10 Best Network Monitoring & Management Tools in 2025

We’ve listed the 10 best network monitoring and management tools today based on actual scores from leading review sites, such as G2 and Capterra.

Network management is an essential aspect of any successful IT business. Stated simply, network management is the process that identifies, tracks, and maps a network’s health so that you gain complete visibility over your network. The goal of network management is to help you proactively manage your IT environment and reduce the risk of zero-day vulnerabilities and other cybersecurity threats.

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Table of Contents

Best network monitoring & management software

1. NinjaOne
2. Auvik
3. Domotz
4. ManageEngine OpManager
5. PRTG Network Monitor
6. Datadog Network Performance Monitoring
7. Dynatrace
8. WhatsUp Gold
9. Nagios XI
10. Zabbix

• Final Scores

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The best network monitoring & management software at a glance

Competitor	Software Type	Key Features
NinjaOne	Automated endpoint management solution	Centralized monitoring Automation Network analytics SNMP device visibility 24/7 monitoring Data encryption
Auvik	Cloud-based network management	Centralized management Automated alerts Centralized Syslog Network mapping
Domotz	Cloud-based network monitoring	Unified dashboard Integrations Network topology map Remote monitoring and management
ManageEngine OpManager	Network monitoring software	Network monitoring, Automation Alerting
PRTG Network Monitor	Network monitoring software	Bandwidth monitoring Sensors Automatic network discovery Flexible scalability
Datadog Network Performance Monitoring	Network monitoring software under the Datadog platform	Real-time monitoring Integrations Network mapping Cloud and hybrid infrastructure monitoring
Dynatrace	SaaS-based data analytics and network monitoring	Infrastructure observability Security analytics Compliance management Automation
WhatsUp Gold	Network monitoring software	Network availability monitoring Performance monitoring Real-time alerting
Nagios XI	IT infrastructure monitoring solution	IT infrastructure monitoring Centralized management Proactive alerts Scalability
Zabbix	Open-source monitoring tool	Centralized management Flexible deployment Unlimited scalability Health and integrity monitoring

What are network monitoring and management tools?

Maintaining a network’s health is essential in keeping your system functional and optimized. Network monitoring and management tools are essential in carrying out any relative operations since they can provide visibility into the performance and health of a network. These tools are capable of analyzing collected data from various network devices, servers, and applications and offer real-time insights into network traffic, bandwidth usage, latency, and device status.

Network monitoring and management tools also employ various monitoring techniques to gather data on network activity. These data are then presented through dashboards, reports, and alerts that allow network administrators to identify bottlenecks, security threats, and other potential problems. By proactively identifying and diagnosing network issues, Network monitoring and management tools help organizations prevent downtime, optimize network performance, and ensure a seamless user experience.

Do I need network monitoring & management tools?

Modern-day networks comprise different endpoints, such as routers, switches, virtual machines, and servers, all interconnected to form an organization’s IT infrastructure. As more businesses become remote and distributed, securing your network from various cyber threats has become increasingly important.

Remember that each element of the modern-day network significantly increases the attack surface for cybercriminals to target. Great network management tools give you the visibility you need to monitor and control these endpoints carefully and ensure the smooth, uninterrupted performance of your organization’s network.

A great way to think about network management is like your car dashboard: The different symbols flash when certain parameters are met, such as when your car has low fuel or someone is not wearing a seatbelt. Knowing something is “wrong” allows you to rectify the situation and prevent an accident. In a similar fashion, network management tools are warning alarms that help you maintain the health and safety of your IT business.

5 important components of network management tools

It’s worth noting that the primary purpose of network management is to deliver a secure, efficient, and reliable network to all your end users. As such, any good network management tool should be able to offer these 5 essential features.

1. Centralized network monitoring

Your IT team must ensure all necessary endpoints are connected and visible in your IT network. The best way to achieve this is through centralized network monitoring, which allows you to perform all tasks in a single dashboard. This is particularly important for remote or hybrid teams.

2. Automated management

Ideally, your network monitoring tools should leverage automation to reduce the need for manual intervention. This also lowers the risk of human error or redundancy and frees your IT technicians to focus on higher-value tasks.

3. Exhaustive and detailed message logging

Any good network management tool can generate, store, and report message logging. This helps you meet industry standard KPIs and other compliance IT compliance protocols. The most common logging mechanism for network management is the Syslog protocol, which records and transmits log messages across a wide range of systems.

