SolarWinds Hybrid Cloud Observability vs. Splunk AppDynamics

Overview
ProductRatingMost Used ByProduct SummaryStarting Price
SolarWinds Hybrid Cloud Observability
Score 8.5 out of 10
N/A
SolarWinds® Hybrid Cloud Observability aims to provide a comprehensive, integrated, and full-stack solution designed to optimize performance, improve availability, and reduce remediation time by correlating data from across the IT ecosystem, including networks, servers, applications, databases, and more.
$5
per month node
Splunk AppDynamics
Score 8.3 out of 10
N/A
AppDynamics is an APM and Mobile APM program, with application mapping and predictive capabilities. These capacities enable automated remediation and code-level diagnostics in real time. It can be deployed on-premise or as a SaaS.N/A
Pricing
SolarWinds Hybrid Cloud ObservabilitySplunk AppDynamics
Editions & Modules
Essentials
$5
per month per node
Advanced
$9
per month per node
No answers on this topic
Offerings
Pricing Offerings
SolarWinds Hybrid Cloud ObservabilitySplunk AppDynamics
Free Trial
YesYes
Free/Freemium Version
NoYes
Premium Consulting/Integration Services
YesYes
Entry-level Setup FeeNo setup feeNo setup fee
Additional DetailsPricing is set per node, per month, and billing is annual. The prices listed are base prices that could increase depending on your environment. Please speak to a representative to get a quote.
More Pricing Information
Community Pulse
SolarWinds Hybrid Cloud ObservabilitySplunk AppDynamics
Considered Both Products
SolarWinds Hybrid Cloud Observability
Chose SolarWinds Hybrid Cloud Observability
- SolarWinds Hybrid Cloud Observability is less expensive
- SolarWinds Hybrid Cloud Observability does more right out of the box
- Splunk is more highly configurable
Chose SolarWinds Hybrid Cloud Observability
Solarwinds has the best overlap of the two others I've mentioned - the other two tools (Datadog and Dynatrace) are great in their own way but Solarwinds is just good at everything; if I had to pick one tool of the above, it would be Solarwinds for the compatibility and ease of …
Splunk AppDynamics

