# 7 Top-Rated Network Monitoring Software | Capterra > Looking for software solutions to monitor your IT infrastructure? Check out these top seven network monitoring software options. Source: https://www.capterra.com/resources/top-network-monitoring-software --- IT & Software Development # 7 Top-Rated Network Monitoring Software By Preksha Buttan Preksha Buttan Writer Experience I am a writer at Capterra, where I've been providing expert insights to help small businesses find the right software solutions since Janua... [See bio & all articles](https://www.capterra.com/resources/author/pbuttan/) Published February 13, 2023 10 min read Table of Contents - [1\. Atera](#1-atera-supports-automation-of-routine-tasks) - [2\. Google Cloud](#2-google-cloud-helps-identify-network-trends) - [3\. ManageEngine OpManager](#3-manageengine-opmanager-offers-customizable-dashboards) - [4\. NinjaOne](#4-ninjaone-helps-establish-remote-connections) - [5\. PingPlotter](#5-pingplotter-sends-data-packets-to-websites-to-identify-network-issues) - [6\. PRTG Network Monitor](#6-prtg-network-monitor-monitors-network-protocol-performance) - [7\. WhatsUp Gold](#7-whatsup-gold-automatically-alerts-when-network-problems-occur) - [How to choose the best network monitoring software](#how-to-choose-the-best-network-monitoring-software-for-your-business) - [How much does network monitoring software cost?](#how-much-does-network-monitoring-software-cost) ## Keep your IT infrastructure in check with the help of network monitoring software. If you’re an IT manager, you’d know how important it is to be alerted about network issues on time. Whether it is delayed response time, traffic overload, or a server error, a quick resolution is important to ensure that business operations aren’t impacted. This is where network monitoring software comes in handy. [Network monitoring tools](https://www.capterra.com/network-monitoring-software/) automatically keep track of network performance and notify you in case of any problems. This makes managing and monitoring your business’s IT network a bit easier. However, we understand that finding software that aligns with your business objectives can be daunting. This process can be simplified by comparing top-rated network monitoring tools with your specific needs. In this article, we highlight the top-rated seven network monitoring software for IT professionals, in alphabetical order, based on verified software reviews. [Read more](#methodology). ## 1\. Atera: Supports automation of routine tasks [Atera](https://www.capterra.com/p/144309/Atera/) is a remote monitoring and management system that helps in monitoring IT infrastructure, which includes devices such as servers, workstations, and network devices. It allows you to monitor your IT assets’ health and performance, track issues, and resolve them quickly. This tool also allows you to automate routine tasks such as generating system performance reports, converting emails into support tickets, sending automated replies, and more. Atera comes with applications for Android and iOS mobile devices. **Product features of interest** - **Patch management**: Identify, test, and install software updates called patches automatically on computer systems or networks. - **Remote maintenance**: Access the devices, install patches, and run scripts or any other commands for maintenance purposes remotely. - **AI ticket tagging**: Automatically categorize incoming support tickets by specific words and route tickets to the right technician based on their expertise. **Customer support options:** Webinars, FAQs, knowledge base, email, and chat #### Trial/Free Version - Free Trial - Free Version #### Starting price $99 per user, per month (billed annually) #### Device Compatibilty #### Screenshots _Automation in Atera (_[_Source_](https://www.capterra.com/p/144309/Atera/)_)_ \* Analysis Accurate as of January 2023 ## 2\. Google Cloud: Helps identify network trends [Google Cloud](https://www.capterra.com/p/268690/Google-Cloud-Platform/) is a suite of cloud computing services that includes a feature called Cloud Monitoring that helps monitor networks. The tool provides insights into your IT infrastructure’s performance, availability, and health. It collects data such as CPU usage and network traffic and visualizes those performance metrics in the form of charts and graphs on a dashboard, making the data easier to read and understand. This dashboard also helps identify trends in the network, which, in turn, helps in timely identifying issues, allowing you to take preventative measures beforehand. **Product features of interest** - **Uptime monitoring**: Continuously monitor network-connected URLs, virtual machines, and load balancers and automatically get alerted in case of outages. - **Service-level objective (SLO) monitoring**: Monitor the performance of a service or application to ensure that it meets specific service goals mentioned in the agreements between a service provider and a client. - **Alerting**: Set custom conditions to define how you should be notified in case of any network issue. Select from options such as email, SMS, Slack, and more. **Customer support options:** Guides, how-to articles, training, release notes, chat, and phone #### Trial/Free Version - Free Trial - Free Version #### Starting price Available from vendor upon request #### Device Compatibilty #### Screenshots _Dashboard in Google Cloud (_[_Source_](https://www.capterra.com/p/268690/Google-Cloud-Platform/)_)_ \* Analysis Accurate as of January 2023 ## 3\. ManageEngine OpManager: Offers customizable dashboards [ManageEngine OpManager](https://www.capterra.com/p/251336/ManageEngine-OpManager/) is a network monitoring solution that helps manage network infrastructure. You can use this tool to detect any network issue and monitor the performance of routers, switches, firewalls, servers, and virtual machines. The tool provides an overview of the network performance via a dashboard. This network performance monitor also provides over 200 widgets that you can use