Skip to content

15 Best Network Bandwidth Monitors (Free and Paid)

It is essential to monitor your bandwidth network to ensure that the network speed and security work effectively. There are bandwidth monitoring tools available that offer weeks or months of free trials, and later you can purchase them if they serve you well.

This article will discuss the 15 Best network bandwidth monitors available, both free and paid ones:


1. Network Bandwidth Analyzer Pack (BAP) -Most Comprehensive Network Tool

Network Bandwidth Analyzer Pack

BAP can delete, diagnose and resolve any network issue. It combines a Network performance monitor and a Network traffic analyzer giving you the necessary resources to monitor bandwidth use.

This tool will alert you on your bandwidth traffic patterns when it increases, reduces, or stops working. It will transform the traffic patterns into a visual, usable format for you to connect and vary the performance of your bandwidth in days, weeks, or months.

Features:

  • It can track and monitor bandwidth performance and traffic
  • It can solve any network issue


2. Net Speed Monitor – Most detailed monitor

netspeedmonitor

This bandwidth tool helps monitor your internet connection and tracks the internet speed when uploading or downloading your items. You can modify your interface according to your liking.

Features:

  • It can record the monitoring function.
  • It can showcase your history network usage using graphs
  • It is a fast tool that rarely has errors
  • It is easy to use as its design is user friendly
  • It possesses added settings that can view any volume of internet received and transferred in a day.


3. PRTG Bandwidth Monitor – Best chart monitor

PRTG Bandwidth Monitor

You can access the traffic in the network by using PRTG directly in your router. The PRTG  gives detailed information about bandwidth usage in graphs and charts.

PRTG network can also monitor how much bandwidth your devices and applications are using and monitor any heavy overloads on your device, making it easier to locate the problem.

This type of bandwidth monitor can either be a free version that allows 100 sensors only or the paid-up one for those that need to monitor more than 100 sensors.

Its key features include:

  • The PRTG gathers data to watch your bandwidth speed when you organize a sensor.
  • It can download sensors.
  • It can monitor bandwidth details in the form of graphs and charts.


4. BandwidthD – Recommended free monitor

BandwidthD

BandwidthD is a free bandwidth monitoring tool that traffics data by tracking the usage of TCP/IP networks using graphs and tables to show utilization.

To monitor the bandwidth usage, you have to unzip it, Edit the configuration file, install the services then launch the bandwidthD app from the services installed to check the graph or table of your bandwidth usage. You need to have Wincap version 3.0 and above to use this application effectively.

 Key Features:

  • It can store usage records for 400 days.
  • Can monitor the TCP/IP network usage and gather the HTML files to showcase the results in a graph or table.


5. Bitmeter OS – Monitor with reminder

Bitmeter OS

You can check your internet connections via graphs when using the bitmeter OS. It informs you of the total time of uploading and downloading items.

The history window can give you a clue about your average internet consumption and note any changes made.

Key Features:

  • Bitmeter OS configures downloads and uploads and will give you a total bandwidth used for both of them.
  • It will alert you when your bandwidth usage is beyond your usual amount of use.


6. Datadog Network Performance Monitoring Tool

Datadog Network Performance Monitoring Tool

It is a cloud-based SaaS infrastructure monitoring tool that examines the traffic flow of a given network. It partnered with a network device monitoring service that mainly focuses on the statuses of any device on the web like the routers.

Key Features:

  • It alerts you on the internet performance threshold of your machine. You can set your limits.
  • It correlates data from SNMP and other sources.
  • It uses the simple network management protocol (SNMP) to query switches and routers' status reports.
  • It has a feature that allows you to set alert notifications to your emails, slack, pager duty, or SMS

The datadog network performance monitoring tool combines both the network performance monitor and the network device monitor to oversee your network ultimately. It offers a 14-day free trial, and after the test, you will have to pay for it if you want to continue using it.


7. Networx

Networx

Networx is another free tool used to monitor bandwidth usage. It is suitable for home and office use.

Networx can record network data and compute your internet speed and other connections for free. It can also detect any bandwidth problems.

With Networx, you can set your limit using ISP, and the bandwidth will not pass that limit when using Networx.

