PRTG Network Monitor vs Splunk Synthetic Monitoring comparison

Paessler GmbH and Splunk are both solutions in the Network Monitoring Software category. Paessler GmbH is ranked #5 with an average rating of 7.7, while Splunk is ranked #45 with an average rating of 9.0. Paessler GmbH holds a 4.3% mindshare in NMS, compared to Splunk’s 0.2% mindshare. Additionally, 91% of Paessler GmbH users are willing to recommend the solution, compared to 100% of Splunk users who would recommend it.

PRTG Network Monitor

Read 102 PRTG Network Monitor reviews

6,904 Views
4,836 Comparison Views

91% willing to recommend

Splunk Synthetic Monitoring

Read 1 Splunk Synthetic Monitoring review

279 Views
218 Comparison Views

100% willing to recommend

PRTG Network Monitor

Splunk Synthetic Monitoring

Comparison Buyer's Guide

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Executive SummaryUpdated on Mar 9, 2025

PRTG Network Monitor and Splunk Synthetic Monitoring are comprehensive network monitoring tools targeting slightly different IT needs. PRTG Network Monitor offers affordable pricing and strong support, while Splunk Synthetic Monitoring provides advanced features for a higher cost.

Features: PRTG Network Monitor provides all-in-one, flexible solutions like customizable dashboards and a variety of sensors. It offers extensive out-of-the-box capabilities. Splunk Synthetic Monitoring includes advanced analytics and comprehensive synthetic transaction monitoring for deep insights into application performance and user experience. The sophisticated analysis tools and scalability are ideal for large enterprises seeking detailed synthetic performance data.

Ease of Deployment and Customer Service: PRTG Network Monitor is straightforward to deploy with an intuitive setup ensuring quick time-to-value. Its customer service is noted for responsiveness. Splunk Synthetic Monitoring features a cloud-based deployment requiring minimal setup and offers seamless integration with Splunk services. The support is recognized for excellent troubleshooting, though the complex features may require a steeper learning curve.

Pricing and ROI: PRTG Network Monitor has competitive pricing with a flexible licensing model, often resulting in a notable ROI for small to medium businesses. Splunk Synthetic Monitoring demands a higher initial investment but justifies the cost with its depth of analytics and potential performance improvements, appealing more to larger organizations seeking a comprehensive monitoring solution.

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Network Monitoring Software

April 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

PRTG Network Monitor

Ranking in Network Monitoring Software

5th

Average Rating

8.0

Reviews Sentiment

7.1

Number of Reviews

102

Ranking in other categories

IT Infrastructure Monitoring (8th), Cloud Monitoring Software (9th)

Splunk Synthetic Monitoring

Ranking in Network Monitoring Software

45th

Average Rating

9.0

Reviews Sentiment

7.7

Number of Reviews

Ranking in other categories

Application Performance Monitoring (APM) and Observability (36th)

Mindshare comparison

As of May 2025, in the Network Monitoring Software category, the mindshare of PRTG Network Monitor is 4.3%, down from 4.8% compared to the previous year. The mindshare of Splunk Synthetic Monitoring is 0.2%, up from 0.1% compared to the previous year. It is calculated based on PeerSpot user engagement data.

Network Monitoring Software

Featured Reviews

Tochukwu Uzomba

Solutions Architect at Boch Systems Company Limited

Efficiently monitor networks across regions with seamless setup and robust feature set

PRTG Network Monitor is easy to set up. Within a few minutes, it is operational. It is an all-in-one monitoring solution without extra costs. For example, we set it up for an insurance company with branches across Africa. We are able to monitor from Lagos without installing anything in the branches, using the agentless feature. We just put in the IP address and the parameter, and we monitor from those ends. Additionally, all the sensors are very useful. Most people are interested in the bandwidth monitoring sensor to see what bandwidth the users are consuming. The pricing is affordable compared to SolarWinds.

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Sathis-Kumar

Senior Manager at Bank of America

Customized dashboards streamline log monitoring needs

Splunk is primarily used for log monitoring, where I collect all my security logs, system logs, and application logs into a centralized place. This helps me customize my monitoring models Splunk has provided me with a centralized platform to manage multiple features. Instead of using various…

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 solution provides us with needed feedback on our IT infrastructure. It gives us really good quality of service when it comes to monitoring of available space and available resources. It allows us to preempt issues before they become a problem for the business."

