GlitchTip vs Highlight.io: Open Source Error Tracking Compared
GlitchTip vs Highlight.io: Open Source Error Tracking Compared
Two open source error tracking tools with different scopes. GlitchTip is a lightweight, Sentry-compatible error tracker that uses a fraction of the resources. Highlight.io goes beyond errors — adding session replay, logging, and traces in one platform.
Quick Verdict
Choose GlitchTip for simple, resource-efficient error tracking — Sentry SDK compatibility, 1-2 GB RAM, handles most error tracking needs. Choose Highlight.io for full-stack monitoring — errors + session replay + logs + traces in one platform.
The Comparison
| Feature | GlitchTip | Highlight.io |
|---|---|---|
| Primary focus | Error tracking | Errors + replay + logs + traces |
| Stack | Python (Django), PostgreSQL | Go, React, ClickHouse |
| Error tracking | ✅ | ✅ |
| Session replay | ❌ | ✅ (core feature) |
| Logging | ❌ | ✅ |
| Traces | ❌ | ✅ |
| Sentry SDK compatible | ✅ | Own SDKs |
| Issue grouping | ✅ | ✅ |
| Stack traces | ✅ | ✅ |
| Source maps | ✅ | ✅ |
| Alerts | ✅ (email, webhooks) | ✅ (Slack, email, etc.) |
| Performance monitoring | ✅ (basic) | ✅ |
| User context | ✅ | ✅ |
| Release tracking | ✅ | ✅ |
| Team management | ✅ | ✅ |
| API | ✅ (Sentry-compatible) | ✅ |
| RAM usage | 1-2 GB | 4-8 GB |
| Self-hosted | ✅ (Docker) | ✅ (Docker) |
| Cloud option | GlitchTip Cloud | Highlight Cloud |
| Stars | 900+ | 8K+ |
| License | MIT | Apache 2.0 |
When to Choose GlitchTip
- Error tracking is the primary need (no session replay, logs, or traces)
- Sentry SDK compatibility (drop-in replacement)
- Lightweight deployment (1-2 GB RAM vs Sentry's 8+ GB)
- Simple setup and maintenance
- Already using Sentry SDKs and want to self-host cheaply
- Budget-friendly VPS ($5-10/month is sufficient)
- MIT license preference
When to Choose Highlight.io
- Full-stack monitoring in one tool (errors + replay + logs + traces)
- Session replay to see exactly what users experienced when errors occurred
- Log aggregation alongside error tracking
- Distributed tracing for debugging microservices
- More polished, modern UI
- Larger community (8K+ stars)
- You want one tool instead of several
The Sentry Compatibility Advantage
GlitchTip's killer feature is Sentry SDK compatibility. If you're using Sentry SDKs already:
# Just change the DSN — same SDK, same code
import sentry_sdk
sentry_sdk.init(
dsn="https://key@your-glitchtip.com/1", # Point to GlitchTip
traces_sample_rate=0.1,
)
No code changes. No new SDKs. Just change the DSN endpoint. This makes migration from Sentry (or switching between Sentry and GlitchTip) trivial.
Highlight.io uses its own SDKs, which offer more features (replay, logging) but require changing your instrumentation code.
The Bottom Line
GlitchTip is the "just errors" solution — lightweight, Sentry-compatible, runs on minimal resources. If error tracking is all you need and you want to self-host cheaply, GlitchTip is the best option.
Highlight.io is the "everything in one" solution — errors, session replay, logs, and traces. If you want visibility into what users see and experience (not just errors), Highlight.io delivers more insight at the cost of more resources.
Compare error tracking tools on OSSAlt — features, SDK support, and community health side by side.