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Head-to-head · Bandwidth Monitoring Software

ElastiFlow vs Cacti

  • Updated Oct 2026
  • Both researched from official sources
  • 1 check side by side
Higher score ElastiFlow #4 in Bandwidth Monitoring Software 8.8/10 Free plan · 30-day trial Free planFree trial✓ 0 of 4 features Visit ElastiFlow
Cacti #6 in Bandwidth Monitoring Software 8.5/10 Free plan Free plan✓ 0 of 4 features Visit Cacti

ElastiFlow leads on 0 checks, Cacti on 0, and 1 is even. Who comes out ahead on the 1 yes/no, price and count check where we have data for both products. The editor score weighs everything else too.

Our verdict

  • Highest scoreElastiFlow · 8.8/10
  • Free planboth
  • Free trialonly ElastiFlow

ElastiFlow scores higher on our rubric for bandwidth monitoring software: 8.8 against 8.5 out of 10; our editors rank them #4 and #6.

ElastiFlow is the better fit for flow analytics with rich data integrations. Cacti is the better fit for free open-source network monitoring.

  • ElastiFlow fits best

    Flow analytics with rich data integrations

  • Cacti fits best

    Free open-source network monitoring

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.

Side by side

Feature ElastiFlow 8.8/10 Visit ↗ Cacti 8.5/10 Visit ↗
At a glance
Editor score 8.8 8.5
Ranking #4 in Bandwidth Monitoring Software #6 in Bandwidth Monitoring Software
Best for Flow analytics with rich data integrations Free open-source network monitoring
Pricing model Free plan + paid Free
Starting price — Free plan
Free plan ✓ ✓
Free trial 30 days —
Deployment Self-hosted Self-hosted
Platforms Linux Web, Windows, Linux
Support Community, Docs Docs, Community
Built for Small business, Mid-market, Enterprise Small business, Mid-market, Enterprise
Features ElastiFlow 0/4 · Cacti 0/4
Application monitoring Not checked yet Not checked yet
User monitoring Not checked yet Not checked yet
SNMP monitoring Not checked yet Not checked yet
Bandwidth alerts Not checked yet Not checked yet
Specs
Flow protocol support Not checked yet Not checked yet
Monitored device limit Not checked yet Not checked yet
Historical data retention Not checked yet Not checked yet
Our review
Pros
  • Collects NetFlow, IPFIX, and sFlow with enrichment and normalization
  • Integrates with Elastic, OpenSearch, Kafka, Splunk, and Cribl
  • Adds application, conversation, trend, troubleshooting, and ML analysis
  • Covers SNMP, ICMP, TCP, UDP, graphing, discovery, and alerts
  • Supports distributed collectors, aggregate graphs, and automated onboarding
  • Extends monitoring through plugins, including NetFlow and network mapping
Cons
  • Basic is limited to 4,000 records per second
  • Basic supports SNMP polling and traps for up to 25 devices
  • 24x7 dedicated support is available only with Enterprise
  • Self-hosted deployment requires infrastructure and ongoing administration
  • Advanced flow monitoring depends on plugins
  • SMS alerting and network mapping are plugin-based
Our verdict

ElastiFlow is a network observability and traffic-analysis platform for network, security, and DevOps teams. It collects NetFlow, IPFIX, and sFlow data, then decodes, transforms, normalizes, and enriches flow records with application and…

Read the review →

Cacti is an open-source network monitoring and graphing platform for teams that want to collect and visualize performance data from network devices and other hosts. Built around RRDtool, it supports SNMP, ICMP, TCP, UDP, scripts, and…

Read the review →
  1. ElastiFlowBandwidth Monitoring Software 8.8Free plan · 30-day trial
  2. CactiBandwidth Monitoring Software 8.5Free plan

Strengths and trade-offs

  • ElastiFlow — where it wins

    • Collects NetFlow, IPFIX, and sFlow with enrichment and normalization
    • Integrates with Elastic, OpenSearch, Kafka, Splunk, and Cribl
    • Adds application, conversation, trend, troubleshooting, and ML analysis

    Where it doesn't

    • Basic is limited to 4,000 records per second
    • Basic supports SNMP polling and traps for up to 25 devices
    • 24x7 dedicated support is available only with Enterprise

  • Cacti — where it wins

    • Covers SNMP, ICMP, TCP, UDP, graphing, discovery, and alerts
    • Supports distributed collectors, aggregate graphs, and automated onboarding
    • Extends monitoring through plugins, including NetFlow and network mapping

    Where it doesn't

    • Self-hosted deployment requires infrastructure and ongoing administration
    • Advanced flow monitoring depends on plugins
    • SMS alerting and network mapping are plugin-based
  • ElastiFlow8.8/10 · Free plan · 30-day trial

    A data-rich flow analytics platform for hybrid network, security, and DevOps teams.

    Visit ElastiFlowFull verdict →
  • Cacti8.5/10 · Free plan

    A broad, self-hosted monitoring suite for teams comfortable managing their own infrastructure.

    Visit CactiFull verdict →

More comparisons

All bandwidth monitoring software comparisons → · Full ranking →

Reviewed by iTechGuides Editors · Editorial team · Updated Oct 2026

Last updated · How we research and update