Side by side

AIDE vs EventSentry File Monitoring

Both stand on file integrity monitoring software. Which one you can start free with, which one lets you read the code, and what each costs once you pay.

AIDE

Free plan LinuxMacSelf-hosted

AIDE provides rule-based integrity checks across a range of Unix systems and file attributes. Its optional checks and compression depend on how support is compiled in.

Visit AIDE

EventSentry File Monitoring combines file-change tracking, alerting, and cross-computer status consolidation. Note that it does not currently identify who made a change, and its full edition is priced per Windows device.

Visit EventSentry File Monitoring

The facts

	AIDE	EventSentry File Monitoring
Free plan	Yes	Yes
Open source	Not published	Not published
Runs on	Linux, Mac, Self-hosted	Linux, Mac, Web, Windows
Lowest paid plan	Free or on request	EventSentry: $85, paid once
Plans published	1	2
Maker	Not published	Not published
Website	aide.github.io	eventsentry.com
On file integrity monitoring software	#3 of 24	#5 of 24

AIDE: what it does well

Free software under GPL-2.0.
Checks a broad set of file attributes.
Supports multiple message digest algorithms.
Configuration rules can include or exclude paths.
Project offers mailing list, IRC, and issue tracker.

What to know first

Attribute checks can depend on compiled-in support.
Gzip database compression requires zlib support.
Real-time alerts are not supported.

EventSentry File Monitoring: what it does well

Tracks additions, removals, size, and checksum changes.
Collects certificates and entropy.
Consolidates monitored-file status across computers.
Supports multiple notification and integration targets.
Helps with PCI requirement 11.5.

What to know first

Does not report who changed a file.
Full edition is $85 per Windows device.
Free edition has no SIEM capability or dashboards.

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