Top 15 Paessler PRTG alternatives to try in 2026

Paessler PRTG (originally short for Paessler Router Traffic Grapher) helps IT teams monitor networks, servers, applications, and cloud resources using sensors that track performance and availability. When a sensor detects a problem, PRTG sends an alert or creates a monitoring ticket. For an MSP, resolving that issue may involve accessing a client's server, fixing the problem, and recording technician time for billing.

That work goes beyond monitoring. PRTG supports monitoring tickets and notification actions, but MSPs typically need remote monitoring and management (RMM) software for endpoint maintenance and professional services automation (PSA) software for time tracking and billing. Switching between these tools adds work to resolving client issues. PRTG's sensor-based licensing can also increase costs as monitoring expands across client environments.

So, we've compared 15 tools by monitoring coverage, pricing, and MSP service capabilities to help you find a Paessler PRTG alternative that meets your requirements.

Also read: RMM pricing models explained

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What Paessler PRTG monitors

PRTG monitors the availability and performance of networks, servers, applications, and cloud services. It uses sensors to check specific conditions, such as traffic on a router interface, CPU usage on a server, or how quickly a website responds. 

Teams can use predefined sensors or configure checks for supported systems. PRTG displays the results in dashboards and sends alerts when readings cross set limits. For example, an MSP using PRTG for network monitoring across several client offices can receive an alert when one site's internet connection goes down, rather than waiting for the client to report it.

The monitoring checks a team sets up also affect PRTG's licensing costs, as each sensor counts toward the license limit. This means a team monitoring ten network devices may need more than ten sensors to track their individual connections, network traffic, and performance. As MSPs take on more client networks, they may need more sensors even when device counts change little. This makes the licensing model of a Paessler alternative worth comparing with PRTG's sensor-based pricing.

Why IT teams look for Paessler PRTG alternatives

An IT team may consider a Paessler PRTG alternative when PRTG's sensor licensing, software maintenance, or reporting no longer meets its requirements. PRTG uses sensor-based licensing, so monitoring additional connections, services, and performance metrics increases the number of sensors a team needs.

The cost of licensing isn't the only consideration. PRTG successfully monitored services for a user working in network security, but they found its pricing model and update policy problematic. They also described updating the software as tedious. Their experience highlights the need to check both subscription costs and the work involved in maintaining the monitoring system.

PRTG's pricing depends on how many sensors a team needs. Its free edition supports up to 100 sensors, which Paessler estimates can monitor around 10 devices. Teams that exceed this limit need a paid plan, with PRTG 500 starting at $200 per month, billed annually, for up to 500 sensors. Since each device may require multiple sensors to monitor different conditions, teams should calculate their sensor requirements before estimating subscription costs.

Configuration becomes another consideration when teams need to monitor equipment beyond PRTG's predefined sensors. 

A reviewer found PRTG easy to install and appreciated its dashboards, but faced difficulties when creating custom sensors for specific systems. The reviewer also found its API and external integration options limiting, making it harder to connect PRTG with other software. These are useful areas to test when comparing alternatives, particularly if the team monitors specialized equipment or relies on integrations.

These experiences highlight specific areas to test when comparing Paessler alternatives. For MSPs managing several client environments, the evaluation should cover:

• Monitoring costs: Calculate the sensors required to track network devices, connections, services, and performance metrics.

• Setup and maintenance: Check how much work technicians need to configure sensors, manage alerts, maintain remote probes, and install updates.

• Reporting: Test whether technicians can generate reports for clients and management without repeatedly exporting and reformatting data.

• Service management: Check how monitoring alerts fit into endpoint maintenance, technician assignments, service-level agreements, and client billing.

The deployment model also affects maintenance responsibilities. PRTG Network Monitor runs on servers the organization manages, while PRTG Hosted Monitor runs in Paessler's cloud environment, where Paessler manages updates and backups. PRTG Enterprise Monitor supports larger deployments. These differences in hosting and maintenance also influence which Paessler PRTG alternative will suit an organization's existing setup.

