SolarWinds NPM vs Splunk AppDynamics comparison

SolarWinds and Splunk are both solutions in the IT Infrastructure Monitoring category. SolarWinds is ranked #4 with an average rating of 8.3, while Splunk is ranked #6 with an average rating of 8.1. SolarWinds holds a 3.5% mindshare in IM, compared to Splunk’s 2.5% mindshare. Additionally, 92% of SolarWinds users are willing to recommend the solution, compared to 91% of Splunk users who would recommend it.

SolarWinds NPM

Read 161 SolarWinds NPM reviews

21,458 Views
10,944 Comparison Views

92% willing to recommend

Splunk AppDynamics

Read 274 Splunk AppDynamics reviews

29,155 Views
10,787 Comparison Views

91% willing to recommend

SolarWinds NPM

Splunk AppDynamics

Comparison Buyer's Guide

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Executive SummaryUpdated on Mar 1, 2026

SolarWinds NPM and Splunk AppDynamics compete in the network and application performance monitoring sector. SolarWinds NPM stands out for its modular pricing and network versatility, whereas Splunk AppDynamics has an edge with its comprehensive transaction tracing and application insights.

Features:SolarWinds NPM offers advanced network monitoring suitable for diverse devices. Key features include customizable alerts, support for various network modules, and ease of scaling as network demands grow. Splunk AppDynamics excels in application performance monitoring, featuring detailed transaction tracing, dynamic baselines, and robust performance analytics that provide comprehensive insights into end-user transactions.

Room for Improvement:SolarWinds NPM needs enhancements in network discovery and alert configurations, particularly for specific device types. It also faces challenges in automation and speed under heavy loads. Splunk AppDynamics could benefit from improved integration with other tools and support for emerging technologies like AI. Complexity in license management is another area for improvement.

Ease of Deployment and Customer Service:SolarWinds NPM is primarily deployed on-premises, with customer support rated from average to high, albeit with some reports of slow responsiveness. In contrast, Splunk AppDynamics offers more flexibility in deployment, providing both cloud and on-premises options, and is recognized for high-quality support, though occasional slow responses from Cisco are mentioned.

Pricing and ROI:SolarWinds NPM provides competitive pricing but can become costly with additional modules. Nevertheless, its customization and broad features justify the investment. Splunk AppDynamics, despite its higher cost and complex licensing structure, offers significant ROI through its deep monitoring capabilities and comprehensive insights, which are crucial for maintaining enterprise-level application performance.

To learn more, read our detailed SolarWinds NPM vs. Splunk AppDynamics Report (Updated: June 2026).

Buyer's Guide

SolarWinds NPM vs. Splunk AppDynamics

June 2026

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Helped 906,887 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

6.8

SolarWinds NPM is praised for reducing costs, offering quick ROI, and enhancing network management with reliable alerts and reporting.

Sentiment score

5.5

Splunk AppDynamics enhances productivity and customer satisfaction, yielding high ROI through improved application performance and quick issue resolution.

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

Overall, as a production gatekeeper, we achieve at least 50% efficiency immediately, with potential savings ranging from 60 to 70% as well, reinforcing why it is a popular tool in the banking industry.

DevendraKumar1

Technology lead at Infosys

According to errors, exceptions, and code-level details related to their application performance on a daily basis, the application development team tries to help with Splunk AppDynamics to reduce errors and exceptions, which helps the end users get application availability and feel more confident.

Gyanesh Rahatekar

Back office at Reliance Industries Ltd

To understand the magnitude of it, when the company asked to replace Splunk AppDynamics with another tool, I indicated that for the proposed tool, we would need five people to do the analysis that Splunk AppDynamics enables me to do.

Konstantinos Michailidis

Digital Performance Tester at Amdocs

For more quotes and insights, download the Splunk AppDynamics report

Customer Service

Sentiment score

6.9

SolarWinds NPM's customer service is praised, but technical support varies, with some users noting slow responses and availability issues.

Sentiment score

6.9

Splunk AppDynamics technical support is responsive and helpful, with knowledgeable staff, but occasionally slow in complex cases.

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

Regarding technical support from SolarWinds, I find it excellent.

