Top 8 Network Monitoring Software

We tested network monitoring tools to find which ones actually deliver on their promises. Here’s what we found after benchmarking performance, ease of setup, and real-world usability.

See top network monitoring tools, assessment of their user experience, and their key features:

* Vendors are ordered alphabetically.

Vendor Selection Criteria

We narrowed down our network monitoring software comparison using three main factors:

1. Company Stability: Vendors with 15+ employees and proven track record
2. User Validation: Solutions with substantial user reviews from G2, Capterra, and TrustRadius
3. Performance Standards: Minimum 4.4/5 average rating across review platforms
4. Market Presence: Active development and regular feature updates

The Core Features of Network Monitoring Software

For definitions of the features mentioned above, please refer to the shared features of network monitoring tools section.

Review of Top 10 Network Monitoring Software

1. Paessler PRTG Network Monitor

Paessler PRTG Network Monitor monitors your entire IT infrastructure from one dashboard. Servers, switches, cloud services, bandwidth – it tracks all of it simultaneously.

Key Features

• Visual mapping you can actually use: Drag devices onto a map and see their status change in real-time. No complex configuration needed.
• Monitors anything with sensors: Over 250 pre-built sensors for different devices and protocols. SNMP, NetFlow, WMI, plus custom options if you need something specific.
• Cloud-native monitoring: Direct connections to AWS, Azure, and Google Cloud. You don’t need separate tools for on-premises and cloud infrastructure.
• Security built in: Scans for vulnerabilities and suspicious activity as part of normal monitoring. You’ll spot intrusion attempts without adding another security tool.
• Dashboard customization: Build exactly the view you need, then share it with your team or management.

Pros

• You can install and configure PRTG in about 3 hours.
• Auto-discovery finds most network devices, and the interface makes sense even if you haven’t used monitoring software before.
• Creating dashboards takes minutes, not days of training.

Cons

• The free version caps at 100 sensors, which sounds like a lot until you realize each metric counts as one sensor. A single server can easily use 10+ sensors. You’ll likely need a paid license for anything beyond a small office network.
• PRTG also uses significant server resources when monitoring large environments. Plan for dedicated hardware if you’re tracking thousands of sensors.

2- NinjaOne

NinjaOne combines network monitoring with the remote management tools IT teams use daily. Instead of juggling multiple platforms, you monitor performance, patch systems, and manage backups from one place.

Key Features

• Automatic device mapping: Run the discovery wizard, it scans your IP range, and you get a complete network map. Supports SNMP v1, v2, and v3, so it identifies everything from old switches to new firewalls automatically.
• NetFlow traffic analysis: See which applications consume bandwidth, identify bottlenecks, and track conversation patterns between devices. This happens in real-time, so you catch problems as they develop.

Pros

1. Setup takes about an hour if you know your network’s IP ranges. The scripting system lets you automate routine tasks without learning complex syntax.
2. Support includes dedicated account managers for most plans. When something breaks, you’re not stuck in a ticket queue.
3. Remote desktop access is built in, which means fewer tools to manage when you need to fix issues.

Cons

• The automation features work, but they’re not intuitive. You’ll spend time figuring out how to chain tasks together.
• Reporting could be more detailed. You get the basics, but creating custom reports for management takes more work than it should.

Choose NinjaOne to streamline your IT operations with a powerful, all-in-one tool.

3- AKIPS

AKIPS does one thing: network performance monitoring at scale.

Key Features

• Built for scale: Distributed polling architecture handles enterprise networks without choking. Processes over 100,000 SNMP variables per minute.
• Port tracking: Automatically maps which MAC addresses connect to which ports, then tracks changes. Helpful when you need to find rogue devices or document your network.
• NetFlow analysis: Deep traffic inspection shows exactly what’s using your bandwidth.
• Config management: Backs up device configurations automatically and alerts you when someone makes changes.

Pros

1. Setup is straightforward. The system integrates with most network environments without extensive customization.
2. Reporting is flexible – you can build the views you need rather than working with pre-set templates.

Cons

• The interface looks dated, especially for non-technical users. There’s no integrated network map view, which means you’ll need to export topology data or use external visualization tools.
  

4- Auvik

Auvik runs entirely in the cloud and excels at multi-site network monitoring. It automatically maps your network topology and keeps those maps current as your infrastructure changes.

Key Features:

1. Zero-touch discovery: Deploy the collector, and Auvik finds everything using SNMP, CDP, and LLDP. Network maps appear automatically – no manual diagramming.
2. Multi-layer visibility: See both physical connections (Layer 1) and logical relationships (Layers 2/3). This helps when troubleshooting because you can trace problems through the entire stack.
3. Customizable views: Filter out irrelevant devices to focus on specific network segments. Toggle between VLAN topology, clustered views, or other perspectives depending on what you’re investigating.
4. Export-ready documentation: Generate PDF or SVG maps for documentation or client reports. Useful for MSPs who need to show clients what they’re managing.

