Quick Overview
- 1#1: Datadog - Datadog offers comprehensive real-time database monitoring with query performance analysis, anomaly detection, and alerting across multiple database types like MySQL, PostgreSQL, and MongoDB.
- 2#2: New Relic - New Relic provides end-to-end database observability with detailed query tracing, throughput metrics, and AI-powered insights for optimizing database performance.
- 3#3: Dynatrace - Dynatrace delivers AI-driven database monitoring with full-stack observability, automatic root cause analysis, and support for diverse databases in hybrid environments.
- 4#4: SolarWinds Database Performance Analyzer - SolarWinds DPA specializes in deep database performance tuning with wait-time analysis, query optimization recommendations, and multi-DB support including Oracle and SQL Server.
- 5#5: AppDynamics - AppDynamics offers business-centric database monitoring with transaction tracing, baseline comparisons, and capacity planning for high-availability environments.
- 6#6: Redgate SQL Monitor - Redgate SQL Monitor provides SQL Server-specific monitoring with customizable alerts, performance diagnostics, and machine learning-based anomaly detection.
- 7#7: Quest Foglight - Quest Foglight enables proactive database monitoring with predictive analytics, code-level diagnostics, and support for enterprise databases like DB2 and Sybase.
- 8#8: Sematext - Sematext Cloud delivers integrated logs, metrics, and traces for database monitoring with real-time alerting and custom dashboards for NoSQL and SQL databases.
- 9#9: ManageEngine Applications Manager - ManageEngine Applications Manager monitors database health, replication, and backups with threshold-based alerts and forecasting for various DB technologies.
- 10#10: Site24x7 - Site24x7 provides affordable database monitoring with query profiling, slow query detection, and availability tracking for cloud and on-premises databases.
We evaluated tools based on key factors including functionality (real-time analytics, multi-database support), technical excellence (accuracy, scalability), user-friendliness (intuitive dashboards, customization), and overall value (cost-effectiveness, actionable insights).
Comparison Table
Effective database monitoring is critical for maintaining system performance and reliability, and choosing the right tool can streamline operations. This comparison table explores top database monitoring software, including Datadog, New Relic, Dynatrace, SolarWinds Database Performance Analyzer, AppDynamics, and more, helping readers identify features and fit for their needs.
| # | Tool | Category | Overall | Features | Ease of Use | Value |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Datadog Datadog offers comprehensive real-time database monitoring with query performance analysis, anomaly detection, and alerting across multiple database types like MySQL, PostgreSQL, and MongoDB. | enterprise | 9.5/10 | 9.8/10 | 8.5/10 | 8.2/10 |
| 2 | New Relic New Relic provides end-to-end database observability with detailed query tracing, throughput metrics, and AI-powered insights for optimizing database performance. | enterprise | 9.1/10 | 9.5/10 | 8.2/10 | 8.4/10 |
| 3 | Dynatrace Dynatrace delivers AI-driven database monitoring with full-stack observability, automatic root cause analysis, and support for diverse databases in hybrid environments. | enterprise | 8.8/10 | 9.4/10 | 8.1/10 | 7.6/10 |
| 4 | SolarWinds Database Performance Analyzer SolarWinds DPA specializes in deep database performance tuning with wait-time analysis, query optimization recommendations, and multi-DB support including Oracle and SQL Server. | enterprise | 8.6/10 | 9.2/10 | 8.3/10 | 8.0/10 |
| 5 | AppDynamics AppDynamics offers business-centric database monitoring with transaction tracing, baseline comparisons, and capacity planning for high-availability environments. | enterprise | 8.2/10 | 8.7/10 | 7.4/10 | 7.1/10 |
| 6 | Redgate SQL Monitor Redgate SQL Monitor provides SQL Server-specific monitoring with customizable alerts, performance diagnostics, and machine learning-based anomaly detection. | specialized | 8.7/10 | 9.2/10 | 8.8/10 | 8.0/10 |
