20 Best Server Monitoring Tools Reviewed in 2025
Best Server Monitoring Tools Shortlist
Here’s my shortlist of the best server monitoring tools:
Our one-on-one guidance will help you find the perfect fit.
Managing servers can be a headache. You're juggling uptime, security, and performance, and it's easy to feel overwhelmed. That's where server monitoring tools come in, acting like your extra set of eyes on the network.
I've spent years digging into these tools, and I'm here to share what I've found. My goal is to give you a clear, unbiased look at the best options out there, helping you make informed choices.
In this article, you'll find my top picks, each reviewed with an eye for what really matters. Whether you're looking for something simple or a bit more sophisticated, I've got you covered. Let's dive into the details and find the right fit for your team.
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Best Server Monitoring Tools Summary
This comparison chart summarizes pricing details for my top server monitoring tools selections to help you find the best one for your budget and business needs.
| Tool | Best For | Trial Info | Price | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |  PRTG Users can customize their dashboards in PRTG to display network performance, status, and metrics in a way that works best for them. | Best for customizable monitoring dashboards | Free trial available | From $2,149/year | Website |
| 2 |  Checkmk Checkmk's dashboard is customizable to display a wide range of server metrics and statuses. | Best for large-scale server monitoring | Free plan available + 30-day free trial | From $225/month (billed annually) | Website |
| 3 |  NinjaOne WIth NinjaOne's interface, IT specialists can monitor and manage networks across multiple devices. | Best for endpoint management and patch compliance | 14-day free trial | Pricing upon request | Website |
| 4 |  Site24x7 Site24x7 offers customizable dashboards where users can tailor their server monitoring views according to their specific needs. | Best for extensive server metric tracking | 30-day free trial | From $39//month (billed annually) | Website |
| 5 |  ManageEngine OpManager ManageEngine OpManager provides real-time server and network monitoring with visual dashboards displaying key performance metrics, alerts, and system health insights. | Best for continuous server tracking | 30-day free trial | From $20/user/month (billed annually) | Website |
| 6 |  Dynatrace This is a view from Dynatrace's main dashboard, where an all-in-one platform monitors your entire environment, including user experience, application performance, and cloud infrastructure. | Best for AI-powered application performance | 15-day free trial | From $21/user/month (billed annually) | Website |
| 7 |  LogicMonitor With LogicMonitor software, it envisions uniting comprehensive monitoring and observability capabilities across your entire infrastructure. | Best for hybrid infrastructure monitoring | 14-day free trial | From $22/resource/month | Website |
| 8 |  Nagios Here is a screenshot of the Nagios' central dashboard. | Best for comprehensive IT infrastructure monitoring | 30-day free trial | From $20/user/month (billed annually) | Website |
| 9 |  New Relic With Datadog software users can ingest and store all of their operational data, including logs, in one place. | Best for real-time application analytics | Free trial available | Pricing upon request | Website |
| 10 |  AppDynamics This is a screenshot from the AppDynamics infrastructure monitoring dashboard where complete visibility across servers, networks, and containers whether on-premises or in the cloud. | Best for end-to-end business transaction tracking | 15-day free trial | From $6/core/month | Website |
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Deel
Visit WebsiteThis is an aggregated rating for this tool including ratings from Crozdesk users and ratings from other sites.4.8 -
New Relic
Visit WebsiteThis is an aggregated rating for this tool including ratings from Crozdesk users and ratings from other sites.4.3 -
Checkmk
Visit WebsiteThis is an aggregated rating for this tool including ratings from Crozdesk users and ratings from other sites.4.7
Best Server Monitoring Tool Reviews
Below are my detailed summaries of the best server monitoring tools that made it onto my shortlist. My reviews offer a detailed look at the key features, pros & cons, integrations, and ideal use cases of each tool to help you find the best one for you.
PRTG is a versatile server monitoring tool designed for small to mid-sized networks. It helps IT teams monitor their entire infrastructure, including mail, web, database, file, virtual, and cloud servers.