to create a customized performance dashboard. ManageEngine OpManager comes with applications for Android and iOS mobile devices. **Product features of interest** - **Real-time network monitoring:** Monitor network device health and critical metrics such as speed and downtime and analyze real-time performance. - **Physical and virtual server monitoring**: Track CPU, memory, and disk utilization of Windows and Linux servers as well as the performance of virtual machines. - **Root cause analysis**: Identify the root cause of an issue by analyzing past performance data and drawing conclusions to troubleshoot the issue quickly. **Customer support options:** How-to videos, help documentation, FAQs, white papers, live chat, email, and phone Best functionality #### Trial/Free Version \* Analysis Accurate as of January 2023 ## 4\. NinjaOne: Helps establish remote connections [NinjaOne](https://www.capterra.com/p/184229/NinjaOne/) is a remote monitoring and management (RMM) solution that helps monitor, manage, and support all the devices and users connected to your network. The tool allows you to control end-user devices, servers, virtual machines, and networking devices via a single interface. With this network performance monitor, you can initiate terminal sessions to establish a connection with a remote device on your network to configure the device or troubleshoot an issue. NinjaOne comes with mobile applications for Android and iOS devices. **Product features of interest** - **Monitoring and alerting**: Monitor the devices in real time and get notified automatically whenever an issue arises. - **Auto-remediation**: Automate detection and resolution of issues such as missed reboots, open ports, stopped applications, and more. - **Self-service portal**: Offer your end-users a portal through which they can raise tickets, check ticket status, and find information that may help them resolve the issues they are facing. **Customer support options:** FAQs, knowledge base, how-to guides, and phone #### Trial/Free Version - Free Trial \* Analysis Accurate as of January 2023 ## 5\. PingPlotter: Sends data packets to websites to identify network issues [PingPlotter](https://www.capterra.com/p/143523/PingPlotter/) is a network troubleshooting and diagnostic tool that measures the performance of a network connection. The tool sends small packets of data to a website and other online services to measure the time it takes for the network device to respond. It then generates round-trip time (RTT) reports that help locate problems within the network. **Product features of interest** - **Local network discovery**: Scan your network to find and list all the devices connected to your network. - **Automation**: The tool detects and automatically notifies you about any issues in the network so that you can start resolving the problem before the business gets affected. - **Shareable reports**: Publish network performance reports online or export and share them with stakeholders. **Customer support options:** Knowledge base, email, and phone #### Trial/Free Version - Free Trial - Free Version #### Starting price $20 (for 28 days) #### Device Compatibilty #### Screenshots _Multi-network monitoring in PingPlotter (_[_Source_](https://www.capterra.com/p/143523/PingPlotter/)_)_ \* Analysis Accurate as of January 2023 ## 6\. PRTG Network Monitor: Monitors network protocol performance [PRTG Network Monitor](https://www.capterra.com/p/21581/PRTG-Network-Monitor/) is a network monitoring software solution that helps manage network infrastructure. The tool can monitor various devices, including servers, switches, routers, and other network-connected devices. It can also monitor the performance of various network protocols such as Transmission Control Protocol/Internet Protocol (TCP/IP), Simple Network Management Protocol (SNMP), and Windows Management Instrumentation (WMI). It has a variety of sensors that can be used to monitor different aspects of the network, such as uptime, traffic, and CPU usage. PRTG Network Monitor comes with mobile apps for Android and iOS devices. **Product features of interest** - **Central management console**: Allows you to monitor all systems, devices, applications, traffic, and more using a single portal. - **Distributed monitoring**: Distribute and monitor your network over multiple monitoring devices for a more comprehensive network view. - **Reporting**: Create or generate automatic comprehensive sensor reports, historical data reports, and more to understand network trends and future requirements. **Customer support options:** Video tutorials, webinars, how-to guides, knowledge base, training, email, and phone #### Trial/Free Version - Free Trial \* Analysis Accurate as of January 2023 ## 7\. WhatsUp Gold: Automatically alerts when network problems occur [WhatsUp Gold](https://www.capterra.com/p/96050/WhatsUp-Gold/) is a network availability and performance monitoring software solution. The tool lets you see the status and performance of applications, network devices, and servers in the cloud or on the premise. You can use this application performance monitoring tool to monitor in-house applications and end-user response time as well. The tool automatically alerts you in case of delayed responses, downtime, or other problems that may hamper the business. WhatsUp Gold offers mobile applications for Android and iOS mobile devices. **Product features of interest** - **Network discovery**: Helps discover or identify all the devices, servers, operating systems, and more connected to your network. The tool also allows you to visualize your connections using network maps. - **Bandwidth monitoring**: Measures and analyses the amount of traffic (interfaces, links, applications, users) over the network and generates real-time bandwidth reports. - **Wireless network performance**: Assists in the discovery and performance management of connected wireless devices and generates reports and dashboards giving insights into the performance of those devices. **Customer support