Vijay Samant

Assistant Manager at a outsourcing company with 10,001+ employees

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

Wahyu Krisnamukti

Network Administrator at PT Bni Life Insurance

For more quotes and insights, download the SolarWinds NPM report

It dives deep into questions, leading to effective solutions, often making it feel that a human is resolving issues at the back end.

Purnambica Kolavennu

Project Manager at AGRICULTURE SKILL COUNCIL OF INDIA (ASCI)

AppDynamics is much more helpful.

Eduardo Gallardo

Director of Technical Part at NOS SGPS

We got a contact, an account manager, to work directly with for technical support.

NagadevanMuthusamy

Performance Engineer at a pharma/biotech company with 10,001+ employees

For more quotes and insights, download the Splunk AppDynamics report

Scalability Issues

Sentiment score

6.9

SolarWinds NPM efficiently scales in large environments, but may require extra polling engines and face complex licensing challenges.

Sentiment score

7.1

AppDynamics offers strong scalability for enterprises but may present cost challenges and mixed results for smaller businesses.

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

Our operational efficiency increases multifold, and service delivery has contributed to revenue growth and business expansion.

Purnambica Kolavennu

Project Manager at AGRICULTURE SKILL COUNCIL OF INDIA (ASCI)

We have reached maximum capacity in our tier, and extending capacity has not been cost-effective from Splunk's perspective.

reviewer2674446

Senior Principal, Enterprise Architect at a computer software company with 201-500 employees

I would rate the scalability of Splunk AppDynamics as a nine out of ten.

Konstantinos Michailidis

Digital Performance Tester at Amdocs

For more quotes and insights, download the Splunk AppDynamics report

Stability Issues

Sentiment score

7.5

SolarWinds NPM is praised for stability, with resource allocation and documentation adherence mitigating most upgrade-related issues.

Sentiment score

7.8

Splunk AppDynamics is reliable and stable, with minor UI slowdowns and occasional integration challenges noted by users.

For stability, I rate SolarWinds NPM as a ten, which is the best.

Vijay Samant

Assistant Manager at a outsourcing company with 10,001+ employees

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

It is necessary to conduct appropriate testing before deploying them in production to prevent potential outages.

reviewer2674446

Senior Principal, Enterprise Architect at a computer software company with 201-500 employees

There are no issues or bugs with the 20.4 version; it is very stable with no functionality or operational issues.

Gyanesh Rahatekar

Back office at Reliance Industries Ltd

Splunk AppDynamics is superior to any alternative, including Dynatrace.

DevendraKumar1

Technology lead at Infosys

For more quotes and insights, download the Splunk AppDynamics report

Room For Improvement

SolarWinds NPM requires enhancements in analytics, scalability, UI, security, integration, customization, monitoring, automation, stability, and cost-effectiveness.

Splunk AppDynamics needs UI improvement, better integration, enhanced reporting, and expanded AI, cloud, and performance monitoring features.

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

Splunk AppDynamics does not support the complete MELT framework, which includes metrics, events, logging, and tracing for the entire stack.

reviewer2674446

Senior Principal, Enterprise Architect at a computer software company with 201-500 employees

AI could provide more insights for annual or half-yearly reports and forecast future changes in the asset landscape.

Ahmed-KASSAB

Senior Delivery Manager at GE Vernova

Functionality-wise, I would like to see more cognitive solutions in Splunk AppDynamics, ideally with a single agent that can implement policies and provide predictive insights regarding application performance degradation during peak times.

Rajkumar ReghuVarma

Technology Architect at a tech vendor with 1,001-5,000 employees

For more quotes and insights, download the Splunk AppDynamics report

Setup Cost

SolarWinds NPM offers a flexible licensing model with competitive pricing, though costs may rise for extensive setups.

Splunk AppDynamics offers comprehensive features but incurs high licensing costs, making it difficult for smaller businesses to justify ROI.

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

We completed a three-year deal for Splunk and for AppDynamics, which costs millions of dollars.

reviewer2756163

Development Operations Engineer at a retailer with 10,001+ employees

Overall, I consider Splunk AppDynamics an expensive product; it's very expensive.

