Network monitoring software is an essential tool that assists IT staff in maintaining a close eye on the health, performance, and security of their network infrastructure. The software continuously monitors devices such as routers, switches, servers, and endpoints to identify downtime, traffic congestion, and possible vulnerabilities in real time.
Whether you’re dealing with a small business network or an enterprise system, the correct network monitoring tool can avoid expensive outages, simplify troubleshooting, and ensure that everything goes smoothly.
In this blog, we’ve compiled the 10 best network monitoring software tools with robust features, intuitive interfaces, and steady performance to keep you ahead of network problems.
Why Does Your Business Needs Network Monitoring Software?
In the always-connected world of today, network monitoring software is not a luxury—it’s a requirement for guaranteeing performance, security, and business continuity. Here’s why every modern business needs it:
- Real-Time Network Monitoring: Monitors the health, status, and performance of all network devices (routers, switches, servers, etc.) continuously to offer up-to-the-minute information and insights.
- Early Detection of Network Issues: Identifies issues such as excessive latency, packet loss, or hardware breakdowns before they affect users or cause extensive downtime.
- Less Downtime and Quicker Recovery: Alerts immediately when something goes awry so IT can respond fast and minimize system downtime or interruption.
- Enhanced Network Security: Detects suspicious traffic flows, unauthorized access attempts, and other anomalies that can signal security threats or attacks.
- Bandwidth and Traffic Optimization: Monitors bandwidth use across applications and devices to better allocate resources, preventing slowdowns at peak periods.
- Effective Troubleshooting: Offers extensive logging, performance charting, and diagnostic features for identifying root causes, minimizing the time it takes to resolve an incident.
- Network Planning for Growing Infrastructure: Anchors current and future requirements on past statistics and trends so that upgrading or expanding becomes that much simpler.
- Management of geographically distributed networks in a unified manner: This empowers centralized management of networks in disparate locations, best suited for branch offices or distributed teams.
- Automated Alerts and Notifications: Configures personalized limits and triggers real-time alerts by email, SMS, or collaboration platforms, nothing is ever out of sight.
- Compliance and Performance Reporting: Provides detailed audit reports, SLA reports, and performance analysis reports to keep organizations in compliance and answerable.
10 Best Network Monitoring Software
1. Nagios
Nagios is one of the most reputable names in network monitoring. It is an open-source solution that gives end-to-end monitoring of network systems, infrastructure, and applications.
It’s built to be scalable and high-performance, providing both real-time monitoring and alerting so IT teams can detect and troubleshoot issues before they impact end users.
Features:
- Network Visibility
- Customizable Alerts
- Scalability
- Extensibility
- Web Interface
- Performance Monitoring
- Real-time Alerting
- Reporting and Analytics
- Multi-platform Support
- Plugin Support
Pricing:
- 50 Nodes – $1,295 for small-scale monitoring.
- 100 Nodes – $1,995 for growing networks.
- 200 Nodes – $3,495 for mid-sized infrastructures.
- 300 Nodes – $4,995 for enterprise-grade setups.
- 400 Nodes – $5,995 for large IT environments.
- 500 Nodes – $6,995 for robust monitoring needs.
- 1,000 Nodes – $11,995 for extensive network coverage.
- Unlimited Nodes – $19,995 for maximum scalability.
- Enterprise Add-on – $1,500 for advanced features.
- Unlimited Node Enterprise (10 Instances) – $49,995 for high-availability environments.
- Unlimited Node Enterprise (25 Instances) – $99,995 for large-scale enterprise operations.
- Unlimited Node Enterprise (50 Instances) – $149,995 for global IT infrastructure.
- Nagios Log Server (1 Instance) – $3,995 for centralized log management.
- Nagios Network Analyzer – $2,995 for in-depth network traffic analysis.
Website: https://www.nagios.com/solutions/network-monitoring/
2. Pulseway
Pulseway’s Network Monitoring Software provides a complete solution for IT pros who need real-time visibility and control of their network infrastructure. With automated topology mapping, centralized SNMP monitoring, and smart alerting, it makes managing intricate networks easier.
