Direct answer: RUM and synthetic monitoring in 2026 both price “per 1,000”, but the units differ: Datadog RUM Measure 0.15/1,000 sessions, Session Replay 2.50/1,000 sessions; API Testing 5/10K runs (0.50/1,000), Browser Testing 12/1,000 runs, Mobile App Testing 50/100 runs. Dynatrace RUM 2.25/1,000 sessions, RUM+Replay 4.50/1,000 sessions; Browser Monitor 4.50/1,000 synthetic actions, HTTP Monitor 1.00/1,000 synthetic requests. Three RUM tiers: 1M sessions: Datadog 150, Datadog+Replay 2,650, Dynatrace 2,250, Dynatrace+Replay 4,500; 5M: 750/13,250/11,250/22,500; 10M: 1,500/26,500/22,500/45,000. Synthetic: 1M API/HTTP: Datadog 500, Dynatrace 1,000; 100K Browser: 1,200 vs 450. Bottom line: Datadog is about 15× cheaper for RUM per session; Dynatrace is cheaper for Browser synthetic per action; session/action definitions and inclusions differ, so per-1,000 prices are not directly comparable.
This guide is for teams running frontend/mobile experience, SRE, synthetic monitoring and procurement. Data cut-off: 7 November 2026; prices come from Datadog Pricing and Dynatrace Pricing, in USD, excluding tax; all TCOs are editorial calculations, not vendor quotes. “Session/action/request, RUM/Replay/synthetic, retention” differ, so official facts, editorial assumptions and non-comparable items are kept separate.
Datadog: RUM Measure 0.15/1,000 sessions, Replay 2.50/1,000, API testing 0.50/1,000 runs, Browser 12/1,000, Mobile 50/100. Dynatrace: RUM 2.25/1,000 sessions, RUM+Replay 4.50/1,000, Browser 4.50/1,000 actions, HTTP 1.00/1,000 requests. 1M sessions: Datadog 150, Dynatrace 2,250; 100K Browser: 1,200 vs 450. Datadog for RUM, Dynatrace for Browser synthetic.
Two meters: per 1,000 sessions vs per 1,000 actions/requests
Datadog: RUM Measure 0.15/1,000 sessions (collect availability/performance for every session); Session Replay 2.50/1,000 sessions; Product Analytics 0.80/1,000; API Testing 5/10K test runs (0.50/1,000); Browser Testing 12/1,000 runs; Mobile App Testing 50/100 runs (0.50/run). Dynatrace: RUM 2.25/1,000 sessions (including mobile crash analysis and 35-day retention); RUM+Session Replay 4.50/1,000 sessions; Browser Monitor 4.50/1,000 synthetic actions; HTTP Monitor 1.00/1,000 synthetic requests; both include 35-day retention and public/private synthetic locations. The session/action definitions differ; Dynatrace’s RUM unit price is higher but includes more mobile/retention, while Datadog’s is lower but Replay/Product Analytics are extra.
| Platform/product | Unit | Published (USD) | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| Datadog RUM Measure | Per 1,000 sessions | 0.15 | Session availability/performance |
| Datadog Session Replay | Per 1,000 sessions | 2.50 | Replay |
| Datadog API Testing | Per 10,000 runs | 5.00 | ≈0.50/1,000 |
| Datadog Browser Testing | Per 1,000 runs | 12.00 | Browser synthetic |
| Datadog Mobile App Testing | Per 100 runs | 50.00 | ≈0.50/run |
| Dynatrace RUM | Per 1,000 sessions | 2.25 | Includes mobile crash/35 days |
| Dynatrace RUM+Replay | Per 1,000 sessions | 4.50 | Includes replay/35 days |
| Dynatrace Browser Monitor | Per 1,000 actions | 4.50 | Browser synthetic |
| Dynatrace HTTP Monitor | Per 1,000 requests | 1.00 | API/HTTP synthetic |
Sources: Datadog Pricing and Dynatrace Pricing (US/USD, accessed 7 November 2026). Excludes tax, commitments/annual billing, retention overage, private synthetic locations, RUM/Replay overage, support and migration; Datadog’s RUM/Replay are separate, Dynatrace has a combined RUM+Replay price; session/action definitions need vendor docs.
RUM TCO: 1M/5M/10M sessions
By monthly sessions: 1M: Datadog RUM Measure 1,000×0.15=150; Datadog+Replay 150+1,000×2.50=2,650; Dynatrace RUM 1,000×2.25=2,250; Dynatrace+Replay 1,000×4.50=4,500. 5M: 750; 13,250; 11,250; 22,500. 10M: 1,500; 26,500; 22,500; 45,000. Per session, Datadog is about 1/15 of Dynatrace; but Dynatrace’s RUM includes mobile crash/35-day retention, while Datadog’s Replay/Product Analytics are extra.
| Monthly sessions | Datadog RUM | Datadog+Replay | Dynatrace RUM | Dynatrace+Replay |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1M | 150.00 | 2,650.00 | 2,250.00 | 4,500.00 |
| 5M | 750.00 | 13,250.00 | 11,250.00 | 22,500.00 |
| 10M | 1,500.00 | 26,500.00 | 22,500.00 | 45,000.00 |
Editorial calculation, not a quote. Datadog RUM 0.15/1,000, Replay 2.50/1,000; Dynatrace RUM 2.25/1,000, RUM+Replay 4.50/1,000. Excludes tax, commitments/annual billing, retention overage, private locations, support and migration; session definitions/inclusions differ, so unit prices are not feature-equivalent.
