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AWS CloudTrail Reviews

Vendor: Amazon Web Services (AWS)
4.3 out of 5
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What is AWS CloudTrail?

AWS CloudTrail is a service that enables governance, compliance, operational auditing, and risk auditing of your AWS account. With CloudTrail, you can log, continuously monitor, and retain account activity related to actions across your AWS infrastructure. CloudTrail provides event history of your AWS account activity, including actions taken through the AWS Management Console, AWS SDKs, command line tools, and other AWS services. This event history simplifies security analysis, resource change tracking, and troubleshooting. In addition, you can use CloudTrail to detect unusual activity in your AWS accounts. These capabilities help simplify operational analysis and troubleshooting.

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AWS CloudTrail is the #2 ranked solution in top User Activity Monitoring solutions. PeerSpot users give AWS CloudTrail an average rating of 8.6 out of 10. AWS CloudTrail is most commonly compared to CyberArk Privileged Access Manager: AWS CloudTrail vs CyberArk Privileged Access Manager.
Buyer's Guide
AWS CloudTrail
March 2026
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AWS CloudTrail mindshare

As of March 2026, the mindshare of AWS CloudTrail in the User Activity Monitoring category stands at 7.3%, up from 6.7% compared to the previous year, according to calculations based on PeerSpot user engagement data.
User Activity Monitoring Mindshare Distribution
ProductMindshare (%)
AWS CloudTrail7.3%
Proofpoint Insider Threat Management18.0%
Ekran System13.7%
Other61.0%
User Activity Monitoring

PeerResearch reports based on AWS CloudTrail reviews

TypeTitleDate
CategoryUser Activity MonitoringMar 13, 2026Download
ProductReviews, tips, and advice from real usersMar 13, 2026Download
ComparisonAWS CloudTrail vs CyberArk Privileged Access ManagerMar 13, 2026Download
ComparisonAWS CloudTrail vs Proofpoint Insider Threat ManagementMar 13, 2026Download
ComparisonAWS CloudTrail vs AmplitudeMar 13, 2026Download
Suggested products
TitleRatingMindshareRecommending
CyberArk Privileged Access Manager4.311.5%95%229 interviewsAdd to research
Ekran System4.013.7%100%1 interviewAdd to research
 
 
Key learnings from peers

Valuable Features

AWS CloudTrail logs and monitors API calls, enabling auditing and compliance. It tracks user activities, generates notifications for unauthorized access, and integrates with AWS services for security. Its central logging provides context for cloud events, aiding in troubleshooting and monitoring changes. Features like CloudTrail Insights analyze events, while integration with services like Dynatrace enhances notifications. Multi-region trail tracking and long-term log storage in S3 meet compliance requirements.
  • "AWS CloudTrail is very reasonably priced and I definitely recommend AWS CloudTrail to those who are planning or considering using it; it is a must-have service in the AWS environment, and it should be used."
  • "AWS CloudTrail is currently underutilized and has potential for many more use cases."
  • "AWS CloudTrail features a totally cloud-based deployment."

Room for Improvement

AWS CloudTrail needs enhanced event visibility merging with CloudWatch and reduced log capture time. Filtering across multiple dimensions, user-friendly log reports, and direct queries without Athena dependency are essential improvements. Enhanced integration with third-party services and real-time log submission are necessary. Capturing non-API calls and decreasing unnecessary data would address current challenges. Improving documentation and integration breadth and incorporating intelligent search would further increase utility and adoption.
  • "Searching the logs is not very easy; it requires a lot of patience and hard work to find the right information in the log."
  • "AWS CloudTrail could benefit from more comprehensive documentation and broader service integration."
  • "AWS CloudTrail does not fit directly into our architecture as it functions more as a helper service, which limited our utilization of its capabilities."

Pricing

AWS CloudTrail is generally considered affordable, especially if used without customizations. The basic service is free, but costs rise with added log storage and data events, which are event-driven. Pricing for one hundred thousand management events is around two dollars, data events ten cents, and CloudTrail Insights thirty cents. While CloudTrail integrates well with other AWS tools, costs vary depending on log volume, and long-term storage may lead to higher expenses.
  • "AWS CloudTrail is free."
  • "AWS CloudTrail is a cheap solution."
  • "It is a very cheap service because management is a SaaS offering from AWS."

Popular Use Cases

AWS CloudTrail is used for monitoring cloud activities, tracking API calls, and auditing AWS environments for compliance and security. Many utilize it to collect audit logs, enabling them to identify user actions and API calls within their cloud infrastructure. It is often integrated with CloudWatch and S3 for long-term log storage and analysis. Companies benefit from its ability to aid in troubleshooting, ensure governance, facilitate incident investigation, and monitor operational activities.

