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The Best File Integrity Monitoring Software in 2026

We researched file integrity monitoring software from official websites, including pricing pages, plan tables and product documentation. Products are ranked on their core job, value for money and verified features, helping security and IT teams compare tools for detecting unauthorized changes to files and critical system objects.

Our top picks

  1. Top ranked

    A broad hybrid integrity suite for organizations managing compliance and infrastructure change.

    Pricing on request

  2. Runner-up

    Enterprise monitoring with detailed endpoint context, watchlists, and investigation workflows.

    Pricing on request

  3. Top-ranked free plan

    FIM#4 of 33
    8.4/10

    A free, open-source FIM with real-time alerts, detailed change detection, and SIEM exports.

    Free plan

Advertiser disclosure: iTechGuides is reader-supported. Vendors can pay for top positions in our rankings and for a place on other products' pages, and we may earn a commission when you click some links. Bought places stand at the number bought; this page and our disclosure say so. Paying vendors may get a fuller, more detailed review from our editors, and that review can change their score. How we rank.

The full ranking 33 tools, best first

33 tools
  1. Best forEnterprise integrity and compliance programs

    A broad hybrid integrity suite for organizations managing compliance and infrastructure change.

    • Agentless monitoring
    • Compliance reports
    • Configuration monitoring
    9.4/10★★★★★
    Visit Cimcor
  2. Best forEndpoint teams investigating integrity changes

    Enterprise monitoring with detailed endpoint context, watchlists, and investigation workflows.

    • Compliance reports
    • Configuration monitoring
    • Real-time alerts
    8.8/10★★★★☆
    Visit Tanium
  3. Best forBudget-conscious teams wanting broad security coverage

    Broad security coverage with real-time FIM, starting at $5 per server monthly.

    8.5/10★★★★☆
    Visit Atomic OSSEC
  4. FIM

    Best forFree cross-platform open-source FIM

    A free, open-source FIM with real-time alerts, detailed change detection, and SIEM exports.

    • Real-time alerts
    8.4/10★★★★☆
    Visit Achiefs
  5. Best forLarge teams needing mature FIM workflows

    A mature FIM platform for teams managing compliance, drift, and infrastructure changes.

    8.2/10★★★★☆
    Visit Fortra
  6. Samhain

    Best forFree Unix-focused monitoring with central logging

    Free, Unix-focused monitoring with centralized logging and broad host-security checks.

    • Configuration monitoring
    • Real-time alerts
    8.2/10★★★★☆
    Visit Samhain
  7. Best forWindows file access and ransomware monitoring

    A focused Windows tool for real-time file auditing, ransomware protection, and server monitoring.

    • Compliance reports
    • Configuration monitoring
    • Real-time alerts
    8.1/10★★★★☆
    Visit PA File Sight
  8. OSSEC

    Best forOpen-source FIM with optional managed features

    A flexible open-source FIM with optional paid rules, scanning, and support.

    Free plan · 14-day trial Our OSSEC verdict → Visit OSSEC
    7.9/10★★★★☆
    Visit OSSEC
  9. AIDE

    Best forUnix administrators needing deep baseline checks

    A detailed baseline checker for Unix administrators who do not need real-time alerts.

    • Configuration monitoring
    Open source Our AIDE verdict → Visit AIDE
    7.8/10★★★★☆
    Visit AIDE
  10. Best forLinux users wanting lightweight real-time FIM

    A focused, open-source FIM for one Linux workstation with deep metadata tracking.

    • Real-time alerts
    7.7/10★★★★☆
    Visit Vigil Baseline
  11. Best forFree command-line baseline checking

    A free command-line tool for baseline checks, policy monitoring, and signed integrity reports.

    7.6/10★★★★☆
    Visit Tripwire
  12. Best forWindows-only monitoring with detailed reporting

    A focused Windows monitor with strong detection and reporting, priced for paid deployments.

    • Compliance reports
    • Real-time alerts
    7.5/10★★★★☆
    Visit EventSentry
  13. Best forCompliance-focused infrastructure teams

    A compliance-focused change monitoring platform with broad infrastructure coverage.

    • Agentless monitoring
    • Compliance reports
    • Configuration monitoring
    7.4/10★★★★☆
    Visit Netwrix
  14. FileAudit

    Best forFile access auditing across Windows and cloud stores

    A Windows-focused monitor for access trails, permissions audits, and mass-activity alerts.

    • Agentless monitoring
    • Compliance reports
    • Real-time alerts
    7.4/10★★★★☆
    Visit FileAudit
  15. Best forWindows and Active Directory environments

    A broad Windows auditing platform with useful free coverage and paid compliance depth.

