13 Best Free Network Monitoring Tools Reviewed in 2026
10 Best Free Network Monitoring Tools Shortlist
Here’s my shortlist of the best free network monitoring tools:
Running a network can be tough, especially when budgets are tight. You might be feeling the pressure to keep systems running smoothly without overspending. That's where free network monitoring tools can help, offering essential insights without the cost.
In my experience, these tools are beneficial for spotting issues early and keeping your team’s operations on track. I’ve tested and reviewed several options, focusing on those that offer free plans or trials.
In this article, I’ll share my top picks, each with unique features to fit different needs. Whether you’re managing a small network or a larger setup, you’ll find solutions that can ease your workload and improve efficiency. Let’s dive in and explore what these tools can do for you.
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Best Free Network Monitoring Tools Summary
While all of the network monitoring tools in my list have free offerings, some also have paid plans should you wish to upgrade. Here are the base costs for each of the tools that made it onto my shortlist.
| Tool | Best For | Trial Info | Price | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Best for open-source flexibility | Free 30-day trial | From $20/user/month (billed annually) | Website | |
| 2 | Best intuitive dashboard | Free 30-day trial + Free edition (unavailable in the US, Canada, Japan, Taiwan) | Pricing upon request | Website | |
| 3 | Best for real-time monitoring | Free plan + free demo + 5-day free trial available | From $50/month | Website | |
| 4 | Best for community support | Free plan available | From $5/seat/month (billed annually) | Website | |
| 5 | Best for customizable dashboards | Free plan + free trial available | From $19/month + usage | Website | |
| 6 | Best for sensor-based monitoring | Free trial available | From $179/month (billed annually) | Website | |
| 7 | Best for graphing network data | Free to download | Free to use | Website | |
| 8 | Best for extensible architecture | Free consultation available | Pricing upon request | Website | |
| 9 | Best for Windows integration | Free plan available | Pricing upon request | Website | |
| 10 | Best for modular architecture | Free demo + free 60-day trial + free plan available | From $5,000/year | Website |
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Site24x7
Visit WebsiteThis is an aggregated rating for this tool including ratings from Crozdesk users and ratings from other sites.4.6 -
Docker
Visit WebsiteThis is an aggregated rating for this tool including ratings from Crozdesk users and ratings from other sites.4.6 -
Pulumi
Visit WebsiteThis is an aggregated rating for this tool including ratings from Crozdesk users and ratings from other sites.4.8
Best Free Network Monitoring Tool Reviews
Below are my detailed summaries of the best free network monitoring tools that made it onto my shortlist. My reviews offer a detailed look at the key features, pros and cons, integrations, and ideal use cases of each tool to help you find the best one for you. While some of these tools offer a completely free version, others offer a free trial period. I’ve added a note about what’s free in each of my reviews.
Nagios is an open-source infrastructure monitoring tool designed for IT professionals and system administrators. It offers monitoring, alerting, and reporting for networks, servers, and applications, making it valuable for network health and performance.
Why I picked Nagios: Nagios is a free, open-source solution that provides core monitoring capabilities. Its flexibility comes from a strong plugin architecture, allowing you to tailor monitoring to your specific needs. With over 50 official plugins included, your team can monitor a wide range of network components. Extensive community support can help you to expand functionality with additional resources.
Standout features and integrations:
Features include strong configuration tools that let you customize Nagios to meet your specific monitoring needs. The community ecosystem is beneficial for helping you troubleshoot and expand Nagios' capabilities. The monitoring wizards provide step-by-step instructions that can make it easier for your team to set up and manage network monitoring tasks.
Integrations are not publicly listed.
What's free?
Nagios has a free-forever plan that offers essential monitoring features without any user or integration limitations.
Pros and cons
Pros:
- Free open-source version
- Highly customizable with plugins
- Extensive community support
Cons:
- Basic UI design
- Minimal built-in reporting and analytics
WhatsUp Gold is a network monitoring solution designed for IT teams and network administrators. It focuses on visualizing network performance, tracking network traffic, and managing network devices.
Why I picked WhatsUp Gold: WhatsUp Gold offers a free trial with access to its intuitive dashboard, which simplifies network visualization and allows you to view performance metrics and device statuses in one place. The tool provides customizable alerts to keep your team informed of any issues. Its user-friendly interface makes it accessible even if you have a limited technical background.
Standout features and integrations:
Features include a log management and archiving system that you can use to monitor, filter, and configure alerts on syslogs. The interactive mapping feature allows you to clearly visualize your network's layout. You can also generate detailed reports to analyze network performance over time with the Virtualization Monitoring module.
