Bugsnag vs Crashlytics: What are the differences?

Introduction Bugsnag and Crashlytics are both crash reporting tools used by developers to track and debug errors in their applications. While both have similar functionalities, there are key differences between the two that set them apart.

1. Data Collection and Reporting: Bugsnag collects and reports both crash and error events, providing detailed information such as stack traces, breadcrumbs, and user data. It also supports custom error monitoring. On the other hand, Crashlytics primarily focuses on crash reporting and provides limited customization options for error monitoring. It offers crash analytics with detailed crash logs, but lacks advanced features like breadcrumbs or custom error monitoring.

2. Integration and Platform Support: Bugsnag offers seamless integrations with a wide range of platforms, including mobile (iOS, Android), web (JavaScript, Ruby, Python), and server-side technologies (Java, Node.js). It provides SDKs and libraries for easy integration with different platforms. Crashlytics, on the other hand, is tightly integrated with Firebase and primarily supports mobile platforms, especially iOS and Android. It does not provide extensive support for web or server-side technologies.

3. Monitoring and Alerting: Bugsnag provides real-time error monitoring and alerting capabilities. It offers customizable thresholds and notifications, allowing developers to proactively monitor errors and respond quickly. Crashlytics also provides real-time crash monitoring, but lacks advanced alerting features. It sends crash reports to developers via email, but does not offer customizable thresholds or notifications.

4. User Feedback and Communication: Bugsnag allows developers to collect user feedback directly from within the application, enabling more effective communication between developers and users. It provides in-app feedback forms and user survey features. Crashlytics does not offer built-in user feedback features, focusing solely on crash reporting and analytics.

5. Team Collaboration and Workflow: Bugsnag offers advanced collaboration features, allowing multiple team members to collaborate on error tracking and debugging. It provides features like error assignment, commenting, and workflow management, making it easier to track and resolve issues as a team. Crashlytics, on the other hand, lacks these collaboration features and primarily caters to individual developers or small teams.

6. Cost and Pricing Model: Bugsnag offers flexible pricing plans, including free options for small-scale applications, while also providing enterprise-level plans for larger organizations. Its pricing is based on the number of error events and additional features. Crashlytics, on the other hand, is a part of Firebase and is available for free as part of the Firebase Crashlytics service. It does not have separate pricing plans or additional features for customization.

In summary, Bugsnag offers more comprehensive error monitoring and reporting capabilities, with extensive platform support, advanced customization options, and team collaboration features. Crashlytics, on the other hand, focuses primarily on crash reporting for mobile platforms, with limited customization options and collaboration features.