Elastic (ELK Stack) vs Splunk
Elastic (Elasticsearch + Kibana + Logstash) and Splunk are the two primary platforms for log aggregation, search, and security analytics at enterprise scale. Elastic is open-source and significantly cheaper to self-host. Splunk is the commercial platform with a larger security content library and stronger SIEM out-of-the-box. Many organizations choose Elastic for cost; enterprises with heavy security requirements often stay on Splunk.
Build your own internal tools freeSide-by-side
Open-source search, observability, and security vs Enterprise log management and security intelligence.
| Feature | Elastic (ELK Stack) | Splunk |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing from | Free OSS / Cloud from $95/month | Custom enterprise |
| Open source | Yes (Elasticsearch, Kibana, Logstash) | No |
| Cost at 100 GB/day | Near-zero self-hosted | Potentially $100k+/year |
| SIEM out-of-box | Good (Elastic Security) | Best-in-class |
| Machine learning | Yes (ML Jobs in Elastic) | Yes (Splunk MLTK) |
| Setup complexity | High - significant engineering effort | Moderate - easier setup but complex configuration |
| Best for | Engineering teams with ops expertise | Security-focused enterprises |
Elastic (ELK Stack) or Splunk? Who each tool is best for
Elastic (ELK Stack)
Open-source search, observability, and security
- Open source: Yes (Elasticsearch, Kibana, Logstash)
- Cost at 100 GB/day: Near-zero self-hosted
- SIEM out-of-box: Good (Elastic Security)
- Machine learning: Yes (ML Jobs in Elastic)
Starting from Free OSS / Cloud from $95/month
Splunk
Enterprise log management and security intelligence
- Open source: No
- Cost at 100 GB/day: Potentially $100k+/year
- SIEM out-of-box: Best-in-class
- Machine learning: Yes (Splunk MLTK)
Starting from Custom enterprise
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Building software for how your team actually works?
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Common questions
Yes, significantly. Elastic's open-source stack can be self-hosted at near-zero license cost. Even Elastic Cloud is typically cheaper than comparable Splunk deployments. The tradeoff is more engineering effort to operate.
Appaca is a third option for teams that don't want to choose between two existing tools. Instead of forcing your workflow into someone else's product, Appaca builds a custom app from a description - with built-in database, hosting, and team access. Try it free at appaca.ai.
Appaca is a platform for personal software. You describe what you need and Appaca builds a working app with a database, dashboards, and team access — no code or deployment required. It is not a replacement for the tools compared on this page. Try it free at appaca.ai.