    • Agentless monitoring
    • Compliance reports
    • Configuration monitoring
    7.3/10★★★★☆
    Visit ADAudit Plus
  16. Best forMicrosoft-heavy auditing and compliance teams

    A Microsoft-focused auditor for file activity, permissions, compliance, and response.

    • Agentless monitoring
    • Compliance reports
    • Configuration monitoring
    Pricing on request · 20-day trial Our Lepide Auditor verdict → Visit Lepide
    7.2/10★★★★☆
    Visit Lepide
  17. Best forWindows Server file-change auditing

    A focused Windows Server tool for centralized file-change auditing, alerts, and reporting.

    • Compliance reports
    • Real-time alerts
    7.1/10★★★★☆
    Visit Quest
  18. Wazuh

    Best forOpen-source FIM within a broader SIEM

    A broad open-source security platform for teams that want FIM alongside SIEM capabilities.

    Free plan · 14-day trial Our Wazuh verdict → Visit Wazuh
    6.9/10★★★☆☆
    Visit Wazuh
  19. Best forSOC teams where FIM feeds incident response

    A broad security operations platform where FIM supports a wider SIEM workflow.

    • Real-time alerts
    Pricing on request Our Rapid7 InsightIDR verdict → Visit Rapid7
    6.5/10★★★☆☆
    Visit Rapid7
  20. Best forIBM Z environments needing dataset integrity

    A specialized IBM Z security portfolio with checksum monitoring, alerts, auditing and compliance controls.

    • Compliance reports
    • Configuration monitoring
    • Real-time alerts
    Pricing on request Our IBM zSecure verdict → Visit IBM
    6.3/10★★★☆☆
    Visit IBM
  21. Best forIndustrial environments with configuration monitoring

    A broad OT security platform with configuration monitoring for industrial environments.

    6.2/10★★★☆☆
    Visit Kaspersky
  22. Best forBasic open-source command-line FIM

    A focused, free command-line FIM tool for technical security teams.

    • Configuration monitoring
    5.9/10★★★☆☆
    Visit site
  23. Best forSecurity teams already using Elastic

    A broad security analytics platform with useful integrity-event workflows, but limited FIM-specific depth.

    • Real-time alerts
    Free plan · 14-day trial Our Elastic Security verdict → Visit Elastic
    5.6/10★★★☆☆
    Visit Elastic
  24. Best forTeams needing integrity plus application control

    A focused on-premises choice for teams combining file integrity monitoring with application control.

    • Compliance reports
    • Configuration monitoring
    • Real-time alerts
    5.5/10★★★☆☆
    Visit Trellix
  25. Best forSQL teams focused on database security

    A strong database-security service, but not a dedicated file integrity monitor.

    5.5/10★★★☆☆
    Visit Microsoft
  26. Best forSelf-hosted SIEM teams needing FIM

    A self-hosted SIEM that adds file integrity monitoring to centralized security operations.

    • Real-time alerts
    5.4/10★★★☆☆
    Visit SolarWinds
  27. Avidemux

    Best forVideo editing, not FIM

    A capable free video utility, but not a file integrity monitoring product.

    5.4/10★★★☆☆
    Visit Avidemux
  28. Best forEndpoint security teams needing integrity checks

    Broad endpoint security with real-time integrity monitoring and hybrid administration.

    • Configuration monitoring
    • Real-time alerts
    5.2/10★★★☆☆
    Visit Kaspersky
  29. Best forKubernetes teams needing runtime security

    A broad Kubernetes security suite for runtime protection and vulnerability management.

    Pricing on request Our Sysdig Secure verdict → Visit Sysdig
    5.1/10★★★☆☆
    Visit Sysdig
  30. Best forContainer teams monitoring runtime drift

    Container-focused monitoring that combines runtime drift detection with security controls.

    Pricing on request · 30-day trial Our Trend Vision One Container Security verdict → Visit Trend Micro
    5.1/10★★★☆☆
    Visit Trend Micro
  31. Best forNetwork teams wanting broad monitoring with alerts

    Broad infrastructure monitoring with a weaker fit for dedicated file integrity work.

    5.1/10★★★☆☆
    Visit Paessler
  32. Best forTeams focused on external attack-surface discovery

    A strong fit for external asset discovery, not a primary file integrity monitoring tool.

    Pricing on request · 15-day trial Our CrowdStrike Falcon Surface verdict → Visit CrowdStrike
    5.0/10★★☆☆☆
    Visit CrowdStrike
  33. Best forWordPress site owners needing basic protection

    A practical WordPress security layer with scanning, firewall controls, and centralized management.

    4.8/10★★☆☆☆
    Visit Wordfence

No tools match those filters.

