Paessler PRTG – A better alternative to Zabbix
- Quick setup and configuration, easy customization
- Agentless monitoring software for leaner operation
- Expert technical support included
Our users give top ratings for monitoring with Paessler PRTG
PRTG as a Zabbix alternative: What you’ll find on this page
PRTG vs. Zabbix: Is open-source monitoring really cheaper than PRTG?
At first glance, “free” software like Zabbix seems like a good deal compared to PRTG. However, it will likely cost you more in the long run in terms of wasted hours, effort, and negative impact on your business.
Especially in the case of frequently used software that’s vital for smooth business operations, the purchasing price is only one part of the cost.
PRTG saves you time and helps keep your business running with easy-to-use software, superior daily usability, expert tech support, and faster, more intuitive operation and setup.
Enjoy IT infrastructure monitoring from a single dashboard – from network, storage systems, cloud services, virtual systems, databases, and applications, to medical devices, CCTV systems, industrial environments, and more.
Save time and nerves with PRTG
Fewer hardware & software requirements
PRTG only requires a Windows computer with sufficient computing power (for more information, see our system requirements) for installation if you choose our on-prem product.
Or you use our cloud-based solution. The choice is yours. Zabbix, however, requires Apache, PHP, and a dedicated MySQL database.
Easier and faster installation process
PRTG makes installation easy – just follow the steps in the installation assistant, and within a few minutes, PRTG is ready to go.
Zabbix requires you to set up Apache and a MySQL database and then correctly configure PHP, costing you precious time and likely a few headaches.
Quicker setup with one-click auto-discovery
PRTG lets you automatically search for available network devices and services. Thanks to a clear graphic user interface, the process of adding, editing, and deleting sensors is very intuitive.
Zabbix, on the other hand, uses a highly technical automatic network discovery with countless SNMP commands. Adding sensors in Zabbix requires a manual definition of many parameters such as the SNMP version or authentication method for each sensor.
Leaner operation with agentless monitoring
Our agentless monitoring tool does not make you install any software on the devices that you want to monitor. PRTG uses SNMP, WMI, NetFlow, SSH, and more to integrate devices and services.
Zabbix, however, offers only a limited range of functions such as TCP port check, ping, or SSH without the installation of agents. To monitor CPU usage, memory or system uptime, agents must be installed on the target systems.
Expert technical support included in each license
With PRTG, if you have a problem or question, our Technical Support team will respond within one business day. And our extensive Knowledge Base provides you with answers to almost any issue that you might have.
Even if Zabbix is free, you need to purchase paid packages for support from the vendor. Not to mention the countless hours you might have to spend browsing through online forums.
What network observability looks like in PRTG
Diagnose network issues by continuously tracking the availability, and performance of all your network devices like servers, routers, or firewalls. Show hardware health, application performance, network traffic, bandwidth usage, and other performance metrics in real time. Visualize data in clear graphs and dashboards to identify problems more easily. Gain the visibility you need to troubleshoot downtime and other issues in your network in a streamlined way.
Device tree view of the complete monitoring setup
Live network traffic graph in PRTG
Custom PRTG dashboard for keeping an eye on the entire IT infrastructure
Start monitoring your infrastructure with PRTG Network Monitor and see how it can make your network more reliable and your job easier.
“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”
Fast setup and intuitive usability
Network monitoring should be quick and easy. Cumbersome and complicated software creates unnecessary work for the administrator. PRTG makes monitoring as user-friendly as possible – in fact, installing, configuring, and using PRTG is way easier than Zabbix.
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
Find the root cause of the problem with our PRTG network monitoring system
Real-time notifications mean faster troubleshooting so that you can act before more serious issues occur.
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 Zabbix implementation? Contact us for more information.
“For its easy-to-use interface, configuration, and graphical environment, PRTG is immensely better compared with the competition, for example Zabbix is very tedious to configure and it took us months versus hours with PRTG.”
Matías Nogueira, Director of Engineering, Teletipos
Your Zabbix 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.
With ScriptRunner, Paessler integrates a powerful event automation platform into PRTG Network Monitor.
ScriptRunner
UVnetworks
UVexplorer integrates tightly with PRTG to bring fast and accurate network discovery, detailed device inventory, and automatic network mapping to the PRTG platform.
“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. Zabbix: FAQ
Should I choose PRTG or Zabbix?
Choosing between Paessler PRTG and Zabbix 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 that includes all key features, 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 SaaS solution.
- If you want a straightforward licensing model at a comparatively low price.
Zabbix might be your choice:
- If you prefer an open-source solution with strong community support
- If you are comfortable with more complex, manual configuration work and a steeper learning curve
- If you want more support of user-defined scripts, plugins, and add-ons for extended functionality
Why should I buy PRTG instead of using the free tool Zabbix?
You should consider buying PRTG instead of using the free tool Zabbix if you prioritize ease of use, quick setup, and a user-friendly interface. PRTG is designed to be intuitive, even for users without extensive technical expertise, and offers comprehensive support from Paessler, which can be crucial for ensuring smooth operation and quick resolution of issues.
Additionally, PRTG includes built-in sensors, auto-discovery, and straightforward integration with third-party systems, making it a convenient choice for small to medium-sized networks where simplicity and dedicated support are valued over the extensive customization and scalability offered by Zabbix.
Does PRTG also have a free version?
Yes, PRTG has a Freeware Edition with which you get:
- A free monitoring solution for up to 100 sensors for life
- Monitoring of hardware, applications, performance, network traffic included
- Free alerting, reports, and mapping features
With the free version of PRTG, you can get started with network monitoring in a matter of minutes. Our Auto-Discovery feature detects all the devices within a given IP address range and automatically integrates them into your monitoring environment.
What is the price of the paid version of PRTG?
PRTG’s flexible subscription licensing makes it easy to scale as needed. You pay only for the number of sensors you need. After your 30-day free trial of the unlimited version of PRTG, you can still use the Freeware Edition with 100 free sensors. Or you upgrade to a paid license.
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
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Start monitoring your network with PRTG and see how it can make your network more reliable and your job easier.
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PRTG |
Network Monitoring Software - Version 24.4.102.1351 (November 12th, 2024) |
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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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