Instana Infrastructure Monitoring vs SolarWinds NPM comparison

Instana Infrastructure Monitoring vs. SolarWinds NPM

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Review summaries and opinions

We asked business professionals to review the solutions they use. Here are some excerpts of what they said:

Categories and Ranking

Instana Infrastructure Moni...

Ranking in IT Infrastructure Monitoring

34th

Ranking in Cloud Monitoring Software

23rd

Average Rating

9.6

Reviews Sentiment

7.9

Number of Reviews

Ranking in other categories

No ranking in other categories

SolarWinds NPM

Ranking in IT Infrastructure Monitoring

5th

Ranking in Cloud Monitoring Software

8th

Average Rating

8.2

Reviews Sentiment

6.8

Number of Reviews

160

Ranking in other categories

Network Monitoring Software (3rd)

Mindshare comparison

As of May 2026, in the IT Infrastructure Monitoring category, the mindshare of Instana Infrastructure Monitoring is 0.7%, up from 0.5% compared to the previous year. The mindshare of SolarWinds NPM is 3.4%, down from 3.9% compared to the previous year. It is calculated based on PeerSpot user engagement data.

IT Infrastructure Monitoring Mindshare Distribution
Product	Mindshare (%)
SolarWinds NPM	3.4%
Instana Infrastructure Monitoring	0.7%
Other	95.9%

IT Infrastructure Monitoring

Featured Reviews

Hakimuddin Ronaque

Assistant Manager at Lauren Information Technologies Pvt Ltd

Has the capability to automatically integrate with a large number of products

Scalability-wise, I rate the solution an eight out of ten. I have not worked much on other technologies, like SAP or VMware's virtualization part, on-prem infrastructure, or cloud infrastructure. Instana Infrastructure Monitoring is so fast and easy to adapt that it works fine. I have not explored other operating systems or infrastructure solutions because my company doesn't have that customer scale. Most of our customers are on-prem or on AWS or Azure, but Instana Infrastructure Monitoring adapts to their infrastructure very well. My company came to know how well Instana Infrastructure Monitoring adapts to our customers' infrastructures when we take care of the PoC phase. Around 12 to 15 people in my company use the product.

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Vivek Jaiswal

Manager IT at a manufacturing company with 1,001-5,000 employees

Central monitoring has improved outage alerts and now needs smarter detection and modern dashboards

Regarding the automated network topology and mapping feature in SolarWinds NPM, I am not satisfied with it. For static monitoring, it is acceptable. However, if it is possible, I would need a feature in SolarWinds in the future for some kind of malfunctioning detection, such as malware attacks or that type of environment. We did not have any facility to detect that in SolarWinds. I think it would be better to incorporate those types of features. Regarding customization options in SolarWinds, the ability to customize the dashboard has room for improvement. The dashboard is quite old, and we need some improvement in it. Nowadays, we have multiple tools with AI-based monitoring and web-based dashboards. SolarWinds also has a web-based dashboard, but I think there is scope for improvement in the UI. There may be other areas I would like to improve in SolarWinds NPM.

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Quotes from Members

We asked business professionals to review the solutions they use. Here are some excerpts of what they said:

Pros

"The product's initial setup is easy."

"The product is easy to deploy."

"Quick to launch. No agents required. Many configuration options."

"It's just having visibility of the entire networking estate for myself and for my clients; that's the main benefit of it and it's probably the best product out there."

"The solution ranks as one of the top five monitoring tools."

"We found that it was easy to operate, and it was simple if anyone has entry-level working experience or even if someone is not experienced."

"The product covers our needs for the basic care and feeding of servers, whether they are physical or virtual."

"Being a global company with many highly-sensitive manufacturing lines and process control environments, SolarWinds consistently delivers real-time and accurate views into the deepest parts of our environment."

"We don't have any issues with the stability of SolarWinds NPM."

"SolarWinds NPM features that I have found most valuable are the reporting tools and the ability to create customized reports."

More SolarWinds NPM pros

Cons

"The product’s scalability is an area with certain limitations, making it an area where improvements are required."

"Instana Infrastructure Monitoring needs to support monitoring of the .NET framework since it is one of the areas where the solution currently has shortcomings."

"The module UIs can have different features based on what module you're in. I'd love to see feature parity between them."