Compare at a glance

#ToolFree planPaid fromDeploymentReal-time alertsSupported platformsScore
1CimTrak Integrity SuiteHybridYesWindows, Windows Server, Linux, FreeBSD, Solaris, macOS, HP-UX, AIX, network devices, databases, hypervisors, cloud platforms, and containers9.4
2Tanium Integrity MonitorHybridYesWindows, Linux, Solaris, AIX8.8
3Atomic OSSECNo$55/device/yr8.5
4FIMYesFreeOn_premisesYesLinux (Ubuntu, CentOS), Windows, macOS8.4
5Tripwire EnterpriseNo8.2
6SamhainYesFreeOn_premisesYesPOSIX systems including Linux, *BSD, Solaris, AIX, HP-UX, Mac OS X; Windows via Cygwin8.2
7PA File SightNo$30/device/moOn_premisesYesWindows 8, 8.1, 10, 11; Windows Server 2012, 2012 R2, 2016, 2019, 2022, 20258.1
8OSSECYes$55/device/yr7.9
9AIDEFreeOn_premisesNoModern Unix; downstreams include Debian GNU/Linux, Ubuntu, FreeBSD, Gentoo, Homebrew, MacPorts, NixOS, OpenBSD, openSUSE/SUSE, and Red Hat/CentOS/Fedora7.8
10Vigil BaselineYesFreeOn_premisesYesLinux desktop distributions including Arch, Debian, Ubuntu, and Fedora7.7
11Open Source TripwireYesFreeOn_premisesNoLinux, macOS, BSD variants, Solaris, AIX, HP-UX, Minix, Haiku, GNU/Hurd, Cygwin7.6
12EventSentry File Monitoring$85/device one-timeOn_premisesYesWindows NT 4 SP6, Windows 2000, XP SP3, Vista, Server 2003, Server 2008/R2, Windows 7, 8/8.1, Server 2012/R2, Windows 10, Server 2016, Server 2019, Windows 11, Server 2022, Server 20257.5
13Netwrix Change TrackerNoOn_premisesYesWindows, Linux, Unix, AIX, Solaris, VMware ESXi, cloud platforms, network devices, databases7.4
14FileAuditNo$40/moHybridYesWindows Server 2012 R2 or later; Windows 8.1 or later; OneDrive for Business; SharePoint Online; Microsoft Teams; Google Workspace; Dropbox Business; Box7.4
15ManageEngine ADAudit PlusYes$595/yrOn_premisesYesWindows Active Directory, Microsoft Entra ID, AWS Managed Microsoft AD, AD FS, Azure, AWS, GCP, Windows Server, Windows workstations, macOS workstations, Windows file servers, Windows failover clusters, and supported NAS devices7.3
16Lepide AuditorNoHybridYesActive Directory, Microsoft Entra ID, Windows File Server, Exchange, Microsoft 365, SharePoint, SQL Server, NetApp, Dell EMC, Dropbox, Amazon S3, Nasuni, Nutanix7.2
17Quest Change Auditor for Windows File ServersNoOn_premisesYesWindows Server 2016, Windows Server 2019, Windows Server 2022, Windows Server 20257.1
18WazuhYes$571/mo6.9
19Rapid7 InsightIDRCloudYes6.5
20IBM zSecureOn_premisesYesIBM Z mainframe; Microsoft Windows6.3
21Kaspersky Industrial CyberSecurity PlatformOn_premises6.2
22OWASP Four CloverYesFree5.9
23Elastic SecurityYes$0.09/GB usage-basedHybridYes5.6
24Trellix Application and Change ControlOn_premisesYesWindows, Linux, UNIX5.5
25Microsoft Defender for SQLNoHybrid5.5
26SolarWinds Security Event ManagerNoYes5.4
27AvidemuxYesFree5.4
28Kaspersky Endpoint Security for BusinessHybridYesWindows, Windows Server, Linux, macOS, Android, iOS5.2
29Sysdig Secure5.1
30Trend Vision One Container SecurityNo5.1
31Paessler PRTG Network MonitorYes5.1
32CrowdStrike Falcon SurfaceNo5.0
33Wordfence SecurityYes4.8

Head-to-head All 28 comparisons →

Explore other topics All topics →

How we rank file integrity monitoring software

Every tool on this page was researched by iTechGuides Editors from its official website — pricing pages, plan tables and product documentation. We rank on how well each one does this category's core job, what the free or entry plan includes, and where it falls short. Where we have enough verified facts, the score out of 10 is a rubric — job fit, value and how much we could verify — shown with its breakdown on every tool's page; a tool we have not verified enough to score yet shows its rank without a number. Scores are re-checked when a product changes its plans. Read the full editorial policy, or submit a tool we missed.

Reviewed by iTechGuides Editors · Editorial team · Updated Oct 2026

Last updated · How we research and update