Auvik is a simple-yet-powerful alternative to SolarWinds
SolarWinds is a complex platform that requires a dedicated admin. Auvik is network management that’s simple enough for junior techs, and powerful enough for senior engineers. Now you can fix issues faster — without the overhead.
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SolarWinds is broad and complex. Auvik is simple and focused.
| Auvik | SolarWinds | |
|---|---|---|
| Focus | Network monitoring & management | Everything: network, databases, apps and more |
| How you pay | Per device, many free | Per node |
| Where it runs | Cloud-native | On-prem or cloud |
| Who runs it | Anyone on your team | A dedicated SolarWinds admin |
| Time to first visibility | About 30 minutes | Hours to days |
Who should choose which?
Choose Auvik if your network is the priority
Auvik is for teams that handle the network as one job among many. No certified admin or time to babysit a tool.
You want to see the whole network, fix problems fast and move on. If that’s you, Auvik may be a better choice.
Choose SolarWinds if you need one tool for everything
Some teams need everything in one pane of glass: network, databases and virtualization.
SolarWinds does that. Auvik doesn’t. If that’s non-negotiable, or you need on-prem or air-gapped, SolarWinds may be a better fit.
No credit card required
3 reasons customers are switching from SolarWinds to Auvik
SolarWinds customers feel betrayed
SolarWinds used to sell perpetual licenses. You paid once, with only yearly support fees. In 2025, they pulled the licenses. Renewals came back 2-3x higher.
Auvik has always been a cloud subscription with predictable, per-device pricing. No hidden support fees or pricing escalator.
“Had our renewal meeting [with SolarWinds] yesterday. Going from $9.5k on perpetual to $30k+ on subscription. The subscription is with a 43% discount from being a long time customer and a 3-year renewal…..”
u/Beginning_Horror_514
(Source: r/SolarWinds)
SolarWinds requires a dedicated specialist
Someone has to own SolarWinds. A certified admin stands it up, configures it and keeps it running. So what happens when they’re out of office? Or when they leave?
Auvik is built to be run by anyone. It’s simple enough for junior techs, and powerful enough for senior engineers. So more team members can handle network issues without a single point of failure.
“Previously, we used SolarWinds. However, the configuration and maintenance overhead for Auvik is significantly lower, and Auvik itself is much faster.”
Charles C.
(Source: Peerspot)
The SolarWinds network map is clunky
SolarWinds sells “automated mapping”. The truth is, it takes days of work to build, and the finished map can be hard to navigate.
Auvik draws a live map of your network in about 30 minutes. We built the map to be at the heart of Auvik, not slapped on as an afterthought. That’s what makes our map a smooth and intuitive way to navigate your network.
“SolarWinds didn’t do mapping on its own, and the mapping provided was kind of clunky to get running… I couldn’t get the mapping capabilities Auvik gives me.”
Dexter M.
(Source: Peerspot)
Try Auvik: Network management without the headaches
Monitor your network in real time
See every device and connection as your network changes. Catch issues as they happen and prevent disruptive downtime.
Visualize your network with live, automated mapping
See how everything connects in real time. Drill into any device for traffic and performance details. Now you can resolve issues faster — without drawing diagrams or relying on outdated topology.
Stay ahead of issues with 64+ pre-configured alerts
Start monitoring with alerts that work from day one — no complex setup required. See issues directly on your live network map to troubleshoot faster. Customize alerts as needed.
Analyze your traffic to boost performance
Get deep visibility into traffic flows across your network. See who’s on your network, what they’re doing, and where their traffic is going — even when it’s encrypted.
Track all devices with automated inventory
Gain a complete picture of your network in minutes. Auvik automates inventory and documentation, so you can stop tracking devices by hand. No more wire tracing. No more spreadsheets.
Back up configurations automatically
Keep a full history of your device configs as changes happen. Compare versions, track changes, and have backups on hand for recovery as needed.
Resolve network issues faster with AI
AI-guided troubleshooting analyzes your network data to identify likely root causes and recommend where to investigate next. Spend less time guessing and more time resolving issues.
Try a simpler way to manage your network
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4.5 stars (380+)
What’s included in each solution?
