Side by side
NetHogs vs SoftPerfect Bandwidth Manager
Both stand on bandwidth monitoring software. Which one you can start free with, which one lets you read the code, and what each costs once you pay.
Choose NetHogs if you want a free tool for seeing which Linux processes account for network bandwidth, especially during a sudden increase. Look elsewhere if you need process attribution on Mac OS X or FreeBSD, where it displays connections without identifying their processes.
Visit NetHogsSoftPerfect Bandwidth Manager provides traffic limits, monitoring, quotas, and reporting, with Enterprise adding deep packet inspection. Consider the five-rule Lite limit, Windows management console, and licence scope when choosing a plan.
Visit SoftPerfect Bandwidth ManagerThe facts
| NetHogs | SoftPerfect Bandwidth Manager | |
|---|---|---|
| Free plan | Yes | Yes |
| Open source | Not published | Not published |
| Runs on | Linux, Mac | Linux, Mac, Windows |
| Lowest paid plan | Free or on request | Standard — single device: $49, paid once |
| Plans published | 1 | 10 |
| Maker | Not published | Not published |
| Website | github.com | softperfect.com |
| On bandwidth monitoring software | #16 of 33 | #20 of 33 |
NetHogs: what it does well
- Groups network bandwidth by process.
- Can show the PID linked to a sudden traffic increase.
- Does not require a special kernel module.
- Included in most Linux distributions.
- May be redistributed under GPLv2 or later.
What to know first
- On Mac OS X and FreeBSD, it shows connections but not processes.
- Non-root use requires specific capabilities, including extra ones to display process names.
- The text interface depends on ncurses; user-level capture depends on libpcap.
SoftPerfect Bandwidth Manager: what it does well
- Rules can target IPs, ports, protocols, and interfaces.
- Centralized configuration is available.
- Includes quotas, scheduling, reports, and a live monitor.
- Enterprise adds deep packet inspection.
- Paid licences include one year of free updates.
What to know first
- Free Lite allows five rules or streams.
- No web-based management interface is listed.
- Windows 10 is the minimum for version 3.3.0.
- FAQ notes no support for Windows bridged connections.
Alternatives to NetHogs Alternatives to SoftPerfect Bandwidth Manager The whole list