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Azure Network Watcher vs WhatsUp Gold comparison

Microsoft and Progress Software are both solutions in the Network Monitoring Software category. Microsoft is ranked #51 with an average rating of 8.3, while Progress Software is ranked #28 with an average rating of 9.5. Microsoft holds a 0.4% mindshare in NMS, compared to Progress Software’s 1.2% mindshare. Additionally, 91% of Microsoft users are willing to recommend the solution, compared to 85% of Progress Software users who would recommend it.
Azure Network Watcher
Read 12 Azure Network Watcher reviews
  • 743 Views
  • 698 Comparison Views
91% willing to recommend
WhatsUp Gold
Read 24 WhatsUp Gold reviews
  • 2,642 Views
  • 1,664 Comparison Views
85% willing to recommend
 

Comparison Buyer's Guide

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Executive SummaryUpdated on Oct 10, 2024

WhatsUp Gold and Azure Network Watcher are competing in the network monitoring space. Azure Network Watcher seems to have the upper hand due to its extensive range of monitoring features and platform integration options.

Features: WhatsUp Gold provides comprehensive network device monitoring, real-time alerts, and an intuitive dashboard that aids in identifying issues. Its flexibility in monitoring various network components is a key asset. Azure Network Watcher offers packet capture, network diagnostics, and seamless integration with Azure services, ideal for cloud environments.

Room for Improvement: WhatsUp Gold could expand its cloud integration capabilities and enhance scalability for large networks. Improving its data analytics features would also provide more insights. Azure Network Watcher could simplify its initial setup to appeal to non-technical users. Adding more user-friendly interfaces and enhancing offline monitoring capabilities would broaden its appeal.

Ease of Deployment and Customer Service: WhatsUp Gold is recognized for a straightforward installation process, beneficial for organizations seeking quick deployments. Its customer service is noted for rapid assistance. Azure Network Watcher's deployment can be complex due to its reliance on cloud configurations, although it benefits from extensive documentation and Azure's support.

Pricing and ROI: WhatsUp Gold generally offers a more accessible setup cost, providing favorable ROI for businesses seeking cost-effective monitoring. Azure Network Watcher might involve higher setup costs but delivers substantial ROI through advanced capabilities and integration, enhancing network visibility for organizations committed to the Azure cloud platform.

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To learn more, read our detailed Azure Network Watcher vs. WhatsUp Gold Report (Updated: July 2025).
Buyer's Guide
Azure Network Watcher vs. WhatsUp Gold
July 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
51st
Average Rating
8.0
Reviews Sentiment
6.0
Number of Reviews
12
Ranking in other categories
No ranking in other categories
WhatsUp Gold
Ranking in Network Monitoring Software
28th
Average Rating
7.8
Reviews Sentiment
7.4
Number of Reviews
24
Ranking in other categories
Application Performance Monitoring (APM) and Observability (28th), Server Monitoring (16th), IT Infrastructure Monitoring (29th)
 

Mindshare comparison

As of August 2025, in the Network Monitoring Software category, the mindshare of Azure Network Watcher is 0.4%, down from 0.7% compared to the previous year. The mindshare of WhatsUp Gold is 1.2%, down from 1.4% compared to the previous year. It is calculated based on PeerSpot user engagement data.
Network Monitoring Software
 

Featured Reviews

Bijoyendra Roychowdhury - PeerSpot reviewer
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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Tom Condo - PeerSpot reviewer
If CPU, memory, or disk space is over-utilized, it alerts us immediately via text or email if there is an issue
When it comes to the intuitiveness of the topology mapping feature, our network architect created a vision diagram of our entire network and then created the links tied into the WhatsUp active monitoring to different spots on our topology map. It's one of the more critical functions we do here. We have the map displayed in different places in our room and help desk. We get alerted via emails but we can also see it visually. It does what it says it's going to do. We find this feature very helpful. The interactive mapping interface for scrolling, zooming, and drilling down on an element to learn about a network issue is good. When we see a network there will sometimes be a spot that has one link. You can go into a particular part of the topology map, scroll in, and see exactly which module it is. All the information is provided. This feature really helps. You can see the correlation between that link and what failed. This feature is very helpful. The interface is fairly intuitive. Some of our users used SolarWinds and Nagios, and WhatsUp is easy in comparison. Once you get set up, the look, feel, and configuration are good. Our network architect had never used it before but he was able to create the Visio and map. It was very simple. He has no problems with it.
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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

