Quick Overview
- 1#1: SolarWinds Network Performance Monitor - Provides comprehensive network performance monitoring with automated discovery, deep packet inspection, flow analysis, and PerfStack for cross-correlation.
- 2#2: Paessler PRTG Network Monitor - Offers real-time monitoring of bandwidth, device availability, and performance using customizable sensors for networks and infrastructure.
- 3#3: ManageEngine OpManager - Delivers fault and performance management for networks with workflow automation, visualization, and multilayer monitoring.
- 4#4: ThousandEyes - Monitors end-to-end network and application performance across internet, WAN, and cloud with global vantage points.
- 5#5: Datadog Network Monitoring - Cloud-native network observability platform providing host, flow, and synthetic monitoring with advanced analytics.
- 6#6: LogicMonitor - SaaS-based unified observability for network performance, infrastructure, and applications with AI-driven insights.
- 7#7: Nagios XI - Enterprise monitoring solution for networks, servers, and applications with advanced dashboards and reporting.
- 8#8: Zabbix - Open-source enterprise-class monitoring for networks, servers, virtualization, and cloud services.
- 9#9: Auvik - Cloud-based network monitoring and management with automated mapping, configuration backups, and traffic analysis.
- 10#10: WhatsUp Gold - Network monitoring software that discovers, maps, monitors devices, and provides performance metrics and alerting.
We selected tools based on advanced features, reliability, user-friendliness, and value to deliver a list of top performers for modern network management
Comparison Table
Navigating the landscape of network performance monitor software can be complex, but this comparison simplifies the process by examining top tools like SolarWinds, Paessler PRTG, ManageEngine OpManager, and more. Readers will gain insights into each solution's key features, strengths, and ideal use cases, making it easier to identify the right fit for their network management needs.
| # | Tool | Category | Overall | Features | Ease of Use | Value |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | SolarWinds Network Performance Monitor Provides comprehensive network performance monitoring with automated discovery, deep packet inspection, flow analysis, and PerfStack for cross-correlation. | enterprise | 9.5/10 | 9.8/10 | 8.5/10 | 9.0/10 |
| 2 | Paessler PRTG Network Monitor Offers real-time monitoring of bandwidth, device availability, and performance using customizable sensors for networks and infrastructure. | enterprise | 9.2/10 | 9.6/10 | 8.7/10 | 8.4/10 |
| 3 | ManageEngine OpManager Delivers fault and performance management for networks with workflow automation, visualization, and multilayer monitoring. | enterprise | 8.7/10 | 9.2/10 | 8.4/10 | 8.5/10 |
| 4 | ThousandEyes Monitors end-to-end network and application performance across internet, WAN, and cloud with global vantage points. | enterprise | 8.8/10 | 9.5/10 | 7.8/10 | 7.5/10 |
| 5 | Datadog Network Monitoring Cloud-native network observability platform providing host, flow, and synthetic monitoring with advanced analytics. | enterprise | 8.6/10 | 9.2/10 | 8.1/10 | 7.7/10 |
| 6 | LogicMonitor SaaS-based unified observability for network performance, infrastructure, and applications with AI-driven insights. | enterprise | 8.4/10 | 9.1/10 | 7.6/10 | 7.9/10 |
| 7 | Nagios XI Enterprise monitoring solution for networks, servers, and applications with advanced dashboards and reporting. | enterprise | 7.8/10 | 8.5/10 | 6.8/10 | 7.5/10 |
| 8 | Zabbix Open-source enterprise-class monitoring for networks, servers, virtualization, and cloud services. | enterprise | 8.2/10 | 9.1/10 | 6.4/10 | 9.6/10 |
| 9 | Auvik Cloud-based network monitoring and management with automated mapping, configuration backups, and traffic analysis. | enterprise | 8.7/10 | 8.8/10 | 9.0/10 | 8.2/10 |
| 10 | WhatsUp Gold Network monitoring software that discovers, maps, monitors devices, and provides performance metrics and alerting. | enterprise | 8.1/10 | 8.5/10 | 7.4/10 | 7.6/10 |
Provides comprehensive network performance monitoring with automated discovery, deep packet inspection, flow analysis, and PerfStack for cross-correlation.
Offers real-time monitoring of bandwidth, device availability, and performance using customizable sensors for networks and infrastructure.
Delivers fault and performance management for networks with workflow automation, visualization, and multilayer monitoring.
Monitors end-to-end network and application performance across internet, WAN, and cloud with global vantage points.
Cloud-native network observability platform providing host, flow, and synthetic monitoring with advanced analytics.
