PRTG Network Monitor vs SolarWinds NPM comparison

Paessler GmbH and SolarWinds are both solutions in the Network Monitoring Software category. Paessler GmbH is ranked #5 with an average rating of 8.6, while SolarWinds is ranked #3 with an average rating of 8.5. Paessler GmbH holds a 2.9% mindshare in NMS, compared to SolarWinds’s 3.7% mindshare. Additionally, 92% of Paessler GmbH users are willing to recommend the solution, compared to 92% of SolarWinds users who would recommend it.

PRTG Network Monitor

Read 113 PRTG Network Monitor reviews

14,738 Views
10,317 Comparison Views

92% willing to recommend

SolarWinds NPM

Read 160 SolarWinds NPM reviews

18,343 Views
14,124 Comparison Views

92% willing to recommend

PRTG Network Monitor

SolarWinds NPM

Comparison Buyer's Guide

Download the report

Executive SummaryUpdated on Mar 29, 2026

SolarWinds NPM and PRTG Network Monitor compete in the comprehensive network monitoring solutions category. SolarWinds NPM has the upper hand with its advanced features catering to medium to large enterprises, though PRTG Network Monitor excels in environments that prioritize simplicity and quick deployment.

Features: SolarWinds NPM provides detailed insights into network performance with features like NetPath and real-time data on device performance, making it well-suited for medium to large enterprises. Its capabilities extend to monitoring virtual machines and servers, providing a granular view of infrastructure. PRTG Network Monitor offers a user-friendly design with rich visualization capabilities and a straightforward setup process, appealing to environments where ease of use is critical. It includes an intuitive interface and comprehensive dashboard functionalities.

Room for Improvement: SolarWinds NPM needs to address challenges in real-time analytics and enterprise-level scaling. Its integration with other tools also requires enhancement. PRTG Network Monitor's areas for improvement include expanding its enterprise scalability, enhancing detailed reporting capabilities, and broadening its range of sensors and integrations.

Ease of Deployment and Customer Service: SolarWinds NPM offers flexible deployment options across on-premises and hybrid environments, though its technical support can be inconsistent, especially for enterprise-level clients. PRTG Network Monitor is praised for its straightforward deployment and responsive support, although international market support could improve.

Pricing and ROI: SolarWinds NPM offers a cost-effective solution for enterprises with modular pricing, but the cost can escalate as more features are added. It provides significant ROI through comprehensive network insights. PRTG Network Monitor has a simpler licensing model that is more cost-effective for smaller businesses, though its shift to subscription models requires careful long-term pricing strategy consideration.

To learn more, read our detailed PRTG Network Monitor vs. SolarWinds NPM Report (Updated: April 2026).

Buyer's Guide

PRTG Network Monitor vs. SolarWinds NPM

April 2026

Download the complete report

Helped 893,311 peers since 2012

Review summaries and opinions

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

ROI

Sentiment score

6.5

PRTG Network Monitor boosts productivity, reduces costs through user-friendly proactive alerts, minimizing downtime and optimizing system performance.

Sentiment score

7.0

SolarWinds NPM enhances network management and cost efficiency, providing superior monitoring, fast issue resolution, and significant ROI.

It provides accurate data for utilization, allowing us to monitor and optimize our investments in WAN connection capacity.

Mahmoud Abd El-Rasol

Network Manager at a financial services firm with 1,001-5,000 employees

After introducing PRTG Network Monitor, we have saved time, and it's easy for everybody to monitor everything.

reviewer2759802

Architect at a consultancy with 1-10 employees

The implementation reduced our employee resources from 20-25 to 5-6 employees.

Madhan Cs

Senior consultant at Cambridge Institute of Technology

For more quotes and insights, download the PRTG Network Monitor report

The return on investment is significant as the solution effectively reduces costs while being worth its expense.

Wahyu Krisnamukti

Network Administrator at PT Bni Life Insurance

For more quotes and insights, download the SolarWinds NPM report

Customer Service

Sentiment score

6.7

Technical support is generally responsive and effective, with a focus on email and extensive online resources, despite varying response times.

Sentiment score

6.9

SolarWinds NPM support is knowledgeable and helpful but faces criticism for slow responses and aggressive sales tactics.

They resolve our queries 24/7.

madhan kumar hs

software engineer at Capgemini

The setup process is well-documented, making it easy to deploy.

Tochukwu Uzomba

Solutions Architect at Boch Systems Company Limited

Tutorials are available so I can manage any issue with PRTG Network Monitor easily.

SikanderAli

IT Infrastructure Engineer at Atlas

For more quotes and insights, download the PRTG Network Monitor report

If there is no timely response, getting a resolution is more difficult.

SJ6

Network Security Engineer at a comms service provider with 51-200 employees

We had contact with SolarWinds regarding the implementation, and they were helpful.