Per Eklund

Manager, System Scom at Handelsbanken

The resource team finds the best prices, ensuring that Splunk AppDynamics is an acceptable option for the end user.

Ahmed-KASSAB

Senior Delivery Manager at GE Vernova

For more quotes and insights, download the Splunk AppDynamics report

Valuable Features

SolarWinds NPM provides intuitive network monitoring with advanced customization, scalability, and proactive alerts, suiting diverse business needs.

Splunk AppDynamics offers real-time monitoring, AI-powered diagnostics, and a user-friendly interface for performance optimization and issue resolution.

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 ability to customize the dashboard in SolarWinds NPM provides key benefits like saving time and money, and streamlining some processes.

Vijay Samant

Assistant Manager at a outsourcing company with 10,001+ 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

For more quotes and insights, download the SolarWinds NPM report

We have multiple tools, but end users prefer to use Splunk AppDynamics because their portal navigation is very simple and clear.

Gyanesh Rahatekar

Back office at Reliance Industries Ltd

The real user monitoring and digital experience monitoring effectively track actual user experience with the applications, including page loading, interaction time for both desktop and mobile applications.

Mohammed Hassan

Regional Director at iSecureMind Integrated Solutions

This is the best feature because, although you can't monitor a whole application at once, Splunk AppDynamics gives you the option that if there is any failure—simple failure regarding anything set up as per our use cases—you will get an alert.

DevendraKumar1

Technology lead at Infosys

For more quotes and insights, download the Splunk AppDynamics report

Categories and Ranking

SolarWinds NPM

Ranking in IT Infrastructure Monitoring

4th

Average Rating

8.2

Reviews Sentiment

6.8

Number of Reviews

161

Ranking in other categories

Network Monitoring Software (2nd), Cloud Monitoring Software (8th)

Splunk AppDynamics

Ranking in IT Infrastructure Monitoring

6th

Average Rating

8.2

Reviews Sentiment

6.6

Number of Reviews

274

Ranking in other categories

Application Performance Monitoring (APM) and Observability (3rd), IT Operations Analytics (2nd), Mobile APM (1st), Container Monitoring (1st)

Mindshare comparison

As of July 2026, in the IT Infrastructure Monitoring category, the mindshare of SolarWinds NPM is 3.5%, down from 3.8% compared to the previous year. The mindshare of Splunk AppDynamics is 2.5%, down from 3.0% compared to the previous year. It is calculated based on PeerSpot user engagement data.

IT Infrastructure Monitoring Mindshare Distribution
Product	Mindshare (%)
SolarWinds NPM	3.5%
Splunk AppDynamics	2.5%
Other	94.0%

IT Infrastructure Monitoring

Featured Reviews

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

Purnambica Kolavennu

Project Manager at AGRICULTURE SKILL COUNCIL OF INDIA (ASCI)

Unified monitoring has transformed agriculture training data into secure, actionable insights

The foundational pillars of Splunk AppDynamics are very strong, and we do not have any issues. However, there are standardization challenges with limited visibility on some parameters when the system is integrated with multiple platforms because of differing technology stacks. Many applications function on different technologies, making fetching data difficult. We have discussed this with the business team, and they have said that they will offer a standardized application architecture through which APIs can be made more stable and accommodating. We have also requested a centralized monitoring framework and network, as many clients operate out of India and have requested centralized systems for real-time performance monitoring with just one click. Improvements and enhancements are happening weekly, and there are requests for regular training and orientation. I believe those things can be incorporated, but otherwise, everything is fantastic. For the agriculture ecosystem, there are many areas in remote or rural areas where connectivity constraints are huge. Limited internet bandwidth makes real-time monitoring difficult. We have requested the team to develop a hybrid model for real-time monitoring on lower bandwidth as well. Deploying offline-first or low-bandwidth solutions would strengthen synchronization. Additionally, mobile applications for rural environments would be beneficial. In data quality and governance, sometimes the system gives duplicate records, and there is inconsistency when checking data fields. It is not frequent, but we believe a complete solution can be developed here.

