Today we’re going to list & review the best bandwidth monitoring tools, software and utilities on the market to ensure your keeping track of internet and network usage in your business and networks.
Being able to track your internet usage is a critical task that network and IT professionals need to be able to perform. If you are aware of the available bandwidth within your organization then you are better prepared to allocate the necessary resources ahead of time.
Here is our list of the top bandwidth monitoring tools:
- Paessler PRTG – FREE TRIAL A bundle of monitoring tools for networks, applications, and applications that includes sensors for extracting traffic information. Runs on Windows Server. Download a 30-day free trial.
- ManageEngine Netflow Analyzer – FREE TRIAL A bandwidth monitor for network issues that can implement traffic shaping and is offered in free and paid versions. Available for Windows Server and Linux, or as a service on AWS. Download a 30-day free trial.
- Site24x7 Network Monitoring – FREE TRIAL This cloud-based package provides bandwidth analysis and network device monitoring along with server and application monitoring. Start a 30-day free trial.
- ManageEngine OpUtils – FREE TRIAL A package of network and server monitoring tools that includes autodiscovery, network mapping, and device performance tracking. Available in free and paid editions for Windows, Linux, and AWS. Get a 30-day free trial.
- SolarWinds Network Bandwidth Analyzer Pack A pack of two modules to discover and map network devices, create a network inventory, analyze bandwidth usage, and implement traffic shaping. Runs on Windows Server.
- Spiceworks Connectivity Dashboard This free, ad-supported cloud-based system monitors the performance of application delivery across multiple sites and can integrate with a companion Help Desk system, which is also free to use.
- SoftPerfect Networx A small-scale endpoint-based system that checks the performance of a local network. Available for Windows and macOS.
- Bitmeter II Suitable for home use or small businesses, this tool records upload and download speeds and throughput on a local router. Runs on Windows.
- Bandwidth Monitor (BW Monitor) This simple tool is designed to track the network interface of its host PC and report on throughput statistics. Available for Windows.
- Bandwidth Monitor Pro Suitable for tracking the network activity of a single PC, this tool has capacity alerts. Runs on Windows.
Some of the better tools in our list will help monitor user behavior and usage and will be a valuable troubleshooting tool, while others will be better for individual and single computer usage.
How you need to ingest the data from your monitoring is another consideration to factor into your selection. Some of the options that we will look at today offer export features to popular formats such as XLS and PDF, while others only offer graphs and graphics in a GUI window.
Your requirements will be unique so you will need to find the right solution for your requirements.
The Best Bandwidth Monitoring Tools & Software of 2024
We have put together a list of the best bandwidth monitoring tools. Some of these products are still actively maintained and updated, while others are no longer under active development. Each one of the applications in our list will be able to help track and monitor the bandwidth usage of the local computer that it is installed on, or on the network in general.
Our methodology for selecting bandwidth monitoring tools and software
We reviewed various bandwidth monitoring tools and analyzed the options based on the following criteria:
- Alerting and reporting capabilities
- Ability to automate or schedule tasks
- A facility to monitor bandwidth over time
- Graphical interpretation of data, such as charts and graphs
- A free trial period, a demo, or a money-back guarantee for no-risk assessment
- A good price that reflects value for money when compared to the functions offered
Not all of these apps have been created equal though, so you will need to read through our descriptions for each one to find out which of the options will work best for you.
Let’s dive in and take a look!
1. Paessler PRTG – FREE TRIAL
Paessler PRTG Network Monitor is another stellar brand that is in the monitoring space of the software world.
Key Features:
- On premises or SaaS
- Flow protocols
- Network mapping
- Connection testing
Organizations of varying sizes and sectors have traditionally turned to PRTG for their monitoring needs, so it is no surprise that they offer a fantastic bandwidth monitoring feature as well. It has the ability to analyse your network bandwidth and can also detect bandwidth overloads.
This means that if there is an element on the network that is using too much of your internet’s bandwidth then you will be notified. The way that PRTG works is by measuring the actual bandwidth that is available on the local network.
Why do we recommend it?
Paessler PRTG is a bundle of monitoring tools. It includes autodiscovery, inventory management, and topology mapping. Sensors in the package include NetFlow, sFlow, J-Flow, and IPFIX protocol services. You can also use a packet sniffer module to analyze traffic per source and destination or protocol. Alerts warn of traffic issues.
This includes both the Local Area Network and the Wi-Fi networks. This displays real-time traffic information and helps you to figure out exactly what is using the most bandwidth on your network. Perhaps one of the most useful features of PRTG is that it allows you to monitor multiple devices at once, and not only the local machine that it is installed on.