"It's very easy to manage when you've got time to do some work on it: things like adding devices, adding groups, adding sensor clusters, and being able to clone and move stuff around."

"I can customize the port as per my need and the real-time monitoring feature that is already provided to me."

"The initial setup was easy. We didn't have any issues with the process and everything rolled out smoothly."

"It is able to satisfy all our requirements in terms of email notifications and specific errors on the devices."

"The alerting is the most valuable feature. I also like the iPhone app. I get alerts in an email on the iPhone app."

"It improves the status of my infrastructure, from networking devices to real-time machines."

"Technical support has been very helpful so far."

More PRTG Network Monitor pros

"The most valuable feature is the ability to customize dashboards based on my queries or any other customization I may need."

"Overall, I would recommend Splunk to anyone seeking a monitoring solution, thanks to its extensive capabilities and features."

Cons

"Other monitoring tools that I have used are easier to use."

"Can be slow in the way it polls the different engines."

"PRTG would be improved if it required less memory to run."

"With custom sensors, there is a lot of work which needs to be done in the background, just for it to be tailor-made for the specific thing that we are actually monitoring. We take a lot of time with the custom sensors. I would like to see the customer sensor be more robust and a bit more varied."

"A room for improvement in PRTG Network Monitor is its sensors. Its application technology sensor, such as the IAS, .NET, etc., needs some improvement because it doesn't work as expected. For example, the IAS sensor doesn't give immediate information, and the information you get from it isn't of good value. The web GUI of PRTG Network Monitor also needs improvement because errors keep popping up if it's not been updated to the latest version. What I'd like to see in the next release of the tool is end-to-end topology mapping for the business model, and that should be required. There has to be a technical map. Technical mapping and topological creation are missing in PRTG Network Monitor, so I would like to see those in the future."

"The free version only gives us 100 free sensors to use. It would be nice if there was double that."

"The dashboarding definitely needs improvement."

"We run it in a cluster, so we have two that run together. The cluster behind it is sketchy at times."

More PRTG Network Monitor cons

"Technical support is good but could be improved, particularly concerning the time taken for ticket resolution."

"In future updates, I would like to see more predefined monitoring query solutions, which could be more effective."

Pricing and Cost Advice

"The pricing is reasonable for the features provided."

"PRTG is now available as PRTG Enterprise Monitor, and the price varies depending on the total number of sensors the customer buys"

"Licenses are very expensive, so I would like to see cheaper licensing."

"The pricing is very low compared to other solutions."

"If you're looking for a cost effective software I’d suggest this product."

"We've got 1,000 nodes and I believe it's a few hundred quid a month."

"The price was pretty good, very competitive."

"We looked at PRTG and SolarWinds. From a cost side perspective, compared to PRTG, and from what you get back from it, PRTG was sort of a hands down the winner."

More PRTG Network Monitor pricing and cost advice

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Comparison Review

it_user174738

IT Developer at a tech services company with 51-200 employees

May 31, 2015

Nagios vs. Zabbix vs. PRTG vs. Spiceworks vs. Solarwinds Network Performance Monitor

I have researched a quite a few network monitoring tools which can be used for various monitoring purposes of not only the servers, but the intermediate routers as well. There are majorly three types of these softwares. Ones which are completely open-source, you can do almost anything you want…

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Top Industries

By visitors reading reviews

Educational Organization

47%

Computer Software Company

Government

Financial Services Firm

17%

Government

13%

Insurance Company

10%

Computer Software Company

10%

Company Size

By reviewers

Large Enterprise

Midsize Enterprise

Small Business

No data available

Questions from the Community

What is the best network monitoring software for large enterprises?

PRTG network monitor is one of the best tool i have ever used for the monitoring. It have auto discovery option. it avoid the configuring the device in PRTG. It automatically discover the device an...

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What do you like most about PRTG Network Monitor?

The tool is integrated with our email for the alerts.

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

The prices are very high for PRTG Network Monitor. That's why I'm using the free100 sensor license.

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What is your experience regarding pricing and costs for Splunk Synthetic Monitoring?

Splunk is a bit expensive since it charges based on the indexing rate of data. However, considering the features it provides, the pricing is quite affordable compared to other monitoring solutions.

See all answers

What needs improvement with Splunk Synthetic Monitoring?

I'm still experiencing some features of the product. However, in future updates, I would like to see more predefined monitoring query solutions, which could be more effective.

