17 Best Open-Source Network Monitoring Tools Reviewed in 2026
Best Open-Source Network Monitoring Tools Shortlist
Here’s my shortlist of the best open-source network monitoring tools:
Monitoring your network can feel like a daunting task. You need tools that fit your specific needs without breaking the bank. Open-source network monitoring tools offer a flexible and customizable solution.
In my experience, these tools can help you keep a close eye on your systems and ensure everything runs smoothly. They’re great for teams of all sizes, offering insights to prevent downtime and troubleshoot issues quickly.
In this article, I’ll share my top picks for open-source network monitoring tools. You’ll find unbiased reviews and insights, helping you choose the best fit for your team. Let’s explore how these tools can make your job easier and your network more reliable.
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Best Open-Source Network Monitoring Tools Summary
This comparison chart summarizes pricing details for my top open-source network monitoring tool selections to help you find the best one for your budget and business needs.
| Tool | Best For | Trial Info | Price | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Best for flexible configuration | Free demo + free 60-day trial + free plan available | From $5,000/year | Website | |
| 2 | Best for extensive plugin support | Free 30-day trial | From $20/user/month (billed annually) | Website | |
| 3 | Best for real-time performance | Free trial + demo available | From $4.50/node/month (billed annually) | Website | |
| 4 | Best for real-time monitoring | Free plan + free demo + 5-day free trial available | From $50/month | Website | |
| 5 | Best for pull-based metrics | Not available | Free forever plan | Website | |
| 6 | Best for visual data representation | Free to download | Free to use | Website | |
| 7 | Best for network security analysis | Free plan available | From $9/user/month (billed annually) | Website | |
| 8 | Best for enterprise scalability | Free consultation available | Pricing upon request | Website | |
| 9 | Best for auto-discovery | Free demo available | Free to use | Website | |
| 10 | Best for traffic analysis | Free plan available | From €99.95/per license | 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 Open-Source Network Monitoring Tool Reviews
Below are my detailed summaries of the best open-source 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.
Icinga is an open-source network monitoring tool designed for system administrators and IT management. It helps monitor network resources, alerting you to any issues that may arise.
Why I picked Icinga: Icinga offers flexible configuration options, allowing you to tailor the monitoring to your specific needs. It provides detailed monitoring of network resources across Linux or Windows operating systems, with load average metrics, performance graphs over time, and status indicators for tracked services and hosts, ensuring you catch issues before they escalate. Furthermore, its alerting system ensures you're always informed about your network's status.
Standout features and integrations:
Features include a modular architecture that allows for easy expansion as your network grows. It also offers a powerful alerting system to keep you informed. Additionally, Icinga provides detailed monitoring for complete network oversight.
Integrations include Grafana, Elasticsearch, InfluxDB, Ansible, Puppet, Chef, AWS, Opsgenie, and more.
Pros and cons
Pros:
- Powerful alerting system
- Detailed monitoring capabilities
- Modular architecture
Cons:
- May need additional customization
- Initial setup can be complex
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.
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Nagios is an open-source software widely used by IT professionals and system administrators. It helps monitor network activity, server performance, and application status to ensure everything runs smoothly.
Why I picked Nagios: Nagios offers extensive plugin support, making it adaptable to various environments. It allows you to monitor a wide range of metrics with its flexible plugin architecture.
The tool provides detailed status reports and alerts to keep your team informed. Its ability to integrate with numerous plugins significantly enhances its monitoring capabilities.
Standout features and integrations:
Features include customizable alerting, which allows you to set specific thresholds. It also offers versatile reporting tools to analyze network and application performance, such as CPU usage graphs, host and service status summaries, top alert producers tracking, and real-time network monitoring analytics. Additionally, Nagios supports distributed SNMP monitoring to manage large-scale networks efficiently.
Integrations include Zenduty, PagerDuty, TaskCall, Jira, SysAid, Dynatrace, Datadog, Nagios Log Server, Nagios Fusion, Nagios Network Analyzer, Nagios Core, SNMP, NSClient++, Mod-Gearman, and more.
