---
title: "Braintrust vs LangSmith: Which is Better in 2026? | App Stack Builder"
description: "Braintrust vs LangSmith compared for 2026 — pricing, free tiers, features, pros & cons. See which llm observability & evals tool is the better fit for your startup."
source: https://appstackbuilder.com/compare/braintrust-vs-langsmith
retrieved: 2026-10-07
---

![](https://www.google.com/s2/favicons?domain=braintrust.dev&sz=128)

vs

![](https://www.google.com/s2/favicons?domain=langchain.com&sz=128)

# Braintrust vs LangSmith: Which is Better in 2026?

LLM Observability & Evals

Choosing between [Braintrust](https://appstackbuilder.com/tools/braintrust) and [LangSmith](https://appstackbuilder.com/tools/langsmith)? Both are popular llm observability & evals tools. Below we compare them on pricing, free tiers, features, and pros & cons so you can pick the right fit for your stack.

Quick verdict

Both are solid llm observability & evals options. LangSmith is cheaper to start, but the right choice depends on the specific features and integrations you need.

## Braintrust vs LangSmith — Side by Side

|                | Braintrust                             | LangSmith                                      |
| -------------- | -------------------------------------- | ---------------------------------------------- |
| Category       | LLM Observability & Evals              | LLM Observability & Evals                      |
| Pricing        | Free · paid from $249/mo               | Free · paid from $39/seat/mo                   |
| Starting price | Free tier available                    | Free tier available                            |
| Free tier      | ✓                                      | ✓                                              |
| Rating         | 4.6                                    | 4.5                                            |
| Best for       | LLM Observability & Evals — llm, evals | LLM Observability & Evals — llm, observability |

## Pros & Cons

![](https://www.google.com/s2/favicons?domain=braintrust.dev&sz=128)

[Braintrust](https://appstackbuilder.com/tools/braintrust)

* ✓Strongest eval and experiment workflow in the category
* ✓Unlimited users, so PMs and domain experts can review outputs
* ✓Generous startup program
* ✗$0 to $249 is a steep step with nothing in between
* ✗Closed source, and only Enterprise can self-host
* ✗Short default retention on both self-serve plans

![](https://www.google.com/s2/favicons?domain=langchain.com&sz=128)

[LangSmith](https://appstackbuilder.com/tools/langsmith)

* ✓Best-in-class visibility into LangGraph and LangChain agents
* ✓Mature evals, datasets and annotation queues
* ✓Accepts OpenTelemetry traces from non-LangChain code
* ✗Per-seat and per-trace pricing both scale with you
* ✗Trace pricing has changed repeatedly, so budgets drift
* ✗Self-hosting requires an Enterprise contract

## Key Features Compared

### Braintrust

* ✓5 GB processed data (+$3/GB)
* ✓50k scores (+$1.50 / 1k)
* ✓30-day retention
* ✓Unlimited users
* ✓6–12 months free for qualifying startups

### LangSmith

* ✓10,000 base traces / month included
* ✓Pay as you go beyond that
* ✓Unlimited seats
* ✓Extended 180-day retention available

### Choose Braintrust if…

* ✓You want a free tier to validate before paying.
* ✓Strongest eval and experiment workflow in the category
* ✓Unlimited users, so PMs and domain experts can review outputs
* ✓Generous startup program
[Braintrust review & pricing ](https://appstackbuilder.com/tools/braintrust)

### Choose LangSmith if…

* ✓You want a free tier to validate before paying.
* ✓Budget is tight — paid plans start lower ($39/mo vs $249/mo).
* ✓Best-in-class visibility into LangGraph and LangChain agents
* ✓Mature evals, datasets and annotation queues
[LangSmith review & pricing ](https://appstackbuilder.com/tools/langsmith)

## Frequently Asked Questions

Is Braintrust better than LangSmith?⌄

Both are solid llm observability & evals options. LangSmith is cheaper to start, but the right choice depends on the specific features and integrations you need.

What is the difference between Braintrust and LangSmith?⌄

Braintrust — Eval-first AI observability with unlimited users on every plan. It is priced on data processed and scores run, not seats. LangSmith — LangChain's tracing and evaluation platform, the deepest fit for LangGraph agents. It is priced per seat plus per trace. Both are llm observability & evals tools; the comparison table above breaks down pricing, free tiers, and what each is best for.

Braintrust vs LangSmith: which is cheaper?⌄

Braintrust pricing: Free · paid from $249/mo. LangSmith pricing: Free · paid from $39/seat/mo. Confirm current pricing on each tool's official site, as plans change.

Which is rated higher, Braintrust or LangSmith?⌄

In our catalog, Braintrust rates 4.6 out of 5 and LangSmith rates 4.5 out of 5, so Braintrust has a slight edge on reviews.

See more options in our guide to the [best llm observability & evals tools for startups](https://appstackbuilder.com/categories/llm-observability).

## Still not sure which to pick?

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