4. Configuration management

Because remote work has become more prevalent, it’s important that your IT team can maintain computer systems, servers, applications, and other IT components in their desired state, wherever they’re located. Configuration management is essential to any network management tool so that you can easily diagnose any network issues and monitor your entire IT infrastructure.

5. Network Analytics

Your network management tool needs to collect and analyze real-time data to improve your network’s performance, reliability, visibility, and security. A good software provider should utilize automation so your IT staff can spend less time on repetitive tasks.

Now that we’ve discussed the basics of network management and what makes a great network management tool, let’s examine the best options available on the market today.

 

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10 best network monitoring & management tool solutions

All G2 & Capterra ratings data as of January 2025.

1. NinjaOne

NinjaOne provides native network monitoring software in its endpoint management solution, which has been rated #1 on G2 for years. One of the main advantages of its network management tool is that it offers single-pane visibility into all your SNMP devices, from routers to switches to firewalls. With NinjaOne, you gain complete visibility into the health and performance of your IT network so that your team can become more efficient.

The best part? Ninja’s network monitoring includes over 50 OID templates for common device types, including Dell, iDRAC, HP iLO, Synology NAS, and APC UPS devices.

Over 17,000 customers worldwide trust NinjaOne for its network monitoring and management solution because of its fast, accurate, and real-time polling and visibility. Designed by IT for IT, the team at Ninja has built a powerful and lightweight solution to automate the hardest parts of IT so that you and your team can focus on your core competencies without worry. The numbers speak for themselves:

• 98% customer satisfaction score (CSAT)
• 95% of all Ninja clients report increased IT efficiency after only a few days of using the platform.
• 94% reduced ticket volumes and ticket resolution times
• 93% saved time on patching
• 71% replaced more than four tools with NinjaOne

NinjaOne network monitoring software gives you the tools and features you need to optimize your IT network. Its solution offers 24/7 monitoring to immediately notify you of network abnormalities. This allows you to proactively act and remediate any issue. Further, all data in its network monitoring solution is encrypted in motion and at rest. It also employs MFA as another layer of security.

NinjaOne is also SOC 2 certified. As with all Ninja products, you can realize better business outcomes, improve employee efficiency while optimizing the user experience, and scale securely with cloud-native speed and agility in only a few months.

What users say 

Joann Dewwealth-O’Brien, Senior Technology Manager at Rare, was looking to slim their technology stack. They relied on multiple stand-alone software to handle their IT operations. That’s why they turned to NinjaOne all-in-one solution to streamline and automate all their IT processes. With NinjaOne, Rare’s IT team now has full visibility and control over their networks and devices.

“With NinjaOne, we have a single pane of glass to manage backups, [ticketing, antivirus, asset management], software updates, software deployment, remote management, and device management and monitoring

Read more NinjaOne customer stories or check out NinjaOne reviews.

NinjaOne reviews on G2

NinjaOne reviews on Capterra

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2. Auvik

Auvik is a cloud-based network management and monitoring software that automates a variety of time-consuming tasks, such as documentation and monitoring. Users can proactively manage diverse networks, endpoints, and SaaS applications in a single dashboard.

Auvik’s platform empowers IT teams to confidently navigate their IT network with less friction and lower operational risk. It does this by providing total visibility into the key parts of your IT infrastructure, contributing to more proactive management.

Use cases 

Auvik is best suited for managed service providers (MSPs) and mid-sized businesses with network environments that require proactive monitoring.

See how Auvik compares with NinjaOne or read this in-depth analysis of Auvik alternatives.

Key features

• Centralized management: Auvik has a centralized dashboard for managing distributed network infrastructure.
• Automated alerts: The platform offers network monitoring alerts, providing real-time notifications of events within the network infrastructure.
• Centralized Syslog: Auvik provides tools for centralizing, visualizing, searching, and analyzing Syslog data to facilitate issue investigation, trend identification, and network insight generation.

Shortcomings

• Complexity: Some Auvik users say the platform is a bit complex, which makes it better suited for more experienced IT professionals.
• Mobile app support: Other Auvik users pointed out that the platform’s mobile support app monitoring could be improved.
• Network device support: Some users mentioned that Auvik does not support all network devices. That’s why it’s recommended for users to check Auvik compatibility before purchasing.

