Graylog vs OpenObserve
Self-host pick — both replace Splunk (Log management + SIEM).
Both Graylog and OpenObserve self-host as a replacement for Splunk (Log management + SIEM). Pick OpenObserve if you want the lighter footprint — 15min single-binary or docker run, $15-50/mo vps; s3-backed storage scales independently of compute. Pick Graylog if you need centralized log management for a single team or org with strong SIEM needs (built-in alerting, RBAC, audit trail) — 30min docker-compose (Graylog + OpenSearch + MongoDB) and $30-100/mo vps — opensearch is the heaviest component; budget by daily ingest gb.
| Graylogopen-source | OpenObserveopen-source | |
|---|---|---|
| License | SSPL-1.0 | AGPL-3.0 |
| Setup time | 30min docker-compose (Graylog + OpenSearch + MongoDB) | 15min single-binary or docker run |
| Monthly cost | $30-100/mo VPS — OpenSearch is the heaviest component; budget by daily ingest GB. | $15-50/mo VPS; S3-backed storage scales independently of compute. |
| GitHub | Graylog2/graylog2-server | openobserve/openobserve |
| Replaces | Splunk | Splunk + 1 other |
Good fit for
Graylog
Centralized log management for a single team or org with strong SIEM needs (built-in alerting, RBAC, audit trail).
Weak at:OpenSearch ops overhead — sharding, snapshots, version upgrades are non-trivial at scale.
OpenObserve
Cost-conscious teams ingesting >100GB/day who can't justify Splunk's per-GB price.
Weak at:Newer than Graylog/Loki — fewer SIEM-specific features; thinner third-party app ecosystem.
In a terminal? npx -y github:SolvoHQ/os-alt-cli splunk prints Splunk's self-host options including both —
how the CLI works →
FAQ
Which is easier to self-host, Graylog or OpenObserve?
Graylog: 30min docker-compose (Graylog + OpenSearch + MongoDB). OpenObserve: 15min single-binary or docker run.
What does each cost to run?
Graylog: $30-100/mo VPS — OpenSearch is the heaviest component; budget by daily ingest GB.. OpenObserve: $15-50/mo VPS; S3-backed storage scales independently of compute.. Both projects are free and open source.
Do Graylog and OpenObserve replace the same SaaS?
Yes — both are open-source alternatives to Splunk.