Also read: Cloud-based RMM features, benefits, and buying guidance

How to choose the right Paessler PRTG alternative

The right Paessler PRTG alternative depends on what the team needs beyond its current monitoring setup. An IT team that needs better network maps or support for more infrastructure types should compare monitoring coverage and configuration requirements. An MSP that wants to manage endpoint fixes, service tickets, and client billing alongside monitoring needs to compare RMM and PSA capabilities as well.

This also affects how the products should be tested. A specialized monitoring tool needs to collect the required device metrics and generate useful alerts. A broader MSP platform needs to support those monitoring requirements while connecting the alerts with the technicians and service records involved in resolving them.

The main areas to compare include:

• Compare coverage for networks, servers, endpoints, cloud services, applications, traffic, and logs.

• Check whether alerts can create tickets or start a defined response workflow.

• Confirm whether technicians can view device details while working on a ticket.

• Review support for RMM, patching, help desk, asset management, and mobile devices.

• Compare sensor, device, technician, and usage-based pricing for the same monitoring requirements.

• Check whether the product runs on-premises, in the cloud, or via both options.

• Assess the setup skills, maintenance work, and support resources the platform requires.

Also read: Best RMM software and tools for 2026

15 Best Paessler PRTG alternatives in 2026

The 15 Paessler PRTG alternatives serve different monitoring and IT management requirements. Auvik, SolarWinds Network Performance Monitor, ManageEngine OpManager, and similar tools focus on network and infrastructure monitoring. Datadog and Dynatrace extend into application performance and cloud observability, while SuperOps combines supported network monitoring with remote monitoring and management (RMM) and professional services automation (PSA).

The table identifies which type of requirement each platform is best suited to.

1. SuperOps

SuperOps combines RMM and PSA so MSPs can manage client devices and support work in one platform. As a Paessler PRTG alternative, it connects supported network alerts with endpoint information and service tickets, allowing technicians to investigate an issue and document the resulting work.

Monica AI, SuperOps' built-in AI assistant, uses ticket history and device information to suggest resolutions, summarize tickets, and generate scripts. This adds troubleshooting assistance to the network monitoring and RMM workflows technicians already use.

Key features of SuperOps

• Integrated network monitoring connects alerts from supported network devices with RMM and ticketing workflows on eligible plans or add-ons.

• The RMM platform monitors endpoints, supports patch management, and provides remote access for troubleshooting.

• Monica AI analyzes alerts and tickets, generates scripts, and supports approved remediation actions for known endpoint issues.

• Cross-OS management supports Windows, macOS, and Linux endpoints, with iOS, iPadOS, and Android management available through eligible MDM plans.

• The PSA platform manages service tickets, technician time, contracts, billing, and client profitability.

• Asset management gives technicians access to device details and related service records when investigating and resolving tickets.

How much does SuperOps cost

SuperOps offers separate pricing for internal IT teams and MSPs. For IT teams, Prime starts at $1.50 per endpoint per month with a 100-endpoint minimum, while Prime Plus adds Apple and Android mobile device management.

For MSPs, Pro starts at $149 per technician per month, and Super starts at $179 per technician per month with monthly billing. Both include up to 150 managed endpoints per technician, while Super Plus follows an endpoint-based pricing model.

Network monitoring has separate device allowances on applicable MSP plans. The add-on costs $20 per month for a pack of 20 network devices on eligible plans, while Super Plus includes network monitoring. The SuperOps pricing page lists the current plans and charges.

Pros and cons of SuperOps

SuperOps connects monitoring with endpoint maintenance and service records, although network-device monitoring and mobile device management have plan-specific allowances.

2. Auvik

Auvik is a cloud-based network management platform for MSPs and IT teams. It automatically discovers network devices, creates maps showing how they connect, and monitors their availability and performance. The platform also tracks changes to supported network-device configurations. As a Paessler PRTG alternative, Auvik focuses on discovery, monitoring, and configuration backups for routers, switches, firewalls, and other network equipment.

Key features of Auvik

• Automatic discovery identifies supported devices connected to monitored networks.

