Struggling to switch from Prometheus to Elasticsearch without rewriting your app? This hands-on guide shows how OpenTelemetry decouples your observability backend with zero app changes. Includes working Docker-based examples and step-by-step guidance.

Prometheus is a free, open-source monitoring solution ideal for technical teams who prefer complete control and Kubernetes environments. It uses a pull-based model and requires more technical expertise to maintain. Datadog is a comprehensive, subscription-based platform offering 600+ integrations, advanced analytics, and minimal maintenance overhead, making it better suited for enterprise environments and multi-cloud deployments. Choose Prometheus for cost-effectiveness and customization, or Datadog for ease of use and advanced features.