Service and Support

AWS CloudTrail customer service and support are highly regarded, with technical support being responsive and rated nine out of ten. Users appreciate different customer service tiers that AWS offers, including a free and enterprise level. Those using the enterprise support package report enhanced service quality. Initially, frequent support is essential for configuration, but familiarity reduces dependency. Maintaining customer satisfaction is a priority for AWS, contributing to their support's helpful reputation.

Deployment

AWS CloudTrail's setup is generally seamless and quick, with many users noting that it is a one-click deployment. While some found the configuration complex initially, most appreciated the documentation and community support available for assistance. Pre-configured settings offer a user-friendly experience, and for those familiar with the AWS environment, the process is straightforward. Some teams required multiple individuals to ensure efficient deployment, though others reported smooth integrations.

Scalability

AWS CloudTrail exhibits impressive scalability, rated highly for its capacity to manage varying demands. Users report no significant issues in its ability to handle increased log volumes, benefiting from AWS's serverless model. It seamlessly integrates with existing services, supporting various administrators and end users. While some perceive it as a complementary service, the consensus highlights its effective performance under high usage conditions.

Stability

AWS CloudTrail is consistently described as stable. Users rate its stability between seven and ten out of ten, noting minimal performance issues unless upstream services like Amazon S3 face problems. It's rare for AWS to experience outages, typically twice in three years. CloudTrail manages stability effectively without bugs or breakdowns, although some minor integration challenges with CloudWatch are mentioned. Maintenance and governance by AWS ensure reliable functioning, assisting administrators in troubleshooting without complaints.
These insights are based on the in-depth reviews provided by peers to help you make a better buying decision.
Download our AWS CloudTrail Buyer's Guide for additional reliable information.

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Learn more about AWS CloudTrail

AWS CloudTrail was previously known as CloudTrail.

AWS CloudTrail customers

HTC, British Gas, Solinor, 2C2P

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Product Categories

Product Categories
User Activity Monitoring

Popular Comparisons

Popular Comparisons
CyberArk Privileged Access Manager vs AWS CloudTrail Logo
CyberArk Privileged Access Manager vs AWS CloudTrail
Ekran System vs AWS CloudTrail Logo
Ekran System vs AWS CloudTrail
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AWS CloudTrail Reviews Summary
Author infoRatingReview Summary
Principal Technical Architect at a tech vendor with 10,001+ employees4.5I use AWS CloudTrail with various Amazon services for effective log storage and monitoring, integrating it with Dynatrace for alerts. The main improvement needed is better third-party integration, but I find it best for AWS compared to alternatives.
DevOps Engineer at Paydoh4.5I've used AWS CloudTrail for tracking AWS activities, auditing changes, and storing logs in S3. It's reliable for backtracking user actions, especially during audits, though broader integrations and better documentation could enhance its adoption and usefulness.
Senior Cloud Delivery Architect at a computer software company with 201-500 employees4.0AWS CloudTrail is essential for monitoring and auditing my environment, capturing API calls and providing detailed insights into account access. While it's efficient for security improvements, I'd appreciate the inclusion of non-API call tracking to avoid multiple monitoring tools.
System and Cloud Admin at Future Tech 4 All4.5I've used AWS CloudTrail for 2–3 years to monitor, troubleshoot, and analyze logs. It's reliable, easy to set up, supports compliance, and essential in AWS. Searching logs could improve with AI, but overall, it’s highly effective.
Security Operations Engineer at Nitro3.5I use AWS CloudTrail primarily for tracking all activities in AWS to identify and investigate incidents. It offers comprehensive logs, though it can be noisy and costly. Despite this, AWS CloudTrail is essential for security and compliance insights.
AWS Trainer at National Vocational and Technical Training Commission4.0I have worked as a consumer, service provider, consultant, and trainer for AWS CloudTrail. I find the management events and CloudTrail Insights valuable for monitoring compliance. Improvements are needed in log visibility and reducing real-time log submission lag.
AWS Administrator at Vohra Wound Physicians4.5I use AWS CloudTrail to monitor API calls and receive login notifications via SNS. Its integration with AWS services enhances security and workflow. The solution meets my needs perfectly, with no challenges encountered during use on Amazon Web Services.
Senior Cloud Delivery Architect at a computer software company with 201-500 employees4.5I use AWS CloudTrail to monitor user activity and service access in my AWS environment. It helps track unauthorized access and integrate with Lambda for alerts, enabling quick responses. Immediate integration with auto-remediation procedures improves efficiency and security.