Azure Network Watcher vs ClearSight Analyzer comparison

Microsoft and NETSCOUT are both solutions in the Network Monitoring Software category. Microsoft is ranked #42 with an average rating of 8.5, while NETSCOUT is ranked #90. Microsoft holds a 0.5% mindshare in NMS, compared to NETSCOUT’s 0.4% mindshare. Additionally, 92% of Microsoft users are willing to recommend the solution, compared to 100% of NETSCOUT users who would recommend it.

Azure Network Watcher

Read 13 Azure Network Watcher reviews

1,082 Views
1,039 Comparison Views

92% willing to recommend

ClearSight Analyzer

Read 2 ClearSight Analyzer reviews

808 Views
719 Comparison Views

100% willing to recommend

Azure Network Watcher

ClearSight Analyzer

Comparison Buyer's Guide

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Executive SummaryUpdated on Oct 10, 2024

ClearSight Analyzer and Azure Network Watcher are competing in the network monitoring tools category. Azure Network Watcher stands out for its advanced features, making it a compelling choice despite higher costs.

Features: ClearSight Analyzer offers comprehensive traffic analysis, real-time monitoring tools, and detailed diagnostics essential for in-depth examination. Azure Network Watcher provides integration with Azure services, automated network monitoring, and a broad range of features beneficial for users in the Azure ecosystem.

Room for Improvement: ClearSight Analyzer could improve by integrating more closely with cloud services, enhancing user interface intuitiveness, and expanding automated capabilities. Azure Network Watcher may benefit from reducing costs, offering better offline support options, and making its features more accessible to non-Azure users.

Ease of Deployment and Customer Service: Azure Network Watcher's seamless integration with Azure platforms supports easier deployment, particularly for existing Azure users, and features knowledgeable customer service that aids in problem resolution. ClearSight Analyzer requires more configuration, and though it provides satisfactory support, it lacks the integration seen with Azure services.

Pricing and ROI: ClearSight Analyzer is typically more cost-effective with lower setup fees, leading to a faster ROI due to its specific functionalities. Azure Network Watcher, while requiring a higher initial investment, offers significant long-term value with its robust features suitable for extensive cloud environments.

To learn more, read our detailed Network Monitoring Software Report (Updated: March 2026).

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Network Monitoring Software

March 2026

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Review summaries and opinions

We asked business professionals to review the solutions they use. Here are some excerpts of what they said:

Categories and Ranking

Azure Network Watcher

Ranking in Network Monitoring Software

42nd

Average Rating

8.0

Reviews Sentiment

5.9

Number of Reviews

Ranking in other categories

No ranking in other categories

ClearSight Analyzer

Ranking in Network Monitoring Software

90th

Average Rating

10.0

Number of Reviews

Ranking in other categories

No ranking in other categories

Mindshare comparison

As of March 2026, in the Network Monitoring Software category, the mindshare of Azure Network Watcher is 0.5%, up from 0.4% compared to the previous year. The mindshare of ClearSight Analyzer is 0.4%, up from 0.1% compared to the previous year. It is calculated based on PeerSpot user engagement data.

Network Monitoring Software Mindshare Distribution
Product	Mindshare (%)
Azure Network Watcher	0.5%
ClearSight Analyzer	0.4%
Other	99.1%

Network Monitoring Software

Featured Reviews

Bijoyendra Roychowdhury

Program Manager at a consultancy with 10,001+ employees

Network monitoring provides comprehensive analytics while the interface requires further development

The quality of Azure Network Watcher is quite good in terms of the in-depth analysis you can create from these matrices. There are other monitoring tools such as New Relic, AppDynamics, and Dynatrace which provide very detailed network tracing. Cloud providers such as Azure or AWS do not have that kind of GUI-based capability at this point, but using PowerShell or Python, you can develop it yourself. From the GUI perspective, it still needs to evolve in terms of quality and standard, though overall, it is quite good for troubleshooting. Regarding areas for improvement, when comparing to other network tools beyond Azure Monitor or Azure Network Watcher, those tools can identify single failed packets. This level of granularity is not currently possible with cloud providers as they only go to a certain level rather than the granular level needed for deep troubleshooting, though they do provide hints with available matrices.

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DAVID-TAYLOR

Senior Network Engineer at Montgomery College

Shows question being asked, breaks it down and it'll just show you who's not answering

I wouldn't want the interface to go towards the web because they did have a version that was inside of the TruView product. It was more web-based and, to me, the web-based applications lose the robustness of the intimacy of a true character interface. I liked that they were on that path and I hope that they stay on that path because it just looks like it's a better product. I would like to see a multi-user version where you can have a launch platform and, potentially, instead of buying six licenses you buy 12 seats or something like that. From a centralized platform, you could have multiple users using that particular product in a series of different ways. That's what I'd like to see, rather than having everybody running a standalone one on their own workstation.

