Network Monitoring Software

Network monitoring software watches devices, links, servers and services for availability and performance, alerting teams before outages spread. It maps topology, tracks bandwidth and helps diagnose where problems originate.

Compare the top 6 Network Monitoring Software options

Ranked by our editorial score. User rating is a consensus we calculate across multiple public review sites (Capterra, G2, Trustpilot and more), weighted by review volume — captured Jul 2026. Our score is a transparent 100-point rubric — see how we score.

#1 PRTG Network Monitor Best for smb networks wanting transparent pricing 90/100Our score ★★★★★ 4.6 464 reviews · 2 sources

Sensor-based all-in-one monitoring that is quick to deploy and openly priced by tier.

• Fast to set up with intuitive, highly customizable dashboards
• Broad sensor coverage monitors nearly any device or metric

• – Sensor-based licensing gets expensive as you scale
• – Recent price increases frustrated some long-time customers

Pricing From $2,399/yr Read our PRTG Network Monitor review

#2 Auvik Best for msps and distributed networks 88/100Our score ★★★★★ 4.5 483 reviews · 2 sources

Cloud-based network monitoring known for automatic, always-current topology maps.

• Automated, always-current topology maps save hours of documentation
• Responsive support and quick, low-maintenance deployment

• – Pricing is high for the number of network devices managed
• – Occasional device misidentification and noisy alerts

Pricing Custom quote Read our Auvik review

#3 Zabbix Best for budget-conscious teams with in-house expertise 85/100Our score ★★★★★ 4.4 319 reviews · 2 sources

Free, open-source monitoring that is enormously flexible for teams willing to configure it.

• Free and open source with no per-device licensing
• Highly customizable and powerful once configured

• – Steep learning curve and a dated interface in places
• – Fine-tuning alerts takes experience to avoid noise

Pricing Free (open source) Read our Zabbix review

#4 LogicMonitor Best for growing hybrid infrastructure 83/100Our score ★★★★★ 4.5 761 reviews · 2 sources

Agentless SaaS platform unifying network, server and cloud monitoring with automated discovery.

• One dashboard covers servers, network and cloud with auto-discovery
• Fast, speedy alerting and consistently praised support

• – Pricing is opaque and requires a sales quote
• – Learning curve and complex network traffic analysis noted by some

Pricing Custom quote Read our LogicMonitor review

#5 Datadog Best for cloud-native and devops teams 82/100Our score ★★★★★ 4.5 1,086 reviews · 2 sources

Cloud-scale observability platform with network device monitoring alongside infra, APM and logs.

• Extensive integrations and insightful real-time dashboards
• Broad, unified observability across infrastructure, network and apps

• – Usage-based costs escalate quickly and are hard to predict
• – Steep learning curve to configure well

Pricing From $5/host/mo Read our Datadog review

#6 SolarWinds Network Performance Monitor Best for large enterprise network teams 80/100Our score ★★★★★ 4.5 76 reviews · 1 source

Mature, feature-rich network performance monitoring with strong mapping for larger environments.

• Deep, mature network performance monitoring with strong mapping
• Reliable alerting and highly customizable dashboards

• – Expensive, and licensing and renewals can be complex
• – Heavy to deploy and the interface can feel dated

Pricing From $2,829/yr Read our SolarWinds Network Performance Monitor review

Feature comparison

Head-to-head comparisons

Compare any two Network Monitoring Software options side by side — or pick your own matchup.

What Network Monitoring Software is & who it’s for

• Monitor device/link availability and performance
• Alert on thresholds before users notice
• Map topology and dependencies
• Track bandwidth and capacity
• Diagnose root cause of incidents

Features to look for

Pricing & what it costs

Models vary widely: per sensor/element, per device, or per host, from free open-source to enterprise licensing. Sensor/element counting can surprise you — model your real device and interface count before buying.

Ballparks are general market ranges, not quotes. Confirm current pricing with each vendor.

Evaluation & demo checklist

• Count sensors/devices to model real pricing
• Test auto-discovery on your actual network
• Confirm alert escalation and on-call routing
• Check cloud/app coverage if you need it
• Evaluate setup effort (esp. open-source)

Risks & hidden costs

• Sensor/element pricing exceeding estimates
• Open-source hidden cost in setup/maintenance time
• Alert noise without tuning

Frequently asked questions