Side by side
Munin 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 APILinuxSelf-hosted
Choose Munin if you want free, self-hosted resource monitoring with graphing, a broad plugin ecosystem, and configurable alerts. Look elsewhere if you need a service that does not require a master-and-node installation you manage.
Visit Munin
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
| Munin | Paessler PRTG Network Monitor | |
|---|---|---|
| Free plan | Yes | Yes |
| Open source | Not published | Not published |
| Runs on | API, Linux, Self-hosted | 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 | munin-monitoring.org | paessler.com |
| On hardware monitoring software | #27 of 59 | #29 of 59 |
Munin: what it does well
- Free, open-source monitoring software.
- Graphs collected information through a web interface.
- More than 500 plugins, with custom plugins supported in any language.
- TLS can encrypt master-to-node communication.
- Deployments described from a Raspberry Pi to clusters over 100 nodes.
What to know first
- Requires a self-hosted deployment.
- Packaged installs require munin-node on each node and munin on the master.
- The homepage lists version 2.0.69 as the latest stable release.
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 Munin Alternatives to Paessler PRTG Network Monitor The whole list