Why I picked PRTG: This tool is ideal for small to mid-sized networks due to its adaptability and ease of use. With over 250 preconfigured sensor types, your team can start monitoring right away. Real-time alerts via email and SMS keep you informed of any issues, allowing for quick troubleshooting. PRTG also offers dynamic adaptation to server environments, which is perfect for networks that are growing or changing.
Standout features & integrations:
Features include real-time alerts to keep you informed, customizable reporting for detailed insights, and dynamic adaptation to evolving server landscapes.
Integrations include AWS, Azure, VMware, Citrix XenServer, HPE ProLiant, Dell PowerEdge, Cisco UCS, and various IT partners.
Pros and cons
Pros:
- User-friendly visual interface
- Customizable monitoring and alerting
- Scalable for a wide range of network sizes
Cons:
- More advanced features may come with a learning curve
- High costs for larger deployments
Checkmk is a server monitoring tool designed for IT admins and professionals who need real-time metrics. It efficiently tracks various infrastructure elements to ensure optimal performance and quick issue resolution.
Why I picked Checkmk: It's perfect for those who need real-time metrics, offering comprehensive dashboards that update in seconds. The tool provides powerful visualization options, helping your team spot issues immediately. It also offers a flexible alert system, allowing you to customize notifications based on your needs. Checkmk's extensive monitoring capabilities cover everything from servers to applications, making it a versatile option.
Standout features & integrations:
Features include automated discovery of network devices, customizable dashboards for personalized views, and a powerful alert system to keep your team informed about critical issues.
Integrations include AWS, Azure, Docker, Kubernetes, VMware, Cisco, Dell, HP, Microsoft, and SAP.
Pros and cons
Pros:
- REST API for integration with third-party tools
- Customizable dashboards
- Scalable monitoring
Cons:
- Potential learning curve for beginners
- Complex setup
NinjaOne is a server monitoring tool designed primarily for IT professionals and managed service providers. It excels at remote management, allowing teams to monitor and manage endpoints from anywhere.
Why I picked NinjaOne: It's tailored for remote management, offering features like remote control and patch management that make it easy for your team to handle issues without being on-site. The tool provides real-time monitoring, ensuring you're always aware of your systems' status. Automated alerts notify you of potential problems, so you can act quickly. NinjaOne's user-friendly interface simplifies the process, making remote management more efficient.
Standout features & integrations:
Features include automated patch management to keep systems secure, detailed inventory tracking for better asset management, and customizable alerting to keep your team informed.
Integrations include ConnectWise, Autotask, QuickBooks, Freshdesk, Zendesk, Microsoft 365, Google Workspace, Cisco Meraki, TeamViewer, and Splashtop.
Pros and cons
Pros:
- Automated endpoint discovery
- Flexible reporting with custom metrics
- Comprehensive API documentation
Cons:
- Complexity in setting up alerts for non-standard events
- Occasional delays in patch deployment
Site24x7 is a cloud-based server monitoring tool aimed at IT operations and DevOps teams. It provides comprehensive monitoring for websites, servers, applications, and network infrastructure to ensure optimal performance and availability.
Why I picked Site24x7: It's ideal for cloud-based monitoring, offering features like real-time performance tracking and detailed analytics that help your team maintain uptime. The tool's cloud delivery means you can access it from anywhere, which is perfect for distributed teams. Automated alerts notify you of potential issues, ensuring quick responses. Site24x7 also offers synthetic monitoring, which helps you simulate user interactions to catch problems before they affect real users.
Standout features & integrations:
Features include synthetic monitoring to simulate user interactions, detailed analytics for performance insights, and real-time performance tracking to catch issues quickly.
Integrations include AWS, Azure, Google Cloud, Docker, Kubernetes, VMware, Slack, Microsoft Teams, PagerDuty, and ServiceNow.