• Network mapping shows connections and dependencies between discovered devices.

• Performance alerts report changes in device availability and configured performance thresholds.

• Configuration backup records settings and changes on supported network equipment.

Auvik pricing

Auvik does not publish fixed subscription prices. Its licensing is based on billable network and infrastructure devices, including routers, switches, and firewalls.

Auvik pros and cons

Auvik covers network discovery and configuration monitoring, while endpoint maintenance and MSP billing remain separate functions.

3. Datadog

Datadog monitors cloud infrastructure, applications, networks, logs, and user activity. Its application performance monitoring tracks requests as they move between software services, connecting application behavior with the infrastructure supporting it.

This makes Datadog relevant to IT and engineering teams whose monitoring requirements include application performance and cloud services. These capabilities are sold through separate monitoring products, which also affects how the total subscription cost is calculated.

Key features of Datadog

• Infrastructure monitoring tracks resource usage across cloud and on-premises systems.

• Application performance monitoring connects request traces with application and infrastructure metrics.

• Network monitoring collects information about traffic, device health, and network connections.

• Log management allows teams to collect and search application and infrastructure logs.

How much does Datadog cost

Datadog prices its monitoring products separately. Infrastructure Pro starts at $15 per host per month, application performance monitoring at $31 per monitored APM host per month, and Network Device Monitoring at $7 per device per month, with annual billing.

Log ingestion, indexing, and retention introduce additional usage-based charges. As a result, the total depends on which monitoring products are enabled and how much data they collect.

Pros and cons of Datadog

Datadog's application and infrastructure monitoring products provide different types of performance data, but they also introduce separate billing measures.

4. SolarWinds Network Performance Monitor

SolarWinds Network Performance Monitor (NPM) helps IT teams monitor network-device availability, faults, and performance. Along with monitoring routers, switches, and other network equipment, it provides NetPath analysis to examine connections between users and network services. Its network maps and dependency-aware alerts also help teams identify related device failures.

This makes SolarWinds NPM a Paessler PRTG alternative for organizations that need network performance monitoring and path analysis. Endpoint patching and MSP billing require separate products.

Key features of SolarWinds NPM

• Network monitoring collects performance data from routers, switches, firewalls, and other supported devices.

• NetPath displays network routes and performance measurements between users and services.

• Topology maps show connections and dependencies between monitored network devices.

• Dependency-aware alerts account for related device failures when generating notifications.

How much does SolarWinds NPM cost

SolarWinds Network Performance Monitor starts at $2,829. The company does not specify a billing period alongside this published starting price.

NPM licensing depends on the number of monitored nodes, network interfaces, and storage volumes. Each license tier sets a limit for all three, with the highest count determining the required tier.

Pros and cons of SolarWinds NPM

5. ManageEngine OpManager

ManageEngine OpManager monitors network equipment, servers, and virtual infrastructure. It brings device availability and performance data into one console, covering routers, switches, firewalls, and supported physical and virtual servers.

The platform can also forward monitoring alerts to external service desk tools. Those integrations support ticket creation and incident follow-up, while PSA software handles additional MSP functions, including contracts, technician time, and billing.

Key features of ManageEngine OpManager

• Network monitoring tracks supported routers, switches, firewalls, and wireless equipment.

• Server monitoring collects performance data from physical servers and virtual machines.

• Performance dashboards display device health, resource usage, and historical measurements.

• Service desk integrations forward supported monitoring alerts to connected ticketing platforms.

How much does ManageEngine OpManager cost

ManageEngine OpManager uses device-based licensing. Its annual Base Product subscription costs $4,595 for 250 monitored devices and two users.

A licensed device can have multiple interfaces and sensors without requiring a separate license for each one. Additional users and certain monitoring capabilities have separate charges.

Pros and cons of ManageEngine OpManager

OpManager covers network and server monitoring in one product, but endpoint maintenance and wider service operations rely on other ManageEngine products or integrations.

Also read: ManageEngine alternatives 

6. LogicMonitor

LogicMonitor is a cloud-based Paessler PRTG alternative for monitoring networks, servers, applications, and cloud services. It collects data through monitoring collectors installed in supported environments and displays the results in its hosted platform.