This is thanks to the fact that it is able to monitor the traffic and protocols directly from your router. You can learn more about this app from their website right here and you can find the download link here.
Who is it recommended for?
This package is suitable for businesses of all sizes. You buy an allowance of sensors and if you only activate 100, you never have to pay for the system. That’s a great offer for small businesses. You can get this bundle as a software package for Windows Server or as a SaaS platform.
Pros:
- Designed to be an infrastructure monitoring tool that supports multiple sensors types such as NetFlow, sFlow, and J-Flow
- Offers additional monitoring on the same platform, supporting infrastructure, network, and application performance monitoring
- Captures packet headers only, helps speed up analysis and keep storage costs down for long-term collection
- Uses simple yet intuitive graphing for traffic visualization
Cons:
- Very detailed platform, takes time to learn and fully utilize all of the features available
PRTG offers a 30 day full version trial with unlimited sensors so that you can get a feel for the product. After 30 days you will be limited to 100 sensors but the product will still work perfectly.
2. ManageEngine NetfFlow Analyzer – FREE TRIAL
ManageEngine NetFlow Analyzer is a great tool for analyzing Bandwidth within your network perimeter using a multitude of different flow and monitoring technologies.
Key Features:
- Windows Server, Linux, or AWS
- Bottleneck detection
- Early warning system
Some of the protocols this product can use to monitor traffic & bandwidth in your network include:
- Netflow
- j-Flow
- sFlow
- IPFIX
- Netstream
- Appflow
- and many more!
Quickly Analyze flow traffic and packets to find the culprit of network congestion!
Why do we recommend it?
ManageEngine Netflow Analyzer relies on flow protocols to gather traffic statistics from switches, routers, and firewalls. The system has capabilities for NetFlow, IPFIX, sFlow, and J-Flow. The system helps you to implement CBQoS and other traffic shaping measures to squeeze the best value from your network hardware.
Who is it recommended for?
There is a Free edition of Netflow Analyzer but it is limited to monitoring only two interfaces, which is a little too restricted. The smallest package size for the paid version of the tool will monitor 10 interfaces. The software for this package is available for Windows Server and Linux. You can also get Netflow Analyzer as a service on AWS.
Pros:
- Supports multiple protocols like NetFlow alongside J-Flow, great for monitoring Cisco equipment
- Both tools work well alongside each other to help view traffic patterns and bandwidth usage
- Easy-to-use interface automatically highlights bandwidth hogs and other network traffic outliers
- Scale well, designed for large enterprise networks
- Can view traffic on a per-hop basis, allowing for granular traffic analysis
Cons:
- Designed for enterprise use, takes time to fully explore all options available
Find traffic patterns quickly at an interface level to quickly root out systems that are hogging bandwidth and resources on your network. This product also lets you drill down to an interface level to get real-time insights into your network quickly and easily! ManageEngine offer a 30-day free trial.
3. Site24x7 Network Monitoring – FREE TRIAL
Site24x7 Network Monitoring provides both device status checks and network traffic analysis. The cloud-based system installs an agent on your network and this uses SNMP procedures to poll all devices. The responses that come back are uploaded to the Site24x7 cloud server where they are assembled into a device inventory and a network topology map. The SNMP polling continues to provide live network performance monitoring.
Key Features:
- Cloud based
- Full-stack observability
- Protocol analysis
The Network Monitoring system also provides bandwidth analysis. This unit uses NetFlow, J-Flow, sFlow, CFlow, IPFIX, NetStream, and AppFlow to query network devices and extract traffic data. The system can then show that activity data in the console for Site24x7. The tool is abler to identify traffic by protocol, which is a necessary feature for VoIP traffic analysis.
Why do we recommend it?
Site24x7 Network Monitoring is part of a cloud platform of IT monitoring units. The service includes device monitoring with SNMP and it will also discover all of your network devices, document them, and map them. The traffic monitoring system in the platform provides NetFlow, sFlow, J-Flow, and IPFIX capabilities.
The tool is able to implement traffic shaping measures to prioritize specific types of traffic, which could be necessary in the case of interactive protocols, such as VoIP and video streaming.
The package of Network Monitoring tools also includes a network configuration manager, which prevents tampering by intruders. This service also helps you to standardize and back up device configurations.
Who is it recommended for?
Site24x7 sells subscriptions to its platform in plans that include all modules. So you get infrastructure, server, and application monitoring along with your network monitoring plan. Those plans are all sized and priced to suit small businesses with capacity expansion supplements that cater to larger businesses.
