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Netdata

✓ Verified FOSSGPL-3.0
Top open-source alternative to Datadog

The fastest path to AI-powered full stack observability, even for lean teams.

Tech StackC, Go, Python, React
Self-Host DifficultyEasy
License ModelGPL-3.0
GitHub Repositorynetdata/netdata

Recommended VPS & Hardware Sizing

Estimated Hosting: $4 - $6/mo (e.g. Hetzner CX22 or DigitalOcean)
Min RAM:1 GB
Rec RAM:2 GB
Compute:1 vCPU
Disk Space:10 GB SSD

Netdata vs Datadog Comparison Matrix

Evaluation CriteriaNetdata (Open Source)Datadog (Proprietary)
Sample Frequency1-second granular high-fidelity metrics10s to 60s sample aggregation
INTERACTIVE TCO MODELEstimated Rate: $19/user/mo

Financial Impact: Migrating from Datadog to Self-Hosted Netdata

Detailed Stack Calculator →
5 Users (Early Startup)50 Users (Scaleup)200 Users (Enterprise Org)
Datadog (Cloud SaaS)Per-Seat Tax
$5,700per year ($475/mo)
3-Year Spend:$17,100

* Excludes enterprise SSO add-ons & usage overages

Netdata (Self-Hosted)Zero Per-Seat Fee
$120per year ($10/mo Linux VPS)
3-Year Compute:$360

* Commodity Hetzner / DigitalOcean compute instance

Cumulative 3-Year ROI+$16,740Net savings across 36 months (98% reduction)
Annual Free Cash:+$5,580/yr
Need C-Level Buy-In? Generate an instant ROI proposal memo to present to your CTO or CFO.

Core Capabilities & Features

✓Per-second metric resolution
✓Zero-config auto-detection of 800+ hardware and software services

Self-Host Netdata with Docker Compose

Tweak configuration ports, secrets, and volumes live. Download or copy your ready-to-run container file:

1-Click Docker Compose Generator

Generate production-ready container definitions with customizable ports and volumes.

NetdataGPL-3.0

Real-time, high-resolution infrastructure monitoring with zero configuration

Difficulty: Easy80,901 ⭐
Configure Parameters
docker-compose.netdata.yml
version: '3'

services:
  netdata:
    image: netdata/netdata:latest
    container_name: netdata
    pid: host
    network_mode: host
    restart: unless-stopped
    volumes:
      - /proc:/host/proc:ro
      - /sys:/host/sys:ro
      - /var/run/docker.sock:/var/run/docker.sock:ro

Frequently Asked Questions: Self-Hosting Netdata

How do I self-host Netdata using Docker Compose?

You can deploy Netdata (netdata/netdata) on any Linux server by copying the docker-compose.yml template on this page, configuring your desired host port and persistent volume directory, and running 'docker compose up -d'.

How does Netdata compare to Datadog?

Netdata is an open-source, self-hosted alternative to Datadog built with C, Go, Python, React. Unlike Datadog ($15 - $23 / host / month + surprise bills), Netdata has zero per-user licensing fees and keeps 100% of your data on your own infrastructure.

What are the minimum VPS RAM and CPU requirements for Netdata?

For production self-hosting (Easy difficulty tier), we recommend at least 2 GB RAM (minimum 1 GB), 1 vCPU, and 10 GB SSD storage, which typically costs $4 - $6/mo (e.g. Hetzner CX22 or DigitalOcean).

Is Netdata free for commercial business use under the GPL-3.0 license?

Yes. Distributed under the GPL-3.0 license, Netdata can be self-hosted internally by businesses and engineering teams of any size without per-seat royalties.

README INTEGRATION // REPO EMBED

Embed Official Netdata Badge in GitHub README

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SIMILAR REPOSITORIES // PEER COMPARISON

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