Side by side
Bandwidth Monitor vs MRTG
Both stand on bandwidth monitoring software. Which one you can start free with, which one lets you read the code, and what each costs once you pay.
Free plan APIiPhoneLinux+4
Pick Bandwidth Monitor if you want a free, self-hosted Linux dashboard with traffic views, network diagnostics, and an API. Look elsewhere if you need a daemon that runs on macOS, Windows, or iOS, or cannot grant the required network permissions for some functions.
Visit Bandwidth Monitor Free plan LinuxSelf-hostedWindows
MRTG combines network traffic collection with configurable graph pages and long-term consolidated logs. Its monitoring options and platform-specific downloads are useful facts to weigh alongside its GPL terms.
Visit MRTGThe facts
| Bandwidth Monitor | MRTG | |
|---|---|---|
| Free plan | Yes | Yes |
| Open source | Not published | Not published |
| Runs on | API, iPhone, Linux, Mac, Self-hosted, Web, Windows | Linux, Self-hosted, Windows |
| Lowest paid plan | Not published | Free or on request |
| Plans published | None | 1 |
| Maker | Not published | Not published |
| Website | github.com | mrtg.org |
| On bandwidth monitoring software | #6 of 31 | #13 of 31 |
Bandwidth Monitor: what it does well
- Free and open source under GNU AGPL v3.0.
- Shows interface rates, top talkers, host details, and traffic history.
- Includes network diagnostics such as traceroute and DNS checks.
- Optional integrations cover DNS and WiFi services.
- Provides JSON endpoints and a live Server-Sent Events stream.
What to know first
- The dashboard daemon runs on Linux only.
- Some statistics require CAP_NET_ADMIN or root.
- Some capture and diagnostic functions require CAP_NET_RAW or root.
- The iOS client requires a reachable running instance.
MRTG: what it does well
- Free under the GNU GPL.
- Graphs cover daily through twelve-month views.
- Supports SNMPv2c 64-bit counters.
- Can customize generated webpage appearance.
- Includes RRDtool hooks.
What to know first
- No free trial is listed.
- The license has stated authorship and relicensing restrictions.
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