No answer on this topic

Features
SolarWinds Hybrid Cloud ObservabilitySplunk AppDynamics
Application Performance Management
Comparison of Application Performance Management features of Product A and Product B
SolarWinds Hybrid Cloud Observability
-
Ratings
Splunk AppDynamics
8.1
77 Ratings
6% above category average
Application monitoring00 Ratings8.777 Ratings
Database monitoring00 Ratings7.873 Ratings
Threshold alerts00 Ratings8.475 Ratings
Predictive capabilities00 Ratings7.575 Ratings
Application performance management console00 Ratings8.674 Ratings
Collaboration tools00 Ratings7.563 Ratings
Server availability and performance monitoring00 Ratings8.347 Ratings
Server usage monitoring and capacity forecasting00 Ratings8.146 Ratings
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User Ratings
SolarWinds Hybrid Cloud ObservabilitySplunk AppDynamics
Likelihood to Recommend
9.0
(4 ratings)
8.1
(77 ratings)
Likelihood to Renew
-
(0 ratings)
9.1
(2 ratings)
Usability
8.0
(1 ratings)
7.9
(14 ratings)
Support Rating
-
(0 ratings)
8.1
(6 ratings)
User Testimonials
SolarWinds Hybrid Cloud ObservabilitySplunk AppDynamics
Likelihood to Recommend
SolarWinds
- For small teams serving big organizations - it's a really simple tool to install and set up relatively quickly. - the new installer is also great - I don't have to understand what modules need to be installed; it's all streamlined. - The HCO Licensing allows you to run the Additional polling engines at a scale where the previous licensing model didn't. We can deploy APEs in locations now, which would not have been worth the investment in previously as there weren't enough devices in that location/region to spend the $$$$ on an APE License.
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Cisco
Platforms for software as a service (SaaS) frequently cater to a large number of users with a variety of needs and usage patterns. Because AppDynamics offers multi-tenant monitoring capabilities to track performance across various customer environments, it is a good choice for SaaS platform monitoring. SaaS providers can maximize resource utilization, proactively detect and resolve performance issues, and provide a dependable and consistent user experience for their clients with AppDynamics.
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Pros
SolarWinds
  • Automated dependency mapping is a big hit.
  • High availability is extremely simple to implement.
  • Simple to use and drill into issues.
  • Analysis of growth patterns driving the recommendation engine.
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Cisco
  • AppDynamics delves deeply into traceability and profiling at the code level. By identifying and refactoring any hidden performance hogs in our code, we can directly observe the performance improvements.
  • AppDynamics provides real-time dashboards and in-depth insights into each layer of the application stack, lifting the curtain on performance.
  • AppDynamics gives us the ability to proactively detect and resolve performance issues. We are able to keep things running smoothly for our users and stop outages.
  • We can monitor stability and performance prior to, during, and following releases with AppDynamics, which helps to minimize regression risks and facilitate smooth rollouts.
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Cons
SolarWinds
  • Can be complex to setup
  • Is strongest with network resources
  • Assumes a fairly large amount of base knowledge
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Cisco
  • Improving the clarity and comprehensiveness of the documentation could benefit users. Clearer documentation ensures that users can make the most of all the functionalities
  • Leverages AI and machine learning for intelligent insights, aiding in issue identification and prediction.
  • Competitive, with AI-driven features becoming increasingly common in APM solutions.
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Likelihood to Renew
SolarWinds
No answers on this topic
Cisco
On a scale of 1 to 10, I would rate our likelihood to renew Splunk AppDynamics as a 10. Our leadership is fully committed to the State of Indiana’s Application Performance Monitoring (APM) Program, which has become a national leader within the SLED (State, Local, and Education) vertical. AppDynamics plays a critical role in our ability to deliver reliable, high-performing digital services to citizens and stakeholders. Its capabilities align closely with our strategic goals around operational excellence, proactive incident management, and data-driven decision-making, making it an indispensable part of our technology ecosystem.
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Usability
SolarWinds
- decent ease of use - good training materials - good documentation - acceptable level of expected knowledge
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Cisco
Actually, I would like to give it a score of 10 out of 10, but taking into account certain factors such as: the cost of the annual licence, the complexity of installation and configuration, the blurring of setting Splunk AppDynamics over the cloud and especially OpenShift since we use it as a container platform. So, 8 out of 10 looks perfect for it
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Reliability and Availability
SolarWinds
No answers on this topic
Cisco
On a scale of 1 to 10, I would rate the availability of Splunk AppDynamics as a 9. Overall, the platform has proven to be highly reliable and is available when we need it. It consistently supports our monitoring and performance management needs across critical applications and infrastructure. There have been occasional issues with platform availability, such as intermittent application errors or brief unplanned outages. However, these instances have been infrequent and typically resolved quickly, minimizing any significant impact on operations. The stability and uptime of the platform have met our expectations, and we continue to rely on it as a core component of our APM strategy.
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Performance
SolarWinds
No answers on this topic
Cisco
On a scale of 1 to 10, I would rate the performance of Splunk AppDynamics as a 6. While the platform generally delivers the expected functionality, we’ve experienced periodic slowness—particularly with page loads and report generation. These performance issues can be frustrating, especially when trying to quickly access critical data during incident response or analysis. One contributing factor may be our use of a shared controller environment with other enterprises, which can introduce resource contention and impact overall responsiveness. In some cases, this has led to delays in accessing dashboards or completing complex queries. Despite these challenges, the platform remains a valuable tool, and we’re exploring options to improve performance, including potential changes to our deployment model and support agreements.