Pros:
- Network discovery and documentation
- Device status reports
- Live traffic data per link and across the network between two given endpoints
- Network configuration management
- The cloud-based console can be accessed from anywhere
Cons:
- No on-premises version
Site24x7 provides a platform of many IT monitoring systems, so you don’t just sign up for the Network Monitoring service, but the whole package. There are many plans available but the price starts at $9 per month when paid annually. You can examine the service with a 30-day free trial.
4. ManageEngine OpUtils – FREE TRIAL
ManageEngine OpUtils takes a different approach to the other solutions that we have looked at today. It is an agent-less application which means that it doesn’t need a program installed on each of the elements that it needs to measure. Instead, ManageEngine OpUtils uses the SNMP protocol to remotely measure the bandwidth usage of the target device on your network.
Key Features:
- Switch port mapping
- IP address manager
- TCP port scanning
Why do we recommend it?
ManageEngine OpUtils is a combination of an IP address manager and a switch port mapper. The tool also includes a logical port scanner. So, you get all of your network addressing issues covered by this package. The tool will help you to identify whether switch and router issues are the cause of any traffic problems on your network.
The application allows you to keep historical data about your targets on the network in the form of lists and graphs. You can use the pre-determined values or you can edit them to make your own. You can also monitor other elements such as the connection speed that you currently have, the kinds of data and packets being sent across your network, and the amount of data being transferred.
As with some of the better bandwidth tools that we have looked at so far, OpUtils has alerting functions that will notify you when your machine has breached the set values that you have defined.
There are plenty of other reasons to use this particular bandwidth monitor, including a handy XLS export feature that you can use to analyze data in your favorite productivity suite such as excel.
Who is it recommended for?
This system takes care of a lot of the hassle of managing addresses on your networks. It also provides security monitoring by highlighting open ports and spotting rogue devices on your network. There is a free version available but that is limited to an IP scanner, a port checker, Ping, and Traceroute.
Pros:
- Offers a suite of tools that provide WoL, IP address management, and physical switch port mapping
- Gathers hostname, device status, and MAC address alongside IP address scans
- Identifies new machines via autodiscovery, great for large networks and continuous monitoring
- Available for both Windows server and nix operating systems
- Free version is great for smaller networks
Cons:
- ManageEngine is a large monitoring platform that offers a host of tools and features that may take time to fully explore
You can contact ManageEngine for a customized quote. You can start the process by registering for a 30-day free trial.
5. SolarWinds Network Bandwidth Analyzer Pack – FREE TRIAL
From our experience, you can’t really go wrong with a SolarWinds product! Another one of their excellent monitoring tools includes the Network Bandwidth Analyzer.
This tool is several levels above the free version mentioned above and includes additional features and functionality.
Key Features:
- Detect, diagnose, and resolve network performance issues
- Track response time, availability, and uptime of routers, switches, and other SNMP-enabled devices
- Monitor and analyze network bandwidth performance and traffic patterns
- Find bandwidth hogs on a network and see which applications are using the most bandwidth
- View visual hop-by-hop analysis for devices along the delivery path with NetPath
- Enterprise command center
- Advanced alerting capabilities and more!
These are only a few of their key features but read the full feature list to see how powerful this tool really is.
Why do we recommend it?
The SolarWinds Network Bandwidth Analyzer Pack provides both device monitoring with SNMP and traffic tracking with packet sampling and flow protocols, such as NetFlow, IPFIX, sFlow, and J-Flow. You can get VoIP mean opinion score (MOS) calculations and implement traffic shaping measures with this package. The software runs on Windows Server.
Who is it recommended for?
This package is suitable for use by large organizations. It is able to track connections between sites and out to cloud platforms as well as discovering devices and mapping LANs. This system will raise an alert if traffic patterns indicate a switch or router in trouble.
Pros:
- Supports multiple protocols like NetFlow, great for monitoring Cisco equipment
- Both tools work well alongside each other to help view traffic patterns and bandwidth usage
- Easy-to-use interface automatically highlights bandwidth hogs and other network traffic outliers
- Scales well, designed for large enterprise networks
- Can view traffic on a per-hop basis, allowing for granular traffic analysis
Cons:
- Built for enterprise use, not designed for small home networks
SolarWinds Network Bandwidth Analyzer Pack includes all of the flow protocols needed to operate in a multi-vendor environment. The package is able to deploy NetFlow, IPFIX, sFlow, NetStream, and J-Flow. This means that the bandwidth analyzer can collect data from different network devices of different brands simultaneously. The tool can identify points of failure in the network, which could be caused by a faulty switch or a capacity planning error. Store activity metrics to examine possible solutions to traffic problems, such as protocol prioritization or a redesign. The Network Performance Monitor unit in the package provides network discovery and mapping and it will raise an alert if a switch, router, or other network device has a status issue.