This setup allows IT teams to monitor infrastructure across data centers and cloud platforms without maintaining the central monitoring server. The collectors still require deployment and administration, which forms part of the platform's maintenance requirements.

Key features of LogicMonitor

• Network monitoring collects availability and performance metrics from supported network equipment.

• Server monitoring tracks physical machines, virtual systems, and cloud resources.

• Automatic discovery identifies supported infrastructure and applies monitoring configurations.

• Performance alerting generates notifications from configured thresholds and monitored conditions.

How much does LogicMonitor cost

LogicMonitor uses Hybrid Units to calculate licensing. A Hybrid Unit is a billing measure that converts monitored resources into comparable units. For example, one monitored on-premises device counts as one Hybrid Unit, while five wireless access points can count as one unit.

These are starting monthly list prices. Final charges depend on the number and type of monitored resources, the selected package, and contract terms.

Pros and cons of LogicMonitor

LogicMonitor hosts its central monitoring platform, while customers remain responsible for the collectors and the resources counted toward their subscriptions.

Also read: Top Atera alternatives and competitors

7. Zabbix

Zabbix is an open-source monitoring platform for networks, servers, applications, and cloud resources. It allows technical teams to configure their own monitoring checks, alerts, and dashboards without paying a software license fee.

The software runs on infrastructure managed by the organization. Teams can also deploy Zabbix proxies at remote sites to collect monitoring information and send it to the central server, although hosting and maintenance remain their responsibility.

Key features of Zabbix

• Infrastructure monitoring tracks performance and availability across supported systems.

• Custom checks and triggers generate alerts for configured monitoring conditions.

• Distributed monitoring collects data from remote locations through Zabbix proxies.

• Dashboards and reports display current measurements and historical monitoring data.

How much does Zabbix cost

Zabbix software is free to use when self-hosted. Paid subscriptions cover technical support, response times, and defined support allowances.

Pros and cons of Zabbix

Zabbix removes software license fees, but the organization remains responsible for installing, configuring, and maintaining the monitoring environment.

8. Checkmk

Checkmk is a Paessler PRTG alternative for monitoring networks, servers, storage, cloud resources, and containers. It uses service checks to track individual conditions on a monitored system, such as CPU usage, disk capacity, or network-interface availability.

Automatic discovery identifies supported checks on each monitored host. These checks also influence Checkmk Cloud pricing, which depends on the number of monitored services rather than the number of hosts alone.

Key features of Checkmk

• Infrastructure monitoring tracks supported networks, servers, storage, and cloud resources.

• Service discovery identifies available monitoring checks on supported hosts.

• Dashboards and historical charts display performance measurements over time.

• Monitoring rules configure thresholds, checks, and notifications.

How much does Checkmk cost

Checkmk Community is free, while its commercial editions provide additional capabilities and support.

Cloud costs depend on monitored service volume, while self-hosted editions follow their own licensing terms.

Pros and cons of Checkmk

Checkmk provides individual service checks across monitored infrastructure, with different maintenance and licensing arrangements for its editions.

9. Site24x7

Site24x7 is a cloud-based monitoring platform for websites, servers, networks, applications, and cloud services. It checks website availability and response times while collecting performance data from supported infrastructure.

The platform also includes public status pages for communicating service interruptions. Its plans provide specific allowances for websites, servers, and other monitoring resources, with additional monitors available through add-ons.

Key features of Site24x7

• Website monitoring checks availability and response times from monitoring locations.

• Server monitoring collects performance data from supported physical and cloud servers.

• Application monitoring tracks response times through supported monitoring products.

• Public status pages publish service availability and incident updates.

How much does Site24x7 cost

Site24x7 All-in-One Lite starts at $10 per month with monthly billing or $9 per month when billed annually. The plan includes two servers and five websites, with additional monitoring available through add-ons.

Its dedicated MSP plan starts at $59 per month, or $54 per month with annual billing. It includes monitoring allowances across nine customer accounts.