"The most valuable features I have found are typology, visualization, and capture."
"We use the solution to monitor network services. It helps to capture any network issues."
"The solution is stable."
"The solution is good for monitoring device behavior."
"The most valuable feature of Azure Network Watcher is the cloud-native application firewall. It is helpful for securing databases."
"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 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."
"It provides good visibility."
More Azure Network Watcher pros
"The most valuable features are network bandwidth monitoring and monitoring device health."
"This is a good, stable network monitoring solution for devices."
"It is easy to access and discover devices, as well as monitor them automatically. The topology discover is also a useful feature."
"The most valuable feature is the auto-discovery function."
"I use it on premises to monitor my network database. We monitor the link up/down and use the SNMP traps as well."
"The documentation is very good."
"The threshold alerting is the most valuable feature."
"It handles the basics of monitoring."
More WhatsUp Gold pros
 

Cons

"Azure Network Watcher could improve by having other built-in applications. For example, an application to log activities for in and outbound traffic."
"The initial setup and deployment could be improved to be simplified."
"Lacks sufficient security features."
"The initial setup and initial learning curve could be improved to be easier."
"Azure Network Watcher needs to have better documentation and it needs to capture information accurately."
"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."
"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."
More Azure Network Watcher cons
"We can never achieve or get a good picture of the network topology."
"Integrations with other devices. I want to have a product that has full integration with my active directory so I can track user activity. I want to track my complete user activity, so I'm looking for a product to implement in the near future, which will have full integration with my network and active directory users. It became very difficult to track user activity."
"One of the biggest things that made us start to look at another product is we're not able to have an end to end monitoring from a user perspective throughout the system and back to the user. All the monitoring is from inside out, we need something that also can give us from outside in."
"Users want SMS available via Whatsapp Gold. They don't want to go through third party SMS servers. The solution should work to make this possible."
"I would like to see better integration with switches so that you can see what is connected to each port, what the traffic is, and have a network map automatically generated."
"The interface needs some work."
"Importing the maps and being able to customize them could be easier."
"Improvements are needed in integration, especially for WhatsApp call and messages. Our region heavily uses WhatsApp Messenger for communication, and integration with this platform would be beneficial."
More WhatsUp Gold cons
 

Pricing and Cost Advice

"The pricing is good. It's not too expensive."
"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 can be on the expensive side when considering competing products."
"There is a license needed to use WhatsUp Gold."
"I'm not sure, but it's expensive. We don't pay any additional fees."
"The tool's price is reasonable. WhatsUp Gold is cheaper than SolarWinds."
"The most valuable feature is the cost compared to other solutions."
"Pricing is reasonable compared to other products."
"The price of WhatsUp Gold is good."
"There are some subscription charges that are quite heavy. I need to pay for support every year and these charges can be quite expensive. Aside from the initial cost for the tool, you need to pay additionally for support."
More WhatsUp Gold pricing and cost advice
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Top Industries

By visitors reading reviews
Financial Services Firm
16%
Computer Software Company
12%
Government
11%
University
5%
Financial Services Firm
13%
Manufacturing Company
12%
Government
11%
Computer Software Company
10%
 

