10 Best Network Management & Monitoring Tools of 2026

The right network management solution can empower IT and MSPs to troubleshoot faster, maintain network performance, and plan effectively. The wrong one can lead to blind spots, manual work, and a reactive approach to network management that can quickly lead to IT burnout.

In this article, we’ll review the 10 best network monitoring and management software tools of 2026 and provide you with a framework for finding the right tool for the job in your specific use case and making an informed decision if you’re switching network management solutions.

What are network monitoring and management tools, and why are they important?

Network monitoring tools are software tools that support centralized network monitoring capabilities like data collection, analysis, alerts, network visualization, and reporting. They include network monitoring capabilities with added control, configuration, and backup functionality. In practice, you may see tools offering these capabilities described as a network management system (NMS), remote monitoring and management (RMM) platform, network management platform, or network monitoring and management tool.

Fundamentally, network management and monitoring tools help IT ensure the network is healthy, take corrective action if it isn’t, make informed network planning decisions, and manage networks and network devices throughout their lifecycle. Centralized network monitoring and management software gives IT a hub that acts as a source of truth for network health, provides a control center for maintaining network health, and helps scale network automation.

Top 10 network monitoring and management tools

Auvik Network Management (ANM) is a cloud-based network monitoring and management software trusted by over 80,000 IT pros and MSPs. Auvik is known for simplifying network management without skimping on capabilities. ANM can discover over 15,000 devices from over 700 different vendors and can be easily deployed in minutes.

In addition to the SNMP-based visibility you’d expect from a vendor-agnostic network management tool, Auvik’s TrafficInsights differentiates the platform with robust flow protocol support and machine learning capabilities to provide detailed network traffic analysis even if traffic is encrypted.

• ANM has a 98% “willing to recommend” ranking on PeerSpot
• The independently-validated ROI of Auvik Network management is over 170%
• ANM is the # 1 ranked software in network troubleshooting solutions

One of our favorite real-world summaries of where Auvik shines in practice comes from G2 reviewer Travis H:

“Auvik allowed me to walk into an organization that had been plagued with an absolute IT mess and sort it all out incredibly fast. We are talking 20+ years of various IT companies, contractors, non-uniform ANYTHING, different naming conventions, nothing labeled anywhere, nothing inventoried, 20+ years of generational spread between devices still in use, shadow IT, rogue devices, etc – across several offices – spread out over the US. Sorting all of this out without Auvik likely would have taken years – if it was even feasible without blowing everything up and starting over. With Auvik, I was able to immediately start to unravel everything – and had all of the issues listed above 100% resolved within a few months – some things within a week or two. Truly unbelievable.”

Key features of Auvik’s Network Management Software

• Centralized network monitoring and alerting
• Machine learning for industry-leading network traffic analysis 
• Automated network topology mapping
• Remote troubleshooting tools, including remote CLI and remote browsers 
• Comprehensive virtual private network (VPN) monitoring 
• Distributed site management for large networks and MSPs
• Network backups and configuration management
• Support for SSO and MFA
• Flexible, role-based access control (RBAC)
• IT asset management
• APIs and webhooks
• Syslog support

SolarWinds offers a variety of network monitoring and management solutions that can be bundled together. Network Performance Monitor (NPM) is the cornerstone of their offerings and one of the most widely used on-premises network monitoring tools.

Built for Windows environments, SolarWinds NPM combines fault detection, performance monitoring, traffic analysis, and configuration management in a single platform. It features auto-discovery and profiling to quickly identify devices, interfaces, and services across the network, while its agentless architecture relies on a core polling engine to process data from SNMP, WMI, syslog, and other protocols.

Users can build customizable health dashboards with drag-and-drop tools for unified visibility and faster troubleshooting. Intelligent performance alerting and real-time and historical reporting help teams stay ahead of potential issues, while application dependency mapping makes it easier to pinpoint root causes of service disruptions. Additional capabilities like capacity forecasting, configuration change tracking, and REST API integrations support long-term planning and workflow automation.

