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Managing a network can be tough. You’re juggling multiple devices, keeping data secure, and ensuring everything runs smoothly. Network monitoring software can help with these challenges by offering insights and alerts, letting your team focus on what really matters.

I've tested and reviewed many of these tools to provide you with an unbiased look at the best options out there. In this article, you'll find a detailed review of the top network monitoring software that can meet your team’s needs.

I believe in offering well-researched, trustworthy information so you can make informed decisions. Let’s dive into what makes these tools stand out and how they can help your team succeed.

Best Network Monitoring Summary

Best Network Monitoring Software Reviews

Here you’ll find my choices for the best network monitoring software and tools:

Best for endpoint management and patch compliance

  • Free trial + free demo available
  • Pricing upon request
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Rating: 4.8/5

NinjaOne is a top-rated UEM and IT management software that offers a range of solutions for IT departments and MSPs, including endpoint management, patch management, mobile device management, remote control, and endpoint backup.

Why I picked NinjaOne: When comparing different tools, NinjaOne stands out due to its comprehensive suite of features that cater to both IT departments and managed service providers (MSPs), making it a versatile choice for various organizational needs. NinjaOne differentiates itself by offering a unified platform that includes endpoint management, patch management, mobile device management, and remote control, all accessible through a single intuitive interface. This integration allows for efficient management of IT assets, which is crucial for maintaining security and operational efficiency.

NinjaOne Standout Features and Integrations:

Features include an intuitive, all-in-one platform that consolidates endpoint management, patching, mobile device management, and remote control, offering usability for IT teams and MSPs. Its zero-config deployment allows users to get up and running quickly, saving time compared to more complex solutions. NinjaOne’s automation capabilities, such as automated patching and remediation workflows, help reduce manual tasks, improve efficiency, and ensure consistent IT operations.

Integrations include ConnectWise Manage, Autotask PSA, HaloPSA, Accelo, SherpaDesk, RepairShopr, Harmony PSA, and Computicate PSA.

Pros and cons

Pros:

  • Automated IT compliance reporting
  • Detailed hardware and software inventory tracking
  • Efficient multi-tenant management

Cons:

  • Limited customization in dashboard design
  • Dependency on cloud infrastrucutre

New Product Updates from NinjaOne

December 15 2025
NinjaOne Launches Integrated Remote Access

NinjaOne has expanded its automated management platform by introducing NinjaOne Remote, a secure remote access solution for multiple operating systems. For more information, visit NinjaOne's official site.

Best for multi-vendor network monitoring

  • 30-day free trial
  • Pricing upon request
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Rating: 4.3/5

With advanced features like fault management, performance monitoring, and bandwidth analysis, OpManager helps organizations proactively manage and optimize their network infrastructure. Cameron Rimington, Founder and CEO of IronPDF, shared: “We have found OpManager by ManageEngine to be invaluable for our server monitoring, especially at a time when we are processing thousands of PDF conversions... Instead of learning about problems after our customers did, we were notified within two minutes and proactively scaled when we needed to before any type of performance impact would happen.”

Why I picked ManageEngine OpManager: If you’re looking for a multi-vendor network monitoring solution, then I think ManageEngine OpManager is the perfect choice. It supports popular hardware vendors like HP, D-Link, Juniper, Dell, 3Com, Cisco, Force10, NETGEAR, Fortinet, and NetScreen. You can also choose a vendor of your choice as it provides 245 built-in customizable device templates. These templates save the configuration commands for all vendors, so you don’t have to remember all configurations manually.

ManageEngine OpManager Standout Features and Integrations:

Features include its ability to provide real-time network performance monitoring across multi-vendor environments, offering deep compatibility with over 245 customizable device templates. Its built-in workflow automation simplifies repetitive network management tasks, like backup configuration and interface management. Additionally, the platform’s advanced visualization tools, including dynamic network maps and performance dashboards, give users an intuitive view of their IT infrastructure.

Integrations include ManageEngine ServiceDesk Plus, ServiceNow, Jira Service Management, Slack, and Microsoft Teams. APIs are also available.

Pros and cons

Pros:

  • Router performance metrics like temperature, voltage, and buffer statistics
  • Mapping and visualization of performance degradation and network outages
  • 2,000+ performance metrics for network monitoring

Cons:

  • Complex setup and configuration process
  • Limited customization options for dashboards and reports

New Product Updates from ManageEngine OpManager

February 1 2026
ManageEngine OpManager Vendor Templates and NCM XML Import

ManageEngine OpManager introduces enhanced vendor template integration and device template import for the NCM module using XML files. This update helps teams improve device classification and speed up configuration workflows. For more information, visit ManageEngine OpManager’s official site.

Best for network visibility and device discovery

  • Free trial available
  • From $149/technician/month (billed annually)
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Rating: 4.6/5

For network administrators and IT professionals seeking to monitor and manage their networks, Atera offers a comprehensive solution. It is tailored for managed service providers and IT departments aiming to oversee multiple networks with ease. It addresses challenges like device discovery and network visibility, ensuring you can maintain a robust network infrastructure.

