Top 7 Free Network Monitoring Tools based on 1,000+ Reviews in 2024

The network monitoring tools have become indispensable for ensuring the performance, reliability, and security of IT infrastructure. ~75 billion devices are expected to be connected to networks by 2025, increasing the importance of network monitoring tools.¹

Free network monitoring tools can be a great solution for SMEs aiming to enhance their network’s efficiency and security without incurring high costs. If you are working at a:

• Small or medium business, see top free network monitoring tools
• Enterprise or large data center, you may be interested in enterprise-focused network monitoring tools because free versions of proprietary tools have significant limitations.

This article reviews free network monitoring software, detailing their functionalities, benefits, and comparison with paid alternatives.

Top 7 free network monitoring tools

Network monitoring tools available for free offer an excellent option for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) looking to improve the efficiency and security of their network without significant expenses.

*Ratings and reviews are based on G2 and Capterra. Vendors who received more reviews are ranked first.

OS coverage of free network monitoring tools

Shared Features of Top 7 Network Monitoring Tools

These shared features form the backbone of effective network monitoring and are a testament to what users have come to expect from top-tier solutions.

1. Real-time monitoring: All tools provide real-time insights into network performance, allowing IT professionals to identify and address issues.
2. Alerts and notifications: They come equipped with customizable alerts to notify administrators about critical issues, ensuring that potential problems are flagged.
3. Device and service monitoring: Monitoring of devices and services is a standard feature, covering everything from routers and switches to servers and applications.
4. Performance analytics: Each tool offers performance analytics capabilities enables users to track network health, utilization trends, and other performance metrics over time.
5. Visualization and dashboards: With intuitive dashboards and visualization options, these tools present data in an easily digestible format, simplifying the task of network management.
6. Automated device discovery: Identifies devices within the network automatically, simplifying setup.
7. Visualization tools: Offers dashboards and maps for a visual representation of network statuses and performance.
8. Multi-platform support: Compatible with a range of operating systems including Windows, Linux, and Unix. While all selected solutions are multi-platform, free versions of some proprietary solutions only support Windows.

In-depth analysis of 7 free network monitoring tools

1. Wireshark

Wireshark supports a wide range of protocols, allowing for detailed network traffic examination. The software enables the analysis of network data in real-time and also allows for the review of previously captured data.

Figure 1: Wireshark Main Window²

• Pros: Deep packet inspection, supports a wide range of protocols.
• Cons: Requires a good understanding of network protocols to be fully utilized.

Source: Wireshark G2 User Reviews ³

Reviews

• G2: 4.7/5 based on 139 reviews ⁴
• PeerSpot: 4.5/5 based on 95 reviews⁵
• TrustRadius: 9.3/10 based on 135 votes ⁶

2. Paessler PRTG Network Monitor (Free Version)

Paessler PRTG’s free version accommodates up to 100 sensors. It targets small networks and offers the flexibility to monitor various network elements.

• Pros: Intuitive user interface, easy to set up.
• Cons: Limited number of sensors in the free version.

Source: PRTG Network Monitor (Free Version) Capterra Pros & Cons ⁷

Reviews

• G2: 4.6/5 based on 86 reviews ⁸
• PeerSpot: 4.1/5 based on 95 reviews⁹
• TrustRadius: 8.6/10 based on 236 votes ¹⁰

3. ManageEngine OpManager (Free Version)

ManageEngine OpManager Free Version offers device templates for over 2000 device types, simplifying network setup and monitoring. It features NOC View Dashboards for a single-screen network overview, enabling preemptive discrepancy detection.

Figure 2: ManageEngine OpManager ¹¹

Pros: The free version includes pre-configured templates for over 2000 device types, facilitating easy setup and comprehensive monitoring from the start.

Cons: Limited to monitoring a specific number of devices, which may necessitate upgrading to a paid version for larger networks.

Source: G2¹²

Reviews

• Capterra: 4.4/5 based on 206 reviews ¹³
• PeerSpot: 4/5 based on 44 reviews¹⁴
• TrustRadius: 8.9/10 based on 82 votes ¹⁵

Read: Top +10 ManageEngine Alternatives in ’24: 4k+ Reviews Analyzed

4. Icinga 2

Icinga 2, an open-source monitoring tool. It collects SNMP Object Identifiers for detailed device monitoring and integrates with Logstash for efficient SNMP Trap handling.

Figure 3: Icinga 2 ¹⁶

• Pros: Flexible and extensible, excellent for custom monitoring scenarios.
• Cons: Can be complex to configure and manage.

Source: Icingca 2 Capterra Pros & Cons ¹⁷

Reviews

• Capterra: 4.5/5 based on 16 reviews ¹⁸
• PeerSpot: 3.8/5 based on 16 reviews¹⁹
• TrustRadius: 8.1/10 based on 22 votes ²⁰

5. Prometheus

Prometheus, part of the Cloud Native Computing Foundation, is designed for monitoring the services in microservices architecture. It’s especially well-suited for monitoring cloud-native environments.

Figure 4: Prometheus Demo Dashboard ²¹

• Pros: Highly scalable, great for dynamic or cloud-based environments.
• Cons: Query language can be complex for new users.

Source: Prometheus Capterra Pros & Cons ²²

Reviews

• G2: 4.4/5 based on 19 reviews ²³
• PeerSpot: 4.1/5 based on 27 reviews²⁴
• TrustRadius: 8.1/10 based on 92 votes ²⁵

6. Zabbix

Zabbix offers a centralized web interface that simplifies monitoring management and provides native monitoring agents for a spectrum of operating systems and devices.

Figure 5: Zabbix²⁶

• Pros: Highly scalable, supports custom scripts for monitoring.
• Cons: Steeper learning curve for new users.

Source: Zabbix Capterra Pros & Cons ²⁷

Reviews

• G2: 4.3/5 based on 185 reviews ²⁸
• PeerSpot: 4.1/5 based on 96 reviews²⁹
• TrustRadius: 8.5/10 based on 165 votes ³⁰

7. Nagios Core

Nagios Core allows for the use of customized add-ons for specific device monitoring with vendor-specific monitoring plugins.

Figure 6: Nagios Core³¹

• Pros: Extensive plugin ecosystem, strong community support.
• Cons: Configuration can be complex and time-consuming.

Source: Nagios Core Capterra Pros & Cons ³²

Reviews

• Capterra: 4.3/5 based on 185 reviews ³³
• PeerSpot: 4/5 based on 46 reviews³⁴
• TrustRadius: 7/10 based on 164 votes ³⁵

Enterprise-focused network monitoring tools

For those seeking advanced solutions tailored to enterprise-level network monitoring, consider exploring our detailed insights and reviews. Discover in depth evaluations of industry-leading tools like AKIPS (sponsored), Auvik, Atera, and others. Dive into our expert analyses through articles such as:

• In-Depth Look at AKIPS Network Monitoring Software in 2024
• Enterprise Network Monitoring in 2024: 7 Best Practices
• Top 10 Network Monitoring Software/Network Management Software based on 3K+ Reviews
• Top 5 Network Performance Monitoring Tools

For more on network monitoring

• Top 7 Free Network Monitoring Tools based on 1,000+ Reviews in 2024
• Top 5 AI Network Monitoring Use Cases and Real-Life Examples in ’24
• Top 8 Network Observability Tools in ’24: 2k+ Reviews Analyzed
• Top 10 Network Monitoring Software based on 3,000+ Reviews

External Links

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• 10. “Paessler PRTG” TrustRadius. Accessed 20 March 2023.
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