The Best Network Monitoring Software in 2026
We researched network monitoring products using official vendor websites, including pricing pages, plan tables, and product documentation. Rankings focus on the category’s core job, value for money, and verified features that help midmarket teams monitor devices, links, and network health.
Our top picks
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Top ranked
Paessler PRTG Network Monitor#1 of 299.2/10Windows-centered, sensor-based monitoring with discovery, flow analysis, and alerting.
Free plan · 30-day trial
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Runner-up
9.1/10Self-hosted network monitoring with discovery, path maps, alerts, and capacity reports.
Pricing on request · 30-day trial
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Top-ranked free plan
ManageEngine OpManager#3 of 299.0/10Self-hosted network monitoring with discovery, maps, traffic analysis, and device-based plans.
Free plan · 30-day trial
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 29 tools, best first
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Best forTeams needing broad monitoring that scales by sensor count
Windows-centered, sensor-based monitoring with discovery, flow analysis, and alerting.
Free plan · 30-day trial Our Paessler PRTG Network Monitor verdict → Visit PaesslerFor vendors Sponsor this spot · #1 · $149/mo →9.2/10★★★★★Visit Paessler -
Best forMidmarket teams managing multi-vendor networks
Self-hosted network monitoring with discovery, path maps, alerts, and capacity reports.
Pricing on request · 30-day trial Our SolarWinds Network Performance Monitor verdict → Visit SolarWindsFor vendors Sponsor this spot · #2 · $99/mo →9.1/10★★★★★Visit SolarWinds -
Best forMidmarket teams wanting network-focused monitoring
Self-hosted network monitoring with discovery, maps, traffic analysis, and device-based plans.
Free plan · 30-day trial Our ManageEngine OpManager verdict → Visit ManageEngineFor vendors Sponsor this spot · #3 · $79/mo →9.0/10★★★★☆Visit ManageEngine -
Best forTeams needing broad hybrid infrastructure monitoring
Broad hybrid monitoring with self-hosted and managed plans for growing infrastructure teams.
Free plan · 30-day trial Our Checkmk verdict → Visit CheckmkFor vendors Sponsor this spot · #4 · $69/mo →8.9/10★★★★☆Visit Checkmk -
Best forTeams comfortable operating open-source monitoring
A free, broad monitoring platform for teams prepared to operate open-source software.
8.8/10★★★★☆Visit Zabbix -
Best forLarge networks needing flow analytics and capacity planning
Flow analytics, alerting and historical capacity planning for large network environments.
8.7/10★★★★☆Visit IBM -
Best forEnterprise teams managing complex network changes
Broad network observability with discovery, flow analysis, and configuration control.
- SNMP monitoring
8.6/10★★★★☆Visit OpenText -
Best forTeams centered on flow and application performance analysis
Flow-focused monitoring for teams investigating application and network performance.
8.5/10★★★★☆Visit Flowmon -
Best forEnterprise teams troubleshooting distributed services
A service-assurance platform for enterprise teams tracing network and application performance.
8.4/10★★★★☆Visit NETSCOUT -
Best forTeams focused on network configuration control
A multi-vendor network monitor with optional, detailed configuration control.
8.3/10★★★★☆Contact NEC -
Best forBudget-conscious teams focused on SNMP graphs
A self-hosted SNMP collection and graphing tool for teams that want control over their monitoring stack.
8.2/10★★★★☆Visit Cacti -
Best forTechnical teams extending a free monitoring core
A free, self-hosted monitoring core with flexible checks and alerting, configured mainly through text files.
8.1/10★★★★☆Visit Nagios Core -
Best forTeams seeking affordable, extensible infrastructure
Flexible infrastructure monitoring with a free tier and broad connector support.
8.0/10★★★★☆Visit Centreon -
Best forTeams wanting cloud-managed network monitoring
Cloud network monitoring with topology, traffic, configuration history, and alert integrations.
7.9/10★★★★☆Visit Auvik -
Best forTeams monitoring hybrid infrastructure and services
Hybrid infrastructure monitoring with automated discovery, mapping, and cloud coverage.
7.8/10★★★★☆Visit LogicMonitor -
Best forTechnical teams wanting free, self-hosted monitoring
A self-hosted monitor for teams that want discovery, traffic data, maps, and configurable alerts.
7.7/10★★★★☆Visit LibreNMS -
Best forTeams wanting open-source distributed monitoring
A self-hosted network monitor with flow analysis, topology discovery, and Minion-based distribution.
7.6/10★★★★☆Visit OpenNMS -
Best forSmall teams and MSPs monitoring modest device fleets
Device discovery, topology, SNMP and traffic monitoring with flexible entry pricing.
