SigNoz vs Uptrace
Self-host pick — both replace Datadog (Observability (metrics + logs + traces + APM)).
Both SigNoz and Uptrace self-host as a replacement for Datadog (Observability (metrics + logs + traces + APM)). Pick SigNoz if you want the lighter footprint — 20min docker-compose, $20 vps (4gb ram minimum) for a small fleet; clickhouse is the heavy part. Pick Uptrace if you need smaller teams that want SigNoz's shape with a lighter ops surface — 30min docker-compose and $10-20 vps for a small fleet; clickhouse + postgres backend.
| SigNozopen-source | Uptraceopen-source | |
|---|---|---|
| License | MIT | AGPL-3.0 |
| Setup time | 20min docker-compose | 30min docker-compose |
| Monthly cost | $20 VPS (4GB RAM minimum) for a small fleet; ClickHouse is the heavy part. | $10-20 VPS for a small fleet; ClickHouse + Postgres backend. |
| GitHub | SigNoz/signoz | uptrace/uptrace |
| Replaces | Datadog + 2 other | Datadog |
Good fit for
SigNoz
Teams already on (or willing to move to) OpenTelemetry that want unified traces + metrics + logs in one UI.
Weak at:RUM, synthetic monitoring, and the Datadog-style alerting DSL are missing or thinner.
Uptrace
Smaller teams that want SigNoz's shape with a lighter ops surface.
Weak at:Smaller community than SigNoz; UI features lag a bit.
In a terminal? npx -y github:SolvoHQ/os-alt-cli datadog prints Datadog's self-host options including both —
how the CLI works →
FAQ
Which is easier to self-host, SigNoz or Uptrace?
SigNoz: 20min docker-compose. Uptrace: 30min docker-compose.
What does each cost to run?
SigNoz: $20 VPS (4GB RAM minimum) for a small fleet; ClickHouse is the heavy part.. Uptrace: $10-20 VPS for a small fleet; ClickHouse + Postgres backend.. Both projects are free and open source.
Do SigNoz and Uptrace replace the same SaaS?
Yes — both are open-source alternatives to Datadog.