Why I Picked Atera

I picked Atera for its exceptional network visibility, which is crucial for any network monitoring tool. Atera's Network Discovery feature stands out, offering an in-depth view of all devices within a network. This feature automatically scans and updates the network inventory, ensuring you always have the latest information on your network assets. Additionally, its continuous monitoring capabilities track key metrics like CPU, RAM, and bandwidth usage, helping you maintain optimal network performance.

Atera Key Features

In addition to its network visibility, Atera offers several other features that enhance its functionality:

  • Remote Monitoring and Management (RMM): This feature allows you to monitor your network's health and performance from a single dashboard.
  • Automated Patch Management: Keep your systems up-to-date with automated patching, reducing vulnerabilities.
  • Helpdesk and Ticketing System: Streamline your support process with an integrated ticketing system.
  • Reporting and Analytics: Gain insights with detailed reports on network performance and issues.

Atera Integrations

Integrations include Microsoft Teams, Slack, Acronis, Splashtop, and an API is available for custom integrations.

Pros and cons

Pros:

  • Centralized inventory for network assets
  • Real-time CVE vulnerability scanning
  • Auto-discovery of devices

Cons:

  • Some features require separate add-ons
  • Customization options may feel limited

Best for scalable IT monitoring

  • Free plan + 30-day free trial available
  • From $225/month (billed annually)
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Rating: 4.7/5

Checkmk is a powerful network monitoring software that provides everything you need to monitor hybrid environments. That includes on-premises servers, virtual machines, network devices, applications, and cloud services. Thanks to its optimized core, it scales with ease and can fit the needs of anything from small to enterprise-level infrastructure.

Why I picked Checkmk: As a network monitoring software, Checkmk offers real-time insights into network performance, identifying issues before they impact operations. It provides detailed network analytics, customizable dashboards, and an efficient alert system, making it easier for IT teams to manage network health and performance effectively without being overwhelmed by meaningless alerts. 

Checkmk Standout Features & Integrations

Features include automatic discovery and configuration, which quickly identifies network components and sets up monitoring with minimal manual effort. Its highly scalable architecture supports everything from small networks to large, complex IT environments, making it versatile for various use cases. Its integration flexibility with multiple tools and systems also ensures seamless compatibility with existing workflows. 

Integrations include Nagios, Grafana, Prometheus, LDAP/Active Directory, Jira, PagerDuty, DataDog, ntop, and Slack.

Pros and cons

Pros:

  • Comprehensive monitoring capabilities
  • Numerous automation options
  • High configurability

Cons:

  • Learning curve for new users
  • Potential overhead for smaller networks

Best for visual representations of networks

  • 14-day free trial available
  • Pricing upon request
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Rating: 4.7/5

Auvik is a cloud-based network management software designed to provide visibility and control over network infrastructure. It enables organizations to monitor network performance, identify devices that need upgrading or replacement, and manage network configurations

Why I picked Auvik: Auvik earned its spot on this network monitoring software list because it offers automatic inventorying and visual mapping of network infrastructure. This feature helps save time, ensure data integrity, and promote better visibility of networks. Auvik also stands out for its real-time documentation updates and automated backups of network devices, making it a proactive tool for network management. 

Auvik Standout Features and Integrations:

Features include network monitoring and troubleshooting, alerts and notifications for network events, syslog for faster issue resolution, VPN monitoring for remote worker protection, and internet connection check for instant connectivity issue diagnosis. 

Integrations include ArcusTeam, Autotask PSA, BrightGauge, Captain's Chair, Slack, Microsoft Teams, ConnectWise, Continuum, Freshdesk, Global Dash, PagerDuty, and more.

Pros and cons

Pros:

  • Quick and accurate alerting system
  • Single dashboard monitoring
  • Detailed visual graphical representation of networks

Cons:

  • Could use more integrations
  • Customizing the platform can be time consuming

New Product Updates from Auvik

January 5 2026
Auvik Introduces New Integrations and Alert Improvements

Auvik introduces a ServiceNow CMDB integration, improved alert notification management, and a new monday.com SaaS Ops integration. These updates help IT teams improve visibility, streamline alert workflows, and maintain accurate asset and license data. For more information, visit Auvik's official site.

Best for network monitoring and ITSM ticketing

  • 14-day free trial available
  • Pricing upon request
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Rating: 4.4/5

SysAid is an IT Service Management (ITSM) platform that also includes tools for monitoring and managing IT infrastructure as part of broader service operations. It helps IT teams track system health, surface issues, and respond to alerts by tying infrastructure data directly into incident and service management workflows. This approach supports better visibility and faster response without relying on disconnected monitoring tools.

Why I picked SysAid: I picked SysAid because it combines ITSM with infrastructure visibility in a single platform. You can monitor key system indicators such as device availability and performance data, while alerts can trigger incident tickets automatically within the service desk. This connection between monitoring and incident management reduces manual handoffs and helps ensure issues are addressed before they escalate. SysAid’s automation and workflow tools further reduce manual effort, allowing teams to focus on resolving higher-priority issues.