7.5/10★★★★☆Visit Domotz -
Best forTeams prioritizing network telemetry and synthetic tests
A broad network operations view, priced for teams that need more than basic monitoring.
7.4/10★★★★☆Visit Kentik -
Best forTeams wanting cloud-based network monitoring
Cloud network monitoring with discovery, Layer 2 maps, flow analysis, and configuration controls.
7.3/10★★★★☆Visit Site24x7 -
Best forTeams diagnosing latency, loss, jitter, and VoIP quality
Focused monitoring for diagnosing latency, packet loss, jitter, and VoIP quality.
7.2/10★★★★☆Visit Obkio -
Best forTeams seeking a supported Nagios monitoring interface
A self-hosted Nagios interface with broad infrastructure checks and a free license option.
7.1/10★★★★☆Visit Nagios XI -
Best forTeams needing self-hosted mapping and path visibility
A broad infrastructure monitor with a free edition and paid plans priced by device count.
7.0/10★★★★☆Visit WhatsUp Gold -
Best forTeams wanting visual maps and basic network monitoring
Visual network monitoring with a free five-device plan and quote-based paid licensing.
6.9/10★★★☆☆Visit Intermapper -
Best forTeams seeking self-hosted device polling and traffic maps
Observium discovers devices and maps network performance, with paid tiers adding monitoring depth and support.
6.8/10★★★☆☆Visit Observium -
Best forTeams focused on NetFlow traffic investigation
A flow-focused monitor for investigating network traffic, with reporting, alarms and topology maps.
6.7/10★★★☆☆Visit Plixer -
Best forCisco-centric teams analyzing flows and path performance
Cisco-focused topology, flow, and path monitoring for complex network environments.
6.6/10★★★☆☆Visit LiveNX -
Best forTeams needing extensible distributed monitoring
Extensible distributed monitoring for complex, multi-protocol infrastructure.
5.3/10★★★☆☆Visit NetXMS -
Best forEnterprise teams automating application releases
Release deployment automation, not a network monitoring tool.
5.1/10★★★☆☆Visit Broadcom
No tools match those filters.
Compare at a glance
| # | Tool | Free plan | Paid from | Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Paessler PRTG Network Monitor | Yes | $200/mo | 9.2 |
| 2 | SolarWinds Network Performance Monitor | No | 9.1 | |
| 3 | ManageEngine OpManager | Yes | $95/yr | 9.0 |
| 4 | Checkmk | Yes | €190/mo | 8.9 |
| 5 | Zabbix | Yes | €245/mo | 8.8 |
| 6 | IBM SevOne Network Performance Management | 8.7 | ||
| 7 | OpenText Network Observability | 8.6 | ||
| 8 | Progress Flowmon | No | 8.5 | |
| 9 | NETSCOUT nGeniusONE | No | 8.4 | |
| 10 | NEC MasterScope Network Manager | 8.3 | ||
| 11 | Cacti | Yes | Free | 8.2 |
| 12 | Nagios Core | Yes | Free | 8.1 |
| 13 | Centreon | Yes | €2.27/unit/yr | 8.0 |
| 14 | Auvik Network Management | No | 7.9 | |
| 15 | LogicMonitor | No | $16/mo | 7.8 |
| 16 | LibreNMS | Yes | Free | 7.7 |
| 17 | OpenNMS | Yes | 7.6 | |
| 18 | Domotz | Yes | $15/device/mo | 7.5 |
| 19 | Kentik Network Monitoring System | No | $2,000/mo | 7.4 |
| 20 | Site24x7 Network Monitoring | No | $42/mo | 7.3 |
| 21 | Obkio | Yes | 7.2 | |
| 22 | Nagios XI | Yes | $2,595/unit one-time | 7.1 |
| 23 | WhatsUp Gold | Yes | $1,229/yr | 7.0 |
| 24 | Intermapper | Yes | 6.9 | |
| 25 | Observium | Yes | £250/yr | 6.8 |
| 26 | Plixer Scrutinizer | No | 6.7 | |
| 27 | LiveAction LiveNX | No | 6.6 | |
| 28 | NetXMS | Yes | 5.3 | |
| 29 | Automic Continuous Delivery Automation | 5.1 |
Head-to-head All 5 comparisons →
- Paessler PRTG Network Monitor vs Checkmk
- Paessler PRTG Network Monitor vs OpenText Network Observability
- SolarWinds Network Performance Monitor vs OpenText Network Observability
- Zabbix vs OpenText Network Observability
- OpenText Network Observability vs Progress Flowmon
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How we rank network monitoring - midmarket 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
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