Features:

  • A system administrator can set restrictions to deter users from removing the data consumption report.
  • The Networx tool enables you to monitor your data usage daily
  • When you are overusing your data, the Networx will alert you
  • You can convert the report into the format that you prefer.


8. FreeMeter Brandwidth Monitor

FreeMeter Brandwidth Monitor

The free meter bandwidth monitor uses an active graph to show your current data usage. You can minimize the chart if you do not want to see it.

Features:

  • It is a portable tool, and you can store and run it from anywhere on the hard drive.
  • It has features like the URL, Traceroute, and grabber
  • You can customize its look to your preference


9. ntopng

ntopng

Ntopng uses libcap to report on network traffic and usage. It shows the network traffic and usage in real-time, enabling you to be up to date with your data usage. Ntopng offers the free version. If you want a commercial one, then look for a ntopng pro.

You can use Ntopng in MacOSX, Windows, and Unix platform

Features:

  • It helps to distinguish traffic according to its IP address, port, L7 protocol, throughput, and autonomous system.
  • It has an intuitive, encrypted web user interface.
  • Has alert options to detect abnormal and dubious hosts.
  • It can work with external monitoring applications such as the Nagios to alert and provide data for monitoring.


10. Bitmeter2

Bitmeter2

Bitmeter can monitor your upload and download internet speed using graphs and observe your computer network bandwidth. You can either go for the automatic settings or the manual ones. Its features include:

Features:

  • It is a free monitoring tool that has unlimited qualities.
  • You can customize your screen to your preference
  • It can recover activity setting and history
  • Bitmeter2 can highlight your network activity's hourly, daily, and monthly analysis.


11. Cacti 

Cacti

Cacti support SNMP polling covers a range of network devices, and you can install it on either Unix or Windows OS.  It allows you to monitor bandwidth usage by graph. Cacti is a free monitor tool that shows spikes and dips in traffic.

However, you should note that cacti do not offer a thorough performance analysis of graphs and charts compared to other paid monitoring tools.

Features:

  • It can collect data from any infrastructure element like the load balancers, servers, routers, and switching systems.
  • It can convert the collected data into a graphical format


12. ISP- Monitor

ISP- Monitor

The ISP-Monitor is a free monitoring tool that monitors your system in real-time. It can work on all browsers making it more reliable. It can easily monitor your internet speed and usage.

Features:

  • It’s free from viruses or spywares
  • It can monitor data trafficking in real-time
  • You can set the limit for your upload and downloads
  • ISP monitors can disconnect your internet connection when it reaches the maximum level.


13. ManageEngine Real-Time Bandwidth Monitor

ManageEngine Real-Time Bandwidth Monitor

This bandwidth monitoring software tool allows dual connection, which assists the SNMP in being followed. You can find information concerning the bandwidth consumption either at the device or interface levels.

Features:

  • It showcases the total result of traffic with help from a firewall through graphs and tables.
  • The tables show the maximum, minimum, and average internet speed
  • You can view your data usage daily, monthly, or annual basis.
  • It can locate applications that are consuming more internet bandwidth
  • It keeps strict surveillance on the network traffic

This tool offers a 30-day free trial, and after that, you will have to pay for it. It goes for around $ 250 to $ 11 545.


14. Cucusoft Net Guard

Cucusoft Net Guard

 

This software tool is mainly used on windows and is free for downloading. The cucusoft net guard can boost your internet speed and deletes any malicious software that can use your internet without your knowledge.

Features:

  • It is friendly to all types of windows
  • It can delete any virus or malware when it senses them
  • It can figure out an estimated bandwidth used and prevents its misuse
  • It gives an influential graphic bandwidth usage report


15. Rokario Bandwidth Monitor

rokario-bandwidth-monitor

Rokario, a bandwidth monitoring tool, is a free tool that checks your connection speed.  It displays all the data flow and puts it in a graphical form. You have to connect this monitor. You will have to choose the interface you prefer. After connecting it to your preferred interface, the software will highlight information concerning your network speed.

Features:

  • You can change your interface settings by right-clicking on the system tray icon.
  • It has a range of features like the real-time database
  • You can customize your settings
  • It is easy to use and can be configured or customized to your preference.


Conclusion

These are the top 15 free and paid bandwidth monitoring tools that you can use to monitor your internet usage and speed. You can choose the most effective one according to your needs and preference.