---
title: "Integration methods for Prometheus metrics | Grafana Cloud documentation"
description: "Learn three main methods for sending Prometheus metrics to Grafana Cloud, including Metrics Endpoint integration, Grafana Alloy scraping, and remote write."
---

# Integration methods for Prometheus metrics

This guide explains the three main methods for sending Prometheus metrics from open source projects to Grafana Cloud.

## Choose your integration method

Pick the method that best fits your infrastructure and requirements:

- [**Metrics endpoint integration**](#metrics-endpoint-integration) *(easiest)* - no-collector scraping directly from Grafana Cloud
- [**Grafana Alloy scraping**](#grafana-alloy-scraping) *(most flexible)* - Advanced configurations and reusable components
- [**Prometheus remote write**](#prometheus-remote-write) *(direct integration)* - Forward metrics from your Prometheus instances

## Metrics endpoint integration

The Metrics Endpoint integration provides no-collector scraping directly from Grafana Cloud. This is the simplest method requiring no additional infrastructure.

### Set up a metrics endpoint scrape job

1. Navigate to your Grafana Cloud instance
2. In your Grafana Cloud instance, use the left-side navigation to get to the Connections Console (Home > Connections > Add connection).
3. Search “Metrics Endpoint” to find the Metrics Endpoint configuration page.
4. Enter your Scrape Job URL (Prometheus endpoint), choose between Bearer and Basic under “Type of Authentication Credentials”, and test your connection using the Test Connection button.
5. Click the “Save Scrape Job” button to submit your no-collector scrape job.

Scrapes are automatically performed at the target scrape job URL every 60 seconds.

[Learn more about Metrics Endpoint in Grafana Cloud](/blog/2023/09/21/introducing-agentless-monitoring-for-prometheus-in-grafana-cloud/)

## Grafana Alloy scraping

If you’re already using [Grafana Alloy](/docs/grafana-cloud/send-data/alloy/), you can create a `prometheus.scrape` component for advanced configurations.

### Benefits of Grafana Alloy

- Advanced scrape job arguments (scrape interval, sample limit, label limit)
- Proxy URL configuration
- oAuth authorization blocks
- Centralized configuration management
- Reusable scrape configurations

[View tutorial on using Grafana Alloy to send metrics to Prometheus](/docs/grafana-cloud/send-data/alloy/tutorials/send-metrics-to-prometheus/)

## Prometheus remote write

Use remote write to forward metrics from your Prometheus instance to Grafana Cloud’s fully managed Mimir database.

### Configure remote write

Add this `remote_write` block to your `prometheus.yml` configuration file:

YAML ![Copy code to clipboard](/media/images/icons/icon-copy-small-2.svg) Copy

```yaml
remote_write:
  - url: <Your Metrics instance remote_write endpoint>
    basic_auth:
      username: <Your Metrics instance ID>
      password: <Your Cloud Access Policy token>
```

### Find your credentials

You can find the `https://...grafana.net/api/prom/push` URL, username, and password for your metrics endpoint in the [Cloud Portal](/docs/grafana-cloud/security-and-account-management/cloud-portal/). Click your stack ‘Details’ then select the Prometheus ‘Details’. The target URL and basic auth username display towards the middle of the page.

### Additional remote write documentation

Visit the [Prometheus.io Configuration Docs](https://prometheus.io/docs/prometheus/latest/configuration/configuration/#remote_write) to view additional `remote_write` configuration settings.

## Manage your Grafana Cloud metrics costs

Every Grafana Cloud account includes 10,000 active series metric storage, free-forever. To reduce your billable metrics usage, follow the guidelines below.

### Reduce data points pushed to Grafana Cloud

Grafana Cloud provides 1 data point per minute (DPM) resolution for $6.50 per 1,000 series. You can adjust the total DPM you push to Grafana Cloud by adjusting the `scrape_interval` settings in your `prometheus.yml` configuration file.

[Learn more about adjusting your Prometheus scrape interval](/docs/grafana-cloud/cost-management-and-billing/analyze-costs/metrics-costs/prometheus-metrics-costs/).

### Identify and eliminate unused metric data

[Adaptive Metrics](/products/cloud/metrics/prometheus-cardinality-optimization/) helps you easily aggregate unused metrics. By applying aggregation rules, you block unused time series data at ingestion while keeping the metric name and labels for discovery when needed.

Adaptive Metrics is available to all Grafana Cloud users for no additional cost.

[Learn more about using Adaptive Metrics](/docs/grafana-cloud/cost-management-and-billing/adaptive-telemetry/adaptive-metrics/).