Honeybadger is fantastic for error tracking, but performance monitoring is a secondary feature with high-level stats only. DeadBro provides deep, code-level APM with line-by-line profiling, automatic SQL EXPLAIN ANALYZE, and error tracking in one powerful package.
Honeybadger "Insights" gives you high-level charts. DeadBro gives you line-by-line profiling, Redis transaction analysis, memory allocation detection, and automatic SQL EXPLAIN ANALYZE. We are an APM-first platform that happens to capture errors perfectly, while Honeybadger is error-first with limited performance depth.
Deep performance data requires a dedicated APM tool. Six key advantages over Honeybadger.
Knowing "throughput" isn't enough. You need to know which partial caused the slowdown, which N+1 query is killing your DB, or which Redis pipeline is slow. DeadBro shows you line-by-line profiling instantly. Honeybadger only provides high-level stats.
Honeybadger splits features across plans (Uptime, Cron, Insights). DeadBro gives you APM, error tracking, logging, and uptime monitoring in the standard plan. No "add-on" hunting or feature fragmentation.
We don't just "support" Ruby. We analyze ActiveSupport Notifications, Sidekiq middleware, View rendering, and automatically run EXPLAIN ANALYZE on slow queries to give you insights that generic tools miss.
DeadBro automatically runs EXPLAIN ANALYZE on slow queries, showing execution plans without manual database access. Honeybadger doesn't offer this Rails-specific feature, requiring manual investigation.
DeadBro breaks down Rails view rendering at the partial and collection level, showing exactly which templates are slow. Honeybadger's performance monitoring doesn't provide this granular view-level insight.
DeadBro includes "Is It Dead" uptime monitoring as part of the platform—no extra cost. Honeybadger charges extra for uptime monitoring, adding to your monthly bill.
A comprehensive side-by-side comparison of Rails APM capabilities, error tracking, and features.
| Feature | DeadBro | Honeybadger |
|---|---|---|
| Primary Focus | APM (Performance) | Error Tracking |
| N+1 Query Detection | Automatic | Limited |
| Detailed Tracing | Full Traces | High-level stats |
| Error Tracking | Included | Excellent |
| Free Tier | 500k Requests | Small Solo Plan |
| Automatic EXPLAIN ANALYZE | Included | Not included |
| View Rendering Breakdown | Partial & Collection level | Not included |
| Redis Pipelines & Transactions | Full Tracing | Limited |
| Memory Allocation & GC Stats | Deep Inspection | Limited |
| Uptime Monitoring | Built-in | Extra cost |
| Log Aggregation & Context | Unified Platform | Limited |
| Real-Time Performance Dashboards | Minute-level Granularity | High-level stats |
| Response Time Percentiles (P50, P95, P99) | Advanced Analytics | Basic |
| External HTTP Request Tracking | Full Tracing | Limited |
| User Activity Tracking | Built-in | Limited |
| Slack Integration & Alerts | Native Integration | Available |
| API Access & Webhooks | RESTful API | API Available |
| Multi-Application Support | Unlimited Apps | Supported |
| Team Collaboration Features | Unlimited Team Members | Team Plans |
| Data Retention Periods | 1-3 months (Plan-based) | 30 days standard |
| Setup Complexity | Simple gem install | Straightforward setup |
Why Rails developers choose DeadBro over error-first tools like Honeybadger.
DeadBro is built as an APM-first platform with line-by-line profiling, view partial breakdowns, and automatic SQL EXPLAIN ANALYZE. Honeybadger is error-first with limited performance depth, providing only high-level stats.
DeadBro's automatic EXPLAIN ANALYZE feature shows execution plans for slow queries without manual database access. Honeybadger doesn't offer this Rails-specific feature, requiring you to manually investigate slow queries.
DeadBro breaks down Rails view rendering at the partial and collection level, showing exactly which templates are slow. Honeybadger's performance monitoring doesn't provide this granular view-level insight.
DeadBro combines APM, error tracking, logging, and uptime monitoring in a single platform. Honeybadger splits features across plans (Uptime, Cron, Insights), requiring you to pay extra for additional features.
Pay for what you use. No hidden fees for extra containers or servers.
Join hundreds of Rails developers who have switched to DeadBro for line-by-line profiling, automatic SQL EXPLAIN ANALYZE, and comprehensive error tracking—all in one APM-first platform.
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