Integrations include Salesforce, Microsoft Office 365, and more.
What's free?
WhatsUp Gold offers a limited-time free trial, allowing full access to its features without restrictions, but it is not a free-forever plan.
Pros and cons
Pros:
- Interactive network visualization
- Integrated log management
- Intuitive and user-friendly dashboard
Cons:
- Not suitable for very large networks
- Reporting and analytics can be less detailed
Zabbix is an open-source observability solution designed for enterprises, focusing on network management, server monitoring, and application monitoring. It caters to IT professionals and system administrators who need a reliable tool for real-time monitoring and analysis.
Why I picked Zabbix: Zabbix offers a free trial of its Zabbix Cloud service, which allows you to explore its real-time monitoring capabilities without upfront costs, while its on-premise software is free and open-source. The platform offers strong flexibility in monitoring various environments, and you can leverage its extensive documentation to set up and customize your monitoring needs. The community forum is also valuable, as it provides resources for troubleshooting and improvements.
Standout features and integrations:
Features include real-time monitoring, which keeps you updated on your network's status. The alerting system is customizable, allowing your team to set specific triggers for notifications. Additionally, Zabbix provides detailed reporting tools for analyzing and visualizing performance data.
Integrations include Microsoft Azure, VMware, Docker, Kubernetes, MySQL, PostgreSQL, and more.
What's free?
Zabbix offers a free edition of the software for on-premise use and a free trial of its Zabbix Cloud service that allows full access to its features.
Pros and cons
Pros:
- Scalable for large enterprises
- Detailed real-time insights
- Flexible monitoring environment options
Cons:
- Scaling to large environments requires technical expertise
- Some integrations require manual configuration
Spiceworks is a free network monitoring and management tool designed for IT professionals, most suitable for small- to medium-sized businesses. It provides essential features for monitoring network performance, managing devices, and troubleshooting network issues.
Why I picked Spiceworks: Spiceworks offers a free-forever plan with a strong focus on community support through active forums, discussions, and Q&As. It includes features such as live monitoring and status alerts, helping you keep track of your network's health. The tool also provides an intuitive system for visualizing network data.
Standout features and integrations:
Features include real-time insights that can help you keep your network in check. The alert system can promptly notify you of issues targeting any of your web applications. The Connectivity Dashboard is integrated with a help desk that organizes and tracks user requests.
Integrations are not publicly listed.
What's free?
Spiceworks offers a free-forever plan with no limitations on users or integrations, focusing on community-driven support.
Pros and cons
Pros:
- Suitable for small- to medium-sized businesses
- Intuitive dashboard design
- Strong IT community support
Cons:
- Not ideal for large-scale or complex IT environments
- Limited API and automation features
Grafana Cloud is an open-source data visualization tool used primarily by IT professionals and data analysts. It allows users to create interactive and customizable dashboards to monitor and analyze various data sources.
Why I picked Grafana Cloud: Grafana Cloud offers a free-forever plan that allows access to 10,000 Prometheus metrics and 50 GB of logs, traces, and profiles. This plan includes customizable dashboards, allowing you to tailor data visualization to your needs. The tool also supports over 20 enterprise data source plugins, providing flexibility in monitoring. Grafana's focus on customization makes it a valuable choice for users who want detailed and personalized data insights.
Standout features and integrations:
Features include performance testing, which can help you assess the efficiency of your network. The alerting system is customizable, allowing your team to set specific thresholds for notifications. Grafana Cloud also offers incident and on-call management tools to optimize response workflows for network issues.
Integrations include Amazon Web Services, Azure, Cloudflare, CrowdStrike Falcon LogScale (formerly Humio), and more.
What's free?
Grafana Cloud offers a free-forever plan with access to 10,000 Prometheus metrics, 50 GB of logs, and over 20 enterprise data source plugins.
Pros and cons
Pros:
- Fully managed servers
- Strong integration ecosystem
- Highly customizable dashboards
Cons:
- Core features locked behind paywalls
- Limited backend control
Paessler PRTG is a network monitoring tool designed for IT administrators and managers. It helps in monitoring network performance and identifying issues through a sensor-based approach.
Why I picked Paessler PRTG: Paessler PRTG offers a freeware solution that allows you to monitor up to 100 sensors, which is suitable for small- to medium-sized networks. It comes with over 250 types of native sensors, and each sensor monitors a different aspect of the network, such as bandwidth or CPU usage. The tool's flexibility in setting up sensors makes it a strong choice for varied monitoring needs.
