Side by side
SmokePing vs WhatsUp Gold
Both stand on network monitoring. Which one you can start free with, which one lets you read the code, and what each costs once you pay.
Free plan LinuxSelf-hostedWeb
SmokePing provides detailed latency and packet-loss monitoring, with graph navigation, configurable alarms, and distributed measurement options. It requires a self-hosted Unix setup and several software prerequisites.
Visit SmokePing Free trial APISelf-hostedWeb+1
WhatsUp Gold brings infrastructure monitoring, topology mapping, automation, and integrations into one product. Its deployment and licensing limits are worth checking against the size and platform requirements of an environment.
Visit WhatsUp GoldThe facts
| SmokePing | WhatsUp Gold | |
|---|---|---|
| Free plan | Yes | A free trial |
| Open source | Not published | Not published |
| Runs on | Linux, Self-hosted, Web | API, Self-hosted, Web, Windows |
| Lowest paid plan | Free or on request | Network Detection & Response Lite: $866 a year |
| Plans published | 1 | 6 |
| Maker | Not published | Not published |
| Website | oss.oetiker.ch | whatsupgold.com |
| On network monitoring | #26 of 57 | #46 of 57 |
SmokePing: what it does well
- Stores long-term data and generates graphs with RRDtool.
- Includes probes for DNS, LDAP, SSH, HTTP, HTTPS, and TCP ping.
- Alarms can trigger on configurable latency patterns.
- Master/slave setup measures from multiple sources.
- Supports plug-in probes, alarms, and charting.
What to know first
- Installation requires Unix, Perl, RRDtool, and FPing.
- Web interface requires a CGI-capable web server.
- Exposing ARGV to the web server can create a security vulnerability.
WhatsUp Gold: what it does well
- Monitors networks, servers, applications, storage, and cloud resources.
- Topology maps show relationships, dependencies, and device status.
- Can automate common fixes with scripts and policies.
- Integrates with AWS CloudWatch and Azure Monitor.
What to know first
- Server software requires Windows Server 2019, 2022, or 2025.
- Business costs $1,229 a year for 50 devices.
- A single server can poll at most 100,000 metrics.
Alternatives to SmokePing Alternatives to WhatsUp Gold The whole list