Overview
Dash0 is a young observability vendor built entirely on OpenTelemetry. It covers APM and tracing, logs, infrastructure and Kubernetes, real user monitoring, synthetic API checks, dashboards (via the open Perses format) and alerting, with PromQL and SQL as query languages so data is not locked into a proprietary format.
Its pricing separates ingest from storage. Every span, log record or web event costs $0.06 per million to ingest; you then pay $0.54 per million only for what you keep, after filtering noisy data with SignalControl. Metrics are cheaper and kept 13 months. Agent0, its AI operator, is billed in credits for tasks such as root-cause analysis and automatic fixes.
There is no free tier, only a 14-day trial with every feature. Dash0 reports 800+ customers and a large 2026 funding round, so it is established enough for production use, but it is aimed at teams with real telemetry volume rather than hobby projects.
Pricing and plans
| Plan | Price | What you get |
|---|---|---|
| Spans, logs, web events | $0.06 ingest + $0.54 storage per million | 30-day retention |
| Metric data points | $0.02 ingest + $0.18 storage per million | 13-month retention |
| Synthetic API checks | $0.20 per thousand runs | 13-month retention |
| Agent0 credits | $0.60 per credit | AI agent actions such as root-cause analysis or generating a pull request |
| AI Coding Insights | $10/user/mo | AI insights into codebase and pull requests |
What it does
- OpenTelemetry-native storage
- SignalStore keeps logs, metrics, traces, profiles, events and RUM data in OTel format.
- SignalControl
- Filter and shape telemetry before storage so you pay storage only on what you keep.
- Open query languages
- PromQL and SQL, plus an MCP server, CLI and API for agents.
- RUM and synthetics
- Web events and synthetic API checks alongside backend telemetry.
- Agent0
- AI agent for live insights, root-cause analysis and automated fixes, billed per credit.
- Cost controls
- Monthly budget limits, spam filters and cost forecasts.
Strengths and limitations
Strengths
- No proprietary agents or formats; everything is standard OpenTelemetry.
- Pay storage only on the data you keep after filtering.
- Clear per-million list prices for each signal type.
- Built-in budget limits and forecasts.
Limitations
- No free tier, only a 14-day trial.
- Assumes OpenTelemetry instrumentation.
- Spans and logs are kept 30 days at list price.
- AI features (Agent0, Coding Insights) are billed separately.
Who it suits
Good for
- Teams standardised on OpenTelemetry
- Kubernetes and microservice platforms with high telemetry volume
- Teams that want to cut noisy data before paying to store it
Look elsewhere if
- Hobby projects that need a free tier
- Simple uptime or error tracking needs
Alternatives to Dash0
| Tool | From | Free option | Stages |
|---|---|---|---|
| Honeycomb Tracing and event-based observability | $150/mo | Free tier | |
| Sentry Error tracking and application monitoring | $26/mo | Free tier | |
| Rollbar Error tracking and session replay | $15.83/mo | Free tier | |
| Coroot Self-hosted eBPF observability | $1/mo | Free tier | |
| SigNoz Open-source OpenTelemetry APM, logs and metrics | $49/mo | Free tier | |
| OpenObserve Open-source logs, metrics, traces and RUM platform | Usage-based | Free tier |
Questions
Does Dash0 have a free plan?
No, it offers a 14-day unlimited free trial without a credit card, then usage-based billing.
How is Dash0 priced?
Per million signals: spans and logs cost $0.06 to ingest and $0.54 to store; metric data points $0.02 and $0.18.
Is Dash0 OpenTelemetry-native?
Yes, it ingests and stores OpenTelemetry data and uses PromQL and SQL for queries.
What is Agent0?
Dash0's AI agent for root-cause analysis and automated fixes, billed at $0.60 per credit.
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