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Quotes from Members

We asked business professionals to review the solutions they use. Here are some excerpts of what they said:

Pros

"What I like most about Azure Network Watcher is that it's focused more on the architecture. I also like that it has a packet capture feature that tells you how the packet travels and whether it's exiting Azure, etc."

"The solution is stable, there are no bugs or glitches and it doesn't crash or freeze, it's reliable."

"This is a stable system providing stable performance."

"It provides good visibility."

"The most valuable feature of Azure Network Watcher is the cloud-native application firewall, which is helpful for securing databases."

"The stability is very good. I rate it a ten out of ten."

"The most valuable feature of Azure Network Watcher is the cloud-native application firewall. It is helpful for securing databases."

"My advice to others looking into using Azure Network Watcher is to go for it, as you'll have the tool by default when you're subscribed to Azure VNet."

More Azure Network Watcher pros

"This is the best protocol analyzer I've used and I've used some from WildPackets and quite a few other places."

"What ClearSight will do is it actually maps out the conversation for you."

Cons

"The initial setup and deployment could be improved to be simplified."

"The initial setup and initial learning curve could be improved to be easier."

"I would like to see in the future if we can troubleshoot as a firewall because it is equipment as a network player and some diagnostics."

"The solution could improve by limiting the need to clarify the logs. When the clarification is minimized, it is better for everyone involved."

"Technical support from Microsoft needs significant improvement compared to other product vendors."

"Sometimes, you encounter a VPN tunnel, network, or routing issue, but finding out more about the blockage is challenging."

"Azure Network Watcher could improve by having other built-in applications. For example, an application to log activities for in and outbound traffic."

"There are some occasional downtimes, but these were based on Azure-specific issues."

More Azure Network Watcher cons

"I was upset when they sold the product to NETSCOUT."

"I would like to see a multi-user version where you can have a launch platform and, potentially, instead of buying six licenses you buy 12 seats or something like that."

Pricing and Cost Advice

"Azure Network Watcher is a little bit expensive."

"The price of the solution is reasonable."

"Price-wise, I have no information on how much Azure Network Watcher costs."

"The pricing is good. It's not too expensive."

"It was pretty modest because you could get it in different ways. I think the six licenses, at that time, were about $1,000 each. But then again, I work for a school and educators tend to get discounts on things. So maybe it cost us about five or six hundred a copy."

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Top Industries

By visitors reading reviews

Financial Services Firm

16%

University

Government

Construction Company

No data available

Company Size

By reviewers

Large Enterprise

Midsize Enterprise

Small Business

By reviewers
Company Size	Count
Small Business	6
Large Enterprise	7

No data available

Questions from the Community

What is your experience regarding pricing and costs for Azure Network Watcher?

I do not have the exact setup cost information on hand, but it is available in the public Azure portal. You can access the calculator there to get detailed pricing information.

See all answers

What needs improvement with Azure Network Watcher?

The main area for improvement is AI-based features. Currently, many intelligent tools are coming from third parties, and Azure Network Watcher needs to improve in this area. The focus should be on ...

See all answers

What is your primary use case for Azure Network Watcher?

Azure Network Watcher is used for monitoring network traffic. It provides insight into egress and ingress traffic, which helps determine whether consumption can be controlled. Most Azure services c...

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Compared 6% of the time

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Compared 31% of the time

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Compared 26% of the time

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Compared 20% of the time

Cisco Secure Network Analytics vs ClearSight Analyzer

Compared 12% of the time

Observium vs ClearSight Analyzer

Compared 11% of the time

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Product Reports

Buyer's Guide

Azure Network Watcher

March 2026

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Buyer's Guide

Network Monitoring Software

March 2026

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Overview

Azure Network Watcher is a comprehensive network monitoring and diagnostic service offered by Microsoft Azure. It provides a range of tools and capabilities to help users monitor, diagnose, and gain insights into their Azure network infrastructure. With Network Watcher, users can capture and analyze network traffic, monitor network performance, troubleshoot connectivity issues, and gain visibility into network topology. It also offers features like packet capture, flow logs, connection monitoring, and VPN diagnostics to ensure the smooth operation of Azure networks. Network Watcher enables users to proactively identify and resolve network issues, optimize network performance, and enhance the overall reliability and security of their Azure network environment.

Microsoft

Protocol analysis tool for application performance analysis and monitoring. Provides real-time problem identification and statistics.

NETSCOUT

Sample Customers

Information Not Available

Japan Atomic Energy Research Institute

Buyer's Guide

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March 2026

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