Dozzle vs Graylog
A side-by-side comparison of two self-hosted monitoring & status options — licensing, setup difficulty, resource needs, and what each one replaces.
Dozzle
Real-time log viewer for Docker containers
VS
Graylog
Centralized log management and analysis platform
| Feature | Dozzle | Graylog |
|---|---|---|
| Deploy effort | Under-an-hour setup | Under-an-hour setup |
| Health score | 94 · Excellent | 90 · Excellent |
| Category | Monitoring & Status | Monitoring & Status |
| License | MIT | SSPL-1.0 |
| Language | Go | Java |
| Setup difficulty | Easy | Medium |
| Min. RAM | 32 MB | 2,048 MB |
| Deployment | docker | docker, bare-metal |
| GitHub stars | ★ 14,465 | ★ 8,144 |
| First released | 2018 | 2010 |
| Replaces | Datadog Logs | Splunk, Datadog Logs |
What are Dozzle and Graylog?
Dozzle
Dozzle is a lightweight, real-time log viewer for Docker containers accessed through the browser. It requires no configuration or database and streams logs live with search and filtering.
- Live container log streaming
- No database or config
- Multi-host support
- Search and filtering
Graylog
Graylog is a centralized log management platform that collects, indexes, and analyzes machine data in real time. It offers powerful search, dashboards, and alerting for troubleshooting and security monitoring.
- Centralized log collection
- Fast full-text search
- Dashboards and alerts
- Stream-based routing
Dozzle vs Graylog: key differences
Dozzle is written in Go, while Graylog is built with Java. Licensing differs — MIT for Dozzle versus SSPL-1.0 for Graylog. Dozzle is the lighter option, starting around 32 MB of RAM against 2,048 MB for Graylog. Graylog is the more established project (first released 2010), while Dozzle arrived in 2018.
Why pick each one
Choose Dozzle if…
- Zero setup
- Very lightweight
Watch out for
- No long-term log storage
- Docker-only
Choose Graylog if…
- Powerful search and pipelines
- Polished web UI
Watch out for
- Needs OpenSearch and MongoDB
- Memory hungry
Frequently asked questions
Is Dozzle or Graylog better?
Dozzle is the stronger all-round pick: it has both the larger community and the simpler easy setup. Consider Graylog if its specific feature set fits your needs better.
Are Dozzle and Graylog free and open-source?
Yes. Dozzle is licensed under MIT and Graylog under SSPL-1.0. Both can be self-hosted at no software cost.
Can I run Dozzle and Graylog with Docker?
Dozzle: yes. Graylog: yes.
Which is lighter on resources, Dozzle or Graylog?
Dozzle has the smaller minimum footprint at 32 MB of RAM, compared to about 2,048 MB for Graylog. Real-world usage depends on library size, user count, and enabled features.