| 7 | Quest Foglight Quest Foglight enables proactive database monitoring with predictive analytics, code-level diagnostics, and support for enterprise databases like DB2 and Sybase. | enterprise | 8.2/10 | 8.8/10 | 7.4/10 | 7.7/10 |
| 8 | Sematext Sematext Cloud delivers integrated logs, metrics, and traces for database monitoring with real-time alerting and custom dashboards for NoSQL and SQL databases. | enterprise | 8.1/10 | 8.4/10 | 7.9/10 | 8.0/10 |
| 9 | ManageEngine Applications Manager ManageEngine Applications Manager monitors database health, replication, and backups with threshold-based alerts and forecasting for various DB technologies. | enterprise | 8.2/10 | 8.5/10 | 8.0/10 | 8.5/10 |
| 10 | Site24x7 Site24x7 provides affordable database monitoring with query profiling, slow query detection, and availability tracking for cloud and on-premises databases. | enterprise | 8.1/10 | 8.0/10 | 8.5/10 | 8.7/10 |
Datadog offers comprehensive real-time database monitoring with query performance analysis, anomaly detection, and alerting across multiple database types like MySQL, PostgreSQL, and MongoDB.
New Relic provides end-to-end database observability with detailed query tracing, throughput metrics, and AI-powered insights for optimizing database performance.
Dynatrace delivers AI-driven database monitoring with full-stack observability, automatic root cause analysis, and support for diverse databases in hybrid environments.
SolarWinds DPA specializes in deep database performance tuning with wait-time analysis, query optimization recommendations, and multi-DB support including Oracle and SQL Server.
AppDynamics offers business-centric database monitoring with transaction tracing, baseline comparisons, and capacity planning for high-availability environments.
Redgate SQL Monitor provides SQL Server-specific monitoring with customizable alerts, performance diagnostics, and machine learning-based anomaly detection.
Quest Foglight enables proactive database monitoring with predictive analytics, code-level diagnostics, and support for enterprise databases like DB2 and Sybase.
Sematext Cloud delivers integrated logs, metrics, and traces for database monitoring with real-time alerting and custom dashboards for NoSQL and SQL databases.
ManageEngine Applications Manager monitors database health, replication, and backups with threshold-based alerts and forecasting for various DB technologies.
Site24x7 provides affordable database monitoring with query profiling, slow query detection, and availability tracking for cloud and on-premises databases.
Datadog
enterpriseDatadog offers comprehensive real-time database monitoring with query performance analysis, anomaly detection, and alerting across multiple database types like MySQL, PostgreSQL, and MongoDB.
Query Metrics with automatic sampling and visualized execution plans for pinpointing inefficient SQL/NoSQL queries
Datadog is a leading cloud monitoring platform with robust Database Monitoring capabilities that track performance metrics, query execution, resource usage, and anomalies across databases like PostgreSQL, MySQL, MongoDB, Redis, and more. It provides deep visibility into slow queries, connection pools, locks, and replication lag through customizable dashboards, AI-powered insights, and real-time alerts. Integrated with APM and infrastructure monitoring, it enables end-to-end troubleshooting for database issues in complex, hybrid environments.
Pros
- Extensive integrations with 20+ database types including relational, NoSQL, and caching systems
- Advanced query sampling, execution plans, and performance profiling for root-cause analysis
- Seamless correlation with application and infrastructure metrics for holistic observability
Cons
- Steep pricing that scales quickly with usage and additional modules
- Complex setup and learning curve for advanced customizations
- Dashboard customization can feel overwhelming for small teams
Best For
Enterprise DevOps and SRE teams managing large-scale, multi-cloud database fleets requiring deep performance insights.
Pricing
Usage-based; Infrastructure Pro at $15/host/month, Database Monitoring add-on ~$60/DB host/month (billed annually, free tier limited to 5 hosts).
