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SolarWinds Server and Application Monitor Reviews

Vendor: SolarWinds
4.0 out of 5
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What is SolarWinds Server and Application Monitor?

SolarWinds Server and Application Monitor provides comprehensive server, application, and infrastructure monitoring, focusing on integration, application dependency, and network insights through user-friendly interfaces and detailed dashboards.

Get the SolarWinds Server and Application Monitor Buyer's Guide and find out what your peers are saying about SolarWinds Server and Application Monitor, Datadog, Zabbix and more!
SolarWinds Server and Application Monitor is the #8 ranked solution in top Server Monitoring solutions, #8 ranked solution in top Active Directory Management solutions, and #20 ranked solution in APM tools. PeerSpot users give SolarWinds Server and Application Monitor an average rating of 8.0 out of 10. SolarWinds Server and Application Monitor is most commonly compared to Datadog: SolarWinds Server and Application Monitor vs Datadog. SolarWinds Server and Application Monitor is popular among the large enterprise segment, accounting for 61% of users researching this solution on PeerSpot. The top industry researching this solution are professionals from a educational organization, accounting for 13% of all views.
Buyer's Guide
SolarWinds Server and Application Monitor
April 2026
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Helped 892,383 peers since 2012

Featured SolarWinds Server and Application Monitor reviews

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SolarWinds Server and Application Monitor mindshare

Product category:
Server Monitoring
As of April 2026, the mindshare of SolarWinds Server and Application Monitor in the Server Monitoring category stands at 3.2%, up from 2.6% compared to the previous year, according to calculations based on PeerSpot user engagement data.
Server Monitoring Mindshare Distribution
ProductMindshare (%)
SolarWinds Server and Application Monitor3.2%
Zabbix11.5%
Nagios XI6.0%
Other79.3%
Server Monitoring

PeerResearch reports based on SolarWinds Server and Application Monitor reviews

TypeTitleDate
CategoryServer MonitoringApr 30, 2026Download
ProductReviews, tips, and advice from real usersApr 30, 2026Download
ComparisonSolarWinds Server and Application Monitor vs ZabbixApr 30, 2026Download
ComparisonSolarWinds Server and Application Monitor vs VMware vCenterApr 30, 2026Download
ComparisonSolarWinds Server and Application Monitor vs NinjaOneApr 30, 2026Download
Suggested products
TitleRatingMindshareRecommending
Datadog4.3N/A97%208 interviewsAdd to research
Zabbix4.211.5%95%108 interviewsAdd to research
 
 
Key learnings from peers

Valuable Features

SolarWinds Server and Application Monitor's valuable features include robust service monitoring, easy management console, HTTP and SSL monitoring, AppInsight for SQL and Exchange, comprehensive reporting and alerting, network discovery, performance dashboards, infrastructure dependency mapping, and AppStack for issue identification. Users appreciate its intuitive interface, customization options, proactive alerts, integration capabilities, and extensive application and server health monitoring, making it user-friendly and cost-effective for diverse IT environments.
  • "SolarWinds SAM has provided us with dynamic thresholds based on historical trends and requirements, so the threshold gets configured automatically, and it's no longer necessary to configure it manually every time."
  • "The component and cable monitoring are good, and SolarWinds is more intuitive and user-friendly than AppDynamics."
  • "Monitoring of processes and services is the most valuable feature; it is not necessarily just the server alone in terms of the CPU or the memory, as we can go in-depth into services and processes."

Room for Improvement

SolarWinds Server and Application Monitor faces challenges in improving performance and stability addressing the complexity of custom reporting and expanding application support. The web console's tendency to hang, a lack of full integration with Orion, and slow interface speed are common issues. Reporting features need enhancements for managerial use, and there's demand for more cloud readiness and predictive analytics capabilities. There is also a need to streamline licensing synchronization and improve technical support response times.
  • "SAM's software-defined network monitoring capability is also low and could be improved."
  • "SolarWinds' interface is slow, and this is a global concern."
  • "Reporting is the only thing with which we currently have challenges."

