Pandora FMS vs. PRTG Network Monitor
Switch to Pandora FMS and save with no restrictions
PRTG has raised prices and mandates 3-year contracts. Find out why companies around the world are migrating to Pandora FMS. for more flexible, powerful monitoring without hidden cost overruns.
Price comparison
How much can you save?
Save more with Pandora FMS: no hidden costs or sensor restrictions.
Pay only for what you need, with no limitations on the scalability of your monitoring.
devices
PANDORA FMS
FREE
year
1.649€
year
devices
PANDORA FMS
1.529€
year
2.899€
year
devices
PANDORA FMS
3.338€
year
6.099€
year
devices
PANDORA FMS
5.944€
year
10.890€
year
devices
PANDORA FMS
10.422€
year
14.699€
year
PRTG Network Monitor pricing according to your web as of 17 Feb 2025.
PRTG requires a minimum 3-year commitment under its new underwriting model. Comparison with NMS version of Pandora FMS.
Which solution is best suited to your company?
Pandora FMS vs PRTG: Two approaches, one clear decision.
Pandora FMS
Comprehensive monitoring platform with total flexibility and scalability.
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
Network monitoring with a sensor-based model that can limit growth.
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.
Advantages and limitations of each solution
Pandora FMS
- Unification of monitoring needs: Covers all monitoring functionalities with a single, easy-to-understand license.
- It detects network devices and draws network diagrams automatically by detecting network topology and links of switches and routers.
- Advanced network monitoring tools such as Netflow, network equipment configuration management (deployment, change detection, backup and firmware management) as well as IP addressing management (IPAM).
- Large number of fully customizable reports and screens to share with external customers.
PRTG Network Monitor
- Remote monitoring: Control devices and preconfigured metrics on sensors for a clear view of network status.
- Simplicity of use: Designed for a limited number of functions, but delivers what it promises.
- Monitoring of specific network hardware: Out-of-the-box system for known network hardware.
- Solid reputation in the market.
Pandora FMS
- Learning curve: Can be challenging for less technically experienced users due to its extensive feature set.
- Its network of partners and distributors is not as extensive as that of PRTG.
- The server only runs under Linux although it supports endpoints (agents) on any platform: Windows, Linux, Android, Unix, and IoT.
- Some settings, such as WEB user experience monitoring (WUX) are complex due to their power.
PRTG Network Monitor
- Very limited functionality Focuses mainly on network monitoring, with few options for monitoring servers, applications or cloud environments.
- Pricing model: The use of sensor-based licenses can skyrocket if we want to go deeper into monitoring.
- Inaccurate alerts: Users have reported false positives and missing notifications on some major issues.
- Difficult to scale: In environments with several thousand devices, especially if detailed monitoring is needed.
- PRTG requires a minimum 3-year commitment under its new underwriting model.
Comparison of functions
Everything you need to know
Hundreds of companies have already migrated from Zabbix to Pandora FMS to simplify their monitoring and gain real visibility. Single license, expert support and a centralized console for your entire environment.
Network monitoring
Pandora FMS offers advanced network analysis capabilities using protocols such as sFlow, NetFlow and JFlow, making it ideal for complex networks. Its network functions are extended with the collection of raw logs (Syslog) to generate alerts and long-term storage. It can manage super-networks, IP addressing including IP reservation and IP inventory (IPAM). Its NCM module allows remote management of network device configurations such as routers and switches.
PRTG Network Monitor focuses on more basic monitoring, suitable for small and medium-sized networks. This allows for quick deployment, but limits its customization in more demanding scenarios.
Both support all current SNMP standards (v1, 2c and 3), as well as asynchronous mode trap collection.
Licensing
Pandora FMS licensing is based on devices (agents), being a flexible and predictable option for large environments. Each device represents a single license unit, regardless of its complexity or number of components, such as ports or interfaces. 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 Network Monitor uses a sensor-based licensing system, which can cause costs to increase significantly in networks with complex devices. 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.
Application monitoring
Pandora FMS offers advanced capabilities to monitor complex applications such as Oracle or SAP, where agents can view the application status, obtain table fragmentation information and observe custom SAP transactions. The application monitoring library includes most of the technology currently in use.
PRTG Network Monitor has only remote checks, which allow, through remote execution, to obtain some data, but it does not have specific plugins for technologies such as Pandora.
Web monitoring
Pandora FMS can not only monitor websites and view transaction times. It can establish complex transactions that include interaction, collect data and send it, capture screenshots and evaluate dozens of response metrics in addition to the transaction itself. It can be used as a webscrapper and distributed to remote probes or centralized monitoring.
PRTG Network Monitor can only perform basic WEB checks.
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54% reduction in incident response time
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17% less loss per hour/machine downtime
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ROI: 3.2x in the first half of the year
*Pandora FMS KPIs in global companies.
Return on investment and operating costs
Monitoring that reduces costs and maximizes performance.
Pandora FMS’s licensing structure and depth of functionality make it ideal for companies with advanced needs. Although it has a steeper learning curve, it compensates with a complete and adaptable solution as the infrastructure grows.
Real cases
User feedback
“Pandora FMS is an excellent IT monitoring and management software, it provides a platform to monitor and control the performance of computer systems and networks. A very important point that stands out is its focus on automation, the software includes tools that allow us to automate repetitive tasks, thus having a complete supervision and constant monitoring that allows us to give a high quality service of our servers.”
Omar B. – Verified user in Electronic Engineering
“PRTG allows me to monitor all my remote networks very easily, with minimal network utilization.”
Cameron M. – Verified user in Sports
“Modules are difficult to create and require a high level of familiarity with the platform.”
Devika G. – Verified Management Consulting User
“The price. Your organization needs significant funds to maintain ongoing support. To get relevant information, you must spend hundreds of man hours customizing the system.”
Jeff Simpson, Jr. – Verified user in Health and Wellness
Comparative ratings
(G2 – March 2025)
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Start today!
Try Pandora FMS for free and forget about limitations
While PRTG Network Monitor may be a good choice for small to medium-sized companies with basic network needs because of its ease of use and quick deployment, its sensor-based model can become a limitation as networks grow.
While Pandora FMS is positioned as a comprehensive solution for large and heterogeneous infrastructures, offering flexibility, customization and unparalleled scalability.
