What it does
GlitchTip collects application errors into issues for triage and alerting. Applications send events through Sentry open-source client SDKs; the service also offers performance monitoring, uptime checks, and logs. Teams can use GlitchTip's hosted service, with event-based plans, or run it on their own server. Its project and team workflow organizes incoming events and notifications, while self-hosting gives operators control over deployment and data infrastructure.
From an SDK event to an issue
For the hosted service, the documented setup begins with an account and organization. Create a project, associate it with a team, and choose a project platform if you want platform-specific SDK instructions. GlitchTip displays a project DSN; configure a Sentry-compatible client SDK in the application to send error events to that project. The Issues page groups incoming reports for investigation.
The error-tracking guide describes generating an example error event to verify that the SDK path is connected, then removing the test error. Project alerts can be configured by frequency; email is the default recipient, and a webhook can also be added. For JavaScript projects, the documentation recommends uploading source maps for readable stack traces and describes GlitchTip CLI commands to inject debug IDs and upload those maps.
Choose hosted or self-hosted
The hosted Hobby & Trial plan is listed as free, with up to 1,000 events per month and 30 days of event retention. Paid tiers add larger event allowances and other features. The specific event count and retention limits matter when comparing it with a general application metrics or log-collection system.
For self-hosting, GlitchTip documents Docker Compose for a single server and a Helm chart for Kubernetes. The documented deployment requires PostgreSQL 14 or later; Valkey or Redis is optional. Operators must configure deployment details such as a domain, email, and TLS termination and then maintain the services and upgrades.
GlitchTip detects and groups reported errors and can notify a team, but the developer still investigates the stack trace and code to find and correct the cause. Its backend and frontend repositories use MIT licenses. GlitchTip is its own product, not Sentry's hosted service; Sentry SDK compatibility is an integration relationship, not a product identity.
Strengths
- Accepts error events from Sentry's open-source client SDKs, giving teams a documented path to instrument applications with those clients.
- Offers a hosted service and self-hosting options, including Docker Compose and a Kubernetes Helm chart.
- Project alerts can notify team members by email or webhook, and JavaScript source maps can make stack traces more readable.
Watch out for
- The hosted free plan is limited to 1,000 events per month and 30 days of event retention.
- Self-hosting requires operating PostgreSQL and application services, plus configuring deployment details such as email and TLS.
- Readable JavaScript stack traces require source maps to be uploaded.
Best for
- Teams that want application error tracking using Sentry-compatible client SDKs without using Sentry's hosted product.
- Developers who need issue grouping and email or webhook alerts for application errors.
- Operators who want to run an open-source error-monitoring service on infrastructure they manage.
Sources
- LICENSE · master · GlitchTip / GlitchTip Backend · GitLab (Oct 25, 2026)
- Install — Documentation | GlitchTip (Oct 25, 2026)
- LICENSE · master · GlitchTip / GlitchTip Frontend · GitLab (Oct 25, 2026)
- Open Source Error Tracking | GlitchTip (Oct 25, 2026)
- Getting Started — Documentation | GlitchTip (Oct 25, 2026)
- Error Tracking — Documentation | GlitchTip (Oct 25, 2026)
- Pricing | GlitchTip (Oct 25, 2026)
- GlitchTip / GlitchTip Backend · GitLab (Oct 25, 2026)