Better Stack vs Papertrail:Which is more popular?
In September 2026, Papertrail had more branded searches than Better Stack among log management platforms worldwide. Papertrail had about 18,100 branded searches, while Better Stack had 14,800. Papertrail made up 2.9% of all log management platform searches we track, and Better Stack accounted for 2.4%. When we asked ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews about log management platforms, Better Stack appeared in two of the five answers and Papertrail in none.
Who do people search for more?
Papertrail, about 22% more searches than Better Stack
Who does AI mention more?
Better Stack, mentioned in 2 of 5 answers, Papertrail in 0
Who does AI recommend more?
Better Stack, the only one of the two named
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Top log management platforms in ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews
In three ChatGPT questions and two Google AI Overviews, Better Stack was mentioned in two out of five: in two of the three ChatGPT answers, but not in either of the two Google AI Overviews. Papertrail did not appear in any of the five answers.
Most recommended by AI
Brands get a higher ranking if they are mentioned earlier in the answers.
Datadog1st
Splunk2nd
Elastic3rd
Graylog4th- Better Stack5th
Sumo Logic6th
Dynatrace–
New Relic–- Papertrail–
- Loggly–
Mentioned by AI
Each dot is one answer, filled in when that answer mentions the brand.
- Datadog5 of 5Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 2 of 2 Google answers
- Splunk5 of 5Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 2 of 2 Google answers
- Elastic4 of 5Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 2 Google answers
- Graylog3 of 5Named in 2 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 2 Google answers
- Better Stack2 of 5Named in 2 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers
- Sumo Logic1 of 5Named in 1 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers
- Dynatrace0 of 5Named in 0 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers
- New Relic0 of 5Named in 0 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers
- Papertrail0 of 5Named in 0 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers
- Loggly0 of 5Named in 0 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers
See every answer about log management platforms
5 answers
Asked ChatGPT
“Which log management platform should I use?”
Asked ChatGPT
“What are the best log management platforms?”
Asked ChatGPT
“What's the best log management platform for a devops team?”
Searched Google, AI Overview
“log management platforms”
Searched Google, AI Overview
“log management software”
Not named in any answer:
Brands are shown in the order each answer named them. The survey took place in the United States on October 21, 2026.
Is Better Stack or Papertrail more popular in search?
This chart shows how often people search Google for Better Stack and Papertrail by name. Each line represents a brand's share of searches for all ten log management platforms we track, month by month, from English-language searches worldwide.
Share of searches by month for Papertrail, Better Stack. The figures are in the table below the chart.
View monthly share of searches table
| Month | Datadog | Splunk | Dynatrace | New Relic | Graylog | Papertrail | Better Stack | Sumo Logic | Elastic | Loggly |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oct 2025 | 32.8% | 27.9% | 14.7% | 12.1% | 5.4% | 3% | 1.1% | 2% | 0.88% | 0.32% |
| Nov 2025 | 36.1% | 25.2% | 13.3% | 13.3% | 4.9% | 2.7% | 1.2% | 2.2% | 0.97% | 0.35% |
| Dec 2025 | 33% | 28.2% | 12.2% | 12.2% | 5.4% | 4.5% | 1.3% | 2% | 0.89% | 0.31% |
| Jan 2026 | 36.6% | 25.8% | 13.5% | 11% | 4.9% | 3.3% | 1.5% | 2.2% | 0.98% | 0.28% |
| Feb 2026 | 37.7% | 26.8% | 13.9% | 9.3% | 5.1% | 2.8% | 1.5% | 1.9% | 0.83% | 0.29% |
| Mar 2026 | 35.8% | 26.2% | 16% | 8.8% | 4.8% | 3.2% | 1.8% | 2.2% | 0.96% | 0.28% |
| Apr 2026 | 37.5% | 27% | 13.8% | 9.2% | 5% | 2.8% | 1.8% | 1.8% | 0.82% | 0.24% |
| May 2026 | 39.4% | 23.2% | 14.5% | 9.7% | 4.3% | 2.9% | 2.4% | 2.4% | 0.87% | 0.26% |
| Jun 2026 | 37.3% | 26.3% | 13.7% | 11.2% | 4.1% | 2.7% | 1.8% | 1.8% | 0.67% | 0.24% |
| Jul 2026 | 40% | 23.6% | 14.7% | 9.8% | 4.4% | 2.9% | 2% | 1.6% | 0.72% | 0.21% |
| Aug 2026 | 40.2% | 23.7% | 14.8% | 9.9% | 3.6% | 3% | 2.4% | 1.6% | 0.72% | 0.21% |
| Sep 2026 | 39.9% | 23.5% | 14.7% | 9.8% | 4.4% | 2.9% | 2.4% | 1.6% | 0.58% | 0.16% |
How has the Better Stack and Papertrail comparison changed over the last 12 months?
3 findings
- Papertrail was ahead of Better Stack in every measured month of the 12 months ending September 2026.
- Across the 12 months ending September 2026, Better Stack’s share of searches among log management platforms worldwide moved from 1.1% to 2.4%, and its estimated monthly branded searches moved from 8.1K to 14.8K.
- Across the 12 months ending September 2026, Papertrail’s share of searches among log management platforms worldwide moved from 3% to 2.9%, and its estimated monthly branded searches moved from 22.2K to 18.1K.
How did search popularity change for log management platforms worldwide in September 2026?
2 changes
Estimated monthly branded searches for Better Stack worldwide rose 82.7% over 12 measured months, from 8.1K to 14.8K in September 2026.
Estimated monthly branded searches for Papertrail worldwide fell 18.5% over 12 measured months, from 22.2K to 18.1K in September 2026.
How are branded searches counted?
2 search terms
Brandwave collects information about searches that people make online using Better Stack’s and Papertrail’s names. When viewed over time, estimated search volumes for these branded terms can be used to understand whether interest in the brands is growing, holding steady, or fading.
Better Stack
1 branded search term
- better stack
Papertrail
1 branded search term
- papertrail
Other head-to-heads among log management platforms
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