Custom alerts and data visualization let you quickly identify and prevent all kinds of network issues.
Looking for more predictable monitoring expenses? Unlike Pandora FMS's complex pricing model, Paessler PRTG offers transparent, sensor-based pricing with fixed costs, regardless of data volume. This creates predictable IT budgets and typically reduces expenses, especially when monitoring high-frequency metrics across large environments.
Detect network issues instantly with specialized PRTG sensors that identify packet loss, latency spikes, and bandwidth bottlenecks with precision. Use network mapping features to visualize dependencies and traffic patterns and quickly pinpoint the source of performance problems. While Pandora FMS offers similar capabilities, the intuitive PRTG interface makes these features accessible without extensive technical expertise.
Simplify your monitoring approach with PRTG, which eliminates the need to juggle multiple tools. Monitor everything from infrastructure to user experience through a single pane of glass. With automatic discovery features that identify network devices and suggest appropriate sensors, you can get operational in minutes rather than days - significantly faster than the setup process with Pandora FMS.
Customize your monitoring experience with Paessler PRTG's extensive library of pre-configured sensors and templates. Create custom dashboards that transform complex data into visual representations that everyone in your organization can understand, whether they need technical details or business metrics.
You will start to expand your monitoring capabilities with unlimited remote probe functionality, enabling you to track performance across multiple sites and data centers worldwide without any extra licensing fees. Receive instant notifications through multiple channels, including email, text message, and push notifications to mobile devices. Stay informed about critical issues regardless of your location.
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
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.
Device tree view of the complete monitoring setup
Custom PRTG dashboard for keeping an eye on the entire IT infrastructure
Live traffic data graph in PRTG
FEATURE | PRTG PRTG | Pandora FMS Pandora FMS |
|---|---|---|
One tool for your entire network | PRTG All monitoring features included | Pandora FMS Modular approach with separate monitoring components |
Easy setup, intuitive monitoring | PRTG User-friendly interfaces for web, desktop, and mobile | Pandora FMS Complex interface with steep learning curve |
Automatic network discover | PRTG Included | Pandora FMS Available but requires manual configuration |
Real-time alerts & notifications | PRTG Advanced, highly customizable alerting via different notification methods | Pandora FMS Customizable alerts with multiple notification channels |
Custom maps & dashboards | PRTG Custom dashboard creation via drag & drop | Pandora FMS Visual console requiring technical configuration |
Agentless monitoring | PRTG No need to install agents on the monitored systems | Pandora FMS Both agent-based and agentless options available |
On-premises or cloud-based | PRTG Flexible deployment options available | Pandora FMS On-premises, cloud, or managed service options |
Enterprise version | PRTG Available | Pandora FMS Available |
Freeware version | PRTG Available for up to 100 sensors, free for life | Pandora FMS Limited community version available |
Distributed network monitoring | PRTG Monitoring an unlimited number of remote locations included | Pandora FMS Supports distributed monitoring with complex setup |
Server & application monitoring | PRTG Out-of-the-box integration, no extra cost | Pandora FMS Included but requires additional modules |
Network performance monitoring | PRTG Out-of-the-box integration, no extra cost | Pandora FMS Available with less detailed network focus |
Bandwidth monitoring | PRTG Out-of-the-box integration, no extra cost | Pandora FMS Available but requires additional configuration |
Network traffic analyzer | PRTG Out-of-the-box integration, no extra costs | Pandora FMS Less comprehensive than dedicated tools |
Cloud services monitoring | PRTG Out-of-the-box integration, no extra cost | Pandora FMS Limited cloud monitoring capabilities |
Virtual infrastructure monitoring | PRTG Out-of-the-box integration, no extra cost | Pandora FMS Available but requires additional setup |
Storage resource monitoring | PRTG Out-of-the-box integration, no extra cost | Pandora FMS Available with less detailed metrics |
Database monitoring | PRTG Out-of-the-box integration, no extra cost | Pandora FMS Available but requires additional plugins |
Web performance monitoring | PRTG Out-of-the-box integration, no extra cost | Pandora FMS Fewer pre-configured options available |
Supports leading technologies | PRTG SNMP, flow protocols, packet sniffing, WMI, HTTP, ping, SQL, and much more | Pandora FMS Standard protocols with less comprehensive coverage |
Create your own scripts | PRTG Own PRTG API included for custom sensors and scripts | Pandora FMS Custom scripts with complex implementation |
Includes technical support | PRTG Expert support included, no extra costs | Pandora FMS Support varies with additional premium costs |
“All-around winning
network monitor”
“The real beauty of PRTG is the endless possibilities it offers”
“PRTG Network Monitor
is very hard to beat”
Your choice of monitoring tool directly affects your ability to efficiently detect and resolve IT issues before they impact your business. PRTG has several advantages over Pandora FMS, making it the preferred solution for organizations of all sizes.
