product review
Pandora FMS vs PRTG Network Monitor
This technical comparison is focused on providing sales teams with key information about both products, highlighting their capabilities, advantages, limitations and market-relevant data.
Pandora FMS and PRTG Network Monitor are widely recognized IT infrastructure monitoring solutions, but each offers unique approaches, features and licensing models that position them differently.
Pandora FMS
Pandora FMS is a comprehensive solution that covers IT management, monitoring, auditing, configuration management, remote control, ITSM, inventory and security. It is designed to be a complete platform that allows companies to manage large infrastructures with a wide range of tools. Its users value the depth and versatility, although it may require more initial effort to set up.
PRTG Network Monitor
Developed by Paessler, it is a tool focused on network infrastructure monitoring, known for its ease of use and fast implementation. It uses a sensor-based licensing system, which can lead to increased costs in large infrastructures. However, its simplicity makes it a popular choice for smaller or medium-sized networks that do not require advanced customization.
Benefits and weaknesses
- Real-time Monitoring: It scans IT networks on a steady basis to provide up-to-date data.
- Remote Control: Full support for remote shell access on Linux, Windows and Mac systems.
- Unified Infrastructure Monitoring: Quick search for information in all monitored systems with a single click, making comprehensive management easier in network environments, servers, heavy applications and workstations.
- Learning Curve: It can be challenging for users with less technical expertise due to its extensive feature set.
- Complex initial setup: Some users mention that installation and configuration may take longer.
- Specific Hardware Integration Issues: It has reported deficiencies in finding pre-configured templates with network-specific hardware.
- Remote Monitoring: Control pre-configured devices and metrics on sensors for a clear view of network status.
- Network Management: Detailed dashboards showing network outages, packet losses, and other critical conditions.
- Specific network hardware monitoring: Out-of-the-box system for known network hardware.
- Limited functions: It focuses primarily on network monitoring, with fewer options for monitoring servers, applications, or cloud environments.
- Pricing Model: Using sensor-based licenses can be expensive as the number of monitored devices grows.
- Inaccurate Alerts: Users have reported false positives and missing notifications on some major issues.
Feature comparison
Network monitoring
Pandora FMS offers advanced network analysis features using protocols such as sFlow, NetFlow, and JFlow, making it ideal for complex networks.
PRTG focuses on more basic monitoring, suitable for small and medium-sized networks. This allows for quick deployment, but limits its customization in higher-demand scenarios.
Operating System Compatibility
Pandora FMS is cross-platform, with support for Windows, Linux, and Mac, giving it significant flexibility across heterogeneous infrastructures.
PRTG, although it can monitor multiple systems, it runs only on Windows, which can be a barrier for diversified environments.
Licensing
Pandora FMS licensing is based on devices (agents), which makes it a flexible and predictable option for large environments. Each device in Pandora FMS represents a single license unit, regardless of its complexity or number of components, such as ports or interfaces. This means that, for example, an 8-port or 24-port switch is counted as a single device, providing users with a constant and scalable cost structure, ideal for networks with a wide variety of equipment and configurations.
PRTG uses a sensor-based licensing system, which can cause costs to increase significantly in networks with complex devices. In PRTG, each monitored metric, such as upstream or downstream traffic, CPU %, or firmware, counts as one sensor. For example, a 24-port switch with 5 metrics per port would consume 120 sensors, generating a high license usage compared to Pandora FMS. This model can lead to a single device, depending on its size and active metrics, consuming a considerable amount of sensors and affecting costs.
Comparative Ratings (G2 Report 2024)
Criterion
General
Requirement Compliance
Ease of Use
Ease of Setup
Ease of Management
Quality of Support
Was it a good tool for your business?
Product Orientation
(% positive)
183 reviews
71 reviews
“It is easy to learn and use. Especially for new students, the interface is good and clear.”
Nouel C. – User in Customer Services
“PRTG allows me to monitor all of my remote networks very easily, with minimal network usage.”
Cameron M. – User in Sports
“Modules are difficult to create and require a high level of familiarity with the platform.”
Devika G. – User in Management Consulting
“The price. Your organization needs significant funding to maintain ongoing support. To get relevant information, you must invest hundreds of man-hours customizing the system.”
Jeff Simpson, Jr. – User in Health and Wellness
You can read all the reviews that G2 users post for Pandora FMS right here →
PRTG Network Monitor is an ideal choice for small to medium-sized businesses with infrastructures predominantly based on Windows. Its ease of use and quick deployment make it an attractive solution for those looking for a simple and straightforward tool, although its sensor-based model can become a constraint as networks grow.
On the other hand, Pandora FMS stands out as a comprehensive solution for large and heterogeneous infrastructures, offering flexibility, customization and unparalleled scalability
Its licensing structure and the depth of its features make it extremely suitable for companies with advanced needs. Although it has a steeper learning curve, it compensates with a complete and adaptable solution as the infrastructure grows.