Side by side
Icinga vs Monit
Both stand on server monitoring. Which one you can start free with, which one lets you read the code, and what each costs once you pay.
Free plan APILinuxSelf-hosted+2
Icinga offers self-hosted monitoring with a free edition and options for distributed setups, certificate monitoring, and integrations. Teams should account for its rolling update policy and package subscription requirements.
Visit Icinga Free plan LinuxMacSelf-hosted
Monit combines system checks, alerts, and process actions in a free self-hosted utility for Linux and macOS. It is worth considering when you need these controls locally, while noting the root requirement for normal process I/O metrics and the maker's stated support limits.
Visit MonitThe facts
| Icinga | Monit | |
|---|---|---|
| Free plan | Yes | Yes |
| Open source | Not published | Not published |
| Runs on | API, Linux, Self-hosted, Web, Windows | Linux, Mac, Self-hosted |
| Lowest paid plan | Module Subscription: $2,000 a year | Free or on request |
| Plans published | 4 | 1 |
| Maker | Not published | Not published |
| Website | icinga.com | mmonit.com |
| On server monitoring | #7 of 38 | #11 of 38 |
Icinga: what it does well
- Free edition includes unlimited hosts and services.
- Supports distributed environments and clustering.
- Can alert on certificates nearing expiry.
- Integrates with infrastructure and incident-management tools.
What to know first
- Self-hosted deployment is required.
- Older versions receive no maintenance under its rolling support model.
- Some installation packages require a paid subscription.
Monit: what it does well
- Can restart stopped processes and stop resource-heavy ones.
- Checks filesystems and network services.
- Offers customizable alerts and two logging destinations.
- HTTP(S) interface supports process controls and monitoring toggles.
- Works with init, upstart, and systemd.
What to know first
- Process I/O metrics normally require running as root.
- The maker directs support questions to the community mailing list.
- The maker says it cannot answer support questions sent directly to the company.