Discovery & Inventory
| Auvik | SolarWinds | |
|---|---|---|
| Device discovery | automatic | ~ manual setup |
| Inventory upkeep | self-updating | ~ manual |
| Time to first inventory | minutes | ~ hours to days |
Mapping
| Auvik | SolarWinds | |
|---|---|---|
| Topology map | automatic | ~ manual |
| Time to first map | about 30 min | ~ hours to days |
| Stays current | self-updating | ~ manual upkeep |
Alerting
| Auvik | SolarWinds | |
|---|---|---|
| Out-of-box alerts | 60+, ready to use | ~ defaults, heavy tuning |
| Alert noise | tuned to cut fatigue | ~ prone to false alarms |
Config management
| Auvik | SolarWinds | |
|---|---|---|
| Config backup | built in | ~ add-on module (NCM) |
| Compare versions | side by side | via NCM |
Netflow
| Auvik | SolarWinds | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic analysis | built in (TrafficInsights) | ~ add-on module |
| Read and use | clean and quick | ~ deeper, harder to navigate |
Monitoring & troubleshooting
| Auvik | SolarWinds | |
|---|---|---|
| Real-time monitoring | yes | yes |
| Find a device | drop in a MAC, see the port | ~ via UDT add-on |
| Path to internet | NorthStar, quick to open | ~ NetPath, separate view |
| Remote access (terminal, tunnel) | built in | yes |
Beyond the network
| Auvik | SolarWinds | |
|---|---|---|
| Server monitoring | Windows | yes |
| Application monitoring | no | yes |
| Database and virtualization | no | yes |
| IP address management | ~ basic | full |
| On-prem or air-gapped | no | yes |
Switching to Auvik is easier than you think
Map in minutes
Watch your network map come to life in about 30 minutes. No server to build or week-long rollouts.
Works with 700+ vendors
Auvik is vendor-agnostic and works with almost any device, from Cisco and Meraki to Fortinet and hundreds more.
Supports standard protocols
Auvik uses the protocols your network already speaks, like SNMP, NetFlow, SSH, vendor APIs and more.
“I also looked at SolarWinds. We mostly went with Auvik because of its ease of use. The ease of its configuration and deployment was big. Those were huge factors.”
Jeff D.
(Source: PeerSpot)
Try Auvik free
See your network in minutes
No credit card required
- Try all features free for 14 days
- Monitor unlimited sites and devices
- Works with 700+ device vendors
Frequently Asked Questions
Auvik has been a cloud subscription since day one. Here’s what else you should know.
Which SolarWinds tools does Auvik replace?
Auvik replaces the network side of SolarWinds: Network Performance Monitor (NPM), NetFlow Traffic Analyzer (NTA), and Network Configuration Manager (NCM). It also covers Windows server monitoring.
It doesn’t replace the application, database, or virtualization modules. If SolarWinds is mainly how you run your network, Auvik is a clean swap.
Is Auvik hosted on the cloud or on premises?
Auvik is a cloud-based SaaS. There’s no server for you to stand up, patch or babysit. One tradeoff: Auvik cannot run fully on-premises or air-gapped. If that is a hard requirement, Auvik is not your fit.
Is Auvik more affordable than SolarWinds?
Auvik is priced per network device, and for many teams the pricing comes out similar to SolarWinds. The real difference is predictability.
SolarWinds runs on rising fees and surprise increases. In 2025, they ended the perpetual licenses customers had paid for and sent renewals 2 to 3 times higher. Those are the costs you cannot plan for.
Auvik has been a cloud subscription from day one, and we have never pulled that kind of move. You get a price you can plan around. The network gear you manage (like switches, routers and firewalls) count toward your price, while things like access points and printers are free to monitor.
I’m using SolarWinds. Do you have any deals to offer me?
Possibly. We’ve been helping a lot of customers switch to Auvik, especially since the perpetual licenses were pulled in 2025. In many cases, we can offer options to make switching easier.
The best way to find out is to speak to an expert and tell us you’re a current SolarWinds customer.
Is Auvik secure?
Yes. Auvik is SOC 2 Type II certified. See more security details here.
What’s the best way to see if Auvik is right for me?
Here are two goods ways to move forward:
- Try it on your own network for free. Start a free trial, deploy a collector and watch your live map build itself in about 30 minutes. No credit card required.
- Book a demo with a product expert. Our team can dive deep into what an Auvik deployment would look like for your team.
Manage your network without the overhead
Watch your network map draw itself in about 30 minutes.
Using SolarWinds right now? Speak to an expert about how we can make the switch easy.
No credit card required