6. Spiceworks Connectivity Dashboard
Spiceworks is a cloud-based service that costs nothing to use. However, it is kept free by a side panel that displays advertising.
The Connectivity Dashboard is part of a suite of free IT administration tools that include a Help Desk ticketing service and an IT asset inventory package. The service is long-established and so this software is very stable and reliable. It is aimed at small businesses that don’t want to pay for system management software.
Key Features:
- Free to use
- Web based
- Connection testing
Why do we recommend it?
Spiceworks Connectivity Dashboard is an online tool that will provide lightweight network traffic monitoring by installing agents on endpoints. You only need one agent on your site but the more endpoints you have agents on, the more detail you get from the system. The dashboard also provides an inventory module and a Help Desk ticketing system.
The service is very easy to sign up for, set up, and use. The package is able to monitor the response times of each device connected to the network, so you can see if any individual user is getting poor performance. The connection speed tests also reach out to office equipment, such as printers.
The tool is able to check the performance of network connections as well as local networks.
It is possible to set up alerts so that you get notified when devices are unreachable or connection speeds slow down. This tool focuses on connection speeds rather than bandwidth capacity.
Who is it recommended for?
Spiceworks Connectivity Dashboard is a handy free tool that is suitable for use by small businesses. The free Connectivity Dashboard can be accessed from the same console as the Help Desk, so you would be more likely to use this network tester if you already use the Help Desk.
Pros:
- Completely free tool
- Web-based dashboard allows SNMP monitoring from anywhere in the world
- Ideal for small, growing, and non-profit organizations
- Integrates well into other Spiceworks tools like Spiceworks Inventory and Cloud Desk
Cons:
- Lacks integrations into other solutions outside of the Spiceworks ecosystem
Spiceworks is free software. This is a cloud-based service, so there is no download.
7. Networx
Networx is aimed at individual computers and laptops rather than a network wide application.
This means that if you are looking to find out which applications are using the most bandwidth on your local device then it will serve you quite well. It is equipped with plenty of different options and settings so you can customize the software to suit you.
Key Features:
- Queries network devices
- Protocol analysis
- Top talkers report
Why do we recommend it?
Networx focuses on bandwidth monitoring. It is available in a computer version or a network version. The computer license gathers network data from the interface on the host and the network version reads data from the network router. It checks on connection speeds to different endpoints and across the internet. It will also record file movements.
There are other great features such as a logging option that will allow you to track and trend out the current bandwidth allocation on your network based on your computer’s own usage. This is a useful tool in situations where you need to establish a root cause for slow internet and network speeds.
If you find that your computer or laptop is not actively accessing the internet or other network resources, then you can start troubleshooting further down the connectivity chain. Find out more about this useful application from their website’s homepage.
If it looks useful then download it from here and try it out yourself.
Who is it recommended for?
The single license to use Network on a computer is very reasonable and it will appeal to any small business. The network version, however, is quite expensive and this will probably be bought by mid-sized businesses. The package isn’t suitable for large businesses. The software is available for Windows, macOS, and Linux.
Pros:
- Ideal for SMBs
- Supports a wide range of monitoring features for bandwidth, latency, and traffic size
- Simple pricing
Cons:
- Better suited for smaller networks
Pricing starts with a free Lite version, which is good for a single computer, which lacks some of the high-end features. A single standard license starts at $49.
8. Bitmeter II
Bitmeter II is a graphical tracking tool that differentiates between upload and download speeds by representing them graphically in different colors. This is a great application if you want to set up warnings and alerts for yourself because it allows you to set thresholds in a few different ways.
Key Features:
- Free to use
- On device software
- Reports on connection speeds
Why do we recommend it?
Bitmeter II is a free tool that runs on Windows. It is a network and internet speed monitor. The tool is only available as a PC-based utility, and so it will only check on the performance of your local network from your computer to the gateway. This system is really only suitable for checking on internet speeds.
If you are wanting to cap your internet usage then you can set a download limit warning. This means that if you breach that value then the software will inform you. You will also be alerted if your upload and download speeds drop below a certain value.
This is a good way to monitor your connection’s overall throughput and can help you to keep your ISP accountable if you are able to trend out certain speed declines that may occur on their end of the connection. Another very useful feature is the on-screen overlay that displays the download and upload totals on your screen.
This lets you be more proactive as the details are always displayed on your desktop, allowing you to take action when you need to. You can find out more information from their website and you can download the application from here.
Who is it recommended for?