SaaS-based unified observability for network performance, infrastructure, and applications with AI-driven insights.
Enterprise monitoring solution for networks, servers, and applications with advanced dashboards and reporting.
Open-source enterprise-class monitoring for networks, servers, virtualization, and cloud services.
Cloud-based network monitoring and management with automated mapping, configuration backups, and traffic analysis.
Network monitoring software that discovers, maps, monitors devices, and provides performance metrics and alerting.
SolarWinds Network Performance Monitor
enterpriseProvides comprehensive network performance monitoring with automated discovery, deep packet inspection, flow analysis, and PerfStack for cross-correlation.
PerfStack™ cross-correlation engine that timelines and correlates performance data across network, server, and application silos for rapid root-cause analysis.
SolarWinds Network Performance Monitor (NPM) is a leading network monitoring solution that automatically discovers, maps, and monitors network devices, interfaces, and performance metrics in real-time. It provides deep visibility into bandwidth usage, device health, latency, packet loss, and more through customizable dashboards and intelligent alerts. NPM excels in scalability for large environments and integrates seamlessly with other SolarWinds tools for holistic IT management.
Pros
- Comprehensive device discovery and monitoring with fault, performance, and bandwidth analysis
- PerfStack for cross-stack performance correlation and troubleshooting
- Highly scalable with support for thousands of elements and multi-vendor environments
Cons
- Steep learning curve for advanced customization
- High initial and scaling costs
- Resource-intensive on the monitoring server for very large deployments
Best For
Enterprise IT teams managing complex, multi-vendor networks requiring deep performance insights and proactive monitoring.
Pricing
Perpetual licensing starts at ~$1,995 for 100 elements; subscription options available; scales with additional element licenses (~$1,000 per 100 elements).
Paessler PRTG Network Monitor
enterpriseOffers real-time monitoring of bandwidth, device availability, and performance using customizable sensors for networks and infrastructure.
Sensor-based architecture with 250+ specialized sensors for hyper-granular, device-agnostic monitoring
Paessler PRTG Network Monitor is an all-in-one network performance monitoring solution that tracks bandwidth, devices, servers, applications, virtual environments, and cloud services using a flexible sensor-based architecture. It features automatic discovery, real-time dashboards, customizable maps, and advanced alerting to ensure proactive issue detection and resolution. With support for over 250 sensor types, PRTG scales from small networks to enterprise environments, providing detailed performance metrics and historical reporting.
Pros
- Vast library of over 250 sensors for comprehensive monitoring of networks, apps, and infrastructure
- User-friendly auto-discovery and intuitive web/mobile interfaces with customizable dashboards
- Robust alerting, reporting, and cluster failover for high availability
Cons
- Sensor-based licensing can lead to high costs as monitoring scales
- Resource-intensive on the host server for very large deployments
- Interface feels somewhat dated compared to newer competitors
Best For
Mid-sized businesses and IT teams seeking scalable, sensor-driven monitoring for complex hybrid networks.
Pricing
Free for up to 100 sensors; paid perpetual licenses start at ~$1,800 for 500 sensors, scaling to $12,000+ for 5,000 sensors, with optional annual maintenance.
ManageEngine OpManager
enterpriseDelivers fault and performance management for networks with workflow automation, visualization, and multilayer monitoring.
Advanced Layer 2 topology mapping with automatic discovery and business views for intuitive network visualization
ManageEngine OpManager is a comprehensive network monitoring solution that automatically discovers devices, monitors performance metrics like bandwidth, CPU, memory, and latency, and provides fault management across physical, virtual, and cloud environments. It offers real-time dashboards, topology mapping, and customizable alerts to ensure network health and quick issue resolution. With support for over 10,000 device types and integrations with other IT tools, it's designed for proactive network management in multi-vendor setups.
Pros
- Extensive monitoring capabilities for networks, servers, and applications with Layer 2/3 topology maps
- Robust alerting, reporting, and workflow automation for efficient troubleshooting
- Scalable licensing with a free edition and strong multi-vendor device support
Cons
- Can be resource-intensive for very large deployments without proper hardware
- Some advanced analytics require paid add-ons like Analytics Plus
- Initial setup and customization may have a moderate learning curve
Best For
Mid-sized enterprises and IT teams needing scalable, visual network performance monitoring with fault correlation.
Pricing
Free for up to 10 devices; Standard edition starts at $245/year for 10 monitors, Professional at $345/year; scales per device with add-ons extra.
ThousandEyes
enterpriseMonitors end-to-end network and application performance across internet, WAN, and cloud with global vantage points.
