Azure Network Watcher vs NetBrain comparison

Why PeerSpot?

The compared Microsoft and NetBrain solutions aren't in the same category. Microsoft is ranked #46 in NMS , with an average rating of 8.0, and holds a 0.5% mindshare in the category. NetBrain is ranked #18 in NT , and holds a 3.3% mindshare. Additionally, 92% of Microsoft users are willing to recommend the solution, compared to 75% of NetBrain users who would recommend it.

Azure Network Watcher

Read 13 Azure Network Watcher reviews

2,469 Views
2,420 Comparison Views

92% willing to recommend

NetBrain

Read 6 NetBrain reviews

4,687 Views
609 Comparison Views

75% willing to recommend

Azure Network Watcher

NetBrain

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Executive Summary

We performed a comparison between Azure Network Watcher and NetBrain based on real PeerSpot user reviews.

Find out what your peers are saying about Zabbix, SolarWinds, Datadog and others in Network Monitoring Software.

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Network Monitoring Software

September 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

Average Rating

8.0

Reviews Sentiment

5.9

Number of Reviews

Ranking in other categories

Network Monitoring Software (46th)

NetBrain

Average Rating

7.2

Reviews Sentiment

6.9

Number of Reviews

Ranking in other categories

Network Troubleshooting (18th), Network Automation (6th)

Mindshare comparison

While both are Network Management solutions, they serve different purposes. Azure Network Watcher is designed for Network Monitoring Software and holds a mindshare of 0.5%, up 0.4% compared to last year.
NetBrain, on the other hand, focuses on Network Troubleshooting, holds 3.3% mindshare, up 2.8% since last year.

Network Monitoring Software Mindshare Distribution
Product	Mindshare (%)
Azure Network Watcher	0.5%
Zabbix	3.6%
SolarWinds NPM	3.6%
Other	92.3%

Network Monitoring Software

Network Troubleshooting Mindshare Distribution
Product	Mindshare (%)
NetBrain	3.3%
Wireshark	19.1%
AirMagnet Survey PRO	8.3%
Other	69.3%

Network Troubleshooting

Featured Reviews

PrashantSarmalkar

Enterprise Architect at ATOS

Monitoring traffic has improved cost control and threat visibility across network flows

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 getting better analytics and foundation models for proactive monitoring through AI models. While these capabilities exist, they are still in beta version. Azure Network Watcher should improve to match the capabilities that Google is targeting from an analytical point of view. Azure Network Watcher needs to improve foundation models in terms of AI-specific features and analytics, which are still evolving. This may take some time, but within one or two years, these improvements should reach a nine rating.

Read full review

Deborah Gamelin

Vice President at Asset Track for Cloud, LLC

Good monitoring and troubleshoot capabilities, improves overall network traffic visibility

In my organization, we had 130,000 network devices that needed to be brought into the solution and mapped. NetBrain can handle the scale but the engineers that manage those devices have to go in and update all of them to allow NetBrain permission to poll them. It can get a little stressful for everybody when you're trying to roll out new stuff when you've got other issues that have to be addressed with other devices. In some cases, our devices had no automation at all. One example is the Cisco 3650. Right now, if you went through the inventory list, you see that we have different versions running. Some are on one version, whereas others are on another version. The problem with upgrading them is that they need to be done overnight because we don't want to disrupt any network traffic during business hours. Consequently, it could take us years to upgrade the versions before we can even get them onto these new tools. This may be an internal issue but it's a big one when you have a lot of devices. Even if you had 10,000 devices, it's still an issue. You have to consider the compatibility of the device against the tool, and being able to use certain commands to upgrade it.

Read full review

Quotes from Members

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

Pros

"The most valuable feature of Azure Network Watcher is using the gateways with the connections. The monitoring is useful for the logs and application insights into the data. The traffic filtering issues when it comes to deploying those applications are helpful."

"We use the solution to monitor network services. It helps to capture any network issues."

