Checkmk vs Nmap comparison

Checkmk and Nmap are both solutions in the Network Monitoring Software category. Checkmk is ranked #14 with an average rating of 8.5, while Nmap is ranked #10 with an average rating of 8.7. Checkmk holds a 3.7% mindshare in NMS, compared to Nmap’s 0.6% mindshare. Additionally, 100% of Checkmk users are willing to recommend the solution, compared to 100% of Nmap users who would recommend it.

Checkmk

Read 9 Checkmk reviews

4,452 Views
3,829 Comparison Views

100% willing to recommend

Nmap

Read 22 Nmap reviews

1,256 Views
1,068 Comparison Views

100% willing to recommend

Checkmk

Nmap

Comparison Buyer's Guide

Download the report

Executive SummaryUpdated on Oct 10, 2024

Nmap and Checkmk are both key players in network management and monitoring. Nmap has an advantage in environments where network security is a priority due to its strong network scanning and vulnerability detection features. Checkmk leads in network performance monitoring with its comprehensive monitoring capabilities.

Features: Nmap offers efficient network discovery, device auditing, and open port detection, making it well-suited for security scanning. Checkmk delivers extensive monitoring with real-time data visualization, covering server, application, and service monitoring. Its integrated dashboard and broad scope enhance its value in network performance.

Room for Improvement: Nmap could improve with enhanced customer support and better integration with existing systems. Its user interface might benefit from modernization, and expanding its monitoring capabilities can increase its value. Checkmk could work on reducing its pricing to be more competitive, simplifying its dashboard complexity, and offering more customizable reporting options.

Ease of Deployment and Customer Service: Checkmk provides a user-friendly deployment experience with robust support options, facilitating quick integration. Nmap is known for its straightforward setup and minimal resource requirements, though it lacks comprehensive customer support compared to Checkmk.

Pricing and ROI: Nmap offers a cost-effective solution with low setup costs, benefiting from being free and open-source, thus providing substantial ROI. Checkmk, even with higher initial costs, ensures long-term ROI with its extensive features that reduce downtime and enhance visibility across networks.

To learn more, read our detailed Checkmk vs. Nmap Report (Updated: September 2025).

Buyer's Guide

Checkmk vs. Nmap

September 2025

Download the complete report

Helped 869,771 peers since 2012

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

Checkmk

Ranking in Network Monitoring Software

14th

Average Rating

8.4

Reviews Sentiment

7.3

Number of Reviews

Ranking in other categories

Server Monitoring (8th), IT Infrastructure Monitoring (24th), Cloud Monitoring Software (16th)

Nmap

Ranking in Network Monitoring Software

10th

Average Rating

8.6

Reviews Sentiment

7.7

Number of Reviews

Ranking in other categories

No ranking in other categories

Mindshare comparison

As of October 2025, in the Network Monitoring Software category, the mindshare of Checkmk is 3.7%, up from 2.5% compared to the previous year. The mindshare of Nmap is 0.6%, up from 0.6% compared to the previous year. It is calculated based on PeerSpot user engagement data.

Network Monitoring Software Market Share Distribution
Product	Market Share (%)
Nmap	0.6%
Checkmk	3.7%
Other	95.7%

Network Monitoring Software

Featured Reviews

Paolo Sala

Application performance and System monitoring at Agos

A reasonably priced tool for system and application monitoring

The main room for improvement is in the solution's presentation and the integration area. In our company, we use the integration capabilities from ServiceNow. We also have another big monitoring solution in place in our company, which is Dynatrace. At the moment, there doesn't exist an out-of-the-box integration for Dynatrace. I think that the integration and the exporting of the data collected are areas where Checkmk lacks but should try to improve the most. The only implementation of Checkmk that allows high availability is the virtual appliance that has the option for the availability of a different box. Otherwise, you have to find a way to implement it manually with some custom solution, which could be an improvement.

Read full review

AntoSebastin

Cyber Security Consultant - APAC at Logon Software

Scans the network and identifies vulnerabilities on each machine

Nmap is mostly helpful during compliance checks. We run the scanner to see how many devices are on our network and find vulnerabilities in those that aren't compliant. We also use it monthly to scan our network and identify devices that aren't connected properly. This helps us detect any issues related to the operating systems of these devices. The tool's most valuable feature is its vulnerability scanning. It allows us to scan a specific range of IP addresses and discover devices within that range. This makes it easy to identify devices and view their details. Port scanning is crucial for network management tasks. It helps us identify vulnerabilities by finding open ports that may be unused or misconfigured. This tool makes it easy to detect such issues. The OS detection feature is great. Unlike other tools, Nmap provides accurate information about asset vulnerabilities, helping us easily detect and address them. Using Nmap provides value to the company, especially during compliance audits. It helps generate reports on assets, updates on workstations, and insights into network activities and potential attacks. Additionally, Nmap detects vulnerabilities and provides port details, allowing us to close unused ports on the client machines.

