• Company
    • About Us
    • Case Studies
    • Press Center
    • Events
    • Careers
    • Blog
    • Contact us
  • Contact us
  • Login
 
  • English
    • Deutsch
    • Español
    • Français
    • Italiano
    • Português
Paessler
                    - The Monitoring Experts
  • Products
    • Paessler PRTG
      Paessler PRTGMonitor your whole IT infrastructure
      • PRTG Network Monitor
      • PRTG Enterprise Monitor
      • PRTG Hosted Monitor
      • PRTG extensionsExtensions for Paessler PRTGExtend your monitoring to a new level
    • Icon Features
      FeaturesExplore all monitoring features
      • Maps & dashboards
      • Alerts & notifications
      • Multiple user interfaces
      • Distributed monitoring
      • Customizable reporting
  • Solutions
    • Industries
      IndustriesMonitor various industry sectors
      • Industrial
      • Healthcare
      • Data Center
      • Education
      • Finance
      • Government
    • IT Topics
      IT TopicsMonitor all areas of IT
      • Network Monitoring
      • Bandwidth Monitoring
      • SNMP Monitor
      • Network Mapping
      • WiFi Monitoring
      • Server Monitoring
  • Pricing
  • Resources
    • Getting Started
      Getting StartedModules for self-paced learning
    • How-to Guides
      How-to GuidesGet the most out of PRTG
    • Videos & Webinars
      Videos & WebinarsLearn from Paessler experts
    • IT  Knowledge
      IT KnowledgeExpand your IT knowledge
    • PRTG Manual
      PRTG ManualFull documentation
    • Knowledge Base
      Knowledge BaseShare community knowledge
    • PRTG Sensor Hub
      PRTG Sensor HubGet sensors, scripts & templates
    • Trainings
      PRTG TrainingLearn how to work with PRTG
  • Partners
    • icon star
      New Partners and MSPBecome a new partner or MSP
    • icon partner
      Partner PortalLog in to your partner account
    • Deal Registration
      Deal RegistrationRegister your sales opportunities
    • icon search
      Find a PartnerFind partners selling Paessler products
    • icon technology
      Technology AlliancesSee Paessler technology partnerships
  • Company
    • About Us
    • Case Studies
    • Press Center
    • Events
    • Careers
    • Blog
    • Contact us
  • Contact us
  • Login
  • English
    • Deutsch
    • Español
    • Français
    • Italiano
    • Português
  • Get a quote
  • Free trial
  1. Home>
  2. IT Topics>
  3. Comparison>
  4. DX Spectrum Alternative
PRTG Logo

PRTG Network Monitor – The superior alternative to DX Spectrum

Unified monitoring solution with advanced alert management

  • All monitoring functionalities & visualization in a single solution
  • Great usability and easy device configuration & management
  • Advanced multi-tenancy capabilities for unlimited customers
Free download
product overview

Our users give top ratings for monitoring with Paessler PRTG

Gartner peer insights
spiceworks
G2
Capterra

PRTG Network Monitor as a DX Spectrum alternative: What you’ll find on this page

Table of content
  • Save money with PRTG Network Monitor
  • What network monitoring looks like in PRTG
  • Compare PRTG Network Monitor to DX Spectrum
  • Correlation of IT infrastructure & business layer vs. simple event correlation
  • PRTG Network Monitor vs. DX Spectrum: FAQ

PRTG makes network monitoring as easy as it gets

Custom alerts and data visualization let you quickly identify and prevent all kinds of network issues.

Free download
PRODUCT OVERVIEW

Save money with PRTG Network Monitor

PRTG Network Monitor comes with a flexible subscription license that’s easy to scale without hassle. It’s based on the required number of monitoring aspects, known as PRTG sensors, and the duration of the subscription.

icon time

Quick installation with automatic network discovery and smart setup for instant monitoring

icon dashboard

Custom dashboard creation via drag & drop with easy-to-read visualized overviews

icon mobile

Different user interfaces for web, desktop, and mobile apps for monitoring on the go

icon partners

Network of qualified implementation partners to support you with a smooth migration to PRTG

What network monitoring looks like in PRTG

Diagnose network issues by continuously tracking the health, availability, and performance of your entire IT infrastructure. Show hardware parameters, application performance, network traffic, bandwidth usage, and other key metrics in real time. Visualize data in clear graphs and dashboards to identify problems more easily. Gain the overview you need to troubleshoot all kinds of issues in your network.

