Paessler PRTG – More than just an alternative to Cacti
- All-in-one monitoring system for your entire Windows or Linux IT infrastructure
- Auto-discovery functionality for quickly adding network devices to your monitoring setup
- Make your job easier with custom dashboards and other visualization options
Our users give top ratings for monitoring with Paessler PRTG
PRTG as a Cacti alternative: What you’ll find on this page
“All-around winning “The real beauty of PRTG is the endless possibilities it offers” “PRTG Network MonitorIT experts agree: Paessler PRTG is a great solution for IT infrastructure monitoring
network monitor”
is very hard to beat”
PRTG vs. Cacti: One tool for your entire network instead of a mishmash of tools
In-depth bandwidth & traffic analysis
Cacti mainly offers bandwidth and traffic monitoring via SNMP and displays data in charts. It may not be enough if you are hoping to analyze network bandwidth in detail or break bandwidth down by IP address or protocol, for example.
PRTG offers comprehensive bandwidth monitoring including a complete overview of the bandwidth usage in your network. Along with SNMP, PRTG supports various flow protocols (NetFlow, jFlow, sFlow, IPFIX) and WMI, as well as packet sniffing technology.
As a result, you can quickly identify potential disruptions, determine the causes of problems, and eliminate errors.
Comprehensive network monitoring
Cacti is an open-source network tool that regularly collects and displays network data. It can quickly fall short if you’re looking to set up comprehensive network management. However, PRTG is a powerful all-in-one network monitoring tool that is much more than just an alternative to Cacti.
PRTG not only monitors network traffic and bandwidth, but also provides an overview of your network hardware, virtual machines, servers, databases, applications, and much more.
By working with technologies such as SNMP, SSH, flow, WMI, ICMP (used by ping), as well as a powerful API, PRTG lets you monitor practically every component in your network.
What network monitoring looks like in PRTG
Diagnose network issues by continuously monitoring the health, availability, uptime, and performance of your entire IT infrastructure. Show hardware status (router and server monitoring), application monitoring, network traffic, bandwidth monitoring, and other key metrics in real time and visualize data in clear graphs and dashboards to identify problems more easily. Gain the visibility you need to troubleshoot all kinds of issues in your network.
Device tree view of the complete monitoring setup
Preconfigured Packet Sniffer sensor in PRTG
Custom PRTG dashboard for keeping an eye on the entire IT infrastructure
Start monitoring your network with PRTG and see how it can make your network more reliable and your job easier.
Fast setup and intuitive usability
Network monitoring should be quick and easy. Configuring Cacti can be extremely complicated. If errors occur, you can spend hours troubleshooting and might even have to start over completely. The time you spend on setup and configuration can quickly make the actual cost of the open-source tool Cacti go through the roof.
PRTG makes monitoring as user-friendly as possible – no matter if you choose an on-prem installation or our cloud-based product.
Quick installation with automatic network discovery and smart setup for instant monitoring
Custom dashboard creation via drag & drop with easy-to-read visualized overviews
Threshold-based alerts and customizable notfication templates (SMS, email, push, and more)
Network of qualified implementation partners to support you with a smooth migration to PRTG
Free mobile apps
PRTG mobile apps let you monitor your network while on the go. With Cacti and many other monitoring tools, you can only monitor by way of the web interface. PRTG apps run on smartphones, tablets, and smartwatches with an iOS or Android operating system. Push notifications can be sent directly to your smartphone in the event of warning messages or errors in your network.
Easily find the source of the problem with our PRTG network monitoring solution
Real-time alerts and custom notifications make it easy to solve issues with servers, hardware, applications, network traffic, services, and much more.
PRTG is compatible with all major vendors, products, and systems
Need help making a decision?
You are interested to know if PRTG could be an alternative to your Cacti implementation? Contact us for more information.
“With SolarWinds, Cacti, and SNMPC we needed three different monitoring systems to gain overview about all our systems and devices. None of these offered mobile apps which ended up being the reason why we moved to PRTG. Finding out that PRTG was able to replace all three tools was a huge additional benefit for us and helps us to save a lot of time and money.”
Stein Erik Høybakk, Senior Network Engineer at TAFJORD
Your Cacti alternative PRTG at a glance – even on the go
Set up PRTG in minutes and use it on almost any mobile device.
PRTG makes network monitoring easy
Custom alerts and data visualization make it easy to monitor, identify, and prevent all kinds of network issues.
Create innovative solutions with Paessler’s partners
Partnering with innovative vendors, Paessler unleashes synergies to create
new and additional benefits for joined customers.
“Excellent tool for detailed monitoring. Alarms and notifications work greatly. Equipment addition is straight forward and server initial setup is very easy. ...feel safe to purchase it if you intend to monitor a large networking landscape.”
Infrastructure and Operations Engineer in the Communications Industry, firm size 10B - 30B USD
Easily find the source of the problem with our PRTG network monitoring solution
Real-time alerts and custom notifications make it easy to solve issues with servers, hardware, applications, network traffic, services, and much more.
