Free and open first
Best Network Monitoring in 2026
Keeping watch over a network can involve tracking devices, traffic and checks that signal whether services are available. Compared on alert channels and deployment, these monitoring tools can be considered in light of how you want to operate and receive notifications. Device limits, topology maps and traffic monitoring help frame the scope of what each entry covers; synthetic checks add another point of comparison. Free plans and paid-from pricing are listed as well. Obkio, Paessler PRTG Network Monitor and Fing Security are among the entries, along with ManageEngine OpManager and NetXMS. Think about what you need to observe and which listed monitoring features and alert channels suit that work.
- 55 apps
- Research read 23 Sept 2026
- How the order is worked out
- 1
- 2
Checkmk
Free plan Open source AndroidAPIiPhone+5Checkmk offers broad infrastructure coverage and several monitoring methods, with a free Community option for smaller environments.
- 3
ntopng
Free plan Open source APILinuxMac+3ntopng combines traffic collection, protocol identification and performance metrics in a web interface.
- 4
Cacti
Free plan LinuxSelf-hostedWeb+1Cacti combines network data collection, availability checks, graphing, and distributed polling in a self-hosted package.
- 5
Domotz
Free plan AndroidAPIiPhone+4Domotz combines device discovery and monitoring with remote management and network diagnostics. A free discovery tier is available, while ongoing paid options are billed per device or collector.
- 6
FastNetMon
Free plan APILinuxMac+2Choose FastNetMon if your network team needs configurable DDoS detection with several mitigation methods and supports its traffic input protocols.
- 7
Fing Security
Free plan AndroidAPIiPhone+5Fing combines device identification with router checks and camera scanning. The free tier is limited, and scheduled scans and continuous threat detection require a subscription.
- 8
Ganglia
Free plan LinuxMacSelf-hosted+2Ganglia combines node monitoring, cluster aggregation, and a web view of live and historical metrics.
- 9
Intermapper
Free plan APILinuxMac+3Intermapper brings network discovery, monitoring, maps, traffic analysis, and reporting together for IT teams.
- 10
- 11
LibreNMS
Free plan AndroidAPIiPhone+3LibreNMS provides broad network discovery, alerting, and monitoring capabilities at no listed plan cost. It is self-hosted, with community help and partner-provided commercial support available.
- 12
ManageEngine OpManager
Free plan AndroidAPIiPhone+4OpManager brings infrastructure metrics, traffic analysis, alerts, and troubleshooting into one self-hosted product.
- 13
EMCO Ping Monitor
Free plan WebWindowsChoose EMCO Ping Monitor if you need Windows based host monitoring with detailed ping measurements, reporting and configurable event actions.
- 14
MRTG
Free plan LinuxSelf-hostedWeb+1Choose MRTG if you need a free, self-hosted way to graph network traffic or other SNMP data, with long-range views and configurable webpages. Windows users also need a current copy of Perl.
- 15
Colasoft Capsa
Free plan WindowsCapsa combines packet inspection, network diagnosis, security analysis, and reporting in a Windows desktop tool.
- 16
NetXMS
Free plan AndroidAPILinux+4NetXMS combines discovery, topology maps, protocol support, and distributed monitoring in an open-source solution.
- 17
Obkio
Free plan AndroidAPIiPhone+4Obkio combines synthetic performance checks with device monitoring, application checks, and traceroutes.
- 18
Observium
Free plan APILinuxSelf-hosted+1Observium offers a free Community edition and paid editions with additional alerting, traffic accounting, or support features.
- 19
OpenNMS
Free plan APILinuxSelf-hosted+1OpenNMS covers network monitoring across local and remote environments, with Horizon and Meridian serving different release and subscription needs.
- 20
FreeMeter
Free plan WindowsFreeMeter covers a wide range of Windows system readings and offers flexible meter displays. Professional adds alerts, but email alerts have an SSL/TLS limitation and licenses are per computer.
- 21
Paessler PRTG Network Monitor
Free plan AndroidAPIiPhone+5PRTG combines on-premises infrastructure monitoring with alerts, reports, dashboards, and an API. Check sensor needs and the single-license-per-server limit when choosing a plan.
- 22
Site24x7 Network Monitoring
Free plan AndroidAPIiPhone+4Site24x7 Network Monitoring combines device discovery, live metrics, flow analysis, maps, integrations, and mobile access.
- 23
WhatsUp Gold
Free plan APISelf-hostedWeb+1WhatsUp Gold brings network mapping, device and application monitoring, traffic analysis and alerts into one product.
- 24
Zabbix
Free plan APILinuxMac+3Zabbix covers a broad range of monitoring sources and methods, with synthetic browser checks and a free plan. Subscription support and server or proxy allowances vary by tier.
- 25
SmokePing
Free plan LinuxSelf-hostedWebSmokePing provides detailed latency and packet-loss monitoring, with graph navigation, configurable alarms, and distributed measurement options.
#1Places #1, #2, #3, #4, #5 on this list can be bought by the makers of the software on it. See the price
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