Apache SkyWalking
Open source observability platform covering distributed tracing, metrics, logs, profiling, and LLM cost tracking across 10+ languages with eBPF support on Kubernetes.
Technical Profile & Specs
verified 2026-11-07
- Cost
- $0 / forever (Open Source)
- License
- Open Source
- Hosting Model
- Self-host (your server)
- Platforms
- webself-hosteddocker to self-host
- Installation
- Clone https://github.com/apache/skywalking or deploy with Docker Compose
- Operational Setup
- Deploy via Docker or binary release from GitHub and configure environment variables.
- Where Your Data Lives
- All application data and configuration live on your own server or local database.
- The Catch / Trade-off
- Requires self-hosting setup, updates, and server maintenance compared to managed AppDynamics.
Replaces 2 paid apps
up to $70/mo ($840/yr) in subscriptions
Apache SkyWalking FAQ
Common questions
Is Apache SkyWalking free and open source?+
Apache SkyWalking is an open-source tool licensed under Open Source that runs on self-host. Open source observability platform covering distributed tracing, metrics, logs, profiling, and LLM cost tracking across 10+ languages with eBPF support on Kubernetes.
What paid software does Apache SkyWalking replace?+
Apache SkyWalking serves as a free replacement for 2 paid SaaS applications: AppDynamics, Dynatrace, saving up to $70/month ($840/year) in subscription bills.
How do you install and set up Apache SkyWalking?+
Installation: Clone https://github.com/apache/skywalking or deploy with Docker Compose. Setup notes: Deploy via Docker or binary release from GitHub and configure environment variables.
What is the catch or trade-off with Apache SkyWalking?+
Requires self-hosting setup, updates, and server maintenance compared to managed AppDynamics.