Pros and cons
Pros:
- Supports distributed monitoring
- Customizable alert thresholds
- Extensive plugin support
Cons:
- Limited out-of-the-box features
- Requires technical knowledge
Netdata is an open-source, real-time IT infrastructure monitoring platform designed for sysadmins and DevOps professionals. It provides continuous monitoring of system performance and health metrics, offering immediate insights into network activities.
Why I picked Netdata: It delivers real-time performance data, which is important for immediate troubleshooting. Netdata's multi-dimensional visualization dashboards, historical comparisons across custom timeframes, and granular metrics tracking across nodes and instances make it easy to spot trends and issues as they occur.
It also supports a wide array of metrics, allowing you to monitor various aspects of system health. The tool's lightweight architecture ensures minimal impact on system resources while providing global monitoring.
Standout features and integrations:
Features include customizable dashboards that let you tailor the monitoring experience to your needs. It provides detailed visualizations for in-depth analysis of performance metrics. Additionally, Netdata's lightweight architecture ensures efficient resource usage.
Integrations include Prometheus, Grafana, InfluxDB, Elasticsearch, AWS, Google Cloud, Slack, PagerDuty, Microsoft Teams, Opsgenie, and more.
Pros and cons
Pros:
- Immediate troubleshooting insights
- Lightweight architecture
- Continuous application monitoring
Cons:
- May need additional customization
- Limited out-of-the-box features
Zabbix is an enterprise-class open-source observability solution used by businesses of all sizes. It offers real-time monitoring, alerting, and data visualization to help manage network performance across on-site and cloud environments.
Why I picked Zabbix: Zabbix offers continuous monitoring, making it ideal for businesses needing constant network oversight. It provides customizable alerting to catch issues immediately.
The free version includes powerful features that support clear data visualization through its intuitive dashboard. Its scalability also supports growing networks without compromising performance.
Standout features and integrations:
Features include automated discovery, which simplifies the process of identifying network devices. Zabbix's other helpful features are its network topology maps, bandwidth monitoring, problem severity analytics, and real-time graphing. It also offers trend prediction to help anticipate potential issues. Additionally, it supports high availability for uninterrupted monitoring.
Integrations include Grafana, Slack, VMware, AWS, Azure, Docker, Kubernetes, SNMP, MySQL, PostgreSQL, and more.
Pros and cons
Pros:
- Clear data visualization
- Customizable alerting options
- Real-time monitoring capabilities
Cons:
- May need additional customization
- Documentation can be overwhelming
Prometheus is an open-source monitoring tool designed for systems and service monitoring. It's primarily used by developers and IT teams to collect and store metrics as time-series data, providing valuable insights into system performance.
Why I picked Prometheus: Prometheus specializes in handling time-series data, which is important for performance monitoring. It uses a powerful query language called PromQL.
The tool's efficient data model allows for high dimensionality, making it adaptable to various monitoring needs. Its alerting system is flexible, enabling you to set thresholds that suit your environment.
Standout features and integrations:
Features include a multi-dimensional data model that supports high dimensionality. Its flexible query language, PromQL, extracts precise metrics. Additionally, Prometheus provides an efficient alerting mechanism through Alertmanager to notify you of any issues.
Integrations include Grafana, Kubernetes, Docker, Splunk, Consul, OpenShift, Marathon, Google Cloud, and more.
Pros and cons
Pros:
- Specializes in time-series data
- Efficient alerting mechanism
- Flexible query language
Cons:
- May need additional configuration
- Limited built-in visualization
Cacti is an open-source network monitoring system used by IT teams to visualize network data. It helps in tracking network performance through detailed graphs and charts.
Why I picked Cacti: Cacti focuses on visual data representation, making it easier to understand network performance at a glance. It provides customizable graph templates, allowing you to tailor visuals to your needs.
The software’s polling system efficiently captures network data, ensuring accurate monitoring. Cacti displays metrics such as uptime, polling times, availability percentages, and customizable filtering options. The tool's interface is user-friendly, which simplifies the process of setting up and accessing data.