SysAid Standout Features and Integrations:

Features include infrastructure and device monitoring tied to asset records, historical data and trend visibility, configurable alert thresholds, and support for SNMP-based monitoring. Alerts can be linked directly to incident workflows so tickets are created, prioritized, and routed automatically. SysAid also provides workflow automation, service automation, and full asset visibility through its CMDB.

Integrations include Microsoft Teams, Slack, Salesforce, Google Workspace, Microsoft 365, Azure Active Directory, Jira, HubSpot, Amazon services, and IBM Db2.

Pros and cons

Pros:

  • Integrates incident management with alerts
  • Real-time monitoring of IT assets
  • Proactive alerts ensure timely issue detection

Cons:

  • Interface outdated in some areas
  • Limited analytics depth for reporting

New Product Updates from SysAid

SysAid Adds Direct Knowledge Base Linking in Service Records
SysAid adds direct linking between service records to enhance issue tracking.
November 30 2025
SysAid Adds Direct Knowledge Base Linking in Service Records

SysAid now allows linking knowledge base articles directly to service records, enhancing centralized access to information and speeding up issue resolution. For more information, visit SysAid's official site.

Best open-source solution

  • Free demo + free 60-day trial + free plan available
  • From $5,000/year
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Rating: 5/5

Icinga is an open-source monitoring software specifically designed for complex IT environments. It provides comprehensive monitoring capabilities that cover infrastructure, servers, networks, and more, ensuring that your systems are always performing optimally.

Why I Picked Icinga: I chose Icinga because it supports plugin‑based monitoring of network services and devices—routers, switches, firewalls—letting you track latency, packet loss, and bandwidth. You can detect and alert on DNS or DHCP failures before users get affected, helping your team stay ahead of issues. Another highlight is its distributed monitoring architecture. The tool uses a clustered core with SSL‑secured zones, so you can scale across multiple data centers without losing visibility. That means your network stays monitored even if one node fails, ensuring consistent coverage.

Icinga Standout Features and Integrations:

Features include automatic certificate monitoring across your SSL devices, which includes alerting you before certificates expire. It also supports multi‑vendor plugin checks through Nagios‑compatible plugins, so you can write your own or use existing ones with ease. Plus, with its REST API and Icinga Director tool, you can automate host and service setups—such as importing from a CMDB—and apply configuration rules across your entire network.

Integrations include Grafana, AWS, Azure, Puppet, Ansible, Chef, Terraform, Jira, PagerDuty, ServiceNow, BigPanda, and Stackstorm.

Pros and cons

Pros:

  • Highly customizable for various IT infrastructure needs
  • Scalable for both small and large environments
  • Free to use with no setup fees

Cons:

  • Setup and configuration comes with a learning curve
  • Occasional performance issues reported during high-load scenario

New Product Updates from Icinga

February 8 2026
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.

Best for DNS security and threat prevention

  • 14-day trial available
  • Pricing upon request

When considering the complexities of network traffic and the persistent threats to digital assets, Heimdal emerges as a valuable ally in safeguarding your organization's network integrity. Its robust suite of features caters to industries like healthcare, education, and government, addressing the unique challenges faced by each sector. With a focus on DNS Security, Threat Hunting, and Endpoint Management, Heimdal ensures that your network remains resilient against evolving cyber threats, providing peace of mind and enhancing overall operational efficiency.

Why I Picked Heimdal

I chose Heimdal for its exceptional DNS Security capabilities, which are crucial for network monitoring. Its Predictive DNS technology proactively prevents threats by analyzing traffic patterns and blocking malicious domains before they can cause harm. Additionally, Heimdal's Host-Based Intrusion Prevention System (HIPS) offers advanced threat detection, allowing your team to respond swiftly to potential breaches. These features, combined with their AI-driven threat detection, address the critical need for real-time monitoring and protection, making Heimdal a standout choice for those committed to maintaining secure and efficient networks.

Heimdal Key Features

In addition to its standout DNS Security and HIPS, I also found Heimdal offers:

  • Unified Endpoint Management: Seamlessly manage all endpoints across your organization, ensuring consistent security policies and updates.
  • Traffic Logging: Monitor and log DNS traffic to gain insights into network activity and potential security threats.
  • Hybrid DNS Capabilities: Secure DNS traffic within local networks, providing an additional layer of security without relying on external intermediaries.
  • Cloud Access Security Brokerage (CASB): Enhance protection against unauthorized cloud access and data leaks, ensuring compliance with data governance standards.

Heimdal Integrations

Native integrations are not currently listed by Heimdal; however, the platform supports API-based custom integrations.