ROI

Based on user feedback, SolarWinds Server and Application Monitor has proven to be a valuable investment. Users have reported positive outcomes and benefits, indicating a satisfactory return on investment.

Pricing

SolarWinds Server and Application Monitor is perceived as both expensive and competitive in value. Pricing varies based on the number of devices and modules, starting from approximately $3,000 annually, and can reach up to $20,000 or more with added features. It is more cost-effective than some competitors like AppDynamics. Buyers appreciate its comprehensive functionality but note the complexity of the licensing model. Discounts and significant deals are often available during specific sales periods.
  • "We pay around $ 2,000 to $ 5,000 yearly for the solution."
  • "The product is expensive."
  • "The tool is available for my company at a good price point."

Popular Use Cases

Organizations primarily use SolarWinds Server and Application Monitor for diverse tasks such as customizable monitoring, network configuration, managing application performance, server performance monitoring, and infrastructure insights. It monitors operating systems, application environments, hardware health, network devices, and database queries. Companies benefit from proactive alerts, insights on capacity, application usage, bandwidth management, and detailed system information. It supports various deployment models and integrates with multiple infrastructure components, making it a versatile option for monitoring needs.

Service and Support

Feedback indicates mixed experiences with SolarWinds Server and Application Monitor's service. Many find support efficient and knowledgeable, offering timely resolutions. Some reported issues with initial response quality and escalation speed, noting it takes time to reach higher-level expertise. Users value tools like the THWACK community for independent resolutions. While some commend technical support's availability and helpfulness, others express disappointment over a perceived decline in service quality in recent years, suggesting an area for improvement.

Deployment

SolarWinds Server and Application Monitor is generally easy to set up, with users finding the initial installation straightforward and quick, especially with proper permissions and prerequisites. Many appreciate the detailed documentation and support resources. Complexity can arise in large environments or when involving sophisticated customizations. Deployment time varies, but some note it can be completed in a day, though larger setups may need weeks. Users highlight the streamlined install process as a key benefit.

Scalability

Many users find SolarWinds Server and Application Monitor scalable, with the ability to add polling engines to enhance monitoring capabilities. While some have experienced challenges, such as confusing engine configurations and high costs for expansion, others report a smooth scaling process with strong performance even with large deployments. The modular architecture allows flexibility in scaling, and many organizations manage extensive networks without major issues. However, the cost for additional licenses can be prohibitive.

Stability

SolarWinds Server and Application Monitor is reported as largely stable by users, though some encounter issues, often resolved with proper maintenance. Newer versions show improved dependability, while older versions may need support to address occasional stability problems. Users emphasize the importance of regular maintenance, health checks, and resource management to maintain stability. Some experience speed issues with high data loads, and monitoring large numbers of endpoints may impact performance, suggesting optimization for best results.
These insights are based on the in-depth reviews provided by peers to help you make a better buying decision.
Download our SolarWinds Server and Application Monitor Buyer's Guide for additional reliable information.

Review data by company size

By reviewers
Company SizeCount
Small Business13
Midsize Enterprise7
Large Enterprise19
By reviewers
By visitors reading reviews
Company SizeCount
Small Business167
Midsize Enterprise121
Large Enterprise455
By visitors reading reviews

Top industries

By visitors reading reviews
Educational Organization
13%
Financial Services Firm
9%
Government
7%
Healthcare Company
7%
Manufacturing Company
6%
University
6%
Computer Software Company
6%
Energy/Utilities Company
5%
Comms Service Provider
5%
Construction Company
4%
Retailer
4%
Transportation Company
3%
Outsourcing Company
3%
Performing Arts
3%
Insurance Company
3%
Marketing Services Firm
2%
Media Company
2%
Aerospace/Defense Firm
2%
Hospitality Company
2%
Wholesaler/Distributor
1%
Consumer Goods Company
1%
Real Estate/Law Firm
1%
Non Profit
1%
Legal Firm
1%
Engineering Company
1%
Recreational Facilities/Services Company
1%

Compare SolarWinds Server and Application Monitor with alternative products

Go!

