Azure Network Watcher vs SolarWinds Network Automation Manager comparison

Microsoft and SolarWinds are both solutions in the Network Monitoring Software category. Microsoft is ranked #41 with an average rating of 8.7, while SolarWinds is ranked #95. Microsoft holds a 0.5% mindshare in NMS, compared to SolarWinds’s 0.4% mindshare. Additionally, 92% of Microsoft users are willing to recommend the solution, compared to 50% of SolarWinds users who would recommend it.

Azure Network Watcher

Read 13 Azure Network Watcher reviews

846 Views
804 Comparison Views

92% willing to recommend

SolarWinds Network Automati...

Read 2 SolarWinds Network Automation Manager reviews

890 Views
507 Comparison Views

50% willing to recommend

Azure Network Watcher

SolarWinds Network Automati...

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Executive SummaryUpdated on Oct 10, 2024

Azure Network Watcher and SolarWinds Network Automation Manager compete in network management solutions, with SolarWinds appearing to have the upper hand due to its comprehensive feature set and advanced automation options.

Features: Azure Network Watcher includes network diagnostics, traffic analytics, and connection monitoring. SolarWinds Network Automation Manager provides automated network discovery, configuration management, and integrated troubleshooting tools. SolarWinds' broader feature range attracts users looking for extensive automation and advanced capabilities.

Room for Improvement: Azure Network Watcher could enhance automation capabilities and expand integration with third-party systems. Improvements in interface clarity and report customization might also benefit users. SolarWinds Network Automation Manager may need a more intuitive setup process, better scalability options, and decreased complexity in user interface design.

Ease of Deployment and Customer Service: Azure Network Watcher offers seamless deployment within Microsoft's cloud ecosystem and is supported by comprehensive documentation. Its customer service is known for responsiveness and extendable support. SolarWinds Network Automation Manager requires a more thorough initial setup. It provides substantial support, suitable for businesses willing to invest time in setup and network integration.

Pricing and ROI: Azure Network Watcher features scalable pricing models that accommodate various business sizes, offering an attractive ROI for budget-conscious organizations. SolarWinds Network Automation Manager incurs higher initial costs but promises significant long-term ROI due to its extensive capabilities and advanced automation functions, making it beneficial for organizations looking for comprehensive network management and willing to invest initially.

To learn more, read our detailed Azure Network Watcher vs. SolarWinds Network Automation Manager Report (Updated: December 2025).

Buyer's Guide

Azure Network Watcher vs. SolarWinds Network Automation Manager

December 2025

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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

41st

Average Rating

8.0

Reviews Sentiment

5.9

Number of Reviews

Ranking in other categories

No ranking in other categories

SolarWinds Network Automati...

Ranking in Network Monitoring Software

95th

Average Rating

5.6

Reviews Sentiment

8.5

Number of Reviews

Ranking in other categories

Network Automation (14th)

Mindshare comparison

As of January 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 SolarWinds Network Automation Manager is 0.4%, up from 0.1% compared to the previous year. It is calculated based on PeerSpot user engagement data.

Network Monitoring Software Market Share Distribution
Product	Market Share (%)
Azure Network Watcher	0.5%
SolarWinds Network Automation Manager	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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Giulio Valeri

Owner at SOFTWARE SOLUTIONS SRL

Threat detection failures, poor technical support, and expensive

We use the solution to manage all of our customer's systems. We monitor and decide if everything is okay and if not, we do changes when needed. For example, if there is a need to change the antivirus software we can automate the process and install the new one. There are scripts within the software…

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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

"It provides good visibility."

"The most valuable features I have found are typology, visualization, and capture."

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

"The solution is good for monitoring device behavior."

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

"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."

"I like the visibility."

More Azure Network Watcher pros

"The installation is easy."

"The solution offers so many great resources, it makes them a powerhouse in the market."

Cons

"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."

"User experience could be improved."

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

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

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

"Azure Network Watcher needs to have better documentation and it needs to capture information accurately."

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

"Lacks sufficient security features."

More Azure Network Watcher cons

"We did not like SolarWinds because it was not able to communicate between UPSA and our accounting system. They should have better integration."

"The price could be a bit lower."

Pricing and Cost Advice

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

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

"The price of the solution is reasonable."

"Azure Network Watcher is a little bit expensive."

"The price of SolarWinds Network Automation Manager is fair. However, it is more expensive than ConnectWise."

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Top Industries

By visitors reading reviews

Financial Services Firm

17%

Government

11%

University

Comms Service Provider

Government

13%

Performing Arts

11%

Manufacturing Company

10%

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?

Azure Network Watcher is affordable from the perspective of basic costing. It doesn't cost too much at this point unless you are requesting customizable detailed matrices. For the default configura...

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What needs improvement with Azure Network Watcher?

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What is your primary use case for Azure Network Watcher?

The purpose of using Azure Network Watcher is to observe the network flow logs during any kind of troubleshooting. If there is any performance issue or latency issue over the network, we check the ...

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Comparisons

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Compared 8% of the time

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Compared 7% of the time

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Compared 54% of the time

Cisco Nexus Dashboard Fabric Controller (Formerly DCNM) vs SolarWinds Network Automation Manager

Compared 12% of the time

Red Hat Ansible Automation Platform vs SolarWinds Network Automation Manager

Compared 11% of the time

Cisco DNA Center vs SolarWinds Network Automation Manager

Compared 8% of the time

Nuage Networks vs SolarWinds Network Automation Manager

Compared 7% of the time

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Product Reports

Buyer's Guide

Azure Network Watcher

January 2026

Download Azure Network Watcher product report

Buyer's Guide

Network Automation

January 2026

SolarWinds Network Automation Manager report

Download SolarWinds Network Automation Manager product report

Also Known As

No data available

SolarWinds NAM

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

Scale environments from 1,000 to tens of thousands of nodes with comprehensive performance, traffic, WAN, and switch port monitoring, automated change and configuration management, and IP address management in an integrated network automation software solution.

SolarWinds

Sample Customers

Information Not Available

Maalem Financing Company, School City of Hammond

Buyer's Guide

Azure Network Watcher vs. SolarWinds Network Automation Manager

December 2025

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