New Relic
enterpriseNew Relic provides end-to-end database observability with detailed query tracing, throughput metrics, and AI-powered insights for optimizing database performance.
End-to-end query tracing that correlates individual database queries with application code paths and user sessions
New Relic is a comprehensive observability platform that excels in database monitoring by providing real-time insights into query performance, throughput, error rates, and resource utilization across popular databases like MySQL, PostgreSQL, MongoDB, and Oracle. It identifies slow queries, bottlenecks, and anomalies while correlating database metrics with application and infrastructure performance for holistic troubleshooting. Customizable dashboards, alerts, and AI-driven anomaly detection make it a powerful tool for proactive database management.
Pros
- Extensive database support with deep query-level insights including execution plans
- Seamless correlation between database performance and full-stack application traces
- AI-powered anomaly detection and customizable alerting for proactive issue resolution
Cons
- Pricing can escalate quickly with high data volumes in large environments
- Steep learning curve for leveraging advanced features and custom configurations
- Requires agent installation and setup for optimal monitoring coverage
Best For
Mid-to-large enterprises with complex, distributed applications needing integrated database and full-stack observability.
Pricing
Freemium with usage-based pricing starting at $0/month for basics, then $0.30/GB for data ingest beyond free tier; full features require higher plans from $49/user/month.
Dynatrace
enterpriseDynatrace delivers AI-driven database monitoring with full-stack observability, automatic root cause analysis, and support for diverse databases in hybrid environments.
Davis Causal AI for pinpointing root causes of database performance problems automatically
Dynatrace is a comprehensive observability platform with robust database monitoring capabilities, automatically discovering and tracking database instances, queries, and performance metrics across technologies like Oracle, SQL Server, MySQL, PostgreSQL, and MongoDB. It provides deep insights into query execution times, wait states, resource usage, and dependencies through its Smartscape topology mapping. Leveraging Davis AI, it delivers causal root cause analysis to resolve database issues proactively.
Pros
- AI-driven root cause analysis with Davis for quick issue resolution
- End-to-end transaction tracing via PurePath linking DB queries to applications
- Broad support for 20+ database types with automatic discovery
Cons
- High enterprise-level pricing
- Steep learning curve for full feature utilization
- Overkill and complex for basic database-only monitoring needs
Best For
Enterprises with hybrid cloud environments needing integrated application and database observability.
Pricing
Consumption-based pricing (e.g., ~$0.04/GB ingested); custom quotes start at $20K+/year for mid-sized deployments.
SolarWinds Database Performance Analyzer
enterpriseSolarWinds DPA specializes in deep database performance tuning with wait-time analysis, query optimization recommendations, and multi-DB support including Oracle and SQL Server.
Patented Wait-Time Analysis that categorizes performance issues by specific wait events for rapid root-cause troubleshooting
SolarWinds Database Performance Analyzer (DPA) is a comprehensive monitoring tool designed to track and optimize performance across multiple database platforms including SQL Server, Oracle, MySQL, PostgreSQL, and others. It uses patented wait-time analysis to pinpoint bottlenecks, offering real-time visibility into query performance, resource utilization, and blocking sessions. DBAs benefit from historical trending, automated alerts, and recommendations for tuning, making it suitable for proactive database management in enterprise environments.
Pros
- Patented wait-time analysis for precise bottleneck identification
- Broad multi-platform database support with deep drill-down capabilities
- Robust alerting, capacity planning, and historical reporting
Cons
- Pricing scales expensively with number of monitored instances
- Web interface can feel somewhat dated compared to modern competitors
- Initial setup requires agent deployment on each database host
Best For
Mid-to-large enterprises with heterogeneous database environments needing advanced performance diagnostics and tuning.
Pricing
Subscription-based licensing starting at around $1,200 per database instance per year, with volume discounts for larger deployments; free trial available.
AppDynamics
enterpriseAppDynamics offers business-centric database monitoring with transaction tracing, baseline comparisons, and capacity planning for high-availability environments.