Auvik reviews on G2

Auvik reviews on Capterra

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3. Domotz

Domotz is a cloud-based software that helps IT technicians remotely monitor, manage, and troubleshoot networks and connected devices. The SaaS company markets itself as a powerful solution for MSPs and IT teams of all sizes across all industries.

Its solution has integrated features, such as network configuration management, versioning and backup, network topology map, integrations with PSA, and documentation and ticketing systems.

Use cases

Domotz is marketed towards IT teams and MSPs looking for a network monitoring and management solution that can help them manage their clients’ IT infrastructure remotely.

Trial information: Domotz offers a 14-day free trial

Key features

• Unified dashboard: Domotz offers a customizable centralized console for managing networks, which gives users an overview of connected devices and their performance.
• Integrations: The platform integrates with third-party tools, from documentation and aggregation tools to PSA and ticketing.
• Network topology map: Domotz provides a graphical network topology map that illustrates device connections.

Shortcomings

• Occasional slowdown: Some users observed that the Domotz may slow down when they manage many devices.
• Map compatibility: Other Domotz users pointed out that the platform’s mMapping feature relies on SNMP compatibility and is only for specific brands.
• Navigation: Some users believe Domotz’s user interface could be improved in terms of ease of use.

Domotz reviews on G2

Domotz reviews on Capterra

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4. ManageEngine OpManager

OpManager is a ManageEngine product specifically designed for IT teams to gain visibility and control over their networks, servers, and applications. According to its website, ManageEngine OpManager is an easy-to-use solution that enables IT teams to preemptively resolve potential threats.

It is a popular tool among mid-sized to larger IT teams because it provides real-time and deep visibility into network devices, servers, virtual machines, and switches. It is specifically designed for multi-vendor enterprise IT networks.

Use cases

PRTG Network Monitor is suitable for small—to medium-sized IT environments that need a functional network monitoring solution to monitor various aspects of their infrastructure.

Trial information: PRTG Network Monitor offers a 30-day free trial

See how ManageEngine compares with NinjaOne or read a more in-depth analysis of ManageEngine alternatives.

Key features

• Network monitoring: ManageEngine OpManager offers real-time network monitoring of device health, availability, and performance.
• IT Automation: The platform also provides automation for essential and repetitive IT workflows, enhancing productivity.
• Alerting: Email and SMS alerting are also available for users of ManageEngine OpManager, allowing them to respond quickly to critical issues.

Shortcomings

• Backup: Some ManageEngine OpManager users mentioned that the platform’s backup feature for devices could be further improved.
• Support and service: Many G2 users have expressed their desire for better customer support in terms of issue resolution speed.
• Notification bug: According to some ManageEngine OpManager users, the notification tool can sometimes disappear after an upgrade and need to be manually turned on again.

ManageEngine OpManager reviews on G2

ManageEngine OpManager reviews on Capterra

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5. PRTG Network Monitor

PRTG Network Monitor is the network monitoring software by Paessler AG. The solution is used to monitor local and wide area networks (LANs and WANs), servers, websites, apps, and more. Unlike other software providers, PRTG is a classic on-premises monitoring solution.

Aside from central monitoring, PRTG Network Monitor offers high flexibility and easy scalability for IT, OT, and IoT infrastructures. IT teams have full administrative control of their IT infrastructures, which are run on dedicated services, and have complete flexibility regarding hardware maintenance, backups, and upgrades.

Use cases

PRTG Network Monitor is suitable for small—to medium-sized IT environments that need a functional network monitoring solution to monitor various aspects of their infrastructure.

Trial information: PRTG Network Monitor offers a 30-day free trial

See how PRTG compares with NinjaOne or read a more in-depth analysis of PRTG alternatives.

Key features

• Bandwidth monitoring: PRTG offers features for monitoring network traffic via protocols like SNMP, WMI, flow (NetFlow, jFlow, sFlow, IPFIX), and packet sniffing.
• Sensors: The platform also has preconfigured sensors for monitoring devices designed to monitor various aspects of IT infrastructure.
• Automatic network discovery: PRTG Network Monitor automatically discovers and maps network devices, simplifying initial setup.

Shortcomings

• Alert and notification: Some users have suggested that the alert system could benefit from enhancements to provide more refined control over notifications.
• Email alert setting: Some users have noted the Configuration of email alerts as requiring a more streamlined approach to be less complex.
• Limited built-in libraries: Some users mentioned that a broader selection of pre-built device templates and sensor libraries could simplify PRTG monitoring.

