Instrumental vs Librato: What are the differences?

# Introduction
This markdown provides a comparison of key differences between Instrumental and Librato.

1. **Data Collection Methods**: Instrumental primarily collects data through agent-based methods, while Librato focuses on cloud-based monitoring solutions for data collection. This means that Instrumental requires agents to be installed on servers for data collection, whereas Librato collects data directly from cloud-based sources without the need for agents.

2. **Visualization and Monitoring Tools**: Instrumental provides comprehensive visualization tools and customizable dashboards for monitoring metrics, while Librato offers real-time monitoring and alerting capabilities. Instrumental emphasizes on detailed graphs and charts for analyzing data trends, while Librato focuses on immediate alerts and notifications for critical metrics.

3. **Pricing Structure**: Instrumental offers a tiered pricing structure based on the number of host agents, while Librato's pricing is based on the number of metrics monitored. This means that Instrumental's pricing may vary depending on the number of servers being monitored, while Librato's pricing is directly linked to the volume of metrics collected.

4. **Integration Capabilities**: Instrumental provides integration with a wide range of third-party tools and services for enhanced data analysis, while Librato offers seamless integration with popular cloud platforms like AWS and Google Cloud. This difference allows users to leverage existing tools and services for data enrichment and analysis.

5. **Customization Options**: Instrumental allows for extensive customization of monitoring settings and alert configurations, while Librato offers standardized monitoring templates for quick setup. This means that Instrumental users have more flexibility in tailoring monitoring solutions to their specific needs, whereas Librato users can quickly deploy monitoring with predefined templates.

6. **Scalability and Performance**: Instrumental is suitable for medium to large-scale operations with complex monitoring requirements, while Librato is ideal for small to medium-sized businesses with straightforward monitoring needs. This distinction highlights the scalability and performance capabilities of each platform based on the organization's size and monitoring complexity.

In Summary, this markdown outlines key differences between Instrumental and Librato in terms of data collection methods, visualization tools, pricing structures, integration capabilities, customization options, and scalability/performance.