Pros and cons
Pros:
- Customizable dashboards and reports
- Real-time alerts and notifications
- Comprehensive monitoring capabilities
Cons:
- Limited customization in alerting mechanisms
- Complexity in initial setup for large environments
ManageEngine OpManager is a server monitoring tool that helps you keep track of your network devices and servers. It offers real-time monitoring, alerting, and reporting to help you identify and resolve potential issues before they impact your business.
Why I picked ManageEngine OpManager: OpManager provides continuous tracking of server performance, uptime, and health, ensuring your servers remain operational through constant polling using protocols like ICMP, SNMP, WMI, and TCP. This real-time monitoring helps you respond quickly to I/O requests and maintain seamless connectivity for end-users. Additionally, OpManager tracks packet loss and response time to identify and address latency issues originating from the server.
Standout features & integrations:
Features include server uptime monitoring, service and process management, customizable dashboards, real-time alerting, security log monitoring, performance threshold settings, automated workflows, remote process diagnostics, packet loss tracking, response time monitoring, high availability monitoring, and support for custom services.
Integrations include ServiceDesk Plus, ServiceNow, Jira, Slack, Microsoft Teams, Analytics Plus, AlarmsOne, REST API, and Webhook integrations.
Pros and cons
Pros:
- Scalability for growing networks
- Real-time alerting
- Comprehensive monitoring capabilities
Cons:
- Occasional update issues
- Complex initial setup
Dynatrace is a server monitoring tool aimed at enterprise IT teams and DevOps professionals. It provides end-to-end visibility into applications and infrastructure, helping businesses maintain optimal performance.
Why I picked Dynatrace: It excels in providing AI-driven insights, offering automatic root cause analysis that helps your team quickly address issues. The tool's AI capabilities enable precise anomaly detection, ensuring that you catch potential problems early. With its comprehensive full-stack monitoring, you can oversee applications, infrastructure, and user experience in one place. Dynatrace also offers real-time data analysis, which helps you make informed decisions swiftly.
Standout features & integrations:
Features include automatic root cause analysis for quick issue resolution, precise anomaly detection to catch problems early, and comprehensive full-stack monitoring for complete visibility.
Integrations include AWS, Azure, Google Cloud, VMware, Kubernetes, Red Hat OpenShift, SAP, ServiceNow, Microsoft Teams, and Slack.
Pros and cons
Pros:
- A wide array of integrations
- Comprehensive application monitoring
- Deep AI-driven insights
Cons:
- The setup might be challenging for novices
- Complexity requires dedicated training
LogicMonitor is a cloud-based infrastructure monitoring tool tailored for IT teams managing hybrid IT environments. It provides deep insights into applications, networks, and servers, enabling efficient performance management.
Why I picked LogicMonitor: It's designed for hybrid IT environments, offering comprehensive monitoring capabilities that cover both on-premises and cloud resources. The tool provides automated discovery and monitoring, which simplifies setup for your team. With its customizable dashboards, you can tailor views to fit your specific needs. LogicMonitor also offers predictive alerts, helping you anticipate and address potential issues before they impact your operations.
Standout features & integrations:
Features include automated discovery and monitoring to simplify setup, customizable dashboards for tailored views, and predictive alerts to help you anticipate issues.
Integrations include AWS, Azure, Google Cloud, VMware, Cisco, Microsoft 365, ServiceNow, Slack, PagerDuty, and Splunk.
Pros and cons
Pros:
- Intuitive and user-friendly interface
- Automated device discovery
- Comprehensive hybrid infrastructure coverage
Cons:
- Requires training to exploit advanced features
- The initial setup might be complex
Nagios is an open-source server monitoring tool aimed at IT professionals and system administrators. It provides comprehensive monitoring of infrastructure components, ensuring that systems, applications, and services are running smoothly.
Why I picked Nagios: It offers open-source flexibility, allowing your team to tailor the tool to your specific needs. The extensive plugin library enables customization, so you can monitor almost anything. With its alerting capabilities, your team stays informed about potential issues. Nagios's scalability makes it suitable for both small and large environments, providing a versatile solution for diverse IT landscapes.
