A fast shortlist of the top RUM options by use case. Jump straight to the tool that matches your context, then scroll for the full comparison.
EU-ready DEM suite combining RUM + Synthetics with flexible deployment (cloud, hybrid, self-hosted) and GDPR-first controls.
Deep correlation of RUM ↔ APM ↔ Logs with session replay and Core Web Vitals dashboards.
Full-stack DEM with AI root-cause, journey mapping and automatic problem detection.
Laser-focused on INP, LCP, CLS with rich diagnostics for frontend teams.
Simple blend of synthetic uptime and real user monitoring for websites and APIs.
Open-source agents for teams wanting to self-host metrics and control costs.
Updated: October 22, 2025 • Selection criteria: RUM coverage, Core Web Vitals/INP, session replay, synthetics integration, data governance, pricing transparency.
Scan the key capabilities at a glance. Scroll horizontally on mobile. Click a tool name to jump to its detailed section below.
| Tool | Best for | RUM (web / mobile) | Session replay | Core Web Vitals / INP | Synthetics | APM / Traces | Data residency | Starting price* | Free trial |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ekara by IP-Label | EU data sovereignty | ✓ Web / Mobile options | Available | ✓ INP, LCP, CLS | ✓ Unified with RUM | Integrations | EU / Hybrid / Self-hosted | Contact sales | On request |
| Datadog RUM | All-in-one observability | ✓ Web + Mobile SDKs | ✓ With error tracking | ✓ CWV dashboards | ✓ Browser + API | ✓ Native (APM / Logs) | Multi-region cloud | Usage-based | Yes |
| Dynatrace RUM | AI-assisted insights | ✓ Web + Mobile | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ Full-stack | Regional SaaS & Managed | Tiered / usage | Yes |
| New Relic Browser | Unified telemetry | ✓ Web + Mobile | Available | ✓ CWV ready | ✓ | ✓ APM + Logs | Multi-region cloud | Usage-based | Yes |
| SpeedCurve / DebugBear | Core Web Vitals focus | ✓ Web RUM | Available | ✓ Deep CWV / INP | ✓ Strong lab tests | Integrations | Cloud | Plan-based | Yes |
| Pingdom | Uptime + RUM combo | ✓ Web RUM | Available | ✓ | ✓ Uptime & Txn | Integrations | Cloud | Plan-based | Yes |
| Splunk RUM | Observability Cloud | ✓ Web + Mobile | Available | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ Traces + Logs | Cloud (regions) | Usage-based | Yes |
| AppDynamics (Cisco) EUM | Enterprise EUM | ✓ Web + Mobile | Available | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ APM native | Cloud / On-prem options | Tiered | On request |
| Raygun | RUM + crash reporting | ✓ Web + Mobile | Available | ✓ | ✓ | Integrations | Cloud | Plan-based | Yes |
| Sematext Experience | Budget-friendly | ✓ Web RUM | Available | ✓ | ✓ | Integrations | Cloud | Plan-based | Yes |
| Elastic RUM / Grafana Faro (OSS) | Open-source route | ✓ Web RUM | — | ✓ | — | Ecosystem | Self-hosted | Infra cost only | N/A |
*Starting prices and trials vary by edition and usage. Replace placeholders with your current benchmark before publishing. Updated: October 22, 2025.
Real User Monitoring (RUM) captures actual user journeys on your site or app—from navigation timing to CWV such as INP, LCP, and CLS. Unlike lab tests, RUM reflects real devices, networks, geos, and behaviors, making it the gold standard for prioritizing performance work that moves business KPIs.
Best when you need to prioritize work by business impact and prove improvements.
Best when you need repeatable measurements and proactive alerts.
Transparent, repeatable, vendor-agnostic. We scored each solution on the criteria below, with explicit weightings (total = 100%).
Deep page-level diagnostics, SPA support, field data fidelity.
Link frontend symptoms to backend causes quickly.
Redaction by default, role-based access, secure sharing.
Journeys, API checks, and parity of metrics with RUM.
Ease of rollout (tag/SDK/extension), overhead, versioning.
Public unit pricing (session/pageview) and predictable tiers.