Standout features and integrations:
Features include customizable alerts to notify you of network issues based on specific thresholds and rules adapted to your priorities. The firewall analyzer lets you visualize network data in graphs and dashboards. You can also set up maps of your network's structure to help you understand its layout at a glance.
Integrations include Amazon Web Services, VMware, Cisco, Dell Technologies, HPE, and more.
What's free?
Paessler PRTG offers a free-forever plan that includes monitoring for up to 100 sensors without any user limitations.
Pros and cons
Pros:
- Network map creation
- Customizable alert system
- Flexible sensor setup
Cons:
- May be expensive to scale
- Limited to 100 sensors
Cacti is an open-source network monitoring and graphing tool suitable for network administrators and IT professionals. It specializes in providing detailed graphs of network performance metrics, helping users visualize and analyze data effectively.
Why I picked Cacti: Cacti offers a free-forever solution that focuses on graphing network data. With its templates and automation features, you can efficiently set up and manage network graphs. The tool supports data collection from various sources, offering flexibility in monitoring.
Standout features and integrations:
Features include a Devices system that can be used to create and manage graphs with specific attributes and meta information. Cacti offers multiple data acquisition methods, which adds to its flexibility. It also supports router configuration backup and has a scheduler that can be used to create custom network discovery rules.
Integrations are not publicly listed.
What's free?
Cacti offers a free-forever plan with no restrictions on users or integrations, focusing on graphing capabilities.
Pros and cons
Pros:
- Strong template system
- Supports multiple data sources
- High-density graphing capabilities
Cons:
- Limited alerting and notification capabilities
- Advanced functionality may require technical expertise
OpenNMS is an open-source network monitoring platform aimed at IT professionals and network administrators. It offers full network performance monitoring and management capabilities.
Why I picked OpenNMS: OpenNMS is available as a free open-source solution that emphasizes extensibility through plugins. You can customize the tool to fit your specific monitoring needs. The platform supports a wide range of monitoring services, from performance metrics to event management. Its open-source nature allows your team to contribute and expand its capabilities.
Standout features and integrations:
Features include advanced event management, which helps your team track and respond to network incidents. The platform provides detailed performance monitoring, offering insights into network health. OpenNMS also offers a flexible architecture, allowing you to tailor the system to your specific requirements.
Integrations include Slack, Mattermost, Jira, Grafana, Remedy, and more.
What's free?
OpenNMS offers a free-forever plan called Horizon with no restrictions on the number of users or integrations, focusing on extensibility and customization.
Pros and cons
Pros:
- Flexible event-driven architecture
- Ticketing system integration
- Highly extensible with plugins
Cons:
- Some integrations may require manual configuration
- High cost for enterprise support
Wi-Fi Network Monitor is a Windows app designed to help you keep an eye on your network devices and traffic in real time. It provides your team with a simple way to see how data moves across your network so you can catch issues early.
Why I picked Wi-Fi Network Monitor: It can be installed directly from the Microsoft Store, so it can naturally integrate into your existing Windows setup. You and your team can use it inside the familiar Windows environment instead of learning a different tool layout.
Standout features and integrations:
Features include real-time views of download, upload, and bandwidth use so you can see how your connection changes over time. You can track which devices are on your network and how much traffic they’re sending or receiving, making it easier for you and your team to notice unusual activity or heavy use without having to navigate various Windows system menus.
Integrations are not publicly listed.
What’s free?
It’s a free-forever app with no paid tiers, and all features available on the Microsoft Store listing are included at no cost.
Pros and cons
Pros:
- Good fit for small networks
- Low system impact
- Integrates with your existing Windows workflow
Cons:
- Limited analytics features
- Windows-only platform
Icinga is an open-source network monitoring tool built for teams that need visibility across complex IT environments. It allows you to monitor network devices, services, and infrastructure components while adapting the setup to your organization’s specific needs through modules and plugins.
Why I picked Icinga: Icinga stands out for its modular architecture, which lets you customize monitoring based on what you actually need instead of relying on a fixed feature set. You and your team can extend functionality using plugins and integrations, making it well suited for environments that require flexibility and scalability.
Standout features and integrations:
Features include real-time monitoring of network services, hosts, and performance metrics with customizable alerts to notify your team of issues. Its plugin-based system allows you to add monitoring capabilities for different protocols, devices, and applications, while the web interface gives you visibility into system health and alert status.