Standout features & integrations:
Features include a robust alerting system to keep your team informed, extensive plugin support for customization, and scalability to handle growing IT environments.
Integrations include AWS, Azure, Google Cloud, VMware, Docker, Kubernetes, Slack, PagerDuty, ServiceNow, and Microsoft Teams.
Pros and cons
Pros:
- Strong third-party integrations
- Customizable dashboards
- Wide-ranging monitoring capabilities
Cons:
- The interface can appear dated compared to newer platforms
- The annual licensing model may not suit all businesses
New Relic is a full-stack observability platform designed for DevOps teams and IT operations. It provides comprehensive monitoring of applications, infrastructure, and user experience to help ensure optimal performance.
Why I picked New Relic: It excels in providing full-stack observability, offering detailed insights across your entire technology stack. The tool's real-time monitoring helps your team stay on top of performance issues. With its customizable dashboards, you can tailor views to fit your specific needs. New Relic's alerting system ensures that you're promptly informed about any anomalies.
Standout features & integrations:
Features include customizable dashboards for tailored insights, a real-time monitoring system to catch issues quickly, and a detailed alerting system to keep your team informed.
Integrations include AWS, Azure, Google Cloud, Kubernetes, Docker, Slack, PagerDuty, Microsoft Teams, ServiceNow, and Splunk.
Pros and cons
Pros:
- Broad cloud platform support
- Real-time analytics capability
- In-depth application monitoring
Cons:
- Custom instrumentation requires effort
- Might be overwhelming for newcomers
AppDynamics is an application performance management tool designed for IT operations and DevOps teams. It provides real-time monitoring of application performance and user experience to ensure smooth operations.
Why I picked AppDynamics: It focuses on application performance, offering detailed insights into the health of your applications. The tool's real-time monitoring helps your team quickly identify and resolve issues. With its end-to-end transaction tracing, you can pinpoint the root cause of performance problems. AppDynamics also provides customizable dashboards, allowing you to view the metrics most relevant to your needs.
Standout features & integrations:
Features include end-to-end transaction tracing for pinpointing issues, customizable dashboards for tailored insights, and real-time monitoring to keep your team informed.
Integrations include AWS, Azure, Google Cloud, Docker, Kubernetes, Microsoft Azure DevOps, ServiceNow, PagerDuty, Slack, and Splunk.
Pros and cons
Pros:
- Wide-ranging integration support
- Real-time performance metrics
- Detailed business transaction insights
Cons:
- Can be resource-intensive on monitored systems
- Higher pricing tier
Other Server Monitoring Tools
Here are some additional server monitoring tools options that didn’t make it onto my shortlist, but are still worth checking out:
- Datadog
For cloud-scale infrastructure monitoring
- Zabbix
For scalability with large networks
- Netdata
Good for real-time performance troubleshooting
- WhatsUp Gold
Good for network monitoring and visualization
- Atera
Good for integrated RMM and PSA solution
- Sumo Logic
Good for log management and analysis
- Icinga
For modular configuration approach
- Prometheus
For powerful query language capabilities
- Sensu
Good for flexible monitoring via plugins
- SolarWinds
For user-friendly network diagnostics
- ManageEngine
For integrated IT management
Related IT Software Reviews
If you still haven't found what you're looking for here, check out these alternative tools that we've tested and evaluated.