PRTG vs. Cacti: FAQ
Should I choose PRTG or Cacti?
Choosing between Paessler PRTG and Cacti depends on several factors, such as your specific network monitoring needs, budget, and technical resources available in your organization.
PRTG is ideal:
- If you prefer an all-in-one, easy-to-use solution with minimal setup time.
- If you need sophisticated, customizable visualizations like dashboards and network maps.
- If you want to monitor an unlimited number of remote locations and networks at no extra cost.
- If you prefer high scalability and a software tailored to large, complex environments.
- If you want to get real-time alerting, custom notifications, and automated reporting.
- If you want to have the choice between an on-premises or cloud-based solution.
- If you want a straightforward licensing model at a comparatively low price.
Cacti might be your choice:
- If you prefer extensive customization options and are comfortable with configuring and maintaining open-source software
- If you need an open-source, free-to-use option due to budget constraints
- If you don’t need the advanced and comprehensive feature set available in PRTG
Is free, open-source software really cheaper than PRTG?
PRTG is inexpensive for all-in-one network monitoring software. It will usually save you money in the long run even compared to free open source software. Many of our customers have enjoyed substantial savings by using PRTG over other monitoring tools like Cacti, and have found that PRTG usually pays for itself within months.
What’s more, you’ll save many hours of effort (and avoid headaches) with PRTG’s easy-to-use interface, expert tech support, and simplified operation. When you consider the “big picture,” PRTG saves you time and money with its superior usability and reliability.
What is a sensor in PRTG?
In PRTG, “sensors” are the basic monitoring elements. One sensor usually monitors one measured value in your network, for example the traffic of a switch port, the CPU load of a server, or the free space on a disk drive.
On average, you need about 5-10 sensors per device or one sensor per switch port.
More than just a monitoring tool:
Reasons our customers love PRTG
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
Paessler PRTG is used by companies of all sizes. Sysadmins love PRTG because it makes their job a whole lot easier. Bandwidth, servers, virtual environments, websites, VoIP services – PRTG keeps an eye on your entire network. Everyone has different monitoring needs. That’s why we let you try PRTG for free.Still not convinced?
More than 500,000
sysadmins love PRTG
Monitor your entire IT infrastructure
Try Paessler PRTG
for free
Start monitoring your network with PRTG and see how it can make your network more reliable and your job easier.
|
PRTG |
Network Monitoring Software - Version 24.4.102.1351 (November 12th, 2024) |
|
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 |
|
Paessler PRTG – More than just an alternative to Cacti
- All-in-one monitoring for your entire IT infrastructure
- Save time, money, and effort in the long run
- Make your job easier with custom dashboards and maps
Our users give top ratings for monitoring with Paessler PRTG
PRTG as a Cacti alternative: What you’ll find on this page
“All-around winning “The real beauty of PRTG is the endless possibilities it offers” “PRTG Network MonitorIT experts agree: Paessler PRTG is a great solution for IT infrastructure monitoring
network monitor”
is very hard to beat”
PRTG vs. Cacti: One tool for your entire network instead of a mishmash of tools
In-depth bandwidth & traffic analysis
Cacti mainly offers bandwidth and traffic monitoring via SNMP and displays data in charts. It may not be enough if you are hoping to analyze network bandwidth in detail or break bandwidth down by IP address or protocol, for example.
PRTG offers comprehensive bandwidth monitoring including a complete overview of the bandwidth usage in your network. Along with SNMP, PRTG supports various flow protocols (NetFlow, jFlow, sFlow, IPFIX) and WMI, as well as packet sniffing technology.
As a result, you can quickly identify potential disruptions, determine the causes of problems, and eliminate errors.
Comprehensive network monitoring
Cacti is an open-source RRD tool that regularly collects and displays network data. It can quickly fall short if you’re looking to set up comprehensive network monitoring. However, PRTG is a powerful all-in-one network monitoring tool that is much more than just an alternative to Cacti.
PRTG not only monitors network traffic and bandwidth, but also provides an overview of your network hardware, virtual machines, servers, databases, applications, and much more.
By working with technologies such as SNMP, SSH, flow, WMI, ICMP (used by ping), as well as a powerful API, PRTG lets you monitor practically every component in your network.
What network monitoring looks like in PRTG
Diagnose network issues by continuously monitoring the health, availability, and performance of your entire IT infrastructure. Show hardware, application, network traffic, bandwidth stats, and more in real time and visualize data in graphic maps & dashboards to identify problems more easily. Gain the visibility you need to troubleshoot all kinds of issues in your network.
Device tree view of the complete monitoring setup
Preconfigured Packet Sniffer sensor in PRTG
Custom PRTG dashboard for keeping an eye on the entire IT infrastructure
Start monitoring your network with PRTG and see how it can make your network more reliable and your job easier.
