Side by side
HWiNFO vs Paessler PRTG Network Monitor
Both stand on hardware 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 Windows
HWiNFO brings hardware details, real-time status monitoring, reporting, and logging together, with free personal and non-commercial use. Commercial users should account for the Pro license requirement and the shared-memory limit on non-Pro 64 and ARM64 versions.
Visit HWiNFO
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
| HWiNFO | Paessler PRTG Network Monitor | |
|---|---|---|
| Free plan | Yes | Yes |
| Open source | Not published | Not published |
| Runs on | Windows | Android, API, iPhone, Linux, Mac, Self-hosted, Web, Windows |
| Lowest paid plan | Subscription Pro: $29 a year | PRTG 500: $200 a year |
| Plans published | 6 | 6 |
| Maker | HWiNFO | Not published |
| Website | hwinfo.com | paessler.com |
| On hardware monitoring software | #33 of 59 | #29 of 59 |
HWiNFO: what it does well
- Free for personal and non-commercial use
- Reports hardware details and monitors status in real time
- Supports remote monitoring and custom sensors
- Offers reports, status logging, and tool integrations
- Says it does not transmit data over the network
What to know first
- Remote monitoring is limited to five devices
- Non-Pro 64 and ARM64 shared memory is limited to 12 hours
- Commercial use of HWiNFO 64 or ARM64 requires Pro
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 HWiNFO Alternatives to Paessler PRTG Network Monitor The whole list