Synthetic TCO: API/HTTP and Browser
Synthetic: 1M API/HTTP checks: Datadog API Testing 5/10K → 100×5=500; Dynatrace HTTP Monitor 1.00/1,000 → 1,000×1=1,000. 100K Browser checks: Datadog Browser 12/1,000 → 100×12=1,200; Dynatrace Browser 4.50/1,000 → 100×4.50=450. 1M Browser: Datadog 12,000; Dynatrace 4,500. API/HTTP synthetic favors Datadog; Browser synthetic favors Dynatrace (about 1/3). If both are used, weight by mix.
| Monthly synthetic | Datadog | Dynatrace | Lower |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1M API/HTTP checks | 500.00 | 1,000.00 | Datadog |
| 100K Browser checks | 1,200.00 | 450.00 | Dynatrace |
| 1M Browser checks | 12,000.00 | 4,500.00 | Dynatrace |
Editorial calculation, not a quote. Datadog API 5/10K runs, Browser 12/1,000 runs; Dynatrace HTTP 1.00/1,000 requests, Browser 4.50/1,000 actions. Excludes tax, commitments/annual billing, private locations, parallel/CI, support and migration; API run vs HTTP request and Browser run vs action may be counted differently.
Why RUM differs 15×: session/action definitions
Datadog RUM Measure bills 0.15/1,000 sessions, Replay +2.50; Dynatrace RUM bills 2.25/1,000 sessions and includes mobile crash analysis/35-day retention, RUM+Replay 4.50. Both call it a “session”, but collection scope, retention, mobile capability and sampling/privacy differ; Dynatrace’s higher unit price does not mean 15× the same features. Synthetic is the same: Datadog API Testing bills per run, Dynatrace HTTP Monitor per request, and Browser run/action counts may differ. Align “what is collected, how long retained, which mobile/replay/private-location features” before comparing per 1,000.
| Item | Datadog | Dynatrace |
|---|---|---|
| RUM unit | Session (Measure 0.15/1,000) | Session (2.25/1,000) |
| Replay | +2.50/1,000 sessions | +2.25/1,000 (combined 4.50) |
| Mobile crash | By product/tier | Included in RUM |
| Retention | By product/tier | 35 days |
| API/HTTP synthetic | 0.50/1,000 runs | 1.00/1,000 requests |
| Browser synthetic | 12/1,000 runs | 4.50/1,000 actions |
Sources: the two official pricing pages (accessed 7 November 2026). This is a public pricing overview; the exact session/action/run definitions, sampling, privacy, retention, private locations and mobile capabilities follow each vendor’s docs/contract; no feature-equivalence assumption is made.
Which option fits which scenario?
High RUM volume (millions of sessions), budget-first, Replay/analytics billed separately: Datadog RUM Measure 0.15/1,000; want RUM+mobile crash+35-day retention+Replay in one: Dynatrace RUM+Replay 4.50/1,000; many API/HTTP synthetic checks: Datadog API Testing 0.50/1,000; many Browser synthetic checks: Dynatrace Browser 4.50/1,000; both synthetic types: weight by mix, not a single unit price; already using APM/logs on one platform: stay on that platform to avoid data silos (Datadog APM 31/host, Dynatrace Full-Stack 58/8GiB host extra). Include payment/retention/private locations/support.
| Scenario | First choice | Monthly (example) | Check first |
|---|---|---|---|
| Millions of RUM sessions/budget | Datadog RUM | 150 (1M sessions) | Replay/analytics extra |
| RUM+Replay+mobile crash | Dynatrace RUM+Replay | 4,500 (1M) | Retention/mobile |
| Many API/HTTP synthetic | Datadog API Testing | 500 (1M runs) | Run counting |
| Many Browser synthetic | Dynatrace Browser | 450 (100K) | Action counting |
| Same-platform APM/logs | Incumbent platform | Extra | Data silos/discounts |
| Very low volume/trial | Free tier/trial | 0 | Limits/retention |
Sources: the two official pricing pages (accessed 7 November 2026). This is an editorial decision matrix, not vendor advice; collection coverage, sampling, retention, privacy, SLA and migration cost were not tested.
What should procurement and acceptance specify?