The integration with Pulseway RMM in the platform enables automatic device discovery and visualization, and with remote control and SSH as built-in capabilities, it enables effective troubleshooting straight from the topology map. Built on scalability and ease of use, Pulseway enables IT administrators to monitor and manage their networks preemptively with simplicity.​
Features:
- Real-Time Network Monitoring
- Automated Network Discovery
- SNMP Monitoring
- Network Topology Mapping
- Customizable Alerts
- Remote Control and SSH Access
- Integration with Pulseway RMM
- Device Status Visualization
- Performance Metrics Tracking
- Scalable Architecture
Pricing:
- Starting Price: From $44/month (Save up to 39% with a 3-year plan).
- Simple & Transparent: Only pay for what you use—no hidden fees.
Website: https://www.pulseway.com/products/network-monitoring-software
3. SolarWinds Network Performance Monitor
SolarWinds Network Performance Monitor (NPM) is an all-encompassing network monitor that is purpose-built to automatically discover, diagnose, and troubleshoot network performance problems, guaranteeing maximum uptime and reliability.
NPM provides real-time monitoring of network availability and performance in hybrid environments, enabling IT professionals to keep their operations seamless. NPM’s scalable design ensures that it is applicable to networks of any size and gives the tools required to keep a healthy and efficient network infrastructure.
Features:
- Network Insights for Deeper Visibility
- NetPath™ for Visualizing Network Paths
- PerfStack™ Performance Analysis Dashboard
- Intelligent and Custom Network Mapping
- Advanced Alerting and Anomaly Detection
- Customizable Dashboards and Reports
- Multi-Vendor Device Support
- Scalability for Large Environments
- Wireless Network Monitoring
- Cloud and Hybrid IT Monitoring
Pricing:
- Up to 100 Elements: $3,443/year for monitoring up to 100 devices.
- Up to 250 Elements: $4,378.99/year for monitoring up to 250 devices.
- Up to 500 Elements: $6,576/year for monitoring up to 500 devices.
- Up to 2,000 Elements: $12,127/year for monitoring up to 2,000 devices.
- Unlimited Elements: $20,218/year for unlimited device monitoring.
- Perpetual License: $45,038 for unlimited device monitoring with lifetime support.
Website: https://www.solarwinds.com/network-performance-monitor
4. Icinga
Icinga is an open source monitoring software which offers comprehensive supervision of network assets, guaranteed to be of high availability and performance in heterogeneous IT environments.
Its roots start with being a Nagios fork but has over the years evolved into a fully developed product featuring additional features such as a fresh Web 2.0 based frontend, database backends multiple supports (like MySQL, Oracle, and PostgreSQL), and support for a REST API for integrated support with diverse extensions.
Built for scale, Icinga efficiently handles large, distributed systems, covering both on-premises and cloud environments.
Features:
- Comprehensive Monitoring
- Web 2.0 User Interface
- Scalability for Large Systems
- Customizable with Modular Architecture
- REST API for Integration
- Multi-Database Backend Support
- Distributed Monitoring
- Real-Time Alerts and Notifications
- Cloud and On-Premises Monitoring
- Extensive Integrations and Extensions
Pricing:
- Repository Subscription: €5,000/year for additional OS packages and software, with unlimited installations within a company.
- Developer Subscription: Tailored for small environments, providing package repositories for up to 20 hosts.
- Support Subscriptions: Custom pricing based on support level (Basic, Premium, or Enterprise) with varying response times.
Website: https://icinga.com/
5. Datadog
Datadog Network Monitoring solution provides in-depth insights into the health and performance of your network across cloud, hybrid, and on-premises setups.
It enables you to correlate application, network, device, and infrastructure data, supporting effective remediation of issues through intelligent insights and alerting.
Organizations can utilize Datadog’s Network Monitoring to actively monitor their network infrastructures, promptly identify and resolve issues, and achieve optimal operational efficiency.
Features:
- Cloud Network Monitoring (CNM)
- Network Device Monitoring (NDM)
- Network Flow Monitoring
- Seamless Integration with Datadog Services
- Real-Time Network Traffic Analysis
- Customizable Network Dashboards and Maps
- Comprehensive Vendor Coverage
- Advanced Alerting and Notifications
Pricing:
- Starting at $5 per host per month (billed annually) or $7.20 on-demand.
Website: https://www.datadoghq.com/product/network-monitoring/#cnm
6. ManageEngine OpManager
ManageEngine OpManager is a complete network monitoring software that offers rich visibility into the performance of all types of network devices such as routers, switches, firewalls, load balancers, wireless LAN controllers, servers, virtual machines, printers, and storage devices.
This simple and cost-effective utility enables IT teams to monitor network health, availability, and performance proactively, allowing them to quickly detect and resolve problems to avoid downtime.