"Currently lacks integration with SMS services."

"Yes, plenty of those that our systems team has spent hours on the phone with Solarwinds support with trying to rectify."

"The solution is expensive and may not be very affordable for startups or smaller companies."

"SolarWinds NPM offers limited customization options. Users and developers may find restrictions in modifying or customizing the dashboard and adjusting monitoring features such as polling intervals or SLAs for different nodes."

"With regards to suggested areas of improvement for the product, I would like to see the price come down, and in addition I think the network element mapping tool is not as robust as it should be."

"Being able to detect devices that are trying to connect wirelessly would make using this solution much easier."

"One of the problems that SolarWinds has is when the data becomes too big, it will start getting slower."

More SolarWinds NPM cons

Pricing and Cost Advice

"The cost of the tool is around 130 USD per month."

"I’d suggest that people be aware that licensing has tiers."

"Though I don't remember the price for SolarWinds NPM, its price is somewhat okay when you compare it with other tools in the market. The price isn't too high and isn't too low, so it's okay."

"It is expensive."

"There is a permanent license and also a subscription level which has annual fees. The price of the solution is fair."

"It was inexpensive when we installed it and gradually became more expensive, but it was a very inexpensive product at first."

"We have a multi-year license for the use of this solution. There are additional costs for recourses in the environment."

"There are a lot of sub-products and it just continued to increase the price."

"SolarWinds is expensive. That's why it's primarily banks using the solution. Small businesses can't afford it. Due to its pricing, most smaller enterprises like manufacturing companies are not interested. For example, we have a client who is also interested in traffic monitoring, but they are not purchasing SolarWinds because of the cost."

More SolarWinds NPM pricing and cost advice

See which vendors are best for you

Use our free recommendation engine to learn which IT Infrastructure Monitoring solutions are best for your needs.

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Comparison Review

it_user174738

IT Developer at a tech services company with 51-200 employees

May 31, 2015

Nagios vs. Zabbix vs. PRTG vs. Spiceworks vs. Solarwinds Network Performance Monitor

I have researched a quite a few network monitoring tools which can be used for various monitoring purposes of not only the servers, but the intermediate routers as well. There are majorly three types of these softwares. Ones which are completely open-source, you can do almost anything you want…

Read full review

Top Industries

By visitors reading reviews

Financial Services Firm

15%

Construction Company

12%

Computer Software Company

Outsourcing Company

Manufacturing Company

11%

Financial Services Firm

10%

Government

Computer Software Company

Company Size

By reviewers

Large Enterprise

Midsize Enterprise

Small Business

No data available

By reviewers
Company Size	Count
Small Business	59
Midsize Enterprise	33
Large Enterprise	86

Questions from the Community

What do you like most about Instana Infrastructure Monitoring?

The product is easy to deploy.

What needs improvement with Instana Infrastructure Monitoring?

The product’s scalability is an area with certain limitations, making it an area where improvements are required.

What is your primary use case for Instana Infrastructure Monitoring?

I use the solution in my company, especially if an application is down and it is considered to be a P1 issue or a critical issue. The network team will blame the application team, while the applica...

What is the best network monitoring software for large enterprises?

It actually depends on the exact purpose or kind of devices (network devices, servers, something else). Some tools are better for only network devices while others are better for a cloud monitoring...

What is the best network monitoring software for large enterprises?

From my point of view, SolarWind is the best tool.

What is the best network monitoring software for large enterprises?

We are partners with SolarWinds and we sell a lot of Network management to large enterprises also because of scalability, products like Network Performance Monitor & Netflow Traffic Analyzer ar...

NetApp Data Infrastructure Insights vs Instana Infrastructure Monitoring

Comparisons

Compared 16% of the time

Zabbix vs Instana Infrastructure Monitoring

Compared 9% of the time

IBM SevOne Network Performance Management (NPM) vs Instana Infrastructure Monitoring