At least ten things: monthly sessions/actions/runs, web/mobile/desktop, replay share, retention, sampling/privacy, API/HTTP/Browser synthetic, private locations, APM/log correlation, SLA/support, contract. Run a 2–4 week POC on real traffic and record sessions/actions/runs, sampling, retention, replay, synthetic success rate and the bill; do not compare only “per 1,000 sessions/actions”.
- RUM: monthly sessions, web/mobile/desktop, sampling, privacy.
- Replay: replay share, retention, masking, storage.
- Synthetic: API/HTTP/Browser, run/action, frequency, locations.
- Retention: hot/warm/cold, 35 days/longer.
- Mobile: crash/ANR/symbolication, versions.
- Correlation: APM/logs/traces, session→trace.
- Alerting: synthetic failures/performance budgets, notifications.
- SLA/support: uptime, response, credits.
- Compliance: residency, privacy, audit.
- Contract: usage/commitment, discounts, renewal, exit.
FAQ
Why is RUM 15× different?
Datadog RUM Measure 0.15/1,000 sessions, Dynatrace RUM 2.25/1,000; but Dynatrace includes mobile crash/35-day retention, and Datadog’s Replay/analytics are extra. Session definitions/inclusions differ, so unit prices are not feature-equivalent.
What does 1M sessions cost?
Datadog RUM 150; Datadog+Replay 2,650; Dynatrace RUM 2,250; Dynatrace+Replay 4,500. At 10M: 1,500/26,500/22,500/45,000.
How does synthetic compare?
1M API/HTTP: Datadog 500, Dynatrace 1,000; 100K Browser: Datadog 1,200, Dynatrace 450. API synthetic favors Datadog; Browser synthetic favors Dynatrace.
What is Datadog’s API Testing 5/10K?
5 USD per 10,000 runs = 0.50/1,000 runs; 1M runs = 100×5=500. Browser 12/1,000; Mobile 50/100 runs.
How is Dynatrace RUM+Replay priced?
4.50/1,000 sessions (including replay); RUM alone 2.25/1,000. 1M sessions RUM+Replay is 4,500; includes 35-day retention/mobile crash.
Can we buy RUM without APM?
Datadog RUM can be standalone; Dynatrace RUM is separately priced but usually used with Full-Stack/Infra. Confirm minimum commitment/platform requirements before purchase.
What hidden costs should we expect?
Replay/Product Analytics, retention overage, private synthetic locations, parallel/CI, mobile symbolication, APM/logs, support/SLA, tax and migration. Datadog’s RUM 0.15 excludes Replay; Dynatrace’s RUM includes mobile/35 days at a higher unit price.
How do we choose and accept?
High RUM volume: Datadog; RUM+Replay+mobile: Dynatrace; many API synthetic: Datadog; many Browser synthetic: Dynatrace. A 2–4 week POC on real traffic records sessions/actions/runs, sampling, retention and the bill.
Research method and limitations
This article separates “official facts” from “editorial modelling”: Datadog’s RUM Measure 0.15/1,000, Replay 2.50/1,000, Product Analytics 0.80/1,000, API 5/10K, Browser 12/1,000 and Mobile 50/100 come from Datadog Pricing; Dynatrace’s RUM 2.25/1,000, RUM+Replay 4.50/1,000, Browser 4.50/1,000 actions, HTTP 1.00/1,000 requests and 35-day retention come from Dynatrace Pricing. The TCOs are arithmetic at 1M/5M/10M sessions, 1M API/HTTP and 100K/1M Browser, not vendor quotes.
Eight limitations: (1) only US public list prices are used, excluding tax, commitments/annual billing, enterprise discounts and regional differences; (2) only RUM/Replay/synthetic are counted, excluding APM/logs/Infra, retention overage, private locations, parallel/CI, support and migration; (3) session/action/run definitions differ; no feature-equivalence is assumed; (4) collection coverage, sampling, privacy, retention and SLA were not tested; (5) New Relic, Splunk RUM, Elastic RUM and Grafana Faro are excluded; (6) 1M/5M/10M and synthetic volumes are assumptions; (7) mobile symbolication/privacy masking/compliance are excluded; (8) prices and terms can change by contract, region and exchange rate. Treat this as a pricing-conversion template and replace assumptions with a 2–4 week real-traffic POC.
Sources and basis
- Datadog, Pricing: datadoghq.com/pricing. RUM Measure 0.15/1,000 sessions, Session Replay 2.50/1,000, Product Analytics 0.80/1,000, API Testing 5/10K runs, Browser Testing 12/1,000 runs, Mobile App Testing 50/100 runs. Accessed 7 November 2026.
- Dynatrace, Pricing: dynatrace.com/pricing. RUM 2.25/1,000 sessions, RUM+Replay 4.50/1,000, Browser Monitor 4.50/1,000 actions, HTTP Monitor 1.00/1,000 requests; 35-day retention. Accessed 7 November 2026.
Data cut-off 7 November 2026; prices are public list prices excluding tax; all models are editorial calculations. This is not procurement advice.