PRTG Network Monitor reviews on G2

PRTG Network Monitor reviews on Capterra

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6. Datadog Network Performance Monitoring

Datadog Network Performance Monitoring (NPM) is a well-known network management software that offers end-to-end visibility into on-premises and cloud networks. In addition to providing real-time network insights, Datadog allows you to track key network metrics, such as TCP retransmits and connection churn.

Its NPM can be used to monitor Windows and Linux devices and containerized environments orchestrated with the Istio service mesh.

Use cases

Datadog Network Performance Monitoring is ideal for IT teams managing complex cloud-based or hybrid infrastructure, particularly those with containerized applications.

Trial information: Datadog Network Performance Monitoring offers a 14-day free trial

Key features

• Real-time monitoring: Datadog features real-time network health and performance monitoring, providing immediate insights into the network within your IT infrastructure.
• Integrations: Datadog offers essential built-in integrations from billing and management tools to event management services.
• Network mapping: Datadog offers a network map that displays network topology, allowing users to visualize partitions, dependencies, and potential bottlenecks.

Shortcomings

• Complex setup: Some Datadog Network Performance Monitoring users said that the platform’s initial setup can be complex, causing a steep learning curve for new users.
• Documentation: Other users mentioned that the platform’s documentation could be improved to be less complex.
• Support and service: According to some Datadog users, customer support could be improved by improving response time responsiveness.

Datadog Network Performance Monitoring reviews on G2

Datadog Network Performance Monitoring reviews on Capterra

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7. Dynatrace

The Dynatrace platform is intended for businesses of all sizes to observe their networks with state-of-the-art analytics and automation. Its network monitoring tool contextually analyzes data to understand connections and drive better answers. Leveraging automation, Dynatrace also allows you to discover and examine key business processes.

Dynatrace offers unified observability and security with its Davis® hypermodal AI. This enables IT teams to modernize and automate cloud operations.

Use cases

Dynatrace is best suited for large enterprises seeking a network monitoring platform that can handle complex IT environments.

Trial information: Dynatrace offers a 15-day free trial

Key features

• Infrastructure observability: Dynatrace offers automated observability across cloud and hybrid environments with continuous discovery.
• Security analytics: Dynatrace employs security analytics to detect and respond to security threats, accomplished through data collection and aggregation.
• Compliance management: Dynatrace provides enterprise-grade privacy and compliance management, ensuring the managed system is compliant with relevant regulations and policies.

Shortcomings

• Complexity: Some users mentioned that Dynatrace is better suited for more experienced IT professionals due to its steep learning curve and the intricate nature of its features.
• Alerting: Other users experienced delays in problem issue alerting, impacting troubleshooting speed and responsiveness to critical incidents.
• Support for legacy systems: Instrumenting legacy technologies and customized applications can require significant time and effort, potentially prolonging problem investigation.

Dynatrace reviews on G2

Dynatrace reviews on Capterra

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8. Progress Whatsup Gold

Progress WhatsUp Gold allows your IT team to quickly identify and resolve issues either through the cloud or on-premises infrastructure. The company provides complete visibility into the status and performance of all applications, network devices, and servers.

WhatsUp Gold Layer 2/3 discovery allows you to discover, map, and monitor every connected endpoint in your IT network. This helps significantly reduce the time needed to detect and remediate any connectivity issue.

Use cases

Progress Whatsup Gold is ideal for mid-sized to large organizations that need a solution to monitor IT infrastructure components, including servers, devices, applications, and cloud environments.

Trial information: Progress WhatsUp Gold offers a 30-day free trial

Key features

• Network availability: WhatsUp Gold monitors the uptime and availability of network devices and services, providing alerts when outages or disruptions occur.
• Performance monitoring: The platform also tracks key performance metrics across your network infrastructure, including bandwidth utilization, CPU load, memory usage, and latency.
• Real-time alerting: WhatsUp Gold provides real-time alerts via various methods when network issues are detected, allowing rapid response to critical events and minimizes potential disruptions.

Shortcomings

• Reporting: Some users said that the platform’s reporting feature tool could be improved by adding more custom controls to fit the needs of the users.
• Patching: According to some G2 users, most patching needs to be implemented manually, which can impact productivity.
• Initial setup: Other Progress WhatsUp Gold users mentioned that initial configuration can be complex.