PRTG Screenshot device tree view

Device tree view of the complete monitoring setup

PRTG screenshot map entire it infrastructure

Custom PRTG dashboard for keeping an eye on the entire IT infrastructure

PRTG screenshot graph live data traffic

Live traffic data graph in PRTG

Compare PRTG Network Monitor to DX Spectrum

FEATURE

PRTG

PRTG Network Monitor

DX Spectrum

DX Spectrum

One tool for your entire network

PRTG
included

All monitoring features included

DX Spectrum
not included

Requires separate modules and installations for different monitoring functionalities

Easy setup, intuitive monitoring

PRTG
included

User-friendly interfaces for web, desktop, and mobile

DX Spectrum
not included

Complex interface with steep learning curve requiring specialized training

Automatic network discover

PRTG
included

Included

DX Spectrum
included

Included but configuration is more complex

Real-time alerts & notifications

PRTG
included

Advanced, highly customizable alerting via

different notification methods

DX Spectrum
included

Basic alerting capabilities with limited customization options

Custom maps & dashboards

PRTG
included

Custom dashboard creation via drag & drop

DX Spectrum
included

Available but requires technical expertise to configure

Agentless monitoring

PRTG
included

No need to install agents on the monitored systems

DX Spectrum
included

Requires agents for certain monitoring types

On-premises or cloud-based

PRTG
included

Flexible deployment options available

DX Spectrum
included

Primarily designed for on-premises deployment

Enterprise version

PRTG
included

Available

DX Spectrum
included

Available at premium pricing

Freeware version

PRTG
included

Available for up to 100 sensors, free for life

DX Spectrum
not included

Not available

Distributed network monitoring

PRTG
included

Monitoring an unlimited number of remote locations included

DX Spectrum
included

Available but requires additional licensing

Server & application monitoring

PRTG
included

Out-of-the-box integration, no extra cost

DX Spectrum
included

Available as separate modules at additional cost

Network performance monitoring

PRTG
included

Out-of-the-box integration, no extra cost

DX Spectrum
included

Available as separate module at additional cost

Bandwidth monitoring

PRTG
included

Out-of-the-box integration, no extra cost

DX Spectrum
included

Available as separate module at additional cost

Network traffic analyzer

PRTG
included

Out-of-the-box integration, no extra costs

DX Spectrum
included

Available as separate module at additional cost

Cloud services monitoring

PRTG
included

Out-of-the-box integration, no extra cost

DX Spectrum
included

Limited capabilities requiring additional modules

Virtual infrastructure monitoring

PRTG
included

Out-of-the-box integration, no extra cost

DX Spectrum
included

Available as separate module at additional cost

Storage resource monitoring

PRTG
included

Out-of-the-box integration, no extra cost

DX Spectrum
included

Available as separate module at additional cost

Database monitoring

PRTG
included

Out-of-the-box integration, no extra cost

DX Spectrum
included

Available as separate module at additional cost

Web performance monitoring

PRTG
included

Out-of-the-box integration, no extra cost

DX Spectrum
included

Limited capabilities requiring additional configuration

Supports leading technologies

PRTG
included

SNMP, flow protocols, packet sniffing, WMI, HTTP, ping, SQL, and much more

DX Spectrum
included

Supports standard protocols but with less comprehensive coverage

Create your own scripts

PRTG
included

Own PRTG API included for custom sensors and scripts

DX Spectrum
included

Limited customization options requiring specialized knowledge

Includes technical support

PRTG
included

Expert support included, no extra costs

DX Spectrum
included

Available at additional cost through tiered support plans

Start monitoring your network with PRTG and see how it can make your network more reliable and your job easier.

Free download
PRODUCT OVERVIEW

IT experts agree: Paessler PRTG is a great solution for IT infrastructure monitoring

PCMag

“All-around winning
 network monitor”

IT Brief

“The real beauty of PRTG is the endless possibilities it offers”

ITPro

“PRTG Network Monitor 
is very hard to beat”

Correlation of IT infrastructure & business layer vs. simple event correlation

IT systems are complex, dynamic, and need to consolidate many layers – from physical hardware to software applications and virtual environments, to the integration of on-premises, cloud, and hybrid infrastructures.

DX Spectrum: Only simple event correlation

DX Spectrum only covers your IT infrastructure layer. It does not offer a comprehensive overview of all your systems, nor does it keep a close eye on your business processes.

This means you only benefit from event correlation in your network infrastructure, but you do not get correlation of IT infrastructure and business service events and alarms.

PRTG Network Monitor: Correlation with your business layer

PRTG Network Monitor offers full integration between IT systems and business services which goes beyond basic event tracking. 

PRTG enables IT and business stakeholders to view system health through customizable dashboards and built-in dependency mapping.

Need help making a decision? 

You are interested to know if PRTG could be an alternative to your DX Spectrum implementation?

Contact Sales

PRTG is compatible with all major vendors, products, and systems

compatible with all major vendors, products, and systems

Your DX Spectrum alternative PRTG at a glance – even on the go

PRTG is set up in a matter of minutes and can be used on a wide variety of mobile devices.

device overview

PRTG vs. other monitoring tools

We also compared PRTG with other monitoring tools:

PRTG Enterprise Monitor vs. SolarWinds

SolarWinds is a module-based platform. But this also means that scaling your monitoring can quickly cost hundreds of thousands of dollars if you want to get a comprehensive software bundle.

Comparison with SolarWinds

PRTG vs. SCOM

Microsoft SCOM is based on the installation of agents. Management Packs that you must buy additionally expand the monitoring offering, which is more specialized in Microsoft applications.