Integrations include Grafana, Terraform, AWS, Azure, Jira, ServiceNow, and more.
What's free?
Icinga offers a free forever plan with unlimited hosts, customizable monitoring, multi-environment support, integrations with Grafana and Prometheus, and automation via API or tools like Ansible and Puppet.
Pros and cons
Pros:
- Active open-source community
- Strong monitoring and alerting capabilities
- Highly flexible and modular design
Cons:
- Documentation can be fragmented
- Requires familiarity with Linux or server environments
New Product Updates from Icinga
Icinga Introduces Contacts/Groups API
Icinga introduces the Contacts and Contact Groups REST API, enabling automated management of notification users and groups while keeping contact data consistent and synchronized across systems. For more information, visit Icinga's official site.
.Other Free Network Monitoring Tools
Here are some additional network monitoring tools that also offer free plans or trials. While these tools didn’t make it onto my shortlist, they’re still worth checking out:
- Netdata
For AI-assisted troubleshooting
- MikroTik (The Dude)
For testing tools
- Ntop
For traffic analysis
Free Network Monitoring Tool Selection Criteria
When selecting the best free network monitoring tools to include in this list, I considered common buyer needs and pain points, such as budget constraints and limited IT resources. I also used the following framework to keep my evaluation structured and fair:
Core Functionality (25% of total score)
To be considered for inclusion in this list, each solution had to fulfill these common use cases:
- Monitor network performance
- Alert on network issues
- Visualize network data
- Track bandwidth usage
- Manage network devices
Additional Standout Features (25% of total score)
To help further narrow down the competition, I also looked for unique features, such as:
- Customizable dashboards
- Plugin architecture
- Real-time data analytics
- Automated reporting
- Scalability for large networks
Usability (10% of total score)
To get a sense of the usability of each system, I considered the following:
- Intuitive interface
- Easy navigation
- Minimal learning curve
- Customization options
- Aesthetic design
Onboarding (10% of total score)
To evaluate the onboarding experience for each platform, I considered the following:
- Availability of training videos
- Interactive product tours
- Access to templates
- Webinars and tutorials
- Chatbot assistance
Customer Support (10% of total score)
To assess each software provider’s customer support services, I considered the following:
- 24/7 availability
- Response time
- Access to a knowledge base
- Community forums
- Live chat support
Value for Money (10% of total score)
To evaluate the value for money of each platform, I considered the following:
- Features offered in the free plan
- Cost of upgrades
- Competitive pricing
- Transparency in pricing
- Discounts for annual plans
Customer Reviews (10% of total score)
To get a sense of overall customer satisfaction, I considered the following when reading customer reviews:
- Positive feedback on functionality
- Praise for ease of use
- Support responsiveness
- Value for money comments
- Feature requests and updates
How to Choose a Free Network Monitoring Tool
Complex feature lists and pricing structures can make it hard to figure out what you’re really getting from a free network monitoring tool. To help you stay focused as you work through your software selection process, here are some factors to keep in mind:
| Factor | What to Consider |
|---|---|
| Free Offer Scope | Check what's included in the free plan. Does it cover essential features such as monitoring and alerts, or are these locked behind a paywall? |
| Scalability | Consider if the tool can grow with your team. Can it handle increased network size and complexity as your business expands? |
| Integrations | Verify that the tool integrates with your existing systems. Look for compatibility with platforms such as AWS, Microsoft Azure, and VMware. |
| Ease of Use | Evaluate the user interface. Is it intuitive? Will your team need extensive training, or can they start using it right away? |
| Customization | Look for options to tailor the tool to your needs. Can you customize dashboards and reports to focus on the data that matters most to you? |
| Support | Check if adequate support is available. Is there a community forum, live chat, or help center to assist when you face issues? |
| Performance Metrics | Assess the types of metrics the tool tracks. Does it monitor bandwidth, device status, and real-time data effectively? |
| Security Features | Investigate any security measures in place. Does the tool offer data encryption and compliance with regulations such as GDPR? |
What Are Free Network Monitoring Tools?
Network monitoring tools are software solutions that help track and analyze network performance and health. Free offerings typically include basic monitoring, alerts, and limited data visualization. IT professionals and network administrators commonly use these tools for network efficiency and uptime. Features such as real-time monitoring, customizable alerts, and integration options help maintain network performance, support scalability, and improve user experience.
Features
Let’s go over the features commonly found in network monitoring software and which ones are usually included in free vs. paid plans.
Typically Free Network Monitoring Tools Feature
- Real-time monitoring: Continuously tracks network performance to identify issues as they occur.