Progress WhatsUp Gold reviews on G2

WhatsUp Gold reviews on Capterra

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9. Nagios XI

Nagios XI offers enterprise-grade monitoring, alerts, and analysis of your IT network. The solution runs on the Nagios Core 4 monitoring engine, which uses high-efficiency processes for scalability and effectiveness.

One of its main marketing propositions is that it allows IT teams to proactively monitor, detect, and resolve problems through alerts sent through email, SMS, Slack, or Microsoft Teams.

Use cases

Nagios XI is aimed at system administrators and IT teams needing a monitoring solution to handle large-scale network environments.

Trial information: Nagios XI offers a 30-day free trial

Key features

• IT infrastructure monitoring: Nagios XI can monitor a range of IT infrastructure components, including servers, applications, network devices, and services.
• Centralized management: The platform offers a central console for managing and monitoring IT environments.
• Proactive alerts: Nagios XI provides alerts for detected issues, facilitating timely responses.

Shortcomings

• Learning curve: Some users said that they needed to invest time in learning Nagios XI’s features and configurations.
• Customization: Customizing Nagios XI to specific requirements may involve complex configurations, which, according to some users, can be complex.
• User interface: The Nagios XI user interface has been identified as an area for potential improvement as per some users.

Nagios XI reviews on G2

Nagios XI reviews on Capterra

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10. Zabbix

Zabbix is enterprise-class software that monitors the health and integrity of networks, servers, virtual machines, and applications, among other things. Because it uses a flexible notification mechanism, IT business leaders are immediately notified of any technical issue or vulnerability so they can remediate problems immediately.

The platform provides a single pane of glass view of your whole IT infrastructure stack, enabling IT teams to easily monitor their network and server infrastructures, cloud deployments, APIs and websites, servers and applications, and IoT devices and sensors.

Use cases

Zabbix is developed for IT teams and network administrators seeking enterprise-class monitoring.

Trial information: Zabbix offers a 5-day free trial for its cloud edition and 30 days for on-premise, which includes professional support services.

Key features

• Centralized management: Zabbix provides a centralized view for monitoring various IT infrastructure components.
• Flexible deployment options: The platform also offers several options for deploying the monitoring solution, making it adaptable to different environments and user needs.
• Unlimited scalability: Zabbix is designed to scale to accommodate growing IT environments ideal for expanding organizations.

Shortcomings

• Customer support: Some users have suggested that Zabbix’s support and service could be more responsive or comprehensive.
• Alerting: According to some users, false positives occur, leading to alert fatigue and making it harder to identify real issues.
• Limited documentation: Some users have expressed a need for more extensive Zabbix documentation to improve their troubleshooting experience.

Zabbix reviews on G2

Zabbix reviews on Capterra

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Comparison of best NMS software (G2)

 

Comparison of best NMS software (Capterra)

 

Final scores and summaries of network monitoring & management tools

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Our rankings formula

To derive the final score for each vendor, we employed a weighted formula that takes into account various metrics. Here’s how it breaks down:

Final Score = w1 * G2 Overall Star Rating + w2 * Capterra Overall Star Rating + w3 * G2 Good Partner in Doing Business + w4 * Capterra Customer Support+ w5 * G2 Total Number of Reviews (Scaled) + w6 * Capterra Total Number of Reviews (Scaled) + Other Factors

Where:

w1 = 0.15 (Weight for G2 Overall Star Rating)
w2 = 0.15 (Weight for Capterra Overall Star Rating)
w3 = 0.2 (Weight for G2 Good Partner in Doing Business)
w4 = 0.2 (Weight for Capterra Customer Support)
w5 = 0.1 (Weight for G2 Total Number of Reviews, Scaled)
w6 = 0.1 (Weight for Capterra Total Number of Reviews, Scaled)

Other Factors include additional metrics like ease of use, each multiplied by their corresponding weights:

w7 = 0.05 (Weight for G2 Ease of Use)
w8 = 0.05 (Weight for Capterra Ease of Use)

Finding the best network monitoring & management tools for your business

Today, IT technicians need to work with a comprehensive set of network management tools to ensure everything is working properly—from preventing downtime to guaranteeing their network’s overall health and security.

When using this guide, keep in mind that there is no one “perfect” solution for every company. However, the most suitable network management solution offers the appropriate tools for your specific pain points.

NinjaOne’s network monitoring and management tool is custom-built into its endpoint management solution, so everything works together seamlessly, giving you the tools you need to experience radical efficiency from day one.

If you’re ready, request a free quote, sign up for a 14-day free trial, or watch a demo.