PurePath technology for full transaction-level visibility from user request to database query execution
AppDynamics, now part of Cisco, offers robust database monitoring capabilities within its full-stack Application Performance Monitoring (APM) platform. It provides deep visibility into database queries, execution plans, wait times, and resource usage across popular databases like Oracle, SQL Server, MySQL, and PostgreSQL. By correlating database performance with application transactions, it enables root-cause analysis of bottlenecks in hybrid and cloud environments.
Pros
- End-to-end transaction tracing linking app code to database calls
- AI-driven anomaly detection and query optimization recommendations
- Extensive support for on-prem, cloud, and NoSQL databases
Cons
- High cost unsuitable for small-scale or pure DB monitoring needs
- Steep learning curve and complex agent-based deployment
- Overkill for organizations not needing full APM stack
Best For
Large enterprises requiring integrated application and database observability for complex, distributed systems.
Pricing
Quote-based enterprise pricing, typically starting at $3,000+/month based on hosts/agents monitored; free trial available.
Redgate SQL Monitor
specializedRedgate SQL Monitor provides SQL Server-specific monitoring with customizable alerts, performance diagnostics, and machine learning-based anomaly detection.
Machine learning-powered 'Expert Intelligence' for automated anomaly detection and root-cause recommendations
Redgate SQL Monitor is a robust database monitoring tool focused primarily on SQL Server environments, providing real-time performance monitoring, customizable alerts, and in-depth diagnostics. It offers a web-based dashboard for tracking metrics like CPU, memory, waits, and queries, with historical analysis and machine learning-powered anomaly detection. The solution supports on-premises, Azure SQL, Amazon RDS, and some other platforms, helping DBAs prevent issues and optimize performance proactively.
Pros
- Comprehensive SQL Server diagnostics with ML anomaly detection
- Intuitive web dashboard and customizable alerts
- Supports hybrid and cloud deployments seamlessly
Cons
- Pricing scales expensively with core count in large environments
- Limited native support for non-SQL Server databases like Oracle or MySQL
- Monitoring agents can consume noticeable resources on hosts
Best For
SQL Server DBAs in mid-to-enterprise organizations seeking detailed performance insights and proactive alerting.
Pricing
Subscription-based per monitored core; starts around $2,000/year for small setups, with tiers scaling to tens of thousands for large environments.
Quest Foglight
enterpriseQuest Foglight enables proactive database monitoring with predictive analytics, code-level diagnostics, and support for enterprise databases like DB2 and Sybase.
Patented Performance Investigator for root-cause analysis with step-by-step troubleshooting workflows
Quest Foglight is a robust enterprise-grade database monitoring solution that delivers real-time performance insights, diagnostics, and alerting across multiple database platforms including Oracle, SQL Server, MySQL, PostgreSQL, and more. It provides customizable dashboards, capacity planning, and deep-dive troubleshooting tools to help DBAs identify and resolve issues proactively. Designed for complex environments, it scales from single instances to large data centers with hybrid cloud support.
Pros
- Comprehensive multi-database support with deep diagnostics
- Scalable architecture for enterprise environments
- Advanced alerting and capacity planning tools
Cons
- Steep learning curve and complex initial setup
- Dated user interface in some components
- High licensing costs for smaller deployments
Best For
Large enterprises managing heterogeneous database environments that require detailed performance analysis and proactive issue resolution.
Pricing
Per-database or per-host licensing; starts at ~$5,000-$10,000 per target annually, with enterprise bundles; contact sales for quotes.
Sematext
enterpriseSematext Cloud delivers integrated logs, metrics, and traces for database monitoring with real-time alerting and custom dashboards for NoSQL and SQL databases.