Pros and cons

Pros:

  • Detailed asset and license visibility
  • Strong vulnerability and threat detection
  • Automates patching across endpoints

Cons:

  • Interface requires onboarding time
  • No native integrations available

Best for proactive network issue prevention

  • Free trial available
  • From 2,149/year
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Rating: 4.7/5

PRTG by Paessler is a comprehensive IT infrastructure monitoring tool that offers solutions for small, medium, and large IT environments, as well as hosted monitoring for cloud and hybrid IT. It provides real-time monitoring and alerting for network devices, bandwidth usage, and other critical network metrics.

Why I picked PRTG: I like that PRTG allows users to visualize their entire IT infrastructure through custom maps and dashboards that provide real-time data and insights, enhancing network visibility and management. Additionally, its reporting features enable the generation of detailed, customizable reports tailored to specific needs. Combined with PRTG’s ease of use, comprehensive monitoring capabilities, and flexible alerting system, it provides a robust and user-friendly solution for proactive network issue prevention.

PRTG Standout Features and Integrations:

Features include customizable maps and dashboards, allowing users to create real-time visualizations of their entire IT infrastructure, making monitoring performance at a glance easy. Its sensor-based monitoring system is highly flexible, enabling users to track everything from bandwidth usage to server health and only pay for what they need. PRTG’s intuitive alerting system also ensures that users are notified of potential issues via email, SMS, or push notifications.

Integrations include Comet Backup, BackBox Automation Platform, BrightGauge, GitLab, BulkSMS.com, Google Analytics, Microsoft OneDrive, Dropbox, AlertOps, UVexplorer, AutoMonX, SMSEagle, and ThreatSync.

Pros and cons

Pros:

  • Scalable for small and large networks
  • Customizable monitoring and alerting
  • User-friendly interface

Cons:

  • More advanced features may come with a learning curve
  • High cost for larger deployments

New Product Updates from PRTG

February 1 2026
PRTG Enhances Webserver and API Security

PRTG introduces enhanced webserver security and API token restrictions to improve secure interactions. For more information, visit PRTG's official site.

Best for comprehensive device coverage

  • Free trial + demo available
  • From $9/month (billed annually)
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Rating: 4.6/5

Site24x7 is an all-in-one monitoring solution designed for IT operations and DevOps teams, offering services like website, server, cloud, network, and application performance monitoring.

Why I picked Site24x7: I like its ability to monitor a wide range of network devices, including switches, routers, firewalls, and servers. This comprehensive device coverage means you can oversee your entire network infrastructure from a single platform, making it easier to identify and resolve issues across different hardware. Another benefit is Site24x7's network traffic analysis feature, which helps you understand bandwidth usage and identify potential bottlenecks.

Site24x7 Standout Features and Integrations:

Features include its AI-powered anomaly detection, which proactively identifies network performance issues before they escalate, reducing downtime and improving efficiency. Its cloud-based architecture allows remote monitoring without requiring on-premises infrastructure, making it an ideal choice for distributed teams. Site24x7’s integrated log management also provides real-time insights into system and application logs, helping IT teams troubleshoot and optimize performance more effectively.

Integrations include ServiceNow, PagerDuty, Jira, Microsoft Teams, Slack, Nagios, AWS, Azure, Google Cloud Platform, Docker, Jenkins, and Kubernetes.

Pros and cons

Pros:

  • Comprehensive monitoring capabilities
  • Real-time alerts and notifications
  • Customizable dashboards and reports

Cons:

  • Complexity in initial setup for large environments
  • Limited customization in alerting mechanisms

New Product Updates from Site24x7

February 19 2026
Site24x7 Adds Network Security Group Monitoring

Site24x7 introduces Network Security Group monitoring, improving visibility into Azure traffic filtering to help track rule changes and strengthen overall security and compliance. For more information, visit Site24x7's official site.

Best for network monitoring in complex environments

  • 15-day free trial + free demo available
  • From $7/host/month
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Rating: 4.5/5

Dynatrace provides real-time visibility into your network, allowing you to monitor and analyze traffic patterns, latency, and performance metrics.

Why I picked Dynatrace: The reason I suggest Dynatrace for complex environments is it enables smooth performance for all types of network connections, like virtualized clouds and data centers, by installing agents on each host. This lets you gain insight into which processes need troubleshooting. For each process, it can track network bandwidth and connection issues.

Dynatrace Standout Features and Integrations:

Features include its AI-driven observability, automatically detecting anomalies and pinpointing root causes in real-time, and reducing the need for manual troubleshooting. Its full-stack monitoring extends across hybrid and multi-cloud environments, ensuring visibility into network performance, application dependencies, and infrastructure health. Additionally, Dynatrace’s automatic dependency mapping provides a real-time topology of all network connections, making diagnosing and resolving performance bottlenecks easier.

Integrations include Active Directory, Adobe Analytics, Akka, Amazon DynamoDB, Ansible Tower, Azure Virtual Machines, Google Analytics, Gremlin, LaunchDarkly, and Zenduty.

