AWS SNS vs New Relic: Full Comparison (2026)
Pricing, features, scores, and a clear verdict on which one is right for you.
The bottom line
AWS SNS positions itself as "managed pub/sub messaging and mobile push at aws scale" while New Relic goes after "all-in-one observability with generous free tier" — so the right pick depends on which problem you're actually solving. Both use usage-based pricing, but AWS SNS charges per message while New Relic charges per gb — a meaningful difference for larger teams.
At a glance
| AWS SNS | New Relic | |
|---|---|---|
| Our score | 72/100 | 80/100 |
| Starting price | Free | Free |
| Free tier | Yes | Yes |
| Best for | Managed pub/sub messaging and mobile push at AWS scale | All-in-one observability with generous free tier |
Pricing comparison
Calculate your cost
Feature comparison
core
| Feature | AWS SNS | New Relic |
|---|---|---|
| Pub/sub topics | Yes | No |
| Mobile push | Yes | No |
| SMS delivery | Yes | No |
| Email notifications | Yes | No |
| SQS fan-out | Yes | No |
| Infrastructure monitoring | No | Yes |
| APM/tracing | No | Yes |
| Log management | No | Yes |
| Synthetic monitoring | No | Yes |
| Dashboards | No | Yes |
Ratings breakdown
What the data tells us
Key capabilities you'd miss
Choosing AWS SNS means going without Infrastructure monitoring, APM/tracing, Log management (which New Relic offers). Choosing New Relic means losing Pub/sub topics, Mobile push, SMS delivery. These are the features that typically drive the final decision — check whether your workflow depends on any of them before committing.
What company size tells you
AWS SNS (100,000+ employees) has the engineering bench to ship features across many fronts but may iterate slower on individual requests. New Relic (1,000+ employees) typically ships faster on its core product but may lag on peripheral features. Consider which matters more for your roadmap.
Choose AWS SNS if...
- You want a free tier to get started
- You value powerful features over simplicity
- Getting strong value for money is a priority
Choose New Relic if...
- You want a free tier to get started
- You value an intuitive, easy-to-use interface
- Getting strong value for money is a priority
Frequently asked questions
Is AWS SNS or New Relic better?
New Relic scores 80/100 compared to AWS SNS's 72/100 on VendorVS. However, the best choice depends on your needs — AWS SNS excels at ease of use (5/10) while New Relic scores 8/10.
How much does AWS SNS cost compared to New Relic?
AWS SNS starts at free (free tier available). New Relic starts at free (free tier available). AWS SNS is the more affordable option.
Does AWS SNS or New Relic have a free plan?
Yes, both AWS SNS and New Relic offer free tiers, so you can try each before committing to a paid plan.
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