Fast setup and intuitive usability
Network monitoring should be quick and easy. Configuring Cacti can be extremely complicated. If errors occur, you can spend hours troubleshooting and might even have to start over completely. The time you spend on setup and configuration can quickly make the actual cost of the open-source tool Cacti go through the roof.
PRTG makes monitoring as user-friendly as possible – no matter if you choose an on-prem installation or our cloud-based product.
Quick installation with automatic network discovery and smart setup for instant monitoring
Custom dashboard creation via drag & drop with easy-to-read visualized overviews
Different user interfaces for web, desktop, and mobile apps for monitoring on the go
Network of qualified implementation partners to support you with a smooth migration to PRTG
Free mobile apps
PRTG mobile apps let you monitor your network while on the go. With Cacti and many other monitoring tools, you can only monitor by way of the web interface. PRTG apps run on smartphones, tablets, and smartwatches with an iOS or Android operating system. Push notifications can be sent directly to your smartphone in the event of warning messages or errors in your network.
Easily find the source of the problem with our PRTG network monitoring solution
Real-time alerts and custom notifications make it easy to solve issues with servers, hardware, applications, network traffic, services, and much more.
PRTG is compatible with all major vendors, products, and systems
Need help making a decision?
You are interested to know if PRTG could be an alternative to your Cacti implementation? Contact us for more information.
“With SolarWinds, Cacti, and SNMPC we needed three different monitoring systems to gain overview about all our systems and devices. None of these offered mobile apps which ended up being the reason why we moved to PRTG. Finding out that PRTG was able to replace all three tools was a huge additional benefit for us and helps us to save a lot of time and money.”
Stein Erik Høybakk, Senior Network Engineer at TAFJORD
Your Cacti alternative PRTG at a glance – even on the go
Set up PRTG in minutes and use it on almost any mobile device.
PRTG makes network monitoring easy
Custom alerts and data visualization make it easy to monitor, identify, and prevent all kinds of network issues.
Create innovative solutions with Paessler’s partners
Partnering with innovative vendors, Paessler unleashes synergies to create
new and additional benefits for joined customers.
“Excellent tool for detailed monitoring. Alarms and notifications work greatly. Equipment addition is straight forward and server initial setup is very easy. ...feel safe to purchase it if you intend to monitor a large networking landscape.”
Infrastructure and Operations Engineer in the Communications Industry, firm size 10B - 30B USD
Easily find the source of the problem with our PRTG network monitoring solution
Real-time alerts and custom notifications make it easy to solve issues with servers, hardware, applications, network traffic, services, and much more.
PRTG vs. Cacti: FAQ
Should I choose PRTG or Cacti?
Choosing between Paessler PRTG and Cacti depends on several factors, such as your specific network monitoring needs, budget, and technical resources available in your organization.
PRTG is ideal:
- If you prefer an all-in-one, easy-to-use solution with minimal setup time.
- If you need sophisticated, customizable visualizations like dashboards and network maps.
- If you want to monitor an unlimited number of remote locations and networks at no extra cost.
- If you prefer high scalability and a software tailored to large, complex environments.
- If you want to get real-time alerting, custom notifications, and automated reporting.
- If you want to have the choice between an on-premises or cloud-based solution.
- If you want a straightforward licensing model at a comparatively low price.
Cacti might be your choice:
- If you prefer extensive customization options and are comfortable with configuring and maintaining open-source software
- If you need an open-source, free-to-use option due to budget constraints
- If you don’t need the advanced and comprehensive feature set available in PRTG
Is free, open-source software really cheaper than PRTG?
PRTG is inexpensive for all-in-one network monitoring software. It will usually save you money in the long run even compared to free open source software.
What’s more, you’ll save many hours of effort (and avoid headaches) with PRTG’s easy-to-use interface, expert tech support, and simplified operation. When you consider the “big picture,” PRTG saves you time and money with its superior usability and reliability.
What is a sensor in PRTG?
In PRTG, “sensors” are the basic monitoring elements. One sensor usually monitors one measured value in your network, for example the traffic of a switch port, the CPU load of a server, or the free space on a disk drive.
On average, you need about 5-10 sensors per device or one sensor per switch port.
More than just a monitoring tool:
Reasons our customers love PRTG
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
Paessler PRTG is used by companies of all sizes. Sysadmins love PRTG because it makes their job a whole lot easier. Bandwidth, servers, virtual environments, websites, VoIP services – PRTG keeps an eye on your entire network. Everyone has different monitoring needs. That’s why we let you try PRTG for free.Still not convinced?
More than 500,000
sysadmins love PRTGMonitor your entire IT infrastructure
Try Paessler PRTG
for free
Start monitoring your network with PRTG and see how it can make your network more reliable and your job easier.
|
PRTG |
Network Monitoring Software - Version 24.4.102.1351 (November 12th, 2024) |
|
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 |
|
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