Pros and cons

Pros:

  • Alerting and notification for network outages
  • Capacity planning and forecasting for network resources
  • Can analyze network latency and packet loss

Cons:

  • Pricing structure is complex
  • No free plan

Best for cloud-based network monitoring

  • Free 15-day trial
  • From $16/hybrid unit/month
Visit Website
Rating: 4.5/5

LogicMonitor is an observability platform but comes with powerful features to manage the health and performance of your network ecosystem.

Why I picked LogicMonitor: I chose LogicMonitor because of its ability to support monitoring for SD-WAN and cloud-based networks. You can use LogicMonitor to get insights into the workings of switches, wireless devices, load balancers, routers, and firewalls. It also comes with network topology mapping that helps you understand how devices are interconnected and how data flows within the network.

LogicMonitor Standout Features and Integrations:

Features include its cloud-based architecture, which offers scalability and eliminates the need for on-premises infrastructure. Its network topology mapping provides a clear, dynamic visualization of device interconnections and data flow, making diagnosing and addressing issues easier. LogicMonitor’s pre-configured monitoring templates and automated discovery also streamline the setup process, allowing users to start monitoring complex environments quickly.

Integrations include ServiceNow, PagerDuty, VMWare, BigPanda, Fortinet, Redis, ConnectWise, Juniper, and Twilio. APIs are also available.

Pros and cons

Pros:

  • Auto-discovery abilities are fast
  • Portal functionality and uptime are great
  • Easy setup process

Cons:

  • Fewer customization options for user interfaces
  • No free version

Best for real-time infrastructure monitoring

  • Free trial + demo available
  • From $4.50/node/month (billed annually)
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Rating: 4.6/5

Netdata is an open-source observability, monitoring, and troubleshooting platform that offers high-resolution metrics, journal logs, and real-time visualizations for infrastructure monitoring.

Why I Picked Netdata: I chose Netdata for network monitoring software because it provides high-resolution metrics, real-time visualizations, and reliable alerts, distinguishing it from other options. Its open-source platform is trusted by over 1.2 million nodes online and is actively supported by the Cloud Native Computing Foundation (CNCF). The tool's commitment to open-source, easy scalability, and high-fidelity data for troubleshooting emerging issues make it a top choice for real-time infrastructure monitoring.

Netdata Standout Features & Integrations

Features include its lightweight, open-source design that offers high-resolution, per-second metrics without consuming excessive system resources. Its real-time visualizations and interactive dashboards provide instant insights into infrastructure health, enabling faster troubleshooting. Additionally, Netdata’s seamless integrations with popular tools like Prometheus, Grafana, and Kubernetes make it a suitable choice for teams looking to enhance their existing monitoring ecosystems.

Integrations include Kubernetes Containers, Virtual Machines, Apache, Consul, Elasticsearch, OpenSearch, MySQL, Redis, Squid log files, Windows, and macOS.

Pros and cons

Pros:

  • Automated alerts
  • Unlimited metric monitoring
  • Interactive graphs for data visualization

Cons:

  • May come with a learning curve to maximize its features
  • Insights could be more comprehensive

Best for comprehensive network monitoring

  • Free 30-day trial + Free edition (unavailable in the US, Canada, Japan, Taiwan)
  • Pricing upon request
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Rating: 4.4/5

WhatsUp Gold is a comprehensive IT monitoring and management solution that provides real-time insights and alerts to ensure optimal performance and availability of IT systems.

Why I picked WhatsUp Gold: WhatsUp Gold has common capabilities like infrastructure network monitoring, automatic network discovery, and notifications about network issues. What stands out to me is you can gain insights into network traffic patterns, helping to optimize bandwidth utilization. You can also monitor device performance metrics, such as CPU usage, memory utilization, and disk space.

WhatsUp Gold Standout Features and Integrations:

Features include its intuitive interface and customizable dashboards, making it easy to visualize and manage network performance in real-time. Its network traffic analysis feature provides detailed insights into bandwidth usage, helping organizations identify and address bottlenecks. Additionally, WhatsUp Gold integrates with cloud environments like AWS and Azure, enabling comprehensive monitoring across on-premises and cloud-based networks.

Integrations include Active Directory, ServiceNow, VMware, Microsoft Azure, and Cisco. REST APIs are also available for custom integrations.

Pros and cons

Pros:

  • Extensive support for different protocols and vendors
  • Customizable dashboards and reports
  • User-friendly interface

Cons:

  • Complex deployment and configuration process
  • Occasional bugs or stability issues

Best for enterprises

  • Free 30-day trial + free plan available (up to 7 nodes)
  • From $2,495/100 node license
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Rating: 4.6/5

Nagios XI simplifies the process of monitoring, managing, and analyzing your network infrastructure, enabling you to maintain optimal performance and ensure the availability of your critical systems.

Why I picked Nagios XI: I like Nagios XI for enterprises because it provides a centralized dashboard that allows you to monitor the health and performance of your systems, networks, and infrastructure from a single location. You can monitor key metrics like CPU usage, memory utilization, and network traffic. It supports a plugin architecture, which allows you to extend its functionality by adding custom plugins.