Features:
- Network Monitoring
- Server Monitoring
- Wireless Network Monitoring
- WAN Monitoring
- Cisco ACI Monitoring
- Storage Monitoring
- Distributed Network Monitoring
- Network Visualization
- Fault Management
- Mobile App Integration
- Automation Tools
- User Management
Pricing:
- Standard Edition: $245 for up to 10 devices.
- Professional Edition: $345 for up to 10 devices.
- Enterprise Edition: $11,545 for up to 250 devices.
Website: https://www.manageengine.com/network-monitoring/
7. Dynatrace
Dynatrace provides an advanced and strong network monitoring tool that enables businesses to achieve complete visibility into the performance, health, and functioning of their network infrastructure.
Dynatrace provides end-to-end, AI-based platform-integrated monitoring, which helps ensure problem-free network monitoring by giving complete real-time insight into how applications and infrastructure are interacting with the components of the network.
Dynatrace merges network monitoring, application performance monitoring, user experience monitoring, and server monitoring and provides a complete view that reduces troubleshooting and accelerates problem-solving.
Features:
- Process-Level Network Monitoring
- Integrated Network Health Metrics
- Dynamic Network Topology Understanding
- Full-Stack Monitoring Integration
- AI-Powered Insights and Automation
- Cloud, Hybrid, and On-Premises Monitoring
- Real-Time Traffic Analysis
- Network Performance Visibility
- Seamless Correlation with Applications and Infrastructure
- Network Path Visualization
Pricing:
- Full-Stack Monitoring: $0.08 per hour for an 8 GiB host. ​
- Infrastructure Monitoring: $0.04 per hour for any size host. ​
- Kubernetes Platform Monitoring: $0.002 per hour for any size pod. ​
Website: https://www.dynatrace.com/platform/network-monitoring/
8. New Relic's Network Performance Monitoring
New Relic’s Network Performance Monitoring (NPM) product gives organizations a robust platform to observe and analyze the performance of their networks in real time.
With the inclusion of network flow data with other important application, infrastructure, and digital experience metrics, New Relic offers end-to-end system performance visibility in real time, eliminating information silos.
By providing this combined observability, teams can have all the performance data they need in one location, simplifying monitoring and troubleshooting.
Features:
- Unified Observability
- Root Cause Analysis
- Custom Dashboards and Alerts
- Seamless Integration
- Proactive Network Health Monitoring
- Real-Time Network Visibility
- Correlated Network, Application, and Infrastructure Data
- Network Traffic Analysis
Pricing:
- Free Tier: Provides up to 100 GB of data ingestion per month with unlimited basic users and one full platform user at no cost.
- Standard Edition: Starts at $10 for the first user, with additional users at $99 each, including ticketed support and single sign-on.
- Pro Edition: $349 per user annually ($418.80 monthly), offering unlimited full platform users and priority support.
- Enterprise Edition: Custom pricing with advanced features like priority support, compliance options, and 1-hour critical response SLA.
- Data Ingestion Costs: $0.35 per GB for additional data ingested beyond the free tier.
Website: https://newrelic.com/platform/network-performance-monitoring
9. Zabbi
Zabbix is an open-source, enterprise-class monitoring tool that allows organizations to monitor the performance and availability of a broad array of IT infrastructure elements, such as networks, servers, virtual machines, cloud services, and applications.
With support for both small-scale and large-scale environments, Zabbix offers end-to-end visibility into the health and status of many network devices and services. Its scalable architecture supports a wide range of monitoring techniques, making it extremely flexible for heterogeneous IT environments.
Features:
- Comprehensive Monitoring
- Flexible Data Collection
- Scalability
- Real-Time Monitoring and Visualization
- Customizable Dashboards
- Alerting and Notifications
- API Access
- Open-Source and Free
- Professional Services and Support
Pricing: Free
Website: https://www.zabbix.com/
10. Auvik
Auvik provides network monitoring and management software that is meant to make IT tasks such as network discovery, troubleshooting, and configuration backup easy.It features automated alerts for questionable activity, a centralized syslog for speedier problem-solving, and a graphical dashboard for real-time monitoring.
Auvik has support for hundreds of vendors and backs up the network configurations automatically with any modification. The platform is simple to install and assists in saving time, cutting down operating expenses by avoiding the use of a number of other tools.