Unified observability hub correlating database metrics, logs, and traces in a single pane for root-cause analysis
Sematext is a full-stack observability platform that delivers robust database monitoring capabilities, collecting metrics, logs, traces, and events from databases like MySQL, PostgreSQL, MongoDB, Redis, and Cassandra. It provides real-time insights into query performance, connection pools, replication status, and resource utilization through customizable dashboards and alerts. Beyond databases, it integrates with infrastructure and applications for holistic visibility, making it suitable for modern cloud-native environments.
Pros
- Comprehensive coverage of metrics, logs, and traces for multiple databases
- Powerful alerting with anomaly detection and ML-based insights
- Flexible integrations via agents, OpenTelemetry, and cloud services
Cons
- Steeper learning curve for non-observability experts focused solely on DBs
- Pricing can escalate with high data volumes
- Less specialized deep-dive DB query optimization compared to pure-play tools
Best For
DevOps and SRE teams managing databases in hybrid or multi-cloud environments who need integrated observability.
Pricing
Free tier available; paid plans start at $3/host/month (Basic), $15/host/month (Pro), with usage-based options and Enterprise custom pricing.
ManageEngine Applications Manager
enterpriseManageEngine Applications Manager monitors database health, replication, and backups with threshold-based alerts and forecasting for various DB technologies.
AI-powered anomalous query detection with automatic tuning recommendations
ManageEngine Applications Manager is a unified application performance monitoring (APM) tool that offers comprehensive database monitoring capabilities across platforms like MySQL, Oracle, SQL Server, PostgreSQL, and more. It tracks key metrics such as availability, response times, query performance, storage usage, and resource utilization in real-time. The solution provides alerting, historical reporting, forecasting, and query-level diagnostics to help DBAs identify and resolve issues proactively.
Pros
- Extensive support for 20+ database types with deep query analysis
- AI-driven anomaly detection and performance forecasting
- Seamless integration with other ManageEngine tools for holistic monitoring
Cons
- UI can feel cluttered for users focused solely on databases
- Advanced features locked behind higher-tier editions
- Agent deployment required for deepest insights in some cases
Best For
Mid-sized IT teams needing affordable, all-in-one monitoring for databases within broader application performance oversight.
Pricing
Free edition for up to 10 monitors; paid plans start at $395/year for 25 monitors (Standard), scaling per additional monitors/devices.
Site24x7
enterpriseSite24x7 provides affordable database monitoring with query profiling, slow query detection, and availability tracking for cloud and on-premises databases.
AI-driven anomaly detection and predictive alerts for database performance issues
Site24x7 is an all-in-one IT monitoring platform that offers dedicated database monitoring for popular systems like MySQL, PostgreSQL, Oracle, SQL Server, MongoDB, and more. It tracks key metrics such as query performance, connection pools, resource utilization, and availability in real-time, with tools for slow query analysis and custom alerts. The solution integrates database insights with broader infrastructure, application, and network monitoring for holistic visibility.
Pros
- Broad support for multiple database types with agent and agentless options
- Integrated alerting, dashboards, and reporting across IT stack
- Affordable pricing with scalable plans
Cons
- Advanced analytics and query profiling limited in lower tiers
- Occasional complexity in multi-tenant setups
- Less depth in specialized DB forensics compared to dedicated tools
Best For
Small to mid-sized IT teams seeking cost-effective, unified monitoring that includes reliable database oversight without needing multiple tools.
Pricing
Free trial available; paid plans start at $9/device/month (billed annually) for basic monitoring, up to $89/device/month for enterprise features.
Conclusion
The top tools showcase diverse strengths, with Datadog leading as the best choice for its comprehensive real-time monitoring, query performance analysis, and support across multiple databases. New Relic excels with end-to-end observability and AI-driven insights, while Dynatrace stands out with AI-powered full-stack and hybrid environment capabilities—each offering distinct advantages to suit varied needs.
Take the next step in optimizing database performance: try Datadog to leverage its robust monitoring, proactive alerts, and seamless performance tuning for your unique setup.
Tools Reviewed
All tools were independently evaluated for this comparison