Although its on-premises model requires Windows server management, SolarWinds offers strong security with role-based access controls and granular permissions to meet compliance needs. However, the company’s past security incidents remain a consideration for some organizations.

PRTG Network Monitor, developed by Paessler, is available as both a cloud-based SaaS solution and an on-premises Windows deployment. It combines infrastructure, network, application, and website monitoring into a single platform, giving IT administrators a unified view of their environments and the tools to act on monitoring data.

The platform uses an agentless architecture, with a core server component installed on-premises to coordinate monitoring tasks. It supports a wide range of monitoring protocols, automatically discovering devices and configuring sensors using predefined profiles to simplify setup. PRTG’s pricing model is based on sensors, with each sensor monitoring a single data point, allowing teams to scale based on their needs.

Users can create customizable, drag-and-drop dashboards with topology mapping to visualize network health, and reporting and alerting tools keep teams informed in real time while providing historical data for analysis. While PRTG works well out of the box for most standard monitoring needs, its published APIs allow developers to create custom sensors and integrations for advanced use cases. Role-based access controls secure administrative permissions, and detailed audit logging supports troubleshooting and compliance requirements.

LogicMonitor is a cloud-based observability platform that combines network monitoring, log management, multi-cloud visibility, and AIOps capabilities in a single solution. It simplifies deployment with automated device discovery, pre-configured monitoring templates, and out-of-the-box support for thousands of devices and technologies. Lightweight, agentless collectors are installed on-premises to securely send performance metrics and logs back to the cloud platform.

The platform provides unified dashboards with topology visualization to correlate metrics, logs, and events for faster root cause analysis. Advanced analytics, including anomaly detection and forecasting, deliver intelligent alerting thresholds and help with capacity planning. Automated network documentation keeps device inventories and configurations up to date as networks scale and evolve.

LogicMonitor is built to adapt to modern environments like SD-WAN, SASE, and multi-cloud deployments. It integrates with ITSM and DevOps workflows through APIs for efficient issue resolution and cross-platform configuration management, while role-based access controls and audit logging strengthen security and compliance.

Domotz is a cloud-based network monitoring and management tool designed to cover many basic network management use cases. It works by deploying lightweight monitoring agents that collect network data and send it back to a centralized, intuitive dashboard accessible via web or mobile app.

The platform provides network device monitoring and management, along with remote troubleshooting capabilities that let technicians access devices without requiring complex firewall changes. It also includes network diagnostics, VPN on demand, and power management for connected devices like UPS units and PDUs.

Domotz integrates with a variety of third-party tools, including popular RMM and professional services automation (PSA) platforms, streamlining network management workflows. Its configuration management features help teams track device settings over time. The pricing model appeals to cost-sensitive organizations, offering both a free monitoring option and a paid managed device tier.

While Domotz is emerging as a strong player for small businesses and MSPs, it lacks the advanced analytics and automation capabilities found in more comprehensive enterprise-focused platforms.

OpsManager is part of the ManageEngine suite and can be deployed on either Windows or Linux servers. It supports a wide range of network monitoring and management protocols, including SNMP and WMI. Because it integrates seamlessly with other ManageEngine products like ADManager, SupportCenter, and ServiceDesk Plus, it’s a compelling option for teams already invested in the ecosystem.

The platform offers robust network and server monitoring capabilities, with tools for network discovery, VoIP monitoring, and network mapping to give teams a clear view of infrastructure health. Its dashboards and reporting tools make it easier to track performance trends and identify issues, while automated alerts and incident response workflows help teams address problems quickly.

OpsManager can scale to support large, complex environments, making it suitable for enterprise-level deployments. However, managing the on-premises solution over time can add operational overhead, and its device-based pricing model can become expensive as networks grow.

Datadog is a cloud-based monitoring and analytics platform built for full-stack observability across infrastructure, applications, logs, and user experience. Its SaaS model aggregates data from hundreds of integrations to deliver unified visibility and intelligent alerting in one centralized platform.

