We evaluated 20 network traffic analysis solutions across production environments, testing the performance of NetFlow, sFlow, and IPFIX protocols, as well as real-time monitoring accuracy and threat detection capabilities under enterprise-scale loads.
Explore specific vendor comparisons, flow protocol optimization recommendations, and pricing insights based on actual deployment costs.
Top 9 Software for Network Traffic Analysis
Vendors | # of employees | # of B2B reviews | Average rating (out of 5) |
|---|---|---|---|
Paessler PRTG | 350 | 144 | 4.7 |
Auvik | 180 | 285 | 4.5 |
Datadog | 6,100 | 675 | 4.4 |
Site24x7 | 302 | 449 | 4.6 |
Solarwinds NetFlow Traffic Analyzer | 2,500 | 137 | 4.6 |
ExtraHop RevealX | 660 | 67 | 4.4 |
ManageEngine NetFlow Analyzer | 14,000 | 156 | 4.5 |
Cisco Stealthwatch | 15,000 | 19 | 4.1 |
AKIPS | 50 | 1 | 4.5 |
* Vendors are sorted in ascending order with respect to their average ratings.
Vendor Selection Criteria
We narrowed down our network traffic monitoring tools comparison focusing on three main factors:
- Number of employees: We looked at vendors with 15+ employees on LinkedIn.
- Number of user reviews: We included solutions with at least one user review from the popular B2B review websites (such as G2 and Capterra), as it indicates a level of market presence and user experience.
- Average review ratings: We selected the vendors with at least 4.4 points on average.
Review of Top 9 Network Traffic Analysis Software
Paessler PRTG Network Monitor
Paessler PRTG delivers network monitoring through a sensor-based architecture that combines traffic analysis with infrastructure monitoring, providing unified visibility across diverse IT environments.
Capabilities:
- Sensor-based monitoring architecture with 250+ native sensor types
- Automatic network discovery with immediate device recognition
- Customizable dashboards with real-time traffic visualization
- Multi-protocol support including SNMP, WMI, NetFlow, and packet sniffing
- Integrated alerting system with SMS, email, and push notifications
Pricing:
- Freeware edition: Free for up to 100 sensors
- PRTG 500: $1,600 annually for 500 sensors
- PRTG 1000: $3,200 annually for 1,000 sensors
- PRTG 2500: $6,900 annually for 2,500 sensors
- PRTG 5000: $11,500 annually for 5,000 sensors
Auvik Network Traffic Analysis
Auvik provides cloud-native network traffic analysis with automated device discovery and configuration management, eliminating traditional on-premises infrastructure requirements.
Capabilities:
- Fully automated network discovery and traffic flow mapping
- Cloud-based deployment with zero on-site hardware requirements
- Automated network documentation with real-time updates
- MSP-focused multi-tenant architecture with client separation
Datadog
Datadog uniquely correlates network traffic analysis with application performance monitoring and infrastructure metrics, providing full-stack visibility.
Capabilities:
- Full-stack correlation between network flows and application performance
- Advanced machine learning-based alerting with reduced false positives
- Cloud-native architecture with automatic service discovery
- Extensive third-party integrations with 750+ platform connectors
Pricing:
- Network Monitoring: $5 per host per month
- Pro plan: $15 per host per month with enhanced features
- Enterprise plan: $23 per host per month with advanced analytics
ExtraHop
ExtraHop Reveal(x) distinguishes itself through real-time wire data analysis using machine learning algorithms for advanced threat detection and performance optimization.
Capabilities:
- Stream processing of wire data for sub-second threat detection
- Advanced behavioral analytics using unsupervised machine learning
- Encrypted traffic analysis without decryption through metadata inspection
- Dynamic application dependency mapping with security context
Pricing:
- Cloud-based SaaS model with consumption-based pricing
- On-premises appliances starting at $25,000 annually
- Custom enterprise pricing based on data volume and features
Solarwinds NetFlow Traffic Analyzer
SolarWinds NTA stands out with its deep integration with Cisco’s Network-Based Application Recognition 2 (NBAR2) technology, enabling enhanced traffic categorization and application identification on Cisco devices.
Capabilities:
- Advanced application signature recognition through NBAR2 protocol classification
- Flow data collection supporting NetFlow, J-Flow, sFlow, IPFIX, and NetStream
- Intelligent traffic shaping recommendations based on QoS analysis
- Multi-vendor device support with vendor-specific optimization
Pricing:
- Starting at $1,168 for up to 2 interfaces
- Standard edition: $2,336 for up to 10 interfaces
- Enterprise pricing available for larger deployments
Site24x7 Network Traffic Monitoring
Site24x7 leverages artificial intelligence for proactive anomaly detection while providing global monitoring capabilities through 130+ worldwide monitoring locations.