Pros

1. Network visualization is excellent. You get real-time diagrams that update as the network changes, which makes troubleshooting faster.
2. The interface makes sense immediately. Most users start getting value within the first day without extensive training.
3. Integration with other platforms is smooth – it connects to PSA tools, ticketing systems, and other IT management software.

Cons

• Auvik includes many features, which creates a learning curve despite the clean interface. New users report feeling overwhelmed by alerts during the first week.
• The sheer number of notifications can become noise if you don’t fine-tune alert rules early.

5- Atera

Atera targets MSPs and IT departments that need monitoring, ticketing, and automation in one platform. It handles both network monitoring and service desk functions.

Key Features

1. Continuous discovery: Scans domains and subdomains constantly, updating device lists as your network evolves. You don’t need to manually trigger scans when you add equipment.
2. Security scanning: Identifies open ports, missing patches, and outdated antivirus automatically. This gives you a security checklist without running separate vulnerability scanners.
3. Active Directory integration: Monitors AD-connected devices and generates reports on OS versions, device health, and user connections.
4. Visual reporting: After each scan, you get graphs showing device types, operating systems, and health status across the network.

Pros

1. The all-in-one approach reduces tool sprawl. Monitoring, ticketing, and automation live in the same platform, which simplifies workflows.
2. Pricing works well for smaller organizations and nonprofits. The per-technician model is more predictable than per-device pricing.
3. Support responds quickly and actually helps resolve issues rather than just collecting tickets.

Cons

• Reporting lacks depth. You get basic metrics, but detailed analysis requires exporting data and using external tools.
• The ticketing system is functional but basic compared to dedicated help desk software. It works for straightforward issues but struggles with complex workflows.

6- Datadog

Datadog monitors cloud-native applications by collecting data from servers, containers, databases, and services. It’s designed for teams running distributed systems across multiple cloud providers.

Key Features

• Live network topology: Interactive maps show your entire infrastructure automatically. You can spot bottlenecks, trace dependencies, and identify network partitions visually.
• Layer 3 traffic monitoring: Captures network flows between hosts, containers, VMs, and serverless functions. You see exactly how data moves through your infrastructure.
• Tag-based filtering: Instead of tracking individual IP addresses, you group traffic by service, role, region, or any other tag. This makes it easier to monitor dynamic cloud environments where IPs change constantly.
• Unified monitoring: Network, application, and infrastructure metrics live in the same platform. You can correlate issues across the stack without switching tools.

Pros

1. User-Friendly Interface and Ease of Use: Multiple reviews highlight Datadog’s user-friendly interface, ease of navigation, and simplicity in setting up monitors, dashboards, and alerts. This makes it accessible for users to manage and monitor their services and infrastructure effectively.
2. Monitoring and Real-Time Insights: Reviews consistently highlight Datadog’s capability to deliver real-time visibility into application, infrastructure, and log performance. Its comprehensive monitoring tools, including log management, APM, infrastructure metrics, and more, allow for effective troubleshooting and performance optimization.
3. Integration: Datadog is praised for its seamless integration with a wide range of other applications and services, enhancing its utility in diverse IT environments. 
4. Customization Capabilities: The platform’s customization options, particularly in dashboard and metric configurations, are also highlighted as a significant advantage, allowing users to tailor the tool to their specific monitoring needs.

Cons

• Costs: A recurring theme in the reviews is the concern over Datadog’s pricing, which some users find to be relatively high compared to other similar tools.
• Documentation Challenges: Additionally, the complexity and breadth of the documentation, along with the steep learning curve for new users, are mentioned as drawbacks.

7- Site24x7 (ManageEngine)

Site24x7 monitors websites, servers, applications, and network infrastructure from the cloud. It focuses on uptime and performance across your entire IT stack.

Key Features

• Automatic discovery: Scans IP ranges using SNMP to find devices automatically. The network map updates in real-time as you add or remove equipment.
• Layer 2 and topology mapping: Layer 2 maps show device connections and interfaces, helping you spot unauthorized devices. Topology maps provide a hierarchical view of device relationships.
• Dependency visualization: Shows how devices depend on each other. When you plan changes, you can see which systems might be affected before you start.

Pros

1. Ease of Integration and Deployment: Users appreciate the platform’s ease of integration with existing infrastructure and the straightforward deployment process. The availability of necessary plugins out-of-the-box and compatibility with different IT equipment enhances the user experience by simplifying the setup.
2. Cost-Effectiveness: Many reviews highlight the attractive price point of Site24x7, especially for smaller installations. Users feel that the service offers good value for money, allowing for extensive monitoring capabilities without a significant financial burden.

Cons

• The sheer number of options can overwhelm new users. The interface presents many choices at once, making it hard to find what you need.
• Documentation could be clearer, particularly for manual configurations and advanced features. You’ll likely need support help to fully leverage the platform’s capabilities.