Features:
- Automated Network Discovery
- Real-Time Monitoring
- Config Backup
- Visual Network Map
- Network Performance Insights
- Alerts & Notifications
- Cloud-Based
- Vendor Compatibility
- Centralized Syslog
- Simplified Troubleshooting
Pricing: Customized pricing
Website: https://www.auvik.com/lp/see-auvik/
How to Choose the Best Network Monitoring Software?
Selecting the best network monitoring software requires several important considerations to ensure it addresses your own needs. Consider the following factors:
1. Monitoring Scope
- Coverage: It should monitor every feature of your network, such as devices, traffic, and performance data.
- Device Support: Verify that it covers many types of devices (routers, switches, firewalls, etc.), protocols (SNMP, ICMP, JMX), and platforms (cloud, on-premise).
2. User Convenience
- User Interface (UI): Find software that has a simple and intuitive UI. A complicated UI can cause inefficiencies.
- Customization: Having the ability to customize dashboards, alarms, and reports to your preference is important.
3. Real-Time Monitoring and Alerts
- Live Monitoring: Select software that offers real-time information for instant issue detection.
- Alerting System: Find advanced alerting capabilities that alert you to issues that may affect your network beforehand.
4. Scalability
- Growth Flexibility: Make sure the software can grow with your network, whether that’s adding more devices, going to the cloud, or growing monitoring complexity.
5. Performance Metrics and Analytics
- Traffic Analysis: Verify the software provides deep traffic analysis to detect bottlenecks, security risks, and performance problems.
- Data Reporting: Custom report and trend generation for performance analysis over time is crucial for proactive network management.
6. Security Features
- Encryption & Authentication: Ensure the software has strong security features like data encryption and secure user authentication to safeguard sensitive network information.
7. Integration Capabilities
- Third-party Integrations: Verify if the software supports integration with your current IT systems (e.g., ticketing systems, log management, cloud services).
- API Support: Seek an API to support custom integrations, automation, and reporting.
8. Cost and Licensing
- Budget Compatibility: Assess the cost structure. Look for such things as licensing fees, extra charges for added features, and support plans.
- Free Trial or Demo: A good number of vendors provide free trials or demos; utilize them to determine if the software is suitable before committing.
9. Customer Support and Documentation
- Support Options: Go for vendors with 24/7 customer support, either via chat, email, or phone.
- Knowledge Base: Look for detailed documentation, tutorials, and a community forum to assist you in troubleshooting on your own.
10. Vendor Reputation and Reviews
- Customer Feedback: Check reviews on sites such as G2 or TrustRadius to get an idea of genuine user experiences.
- Case Studies: Look for case studies and references to check how the software performs in setups similar to yours.
Conclusion
In summary, selecting the proper network monitoring software is essential in keeping your IT infrastructure’s performance, security, and reliability in good condition. Given the numerous available tools, it’s essential to choose one that best suits your unique needs, be it scalability, real-time monitoring, usability, or sophisticated analytics.
The 10 that have been mentioned here provide a variety of features to cater to the needs of different-sized organizations, ranging from small businesses to large enterprises.
By taking into consideration factors such as price, support, integration, and the actual monitoring features, you will be able to make an informed choice that will keep you one step ahead of potential network problems and provide interruption-free, smooth operations.
FAQs
1. Is cloud network monitoring superior to on-premise?
Cloud-based options are more flexible, simpler to update, and accessible remotely. On-premise alternatives enable better data control and customizability. The optimal selection depends on your organization’s infrastructure and policies.
2. How does network monitoring software notify you of problems?
Most send alerts through various channels such as email, SMS, mobile push notifications, or integrations with platforms such as Slack, Microsoft Teams, or service desk solutions to provide instant notifications.
3. Can I use these tools to monitor hybrid and cloud environments?
Yes, most contemporary network monitoring tools such as Datadog, Dynatrace, and SolarWinds support hybrid environments, making it possible for you to monitor on-premises and cloud-based infrastructure with ease.
4. How long does network monitoring software installation take?
Setup time is variable. Cloud-based solutions such as Auvik or Pulseway can be operational in a matter of minutes, whereas more sophisticated or on-premises solutions such as Zabbix or Icinga take longer to set up.
5. What is SNMP and why is it necessary for network monitoring?
SNMP or Simple Network Management Protocol is a protocol for collecting and structuring information regarding managed devices on IP networks. It is important to monitor networks using it because it facilitates communication with devices such as routers, switches, and servers.
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