Compared 8% of the time

Infraon IMS vs Instana Infrastructure Monitoring

Compared 7% of the time

Nagios XI vs Instana Infrastructure Monitoring

Compared 3% of the time

More Instana Infrastructure Monitoring Competitors

ManageEngine OpManager vs SolarWinds NPM

Compared 4% of the time

Nagios XI vs SolarWinds NPM

Compared 3% of the time

DX Spectrum vs SolarWinds NPM

Compared 3% of the time

Zabbix vs SolarWinds NPM

Compared 3% of the time

Entuity vs SolarWinds NPM

Compared 2% of the time

More SolarWinds NPM Competitors

Product Reports

IT Infrastructure Monitoring

Download Instana Infrastructure Monitoring product report

Instana Infrastructure Monitoring report

SolarWinds NPM

Download SolarWinds NPM product report

Also Known As

No data available

Solarwinds Network Performance Monitor, SolarWinds Network Bandwidth Analyzer

Overview

Instana Infrastructure Monitoring offers a robust solution designed to monitor the performance and health of complex IT environments. Its automated capabilities allow for real-time insights, helping users optimize their infrastructure systems efficiently, maintaining uptime and reliability.

The platform provides comprehensive visibility across distributed systems, facilitating data-driven decisions through its seamless integration and easy deployment. Instana Infrastructure Monitoring supports hybrid and cloud infrastructures, giving teams the control they need to ensure service availability and performance through sophisticated analytics and diagnostics tools. Its real-time alert capabilities and root cause analysis enable users to address issues proactively, minimizing downtime.

What features stand out in Instana Infrastructure Monitoring?

Automated Discovery: Identifies and maps applications within IT infrastructure automatically.
Real-Time Monitoring: Provides instant insight into application performance and health.
AI-Driven Analytics: Delivers actionable insights based on intelligent data analysis.
Root Cause Analysis: Quickly identifies and pinpoints issues impacting system performance.

What benefits or ROI should users look for in reviews?

Increased Efficiency: Streamlines monitoring processes, reducing manual efforts.
Improved Uptime: Helps maintain high service availability and fast issue resolution.
Enhanced Insights: Leverages data to offer deep learning about system behaviors.
Cost Optimizations: Identifies performance bottlenecks, optimizing resource utilization.

Instana Infrastructure Monitoring is implemented across various sectors, including finance, healthcare, and manufacturing. Its ability to adapt to specific industry requirements makes it a valuable tool for operations needing consistent system performance and real-time visibility into their infrastructure health, fostering innovation and operational excellence.

Instana

SolarWinds NPM is a network performance monitoring tool offering a user-friendly interface with customizable dashboards. It provides real-time tracking of device health, latency, and bandwidth utilization, supporting diverse integration and scalability needs.

SolarWinds NPM's robust features include real-time monitoring of network performance and efficient tracking of device health, latency, and bandwidth utilization. The tool is appreciated for its ease of deployment, scalability, and support for integration with other tools. Features like SNMP monitoring, NetPath, and comprehensive reporting enhance its diagnostic capabilities and network visibility. However, users identify areas for improvement such as real-time analytics, advanced customization options, and enhanced scalability for larger enterprises. Better customer support, improved integrations, and security measures are also desired.

What are the key features of SolarWinds NPM?

User-Friendly Interface: Simplifies navigation and operation.
Customizable Dashboards: Allows personalized data views.
Real-Time Monitoring: Provides instant updates on network performance.
Strong Alerting Capabilities: Offers immediate notifications for issues.
Scalability: Supports growth with ease.
Integration: Works smoothly with other tools for comprehensive monitoring.
SNMP Monitoring: Tracks device stats effectively.
NetPath: Helps visualize network paths and performance.

What benefits and ROI can users expect?

Improved Network Visibility: Enables proactive issue resolution.
Enhanced Diagnostics: Facilitates quicker troubleshooting.
Real-Time Performance Data: Supports informed decision-making.
Ease of Deployment: Reduces setup time and complexity.
Infrastructure Monitoring: Ensures network stability and reliability.
Custom Integration: Adapts to existing IT environments.

In enterprise environments, SolarWinds NPM is deployed to monitor network health and device status, sending alerts for any issues. It provides visibility into network performance, tracking bandwidth utilization and server metrics efficiently. Its applications span from monitoring routers, switches, and firewalls to supporting infrastructure monitoring across industries.

SolarWinds

Sample Customers

booxware, drivenow, scopevisio, enevo, TimoCom, mobitech

Microsoft, Federal Express, Hewlett-Packard, and MasterCard

Instana Infrastructure Monitoring vs. SolarWinds NPM