Wazuh vs Graylog -- Open Source SIEM Compared

Wazuh vs Graylog (2026)

Wazuh and Graylog are both open source siem solutions that serve different segments of the market. Wazuh is cloud-hosted and self-hosted with open source pricing and is best suited for organizations wanting a free, comprehensive siem/xdr platform with strong compliance capabilities. Graylog offers cloud-hosted and self-hosted with per-node licensing (operations and security tiers) pricing and targets teams needing cost-effective log management with siem capabilities and an intuitive user experience.

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The Verdict

Both offer flexible deployment with cloud-hosted and self-hosted options. Ultimately, the right choice depends on your organization's specific requirements, compliance needs, and existing technology stack.

Tried Wazuh or Graylog? Drop a quick rating.

Wazuh vs Graylog at a Glance

WazuhGraylog
CategoryOpen Source SIEMOpen Source SIEM
PricingFree (Open Source)Free (Open) / From $1,250/month (Operations) / Security custom
Pricing ModelOpen SourcePer-node licensing (Operations and Security tiers)
Open SourceYesYes
Cloud HostedYesYes
Self-HostedYesYes
Founded20152011

Feature Comparison

Key capabilities of Wazuh and Graylog compared side by side.

Wazuh

  • +Log data analysis
  • +Intrusion detection
  • +File integrity monitoring
  • +Vulnerability detection
  • +Configuration assessment
  • +Incident response
  • +Regulatory compliance
  • +Cloud workload protection

Graylog

  • +Centralized log management and collection
  • +Security analytics and threat detection
  • +Pipeline processing for data enrichment
  • +Anomaly detection with machine learning
  • +Customizable dashboards and alerting
  • +Data routing and multi-tenant support
  • +Compliance reporting templates
  • +REST API for automation

Key Differentiators

Unique to Wazuh

  • Log data analysis
  • File integrity monitoring
  • Configuration assessment
  • Incident response

Unique to Graylog

  • Centralized log management and collection
  • Pipeline processing for data enrichment
  • Customizable dashboards and alerting
  • Data routing and multi-tenant support

When to Choose Each

Choose Wazuh if...

  • You need a tool best suited for organizations wanting a free, comprehensive siem/xdr platform with strong compliance capabilities
  • You want an open-source solution with full code transparency
  • Open Source pricing fits your budget model

Choose Graylog if...

  • You need a tool best suited for teams needing cost-effective log management with siem capabilities and an intuitive user experience
  • You want an open-source solution with full code transparency
  • Per-node licensing (Operations and Security tiers) pricing fits your budget model

Pros & Cons Comparison

Graylog

Pros

  • +Open-source core with generous free tier
  • +Intuitive UI with lower learning curve than Splunk
  • +Efficient resource utilization and storage
  • +Strong pipeline processing for data transformation
  • +Predictable per-node licensing

Cons

  • Smaller community and ecosystem than Splunk or Elastic
  • Security features less mature than dedicated SIEMs
  • Limited out-of-the-box security content
  • Enterprise features require paid license

Wazuh

Pros

  • +Completely free and open source
  • +Unified SIEM + XDR in one platform
  • +Active community with 20M+ annual downloads
  • +Agent-based with multi-platform support
  • +Strong compliance reporting (PCI DSS, HIPAA, GDPR)

Cons

  • Requires significant infrastructure expertise to deploy
  • UI less polished than commercial alternatives
  • Community support only (paid support available)
  • Can be resource-intensive at scale

Sources & References

  1. Wazuh (Official Site)[Vendor]
  2. Wazuh Reviews on G2[User Reviews]
  3. Wazuh Reviews on TrustRadius[User Reviews]
  4. Wazuh Reviews on PeerSpot[User Reviews]
  5. Graylog (Official Site)[Vendor]
  6. Graylog Reviews on G2[User Reviews]
  7. Graylog Reviews on TrustRadius[User Reviews]
  8. Graylog Reviews on PeerSpot[User Reviews]

Wazuh vs Graylog FAQ

Common questions about choosing between Wazuh and Graylog.

What is the main difference between Wazuh and Graylog?

Wazuh and Graylog are both open source siem solutions that serve different segments of the market. Wazuh is cloud-hosted and self-hosted with open source pricing and is best suited for organizations wanting a free, comprehensive siem/xdr platform with strong compliance capabilities. Graylog offers cloud-hosted and self-hosted with per-node licensing (operations and security tiers) pricing and targets teams needing cost-effective log management with siem capabilities and an intuitive user experience.

Is Graylog a good alternative to Wazuh?

Both offer flexible deployment with cloud-hosted and self-hosted options. Ultimately, the right choice depends on your organization's specific requirements, compliance needs, and existing technology stack.

How does Graylog pricing compare to Wazuh?

Wazuh pricing: Free (Open Source) (open source). Graylog pricing: Free (Open) / From $1,250/month (Operations) / Security custom (per-node licensing (operations and security tiers)). The best option depends on your team size, usage patterns, and whether you need cloud-hosted, self-hosted, or hybrid deployment.

Can I migrate from Wazuh to Graylog?

Migration from Wazuh to Graylog is possible and depends on your specific setup. Both platforms offer APIs that can facilitate data migration. Consider running both tools in parallel during transition to ensure continuity. Check each vendor's migration documentation for specific guidance.