Wahyu Krisnamukti

Network Administrator at PT Bni Life Insurance

They have good technical support.

Tochukwu Uzomba

Solutions Architect at Boch Systems Company Limited

For more quotes and insights, download the SolarWinds NPM report

Scalability Issues

Sentiment score

7.4

PRTG Network Monitor is scalable and adaptable, though high sensor counts may challenge servers, yet effectively supports diverse organizations.

Sentiment score

6.9

SolarWinds NPM offers scalable solutions for various environments, with possible increased costs and challenges on virtual platforms.

On a scale of one to ten, scalability is rated as 9.5.

Tochukwu Uzomba

Solutions Architect at Boch Systems Company Limited

PRTG Network Monitor has the ability to scale and add new devices.

SikanderAli

IT Infrastructure Engineer at Atlas

You can install them in each network, even if they are not connected, and it works.

Petr Pouzar

IT Consultant at M-COM s.r.o

For more quotes and insights, download the PRTG Network Monitor report

SolarWinds NPM is scalable and effective in handling large network infrastructures.

Tochukwu Uzomba

Solutions Architect at Boch Systems Company Limited

For more quotes and insights, download the SolarWinds NPM report

Stability Issues

Sentiment score

8.0

PRTG Network Monitor is highly stable and reliable, with minimal issues, high ratings, and continuous operation without outages.

Sentiment score

7.5

SolarWinds NPM is stable, with issues arising during upgrades; regular updates and support enhance its performance.

We haven't needed vendor support for the last three years, which demonstrates the product's stability.

Mahmoud Abd El-Rasol

Network Manager at a financial services firm with 1,001-5,000 employees

PRTG Network Monitor is stable in my experience, and I have not encountered issues with crashes or downtime.

Megha Pawar

Associates at Mphasis

PRTG Network Monitor is very stable and requires low maintenance.

ShubhamBharti

Software Engineer at Asahi Beverages

For more quotes and insights, download the PRTG Network Monitor report

The NPM product is stable, particularly when used for simple network monitoring.

SJ6

Network Security Engineer at a comms service provider with 51-200 employees

For more quotes and insights, download the SolarWinds NPM report

Room For Improvement

PRTG Network Monitor needs improvements in customization, integration, support, monitoring features, and cost-effectiveness for enhanced user experience.

SolarWinds NPM users seek improvements in network discovery, interface, integration, resource usage, cloud support, security, and pricing adjustments.

The initial auto-discovery added too many unnecessary sensors, so auto-discovery should only take the necessary sensors into consideration.

Madhan Cs

Senior consultant at Cambridge Institute of Technology

They need to improve application performance monitoring, error tracing mechanisms, and log management.

Tochukwu Uzomba

Solutions Architect at Boch Systems Company Limited

PRTG Network Monitor should provide syslog monitoring since it is not available at this time.

SikanderAli

IT Infrastructure Engineer at Atlas

For more quotes and insights, download the PRTG Network Monitor report

SolarWinds needs to upscale on observability and add full-fledged observability features, including security features.

Tochukwu Uzomba

Solutions Architect at Boch Systems Company Limited

Customers have given feedback about the delayed response times from the technical team.

SJ6

Network Security Engineer at a comms service provider with 51-200 employees

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.

Vivek Jaiswal

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

For more quotes and insights, download the SolarWinds NPM report

Setup Cost

PRTG Network Monitor offers competitive pricing with flexible licensing; initial setup is costly but ongoing expenses are reasonable.

SolarWinds NPM pricing is competitive yet complex, appealing to some while being costly for smaller enterprises or multi-module needs.

The licensing part is a recurring license for every year, which is very affordable, making PRTG Network Monitor budget-friendly.

madhan kumar hs

software engineer at Capgemini

Pricing is by the number of devices, not by sensor.

Tochukwu Uzomba

Solutions Architect at Boch Systems Company Limited

The prices are very high for PRTG Network Monitor.

SikanderAli

IT Infrastructure Engineer at Atlas

For more quotes and insights, download the PRTG Network Monitor report

The solution is considered expensive.

Wahyu Krisnamukti

Network Administrator at PT Bni Life Insurance

Pricing-wise, SolarWinds NPM is more expensive than PRTG.

Tochukwu Uzomba

Solutions Architect at Boch Systems Company Limited

It is not too pricey and is adequate.

Vivek Jaiswal

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

For more quotes and insights, download the SolarWinds NPM report

Valuable Features

PRTG Network Monitor is user-friendly, offers real-time monitoring, scalability, and flexibility, making it ideal for diverse IT environments.

SolarWinds NPM offers easy deployment, strong monitoring, and seamless integration, enhancing network management with intuitive dashboards and real-time insights.

