What it does
Uptrace is an application performance monitoring and observability platform that accepts OpenTelemetry data. A project DSN connects an application or collector to Uptrace, where teams can inspect traces, metrics, and logs. Users can choose Uptrace Cloud or self-host the open-source server; the self-hosted stack requires ClickHouse for telemetry storage, PostgreSQL for application metadata, and Redis for caching and background jobs.
The getting-started guide begins by choosing Uptrace Cloud or a self-hosted deployment. Both provide a project DSN; the next step is to configure the OpenTelemetry SDK for the application's language with that DSN and start the application so telemetry can be received. The examples are documented setup, not a connection made for this listing.
For a first check, instrument one service and inspect a trace for a request that crosses more than one operation. Uptrace can ingest traces, metrics, and logs, so a single service is enough to confirm that the instrumentation and endpoint are connected before adding more applications. The official page lists language-specific OpenTelemetry guides.
Self-hosting keeps telemetry on infrastructure you operate, but it is not a single-container database: the documented deployment includes the Uptrace binary plus ClickHouse, PostgreSQL, and Redis. Uptrace Cloud has a separate pricing calculator based on data volume and retention; the fetched page did not establish a stable amount, so exact costs are not stated here. The server repository is licensed AGPL-3.0; evaluate that license and your operational responsibilities before embedding or redistributing the software.
Strengths
- The quick start uses OpenTelemetry and a project DSN, with cloud and self-hosted deployment paths.
- The platform brings traces, metrics, and logs into one observability workflow.
- The self-hosted architecture and its storage and cache dependencies are documented.
Watch out for
- Self-hosting requires operating ClickHouse, PostgreSQL, and Redis alongside the Uptrace binary.
- Hosted Cloud cost varies with telemetry volume and retention, so forecast both before selecting a plan.
- The server repository uses AGPL-3.0, which teams should review against their deployment and distribution plans.
Best for
- Teams already instrumenting services with OpenTelemetry.
- Operators who want traces, metrics, and logs in one APM platform.
- Organizations choosing between an observability service and self-hosting their telemetry stack.
Sources
- Uptrace (Oct 25, 2026)
- Getting started with Uptrace (Oct 25, 2026)
- Self-hosting Uptrace (Oct 25, 2026)
- Uptrace Pricing (Oct 25, 2026)
- uptrace/uptrace (Oct 25, 2026)
- GNU Affero General Public License v3.0 (Oct 25, 2026)