While it covers servers, networks, and infrastructure, Datadog is especially strong at monitoring modern distributed applications and cloud-native environments. It offers advanced capabilities like application performance monitoring (APM), infrastructure and container monitoring, synthetic and real user monitoring, and unified log analytics to provide code-level insights even across complex microservices architectures.

Teams can create customizable dashboards with topology visualization to connect technical performance data to business KPIs. Features like machine learning-powered anomaly detection and global collaboration tools help reduce downtime and speed up issue resolution. Datadog’s open APIs allow for custom instrumentation and integrations, while granular access controls and audit logs support security and compliance in enterprise environments.

Zabbix is an open source network monitoring platform built for large-scale, high-performance environments. It delivers comprehensive monitoring across infrastructure, applications, logs, and business services, making it a flexible choice for organizations with complex, distributed networks.

The platform uses an agent-based architecture, with lightweight collectors installed on devices and servers while a central server coordinates data collection and aggregation. Integrated auto-discovery simplifies onboarding by automatically detecting devices and services. For highly distributed setups, Zabbix supports remote monitoring through proxies, ensuring visibility across multiple sites.

While its interface feels dated compared to newer tools, Zabbix offers advanced visualization like topological maps, custom dashboards, and business service monitoring to connect technical performance data to organizational goals. Machine learning-powered anomaly detection helps teams set smarter alerting thresholds and proactively identify issues before they escalate.

As an open-source platform, Zabbix evolves rapidly through community contributions, with new protocols, integrations, and plugins added regularly. Native REST APIs enable custom integrations, while role-based access controls and high-availability configurations support enterprise-scale deployments.

Nagios XI is a long-standing on-premises network monitoring solution that has been widely adopted by IT teams that value reliability and deep customization. It’s built on the open-source Nagios Core but adds a commercial interface, wizards, and management features that make it easier to deploy and manage at scale.

Nagios XI uses an agent-based and agentless hybrid model, supporting SNMP, WMI, and other common protocols to track network devices, servers, applications, and services. Its plugin-based architecture allows organizations to extend functionality through thousands of free or community-built plugins.

While the platform offers powerful monitoring and alerting, its interface and workflows can feel dated compared to modern cloud-native solutions. Much of Nagios XI’s advanced functionality depends on third-party plugins, which require ongoing upkeep. It’s best suited for teams with strong technical expertise and the time to customize their monitoring environment, and is often favored by enterprises with strict on-premises requirements.

NinjaOne is a cloud-based IT management platform that combines remote monitoring and management (RMM), endpoint management, patching, and network monitoring into a single, unified solution. It’s especially popular with managed service providers (MSPs) and IT teams looking for an all-in-one platform to streamline operations.

NinjaOne’s network monitoring is built to be simple and intuitive, providing real-time device visibility, automated discovery, and basic topology mapping. It lacks the advanced analytics and depth of dedicated network management tools, but does integrates seamlessly with NinjaOne’s broader IT management capabilities.

Its focus on usability and automation helps teams reduce repetitive tasks, but some users may find its network monitoring feature set less comprehensive than standalone solutions like Auvik.

Best network monitoring and management tools summary chart

Here is a “tl;dr” table that summarizes the 10 network monitoring and management tools we’ve explored.