PRTG Network Monitor already provided me with 100 free sensors, which is enough for my network monitoring.

SikanderAli

IT Infrastructure Engineer at Atlas

PRTG Network Monitor has a good dashboard that shows each and every piece of information, so we can easily find out what is happening with the systems.

reviewer2759802

Architect at a consultancy with 1-10 employees

These reports help me in my day-to-day work, and I rely on them because they provide proof during escalation, with exact downtime logs and related information.

Chandhan P

Software engineer at Bosch

For more quotes and insights, download the PRTG Network Monitor report

Whenever any node is down in our network, whether it is a server or any network device, we receive information through email that the device is down.

Vivek Jaiswal

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

The most valuable feature for us is the database performance analyzer, which we use a lot.

Wahyu Krisnamukti

Network Administrator at PT Bni Life Insurance

SolarWinds NPM has specific modules for monitoring different network capabilities, which provides rich features for carrying out specific tasks.

Tochukwu Uzomba

Solutions Architect at Boch Systems Company Limited

For more quotes and insights, download the SolarWinds NPM report

Categories and Ranking

PRTG Network Monitor

Ranking in Network Monitoring Software

5th

Ranking in IT Infrastructure Monitoring

4th

Ranking in Cloud Monitoring Software

9th

Average Rating

8.2

Reviews Sentiment

7.0

Number of Reviews

113

Ranking in other categories

No ranking in other categories

SolarWinds NPM

Ranking in Network Monitoring Software

3rd

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

No ranking in other categories

Mindshare comparison

As of May 2026, in the Network Monitoring Software category, the mindshare of PRTG Network Monitor is 2.9%, down from 4.3% compared to the previous year. The mindshare of SolarWinds NPM is 3.7%, down from 4.6% compared to the previous year. It is calculated based on PeerSpot user engagement data.

Network Monitoring Software Mindshare Distribution
Product	Mindshare (%)
SolarWinds NPM	3.7%
PRTG Network Monitor	2.9%
Other	93.4%

Network Monitoring Software

Q&A Highlights

it_user585186

Integrated Systems Manager at a tech services company with 1,001-5,000 employees

Mar 17, 2017

PRTG vs. SolarWinds: Which is a better Network Monitoring Tool?

I used both products. Without even thinking twice I will go with PRTG. Solarwinds will take you weeks to finish configuration and tweaking to your environment. I didn't like the user interface, too much data, difficult to navigate. It is way more expensive than PRTG. And they will charge you for every add on extra. I love PRTG. The installation is fast simple and clean. User interface easy to navigate. You can build your customized dashboards. They have 100s ready to go sensors and you can add your own. You can monitor almost whatever you want servers, networking, devices, circuits, ports on the switches, firewalls...They will charge you just for number of sensors you are using. Solarwinds is a monster, PRTG is much simple and doing better job than solarwinds. Definitely PRTG

See all answers

Featured Reviews

madhan kumar hs

software engineer at Capgemini

Alerting precision has reduced incident response times and improved department-level network visibility

The auto-pause sensor during the maintenance window is good without any false alerts, and it prevents me from getting flooded with alerts during planned maintenance, helping department heads understand their own network usage better. It has reduced incident response time by giving clearer ownership of each alert, ensuring alerts go to the proper recipient. SNMP testers and auto-pause are among the best features of PRTG Network Monitor, which is particularly useful for different departments such as HR and finance, where alerts can be filtered accordingly. The alerting features and dashboard of PRTG Network Monitor are very helpful, especially in our industry. However, the dashboard can look cluttered on smaller screens, which is one negative aspect. PRTG Network Monitor has impacted us positively; we have stopped getting flooded with alerts during planned maintenance or unplanned outages. Compared to others, this gives specific alerts very quickly and helps department heads understand their own network usage better, thus reducing incident response time so that each alert has clear ownership.

Read full review

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.

Read full review

See which vendors are best for you

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

See recommendations

893,311 professionals have used our research since 2012.

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

Answers from the Community

it_user585186

Integrated Systems Manager at a tech services company with 1,001-5,000 employees

Mar 17, 2017

PRTG vs. SolarWinds: Which is a better Network Monitoring Tool?

2 out of 16 answers

it_user457173

Works with 1,001-5,000 employees

Jan 12, 2017

Sorry you are? Regards, Ben Lee +65 9858 5697 SolarWinds Channels Manager, Sales (Singapore, Malaysia & Brunei)

Read full answer

it_user203934

Systems Engineer at a financial services firm with 1,001-5,000 employees

Jan 12, 2017

Read full answer

See all 16 answers

Top Industries

By visitors reading reviews

Financial Services Firm

10%

Computer Software Company

Comms Service Provider

Manufacturing Company

11%

Financial Services Firm

10%

Government

Computer Software Company

Company Size

By reviewers

Large Enterprise

Midsize Enterprise

Small Business

By reviewers
Company Size	Count
Small Business	59
Midsize Enterprise	19
Large Enterprise	50

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

Questions from the Community

What is the best network monitoring software for large enterprises?

