Complete Observability in 60 Seconds - No Prometheus Required

Netdata is a complete infrastructure observability platform with native data collection, storage, ML, alerts, and visualization. Last9 is an SRE analysis layer that requires existing Prometheus infrastructure for data collection. Netdata replaces your entire monitoring stack; Last9 adds to it.

Yes. Last9 is agentless and ingests data from existing sources like Prometheus, OpenTelemetry, or Datadog agents. You must deploy and maintain Prometheus infrastructure before Last9 can provide value. Netdata works standalone with zero prerequisites - install and start monitoring immediately.

Netdata provides true real-time monitoring with per-second data collection and sub-2-second total latency. Last9 depends on Prometheus intervals (typically 15-60 seconds), making it near-real-time at best. This 15-60× difference means Netdata catches transient issues (3-second CPU spikes, microbursts) that Last9 completely misses.

Cost models differ significantly. Netdata charges predictable per-node pricing with unlimited metrics, logs, and users. Last9 uses event-based pricing that can scale unpredictably with high-cardinality data. For most infrastructure monitoring use cases, Netdata provides more predictable costs.

Yes. Netdata requires zero query languages - no PromQL, no SQL, no custom DSLs. Algorithmic dashboards generate automatically, and point-and-click analysis reveals insights without metric name knowledge. Last9 requires PromQL expertise and SRE knowledge for effective use, creating a steep learning curve.

Netdata trains 18 unsupervised k-means models per metric with consensus-based detection. Models train automatically at the edge with zero configuration. ML anomaly detection achieves 99% false positive reduction through the multi-model consensus approach. Last9 uses pattern-based detection without the same mathematical rigor or transparency about methodology.

Netdata provides alert templates for reliability metrics and anomaly detection for service degradation, but does not have formal SLO/error budget management like Last9. If your organization requires purpose-built SLO workflows with burn rate calculations and error budget tracking, Last9 is superior for that specific use case.

Netdata provides data sovereignty by design at all tiers - all observability data stays at the edge (Agents) or on your Parents. Works in air-gapped environments without compromise. Last9 requires expensive Enterprise tier for BYOC/on-premises deployment; otherwise, data transits through their servers.

Netdata is ideal for small teams (10-50 people) because it requires zero prerequisites, no SRE expertise, and no manual configuration. Deploy in 60 seconds and start troubleshooting immediately. Last9 requires existing Prometheus infrastructure, PromQL knowledge, and SRE expertise - creating barriers for small teams without specialized roles.

Netdata supports unlimited cardinality with no performance penalties or cost increases. Each agent handles cardinality independently (contained impact), and resources scale linearly—not exponentially like centralized systems. Last9 supports 20M series/metric/day but experiences query performance degradation beyond 3M series/metric, and event-based pricing can scale unpredictably with high-cardinality data. Netdata’s per-node pricing eliminates cardinality anxiety.

Yes, in large organizations with both DevOps and SRE teams. Netdata can provide infrastructure observability for DevOps teams while Last9 handles SRE workflows and SLO management for reliability engineering. However, most organizations find Netdata’s complete platform eliminates the need for Last9’s add-on layer.

Last9 is OpenTelemetry-native with complete OTLP support for metrics, logs, and traces. Netdata supports OpenTelemetry metrics and logs (production-ready) with traces coming Q2 2026. If OpenTelemetry-native architecture is a strategic requirement today, Last9 is more mature. For most use cases, Netdata’s native collection is simpler and more efficient.

Netdata: 60 seconds from install to first dashboard with zero prerequisites. Last9: Requires existing Prometheus infrastructure (weeks to set up), then 2 minutes to configure Last9 ingestion. Total time to value: Netdata wins by weeks.

Netdata excels for operations centers with rotating shifts and mixed skill levels because it provides skill-independent quality - junior operators get senior-level visibility automatically. Last9’s steep learning curve and SRE prerequisites make it challenging for teams with high turnover or diverse skill levels.

Last9 provides browser RUM with Core Web Vitals, session replay, and error tracking. Netdata does not have RUM capabilities - it focuses on infrastructure monitoring. If frontend user experience monitoring is critical, Last9 is superior for that specific use case.

Deploy Netdata Agents in parallel with your existing stack for 2-4 weeks. Compare dashboards, alerts, and troubleshooting experience. If you need Last9’s SLO management, you can maintain Prometheus for that purpose while using Netdata for infrastructure visibility. Most customers find Netdata’s complete platform eliminates the need for Last9 entirely.

Yes. Netdata provides native data collection (replacing Prometheus), algorithmic dashboards (replacing Grafana), ML-based anomaly detection (replacing manual thresholds), and AI-powered troubleshooting - all in one platform. Typical result: simpler operations and more predictable costs.

Netdata’s distributed edge-native architecture scales linearly from 1 to 100,000+ nodes without performance degradation. Last9’s centralized architecture hits query performance thresholds at 3M series/metric, requiring architectural decisions. Netdata’s edge processing eliminates central bottlenecks - adding nodes doesn’t affect existing performance.

You have three options: (1) Replace Prometheus with Netdata for simpler operations and better real-time visibility, (2) Use both during transition: Netdata for comprehensive monitoring while preserving existing Prometheus historical data, or (3) Keep Prometheus + add Last9 if formal SLO management is critical. Most customers choose option 1 for cost and simplicity.

Choose Netdata if you need: complete infrastructure monitoring, per-second real-time visibility, zero-configuration deployment, predictable costs, data sovereignty at all tiers, or small team without SRE expertise. Choose Last9 if you need: formal SLO/error budget management, existing Prometheus infrastructure (invested), specialized SRE workflows, OpenTelemetry-native architecture, or Real User Monitoring. For most use cases, Netdata’s complete platform is simpler, faster, and more predictable.