Read full review

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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

10%

Manufacturing Company

Construction Company

Government

Financial Services Firm

23%

Manufacturing Company

Construction Company

Outsourcing Company

Company Size

By reviewers

Large Enterprise

Midsize Enterprise

Small Business

By reviewers
Company Size	Count
Small Business	59
Midsize Enterprise	33
Large Enterprise	87

By reviewers
Company Size	Count
Small Business	64
Midsize Enterprise	37
Large Enterprise	205

Questions from the Community

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

Any advice about APM solutions?

There are many factors and we know little about your requirements (size of org, technology stack, management systems, the scope of implementation). Our goal was to consolidate APM and infra monitor...

See all answers

What is your experience regarding pricing and costs for AppDynamics Database Monitoring?

The price is not cheap, however, considering the benefits and the price ratio, I would rate it nine out of ten.

See all answers

What needs improvement with AppDynamics Database Monitoring?

Based on my experience, some databases like Couchbase, PostgreSQL, and MongoDB require a little bit of enhancement as they are newer and not as widely used as other databases. The limitations are o...

See all answers

Comparisons

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Zabbix vs SolarWinds NPM

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PRTG Network Monitor vs SolarWinds NPM

Compared 2% of the time

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Splunk Enterprise Security vs Splunk AppDynamics

Compared 3% of the time

BMC TrueSight vs Splunk AppDynamics

Compared 2% of the time

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Product Reports

Buyer's Guide

SolarWinds NPM

July 2026

Download SolarWinds NPM product report

Buyer's Guide

Splunk AppDynamics

July 2026

Download Splunk AppDynamics product report

Also Known As

Solarwinds Network Performance Monitor, SolarWinds Network Bandwidth Analyzer

No data available

Overview

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

Splunk AppDynamics is a comprehensive performance monitoring tool providing end-to-end transaction tracking, real-time monitoring, and a user-friendly interface. With AI-powered features, it enhances operational efficiency and resilience by offering insights into user interactions and infrastructure issues.

Splunk AppDynamics excels in monitoring applications and infrastructure performance, offering extensive support across environments like AWS and cloud. It aids in application performance monitoring, end-user experience, database analysis, and proactive incident detection. Supporting Java, .NET, and other technologies, it provides real-time insights into application health, resource utilization, and transaction tracking, ensuring reliable user experiences. Challenges remain in UI complexity, agent-based architecture, integration with diverse environments, and documentation clarity. Its licensing model is costly, and customer support may be slow. Performance concerns exist in historical data granularity and network visibility.

What features make Splunk AppDynamics stand out?

End-to-End Transaction Tracking: Monitors entire user transactions for comprehensive visibility.
Real-Time Monitoring: Provides instant insights into system performance.
AI-Powered Anomaly Detection: Identifies anomalies with advanced machine learning techniques.
Code-Level Troubleshooting: Diagnoses issues at the code level for precise fixes.
Business Transaction Visibility: Offers detailed views into transaction flow across all system layers.

What benefits and ROI can users expect from Splunk AppDynamics?

Improved Application Performance: Enhances system efficiency and reliability.
Operational Efficiency: Streamlines monitoring and issue resolution processes.
Enhanced Business Resilience: Strengthens the ability to adapt to performance challenges.
Seamless User Experiences: Ensures uninterrupted service and user satisfaction.

Organizations in industries like finance and healthcare implement Splunk AppDynamics to monitor critical applications and infrastructure. Its capabilities in transaction tracking and AI-driven insights are crucial for maintaining system reliability, supporting technologies such as Java and .NET, and ensuring optimal resource utilization.

Splunk

Sample Customers

Microsoft, Federal Express, Hewlett-Packard, and MasterCard

Cisco, Sony, Nasdaq, Reserve Bank of New Zealand, Edmunds.com, Puma, Fox News, DirecTV, Pizza Hut, T-Systems, Cornell University, OpenTable, BITMARCK, Green Mountain Power, Care.com, Overstock, Paddy Power, eHarmony, Kraft, The Motley Fool, The Container Store, and more See more customers

Buyer's Guide

SolarWinds NPM vs. Splunk AppDynamics

June 2026

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