Nagios Core vs SolarWinds Network Device Monitor comparison

Nagios and SolarWinds are both solutions in the Network Monitoring Software category. Nagios is ranked #19 with an average rating of 8.8, while SolarWinds is ranked #31 with an average rating of 7.6. Nagios holds a 1.4% mindshare in NMS, compared to SolarWinds’s 0.8% mindshare. Additionally, 80% of Nagios users are willing to recommend the solution, compared to 95% of SolarWinds users who would recommend it.

Nagios Core

Read 51 Nagios Core reviews

8,414 Views
6,815 Comparison Views

80% willing to recommend

SolarWinds Network Device M...

Read 23 SolarWinds Network Device Monitor reviews

3,499 Views
3,429 Comparison Views

95% willing to recommend

Nagios Core

SolarWinds Network Device M...

Comparison Buyer's Guide

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Executive SummaryUpdated on Oct 10, 2024

SolarWinds Network Device Monitor and Nagios Core compete in network monitoring solutions. Nagios Core is generally seen as having the upper hand due to its comprehensive features and customization flexibility, while SolarWinds is favored for its ease of use and support.

Features: SolarWinds Network Device Monitor is known for easy setup, real-time network performance monitoring, and user-friendly alerts with a polished dashboard. Nagios Core offers open-source flexibility, extensive customization options, and a wide range of monitoring features, making it appealing for those seeking in-depth customization.

Room for Improvement: SolarWinds can improve in areas like advanced customization, integration capabilities, and scalability for larger enterprises. Nagios Core could benefit from simplified deployment, enhanced user interface, and more accessible support options.

Ease of Deployment and Customer Service: SolarWinds Network Device Monitor is praised for its quick and straightforward deployment process and strong customer support. Nagios Core's deployment is more complex, requiring technical expertise, but it allows for deeper customization.

Pricing and ROI: SolarWinds Network Device Monitor offers competitive pricing, making it attractive to smaller organizations seeking immediate returns, supported by comprehensive customer service. Nagios Core, being open-source, presents cost-effective initial setup and potential for long-term savings with its customization capabilities.

To learn more, read our detailed Nagios Core vs. SolarWinds Network Device Monitor Report (Updated: August 2026).

Buyer's Guide

Nagios Core vs. SolarWinds Network Device Monitor

August 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

Nagios Core

Ranking in Network Monitoring Software

19th

Average Rating

8.2

Reviews Sentiment

7.3

Number of Reviews

Ranking in other categories

IT Infrastructure Monitoring (16th)

SolarWinds Network Device M...

Ranking in Network Monitoring Software

31st

Average Rating

7.8

Reviews Sentiment

6.4

Number of Reviews

Ranking in other categories

No ranking in other categories

Mindshare comparison

As of August 2026, in the Network Monitoring Software category, the mindshare of Nagios Core is 1.4%, down from 2.7% compared to the previous year. The mindshare of SolarWinds Network Device Monitor is 0.8%, up from 0.6% compared to the previous year. It is calculated based on PeerSpot user engagement data.

Network Monitoring Software Mindshare Distribution
Product	Mindshare (%)
Nagios Core	1.4%
SolarWinds Network Device Monitor	0.8%
Other	97.8%

Network Monitoring Software

Featured Reviews

Husham Yaqoob

Senior System Administrator at Interactive Group

Monitoring solution provides comprehensive visibility across IT infrastructure

The good thing about Nagios Core is it covers everything. Everything in the IT domain, you can monitor anything. You can even monitor printers, the ports of printers, Core workstations, and storage. You can monitor the workflow Core and the utilization of computes. If you want to grasp everything of your IT equipment on a single interface, you can use Nagios. It's the best one. It provides dashboards, and you can also configure your emails and alerts with it. If something is critical, you can configure it to notify via emails. It has a very handy dashboard, providing live alerts and visibility for everything.

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Sorin Gogean

IT Infrastructure Senior Network Technician at Autoliv

Offers some features but needs better customization and analysis tools

There are solutions that can perform better, but due to pricing for our corporate implementation, we had to stay with this solution. It accomplishes the necessary tasks, but there is room for improvement. The features are not as customizable as we would prefer, but they are workable. If configured properly, you can perform a drill-down analysis. However, I have not used this feature much for our infrastructure on the network side.

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

"It is fairly easy to set up, and we can monitor pretty much everything we want to."

"Its an awesome product to use."

"We use the product to monitor server applications."

"The reporting structure and the feature set are valuable to me."

"Reliability Security Flexibility Functionality Availability - controllability anywhere and with different methods"

"Our customers like that Nagios Core is an open source solution. It can be customized to our customers' specific needs."

"The most valuable feature depends on the project. It's great if you need to check to ensure a service is running 24/7. I can use the full solution for free, and it's flexible. If I need to add a dashboard, I can integrate it with Nagios. Cloud synchronization is wonderful."

