teams that want APM + logs + infra in one ingest bill
- • Orgs that can live with 1–5 Standard full users
- • Buyers comparing usage-based observability to Datadog hosts
Starting from $10.00/user/mo
Free plan available
Comparison scorecard
Criterion-by-criterion results for AppDynamics and New Relic. Numeric bars appear only when both products have approved scores.
- New Relic
Starting pricing
Published floor price and what that floor actually includes.
New Relic publishes a lower researched starting floor ($10/mo vs $33/mo for AppDynamics). Confirm currency, renewals, and add-ons — not a total TCO winner.
AppDynamicsWeakerNew RelicStronger - New Relic
Free plan
Whether a usable free plan is published, and what it gates.
AppDynamics does not research a free plan; New Relic researches a free plan.
AppDynamicsWeakerNew RelicStronger - Depends
User / licence minimum
Seat floors, per-employee minimums, and small-team pricing traps.
Check seat, agent, or licence minimums for AppDynamics and New Relic on current vendor packaging.
AppDynamicsDependsNew RelicDepends - Tie
Integrations
Important third-party integrations.
AppDynamics and New Relic are close on integrations (8/10 vs 8/10) from approved SoftwareGlimpse editorial assessments — not hands-on lab testing.
AppDynamics8/10New Relic8/10 - AppDynamics
Security & admin
Admin controls, access, compliance posture, and security packaging.
AppDynamics leads on security admin (9/10 vs 8/10) from approved SoftwareGlimpse editorial assessments — not hands-on lab testing.
AppDynamicsStrongerNew RelicWeaker
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