"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 solution is good for monitoring device behavior."

"I like the visibility."

"This will help the company or the administrator, by helping them see how the traffic moves, to make sure that no entities are having any communication issues or different endpoints with task issues."

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

More Azure Network Watcher pros

"NetBrain is faster, better and level sets the engineering technical sets."

"Other advice to users considering the solution would be: go with NetBrain."

"This tool is exactly what we wanted and needed."

"Enables maps to be drawn out."

"The most valuable feature of the solution is that you can click once and have a link test, see your network, and get an overall view of your network and its state."

"This product has good network monitoring and troubleshooting capabilities."

"A reliable, time-saving tool for providing accurate layer 2 and layer 3 network mappings."

"Chain management is a good feature. I don't get it on other solutions."

More NetBrain pros

Cons

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

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

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

"I still use Wireshark and Azure Network Watcher to get the required data. My team captures the traffic from Azure Network Watcher, downloads it, then imports that traffic into Wireshark to get more details on the number of hits and replies, for example. If you can do that on Azure Network Watcher and have Wireshark built-in, that would make Azure Network Watcher better. If Azure Network Watcher has that functionality where you won't need a third-party tool to get what you need, that would be helpful. I'm also expecting more from Azure Network Watcher. It's more complex than knowing how the IP flows from its source to the destination. The tool also needs more open-source features, such as having some built-in Wireshark that improves monitoring for customers. Sometimes, you encounter a VPN tunnel, network, or routing issue, but finding out more about the blockage is challenging. Is it one hundred percent an Azure issue? Is it a peer issue? You don't get complete information from Azure Network Watcher, so you must use other tools and depend on your strategies to resolve a specific issue. If more features could be added in the next release of Azure Network Watcher, specifically ones you can find on open-source tools, then that would be a plus point for the tool."

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

"Azure is good, however, the Fortinet GUI is more intuitive and I like it more than anything else."

"User experience could be improved."

"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."

More Azure Network Watcher cons

"Each device needs to be configured to allow NetBrain to poll for the information it needs, which can be very time-consuming for a large network."

"Licensing is based on a per-device basis, which means that it can get very expensive if you have a large number of devices."

"The IP interface brief isn't consistent."

"Netbrain must get AWS functionality done."

"If you're comparing NetBrain as an NDR, I would rate it as a four or five, however, NetBrain has a different aspect of looking at things within the network."

"It's okay on the value, a bit expensive for just maps, but makes it a lot easier to see things visually and take it from there."

"It would be nice if the setup was a little simpler. Also, if the solution could provide more training materials for new people coming into our company so they can quickly learn how to use the functionalities."

"The pricing needs to be improved."

More NetBrain cons

Pricing and Cost Advice

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

"The price of the solution is reasonable."

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

"Azure Network Watcher is a little bit expensive."

"The product is expensive, but less expensive than some of the competition and worth the price."

"Licensing is based on a per-device basis, which means that it can get very expensive if you have a large number of devices."

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Top Industries

By visitors reading reviews

Financial Services Firm

23%

Construction Company

13%

Outsourcing Company

Comms Service Provider

Manufacturing Company

12%

Financial Services Firm

Government

Computer Software Company

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?

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...

See all answers

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Comparisons

Nmap vs Azure Network Watcher

Compared 13% of the time

Kentik vs Azure Network Watcher

Compared 11% of the time

Ixia Network Taps vs Azure Network Watcher

Compared 7% of the time

PRTG Network Monitor vs Azure Network Watcher

Compared 7% of the time

Microsoft Network Monitor vs Azure Network Watcher

Compared 7% of the time

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Red Hat Ansible Automation Platform vs NetBrain

Compared 12% of the time

Forward Enterprise vs NetBrain

Compared 9% of the time

SolarWinds Network Automation Manager vs NetBrain

Compared 7% of the time

Cisco DNA Center vs NetBrain

Compared 6% of the time

ThousandEyes vs NetBrain

Compared 6% of the time

More NetBrain Competitors

Product Reports

Buyer's Guide

Azure Network Watcher

September 2026

Download Azure Network Watcher product report

Buyer's Guide

NetBrain

August 2026

Download NetBrain product report

Overview

Azure Network Watcher provides advanced network monitoring capabilities including packet capture, cloud-native firewall, and traffic diagnosis, aiding in VPN troubleshooting and security enforcement with enhanced visibility and alerting features.