Internet Insights with thousands of global vantage points for real-world internet path analysis and outage prediction
ThousandEyes is a cloud-native network intelligence platform that delivers end-to-end visibility into network performance, application delivery, and digital experiences across internet, cloud, and enterprise WANs. It leverages a global network of vantage points and agents to monitor latency, packet loss, jitter, BGP routing, and path visualization in real-time. This enables proactive detection of issues affecting end-user experience, from SaaS apps to multi-cloud environments, going beyond traditional internal network polling.
Pros
- Global vantage points provide unmatched internet-scale visibility and BGP monitoring
- Advanced path visualization and endpoint agents for true end-user experience insights
- Seamless integrations with ITSM, SIEM, and Cisco tools for enterprise workflows
Cons
- High enterprise pricing with custom quotes, not ideal for SMBs
- Steep learning curve due to feature depth and complex dashboards
- Less focus on deep internal device polling compared to traditional NPMs like SolarWinds
Best For
Large enterprises with distributed, cloud-heavy networks needing internet and end-user performance monitoring.
Pricing
Custom quote-based pricing; typically starts at $15,000+ annually for basic deployments, scales with agents and tests.
Datadog Network Monitoring
enterpriseCloud-native network observability platform providing host, flow, and synthetic monitoring with advanced analytics.
Real-time network maps with automatic dependency visualization and APM correlation
Datadog Network Monitoring is a cloud-native solution that delivers real-time visibility into network performance across hybrid, multi-cloud, and on-premises environments. It monitors device health, interface metrics, traffic flows (via NetFlow/sFlow/IPFIX), and DNS performance using agents, SNMP, and integrations. The tool provides interactive maps, anomaly detection, and correlations with application and infrastructure metrics for holistic troubleshooting.
Pros
- Deep integration with APM and infrastructure monitoring for end-to-end visibility
- Real-time flow analysis and automated topology mapping
- Scalable for large enterprises with ML-powered anomaly detection
Cons
- Pricing can escalate quickly with high volume of hosts/devices/flows
- Steep learning curve for advanced customizations and dashboards
- Limited support for some legacy protocols without agents
Best For
Large enterprises with complex hybrid networks needing unified observability alongside application performance monitoring.
Pricing
Starts at $15 per host/month (Pro tier); network monitoring adds costs based on devices ($5/device/month), interfaces, and flow ingestion volume; custom Enterprise pricing available.
LogicMonitor
enterpriseSaaS-based unified observability for network performance, infrastructure, and applications with AI-driven insights.
AIOps-driven Root Cause Analysis that correlates metrics across infrastructure for automated troubleshooting
LogicMonitor is a SaaS-based observability platform designed for comprehensive IT infrastructure monitoring, with strong capabilities in network performance monitoring including device discovery, bandwidth analysis, and flow monitoring (NetFlow, sFlow, J-Flow). It leverages AI-driven AIOps for anomaly detection, root cause analysis, and predictive alerting to minimize downtime. The platform supports hybrid environments, covering on-premises, cloud, and containerized networks, with customizable dashboards and automated reporting.
Pros
- Agentless monitoring with automatic device discovery and topology mapping
- AI-powered AIOps for proactive issue resolution and reduced alert fatigue
- Extensive library of over 2,000 pre-built LogicModules for quick setup
Cons
- Pricing scales steeply with device count and data sources
- Steep learning curve for advanced customizations and Grok scripting
- Limited built-in reporting flexibility compared to specialized NPM tools
Best For
Mid-to-large enterprises managing complex hybrid networks who need unified observability with AI insights.
Pricing
Subscription-based starting at ~$3,500/year for small deployments, scaling to enterprise tiers based on monitored devices, collectors, and data points (custom quotes typical).
Nagios XI
enterpriseEnterprise monitoring solution for networks, servers, and applications with advanced dashboards and reporting.
Nagios Exchange plugin repository enabling monitoring of virtually any network device or service via community-contributed add-ons
Nagios XI is a robust, enterprise-grade monitoring platform built on the open-source Nagios Core, providing comprehensive network performance monitoring through SNMP, ICMP, and agentless checks. It tracks key metrics like bandwidth usage, latency, packet loss, device uptime, and traffic patterns across switches, routers, servers, and applications. With a web-based interface, it offers customizable dashboards, advanced reporting, and scalable alerting for IT environments.
Pros
- Vast plugin ecosystem for extensive customization and monitoring of diverse devices
- Scalable for large enterprise networks with strong performance graphing and alerting
- Powerful reporting and capacity planning tools
Cons
- Steep learning curve due to complex configuration and command-line reliance
- Dated user interface compared to modern competitors
- Licensing costs add up quickly for high node counts
Best For
Experienced IT administrators in mid-to-large enterprises seeking highly customizable, open-source-based network monitoring.