8- Solarwinds NPM

SolarWinds Network Performance Monitor (NPM) uses SNMP monitoring, automatic discovery, and packet analysis to track network health. It’s designed for IT teams managing complex, multi-layered networks.

Key Features

• Orion Maps: Dynamic network maps display devices, connections, and performance metrics in real-time. The visualization updates automatically as conditions change.
• Layer 2 and 3 mapping: Shows both physical connections and logical network relationships. You can troubleshoot at whatever level the problem exists.
• NetPath: This unique feature traces the exact path packets take across on-premises, hybrid, and cloud networks. You can see hop-by-hop performance and identify where delays occur.
• Auto-discovery with alerts: Uses SNMP, WMI, and ICMP to find devices automatically, then monitors them for issues. Alerts trigger when thresholds are breached.

Pros

1. User-Friendly Interface: The tool is commended for its intuitive UI, making it accessible even to less experienced engineers.
2. Monitoring Capabilities: Offers a wide range of functionalities including SLA, performance, ICMP, SNMP monitoring, config backup, and effective traffic graphs.

Cons

• Cost and Complexity: The most common drawback noted is its high price point, along with the complexity and resource requirements for setup and integration, especially in initial stages.

Shared Features of Network Monitoring Tools

Network Discovery: Identifies all devices on your network – routers, switches, firewalls, endpoints, and everything in between. This creates a complete inventory of your infrastructure automatically. Discovery typically happens first, giving you a baseline to monitor.

Traffic Monitoring: Tracks data moving across your network. You can see which applications use bandwidth, identify bottlenecks, and spot unauthorized traffic. This is critical for maintaining performance and security.

Every tool in our list handles both functions. Beyond these basics, here are features that differentiate tools:

SNMP Polling Interval: How often the monitoring system requests data from network devices. More frequent polling gives you faster alerts but increases network overhead. Typical intervals range from 1 to 10 minutes.

CPU Monitoring: Tracks processor usage on network devices over time. High CPU usage can indicate performance problems, security issues, or failing hardware. This data helps you fix problems before they cause outages.

Device Access Control: Manages who can access and modify network devices. Good access control prevents unauthorized changes and protects sensitive infrastructure.

Network Topology Mapping: Creates visual diagrams of your network showing device relationships. These maps help you understand network structure, troubleshoot issues, and plan changes.

Choosing the Right Network Monitoring Service

Choosing the right network monitoring software involves considering factors such as:

• Monitoring capabilities
• Scalability
• Flexibility
• Integration potential
• Overall usability

To ensure efficient operations, selecting network device monitoring software equipped with an intuitive, customized dashboard is vital. This includes features like network topology maps, status reports, and options for troubleshooting. The implementation process should be straightforward to avoid disruptions during setup. The service should also offer real-time, actionable reports for rapid issue resolution.

The productivity and security of the monitoring system are optimized through role-based access control. It delegates permissions according to the functions of users in the organization, ensuring only authorized personnel can make changes. Lastly, the choice between a free, open-source network monitoring software and a paid solution with extensive features will depend on the organization’s requirements. This decision should be based on the size and complexity of the network and the resources available for managing it.

FAQs

For more on network monitoring

• Top 5 AI Network Monitoring Use Cases and Real Life Examples
• 26 Network Performance Metrics to Measure Network Health

Transparency Statement: AIMultiple works with B2B tech vendors, including Paessler PRTG and AKIPS. Vendors with links are among AIMultiple’s sponsors.

Principal Analyst

Cem Dilmegani

Principal Analyst

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Cem has been the principal analyst at AIMultiple since 2017. AIMultiple informs hundreds of thousands of businesses (as per similarWeb) including 55% of Fortune 500 every month.

Cem's work has been cited by leading global publications including Business Insider, Forbes, Washington Post, global firms like Deloitte, HPE and NGOs like World Economic Forum and supranational organizations like European Commission. You can see more reputable companies and resources that referenced AIMultiple.

Throughout his career, Cem served as a tech consultant, tech buyer and tech entrepreneur. He advised enterprises on their technology decisions at McKinsey & Company and Altman Solon for more than a decade. He also published a McKinsey report on digitalization.

He led technology strategy and procurement of a telco while reporting to the CEO. He has also led commercial growth of deep tech company Hypatos that reached a 7 digit annual recurring revenue and a 9 digit valuation from 0 within 2 years. Cem's work in Hypatos was covered by leading technology publications like TechCrunch and Business Insider.

Cem regularly speaks at international technology conferences. He graduated from Bogazici University as a computer engineer and holds an MBA from Columbia Business School.

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Researched by

Sena Sezer

Industry Analyst

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Sena is an industry analyst in AIMultiple. She completed her Bachelor's from Bogazici University.

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