Azure Network Watcher is essential for monitoring, diagnosing, and analyzing network traffic. It efficiently handles VPN connection issues and enhances network security by capturing and analyzing traffic to assess performance or latency problems. The tool facilitates traffic flow control, security rule verification, and bandwidth monitoring. Users benefit from its capabilities in diagnosing service connections, offering insights into network activity, and identifying potential threats, crucial for maintaining compliance and efficient network management.

What are the key features of Azure Network Watcher?

Packet Capture: Enables detailed network traffic inspection to troubleshoot issues.
Cloud-Native Application Firewall: Provides enhanced protection for applications running in the cloud.
Traffic Monitoring: Allows for real-time analysis and troubleshooting of network traffic.
NSG Flow Logs & AI-Based Monitoring: Enhances flow control and threat detection.
Alerting & Threshold Configuration: Offers customizable alerts via Azure Monitor for proactive management.

What benefits can users look for in reviews?

Improved Network Security: Helps in identifying and mitigating threats efficiently.
Enhanced Visibility: Provides clear insights into network operations and potential issues.
Compliance Support: Assists in maintaining regulatory compliance with thorough monitoring capabilities.
Effective Bandwidth Management: Facilitates control and optimization of network bandwidth.

In industries like finance and healthcare, Azure Network Watcher is implemented to ensure robust security and compliance, crucial for safeguarding sensitive data. It aids retail and manufacturing sectors in optimizing network performance and maintaining seamless connectivity, supporting their digital infrastructure needs.

Microsoft

NetBrain offers a comprehensive network automation tool designed to streamline and enhance the efficiency of network management, providing dynamic visibility and facilitating prompt issue resolution through an intuitive platform.

NetBrain allows IT professionals to automate complex network tasks, improving operational efficiency and reducing the likelihood of human errors. Designed with scalability in mind, NetBrain provides dynamic network mapping, instant visibility of network changes, and seamless integration with existing network tools. These capabilities ensure IT infrastructure operates smoothly, thus enhancing productivity and reducing operational costs. NetBrain is widely used by organizations seeking to optimize their network operations and reliability.

What are the key features of NetBrain?

Dynamic Network Mapping: Automatically generates real-time visual maps of network topology.
Runbook Automation: Automates repetitive tasks to enhance efficiency and accuracy.
Incident Diagnosis: Quickly identifies and resolves network issues, minimizing downtime.
Integration Capabilities: Seamless integration with existing network management tools.
Network Change Management: Monitors and documents changes to ensure compliance and avoid conflicts.

What benefits and ROI should users look for in NetBrain reviews?

Reduced Operational Costs: Decreases the need for manual interventions and resource allocation.
Improved Efficiency: Streamlines network operations, saving time and effort.
Enhanced Network Reliability: Proactively addresses network faults, reducing downtime.
Scalability: Supports growing network demands without compromising performance.
Increased Productivity: Provides tools that enable IT teams to focus on strategic initiatives.

NetBrain is implemented across industries such as healthcare, finance, and telecommunications, where dependable network performance is crucial. In healthcare, it ensures uninterrupted network service for critical applications. In finance, it bolsters security and operational efficiency. Telecommunications firms use NetBrain to handle large-scale networks, reducing the risk of outages and improving customer service.

NetBrain

Sample Customers

Information Not Available

CompuCon, TD Ameritrade, Move Inc.

Buyer's Guide

Network Monitoring Software

September 2026

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