Our List of the Top 5 APM Tools for 2024

Helpful Summary

• Overview: In this article, we will share our top 5 picks for the best application performance monitoring (APM) tools, highlighting their best features and limitations. 
• Why you can trust us: At Instatus, we have a proven record of providing global brands with reliable tools to effectively monitor and track key performance metrics of their digital assets.
• Why this is important: Finding the right APM tool will help you guarantee optimal performance for your app​.
• Action points: Study the features of the APM tools and the main criteria listed in this article to help you pick the right tool.
• Further research: We invite you to read these related articles:
  • How to Measure Website Performance
  • How to Improve Website Performance
  • Best Practices for Monitoring Web Applications.

Need Help Finding a Reliable APM Tool?

Modern apps require modern tools.

APM tools provide comprehensive insights into app performance, assisting businesses in identifying problems before they affect end customers.

Here at Instatus, we recognize the value of APM solutions in guaranteeing a superb customer experience.

So in this article, we will outline our selections for the top 5 APM tools on the market right now, emphasizing each tool's features, capabilities, advantages, and cost.

Why Listen To Us?

Our tools and solutions have a proven track record of helping international organizations like Deno, WISTIA, and Restream efficiently monitor the performance of their websites, APIs, apps, and other digital assets.

Given our firsthand experience in this field and great user feedback, we’re confident that we can help you pick the best APM tool for your business.

What are Application Performance Monitoring (APM) Tools?

Application Performance Monitoring tools (APM tools) are programs, software, or platforms created specifically to monitor and manage the functionality and availability of various web applications.

For instance, APMs, track user interactions, provide insights into web application performance, and search for issues that can impact end users.

With the right APM tool, businesses and organizations can be more effective in identifying and resolving digital asset problems to ensure optimal user experience.

Why are APM Tools Important for Your Business?

There are many good reasons why businesses should invest in a reliable APM tool. Here are the top reasons:

• Enhanced User Experience: APM tools monitor and optimize web application performance to ensure a seamless user experience.
• Proactive Issue Detection: Application Performance Monitoring Tools help detect and resolve issues before they affect users, reducing downtime and enhancing reliability.
• Provide Data-Driven Decisions: The data collected by APMs can help organizations make informed decisions about the appropriate application improvements and optimizations.
• Uphold Compliance and Security: Constant monitoring can help ensure applications meet compliance standards and identify potential security vulnerabilities.

Criteria to Consider When Choosing an APM Tool

These are the top 5 things you need to consider when choosing an APM tool:

Comprehensive Monitoring Features

APMs with comprehensive monitoring allow you to identify and address issues across different metrics and KPIs, ensuring you get a comprehensive view of how users interact and experience your applications.

Ease of Use

A user-friendly tool reduces the learning curve for your team. If you can ease that burden, it will lead to quicker identification and resolution of app performance issues.

Scalability

A great APM tool must be able to scale according to your needs. Choose your tool based on the business growth that you’re planning for.

Integration Capabilities

Seamless integration capabilities ensure that an APM tool works well within your current environment, allowing you to stay up-to-date across your entire tech stack.

Operational Cost

Understanding the full cost implications of using an APM tool, both initial and ongoing, helps ensure sustainable long-term use without unexpected expenses.

Our Top 5 Picks for the Best APM Tools

• Dynatrace: Best for large enterprises with complex, cloud-native environments.
• New Relic: Ideal for organizations needing full-stack monitoring.
• Datadog: Perfect for enterprises with diverse tech stacks that require real-time analytics.
• SolarWinds: Suited for mid-sized to large enterprises with hybrid IT infrastructures.
• AppDynamics: Great for organizations with a heavy focus on transaction monitoring and enterprise-level applications.

1. Dynatrace

Dynatrace is a comprehensive, AI-driven monitoring solution that offers automatic discovery, mapping, and continuous performance monitoring of applications. It excels in delivering real-time insights and automated issue resolution.

Key Features

• Automatic Root Cause Analysis: Dynatrace uses AI to identify and analyze the root cause of performance issues.
• Real-Time Auto-Discovery: Continuously discovers and maps application components and dependencies.
• Full-Stack Monitoring: Monitors the entire technology stack, including applications, infrastructure, and user experience.
• AI-Driven Insights: Provides intelligent insights and recommendations to optimize performance.
• Cloud-Native Support: Seamlessly integrates with cloud platforms like AWS, Azure, and Google Cloud.

Pros

• Highly scalable and flexible APM tool
• Intuitive user interface with detailed analytics
• Excellent support for microservices
• Real-time monitoring and proactive issue resolution
• Comprehensive automation capabilities

Cons

• High cost compared to other APM tools
• May require a steep learning curve for new users
• The amount of features can be overwhelming for small teams

Pricing

Paid plans start at $0.08 per hour for full-stack monitoring​. A free trial is available for new users.