Learn more about SolarWinds Server and Application Monitor

With AppStack and AppInsight support, SolarWinds Server and Application Monitor offers service management, detailed resource dashboards, and integration capabilities. It monitors hardware metrics and performance parameters, facilitating database and network insights for cloud and virtual environments. Robust alerting, predictive analytics, and capacity planning ensure efficient management of server health and application performance.

What are the key features?
  • Integration: Seamlessly connects with existing tools.
  • AppStack: Provides a holistic view of applications.
  • AppInsight: Supports widely-used applications.
  • SNMP Polling: Efficient network data collection.
  • Diagnostics: Real-time troubleshooting.
  • Customizable Dashboards: Tailored monitoring views.
What benefits should users expect?
  • Comprehensive Monitoring: Extends from servers to databases.
  • Transparent Control: Enhances visibility into performance metrics.
  • User-Friendly: Simplifies proactive monitoring with alerts.
  • Predictive Features: Supports capacity and trend planning.

Industries implement SolarWinds Server and Application Monitor to enhance server utilization reporting, network configuration, and AV equipment performance tracking. They benefit from monitoring critical services across diverse deployment models, improving management efficiency and decision-making.

SolarWinds Server and Application Monitor was previously known as SolarWinds SAM.

SolarWinds Server and Application Monitor customers

Andr. L. Riis AS, NetSuite

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Product Categories

Product Categories
Server Monitoring
Application Performance Monitoring (APM) and Observability
Active Directory Management

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SolarWinds Server and Application Monitor Reviews Summary
Author infoRatingReview Summary
Technical Specialist at ServiceIO4.0I’ve used SolarWinds Server and Application Monitor for over 15 years; it's reliable, user-friendly, easy to set up, and offers strong monitoring and alerting, though it lacks event correlation and manager-of-manager integration capabilities.
Team Lead at a mining and metals company with 10,001+ employees4.0I've used SolarWinds Server and Application Monitor for two years; it offers great server visibility but has a complex setup and lacks dashboard flexibility. Despite a higher price, it's effective, though technical expertise is definitely required.
Assistant Director at Higher Education Commission3.5I work in the Higher Education Commission of Pakistan, using SolarWinds Server and Application Monitor to manage multiple servers efficiently. The tool's GUI customizations, alert configurations, and service monitoring are impressive, although application-based monitoring could improve. We're accustomed to SolarWinds over alternatives.
Software Engineer 1 at HCLSoftware4.5I use SolarWinds Server and Application Monitor for application-level monitoring, particularly at the OS level. Its valuable features include monitoring SQL databases and various components efficiently. I have no suggestions for improvement and employ Microsoft Azure as the cloud provider.
Senior Operations Manager at Sencinet4.0I use SolarWinds Server and Application Monitor to efficiently oversee client services and manage costs. While the tool offers positive ROI with adequate devices, it needs better licensing synchronization and more granular polling options for improved customer customization.
Infrastructure Technical Applications Manager at Emory Healthcare3.5We use SolarWinds Server and Application Monitor to track certificate and VM issues, appreciating its integration with Remedy for ticket creation. However, manual cleanup is often needed as updates post-VM changes aren't always effectively automated.
Data Center Engineer at a retailer with 5,001-10,000 employees4.0I use SolarWinds Server and Application Monitor primarily to oversee devices. Its most valuable feature is the user-friendly interface. However, I believe that the response time of the technical support team could be improved.
Solutions Architect at Airtel3.5I use SolarWinds Server and Application Monitor for network monitoring, valuing its SNMP polling and availability features. However, it lacks end-to-end application performance monitoring compared to Riverbed, which we currently use for APM. We're considering consolidating with either solution.