"You should really try Nagios; it will help a lot and I have found that it is the best buddy for system admins."

More Nagios Core pros

"This product proactively tells us about issues before the users notice."

"SolarWinds Network Device Monitor is a straightforward product with valuable functionality."

"In real-time, we know when there's an issue on our network and it helps us to be proactive to solve the situation."

"The most valuable feature of SolarWinds Network Device Monitor is monitoring."

"The most valuable feature of SolarWinds Network Device Monitor is it shows you the utilization of devices to allow you to take proactive action before something goes down or reaches the saturation point. You can take proactive action to fix the problem before it occurs."

"I rate the product's initial setup process a nine on a scale of one to ten, where one means it is a difficult phase and ten is an easy process."

"There are vital features of auto-plugin core ports"

"The alerts we are getting when we start losing connection access have been helpful."

More SolarWinds Network Device Monitor pros

Cons

"It would be nice if it was hosted in cloud. Also, they need to improve the graphs."

"When compared to earlier versions, it looks like 4.x has lost the statusmap.cgi module."

"Nagios Core could improve by adding a user interface. If you want the user interface you have to use Nagios XI."

"Nagios SLA. I'm currently working on Nagios Digger, which has many code-level problems."

"Setup is bit complicated due to the large set of libraries it needs, but this may be because it's open source."

"We use the free version of Nagios, which needs some administrative skills in order to configure correctly."

"Nagios Core does not have a graphic display."

"It would be nice if the company offered a sales or contract manager that was dedicated to our company so that we would have some sort of link to Nagios, and if we had issues or questions, we'd be able to contact them directly."

More Nagios Core cons

"The initial setup of the SolarWinds Network Device Monitor could be easier. It took us approximately one month to complete the implementation."

"SolarWinds Network Device Monitor lacks the granularity of other monitoring tools like LiveNX."

"There were certain aspects that weren't supported exactly. I was just able to monitor some basic things."

"If everything were in the package so that everything was ready to go out of the box, that would be ideal."

"The data is in the system but we are unable to pull it because reporting is not integrated and versatile."

"There are solutions that can perform better, but due to pricing for our corporate implementation, we had to stay with this solution."

"Technical support needs to respond to its customers faster. We are not 100% satisfied with the level of support we get."

"The security could always be improved."

More SolarWinds Network Device Monitor cons

Pricing and Cost Advice

"Lessening the price point would be an improvement."

"We are using the free version."

"We are using the free version of Nagios Core."

"We are using the open-source, unpaid version."

"Nagios Core is an open source solution, and there are no licensing fees."

"Nagios Core is a cheap solution."

"Most the plugin features are free."

"It's free."

More Nagios Core pricing and cost advice

"Well, we had a perpetual license and the renewal was $20 to $25,000."

"The price of the SolarWinds Network Device Monitor is good."

"When compared with other solutions SolarWinds is more expensive."

"I rate the product's price as three to three and a half or on a scale of one to ten, where one means low price, and ten means high price."

"SolarWinds Network Device Monitor is not an expensive solution."

"Thankfully, it doesn't take a lot of manpower to install and deploy."

"I find the cost of SolarWinds Network Device Monitor reasonable for our company. Though, I'm not aware of the exact licensing cost."

"The product is expensive."

More SolarWinds Network Device Monitor pricing and cost advice

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Top Industries

By visitors reading reviews

Comms Service Provider

10%

Manufacturing Company

Financial Services Firm

Construction Company

Manufacturing Company

11%

Outsourcing Company

10%

Financial Services Firm

Construction Company

Company Size

By reviewers

Large Enterprise

Midsize Enterprise

Small Business

By reviewers
Company Size	Count
Small Business	20
Midsize Enterprise	11
Large Enterprise	24

By reviewers
Company Size	Count
Small Business	6
Midsize Enterprise	4
Large Enterprise	14

Questions from the Community

What is your experience regarding pricing and costs for Nagios Core?

Nagios Core is a free and open-source product. We don't charge for the product itself, but we charge for the man-hour costs related to installation, configuration, ongoing operation, and maintenance.

See all answers

What needs improvement with Nagios Core?

The dashboard should be improved. It's very simple. I don't have a very clear or specific suggestion. You can change the skin of the dashboard, however, it's good for me.

See all answers

What is your primary use case for Nagios Core?

I was a senior system administrator. I've been using Nagios Core for more than ten years now. It can be used to monitor hosts, such as machines, and monitor services of any kind. I'm using it to mo...

See all answers

What is your experience regarding pricing and costs for SolarWinds Network Device Monitor?

I am not a positive person regarding SolarWinds Network Device Monitor.

See all answers

What needs improvement with SolarWinds Network Device Monitor?

See all answers

What is your primary use case for SolarWinds Network Device Monitor?