Pros and cons of Site24x7

Site24x7 combines website and infrastructure monitoring, although its entry plans limit the number of resources included.

10. Domotz

Domotz is a cloud-based network monitoring and remote management platform for MSPs and IT teams. It discovers connected devices across client sites, tracks their availability, and provides remote access to supported equipment.

The platform also records network-device configurations and can restart compatible equipment through power-management integrations. As a Paessler PRTG alternative, Domotz focuses on network monitoring and remote device maintenance; endpoint software deployment remains a separate RMM capability.

Key features of Domotz

• Automatic discovery identifies devices connected to monitored networks.

• Remote access connects technicians to supported network equipment.

• Power controls restart compatible devices through supported integrations.

• Configuration backup records settings from supported network devices.

How much does Domotz cost

Domotz costs $35 per collector per month. A collector monitors one site or network, with unlimited devices included in the subscription.

For MSPs, a 12-month volume commitment reduces the per-site rate, with discounted subscriptions billed monthly. Published rates start at $31.50 per site for five sites and fall to $17.50 per site at 500 or more sites.

Pros and cons of Domotz

Domotz licenses monitoring by site, so the number of client locations affects costs even though each collector includes unlimited devices.

11. Nagios XI

Nagios XI is a commercial monitoring platform built on the Nagios Core engine. It monitors servers, networks, applications, and services through agents and plugins, which are programs that perform individual monitoring checks.

Nagios XI adds configuration wizards and reporting to the underlying monitoring engine. Technical teams can use existing plugins or configure additional checks, although custom monitoring introduces additional administration work.

Key features of Nagios XI

• Infrastructure monitoring checks the availability and performance of supported systems.

• Plugins and agents extend monitoring to additional devices and services.

• Configuration wizards guide setup for supported monitoring checks.

• Dashboards and reports display monitoring results and alert history.

How much does Nagios XI cost

Nagios XI uses perpetual licensing based on monitored nodes. A node is a server or network device included in the license.

Its free license supports up to seven nodes or 100 services, whichever limit is reached first. The 100-node Standard license costs $2,595, while Enterprise costs $4,690.

The purchase includes one year of maintenance and support. The Standard license continues to work after that period, but retaining updates, support, and certain premium features requires renewal.

Pros and cons of Nagios XI

Nagios XI's plugin system expands the types of checks available, but custom monitoring configurations still need ongoing maintenance.

12. OpenNMS

OpenNMS is an open-source platform for monitoring large and distributed networks. It collects device faults, performance measurements, and network events from monitored infrastructure.

Organizations can deploy Horizon, the free open-source distribution, or Meridian, the commercially supported distribution. The monitoring capabilities, release management, and support arrangements differ between these options, making the chosen edition an important part of the comparison.

Key features of OpenNMS

• Fault monitoring detects failures affecting supported network devices and services.

• Performance monitoring tracks network and system measurements over time.

• Traffic monitoring collects information about network usage.

• Event management processes monitoring events from distributed infrastructure.

How much does OpenNMS cost

OpenNMS Horizon is free. Meridian offers annual subscriptions with different deployment allowances and support arrangements.

The Basic subscription provides access to commercial releases. Higher tiers introduce additional deployment allowances and technical support.

Pros and cons of OpenNMS

The main licensing distinction is between Horizon's self-managed deployment and Meridian's commercial subscriptions.

13. WhatsUp Gold

WhatsUp Gold is a Paessler competitor that combines network-device discovery, topology mapping, availability checks, and performance tracking. It identifies supported network equipment and maps the connections between devices, while monitoring rules generate alerts when equipment becomes unavailable or exceeds configured thresholds.

The platform offers Business, Enterprise, and Enterprise Plus subscriptions. These editions differ in monitoring features, support, and the number of installations included.

Key features of WhatsUp Gold

• Device discovery identifies supported equipment connected to monitored networks.

• Topology mapping displays connections between discovered devices.

• Network monitoring tracks device and interface availability and performance.

• Alerting generates notifications from monitored conditions and thresholds.

