Web RUM
Web RUM by Embrace is a real user monitoring (RUM) tool that captures full-fidelity web sessions, providing deep observability into browser-based user experiences.
Publisher review
Web RUM by Embrace is a real user monitoring (RUM) tool that captures full-fidelity web sessions, providing deep observability into browser-based user experiences. It is designed for frontend engineers, SREs, and product teams who need to understand exactly how real users interact with their web applications, especially in SaaS environments. Unlike many RUM solutions that require an APM backend, Web RUM is an entirely self-contained SKU that does not require APM to function whatsoever, making it accessible to teams that do not already run application performance monitoring. The tool is built to support teams of all sizes, with flexible pricing tied to daily active users (DAU) and seats, and is positioned as a mobile-first company expanding into web monitoring.
Web RUM works by instrumenting browser sessions to capture every interaction, network request, and error, enabling teams to see 100% of what is happening in the browser. It focuses on Core Web Vitals but goes beyond those metrics to provide full session replay and detailed performance data. The tool enhances user-focused observability by connecting frontend data to backend traces when APM is present, but it does not require that integration. This allows teams to isolate browser-specific issues—such as JavaScript errors, slow page loads, or third-party script failures—without needing a full APM stack. Embrace’s approach is to treat RUM as a first-class product, not an add-on, which is reflected in its transparent pricing with no hidden fees or surprise overages.
In the market, Web RUM competes directly with Datadog RUM and New Relic Browser, both of which offer similar session replay and performance monitoring capabilities. However, Embrace differentiates itself by being mobile-first and by offering a standalone RUM SKU that does not force bundling with APM. Datadog and New Relic typically require their APM products to unlock full RUM value, whereas Embrace’s RUM can operate independently. This makes Web RUM a strong alternative for teams that want browser monitoring without committing to a full observability suite. Embrace also emphasizes transparent pricing, which contrasts with the consumption-based models of competitors that can lead to unexpected costs.
The honest trade-offs are notable. Users report that Embrace’s UI has poor accessibility and can be frustrating to navigate, with specific complaints about unreadable email reports in dark mode. The tool is relatively new to the web space—having launched in mid-2025—so its feature set and integrations are less mature than those of Datadog or New Relic. Additionally, because Embrace is primarily known for mobile observability, web-specific documentation and community support are still growing. Teams that need deep integration with existing APM tools may find the standalone RUM approach limiting if they later want to correlate frontend and backend data without an Embrace APM.
How it works
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Full-fidelity session capture
Captures every user interaction, network request, and error in the browser, enabling complete session replay for debugging and analysis.
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Standalone RUM SKU
Operates independently without requiring APM, making it accessible to teams that do not have application performance monitoring in place.
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Core Web Vitals monitoring
Tracks LCP, FID, CLS, and other metrics, but goes beyond these to provide deeper performance insights for real users.
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Transparent pricing model
Priced on DAU and seats with no hidden fees or surprise overages, offering predictable costs for teams of all sizes.
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Mobile-first heritage
Built on Embrace’s mobile observability foundation, bringing proven session replay and error tracking to web browsers.
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SaaS-focused browser insight
Provides better insight into browser monitoring for SaaS applications, helping teams isolate frontend-specific issues.
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Optional APM connectivity
Can connect to APM for end-to-end traces, but does not require it, giving teams flexibility in their observability stack.
Strengths and trade-offs
Strengths
- Transparent pricing with no hidden fees or overages, based on DAU and seats, which avoids the surprise costs common with consumption-based models.
- Web RUM is an entirely self-contained SKU that does not require APM to function, making it accessible to teams without existing APM infrastructure.
- Captures full-fidelity web sessions, providing complete session replay that goes beyond Core Web Vitals to show every user interaction and error.
- Built on Embrace's mobile observability expertise, offering a proven approach to real user monitoring that is now extended to web browsers.
Trade-offs
- Users report a poor UI with accessibility issues, making navigation and daily use frustrating for some teams.
- Email reports are unreadable in dark mode, which is a specific usability problem for users who prefer dark themes.
- As a relatively new web product (launched mid-2025), its feature set and integrations are less mature than those of Datadog or New Relic.
- Web-specific documentation and community support are still growing, potentially limiting troubleshooting resources for web-only users.
Pricing context
Flexible pricing based on daily active users (DAU) and seats, with one transparent plan that includes full platform access. No hidden fees or surprise overages. Specific dollar amounts are not publicly listed.
