Side by side
Ganglia vs Paessler PRTG Network Monitor
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 LinuxMacSelf-hosted+2
Ganglia combines node monitoring, cluster aggregation, and a web view of live and historical metrics. Account for the gmetad and RRDtool setup, and heed the project's security warning for publicly accessible installations.
Visit Ganglia
Free plan AndroidAPIiPhone+5
PRTG 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.
Visit Paessler PRTG Network MonitorThe facts
| Ganglia | Paessler PRTG Network Monitor | |
|---|---|---|
| Free plan | Yes | Yes |
| Open source | Not published | Not published |
| Runs on | Linux, Mac, Self-hosted, Web, Windows | Android, API, iPhone, Linux, Mac, Self-hosted, Web, Windows |
| Lowest paid plan | Free or on request | PRTG 500: $200 a year |
| Plans published | 1 | 6 |
| Maker | Not published | Not published |
| Website | ganglia.github.io | paessler.com |
| On network monitoring | #8 of 55 | #20 of 55 |
Ganglia: what it does well
- Free, BSD-licensed open-source project
- Shows live data and historical metric graphs
- Custom host metrics can be announced with gmetric
- Supports pluggable C or Python metric modules
What to know first
- The web frontend depends on gmetad
- Gmetad requires RRDtool and is not built by default
- Large data displays may call for a powerful dedicated machine
- Public installations may need upgrading or password protection
Paessler PRTG Network Monitor: what it does well
- More than 250 preconfigured sensors
- Customizable alerts and scheduled reports
- API for monitoring data and custom features
- Free iOS and Android monitoring apps
What to know first
- Mobile apps do not support cluster setups
- License sizes cannot be combined on one server
- Paid plans start at $200/mo billed annually
Alternatives to Ganglia Alternatives to Paessler PRTG Network Monitor The whole list