Eliminate the need to install software on every monitored system by using the agentless monitoring techniques in PRTG. You will benefit from reduced overhead, simplified maintenance, and lower security risks while gaining comprehensive insights into your infrastructure. These features make deployment across diverse environments significantly faster and less intrusive.
Create custom sensors with standard scripting languages like PowerShell, Python, or Bash. Expand your monitoring capabilities to address unique requirements and specialized systems. Ensure complete visibility across proprietary applications and non-standard equipment that other monitoring solutions might overlook.
Ensure continuous monitoring, even during system failures, with the failover clustering capability in PRTG. Maintain uninterrupted visibility into your critical infrastructure by automatically switching to redundant monitoring servers when issues arise. This feature eliminates monitoring gaps, allowing you to never miss important alerts during server maintenance or unexpected outages.
Access your entire monitoring environment on the go with dedicated mobile apps for iOS and Android that offer the same powerful monitoring capabilities. Receive real-time alerts and check system status from anywhere to enable faster response times during emergencies and maintain oversight of your infrastructure while away from your desk.
You are interested to know if PRTG could be an alternative to your Pandora FMS implementation?
PRTG is set up in a matter of minutes and can be used on a wide variety of mobile devices.
We also compared PRTG with other monitoring tools:
SolarWinds might be interesting for extremely complex network environments. But it also means you need to invest in higher costs for a platform made up of different modules and add-ons (that cost extra).
Checkmk is a comprehensive network monitoring tool, but it uses open-source add-ons for some functions. This means additional work in setting up, operating, and maintaining the monitoring systems.
WhatsUp Gold might be your choice if you need good network mapping capabilities for networks which aren’t that complex. But to get the full set of monitoring features, you need to invest in costly add-ons.
Zabbix is open-source software with a strong community support. But it requires lots of manual configuration work to install and set it up. You also need to install agents on the monitored systems.
Real-time notifications mean faster troubleshooting so that you can act before more serious issues occur.
Partnering with innovative IT vendors, Paessler unleashes synergies to create
new and additional benefits for joined customers.
baramundi and PRTG create a secure, reliable and powerful IT infrastructure where you have everything under control - from the traffic in your firewall to the configuration of your clients.
Integrating monitoring results from PRTG into NetBrain maps makes the foundation for network automation.
UVexplorer integrates tightly with PRTG to bring fast and accurate network discovery, detailed device inventory, and automatic network mapping to the PRTG platform.
Network Monitoring Software – Version 25.3.110.1313 (August 27, 2025)
Download for Windows and cloud-based version PRTG Hosted Monitor available
English, German, Spanish, French, Portuguese, Dutch, Russian, Japanese, and Simplified Chinese
Network devices, bandwidth, servers, applications, virtual environments, remote systems, IoT, and more
Choose the PRTG Network Monitor subscription that's best for you
Choosing between Paessler PRTG and Pandora FMS depends on several factors, such as your specific network monitoring needs, budget, and technical resources available in your organization.
PRTG is ideal:
Pandora FMS might be your choice:
PRTG offers a complete observability platform that simplifies IT management across your entire environment. Unlike Pandora FMS which requires multiple components, PRTG provides unified real-time monitoring with a single tool. This comprehensive monitoring approach helps your IT teams optimize operations and maintain high uptime for all systems.
Yes, both solutions support Windows and Linux server monitoring, but PRTG makes it significantly easier with pre-configured sensors. While Pandora FMS requires more manual configuration for Linux environments, PRTG automatically discovers and monitors all your servers regardless of operating system, saving your IT professionals valuable time.
PRTG delivers superior capabilities for MSPs with its remote monitoring features. You can monitor unlimited remote locations without additional costs, making it ideal for managing multiple customer environments. Unlike Pandora FMS, PRTG includes comprehensive RMM functionality with detailed monitoring of every IP address and endpoint in your clients' networks.
PRTG provides robust application performance monitoring out-of-the-box with no extra costs. While Pandora FMS offers similar capabilities, PRTG delivers more comprehensive monitoring with immediate insights into your applications. This helps you identify and resolve issues before they impact your end-users, similar to what you might expect from Dynatrace but at a more accessible price point.
PRTG excels in monitoring cloud environments including Azure with ready-to-use sensors. Unlike Pandora FMS which requires additional configuration for cloud monitoring, PRTG seamlessly integrates with Azure and other cloud platforms. This gives you complete visibility across hybrid environments without the complexity found in open source alternatives like Zabbix or Nagios.
PRTG includes expert customer support at no additional cost with every license. When you encounter issues in your IT operations, you receive direct assistance without extra fees. Pandora FMS typically charges additional costs for premium support, making PRTG the more cost-effective choice for organizations that value responsive helpdesk services.
PRTG offers integrated log management features that complement its monitoring capabilities. While Pandora FMS provides log collection, PRTG delivers more actionable insights from your logs with less configuration. This comprehensive approach eliminates the need for separate tools like Datadog or ManageEngine, giving you a single management tool for all your monitoring use cases.
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.
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.
You are interested to know if PRTG could be an alternative to your Pandora FMS implementation?
