MLflow Tracing
MLflow Tracing is an OpenTelemetry-compatible LLM trace desk inside MLflow: you open a LangGraph / agent span tree with inputs and tool outputs.
OUR TAKE
Pick MLflow Tracing for teams already on MLflow who will run Tracing locally at $0 (uvx mlflow demo or their own server) — not Weave first unless they want W&B Pro $60. $0 is the OSS server, not your warehouse.
Good fit
Teams already on MLflow who will run Tracing locally at $0 (uvx mlflow demo or their own server) — not Weave first unless they want W&B Pro $60.
Poor fit
MLflow (self-host)
USD, before tax · Checked 2026-10-27 · mlflow.org/docs/latest/genai
OUR TAKE
Pick MLflow Tracing for teams already on MLflow who will run Tracing locally at $0 (uvx mlflow demo or their own server) — not Weave first unless they want W&B Pro $60. $0 is the OSS server, not your warehouse. You operate the tracking server.
Good fit
Teams already on MLflow who will run Tracing locally at $0 (uvx mlflow demo or their own server) — not Weave first unless they want W&B Pro $60.
Poor fit
MLflow (self-host)
USD, before tax · Checked 2026-10-27 · mlflow.org/docs/latest/genai
What it costs
USD, before tax · Checked 2026-10-27 · mlflow.org/docs/latest/genai
MLflow (self-host)
Apache 2.0. License fee . Local / your server. You bring machines
$0
Databricks-hosted MLflow
Not published by the vendor
Not published by the vendor
Checked 2026-10-27·mlflow.org/docs/latest/genai
Before you pay
Good fit
Teams already on MLflow who will run Tracing locally at $0 (uvx mlflow demo or their own server) — not Weave first unless they want W&B Pro $60.
Watch out
$0 is the OSS server, not your warehouse. You operate the tracking server.
Instead, try
Phoenix if local-first OTel traces when you want Phoenix $0; Langfuse if traces you can self-host when you want Langfuse’s public Cloud $
Compare MLflow Tracing with
Limits, in full
- 01
$0 is the OSS server, not your warehouse. You operate the tracking server.
- 02
No public hosted Tracing $. Quote only Apache $0.
- 03
An MLflow trace , not Weave’s W&B table. For that see Weave.
If MLflow Tracing isn't it
Why: local-first OTel traces when you want Phoenix $0.
Free· paid from$50/mo
ELv2, not ApacheChecked 2026-10-27·arize.com/pricing
vs MLflow Tracing
Why: traces you can self-host when you want Langfuse’s public Cloud $.
Free· paid from$2/mo
Hobby is two users and 30-day retentionChecked 2026-10-19·langfuse.com/pricing
vs MLflow Tracing
Why: W&B traces when you want Free $0 / Pro $60.
Free· paid from$60/mo
Pro ingest overage is $0.10/MB (~$100/GB)Checked 2026-10-27·wandb.ai/site/pricing
vs MLflow TracingLimits & alternatives3 limits · Phoenix, Langfuse, Weave instead
Limits, in full
- 01
$0 is the OSS server, not your warehouse. You operate the tracking server.
- 02
No public hosted Tracing $. Quote only Apache $0.
- 03
An MLflow trace , not Weave’s W&B table. For that see Weave.
If MLflow Tracing isn't it
Why: local-first OTel traces when you want Phoenix $0.
Free· paid from$50/mo
ELv2, not ApacheChecked 2026-10-27·arize.com/pricing
vs MLflow TracingWhy: traces you can self-host when you want Langfuse’s public Cloud $.
Free· paid from$2/mo
Hobby is two users and 30-day retentionChecked 2026-10-19·langfuse.com/pricing
vs MLflow TracingWhy: W&B traces when you want Free $0 / Pro $60.
Free· paid from$60/mo
Pro ingest overage is $0.10/MB (~$100/GB)Checked 2026-10-27·wandb.ai/site/pricing
vs MLflow Tracing