Network Monitoring Buyer’s Guide
Best Networking Solutions
SolarWinds Network Performance Monitor (NPM)
Mature, feature-rich on-prem platform with strong topology mapping and NetFlow. Best for larger environments that want extensive device coverage and on-site control.
PathSolutions TotalView
Lightweight deployment with very deep SNMP analytics and plain-English diagnostics. Great fit for small IT teams that need root-cause clarity without custom dashboards.
Datadog Network Monitoring
Cloud APM and infra suite with network flows, NPM, and NTA in one place. Strong for teams already in Datadog that want correlated app and network views.
Paessler PRTG Network Monitor
Sensor-based monitoring that is easy to start and flexible at scale. Good for mixed Windows and SNMP shops that want quick wins and broad protocol coverage.
Cloud and SaaS observability with network modules
LogicMonitor
SaaS monitoring with strong auto-discovery and device templates across hybrid infrastructure.
Dynatrace
AI-assisted full-stack observability with network insights tied to app performance and user experience.
New Relic
All-in-one telemetry platform; network monitoring adds flow and device context to app metrics.
Splunk Observability Cloud
High-cardinality analytics with network performance and flows for advanced troubleshooting.
Site24x7
Affordable SaaS suite covering servers, websites, and network devices for distributed teams.
Netreo
Enterprise monitoring and AIOps with network performance, logs, and automation hooks.
Open source and free choices
Zabbix
Enterprise-grade open source with strong SNMP, templates, and alerting. Powerful but hands-on.
Nagios XI/Core
Classic plugin-driven monitoring. Core is free, XI adds UI and features for enterprises.
Icinga
Modern fork of Nagios with better APIs and visuals. Good for teams that script and automate.
LibreNMS
Auto-discovered SNMP monitoring with nice graphs and alerting. A community favorite for network gear.
Observium
SNMP-focused with clean device pages and bandwidth graphs. Great for quick visibility.
Cacti
Graphing-centric tool built around RRD. Useful for long-term bandwidth trends.
OpenNMS
Scalable, open source with event correlation and service assurance features.
Centreon
French open source with enterprise add-ons and strong SNMP templates.
Pandora FMS
Flexible open source with mixed agent and agentless monitoring.
MSP and SMB-friendly platforms
Auvik
SaaS network mapping, config backup, and traffic insights built for MSPs and lean IT teams.
Domotz
Remote network monitoring and asset inventory with strong remote access features.
WhatsUp Gold (Progress)
Long-standing on-prem option with discovery, maps, and flow reporting for SMB to mid-market.
ManageEngine OpManager
Broad device support, NetFlow add-ons, and solid reporting at a competitive price.
NetFlow, NPMD, and packet analytics
Kentik
Cloud-scale flow analytics, DDoS visibility, and peering insights. Strong for WAN and ISP use.
ThousandEyes (Cisco)
Internet and WAN path visualization with synthetic tests and endpoint agents.
IBM SevOne NPM
High-scale polling and flow collection for large enterprises and carriers.
Riverbed NetProfiler
Flow-based performance analytics, often paired with Riverbed acceleration gear.
Broadcom DX NetOps
Carrier-grade suite that unifies performance, flow, and capacity planning.
AppNeta by Broadcom
Active path monitoring and end-user experience over WAN and SD-WAN.
ExtraHop Reveal(x)
Real-time packet analytics and NDR. Useful where security and performance meet.
NetBrain
Intent-based mapping and runbooks that speed network troubleshooting.
ScienceLogic SL1
AIOps platform that ingests network, cloud, and app data for correlated root-cause.
Entuity
Automated discovery and topology with performance dashboards for mid to large enterprises.
Wireless, SD-WAN, and vendor ecosystems
Cisco DNA Center Assurance
Deep assurance and telemetry for Cisco-centric networks.
Aruba AirWave
Lifecycle and performance monitoring for Aruba wireless and switching.
Juniper Mist
AI-driven assurance for Juniper wired and wireless, with user experience scoring.
Cloud provider native tools
AWS VPC Flow Logs and CloudWatch
VPC traffic visibility and metrics for AWS networks.
Azure Network Watcher
Topology, NSG flow logs, and diagnostics for Azure environments.
Google Cloud Network Intelligence Center
Connectivity tests, topology, and performance data for GCP.
How to shortlist quickly
Match deployment model
On-prem for strict control and SNMP depth. SaaS for speed and low upkeep.Check discovery and coverage
Confirm templates for your firewalls, switches, hypervisors, and SD-WAN.Validate traffic analytics
Decide between flow, packet, or synthetic tests based on your problems.Triage experience
Look for clear, plain-language findings if your team is small.Cost and effort
Price by device, sensor, or data volume can change TCO a lot.
Quick picks by scenario
Small team that needs fast root-cause: PathSolutions TotalView, Auvik, PRTG
Hybrid cloud with app correlation: Datadog, Dynatrace, New Relic
Open source with deep control: Zabbix, LibreNMS, Icinga
Carrier or very large enterprise: Kentik, IBM SevOne, Broadcom DX NetOps
Internet path and SaaS visibility: ThousandEyes, AppNeta