See all answers

What is your primary use case for Splunk Synthetic Monitoring?

Splunk is primarily used for log monitoring, where I collect all my security logs, system logs, and application logs into a centralized place. This helps me customize my monitoring models.

See all answers

Comparisons

Zabbix vs PRTG Network Monitor

Compared 7% of the time

LibreNMS vs PRTG Network Monitor

Compared 6% of the time

PRTG Enterprise Monitor vs PRTG Network Monitor

Compared 6% of the time

Centreon vs PRTG Network Monitor

Compared 6% of the time

SolarWinds NPM vs PRTG Network Monitor

Compared 6% of the time

More PRTG Network Monitor Competitors

Cribl vs Splunk Synthetic Monitoring

Compared 34% of the time

ThousandEyes vs Splunk Synthetic Monitoring

Compared 21% of the time

SigNoz vs Splunk Synthetic Monitoring

Compared 18% of the time

SCOM vs Splunk Synthetic Monitoring

Compared 15% of the time

New Relic vs Splunk Synthetic Monitoring

Compared 12% of the time

More Splunk Synthetic Monitoring Competitors

Product Reports

Buyer's Guide

PRTG Network Monitor

April 2025

Download PRTG Network Monitor product report

Buyer's Guide

Application Performance Monitoring (APM) and Observability

April 2025

Download Splunk Synthetic Monitoring product report

Overview

PRTG Network Monitor runs on a Windows machine within your network, collecting various statistics from the machines, software, and devices which you designate. PRTG comes with an easy-to-use web interface with point-and-click configuration. You can easily share data from it with non-technical colleagues and customers, including via live graphs and custom reports. This will let you plan for network expansion, see what applications are using most of your connection, and make sure that no one is hogging the entire network just to torrent videos.

To monitor a large IT environment, it's important to be able to scale PRTG up. Paessler PRTG Enterprise Monitor includes all the proven capabilities of PRTG Network Monitor, which are enhanced by exclusive ITOps Board for a service-oriented, central overview of multiple PRTG servers.

Paessler GmbH

Customers use Splunk Synthetic Monitoring to proactively monitor application performance, simulate user interactions, and identify potential issues before impacting end-users. They appreciate its ability to provide detailed insights into application behavior and detect downtime early.

Splunk Synthetic Monitoring is highly valued for real-time alerts and comprehensive data analysis, helping businesses ensure optimal functionality and user experience. It offers precise error tracking, insightful analytics, and robust network monitoring capabilities. Users benefit from simulating user interactions, which enhance performance assessment and issue resolution. The customizable alert system and in-depth reporting contribute to improved operational efficiency. Automated test execution and scheduling provide seamless continuity for processes, while its comprehensive dashboards facilitate real-time data visualization and troubleshooting.

What are the key features?

Precise Error Tracking: Helps in identifying and rectifying specific issues efficiently.
Insightful Analytics: Provides actionable insights through in-depth data analysis.
Robust Network Monitoring: Ensures optimal network performance by identifying bottlenecks.
User Interaction Simulation: Enhances performance assessment by mimicking real user behavior.
Customizable Alert System: Allows tailored notifications for varying needs and priorities.
In-depth Reporting: Facilitates thorough operational reviews and decision-making.
Automated Test Execution and Scheduling: Ensures processes continue uninterrupted.
Comprehensive Dashboards: Supports real-time data visualization and troubleshooting.

What are the benefits and ROI?

Improved Operational Efficiency: Streamlines processes and reduces downtime.
Better Issue Resolution: Quickly identifies and resolves problems.
Enhanced Performance Assessment: Provides a detailed understanding of application behavior.
Proactive Monitoring: Detects issues before they impact end-users.
Real-time Alerts: Keeps teams informed and responsive to changes.
Accurate Data Analysis: Offers reliable insights for better decision-making.

Splunk Synthetic Monitoring finds implementation across diverse industries, offering tailored solutions to unique requirements. In finance, it helps ensure the reliability of trading platforms, while in healthcare, it aids in maintaining the uptime of critical health applications. E-commerce businesses use it to simulate user interactions, ensuring seamless shopping experiences.

Splunk

Sample Customers

Jameson Bank, Sidnix, RungeICT, MedicalAnimal, Truck-lite, GamingGrids, The Covell Group, Forsythn County Schools, NetMass, Musgrove Park Hospital, Lanes Health, Columbia Southern University, Vodafone, Intrust Bank

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