Getting started with Web RUM
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Sign up for Web RUM
Go to the Embrace website and sign up for a Web RUM account. Provide your email and organization details. Choose a plan based on your daily active users and seats. Complete the registration to access the dashboard.
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Install the browser agent
Copy the JavaScript snippet provided in the onboarding wizard. Paste it into the <head> section of your web application's HTML. This instruments your site to capture user interactions, network requests, and errors for real user monitoring.
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Configure session capture settings
In the Web RUM dashboard, navigate to the settings page. Set session sampling rates and data retention policies according to your needs. Enable or disable optional features like APM connectivity if you have backend traces to correlate.
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Verify session data collection
Open your web application in a browser and perform a few user actions, such as clicking buttons or navigating pages. Return to the Web RUM dashboard and check the live session feed to confirm that interactions and metrics are being captured correctly.
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Set up performance alerts
Define alert rules for Core Web Vitals thresholds, such as LCP over 2.5 seconds or CLS above 0.1. Configure notification channels like email or Slack to receive alerts when user experience degrades. Test the alerts by triggering a slow page load.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Web RUM by Embrace?
Web RUM by Embrace is a real user monitoring tool that captures full-fidelity web sessions, giving frontend engineers and product teams deep visibility into browser-based user experiences. It is designed for SaaS environments and does not require an APM backend.
Does Web RUM require APM to work?
No, Web RUM is a standalone SKU that operates independently without any APM. This makes it accessible to teams that do not have application performance monitoring in place. It can optionally connect to APM for end-to-end traces, but that is not required.
How is Web RUM priced?
Web RUM uses flexible pricing based on daily active users (DAU) and seats, with one transparent plan that includes full platform access. There are no hidden fees or surprise overages, offering predictable costs for teams of all sizes.
What features does Web RUM offer?
Web RUM provides full-fidelity session capture, Core Web Vitals monitoring, and complete session replay. It tracks every user interaction, network request, and error in the browser, going beyond basic metrics to offer deep performance insights for real users.
How does Web RUM compare to Datadog RUM?
Web RUM competes with Datadog RUM but is a standalone SKU that does not require APM, unlike Datadog which typically needs its APM for full value. Embrace also offers transparent pricing based on DAU, avoiding the consumption-based costs that can lead to surprises.
What are the weaknesses of Web RUM?
Users report poor UI accessibility and unreadable email reports in dark mode. As a web product launched in mid-2025, its feature set and integrations are less mature than Datadog or New Relic. Web-specific documentation and community support are still growing.
Alternatives
How Web RUM compares
Direct head-to-head against 3 competitors. Picked by 7wData.
Web RUM
- Pricing
- Flexible pricing based on daily active users (DAU) and seats, with one transparent plan that includes full platform access. No hidden fees or surprise overages. Specific dollar amounts are not publicly listed.
- Target
- Web RUM by Embrace is a real user monitoring (RUM) tool that captures full-fidelity web sessions, providing deep observability into browser-based user experiences.
- Strength
- Transparent pricing with no hidden fees or overages, based on DAU and seats, which avoids the surprise costs common with consumption-based models.
- Watch for
- Users report a poor UI with accessibility issues, making navigation and daily use frustrating for some teams.
Datadog RUM
- Pricing
- Usage-based; starts at $1.50 per 1,000 sessions per month
- Target
- Teams needing deep correlation of RUM with APM, logs, and session replay
- Deployment
- Cloud (SaaS)
- Strength
- Unified observability: RUM, APM, and logs in one platform
- Watch for
- Cost can escalate quickly with high session volumes
Dynatrace RUM
- Pricing
- Usage-based; starts at $69 per month per host for full-stack
- Target
- Large enterprises needing AI-driven root cause and full-stack DEM
- Deployment
- Cloud (SaaS) or managed
- Strength
- AI-powered anomaly detection and automatic problem analysis
- Watch for
- Complex setup and high cost for smaller teams
DebugBear
- Pricing
- From $39 per month for 10,000 page views
- Target
- Frontend teams focused on Core Web Vitals and performance debugging
- Deployment
- Cloud (SaaS)
- Strength
- Detailed INP element analysis and performance optimization wizard
- Watch for
- Limited to frontend performance; no backend correlation
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Sources
Reporting on this tool draws on these publicly available sources.