Network monitoring and management tool	Type	Differentiator	What might surprise you	Elevator pitch
Auvik	Cloud-based network monitoring and management	Rapid setup and ease of use with a strong focus on MSPs, small-to-medium-sized businesses, and multi-site management	Auvik captures deep network traffic data that rivals more complex tools, and some IT teams are surprised by the level of visibility they gain without extensive configuration	Robust cloud-based network management and monitoring you can deploy in minutes
SolarWinds	On-premise network performance monitoring and management	Deep, highly customizable monitoring for large, complex enterprise networks	Past high-profile breaches still shape customer trust, but the platform remains a leader for large-scale deployments	Powerful on-prem tool for large IT teams
PRTG Network Monitoring	On-premise and cloud-based network monitoring	Simplicity for smaller teams that want truly granular control	The pay-per-sensor model can get expensive quickly if you don’t plan out what you monitor carefully	Flexible network monitoring with a pay-per-sensor pricing model
LogicMonitor	Cloud-based observability platform	Strong analytics and forecasting with a modern interface geared toward mid-to-large enterprises	Built-in AIOps features like predictive alerting are included out of the box, no add-ons required	Modern observability platform with strong analytics
Domotz	Cloud-based network monitoring and management	SMB-friendly option for IT providers needing simple remote troubleshooting	Offers built-in power management for smart plugs and PDUs	Simple remote network management that addresses many basic use cases
ManageEngine OpsManager	On-premises network monitoring	Feature-rich platform with broad coverage but requires heavy setup and ongoing maintenance	The setup process and updates can be time-consuming, and support experiences vary widely depending on the region	Feature-rich network management with notable setup and maintenance overhead
DataDog	Cloud-based observability platform	Deep integrations for cloud-native and DevOps environments with real-time visibility	While DataDog does offer network monitoring, its true strength is in unifying app, infra, and user data	Leading observability platform for DevOps teams and cloud observability that offers network monitoring capabilities
Zabbix	Open-source self-hosted network monitoring	Completely free and highly customizable, but only ideal for teams with strong technical skills and DIY preferences	There’s no official paid version – support comes entirely from the open-source community, which can be challenging during deployments	Highly configurable and powerful network monitoring tool that requires significant expertise and upkeep
Nagios XI	On-premise network and server monitoring	Longtime standard for open-source monitoring with extensive plugin support	The core feels dated, and much of its functionality depends on third-party plugins that need ongoing manual upkeep	Established network monitoring solution with a large community and plugin ecosystem
NinjaOne	Cloud-based network monitoring and management	Unified RMM and endpoint management platform	Its network monitoring capabilities are newer and not as robust as legacy players, but is known for its automation and patching tools	Cloud-based IT management platform with growing network monitoring features

Must have features for network monitoring and management in 2026

One of the biggest takeaways from IT Trends 2025: Industry Report was that end-user experience remains a key indicator of IT success. In fact, the report indicated that 48% of IT pros are judged primarily by the quality of end-user experience. That’s why it’s essential for IT to have the right tools for measuring and optimizing network performance.

With that in mind, let’s look at the networking monitoring and management features that can help IT keep the network healthy and demonstrate business value.

1. Custom dashboard views

A network monitoring and management tool needs to give IT an information-rich view that explains network health and into how the network is running and where problems may be arising at a glance. Choose tools that make it easy to customize views with graphs, charts, and layouts that work for different teams or locations. Importantly, avoiding information overload is key. Dashboards should be simple but comprehensive high-level views that allow IT to drill down into specifics as needed.

2. Smart alerting based on thresholds

Threshold-based alerting is a cornerstone of network incident response, troubleshooting, and performance management. You need alerts when performance metrics cross certain thresholds, indicating bigger issues. The best tools simplify setting alert rules for bandwidth, latency spikes, error rate increases, and more. Make sure you can tailor alert sensitivity to avoid alert fatigue while still being notified about meaningful events.

3. Adaptability as networks change

Network perimeters are more fluid than ever and devices connect and disconnect more often than any human can track. Your network monitoring and management solution should automatically discover network devices, detect when new hardware comes online, and identify when network connections change and seamlessly roll the information into the system. Rapid adaptability means no complex reconfiguring or holes in visibility when things get added, upgraded, or removed.

4. Network reports to spot trends and enable planning

Robust reporting equips you to spot trends around network traffic patterns, protocol performance, and more, so you can make data-based decisions around capacity growth and other investments. Compliance audit prep also gets far easier when detailed historical reporting is at your fingertips. Additionally, reports focused on business meetings such as quarterly business reviews (QBRs) can help IT and MSPs demonstrate the business value of their hard work to stakeholders.