PRTG network monitor is one of the best tool i have ever used for the monitoring. It have auto discovery option. it avoid the configuring the device in PRTG. It automatically discover the device an...

See all answers

What is your experience regarding pricing and costs for PRTG Network Monitor?

The pricing was higher at the beginning, but the recurring licensing cost is affordable and reasonable. Overall, the pricing, setup cost, and licensing is fair for our industry. They have quoted us...

See all answers

What needs improvement with PRTG Network Monitor?

The reporting features look very technical and that can be improved. If they can change the report so everyone can understand it, that would be helpful.

See all answers

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...

See all answers

What is the best network monitoring software for large enterprises?

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

See all answers

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...

See all answers

Comparisons

Zabbix vs PRTG Network Monitor

Compared 4% of the time

Centreon vs PRTG Network Monitor

Compared 4% of the time

WhatsUp Gold vs PRTG Network Monitor

Compared 3% of the time

Splunk AppDynamics vs PRTG Network Monitor

Compared 3% of the time

SCOM vs PRTG Network Monitor

Compared 3% of the time

More PRTG Network Monitor 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

LogicMonitor vs SolarWinds NPM

Compared 2% of the time

More SolarWinds NPM Competitors

Product Reports

Buyer's Guide

PRTG Network Monitor

April 2026

Download PRTG Network Monitor product report

Buyer's Guide

SolarWinds NPM

April 2026

Download SolarWinds NPM product report

Also Known As

No data available

Solarwinds Network Performance Monitor, SolarWinds Network Bandwidth Analyzer

Overview

PRTG Network Monitor offers seamless network health tracking with flexible alerting and robust scalability. Its real-time monitoring and compatibility across diverse technologies enhance operational efficiency.

PRTG Network Monitor stands out by providing intuitive dashboards and detailed reporting to efficiently monitor network health, significantly reducing manual checks. Its quick setup and comprehensive compatibility cater to diverse environments. The alert system and real-time monitoring enable proactive maintenance, while custom scripting and a broad range of sensors allow for personalized monitoring options. Enhancements are suggested in database management, integration capabilities, Unix support, pricing, application performance, and dashboard customization. Users benefit from enhanced error messaging, flexible licensing, and better training resources.

What are the key features of PRTG Network Monitor?

Ease of Use: Intuitive dashboard makes network monitoring straightforward.
Flexible Alerting: Provides prompt notifications for proactive maintenance.
Scalability: Adapts to various network sizes and complexities.
Compatibility: Works across diverse technologies and environments.
Custom Scripting: Allows tailored monitoring options for specific needs.

What benefits should users seek in PRTG Network Monitor reviews?

Operational Efficiency: Reduces the need for manual network checks.
Real-Time Monitoring: Enables instant response to potential issues.
Enhanced Infrastructure Oversight: Facilitates comprehensive management of network devices.
Proactive Maintenance: Alerts help prevent potential disruptions.
Central Dashboard: Manages infrastructure across multiple locations effectively.

In industries like IT, telecommunications, and healthcare, PRTG Network Monitor is employed for comprehensive monitoring of systems, servers, and networks. It assists in tracking uptime, connectivity, and alerts for potential issues, offering tailored options like monitoring traffic flows and hardware health through custom sensors and scripts.

Paessler GmbH

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

Jameson Bank, Sidnix, RungeICT, MedicalAnimal, Truck-lite, GamingGrids, The Covell Group, Forsythn County Schools, NetMass, Musgrove Park Hospital, Lanes Health, Columbia Southern University, Vodafone, Intrust Bank

Microsoft, Federal Express, Hewlett-Packard, and MasterCard

Buyer's Guide

PRTG Network Monitor vs. SolarWinds NPM

April 2026

Free Report: PRTG Network Monitor vs. SolarWinds NPM

Find out what your peers are saying about PRTG Network Monitor vs. SolarWinds NPM and other solutions. Updated: April 2026.

DOWNLOAD NOW

893,311 professionals have used our research since 2012.

See our PRTG Network Monitor vs. SolarWinds NPM report.

See our list of best Network Monitoring Software vendors, best IT Infrastructure Monitoring vendors, and best Cloud Monitoring Software vendors.

We monitor all Network Monitoring Software reviews to prevent fraudulent reviews and keep review quality high. We do not post reviews by company employees or direct competitors. We validate each review for authenticity via cross-reference with LinkedIn, and personal follow-up with the reviewer when necessary.