Side by side
Fing Security vs perfSONAR
Both stand on network troubleshooting software. Which one you can start free with, which one lets you read the code, and what each costs once you pay.
Free plan AndroidAPIiPhone+5
Fing combines device identification with router checks and camera scanning. The free tier is limited, and scheduled scans and continuous threat detection require a subscription.
Visit Fing Security
Free plan APILinuxSelf-hosted
perfSONAR provides coordinated network measurement and data access for operators managing their own deployment. It is free to use, but maintaining nodes and test configuration is part of running it.
Visit perfSONARThe facts
| Fing Security | perfSONAR | |
|---|---|---|
| Free plan | Yes | Yes |
| Open source | No | Not published |
| Runs on | Android, API, iPhone, Linux, Mac, Self-hosted, Web, Windows | API, Linux, Self-hosted |
| Lowest paid plan | Premium: $79.99 a year | Free or on request |
| Plans published | 5 | 1 |
| Maker | Not published | Not published |
| Website | fing.com | perfsonar.net |
| On network troubleshooting software | #2 of 18 | #6 of 18 |
Fing Security: what it does well
- Alerts identify unknown devices by brand, model, and type
- Checks router firmware and DNS hijacking risks
- Camera scanning uses a database of over 12 million models
- Fing Agent supports Raspberry Pi, Docker, or NAS
- Integrations include Home Assistant and IFTTT
What to know first
- Free plan allows up to three scans per day
- Scheduled vulnerability scans require a subscription
- Continuous threat detection requires a subscription
- Fing Desktop is not currently available for Linux
perfSONAR: what it does well
- Free and open source under Apache License 2.0
- Coordinates tests across multiple nodes
- Stores results locally or on a central dashboard
- Provides APIs for raw data access
- Supports throughput and latency tests
What to know first
- Requires operator-managed local server infrastructure
- Users must maintain nodes and test configuration
- Concurrent tests on one interface may affect accuracy
- Distributed without warranty
Alternatives to Fing Security Alternatives to perfSONAR The whole list