How much does WhatsUp Gold cost

WhatsUp Gold offers subscription and perpetual licensing. Annual subscriptions start at $1,229 for Business, $2,049 for Enterprise, and $3,469 for Enterprise Plus, each covering 50 monitored devices. Perpetual licenses use different editions, with Premium starting at $5,089 for 50 devices and Total Plus at $14,439 for 50 points.

Pricing depends on the selected edition, number of monitored devices, and additional features. Business supports one installation, Enterprise supports up to two, and Enterprise Plus supports up to four. Enterprise Scale offers a customizable number of installations.

Pros and cons of WhatsUp Gold

14. LibreNMS

LibreNMS is a free, open-source network monitoring platform with automatic device discovery and configurable alerts. It uses Simple Network Management Protocol (SNMP) to collect network traffic and performance data from compatible devices.

Teams can build dashboards and review historical performance measurements without paying a software license fee. Since LibreNMS is self-hosted, the organization also manages installation, upgrades, backups, and maintenance.

Key features of LibreNMS

• Automatic discovery identifies supported equipment on monitored networks.

• SNMP monitoring collects measurements from compatible network devices.

• Custom alerting generates notifications from configured monitoring conditions.

• Performance graphs display historical device and interface measurements.

How much does LibreNMS cost

LibreNMS does not charge a standard software license fee. Organizations still pay for hosting and the work involved in installation, upgrades, backups, and troubleshooting.

Pros and cons of LibreNMS

LibreNMS removes software licensing costs, with hosting and technical administration remaining the organization's responsibility.

15. Dynatrace

Dynatrace monitors enterprise applications and the infrastructure supporting them. It uses distributed tracing to follow requests between software services, while dependency maps show which applications and components communicate with one another.

Its AI-assisted analysis examines the monitoring data collected from these systems. Dynatrace's application-focused monitoring also has a consumption-based pricing model, with charges varying according to the resources and capabilities used.

Key features of Dynatrace

• Application monitoring tracks performance through distributed tracing.

• Dependency mapping shows connections between applications and supporting services.

• AI-assisted analysis examines related monitoring data during performance investigations.

• Infrastructure monitoring collects metrics from supported hosts and cloud resources.

How much does Dynatrace cost

Dynatrace uses consumption-based pricing under an annual platform commitment. Charges depend on the monitoring capabilities and resources used.

Infrastructure Monitoring costs $0.04 per host-hour, while Full-Stack Monitoring costs $0.01 per memory GiB-hour. Foundation & Discovery starts at $0.01 per host-hour.

A memory GiB-hour represents one gibibyte of monitored host memory for one hour. Usage charges draw against the annual commitment.

Pros and cons of Dynatrace

Dynatrace combines application tracing and infrastructure monitoring, with costs calculated using different consumption measures.

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Why MSPs should consider SuperOps as a Paessler PRTG alternative

SuperOps is a Paessler PRTG alternative for MSPs that want network alerts connected with their service operations. It combines RMM and PSA, allowing technicians to investigate device issues and manage the resulting support work without relying on separate systems.

When a client's network device goes offline, SuperOps' network-monitoring capabilities help technicians identify the affected equipment. They can review its details and manage the issue through a service ticket. If an endpoint is affected, SuperOps' advanced monitoring agent collects its health data for the technician. RMM provides remote access for maintenance, and PSA records the work against the client's account. Monica AI assists with ticket analysis and supported remediation.

The comparison below shows how this approach differs from PRTG's monitoring-focused capabilities.

Final remarks

SuperOps is worth considering for MSPs that want monitoring alerts to lead into their existing support workflows. By bringing RMM and PSA together, it helps technicians manage an incident from investigation through to the service record, with Monica AI assisting during troubleshooting.

PRTG remains relevant for teams that rely on detailed infrastructure monitoring. Before moving to SuperOps, MSPs need to confirm that it supports their existing network checks and understand how network-device licensing affects the cost.

See how SuperOps connects network alerts with endpoint information, support tickets, and technician activity. Book a demo.