This is a tool for home use but it could also be useful for a small home office. This isn’t really a full service for networks. It will provide a graph of upload and download activity on a PC but it doesn’t track traffic on different links on a network.
Pros:
- Offers simple monitoring for smaller networks
- Offers custom color codes for tracking
- Includes simple native graphing and reporting
Cons:
- The interface could use improvement
- Not ideal for larger networks or continuous monitoring
This application is freeware and has not cost.
9. BW Monitor
BWMonitor is a simple monitor that lets you know what is happening with your current bandwidth usage. It is not a free tool, but it is one that gives you other useful features such as an integrated internet speed test and bandwidth monitor.
Key Features:
- Free bandwidth monitor
- Upload and download speeds
- A graph per interface
Why do we recommend it?
BW Monitor is a free bandwidth monitor for PCs. The tool will only measure the bandwidth performance for the computer that the software is hosted on. IT will also record all files that are uploaded and downloaded from the device, listing file names and transfer sizes.
You can monitor a specific interface on your computer to calculate the overall data usage that it incurs throughout the course of usage. This means that even encrypted traffic such as VPN data can be measured because it measures the packets sent and received at the interface. Bandwidth monitor works on all major Microsoft Windows versions and there is some historical graphical and numerical data that you can delve into to satisfy your curiosity regarding your internet usage.
The overall functionality on offer here is quite basic when compared to some of the more developed options on our list, but that is by design. This is a low system requirement tool that wont break the bank in terms of your computer’s system resources.
Who is it recommended for?
This software package runs on Windows. It is a utility for home use and could also be used by small home offices. It only checks on internet speeds, which includes the connection between the computer hosting the software and its network gateway.
Pros:
- Provides bandwidth monitoring and internet speed test
- Can choose individual interfaces for monitoring
- Very lightweight – uses little resources
Cons:
- Visual graphing could use improvement
- Not a free tool
If you would like to try it out for yourself then you can find a trial download on their website, with the link provided below. For more information then be sure to check out their website right here. A full price-list can be found here, licenses start at $24.95.
10. Bandwidth Monitor Pro
This is another small application that is suitable for monitoring a single computer on your network. It offers a compact little window with a sleek interface. It allows you to consolidate all of your adapters into one location and gather statistics about all of them together. This is ideal if you are trying to monitor your usage without getting unexpectedly blocked by going over your monthly data allowance with your ISP.
Key Features:
- Runs on Windows
- Computer connection speeds
- Upload and download
Why do we recommend it?
Bandwidth Monitor Pro is very similar to BW Monitor. It runs on Windows and will log the connection speeds experienced by the computer on which it is installed. The tool records upload and download speeds, showing those statistics in a readout and also in a small graph.
If you use an expensive mobile data option like LTE or 5G then this is an application that you will definitely want to have running on your laptop or desktop computer. The application also supports detailed logging and the ability to separate the usage of your network interfaces over weekly, monthly and annual date slices.
The system icon tray is where you will always find the Bandwidth Monitor Pro icon, so you will always be in control of your network utilization. Customization is another area where this app is useful.
You can cut out the noise and information that you don’t need, leaving you with only the most relevant data to your particular situation. System alerts are also available to notify you when you are about to hit one of the predefined thresholds or limits on your monitored connection.
Who is it recommended for?
This tool is not free. However, it has a low price. It is suitable for home use or for a small home office. The tool doesn’t check on the performance of a network, other than the stretch between the yost and the network gateway.
Pros:
- Great for simple one-off tests
- Can monitoring all individual and groups of adapters
- Provides simple reporting
Cons:
- No visual graph reporting
If you would like to find out more about this application then you can go to their website here.
Individual licenses start at $19.95 and you can find out more about pricing here.
Bandwidth Monitoring Tools FAQs
What are the different types of bandwidth monitoring tools?
There are several types of bandwidth monitoring tools available, including:
- Network performance monitoring (NPM) tools
- Packet sniffers
- Flow-based monitoring tools
- Bandwidth analyzers
- Application performance monitoring (APM) tools
How do I set up bandwidth monitoring?
Setting up bandwidth monitoring typically involves installing a monitoring tool on your network and configuring it to collect and analyze data. You may also need to configure network devices and routers to send data to the monitoring tool. It is important to ensure that the monitoring tool is configured to collect the data you need, while minimizing the impact on network performance.
How often should I monitor bandwidth?
The frequency of bandwidth monitoring will depend on your specific needs and the level of detail you require. Some organizations may monitor bandwidth continuously in real-time, while others may only need to monitor it periodically. It is important to strike a balance between collecting enough data to identify trends and issues, while avoiding excessive network overhead or data storage costs.