Nagios XI Standout Features and Integrations:

Features that I feel enterprise teams will find helpful are its robust alerting and notification system that alerts you in real-time via email, SMS, or other methods when issues are detected. Nagios XI also supports distributed monitoring architectures, allowing you to deploy multiple monitoring servers across different locations and networks.

Integrations are native and include Fedora, FreeBSD, MongoDB, Selenium, ServiceNow, VMWare, and openSUSE. APIs are available.

Pros and cons

Pros:

  • Can automate tasks like configuring checks, generating reports, and performing system maintenance
  • Monitor and analyze log entries to identify errors and anomalies
  • Can customize your dashboards and reports with widgets and charts

Cons:

  • Mobile app has limited features
  • Steep learning curve

Best for advanced and power users

  • Free plan + free demo available
  • From $49/month + data usage costs
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Rating: 4.3/5

New Relic’s network optimization software provides proactive alerting, deep diagnostics, and customizable dashboards for efficient network troubleshooting and optimization.

Why I picked New Relic: I liked New Relic during my evaluation because its ability to monitor your whole IT infrastructure network is quite extensive.

It has application monitoring (APM) capabilities and synthetic monitoring, where you can simulate user interactions and test the responsiveness and availability of your applications from different locations. With distributed tracing, you can visualize and trace requests as they travel across other services and components, helping you identify bottlenecks.

New Relic Standout Features and Integrations:

Features include a unified telemetry platform, enabling users to ingest, analyze, and visualize data from logs, metrics, and traces in one centralized location. Its AI-driven anomaly detection proactively identifies performance issues using machine learning, helping teams address problems before they escalate. Also, its real-time user monitoring provides deep session insights, allowing businesses to optimize the end-user experience with unparalleled granularity.

Integrations include Ruby, Elixir, Cassandra, CentOS, Couchbase, Debian, Nagios, and OpenAI Observability. APIs are also available.

Pros and cons

Pros:

  • Customizable dashboards where you can visualize and analyze your data
  • Can centralize and manage your application logs
  • Generates visual service maps that show how different services in your application architecture are related

Cons:

  • High license costs
  • May take time for users to become proficient in navigating and utilizing all the features

Best for small businesses

  • Free 14-day trial + free plan available
  • From $15/user/month (billed annually)
Visit Website
Rating: 4.3/5

With Datadog, you can manage on-prem, cloud, and hybrid networks. You can also track the performances of application layers and even the health of bare-metal appliances.

Why I picked DataDog: The reason I suggest DataDog for small businesses is because of its affordability and provision of all standard network monitoring offerings. These include visual maps of connected networks, traffic metrics by host, processes, and containers, and DNS performance.

DataDog Standout Features and Integrations:

Features that I want to highlight are its ability to track metrics like TCP retransmits, connection churn, and latency. It can also check on the performance of traffic between layers like app, port, IP address, or process ID (PID). You can track DNS server health with response time, error code, and request-volume metrics.

Integrations are natively available for 600+ options, including Active Directory, Airflow, Bitbucket, Bugsnag, Cassandra, Crowdstrike, GitHub, and GitLab.

Pros and cons

Pros:

  • Offers scalable monitoring capabilities
  • Provides historical data for trend analysis
  • Supports multi-cloud and hybrid environments

Cons:

  • Data retention periods may be shorter than desired
  • Monitoring for Microsoft Azure tools can be complex

Best range of features

  • Free plan + free demo + 5-day free trial available
  • From $50/month
Visit Website
Rating: 4.2/5

Zabbix’s open-source tool provides detailed monitoring and analysis capabilities, allowing you to identify and resolve network issues promptly.

Why I picked Zabbix: I selected Zabbix because, although it’s an open-source platform, it has a wide range of network monitoring features. You can track total bandwidth usage, packet loss, error rates, number of TCP connections, link status, and other SNMP metrics. You can even monitor network device performances like device availability, power supply status, fan status, and temperature.

Zabbix Standout Features and Integrations:

Features that Zabbix provides are standard, like alerts for unexpected spikes, ping loss, and anomalous behaviors. A feature that stands out for me is its ability to create an escalation logic based on the severity of network problems. You can escalate alerts across departments and users and define each user’s or channel’s working hours.

Integrations are available natively for various platforms, including Zoho, xMatters, VMware, Twilio, Tomcat, SysAid, Tableau, Splunk, Sophos, and ServiceNow. You can also request a custom integration from the Zabbix support team.

Pros and cons

Pros:

  • 300+ templates for most popular hardware network vendors
  • Active community because of being open-source
  • Can define notification methods (SMS, on-screen, or email) when thresholds exceed

Cons:

  • Need more templates for rich monitoring
  • Needs more documentation resources

Best free network monitoring tool

  • Free forever plan
Visit Website
Rating: 4.4/5

Prometheus is an open-source monitoring and alerting system. SoundCloud developed it, and it’s now a part of the Cloud Native Computing Foundation.