Standout features and integrations:
Features include a flexible graphing system that allows you to create custom visualizations. It also has a powerful data collection method to ensure accurate monitoring. Additionally, Cacti offers user-friendly templates for quick setup and data access.
Integrations include Datadog, SNMP, Apache, Net-SNMP, Nagios, and more.
Pros and cons
Pros:
- Extensible graphing system
- Detailed visual representations
- Efficient data polling system
Cons:
- Limited scalability options
- Requires technical setup
Zeek is an open-source network monitoring tool designed for security monitoring and network analysis. Many security teams use it to detect and analyze network traffic for potential threats.
Why I picked Zeek: Zeek is tailored for network security analysis, making it invaluable for detecting threats. It provides detailed logs of network activity, which helps identify anomalies.
The platform also supports custom scripting, allowing you to tailor its monitoring capabilities to your needs. The tool's ability to analyze traffic at a granular level enhances its effectiveness in security contexts.
Standout features and integrations:
Features include global logging, which offers detailed insights into network activity. Its custom scripting also extends its functionality. Additionally, Zeek provides a powerful traffic analysis engine to identify patterns and anomalies.
Integrations include Elasticsearch, Logstash, Kibana, Splunk, Security Onion, Kafka, Metron, Graylog, Arkime, and more.
Pros and cons
Pros:
- Granular-level traffic analysis
- Thorough activity logs
- Supports custom scripting
Cons:
- May need additional customization
- Initial setup can be complex
OpenNMS is an open-source network monitoring tool designed for distributed networks. It's mainly used by enterprises for network monitoring, traffic analysis, and alerting.
Why I picked OpenNMS: OpenNMS offers dynamic scalability, making it ideal for enterprise environments. It supports large-scale deployments with features such as Meridian, which provides a stable version for enterprises.
The platform supports customizable monitoring solutions for complex network structures. Its alerting capabilities help you stay on top of network issues efficiently.
Standout features and integrations:
Features include advanced traffic analysis, customizable alerting, quick search functionality for network monitoring, and dynamic scalability. Real-time node status and availability metrics across service categories improve network visibility. It also offers a stable enterprise version through Meridian, which ensures reliability. Additionally, the tool's support and training services further its usability for large teams.
Integrations include Grafana, Jira, TSRM, Slack, Cisco, and more.
Pros and cons
Pros:
- Effective alerting capabilities
- Extensive support services
- Customizable monitoring solutions
Cons:
- Time-consuming initial configuration
- Limited third-party integrations
LibreNMS is an open-source network monitoring tool designed for IT administrators and network managers. It helps monitor network devices and performance, providing valuable insights for maintaining network health.
Why I picked LibreNMS: LibreNMS offers auto-discovery capabilities, simplifying the process of managing network devices. It automatically detects devices such as routers, servers, switches, firewalls, and others on your network, reducing setup time and effort.
The tool provides detailed performance monitoring, including bandwidth utilization across different network interfaces and servers, to keep your network running efficiently. Its customizable alerting system ensures you're notified of any issues promptly.
Standout features and integrations:
Features include a customizable time-series visualization system. It also offers a detailed performance monitoring dashboard for real-time insights. Additionally, LibreNMS supports a wide range of device types.
Integrations include Slack, RANCID, Oxidized, SmokePing, collectd, NfSen, Telegraf, InfluxDB, Elasticsearch, MySQL, and more.
Pros and cons
Pros:
- Detailed performance monitoring
- Supports various device types
- Customizable alerting system
Cons:
- May need additional customization
- Initial configuration can be complex
ntop is an open-source network monitoring tool focused on traffic analysis. It's popular among network administrators for monitoring and analyzing network traffic in real-time.
Why I picked ntop: Its strong traffic analysis provides detailed insights into network usage. ntop also offers continuous monitoring, which helps you identify traffic patterns and potential bottlenecks.
Its web-based interface makes accessing and analyzing data straightforward. The tool also supports various network protocols, enhancing its traffic analysis capabilities.
