Side by side
Cacti vs WhatsUp Gold
Both stand on network monitoring. Which one you can start free with, which one lets you read the code, and what each costs once you pay.
Free plan LinuxSelf-hostedWeb+1
Cacti combines network data collection, availability checks, graphing, and distributed polling in a self-hosted package. Plan for its listed software requirements and the stated advanced SNMPv3 limitation when using PHP SNMP.
Visit Cacti Free trial APISelf-hostedWeb+1
WhatsUp Gold brings infrastructure monitoring, topology mapping, automation, and integrations into one product. Its deployment and licensing limits are worth checking against the size and platform requirements of an environment.
Visit WhatsUp GoldThe facts
| Cacti | WhatsUp Gold | |
|---|---|---|
| Free plan | Yes | A free trial |
| Open source | Not published | Not published |
| Runs on | Linux, Self-hosted, Web, Windows | API, Self-hosted, Web, Windows |
| Lowest paid plan | Free or on request | Network Detection & Response Lite: $866 a year |
| Plans published | 1 | 6 |
| Maker | Not published | Not published |
| Website | cacti.net | whatsupgold.com |
| On network monitoring | #3 of 57 | #46 of 57 |
Cacti: what it does well
- Supports SNMP, ICMP, TCP, and UDP checks.
- Remote collectors cache data during network interruptions.
- Plugins can extend collection to other protocols.
- Available for Linux/Unix and Windows.
What to know first
- Requires MySQL, PHP, RRDtool, and Net-SNMP.
- Requires a PHP-capable web server.
- Advanced SNMPv3 options have a documented PHP SNMP limitation.
WhatsUp Gold: what it does well
- Monitors networks, servers, applications, storage, and cloud resources.
- Topology maps show relationships, dependencies, and device status.
- Can automate common fixes with scripts and policies.
- Integrates with AWS CloudWatch and Azure Monitor.
What to know first
- Server software requires Windows Server 2019, 2022, or 2025.
- Business costs $1,229 a year for 50 devices.
- A single server can poll at most 100,000 metrics.
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