Why I picked Prometheus: Prometheus is a free, general-purpose monitoring and alerting system that can monitor various aspects of your networks, systems, and applications. It specializes in time-series data collection and provides querying capabilities for analyzing and visualizing metrics. I selected Prometheus because it provides a flexible platform for collecting, storing, and analyzing time-series data related to network metrics.

Prometheus Standout Features and Integrations:

Features that I liked, especially for network monitoring, are that you can track network bandwidth usage, packet loss, latency, and other network performance indicators. Prometheus supports a federation feature, which allows you to aggregate data from multiple Prometheus instances into a single federated view. This is useful for monitoring large-scale distributed networks or multi-cluster environments.

Integrations are available natively for Asana, Better Uptime, DingTalk, Discord, GitLab, JIRAlert, ServiceNow, xMatters, Grafana, and Squadcast.

Pros and cons

Pros:

  • Can store historical network metrics
  • Supports various service discovery mechanisms
  • Can set up alerts based on defined rules and thresholds

Cons:

  • Lack of native support for certain data formats and protocols
  • May experience performance issues with large-scale deployments and high ingestion rates

Best for packet analysis

  • Free to use

Wireshark is a powerful network protocol analyzer that lets you capture and analyze network traffic in real time.

Why I picked Wireshark: I picked Wireshark because it can decode packets and display detailed information about each protocol layer. It uses color highlighting to identify packet types and anomalies. Users can create custom display filters to focus on specific protocol fields.

Wireshark Standout Features and Integrations:

Features that I liked about Wireshark are that it offers deep inspections of over 3,000 protocols ( more are continually being added). Along with live capture, it can also analyze pre-recorded capture files. It includes an expert system that can detect common network problems and provide suggestions for troubleshooting.

Integrations are available natively for tcpdump, Tshark, WinPcap, AirPcap, and Dumpcap. APIs are also available.

Pros and cons

Pros:

  • Can decrypt SSL/TLS encrypted traffic, allowing for deeper analysis
  • Can generate statistical reports and graphs to visualize network traffic patterns
  • Can analyze network flows and provide insights into traffic patterns

Cons:

  • May consume a significant amount of system resources
  • Requires a good understanding of network protocols and packet analysis

Other Network Monitoring Software Options

Here are some extra options you can pick from. Even though they did not make it to the best 12 list, they are still worth considering:

  1. Munin Monitoring

    Free option

  2. Zenoss

    For hybrid IT infrastructure monitoring

  3. OPSWAT Security Score

    For Windows security scans

  4. SuperOps

    For unified MSP management

  5. ManageEngine Applications Manager

    For application monitoring

  6. Syncro

    For unlimited endpoint monitoring

  7. Dotcom Monitor

    For multi-step API & web testing

  8. Spiceworks

    For non-technical users

  9. Cisco Meraki

    For security

  10. Observium

    For scalable network monitoring and graphing and ideal for large-scale deployments

Network Monitoring Software Selection Criteria

When selecting the best network monitoring software to include in this list, I considered common buyer needs and pain points like network visibility and real-time alerting. 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
  • Detect network outages
  • Provide real-time alerts
  • Analyze bandwidth usage
  • Track device status

Additional Standout Features (25% of total score)
To help further narrow down the competition, I also looked for unique features, such as:

  • AI-driven insights
  • Customizable dashboards
  • Automated network mapping
  • Predictive analytics
  • Integration with cloud services

Usability (10% of total score)
To get a sense of the usability of each system, I considered the following:

  • Intuitive interface design
  • Easy navigation
  • Minimal learning curve
  • Customization options
  • Responsive 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 for new users
  • Supportive chatbots

Customer Support (10% of total score)
To assess each software provider’s customer support services, I considered the following:

  • 24/7 support availability
  • Multiple support channels
  • Access to a knowledge base
  • Response time to queries
  • Availability of live chat

Value For Money (10% of total score)
To evaluate the value for money of each platform, I considered the following:

  • Competitive pricing
  • Features included in base price
  • Scalability of pricing plans
  • Discounts for annual billing
  • Free trial availability

Customer Reviews (10% of total score)
To get a sense of overall customer satisfaction, I considered the following when reading customer reviews:

  • Overall satisfaction ratings
  • Feedback on reliability
  • User experiences with support
  • Comments on ease of use
  • Opinions on feature effectiveness

How to Choose Network Monitoring Software

It’s easy to get bogged down in long feature lists and complex pricing structures. To help you stay focused as you work through your unique software selection process, here’s a checklist of factors to keep in mind:

FactorWhat to Consider
ScalabilityCan the software grow with your business? Consider future needs and whether the tool can handle increased data and devices without performance issues.
IntegrationsCheck compatibility with existing tools. Ensure seamless data flow between systems. Prioritize software that connects with your key platforms like CRM or ERP.
CustomizabilityLook for flexibility in dashboards and reports. Can you tailor the software to match your workflow? Avoid tools with rigid structures that don’t adapt to your needs.
Ease of useConsider the learning curve for your team. Is the interface intuitive? Tools that require extensive training may slow down adoption and productivity.
Implementation and onboardingEvaluate the setup process and resources needed. How long until you’re fully operational? Consider the availability of training materials and support during onboarding.
CostCompare pricing models. Are there hidden fees or extra costs for essential features? Ensure the plan fits your budget now and as you scale.
Security safeguardsAssess data protection measures. Does the software comply with industry standards? Look for encryption, access controls, and regular security updates to protect sensitive information.