- Customizable alerts: Send notifications for specific network events, helping you respond quickly.
- Basic reporting: Provides simple reports on network status and performance metrics.
- Device discovery: Automatically identifies devices on your network for easy management.
- Dashboard visualization: Displays network data in an accessible format for quick insights.
- Community support: Offers access to user forums and community resources for troubleshooting.
- Limited integrations: Allows basic connections with other software or platforms.
- Basic security features: Includes fundamental security measures to protect network data.
Typically Paid Network Monitoring Tools Feature
- Advanced analytics: Offers in-depth analysis of network performance and trends for better decision-making.
- Scalability: Supports larger networks and more complex environments as your organization grows.
- Improved security protocols: Provides advanced security features beyond basic protection for sensitive data.
- Complete reporting: Delivers detailed and customizable reports to meet specific business needs.
- Full integration suite: Allows integration with a wide range of third-party applications.
- Automated remediation: Automatically resolves certain network issues without manual intervention.
- 24/7 customer support: Provides access to dedicated support teams for immediate assistance.
- Performance optimization tools: Includes features to improve network efficiency and speed.
Benefits
Implementing free network monitoring tools provides several benefits for your team and your business. Here are a few you can look forward to:
- Cost savings: Using free tools allows you to monitor your network without additional expenses.
- Quick issue detection: Real-time monitoring helps identify network problems immediately, reducing downtime.
- Faster response time: Customizable alerts notify your team of issues promptly, allowing for faster resolutions.
- Improved visibility: Dashboard visualization offers a clear view of network performance, aiding in informed decision-making.
- Community resources: Access to support forums and user communities provides valuable insights and troubleshooting help.
- Easy setup: Basic features and intuitive interfaces make it simple to get started with network monitoring.
- Scalability potential: Some free tools offer options to scale up as your network grows, providing long-term value.
Costs and Pricing
I realize you came to this article looking for the best network monitoring tools options that are available for free. However, since free plans only offer limited features, there's a good chance you'll need to scale up your plan in the future.
The table below summarizes common plans, their average prices, and typical features included in network monitoring tools solutions:
Plan Comparison Table for Network Monitoring Tools
| Plan Type | Average Price | Common Features |
|---|---|---|
| Free Plan | $0 | Basic monitoring, customizable alerts, and community support. |
| Personal Plan | $5-$25/user/month | Advanced monitoring, reporting, and limited integrations. |
| Business Plan | $25-$75/user/month | Full integration suite, improved security, and detailed analytics. |
| Enterprise Plan | $75-$150/user/month | Scalability for large networks, 24/7 customer support, and performance optimization tools. |
Free Network Monitoring Tools FAQs
Here are some answers to common questions about free network monitoring tools:
Can I use multiple free network monitoring tools together?
Yes, you can combine several free tools in one stack. Many teams use an open-source monitor for alerts, a separate dashboard tool, and vendor dashboards for cloud services. Just avoid overlap, document who owns which tool, centralize alerts and notifications, and regularly review everything for blind spots and noisy alerts.
When should I upgrade from a free plan to a paid network monitoring tool?
Plan to upgrade when your team spends more time fighting tool limits than solving incidents. Warning signs include frequent alert delays, capped metrics, missing historical data, and difficulty onboarding new services. Compare the cost of downtime and engineer time with subscription pricing to justify a move to higher-priced tiers.
Are free and open-source network monitoring tools secure enough for regulated industries?
Free and open-source tools can be secure, but you must own the hardening. Keep operating systems patched, enable encryption where possible, restrict access with strong identities, and separate monitoring networks from production traffic. For regulated environments, validate data residency, logging, and retention requirements before sending sensitive information into monitoring platforms.
Will free network monitoring tools slow down my systems?
Monitoring always adds some overhead, but you can keep it manageable. Start with lightweight checks, tune collection intervals, and avoid scraping every metric by default. Place collectors near monitored systems, track CPU, memory, and storage growth, and regularly prune unused metrics and dashboards so long-term performance remains predictable and stable.
How often should I review or tune my free monitoring setup?
Review your monitoring setup regularly, not only after outages. A good rhythm is a light monthly check and a deeper quarterly review. Confirm critical alerts still fire correctly, retire unused checks, align dashboards with current priorities, and capture lessons from incidents so the monitoring system keeps matching evolving production reality.
What’s Next:
If you're in the process of researching free network monitoring tools, connect with a SoftwareSelect advisor for free recommendations.