Side by side
NetBrain vs SolarWinds Server & Application Monitor
Both stand on application dependency mapping software. Which one you can start free with, which one lets you read the code, and what each costs once you pay.
Free trial APILinuxSelf-hosted+2
NetBrain focuses on network diagnosis, assessment, and governed change operations using live network context. It complements monitoring products rather than serving as a network-wide 24×7 monitoring solution.
Visit NetBrain
Free trial APILinuxSelf-hosted+2
SAM combines infrastructure and application monitoring with discovery, dependency mapping, templates, API polling, alerts, and reports. Its self-hosted model and component-monitor licensing make deployment and license planning important considerations.
Visit SolarWinds Server & Application MonitorThe facts
| NetBrain | SolarWinds Server & Application Monitor | |
|---|---|---|
| Free plan | A free trial | A free trial |
| Open source | Not published | Not published |
| Runs on | API, Linux, Self-hosted, Web, Windows | API, Linux, Self-hosted, Web, Windows |
| Lowest paid plan | Free or on request | Free or on request |
| Plans published | 1 | 1 |
| Maker | Not published | Not published |
| Website | netbrain.com | solarwinds.com |
| On application dependency mapping software | #14 of 42 | #18 of 42 |
NetBrain: what it does well
- Maps network layers, overlays, and underlays.
- Agents require user approval before execution.
- Supports hundreds of hardware types from 150-plus vendors.
- Offers REST API, webhooks, and MCP connections.
- Time-limited trial license is available.
What to know first
- No free plan is listed.
- Not designed for network-wide 24×7 monitoring.
- Pricing is available on request.
- Change Management and Application Assurance are add-ons.
SolarWinds Server & Application Monitor: what it does well
- Monitors Windows, Linux, VMware, Azure, and AWS
- More than 250 application templates
- Automatic discovery and dependency mapping
- REST API metric polling
- Agentless monitoring support
What to know first
- No free plan
- Pricing starts at $2,900
- Self-hosted deployment
- License based on application component monitors
Alternatives to NetBrain Alternatives to SolarWinds Server & Application Monitor The whole list