EU hosting options, contractual controls, sovereignty beyond residency.
Setup guides, actionable dashboards, onboarding quality.
Last review: October 22, 2025 — We revisit weightings when standards change (e.g., INP replacing FID).
A concise, vendor-neutral overview. Each card highlights best-for positioning, standout features, and practical notes. Click “See details” to jump to the in-depth section or table row.
Unified RUM + Synthetics with flexible deployment (cloud, hybrid, self-hosted) and GDPR-first controls.
Deep correlation of RUM ↔ APM ↔ Logs with session replay and CWV dashboards.
Full-stack DEM with AI root-cause, user journey mapping, and automatic problem detection.
RUM with Core Web Vitals, plus one-platform telemetry across APM, logs, and infra.
Browser & mobile RUM with session replay and tight correlation to traces and logs.
Browser & mobile RUM with enterprise controls, plus synthetic monitoring and APM.
Straightforward synthetic uptime & transactions paired with real-user metrics.
Frontend-focused diagnostics with deep INP/LCP/CLS insights and visual comparisons.
Web-perf oriented RUM with clear guidance for dev teams and transparent pricing.
Real user metrics alongside crash/error data for faster issue resolution.
Accessible RUM with essentials for teams starting their DEM journey.
RUM agents with self-hosting for cost control and customization.
*Pricing/trial vary by edition and usage. Replace placeholders with your latest benchmark before publishing. Updated: October 22, 2025.
Best for EU data sovereignty & regulated organisations
Consider if you need strict EU governance, hybrid hosting, and a combined RUM+synthetic strategy.
Best for all-in-one observability
Consider if you want one platform for frontend + backend with strong correlation and alerts.
Best for AI-assisted insights
Consider if you’re an enterprise with full-stack observability goals and complex estates.
Best for unified telemetry
Consider if you want RUM with broad telemetry in one account.
Best for Splunk Observability Cloud users
Consider if Splunk is your observability backbone and you want tighter frontend linkage.
Best for enterprise EUM & governance
Consider if you need on-prem options and granular access controls.
Best for uptime + RUM combo
Consider if you want simple uptime + basic RUM in one place.
Best for Core Web Vitals depth
Consider if CWV is a top KPI and you need deep frontend diagnostics.
Best for CWV & dev-friendly workflows
Consider if you want dev-centric CWV monitoring with straightforward pricing.
Best for RUM + crash reporting
Consider if you need one place for crashes + user experience metrics.
Best for budget-conscious teams
Consider if you need essentials now and can integrate APM later.
Best for self-hosting & cost control
Consider if you prefer OSS, have ops maturity, and want to avoid per-session pricing.
Use this vendor-neutral checklist to shortlist solutions. Skim the cards, tick what matters for your context, and keep an eye on Core Web Vitals (INP/LCP/CLS), privacy, and data governance.
RUM measures the experience of real users on real devices, networks, and locations, while Synthetic Monitoring runs scripted checks from controlled test nodes 24/7 (uptime and regression coverage).
Key field metrics include Core Web Vitals—INP, LCP, CLS—plus TTFB, First Contentful Paint, JavaScript errors, resource timing, and long tasks.
INP (Interaction to Next Paint) replaced FID as the responsiveness vital in March 2024. INP evaluates interaction latency across the whole visit (not just the first input), giving a truer picture of perceived responsiveness.
Indirectly, yes. RUM provides field data (p75) used for Core Web Vitals. Improving INP/LCP/CLS for real users enhances page experience signals and helps prioritize impactful fixes.
Recommended but optional. Session replay speeds up UX and JS error diagnosis when used with PII masking, consent integration, and sensible retention policies.
Most vendors price by usage (session or pageview). Control spend with sampling, environment filters, and app/domain scoping. Open-source options shift cost to infrastructure and operations.
Yes. Elastic RUM and Grafana Faro are popular. You gain control and customization, in exchange for operating, securing, and maintaining the stack yourself.
Depending on the vendor: a JS tag (typical), mobile SDKs, or a low-friction browser agent/extension for quick pilots and restricted environments.
Updated: October 22, 2025