Standout features and integrations:
Features include ongoing network traffic monitoring, ensuring you catch issues as they occur. It also displays top active ASN data and detailed autonomous system monitoring. Additionally, ntop's web interface enables easy access to data and visualization tools.
Integrations include Elasticsearch, Kafka, InfluxDB, Grafana, Nagios, Prometheus, Zabbix, NetFlow, sFlow, JSON, and more.
Pros and cons
Pros:
- Easy data visualization
- Web-based data access
- Supports various network protocols
Cons:
- Limited out-of-the-box features
- High learning curve
Other Open-Source Network Monitoring Tools
Here are some additional open-source network monitoring tool options that didn’t make it onto my shortlist, but are still worth checking out:
- Graphite
For graphing capabilities
- PRTG
For ease of use
- Lansweeper
For asset discovery
- InfluxDB
For time-series data storage
- Uptrace
For distributed tracing
- VictoriaMetrics
For high-performance data storage
- Thanos
For global query view
Open-Source Network Monitoring Tool Selection Criteria
When selecting the best open-source network monitoring tools to include in this list, I considered common buyer needs and pain points such as scalability and ease of integration. 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
- Generate alerts for issues
- Provide traffic analysis
- Offer data visualization
- Support multiple network protocols
Additional Standout Features (25% of total score)
To help further narrow down the competition, I also looked for unique features, such as:
- Customizable dashboards
- Advanced reporting capabilities
- AI-driven insights
- Scalability for large networks
- Integration with cloud services
Usability (10% of total score)
To get a sense of the usability of each system, I considered the following:
- Intuitive user interface
- Ease of navigation
- Minimal training required
- Clear data presentation
- 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:
- Availability of 24/7 support
- Access to live chat
- Extensive knowledge base
- Responsive email support
- Community forums
Value for Money (10% of total score)
To evaluate the value for money of each platform, I considered the following:
- Competitive pricing
- Range of features offered
- Cost against similar tools
- Availability of free trials
- Flexible pricing plans
Customer Reviews (10% of total score)
To get a sense of overall customer satisfaction, I considered the following when reading customer reviews:
- Feedback on reliability
- Ease of setup experiences
- User satisfaction with features
- Support responsiveness
- Overall tool effectiveness
How To Choose an Open-Source Network Monitoring Tool
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:
| Factor | What to Consider |
|---|---|
| Scalability | Can the tool grow with your network? Consider current size and future expansion. Look for tools that handle increased data and users without performance loss. |
| Integrations | Does it work with your existing systems? Check compatibility with other software such as CRMs, databases, and cloud services you already use. |
| Customizability | Can you tailor the tool to your needs? Evaluate how much you can adjust settings, dashboards, and reports to fit your workflow. |
| Ease of use | How intuitive is the tool for your team? Consider the learning curve and whether it requires specialized training to operate efficiently. |
| Implementation and onboarding | How quickly can you get started? Assess the setup time and available resources, such as guides or tutorials, to help you get up and running. |
| Cost | Is the pricing within your budget? Compare the total cost of ownership, including any hidden fees or required add-ons, against your financial constraints. |
| Security safeguards | Does it protect your data? Look for features such as encryption and access controls to ensure your network's security is maintained. |
What Are Open-Source Network Monitoring Tools?
Open-source network monitoring tools are software solutions that help track and analyze network performance and health. IT professionals and network administrators generally use these tools to ensure systems run smoothly and efficiently.
Features such as real-time monitoring, customizable alerts, and data visualization help with identifying issues quickly and optimizing network performance. These tools provide valuable insights that aid in maintaining network stability and security.
Features
When selecting open-source network monitoring tools, keep an eye out for the following key features:
- Real-time monitoring: Provides immediate insights into network performance, helping you catch and address issues as they arise.
- Customizable alerts: Allow you to set specific thresholds for notifications, ensuring you’re informed of critical changes.
- Data visualization: Offers clear and detailed graphs and charts to help you understand network trends and performance.