Pricing
Perpetual licenses start at $1,995 for 100 nodes (Standard Edition), with higher tiers up to $19,995 for 1,000 nodes; annual support required at 30% of license cost.
Zabbix
enterpriseOpen-source enterprise-class monitoring for networks, servers, virtualization, and cloud services.
Low-Level Discovery (LLD) that automatically detects and configures monitoring for dynamic network elements like interfaces and VLANs without manual intervention
Zabbix is an open-source, enterprise-class monitoring platform that excels in network performance monitoring by collecting metrics from devices via SNMP, ICMP, IPMI, and other protocols. It provides real-time insights into bandwidth utilization, latency, packet loss, device availability, and traffic patterns through customizable dashboards, graphs, and reports. With powerful alerting, auto-discovery, and historical trend analysis, Zabbix enables proactive network management and troubleshooting at scale.
Pros
- Highly scalable and supports monitoring of thousands of devices without additional licensing costs
- Extensive protocol support including SNMPv3, NetFlow, and low-level discovery for automatic network mapping
- Fully customizable with templates, triggers, and actions for tailored alerting and automation
Cons
- Steep learning curve due to complex configuration and templating system
- User interface is functional but dated and less intuitive compared to modern NPM tools
- High resource demands on the server for very large deployments without proper optimization
Best For
Technical IT teams in large enterprises seeking a free, highly customizable solution for comprehensive network monitoring.
Pricing
Core software is free and open-source; paid support contracts and Zabbix Cloud hosting start at approximately $500/month for enterprise features.
Auvik
enterpriseCloud-based network monitoring and management with automated mapping, configuration backups, and traffic analysis.
Automated, continuously updating L2/L3 network topology mapping
Auvik is a cloud-based network monitoring and management platform that automates device discovery, mapping, and performance monitoring for IT teams and MSPs. It provides real-time visibility into network topology, bandwidth usage, traffic flows, and device health, with features like configuration backups and alert notifications. Designed to simplify network oversight without on-premises hardware, it excels in multi-client environments.
Pros
- Automated network discovery and interactive topology mapping
- Real-time monitoring with customizable alerts and traffic analysis
- Configuration management and change tracking
Cons
- Pricing scales steeply with device count and sites
- Dashboard customization is somewhat limited
- Advanced analytics require integrations with other tools
Best For
Managed Service Providers (MSPs) and mid-sized IT teams handling multiple distributed networks.
Pricing
Quote-based SaaS pricing starts around $150-$300/month for small networks, scaling per device or site, with annual billing.
WhatsUp Gold
enterpriseNetwork monitoring software that discovers, maps, monitors devices, and provides performance metrics and alerting.
Dynamic, interactive network maps that provide drill-down topology views and real-time status updates
WhatsUp Gold is a robust network performance monitoring solution from Progress that offers real-time visibility into devices, servers, applications, virtual environments, and traffic flows across hybrid networks. It excels in automated discovery, interactive mapping, and customizable dashboards for proactive monitoring and troubleshooting. The tool supports polling, SNMP, WMI, and flow monitoring, with strong alerting, reporting, and capacity planning features for IT teams managing complex infrastructures.
Pros
- Intuitive visual network maps and topology views that update dynamically
- Comprehensive support for multi-vendor devices, apps, wireless, and VoIP
- Flexible alerting, automation scripts, and detailed reporting capabilities
Cons
- User interface feels dated compared to modern competitors
- Pricing scales quickly for large deployments with per-device licensing
- Steep learning curve for advanced configuration and customization
Best For
Mid-sized to large enterprises with complex, heterogeneous networks requiring strong visual mapping and performance insights.
Pricing
Perpetual or subscription licensing starting at around $2,000 for 100 devices, scaling with node count, features, and support; quote-based for enterprises.
Conclusion
Evaluating network performance monitors reveals SolarWinds Network Performance Monitor as the clear top choice, boasting a robust set of features for comprehensive monitoring. Paessler PRTG Network Monitor stands out with its customizable sensors, while ManageEngine OpManager impresses with automation and multilayer insights—each a standout option for distinct use cases. Together, these tools highlight the strong landscape of solutions for optimizing network health.
Take the first step toward better network efficiency by trying SolarWinds Network Performance Monitor, the leading choice for monitoring and performance management.
Tools Reviewed
All tools were independently evaluated for this comparison