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

"I really like the auto-discovery feature."

"The most valuable feature of the solution is that it has a lot of different pieces, and they all work together...It is a very scalable solution. Scalability-wise, I rate the solution a ten out of ten."

"Checkmk was built on a platform that was user-friendly, and I could build my charts easily."

"It's versatile, scalable, and easier to use compared to other solutions like Nagios and OMD."

"The most valuable features of Checkmk are its resource monitoring, infra monitoring, and log factor configuration."

"We can monitor multiple sites using the product."

"Checkmk helps me compare data and foresee issues."

"Overall, from one to ten, I rate Checkmk a nine."

More Checkmk pros

"Nmap is easy to use. It's a command-line interface, and the output is quite good."

"The most valuable feature of the solution for security audits stems from the fact that it serves as a powerful tool with the ability to scan a large number of ports."

"Nmap's performance is great, and I've never noticed any issues in this respect. It really doesn't put a heavy load on the machine when using it."

"It helps us secure the network infrastructure."

"The initial setup was simple."

"Nmap is mostly helpful during compliance checks. We run the scanner to see how many devices are on our network and find vulnerabilities in those that aren't compliant. We also use it monthly to scan our network and identify devices that aren't connected properly. This helps us detect any issues related to the operating systems of these devices."

"The scanning procedure includes UDP ports which sets it apart from competitors."

"The solution detects the operating systems, which makes testing the software much easier before making the payload."

More Nmap pros

Cons

"The initial setup is a bit complex."

"Sometimes we receive alerts, and it can become annoying when you acknowledge an alert. It is very clunky when you acknowledge the alert. The process is not very intuitive, and there are instances where it feels a bit cumbersome to acknowledge an alert."

"If an alert is generated for a specific pattern in the log, and if Checkmk catches that log, it will stay there even after the alert is resolved."

"Checkmk does not allow running scripts at varying intervals."

"I think that the integration and the exporting of the data collected are areas where Checkmk lacks but should try to improve the most."

"In Checkmk, the documentation can probably be improved a bit more."

"Checkmk does not work too easily with the PowerStore. I use a PowerShell script as Checkmk runs on Linux and a Windows system, connecting with the Checkmk agent."

"The main challenge for us is that we're moving from Nagios to Checkmk, and we're still getting used to the new way of working."

More Checkmk cons

"The solution's initial setup could be better."

"It takes a bit of time to get familiar with the solution and its options."

"There are concerns with the stability of the product, making it an area where improvements are required."

"They should deliver Playtech's username and password."

"The price is high and could be cheaper."

"Customization is not very user-friendly in Nmap."

"Nmap major operates through the CLI; there's no GUI component, and that's where the challenge is."

"The tool's license limits the number of scans it can perform. Improving the license model could benefit customers by allowing more scans for compliance and other purposes."

More Nmap cons

Pricing and Cost Advice

"The product is affordable."

"Checkmk is a fairly reasonably priced solution."

"The price of Checkmk is cheaper compared to other enterprise products."

"I am using the free version of Nmap."

"Nmap is an open-source and free product."

"The solution is free of cost, but there are specific services that we have to buy."

"Nmap is open source software, which suits us well because we are a manufacturing company and not an IT company, for example. If we were an IT company, we would probably need to pay for extra support or instead go for another software solution. But as it is, we don't have any need for high-end troubleshooting tools."

"The product's pricing is fine. The licensing options for Nmap include perpetual licenses and volume-based licenses. For perpetual licenses, once you purchase it, there's no need to invest in renewals. And for volume-based licenses, enterprise companies can use it multiple times based on the number of users or devices they need to scan. It's a pay-as-you-go model, similar to how you pay for what you use."

"I am using the standard free version of Nmap."

"Nmap is an open-source product. You don't need a license to install it."

"It's an open-source product, and I haven't seen any premiums. Options are available for those who purchase, but for my use case, everything I need is available in the community and forums."

More Nmap pricing and cost advice

See which vendors are best for you

Use our free recommendation engine to learn which Network Monitoring Software solutions are best for your needs.

See recommendations

869,771 professionals have used our research since 2012.

Top Industries

By visitors reading reviews

Computer Software Company

12%

Government

Manufacturing Company

Financial Services Firm

Manufacturing Company

14%

Computer Software Company

10%

Retailer

10%

Educational Organization

Company Size

By reviewers

Large Enterprise

Midsize Enterprise

Small Business

By reviewers
Company Size	Count
Small Business	4
Midsize Enterprise	3
Large Enterprise	2

By reviewers
Company Size	Count
Small Business	9
Midsize Enterprise	1
Large Enterprise	11

Questions from the Community

What do you like most about Checkmk?

The most valuable feature of the solution is that it has a lot of different pieces, and they all work together...It is a very scalable solution. Scalability-wise, I rate the solution a ten out of ten.