5. Configuration management

Configuration drift and misconfigurations are often the root cause of network problems. Your network management tool should help automate the process of detecting configurations, baselining desired configurations (a.k.a. “golden configs”), and applying configurations remotely. Additionally, look for tools that log configuration changes over time. This way, you can easily pinpoint when a recent tweak may have caused issues. Maintaining an audit trail of modifications also speeds up security forensics.

6. Integrations to support key business workflows

Your network management and monitoring software should help you reduce tool sprawl and provide IT with a central management hub. However, given the realities of modern networks, it won’t completely eliminate the other tools the business needs. Make sure that your solution can effectively integrate with external tools like ticketing systems, security information and event management (SIEM) platforms, and collaboration platforms (e.g., Slack, Teams, etc.) where appropriate.

7. Automatic network visualization and documentation

Manually-generated network maps and documentation often become stale shortly after they’re created. Your network management software should solve this problem for you by dynamically generating network visualizations and updating network docs based on real-world monitoring data. This will help ensure that IT has the latest network information at its fingertips when needed.

Key considerations while choosing the best network management and monitoring software

Frankly, there is no one-size-fits-all solution for network management and monitoring. What’s right for one organization may be a square peg in a round hole for another. The key to making the right decision is being familiar with your options and knowing what questions to ask.

Our top 10 list above should help with the former, so let’s jump into the key considerations for the selection process. These 6 questions can help you narrow down your options.

1. Does it address your business use cases?

When you’re looking for a network management solution, you’ll typically have a key set of use cases to address. Make sure the platform “checks all the boxes” and can address those cases. Common examples of features to look for are: automatic network discovery, robust network protocol support, traffic analysis, configuration management, and network mapping.

2. Do you need to manage a single site or multiple distributed networks?

MSPs and large organizations often have to manage multiple networks distributed across large regions. The logical isolation and grouping required to get multi-site management right in practice is a different use case than monitoring a single network. Make sure the tool you select can address the realities of the network architecture you’re responsible for.

3. How much does it cost, and what is the pricing model?

One of the biggest traps teams can fall into is choosing a solution that checks all of their operational boxes, but simply doesn’t make financial sense. Make sure you understand the pricing model (e.g., per device, per sensor, per seat, etc.), potential hidden fees, and operational costs (e.g., support, maintenance, etc.) before you pick your next network management and monitoring tool. If it doesn’t, you’ll need to find another option or figure out how to add network monitoring to your budget to justify the spend.

4. What’s the learning curve?

Frankly, it’s ok to choose a solution that is on the complex end of the spectrum as long as you have the in-house expertise and resources required to do so and are willing to bear the additional cost that usually isn’t represented in the sticker price of the software. The pitfall to look out for is unknowingly selecting a highly complex or maintenance-heavy platform, as that complexity can lead to unexpected blind spots, misconfigurations, and drastically increased OpEx.

5. How will you get support when you need it?

Even the more innovative network monitoring and management tools can require support from time to time. Dig into your support options and what current users are saying about their experience.

6. Can the platform meet your compliance and security requirements?

Compliance is key for any tool IT adopts. It’s particularly important to ensure that tools like network monitoring and management software that capture data on your network assets at scale can meet relevant internal and external data security and privacy requirements. Reputable vendors will often publish details about their certifications, security controls, and compliance that you can use to inform your decisions. For example, you can find details on Auvik’s security program here.

Discover if Auvik is the right network management and monitoring solution for your business

Ready to simplify your IT management with greater visibility into your network, devices, and even SaaS apps? Then you’re ready for Auvik.

Our leading platform provides extensive out-of-the-box capabilities and advanced features to handle evolving network environments. MSP and small-to-medium-business-friendly solutions like ours facilitate efficient managed services delivery and multi-site management capabilities.

If you’d like to see how switching to Auvik Network Management can help you simplify network management, boost operational efficiency, and optimize your network, sign up for a free (no credit card required) 14-day trial today!