2. New Relic

New Relic offers a robust APM solution with extensive monitoring and analytics capabilities. It integrates seamlessly with popular cloud services, providing comprehensive visibility into application performance.

Key Features

• Real-Time Performance Monitoring: Tracks application performance metrics in real-time.
• User Interaction Tracking: Monitors user interactions to identify performance bottlenecks.
• Cloud Service Integration: Integrates with AWS, Azure, and Google Cloud for seamless monitoring.
• Detailed Transaction Tracing: Provides deep insights into individual transactions to pinpoint issues.
• Customizable Dashboards: Allows users to create custom dashboards for specific monitoring needs.

Pros

• Broad feature set with extensive monitoring capabilities
• Free tier available with significant features
• Strong support for cloud services and integrations
• Effective anomaly detection and alerting
• Extensive documentation and community support

Cons

• Can become expensive as the application scales
• The user interface can be complex for beginners
• Limited customization options in the free tier

Pricing

New Relic offers flexible paid plans depending on your needs and preferences. You’ll need to contact their sales team to get a quote.

3. Datadog

Datadog provides end-to-end application performance monitoring with a focus on cloud infrastructure. It offers comprehensive observability solutions, making it ideal for dynamic, cloud-based environments.

Key Features

• Full-Stack Observability: Monitors applications, infrastructure, and logs in real-time.
• Cloud-Scale Monitoring: Designed to handle the complexities of cloud environments.
• Real-Time Log Management: Aggregates and analyzes logs for better visibility.
• Customizable Dashboards: Offers flexible and customizable dashboards to suit various monitoring needs.
• AI-Driven Alerts and Insights: Provides intelligent alerts and actionable insights based on AI analysis.

Pros

• Offers a free version
• Seamless integration with cloud platforms and services
• Highly scalable and flexible APM monitoring capabilities
• Real-time performance monitoring and analytics
• Strong support for DevOps and agile teams

Cons

• Higher cost for large environments and advanced features
• Limited features in basic plans
• Can generate a high volume of alerts, requiring fine-tuning

Pricing

Offers a free version with basic features. Advanced features are available in premium plans starting at $15 per host per month​.

4. SolarWinds

SolarWinds offers a versatile APM solution known for its ease of use and detailed performance insights. It is suitable for various IT environments, providing comprehensive server and application monitoring.

Key Features

• Comprehensive Monitoring: Monitors servers, applications, and infrastructure in real time.
• Real-Time Alerts and Insights: Provides timely alerts and actionable insights to address performance issues.
• Customizable Dashboards and Reports: Allows users to create custom dashboards and generate detailed reports.
• Automated Discovery and Dependency Mapping: Automatically discovers and maps application dependencies.
• Integrated Log Monitoring: Aggregates and analyzes logs for better visibility and troubleshooting.

Pros

• Easy to use with a user-friendly interface
• Good value for money with comprehensive features
• Extensive integration options with third-party tools
• Strong customer support and community resources
• Customizable alerting and reporting capabilities

Cons

• Requires manual configuration for advanced features
• Limited scalability for very large environments
• Additional costs for advanced features and integrations

Pricing

SolarWinds offers a custom pricing plan depending on the needs of clients. To get a pricing quote, you’ll need to contact the SolarWinds sales team.

5. AppDynamics

AppDynamics is an enterprise-grade APM tool that provides deep visibility into application performance and user experience. It excels in monitoring complex, distributed applications and offers powerful analytics and automated remediation capabilities.

Key Features

• End-to-End Transaction Monitoring: Tracks the entire user journey across multiple services and components.
• Application Mapping: Automatically discovers and maps application topologies.
• Real-Time Performance Metrics: Provides real-time monitoring of application performance and user interactions.
• Advanced Analytics: Uses machine learning to detect anomalies and provide actionable insights.
• Automated Remediation: Offers automated issue resolution to minimize downtime and improve performance.

Pros

• Comprehensive APM solution with extensive monitoring capabilities
• Strong analytics and anomaly detection powered by machine learning
• Excellent support for complex, distributed environments
• Intuitive user interface with customizable dashboards
• Seamless integration with various cloud platforms and third-party tools

Cons

• High cost, especially for large-scale deployments
• May require significant configuration and customization
• Requires a steep learning curve for new users

Pricing

AppDynamics offers tiered pricing plans based on the specific needs of the business. To get a detailed quote, you will need to contact the AppDynamics sales team.

Conclusion

With the information you gained from this article, you now have a solid understanding of APM tools. Use our recommendations and best practices to pick the right ones.

Speaking of monitoring strategies, integrating Instatus into your chosen APM tool is an excellent move to enhance transparency when communicating application status to end-users. Think of it as a way to complement your APM strategy.

Start your Instatus free trial today and experience the efficiency our platform offers to IT and dev teams.