See all answers

What needs improvement with Checkmk?

I will get more information about Checkmk when the proof of concept is done. It's going to be before the summer. There will be a report about the tool and a recommendation to use it. So far, it loo...

See all answers

What is your primary use case for Checkmk?

Checkmk ( /products/checkmk-reviews ) is a monitoring tool, so that's what I will use it for. Right now, it's not in production, but it's in a proof of concept phase. It looks good, so probably, du...

See all answers

What do you like most about Nmap?

See all answers

What is your experience regarding pricing and costs for Nmap?

I am using the free version of Nmap.

See all answers

What is your primary use case for Nmap?

Nmap is used for network scanning to map the network, identify devices, and assess their status. It helps determine open ports and services running on a particular endpoint or server within an ente...

See all answers

Comparisons

Zabbix vs Checkmk

Compared 41% of the time

LibreNMS vs Checkmk

Compared 9% of the time

Icinga vs Checkmk

Compared 8% of the time

PRTG Network Monitor vs Checkmk

Compared 5% of the time

Nagios Core vs Checkmk

Compared 4% of the time

More Checkmk Competitors

Zabbix vs Nmap

Compared 14% of the time

SolarWinds NPM vs Nmap

Compared 10% of the time

LiveAction LiveNX vs Nmap

Compared 9% of the time

SolarWinds NetFlow Traffic Analyzer vs Nmap

Compared 9% of the time

PRTG Network Monitor vs Nmap

Compared 9% of the time

More Nmap Competitors

Product Reports

Buyer's Guide

Checkmk

October 2025

Download Checkmk product report

Buyer's Guide

Nmap

September 2025

Download Nmap product report

Overview

Checkmk provides a comprehensive monitoring solution designed to streamline IT infrastructure management with features like auto-discovery, custom checks, and effective alerting.

Checkmk serves as a powerful tool for organizations managing large networks of servers, databases, and network appliances across multiple locations. It simplifies monitoring tasks with features like auto-discovery, custom scripting, and Slack integration. Users benefit from its resource monitoring capabilities and scalability, although there are areas for improvement, such as alert acknowledgment and greater usability. It supports both Linux and Windows environments, enabling effective oversight of IT infrastructure. The growing body of documentation enhances its adaptability in complex settings.

What are the key features of Checkmk?

Auto-Discovery: Identifies new hosts and applies monitoring rules automatically.
Custom Monitoring Checks: Tailor checks for databases and specific applications.
Slack Integration: Receive downtime alerts directly in Slack channels.
Automation for Scripts: Streamline repetitive tasks with scripts.
Effective Alerting System: Offers timely notifications on network activities.

What benefits can users expect?

Resource Efficiency: Saves time on configuration with automated features.
Scalability: Easily adapts to growing network and system requirements.
Cost-Effectiveness: Suitable option for budget-conscious users.
User-Friendly Setup: Easy to configure, reducing the learning curve.

Industries deploying Checkmk frequently utilize it for monitoring IT infrastructure, including servers and network appliances, to manage proactive issue identification and compliance. Companies employ it in the proof of concept phase or for ongoing monitoring, covering hosts, services, and custom application metrics.

Checkmk

Nmap ("Network Mapper") is a free and open source (license) utility for network discovery and security auditing. Many systems and network administrators also find it useful for tasks such as network inventory, managing service upgrade schedules, and monitoring host or service uptime. Nmap uses raw IP packets in novel ways to determine what hosts are available on the network, what services (application name and version) those hosts are offering, what operating systems (and OS versions) they are running, what type of packet filters/firewalls are in use, and dozens of other characteristics. It was designed to rapidly scan large networks, but works fine against single hosts. Nmap runs on all major computer operating systems, and official binary packages are available for Linux, Windows, and Mac OS X. In addition to the classic command-line Nmap executable, the Nmap suite includes an advanced GUI and results viewer (Zenmap), a flexible data transfer, redirection, and debugging tool (Ncat), a utility for comparing scan results (Ndiff), and a packet generation and response analysis tool (Nping).

Nmap

Sample Customers

Information Not Available

Lockheed Martin, Eastern Bank Boston, Perspecta, Harris Corporation, Discovery Communication

Buyer's Guide

Checkmk vs. Nmap

September 2025

Free Report: Checkmk vs. Nmap

Find out what your peers are saying about Checkmk vs. Nmap and other solutions. Updated: September 2025.

DOWNLOAD NOW

869,771 professionals have used our research since 2012.

See our Checkmk vs. Nmap report.

See our list of best Network Monitoring Software vendors.

We monitor all Network Monitoring Software reviews to prevent fraudulent reviews and keep review quality high. We do not post reviews by company employees or direct competitors. We validate each review for authenticity via cross-reference with LinkedIn, and personal follow-up with the reviewer when necessary.