Side by side
SolarWinds Network Performance Monitor vs WhatsUp Gold
Both stand on network performance monitoring software. Which one you can start free with, which one lets you read the code, and what each costs once you pay.
Free trial Self-hostedWebWindows
NPM combines device monitoring with path analysis, alerts, wireless visibility, and capacity forecasts. Consider its self-hosted deployment and starting price when assessing whether it fits your network environment.
Visit SolarWinds Network Performance Monitor 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
| SolarWinds Network Performance Monitor | WhatsUp Gold | |
|---|---|---|
| Free plan | A free trial | A free trial |
| Open source | Not published | Not published |
| Runs on | Self-hosted, Web, Windows | 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 | solarwinds.com | whatsupgold.com |
| On network performance monitoring software | #18 of 24 | #19 of 24 |
SolarWinds Network Performance Monitor: what it does well
- Tracks response time, packet loss, bandwidth, and hardware health.
- NetPath shows routes hop by hop.
- Includes customizable and dependency-aware alerts.
- Wireless monitoring includes Cisco access point heat maps.
- Offers a fully functional 30-day trial without a credit card.
What to know first
- No free plan is listed.
- Pricing starts at $2,829.
- PerfStack metric comparison requires integration with other Orion modules.
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 SolarWinds Network Performance Monitor Alternatives to WhatsUp Gold The whole list