- Network Monitoring Software
- Server Monitoring Software
- SD-Wan Solutions
- Infrastructure Monitoring Tools
- Packet Sniffer
- Application Monitoring Tools
Server Monitoring Tool Selection Criteria
When selecting the best server monitoring tools to include in this list, I considered common buyer needs and pain points like real-time alerting 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 server uptime
- Track server performance metrics
- Provide real-time alerts
- Generate performance reports
- Support multi-platform environments
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
- Predictive analytics
- Advanced security monitoring
- Cloud-native capabilities
Usability (10% of total score)
To get a sense of the usability of each system, I considered the following:
- Intuitive user interface
- Easy navigation
- Minimal learning curve
- Responsive design
- Customization options
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
- Chatbot support
- Webinars for new users
Customer Support (10% of total score)
To assess each software provider’s customer support services, I considered the following:
- 24/7 support availability
- Access to a knowledge base
- Live chat options
- Email support responsiveness
- Availability of dedicated account managers
Value For Money (10% of total score)
To evaluate the value for money of each platform, I considered the following:
- Competitive pricing
- Flexible payment plans
- Features included in base package
- Cost of add-ons
- Discounts for annual subscriptions
Customer Reviews (10% of total score)
To get a sense of overall customer satisfaction, I considered the following when reading customer reviews:
- Frequency of positive feedback
- Commonly cited drawbacks
- User-reported reliability
- Feedback on customer support
- Value for money perception
How to Choose Server Monitoring Tools
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 | Ensure the tool can grow with your business. Look for solutions that handle increased data and users without performance dips, especially if you're expanding. |
| Integrations | Check compatibility with existing systems. The tool should easily integrate with your current software stack, like AWS, Azure, or Slack, to save time and effort. |
| Customizability | Opt for tools that allow you to tailor dashboards and reports. This ensures that your team gets the specific insights needed without unnecessary clutter. |
| Ease of Use | Evaluate the interface for intuitiveness. Your team should navigate it effortlessly, reducing the learning curve and speeding up adoption. |
| Budget | Compare pricing plans to fit your financial constraints. Consider the total cost, including hidden fees or necessary add-ons, to avoid budget overruns. |
| Security Safeguards | Prioritize tools with strong security measures. Ensure data encryption, access controls, and compliance with industry standards to protect sensitive information. |
| Reliability | Look for proven uptime guarantees. A reliable tool ensures continuous monitoring without frequent outages, keeping your operations smooth. |
| Support Options | Consider the availability and quality of customer support. Access to 24/7 support, dedicated account managers, and comprehensive help resources is crucial. |
Trends in Server Monitoring Tools
In my research, I sourced countless product updates, press releases, and release logs from different server monitoring tools vendors. Here are some of the emerging trends I’m keeping an eye on:
- AI-Driven Insights: Many tools now use AI to provide predictive analytics, helping you foresee issues before they occur. This trend is making monitoring more proactive, with vendors like Dynatrace incorporating AI for smarter alerts and diagnostics.
- Full-Stack Observability: Users want visibility across their entire tech stack, not just servers. Tools like New Relic are expanding to offer insights into applications, infrastructure, and user experiences all in one place, giving a holistic view.
- Real-Time Data Visualization: As data grows, the need for real-time visualization becomes key. Vendors are enhancing dashboards to show live data streams, allowing teams to react instantly to changes in their environments.
- Cloud-Native Monitoring: With more businesses moving to the cloud, monitoring tools are evolving to support cloud-native architectures. Solutions like Datadog offer features specifically for cloud environments, ensuring compatibility and efficiency.
- Enhanced Security Monitoring: Security is a growing concern, and tools are now offering more advanced security features. Monitoring solutions are integrating threat detection and compliance checks to safeguard data, addressing user demand for safer systems.
What Are Server Monitoring Tools?
Server monitoring tools are software solutions designed to track and manage the performance and health of servers. IT professionals and DevOps teams typically use these tools to ensure systems run smoothly and to quickly address any issues. Real-time alerts, performance metrics, and data visualization capabilities help with proactive monitoring and quick problem resolution. Overall, these tools enhance system reliability and efficiency, providing peace of mind for businesses.
Features of Server Monitoring Tools
When selecting server monitoring tools, keep an eye out for the following key features:
- Real-time alerts: Notify your team immediately when issues arise, allowing for swift action and minimizing downtime.