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Support Rating
SolarWinds
No answers on this topic
Cisco
AppDynamics has its own community site that includes forums and a knowledge base. On the forums, you can converse with other members of the community and ask technical questions as you have them. Though this forum isn’t filled with people there are active members for you to gain some valuable insights.
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Online Training
SolarWinds
No answers on this topic
Cisco
On a scale of 1 to 10, I would rate the online training for Splunk AppDynamics as a 7. The training was generally acceptable and covered the core concepts and functionality of the platform. However, there were some challenges with communication during sessions—particularly around clarity and instructor engagement—which occasionally made it difficult to fully grasp certain topics. Additionally, the training could benefit from being more focused and tailored to specific roles or use cases. A more structured approach with clearer learning paths and practical, hands-on examples would enhance the overall effectiveness and help users apply the knowledge more confidently in real-world scenarios.
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Implementation Rating
SolarWinds
No answers on this topic
Cisco
On a scale of 1 to 10, I would rate our satisfaction with the implementation of Splunk AppDynamics as a 9. The deployment process was smooth and well-coordinated, thanks to the collaborative efforts between Cisco Professional Services, our internal business stakeholders, and agency technical teams. Key Insights from the Implementation: Cross-functional Collaboration Was Critical: Engaging both technical and business teams early in the process ensured that the platform was configured to meet a wide range of operational and strategic needs. Value of Expert Guidance: Cisco’s Professional Services provided invaluable expertise, helping us navigate complex configurations and tailor the solution to our environment. Their involvement accelerated deployment and ensured best practices were followed. Importance of Planning and Communication: A well-defined implementation roadmap and regular communication across teams helped us stay aligned, manage expectations, and address challenges proactively. Scalable Architecture: We designed the implementation with scalability in mind, allowing us to expand usage across agencies and applications without major rework. Overall, the implementation laid a strong foundation for our APM program and positioned us for long-term success.
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Alternatives Considered
SolarWinds
Solarwinds has the best overlap of the two others I've mentioned - the other two tools (Datadog and Dynatrace) are great in their own way but Solarwinds is just good at everything; if I had to pick one tool of the above, it would be Solarwinds for the compatibility and ease of use, the other tools are more focused on being great at certain things while Solarwinds is the jack of all trades.
Read full review
Cisco
It is distinguished from these programs because the platform provides visualizations of application processes, showing the interplay between various parts and services. Understanding the architecture of complicated apps and finding their weak spots is greatly aided by this.
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Contract Terms and Pricing Model
SolarWinds
No answers on this topic
Cisco
While the overall value of the Splunk AppDynamics platforms is strong, the pricing structure and contract terms can be complex and difficult to navigate. Unit pricing, licensing tiers, and billing frequency are not always intuitive, which can make it challenging to align purchases with the State’s evolving needs. I rely heavily on our Account Manager to help interpret and tailor the licensing model to our specific requirements. Their support has been invaluable in ensuring we make informed decisions. The most impactful change would be to simplify the licensing and pricing model. Clearer documentation, more transparent pricing tiers, and streamlined purchasing processes would significantly improve the experience and reduce administrative overhead.
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Scalability
SolarWinds
No answers on this topic
Cisco
On a scale of 1 to 10, I would rate the overall scalability of Splunk AppDynamics as a 7. The platform is designed to support enterprise-wide deployments across multiple departments and sites, and it performs well in large-scale environments. Its architecture allows for horizontal scaling and supports a wide range of application types and infrastructures. However, the agent management and deployment process can be complex and time-consuming, especially when onboarding a large number of applications or systems. Coordinating agent installation, configuration, and updates across diverse environments requires careful planning and often significant manual effort. Streamlining these processes—perhaps through more centralized management tools or automation—would enhance scalability and reduce operational overhead. Despite these challenges, once deployed, AppDynamics scales effectively and provides consistent performance and visibility across the enterprise.
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Professional Services
SolarWinds
No answers on this topic
Cisco
Our experience with the professional services team supporting Splunk AppDynamics has been exceptional. They demonstrated deep technical expertise, strong collaboration skills, and a clear understanding of our business objectives. Their guidance was instrumental in the successful implementation of our APM program and platform integration. The rating of 9 reflects our high level of satisfaction, with a small margin left to acknowledge that continuous improvement is always possible. Overall, their support has been a key factor in the success of our deployment.
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Return on Investment
SolarWinds
  • one license requiring 1 PO to be raised
  • sharing costs between departments for monitoring under one platform using APEs
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Cisco
  • AppDynamics has played a pivotal role in optimizing our applications for a seamless user experience. The proactive monitoring and quick issue resolution have translated into improved user satisfaction and increased retention rates.
  • The initial cost and effort associated with implementing AppDynamics might be considered a negative impact, particularly for organizations with budget constraints. However, the long-term benefits have justified this initial investment.
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ScreenShots

SolarWinds Hybrid Cloud Observability Screenshots

Screenshot of ITOM Executive DashboardScreenshot of Observability MapsScreenshot of Performance Analysis DashboardScreenshot of Application Alerting DashboardScreenshot of Network Path Analysis