What Is Network Monitoring Software?

Network monitoring software is used by IT professionals and system administrators to track and manage the performance and availability of network components, often collaborating alongside WAN optimization vendors to ensure that systems run smoothly and efficiently.

Real-time alerts, bandwidth analysis, and device tracking features help with identifying issues, optimizing performance, and maintaining network health. Network mapping tools complement these monitoring capabilities by providing visual representations of network topology and device relationships. Overall, these tools provide essential insights that enhance network reliability and security.

Features


When selecting network monitoring software, keep an eye out for the following key features:

  • Real-time network monitoring: This feature lets you see live data about network performance and device health. You can spot sudden outages or slowdowns and act fast, rather than being caught off guard.
  • Customizable alerts: Create tailored notifications based on performance thresholds or specific incidents. These alerts help you respond to issues before they spiral into bigger problems.
  • Comprehensive reporting: Get detailed reports summarizing network activity, performance trends, and device status. Use these insights to pinpoint trouble areas and show improvements to your team (or boss!).
  • Device discovery and mapping: The software automatically scans and identifies devices connected to your network. This map makes it easy for you to keep track of new or unexpected devices and strengthens your network security.
  • Bandwidth usage analysis: Monitor which devices or applications are using the most bandwidth. This helps you resolve congestion issues and enforce fair usage policies so everyone stays happy.
  • Historical data retention: Review previous network performance metrics to spot recurring problems or long-term trends. With this data, you’re better equipped to plan upgrades and prevent repeat outages.
  • Multi-vendor compatibility: Support for hardware and software from multiple vendors means you can monitor everything in your network, even if your devices come from different manufacturers.
  • Remote monitoring capabilities: Access your network monitoring dashboard securely from anywhere. This way, you stay in control whether you're at your desk or working remotely.
  • Automated troubleshooting tools: Leverage built-in diagnostics that recommend or even perform basic fixes. This saves you time and helps you resolve common issues without a manual deep dive.

Benefits

Implementing network monitoring software provides several benefits for your team and your business. Here are a few you can look forward to:

  • Scalability: Automated network mapping and flexible features support growing businesses by adapting to increased demands. Significantly to an organization's strategic goals.
  • Improved network reliability: Real-time alerts and predictive analytics help prevent downtime by addressing issues before they escalate.
  • Enhanced security: Anomaly detection and device tracking identify potential threats and vulnerabilities, keeping your network secure.
  • Optimized performance: Bandwidth analysis ensures efficient use of resources, leading to smoother network operations.
  • Informed decision-making: Customizable dashboards provide insights tailored to your needs, aiding in strategic planning and management.
  • Reduced operational costs: Proactive monitoring minimizes the need for emergency fixes and reduces the risk of costly outages.
  • Better user experience: Synthetic monitoring ensures services are available and performing well, leading to satisfied users.

Costs & Pricing

Selecting network monitoring software requires an understanding of the various pricing models and plans available. Costs vary based on features, team size, add-ons, and more. The table below summarizes common plans, their average prices, and typical features included in network monitoring software solutions:

Plan Comparison Table for Network Monitoring Software

Plan TypeAverage PriceCommon Features
Free Plan$0Basic monitoring capabilities, limited alerts, and community support.
Personal Plan$5-$25/user/monthReal-time alerts, customizable dashboards, and basic reporting.
Business Plan$30-$75/user/monthAdvanced analytics, enhanced security features, and integration options.
Enterprise Plan$100-$250/user/monthComprehensive monitoring, priority support, predictive analytics, and extensive customization options.

Network Monitoring Software FAQs

You can find answers to common questions about network monitoring and network monitoring tools.

What’s Next:

If you're in the process of researching network monitoring software, connect with a SoftwareSelect advisor for free recommendations.

You fill out a form and have a quick chat where they get into the specifics of your needs. Then you'll get a shortlist of software to review. They'll even support you through the entire buying process, including price negotiations.

Paulo Gardini Miguel
By Paulo Gardini Miguel

Paulo is the Director of Technology at the rapidly growing media tech company BWZ. Prior to that, he worked as a Software Engineering Manager and then Head Of Technology at Navegg, Latin America’s largest data marketplace, and as Full Stack Engineer at MapLink, which provides geolocation APIs as a service. Paulo draws insight from years of experience serving as an infrastructure architect, team leader, and product developer in rapidly scaling web environments. He’s driven to share his expertise with other technology leaders to help them build great teams, improve performance, optimize resources, and create foundations for scalability.