- Scalability: Ensures the tool can grow with your network, accommodating increased data and user load without performance degradation.
- Integration capability: Works smoothly with other systems and software, enhancing overall efficiency and functionality.
- Auto-discovery: Automatically detects and monitors network devices, reducing setup time and effort.
- Time-series data storage: Efficiently stores and manages historical data for long-term performance tracking and analysis.
- Security safeguards: Include features such as encryption to protect sensitive data and maintain network security.
- Customizable dashboards: Let you tailor the user interface to display the most relevant information for your needs.
- Advanced reporting: Provides in-depth reports that offer valuable insights into network health and activity.
Benefits
Implementing open-source network monitoring tools provides several benefits for your team and your business. Here are a few you can look forward to:
- Cost-effectiveness: Open-source solutions often have lower costs compared to proprietary software, allowing you to allocate resources elsewhere.
- Flexibility: Customizable features let you tailor the tool to fit your specific network needs and workflows.
- Improved network visibility: Real-time monitoring and data visualization provide clear insights into network performance and potential issues.
- Enhanced security: Features such as customizable alerts and security safeguards help protect your network from threats and unauthorized access.
- Scalability: The ability to grow with your network ensures that the tool remains effective as your business expands.
- Community support: Access to a community of users and developers can provide valuable insights and solutions to common challenges.
- Quick issue resolution: With auto-discovery and real-time alerts, you can quickly identify and address network problems before they escalate.
Costs and Pricing
Selecting open-source network monitoring tools 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 open-source network monitoring tools:
Plan Comparison Table for Open Source Network Monitoring Tools
| Plan Type | Average Price | Common Features |
|---|---|---|
| Free Plan | $0 | Basic monitoring, community support, and limited customization. |
| Personal Plan | $5-$25/user/month | Enhanced monitoring, data visualization, and email alerts. |
| Business Plan | $25-$100/user/month | Advanced reporting, API access, and increased storage capacity. |
| Enterprise Plan | $100+/user/month | Full scalability, premium support, and custom integration options. |
Open-Source Network Monitoring Tools FAQs
Here are some answers to common questions about open-source network monitoring tools:
What are the typical challenges in implementing open-source network monitoring tools?
You’ll likely run into challenges such as steep learning curves, complex configurations, and the need for strong technical skills. Integrating with legacy systems and customizing for unique requirements can take time. Start with a proof of concept, allocate resources for training, and leverage active community forums to resolve issues efficiently.
Can open-source network monitoring tools integrate with proprietary systems?
Yes, many open-source tools can integrate with proprietary systems. Check for compatibility with APIs and plugins that facilitate these integrations. It’s wise to test integrations in a controlled environment before full deployment. This helps ensure that data flows smoothly between systems without unexpected disruptions.
Are open-source network monitoring tools secure?
Open-source tools can be secure, but it depends on how they’re configured and maintained. Regular updates and patches are essential to address vulnerabilities. Implementing strong access controls and encryption can further support security. Engage your IT team to regularly review security settings to keep your network safe.
How do I choose the right open-source network monitoring tool for complex environments?
Start by assessing your network size, device diversity, and protocol requirements. Look for scalability, multi-protocol support (e.g., SNMP, NetFlow, REST APIs), and active community development. Consider performance at scale and integration capabilities, and test shortlisted tools in your testing environment before committing.
What are the best practices for scaling open-source network monitoring solutions?
To scale effectively, distribute monitoring workloads across multiple nodes, use load balancing, and optimize database backends. Regularly review and fine-tune polling intervals and alert thresholds. Select tools that support horizontal scaling and automation for deployment and configuration across large infrastructures.
Do open-source network monitoring tools support cloud and hybrid infrastructures?
Yes, leading open-source tools are increasingly supporting cloud-native, hybrid, and multi-cloud environments. They frequently offer plugins or modules for AWS, Azure, and Google Cloud monitoring. Check each tool’s roadmap for active cloud integration development and test for compatibility with dynamic resources.
What’s Next:
If you're in the process of researching open-source network monitoring tools, 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.