- Performance metrics: Track server performance indicators like CPU usage and memory load to maintain optimal operations.
- Customizable dashboards: Tailor views to focus on the metrics most relevant to your team's needs, enhancing monitoring efficiency.
- Predictive analytics: Use data-driven insights to anticipate potential issues and address them before they impact your systems.
- Full-stack observability: Gain a holistic view of your entire infrastructure, including applications and user experiences, for comprehensive monitoring.
- Automated reporting: Generate detailed reports automatically, saving time and providing valuable insights into system performance.
- Scalability: Ensure the tool can grow with your business, handling increased data and users without performance degradation.
- Security monitoring: Integrate threat detection and compliance checks to protect your data and ensure system safety.
Benefits of Server Monitoring Tools
Implementing server monitoring tools provides several benefits for your team and your business. Here are a few you can look forward to:
- Proactive issue resolution: Real-time alerts and predictive analytics let your team address issues before they escalate, reducing downtime.
- Enhanced performance: Monitoring performance metrics helps maintain optimal server operations, improving overall efficiency.
- Informed decision-making: Customizable dashboards and automated reporting provide insights that help guide your team's strategic choices.
- Increased security: Security monitoring features detect threats and ensure compliance, protecting your data from potential breaches.
- Scalability support: Tools designed for scalability grow with your business, accommodating increased data and user loads seamlessly.
- Comprehensive visibility: Full-stack observability gives your team a complete view of your infrastructure, enhancing monitoring capabilities.
Costs and Pricing of Server Monitoring Tools
Selecting server 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 server monitoring tools solutions:
Plan Comparison Table for Server Monitoring Tools
| Plan Type | Average Price | Common Features |
| Free Plan | $0 | Basic monitoring, limited dashboards, and standard alerts. |
| Personal Plan | $5-$25/user/month | Performance metrics, customizable dashboards, and basic reporting. |
| Business Plan | $30-$75/user/month | Advanced analytics, real-time alerts, and integration capabilities. |
| Enterprise Plan | $100-$300/user/month | Full-stack observability, predictive analytics, and dedicated support. |
Server Monitoring Tools (FAQs)
Here are some answers to common questions about server monitoring tools:
How do server monitoring tools help in capacity planning?
Server monitoring tools provide insights into resource usage trends over time, which is crucial for capacity planning. By analyzing metrics like CPU usage, memory load, and network bandwidth, you can anticipate when to scale resources. This helps in avoiding performance bottlenecks and ensures that your infrastructure can handle future demands.
Can server monitoring tools integrate with other IT systems?
Yes, many server monitoring tools offer integrations with other IT systems like cloud services, databases, and collaboration tools. This allows for a more seamless flow of information and enhances the overall efficiency of your IT operations. Integrations with tools like AWS, Azure, and Slack are common, helping to centralize monitoring efforts.
What role do server monitoring tools play in security?
Server monitoring tools play a vital role in security by providing real-time alerts on suspicious activities and potential threats. They monitor access logs, detect anomalies, and help ensure compliance with security policies. This proactive approach helps in mitigating risks and maintaining the integrity of your systems.
How can server monitoring tools improve system reliability?
By providing real-time data and alerts, server monitoring tools help in quickly identifying and resolving issues, which improves system reliability. They track performance metrics and resource usage, allowing your team to address potential problems before they impact operations. This ongoing monitoring supports consistent uptime and reliable service delivery.
Are server monitoring tools useful for remote work environments?
Absolutely, server monitoring tools are particularly useful for remote work environments as they allow IT teams to monitor and manage servers from any location. With features like remote access and real-time alerts, they ensure that your team can address issues promptly, regardless of their physical location.
What should be considered when choosing a server monitoring tool?
When choosing a server monitoring tool, consider factors like scalability, ease of integration, and the specific features that align with your business needs. It’s important to evaluate the tool’s ability to provide real-time alerts, customizable dashboards, and comprehensive reporting to ensure it meets your monitoring requirements.
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