Capabilities:
- AI-driven performance anomaly detection with predictive insights
- Global network monitoring from 130+ geographic locations
- Integrated synthetic transaction monitoring with traffic analysis
- Cloud-native architecture with automatic scaling capabilities
Pricing:
- Professional plan: $9 per monitor per month
- Enterprise plan: $20 per monitor per month
- Custom pricing for high-volume deployments
ManageEngine NetFlow Analyzer
NetFlow Analyzer excels in providing detailed bandwidth analysis with sophisticated Quality of Service (QoS) monitoring capabilities, enabling precise traffic prioritization and capacity planning.
Capabilities:
- QoS policy effectiveness analysis and optimization recommendations
- Advanced capacity planning with predictive analytics
- Granular user and application bandwidth allocation tracking
- Integrated network device configuration backup and monitoring
Pricing:
- Professional edition: $595 for 5 interfaces
- Enterprise edition: $4,595 for 100 interfaces
- Distributed edition available for multi-site deployments
Cisco Stealthwatch (Secure Network Analytics)
Cisco Stealthwatch offers AI-powered network behavior analysis with advanced threat detection capabilities, utilizing machine learning to identify security anomalies across an enterprise’s network infrastructure.
Capabilities:
- AI-driven behavioral analytics with unsupervised machine learning
- Encrypted traffic analysis through metadata inspection
- Integration with Cisco security ecosystem and threat intelligence
- Advanced persistent threat detection with kill-chain analysis
- Network segmentation insights and policy recommendations
Pricing:
- Subscription-based licensing with annual commitments
- Pricing varies by network size and data volume
- Enterprise deployments typically start at $50,000+ annually
- Custom pricing based on flow volume and advanced features
AKIPS Network Monitor
AKIPS delivers high-performance network monitoring optimized for large-scale deployments, utilizing efficient polling mechanisms to monitor thousands of devices with minimal system resources.
Capabilities:
- High-frequency SNMP polling with sub-minute granularity
- Scalable architecture supporting 100,000+ monitored objects
- Minimal resource footprint with efficient data collection
- Built-in graphing and alerting without external dependencies
- Multi-tenant deployment options for service providers
Pricing:
- Standard license: $2 per monitored device per month
- Volume discounts available for large deployments
- No additional fees for interfaces or metrics
- Custom enterprise pricing for 1,000+ devices
Shared Core Features Across Network Traffic Analysis Software
All leading network traffic analysis solutions provide these fundamental capabilities that form the foundation of effective network monitoring and security operations:
Flow Protocol Support
Modern NTA tools support multiple flow protocols to accommodate diverse network infrastructures:
- NetFlow (v5, v9, v10/IPFIX): Detailed per-flow analysis with metadata collection
- sFlow: Packet sampling for high-volume networks with reduced device overhead
- IPFIX: Standards-based protocol offering vendor neutrality and enhanced flexibility
- J-Flow, NetStream, rFlow: Vendor-specific implementations for multi-vendor environments
Real-Time Traffic Monitoring
- Live Traffic Visualization: Continuous monitoring of network flows with sub-second granularity
- Bandwidth Utilization Tracking: Real-time measurement of interface capacity and throughput
- Application-Layer Analysis: Protocol identification and application categorization
- Performance Metrics Collection: Latency, packet loss, and jitter measurement across network paths
Security and Anomaly Detection
- Behavioral Baselining: Establishment of normal traffic patterns for anomaly detection
- Threat Intelligence Integration: Correlation with external threat feeds and reputation databases
- DDoS Detection: Identification of volumetric and application-layer attacks
- Data Exfiltration Monitoring: Detection of unusual outbound traffic patterns
Data Collection and Storage
- Flow Data Aggregation: Efficient storage and retrieval of historical traffic metadata
- Retention Management: Configurable data retention policies balancing storage costs and forensic needs
- Multi-Site Consolidation: Centralized collection from distributed network infrastructure
- Export Capabilities: Integration with SIEM platforms and external analytics tools
Alerting and Reporting
- Escalation Workflows: Integration with ticketing systems and incident response platforms
- Threshold-Based Alerts: Configurable notifications for capacity, performance, and security events
- Customizable Dashboards: Role-based views for NOC, security, and management teams
- Automated Reporting: Scheduled generation of traffic summaries and compliance reports
Assessing Your Network Requirements
After pinpointing the prominent features of premier network traffic analysis tools, it’s crucial to assess your own network requirements. Regular updates to security and monitoring systems are essential to ensure the ongoing effectiveness of these tools in dealing with emerging threats and vulnerabilities while maintaining optimal network performance and security.
This evaluation is not a one-off task but a continuous process that should keep pace with the evolving network landscape. Your network is a dynamic entity, constantly changing with the addition of:
- New devices
- Users
- Applications
- Security threats
Consistently revisiting and revising your network requirements ensures that your network traffic analysis tools remain effective in meeting your network’s unique needs. This proactive approach helps prevent potential issues before they become significant problems, keeping your network secure and performing at its best.
FAQs
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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