I have experience regarding the AD part, but my focus for the last 15 years has been oriented to the network side. My experience with identity tools comes more from a network perspective. We used N...

See all answers

Comparisons

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Compared 6% of the time

Zabbix vs Nagios Core

Compared 5% of the time

Centreon vs Nagios Core

Compared 4% of the time

OpenNMS vs Nagios Core

Compared 4% of the time

Nagios XI vs Nagios Core

Compared 4% of the time

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Domotz Pro vs SolarWinds Network Device Monitor

Compared 10% of the time

FortiMonitor vs SolarWinds Network Device Monitor

Compared 7% of the time

ScienceLogic vs SolarWinds Network Device Monitor

Compared 7% of the time

Entuity vs SolarWinds Network Device Monitor

Compared 5% of the time

OpenNMS vs SolarWinds Network Device Monitor

Compared 5% of the time

More SolarWinds Network Device Monitor Competitors

Product Reports

Buyer's Guide

Nagios Core

August 2026

Download Nagios Core product report

Buyer's Guide

SolarWinds Network Device Monitor

July 2026

SolarWinds Network Device Monitor report

Download SolarWinds Network Device Monitor product report

Also Known As

No data available

Network Device Monitor

Overview

Nagios Core offers a versatile monitoring solution that efficiently manages notifications, reporting, and resource usage. Its open-source architecture provides flexibility and customization options for comprehensive infrastructure health management.

Nagios Core, known for its extensible plugin architecture, proactively enhances infrastructure management with customizable notifications and reliable reporting. Seamlessly integrating various plugins, it offers real-time dashboards and efficient alerting systems for thorough monitoring. Its adaptability and ease of configuration make it popular among users seeking flexible monitoring solutions. However, improvements in the web interface, scalability, performance, and visualization are needed to enhance accessibility. Users seek better alert mechanisms, more robust PDF export features, and simpler setup processes for increased efficiency.

What are the key features of Nagios Core?

Customizable Notifications: Tailor alerts to suit specific needs.
Reliable Reporting: Provides detailed insights into system performance.
Light Resource Usage: Operates efficiently with minimal resource demands.
Extensible Plugin Architecture: Supports a wide range of third-party integrations.
Real-Time Dashboards: Offers instant insights into system health.

What benefits should users expect from Nagios Core?

Flexibility: Allows detailed customization for unique monitoring requirements.
Open-Source Nature: Encourages community-driven enhancements and support.
Integration Capabilities: Facilitates seamless interaction with other tools and platforms.
Adaptability: Supports monitoring across different environments seamlessly.

In many industries, Nagios Core is integral to monitoring infrastructure and services, including cloud servers, applications, and network devices. Users rely on it for issue detection, capacity planning, and maintaining system stability in environments like AWS and on-premise servers. Its capabilities in CPU, memory, and bandwidth monitoring along with alert systems support sectors needing real-time oversight of critical equipment.

Nagios

SolarWinds Network Device Monitor offers comprehensive real-time network monitoring capabilities with seamless integration across multiple vendor devices, ensuring efficient network operations.

Offering features like cloud workload monitoring, quick deployment, and a user-friendly interface, SolarWinds Network Device Monitor supports real-time alert thresholds, accurate link readings, historical utilization metrics, and customizable dashboards. Its ability to integrate with multiple vendor devices and perform network discovery enhances operational efficiency. Comprehensive bandwidth and fault management features provide stable network monitoring, benefiting devices such as switches and IP phones. However, there is room for improvement in integration with tools like ServiceNow and Excel, support response times, and enhanced security. Users highlight the need for a mobile version, improved reporting, and better customization options, alongside concerns about setup complexity and licensing costs.

What are the key features?

Cloud Workload Monitoring: Monitors workloads hosted in the cloud.
User-Friendly Interface: Offers an intuitive experience for users.
Quick Deployment: Simplifies installation and setup processes.
Real-Time Monitoring: Provides immediate alerts for network statuses.
Customizable Dashboards: Enhances network visibility with tailored displays.

What benefits can users expect?

Proactive Problem Solving: Real-time alerts facilitate quick issue resolution.
Efficiency: Automated network monitoring streamlines operational workflows.
Insightful Analytics: Provides valuable data on memory and CPU usage.
Cost-Effective: Monitors bandwidth and fault management to reduce outages.

SolarWinds Network Device Monitor is implemented prominently in industries needing robust network infrastructure monitoring, like tech and manufacturing. Companies rely on its capabilities for IP address management, cloud workload monitoring, and remote equipment monitoring, gaining insights into system performance and ensuring compliance checks are met effectively.

SolarWinds

Sample Customers

Airbnb, Cisco, PayPal, FanDuel

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Buyer's Guide

Nagios Core vs. SolarWinds Network Device Monitor

August 2026

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