# Synthetic Monitoring vs RUM: Choose the Right Mix
Synthetic Monitoring vs RUM: Choose the Right Mix
Balance synthetic checks and real user monitoring to cover uptime and real-world UX.
Quick Picks
- Pingdom: Best simple synthetic uptime
- Datadog Synthetics + RUM: Best unified observability combo
- New Relic Synthetics + Browser: Best for New Relic users
Pricing Snapshot
| Tool | Entry | Mid | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pingdom | $15-$200/mo | Uptime + page speed | |
| Datadog | Usage-based | Browser/API synthetics and RUM | |
| New Relic | $49+/user/mo + usage | Synthetics + browser monitoring |
What to Look For
- Global checkpoints and API/browser coverage
- Session replay, Core Web Vitals, and errors
- Alerting, SLOs, and integrations
- Cost control for high-volume tests
Tool Notes
Pingdom
- Easy uptime and page checks
- Great dashboards for availability
- Good starter for small teams
Datadog
- RUM plus synthetics in one UI
- Deep correlations with backend metrics
- Great for unified observability
New Relic
- Synthetics plus browser monitoring
- Good if you already use New Relic
- Strong alerting and dashboards
Final Recommendation
Pick the option that fits your stack, compliance needs, and budget. Start lean, measure, and scale when you see ROI.
Try the leaders: Pingdom | Datadog Synthetics + RUM | New Relic Synthetics + Browser
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