Comparison with SCOM

PRTG vs. LogicMonitor

LogicMonitor might be your choice if your organization is cloud-first and relies heavily on cloud services. However, LogicMonitor’s out-of-the-box monitoring functionality is much more limited.

Comparison with LogicMonitor

PRTG vs. Nagios

The basic version of the open-source tool Nagios is free of charge. But most users spent many hours to set up and customize the tool. In case of problems, browsing through forums is often the only solution.

Comparison with Nagios

Find the root cause of the problem with our PRTG network monitoring solution

Real-time notifications mean faster troubleshooting so that you can act before more serious issues occur.

Free download
PRODUCT OVERVIEW

Create innovative solutions with Paessler’s IT partners

Partnering with innovative IT vendors, Paessler unleashes synergies to create
new and additional benefits for joined customers.

IP Fabric

IP Fabric

Combining PRTG’s broad monitoring feature set with IP Fabric’s automated network assurance creates a new level of network visibility and reliability.

Read more
Rhebo

Rhebo

Rhebo and PRTG offer a comprehensive monitoring solution for IT and OT environments: from condition monitoring through to anomaly and threat detection.

Read more
UVnetworks

UVnetworks

UVexplorer integrates tightly with PRTG to bring fast and accurate network discovery, detailed device inventory, and automatic network mapping to the PRTG platform.

Read more
Paessler PRTG

Paessler PRTG

Network Monitoring Software – Version 25.2.106.1114 (May 05th, 2025)

Hosting icon

Hosting

Download for Windows and cloud-based version PRTG Hosted Monitor available

Languages icon

Languages

English, German, Spanish, French, Portuguese, Dutch, Russian, Japanese, and Simplified Chinese

test

Monitor everything

Network devices, bandwidth, servers, applications, virtual environments, remote systems, IoT, and more

test

Pricing

Choose the PRTG Network Monitor subscription that's best for you

DX Spectrum Alternative: FAQ

 

Should I choose PRTG Network Monitor or DX Spectrum?

Choosing between Paessler PRTG and DX Spectrum 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, user-friendly network monitoring software with minimal setup time and enhanced user experience
  • 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 (via SMS, email, push notification, and others), and automated reporting.
  • If you want a straightforward licensing model at a comparatively low price.

DX Spectrum might be your choice:

  • If you require only a specific module for a specific monitoring feature.
  • If your organization can invest in higher costs for a feature-rich platform made up of different modules and add-ons (that cost extra).
  • If you have the technical expertise to handle the complexity of setup and configuration.
Which monitoring technologies does PRTG support?

PRTG offers a comprehensive overview of your IT systems in real time. It supports all the leading monitoring technologies, including:

  • SNMP
  • Flow protocols (NetFlow, jFlow, sFlow, and IPFIX)
  • Packet sniffing
  • WMI and Windows performance counters
  • HTTP requests
  • SSH for Linux and macOS systems
  • REST APIs for XML and JSON
  • Ping
  • SQL
  • and much more
What’s included in the free version of PRTG?

With our free monitoring tool, you get:

  • A freeware monitoring solution for up to 100 sensors for life
  • Monitoring of hardware (routers, switches, firewalls, servers,…), software, network performance, virtual machines, data traffic included
  • Free alarm, reports, and mapping features

With the freeware edition of PRTG, you can get started with network monitoring in a matter of minutes. Our auto-discovery function detects all the devices within a given IP address range and automatically incorporates them into your monitoring environment.

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.

We asked: would you recommend PRTG? Over 95% of our customers say yes!

Paessler conducted trials in over 600 IT departments worldwide to tune its network monitoring software closer to the needs of sysadmins. The result of the survey: over 95% of the participants would recommend PRTG – or already have.

recommendation
PRTG Logo

Need help making a decision? 

You are interested to know if PRTG could be an alternative to your DX Spectrum implementation?

Contact Sales

Products

  • Paessler PRTG
    Paessler PRTGMonitor your whole IT infrastructure
    • PRTG Network Monitor
    • PRTG Enterprise Monitor
    • PRTG Hosted Monitor
    • PRTG extensions
      Extensions for Paessler PRTGExtend your monitoring to a new level
  • Icon Features
    FeaturesExplore all monitoring features

Monitoring with PRTG

  • Network monitoring
  • Bandwidth monitoring
  • SNMP monitoring
  • Network mapping
  • Wi-Fi monitoring
  • Server monitoring
  • Network traffic analyzer
  • NetFlow monitoring
  • Syslog server

Useful Links

  • PRTG Manual
  • Knowledge Base
  • Customer Success Stories
  • About Paessler
  • Subscribe to newsletter
  • PRTG Support
  • PRTG Consulting

Contact

Paessler GmbH
Thurn-und-Taxis-Str. 14, 
90411 Nuremberg 
Germany

[email protected]

+49 911 93775-0

  • Contact us
©2025 Paessler GmbHTerms & ConditionsPrivacy PolicyImprintReport VulnerabilityDownload & InstallSitemap
Home Home Home