PRTG bandwidth monitoring: What you'll find on this page
PRTG makes bandwidth monitoring easy as easy as it gets
Custom alerts and data visualization let you quickly identify and prevent all all kinds of bandwidth issues.
Why choose PRTG for bandwidth monitoring?
Troubleshoot "bandwidth hogs" faster
Paessler PRTG helps you troubleshoot bandwidth issues faster with a comprehensive network bandwidth monitor. You can choose from around 20 preconfigured sensors for bandwidth monitoring that are set up with just a few clicks. This way, you can more quickly find out which devices or applications are hogging your bandwidth.
Measure all traffic in your network
Most bandwidth analysis solutions only check traffic on a single device. The bandwidth monitoring software PRTG measures all network traffic by monitoring data directly on your routers using protocols like SNMP, WMI, flow (NetFlow, jFlow, sFlow, IPFIX), or packet sniffing. Monitor all ingoing and outgoing traffic and see which applications or servers are using the most bandwidth.
Monitor over a longer period of time
PRTG lets you keep an eye on your bandwidth over a longer period of time and recognizes when utilization spikes. This helps you plan for more bandwidth at key times, like when your website is in high demand, when users draw heavily upon applications, or when an update is pending.
Diagnose capacity & plan more efficiently
When your bandwidth is slowly reaching its limit, PRTG bandwidth monitor notifies you even before maximum capacity has been reached. This lets you plan for new resources in a timely manner, ensures a high QoS and helps prevent performance issues.
Reduce costs & improve satisfaction
By removing bandwidth hogs, you'll increase the efficiency of your network. These savings quickly compensate for the cost of PRTG. You'll also boost the reliability of your network and enjoy greater control of your IT infrastructure. This way, you'll improve employee performance and boost customer satisfaction.
What bandwidth monitoring looks like in PRTG
Diagnose network issues by continuously tracking bandwidth utilization and flow data. Show network traffic, top talkers, packet loss, latency, jitter, quality of service, and other key metrics in real time. Visualize monitoring data in clear graphs and dashboards to identify problems more easily. Gain the overview you need to troubleshoot bandwidth bottlenecks and other network congestions.
PRTG is compatible with all major vendors & manufacturers
Start bandwidth monitoring with PRTG and see how it can make your network more reliable and your job easier.
Your bandwidth monitor at a glance – even on the go
Set up PRTG in minutes and use it on almost any mobile device.
Get a comprehensive overview of your bandwidth usage with PRTG
Monitoring bandwidth usage is key to better network management
Find the source of bottlenecks
PRTG reads the complete traffic data directly from your routers and provides detailed statistics about which services and applications use your bandwidth and where potential bottlenecks could be.
- Monitor users
- Monitor devices
- Monitor services
Monitor bandwidth by any parameter
PRTG displays your bandwidth usage in graphs and toplists and shows net bandwidth consumption based on various parameters using, for example, packet sniffing or flow sensors (NetFlow, sFlow, jFlow, or IPFIX).
- Protocol
- Port number
- IP address (and more)
Configure custom alerts & notifications
Customizable alerts notify you about bandwidth shortages. This ensures that you can react proactively to all bandwidth issues and troubleshoot problems before they become critical.
- SMS alerts
- Push notifications
- Email alerts (and more)
Find the root cause of the problem with our PRTG network bandwidth monitoring tool
Real-time notifications mean faster troubleshooting so that you can act before more serious issues occur.
3 use cases for PRTG bandwidth monitoring
One single network component that overloads can bring your network to its knees. PRTG quickly identifies potential bandwidth bottlenecks and pinpoints the root causes of crashes in likely scenarios.
Problems with large file transfers
Every company sends large files, which consumes a lot of bandwidth. PRTG helps you avoid the bottlenecks lurking in your network that slow down or disrupt large file transfers and cost you dearly in time and money.
Slow applications and services
Your coworkers complain that internal programs are running slowly. Your customers complain that your website seems bogged down. PRTG solves this by showing you the cause of overloads and keeping your network at maximum efficiency.
Backup malfunctions and disruptions
No IT can do without backups. But database synchronizations and backups require a lot of bandwidth – one overload or bottleneck can disrupt everything. PRTG alerts you of bandwidth shortages so you can prevent overloads before they occur.
PRTG makes bandwidth monitoring easy as easy as it gets
Custom alerts and data visualization let you quickly identify and prevent all all kinds of bandwidth issues.
PRTG makes your job easier
Our monitoring software frees you to focus on other tasks by promptly notifying you of potential issues.
Save effort
PRTG gives you one central monitoring tool for your servers and entire network. Enjoy a quick overview of your whole infrastructure via our dashboard and app.
Save time
Getting started with PRTG is a breeze. Setting up or switching from another network monitoring tool is easy thanks to the auto-discovery and pre-configured device templates.
Save money
80% of our customers report substantial cost savings with network monitoring. Your costs of licenses will likely pay for themselves within weeks.
Case study: Austria's rail traffic relies on PRTG
Due to business-critical applications, it is of the utmost importance that the ÖBB Infrastruktur AG data network runs flawlessly at all times. To make this a reality, the management installed PRTG Network Monitor. PRTG is used for monitoring the bandwidth of central routers and switches in the network so administrators can determine the most important key parameters for utilization and availability. In total, monitoring the ÖBB data network consists of several thousand PRTG sensors that query relevant metrics at regular intervals.
Video tutorial: PRTG bandwidth monitoring methods
Watch a quick overview of the bandwidth monitoring methods PRTG offers and discover which method is best suited for your IT infrastructure.
We'll make you a monitoring expert
Gain practical knowledge on how to monitor your infrastructure with Paessler PRTG. Our training sessions are planned and provided by Paessler system engineers and are suitable for different experience levels.
PRTG: The multi-tool for sysadmins
Adapt PRTG individually and dynamically to your needs and rely on a strong API:- HTTP API: Access monitoring data and manipulate monitoring objects via HTTP requests
- Custom sensors: Create your own PRTG sensors for customized monitoring
- Custom notifications: Create your own notifications and send action triggers to external systems
- REST Custom sensor: Monitor almost everything that provides data in XML or JSON format
Practical tip: “Hey Mathias, what would you tell administrators who wish to monitor their bandwidth?”
“Instead of trying to measure bandwidth by way of an extra, simulated load, you should have a look around for actions which do that anyway – and then monitor them. For example, when you perform backups, you often put great strain on the bandwidth and can thus easily recognize shortages or bottlenecks.”
Mathias Hengl, PRTG developer at Paessler
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Still not convinced?
More than 500,000
sysadmins love PRTG
Paessler PRTG is used by companies of all sizes. Sysadmins love PRTG because it makes their job a whole lot easier.
Monitor your entire IT infrastructure
Bandwidth, servers, virtual environments, websites, VoIP services – PRTG keeps an eye on your entire network.
Start bandwidth monitoring with PRTG and see how it can make your network more reliable and your job easier.
PRTG |
Network Monitoring Software - Version 25.1.102.1373 (January 9th, 2025) |
Hosting |
Download for Windows and cloud-based version PRTG Hosted Monitor available |
Languages |
English, German, Spanish, French, Portuguese, Dutch, Russian, Japanese, and Simplified Chinese |
Pricing |
Up to 100 sensors for free (Price List) |
Unified Monitoring |
Network devices, bandwidth, servers, applications, virtual environments, remote systems, IoT, and more |
Supported Vendors & Applications |