Open-source alternatives to Sentry
Open source, source-available, and self-hosted describe different things. If the license matters to your choice, separate them before comparing features.
Being able to read the code is only part of it
Open-source licenses let you use, modify, and redistribute software under their terms. They don’t restrict which kind of business can use it. Source-available software lets you inspect code but may put tighter limits on what you can do with it.
Self-hosted describes where the software runs, not its license. A tool can be free to run on your server without being open source. Telebugs, for example, is paid and source-available. It isn’t an open-source alternative, and we don’t want to blur that distinction.
A short list, with the licenses kept straight
| Tool | License model |
|---|---|
| GlitchTip | Open source, MIT |
| Errbit | Open source, MIT |
| Bugsink | Source-available, PolyForm Shield |
| Sentry | Current server code uses the Functional Source License |
| Telebugs | Commercial, source-available |
GlitchTip and Errbit are starting points if an open-source license is a firm requirement. They aren’t interchangeable: GlitchTip accepts Sentry SDK reports and covers several monitoring jobs; Errbit uses the Airbrake API.
Bugsink and self-hosted Sentry are useful options when source availability and self-hosting are enough. Their licenses restrict competing uses. Read the license for the version you plan to run. Sentry’s SDKs and its server don’t all share the same license.
Telebugs is a different offer
If you need an open-source license, Telebugs won’t meet that requirement. If source access is enough, here’s what you get with it: an installer that sets up Docker and HTTPS, built-in update and backup tools, and email support from the founder. The app has keyboard navigation and a command palette for working through your errors.
Self-hosted Telebugs runs in one Docker container with SQLite. You buy a perpetual license for one production instance, with one year of updates and email support included and an optional annual renewal after that. You maintain the server, backups, and security. The license sets out what you can do with the code.
Support goes directly to Kyrylo, Telebugs’ founder and developer, on business days. He helps with installing, configuring, using, and upgrading the software. The included tools don’t remove your server responsibilities: updates restart the app, backups briefly pause it, and the backup archives need to be kept securely off the server.
Managed Telebugs is the same error tracker on a private instance we maintain, including updates and backups. It is a monthly subscription and doesn’t include source code or direct server access.
Neither option charges by error, project, or teammate. Capacity and retention settings still set the practical limit. Both offers are explained on our pricing page.
Try the software as well as reading the license
A suitable license is the first filter, not the whole decision. Check the integration your application needs, how updates work, and who will maintain the installation. Open source doesn’t make hosting or support cost nothing.
If you’re moving from Sentry, test the error reports you depend on. SDK compatibility doesn’t automatically move old issues or recreate alert rules. For Telebugs, start with the supported languages and frameworks.
Choose an open-source tool when those freedoms are the requirement. If Telebugs’ license fits, try it with one application. Work through an error and try the upkeep tools, too. You’re buying the installation and maintenance workflow along with the interface you use every day.
Sources: the Open Source Definition, GlitchTip’s license, Errbit’s repository, Bugsink’s license, and Sentry’s self-hosting documentation.