Company Size

By reviewers
Large Enterprise
Midsize Enterprise
Small Business
 

Questions from the Community

What do you like most about Azure Network Watcher?
I like the visibility.
See all answers
What is your experience regarding pricing and costs for Azure Network Watcher?
It is affordable.
See all answers
What needs improvement with Azure Network Watcher?
User experience could be improved.
See all answers
What do you like most about WhatsUp Gold?
The interactive mapping interface for scrolling, zooming, and drilling down on an element to learn about a network issue is good. When we see a network there will sometimes be a spot that has one l...
See all answers
What is your experience regarding pricing and costs for WhatsUp Gold?
Clients find the licensing calculator confusing, but we simplify this for them by collecting relevant information first. The licensing is based on devices, providing better cost-effectiveness than ...
See all answers
What needs improvement with WhatsUp Gold?
Improvements are needed in integration, especially for WhatsApp call and messages. Our region heavily uses WhatsApp Messenger for communication, and integration with this platform would be benefici...
See all answers
 

Comparisons

Microsoft Network Monitor vs Azure Network Watcher Logo
Microsoft Network Monitor vs Azure Network Watcher
Compared 23% of the time
ThousandEyes vs Azure Network Watcher Logo
ThousandEyes vs Azure Network Watcher
Compared 23% of the time
SolarWinds NPM vs Azure Network Watcher Logo
SolarWinds NPM vs Azure Network Watcher
Compared 18% of the time
Nmap vs Azure Network Watcher Logo
Nmap vs Azure Network Watcher
Compared 18% of the time
PRTG Network Monitor vs Azure Network Watcher Logo
PRTG Network Monitor vs Azure Network Watcher
Compared 18% of the time
More Azure Network Watcher Competitors
Grafana vs WhatsUp Gold Logo
Grafana vs WhatsUp Gold
Compared 11% of the time
PRTG Network Monitor vs WhatsUp Gold Logo
PRTG Network Monitor vs WhatsUp Gold
Compared 10% of the time
SolarWinds NPM vs WhatsUp Gold Logo
SolarWinds NPM vs WhatsUp Gold
Compared 8% of the time
Zabbix vs WhatsUp Gold Logo
Zabbix vs WhatsUp Gold
Compared 7% of the time
ManageEngine OpManager vs WhatsUp Gold Logo
ManageEngine OpManager vs WhatsUp Gold
Compared 6% of the time
More WhatsUp Gold Competitors
 

Product Reports

Buyer's Guide
Azure Network Watcher
August 2025
Azure Network Watcher reportDownload Azure Network Watcher product report
Buyer's Guide
WhatsUp Gold
July 2025
WhatsUp Gold reportDownload WhatsUp Gold product report
 

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

Explore and manage your entire network infrastructure effortlessly with WhatsUp Gold's robust layer 2/3 discovery, creating a detailed interactive map from the edge to the cloud. Monitor devices, wireless controllers, servers, virtual machines, applications, and traffic flows across various environments. Real-time alerts ensure optimal performance, allowing you to meet or exceed SLAs. The platform offers customizable maps, dashboards, and alerts for easy network management. Quickly resolve issues with intuitive workflows, reducing Mean Time to Resolution (MTTR). WhatsUp Gold's integrated log management provides easy visibility and control of device log data, allowing monitoring, filtering, searching, and alerting on syslogs or Windows logs. Archive logs to comply with regulatory requirements and preserve historical data, all through a user-friendly interface. Streamline network monitoring and issue resolution with WhatsUp Gold, making network management efficient and hassle-free.

Progress Software
 

Sample Customers

Information Not Available
Artoni Trasporti, Austin Independent School District, Banca Marche, Burke County North Carolina, Cambridge University School of Clinical Medicine, Clayco, Community Integrated Care, Desca, Deutsche Bergbau, Flexi-Van, Gropper, Hamleys, Hammonds Furniture, Knowledge IT, Idras S.P.A., Sibeg, Swann Engineering, Trivium Lindenhof
Buyer's Guide
Azure Network Watcher vs. WhatsUp Gold
July 2025
Free Report: Azure Network Watcher vs. WhatsUp Gold
Find out what your peers are saying about Azure Network Watcher vs. WhatsUp Gold and other solutions. Updated: July 2025.
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