options:** E-books, podcasts, webinars, FAQs, and knowledge base #### Trial/Free Version - Free Trial - Free Version #### Starting price Available from vendor upon request #### Device Compatibilty #### Screenshots _Traffic analysis dashboard in WhatsUp Gold (_[_Source_](https://www.capterra.com/p/96050/WhatsUp-Gold/)_)_ \* Analysis Accurate as of January 2023 ## How to choose the best network monitoring software for your business - **Evaluate alerting capabilities**: The network monitoring solution you choose must be able to identify potential threats and notify the network administrator of any performance issues well in time. When selecting a product, look for one that offers customizable notification settings that match your IT processes. The software should have a variety of alerting options, such as text messages and email, to notify relevant personnel when issues arise in their specific network areas. Additionally, the software should provide detailed information about the problem, including its location, severity, and impact on the overall network, to minimize the need for guesswork when troubleshooting. - **Check security features:** As hackers constantly search for weak spots to exploit in your business, it is essential to invest in network management software that has robust encryption to safeguard your business networks against all types of threats. Choose software with built-in security features such as firewalls, intrusion detection and prevention systems, and encryption. - **Consider data analysis and reporting features**: Your shortlisted network management tool should be able to analyze historical data trends and make predictions about future performance. Additionally, the system should be capable of evaluating network performance based on key metrics, such as speed and latency, and provide clear, detailed data reporting for quick analysis. - **Pick a tool that offers scalability**: As your business grows, so does the number of systems, devices, and servers it comprises. When choosing a network monitoring solution, select one that can adapt to your expanding network and support multiple applications and systems as your business scales. ## How much does network monitoring software cost? Most products in the market are priced on a "per user, per month" basis and can be broken down into three common pricing tiers based on their starting price. **Price ranges:** - $1 - $2 - $3 - $16 - $17+ _\*The pricing included is for the entry-level/lowest-priced offering found on vendor websites on January 16, 2023. These ranges correspond to the 25th, 75th, and 100th percentiles of pricing information gathered from vendor websites of sample products._ **Hidden costs associated with network monitoring software** The above pricing list summarizes pricing for the base plans of most products. An enterprise or premium product priced higher may include additional features, for example, baseline manager, IP address monitoring, internet usage monitoring, and web traffic reporting. However, even if you go for the free plan of a network monitoring tool, there may be hidden costs associated with them. You may be charged extra for remote installation, customization of the tool, or integration with other systems. Inquire about such costs beforehand while looking at network monitoring solutions for your business. ## Frequently asked questions when selecting network monitoring software Does your software offer remote monitoring? A network monitoring solution can either be on-premise or cloud-based. If your workplace has multiple offices or you work remotely, go for cloud-based software for network performance monitoring because it will allow you to monitor the network remotely. Is there a mobile application for your tool? When evaluating network monitoring tools, it is important to determine if your solution of choice offers mobile apps for iOS and Android devices. Ask vendors if their mobile apps provide access to daily security reports and analytics so that you can monitor your IT infrastructure even when on the move. Does the tool have real-time threat detection? Some network security tools utilize machine learning to detect and prevent unknown threats in real time. This helps analyze network anomalies, such as suspicious URLs, malware hashes, and phishing websites, and flags them for investigation. Additionally, it analyzes internet activity to identify dangerous websites and block connections to them automatically. * * * **Methodology** To be considered for this list, products had to: - Have at least 20 unique product reviews published on Capterra within the past two years, with an average rating of 3.0 or higher, as of January 12, 2023. We selected the top seven products from [Capterra Shortlist report for network monitoring software](https://www.capterra.com/network-monitoring-software/#shortlist), having the highest ratings to feature in this article. - Include the core features of network monitoring software: bandwidth monitoring, dashboard, and server monitoring. - Meet our network monitoring software market definition: _“Network monitoring software tracks and monitors computer network systems for failed or delayed components and notifies network administrators of any network issues.”_ The “best functionality” tool is identified based on the highest user ratings for functionality that a vendor received based on user reviews as of January 12, 2023. Read more about our editorial independence Products evaluated for the pricing calculation were taken from [Capterra’s network monitoring software directory](https://www.capterra.com/network-monitoring-software/). The pricing ranges exclude freemium versions of the products. The features highlighted were identified based on their relevance and the percentage of products in the Capterra directory that offer them. * * * ### Was this article helpful? * * * ## About the Author [### Preksha Buttan](https://www.capterra.com/resources/author/pbuttan/) Preksha Buttan is a writer at Capterra. 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