# go-audit vs IBM QRadar SIEM: side-by-side comparison (2026)

[go-audit](https://cybersectools.com/tools/go-audit) is a free [security information and event management](https://cybersectools.com/categories/security-information-and-event-management-siem) solution. [IBM QRadar SIEM](https://cybersectools.com/tools/ibm-qradar-siem) is a commercial [security information and event management](https://cybersectools.com/categories/security-information-and-event-management-siem) solution by [IBM](https://cybersectools.com/companies/ibm). Features, integrations, deployment and the company behind each one, side by side.

## Our take

What our shortlists say about the one we picked.

### [IBM QRadar SIEM](https://cybersectools.com/tools/ibm-qradar-siem)

Best for: Enterprises needing hybrid deployment with open detection rules

The trade-off is that QRadar's architecture feels heavier than cloud-native alternatives. Scaling it requires more infrastructure planning. IBM's acquisition history and product roadmap have also created uncertainty in the market, so if vendor stability is a factor in your evaluation, that's worth researching before signing a multi-year contract.

From [Best SIEM Solutions for Business](https://cybersectools.com/shortlists/best-siem-solutions), Fall 2026.

Reviewed by [Nika (Nikoloz) Kokhreidze](https://cybersectools.com/about).

Need the answer fast? [Best SIEM Solutions for Business](https://cybersectools.com/shortlists/best-siem-solutions) picks Microsoft Sentinel, Splunk Enterprise Security, CrowdStrike Falcon Next-Gen SIEM and 4 more.

## Side-by-side comparison

| | go-audit | IBM QRadar SIEM |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing model | Free | Commercial |
| Category | Security Information and Event Management | Security Information and Event Management |
| Verified | No | No |
| Deployment type | On-Premises | Hybrid |
| Company size fit | Startup, SMB, Mid-Market, Enterprise | Mid-Market, Enterprise |
| GitHub stars | 1,661 | – |
| Last commit | Dec 2025 | – |
| Company | – | IBM |
| Headquarters | – | – |

### Use cases and capabilities

| | go-audit | IBM QRadar SIEM |
|---|---|---|
| Linux | Yes | – |
| Log Management | – | Yes |
| Open Source | – | Yes |

### Core features

**go-audit**

No features listed.

**IBM QRadar SIEM**

10 features listed. Sign in on the page to see them.

### Integrations

**go-audit**

No integrations listed.

**IBM QRadar SIEM**

40 integrations listed. Sign in on the page to see them.

## Which one fits you

Based on what each listing shows: deployment, company size, price and open source.

- [go-audit](https://cybersectools.com/tools/go-audit) fits if you need to run it on your own servers, you are a startup or a small business, you need a free product and you want an open-source product.
- [IBM QRadar SIEM](https://cybersectools.com/tools/ibm-qradar-siem) fits if you need both cloud and on-premises options.

## go-audit vs IBM QRadar SIEM FAQ

Common questions when comparing go-audit vs IBM QRadar SIEM for security information and event management.

### What is the difference between go-audit and IBM QRadar SIEM?

**go-audit**: An alternative to the auditd daemon with goals of safety, speed, JSON output, and pluggable pipelines connecting to the Linux kernel via netlink.

**IBM QRadar SIEM**: SIEM platform for centralized security visibility and threat detection, built by IBM.

The table above shows where their features, integrations, deployment and company size fit differ.

### Who makes go-audit and IBM QRadar SIEM?

**go-audit** is open-source with 1,661 GitHub stars. **IBM QRadar SIEM** is made by IBM. The vendor behind a product decides its roadmap, support, and longevity, so check each company's profile before you commit.

### Is go-audit a good alternative to IBM QRadar SIEM?

Often, yes. go-audit and IBM QRadar SIEM are both Security Information and Event Management products. Key differences: go-audit is Free while IBM QRadar SIEM is Commercial, go-audit is open-source. Use the table above to see where features, deployment and company size fit differ.

## Related comparisons

- [go-audit vs UTMStack Real-time SIEM & XDR](https://cybersectools.com/compare/go-audit-vs-utmstack-real-time-siem-and-xdr)
- [go-audit vs Wazuh Oops! something went wrong](https://cybersectools.com/compare/go-audit-vs-wazuh-oops-something-went-wrong)
- [go-audit vs Exabeam New-Scale Fusion](https://cybersectools.com/compare/exabeam-new-scale-fusion-vs-go-audit)
- [IBM QRadar SIEM vs UTMStack Real-time SIEM & XDR](https://cybersectools.com/compare/ibm-qradar-siem-vs-utmstack-real-time-siem-and-xdr)
- [IBM QRadar SIEM vs Wazuh Oops! something went wrong](https://cybersectools.com/compare/ibm-qradar-siem-vs-wazuh-oops-something-went-wrong)
- [IBM QRadar SIEM vs Exabeam New-Scale Fusion](https://cybersectools.com/compare/exabeam-new-scale-fusion-vs-ibm-qradar-siem)

## Alternatives to each

- [See all go-audit alternatives](https://cybersectools.com/alternatives/go-audit)
- [See all IBM QRadar SIEM alternatives](https://cybersectools.com/alternatives/ibm-qradar-siem)

---

Source: https://cybersectools.com/compare/go-audit-vs-ibm-qradar-siem

For AI agents: each product above has its own Markdown page (add .md to its URL, for example https://cybersectools.com/tools/go-audit.md). Every CybersecTools shortlist is listed at https://cybersectools.com/shortlists.md.

More on go-audit and IBM QRadar SIEM: funding, momentum, hiring and news, plus the full product and company record, are available through the Mandos MCP Server (paid plans), which connects to AI assistants: https://mandos.io/mcp?utm_source=cybersectools.com&utm_medium=compare-md