Custom alerts and data visualization let you quickly identify and prevent all kinds of network issues.
Wireshark is a great open-source tool for deep packet inspection, but what if you need more? Paessler PRTG takes network monitoring to the next level. It doesn't just analyze packets - it gives you a complete view of your IT infrastructure. Network admins love PRTG because it shows them everything happening in their network, all the time.
To achieve this PRTG uses protocols like SNMP and WMI to provide deeper insights into your network devices and across both Windows and Linux environments. This holistic view enables proactive issue resolution, allowing you to identify and address potential problems before they impact your users, whether they involve routers, servers, firewalls, or other network devices.
With its intuitive interface and customizable dashboards make complex network data accessible to a broader range of IT professionals, contrasting with the steeper Wireshark learning curve. As your network grows, PRTG scales effortlessly to accommodate new devices and technologies, making it suitable for businesses of all sizes. Moreover, the long-term trend analysis and reporting features support data-driven decision-making for network capacity planning and optimization, extending its utility beyond the Wireshark focus on real-time packet capture.
By choosing PRTG as your Wireshark alternative, you're not just getting a network monitoring tool – you're adopting a comprehensive solution that enhances your entire approach to network management.
You want to enhance your network monitoring? PRTG is here to help. It complements tools like Wireshark while offering additional capabilities. For instance, while Wireshark focuses on packet analysis, PRTG can also alert you when a server is running low on disk space or when network traffic increases significantly. With a shift from reactive troubleshooting to proactive network management, PRTG empowers IT teams to achieve optimal performance, reduce downtime, and streamline operations. It also works with all your devices, including Cisco equipment and integrates seamlessly with your existing toolkit. Here's what you can expect when you choose PRTG as your network monitoring solution:
Quick installation with automatic network discovery and smart setup for instant monitoring
Custom dashboard creation via drag & drop with easy-to-read visualized overviews
Different user interfaces for web, desktop, and mobile apps for monitoring on the go
Network of qualified implementation partners to support you with a smooth migration to PRTG
Diagnose network issues by continuously tracking the health, availability, and performance of your entire IT infrastructure. Show hardware parameters, application performance, network traffic, bandwidth usage, and other key metrics in real time. Visualize data in clear graphs and dashboards to identify problems more easily. Gain the overview you need to troubleshoot all kinds of issues in your network.
Device tree view of the complete monitoring setup
Custom PRTG dashboard for keeping an eye on the entire IT infrastructure
Live traffic data graph in PRTG
FEATURE | PRTG PRTG | Wireshark Wireshark |
|---|---|---|
One tool for your entire network | PRTG All monitoring features included | Wireshark Limited to packet analysis |
Easy setup, intuitive monitoring | PRTG User-friendly interfaces for web, desktop, and mobile | Wireshark Requires expertise |
Automatic network discover | PRTG Included | Wireshark Not available |
Real-time alerts & notifications | PRTG Advanced, highly customizable alerting via different notification methods | Wireshark Not available |
Custom maps & dashboards | PRTG Custom dashboard creation via drag & drop | Wireshark Not available |
Agentless monitoring | PRTG No need to install agents on the monitored systems | Wireshark Not available |
On-premises or cloud-based | PRTG Flexible deployment options available | Wireshark Only on-premises |
Enterprise version | PRTG Available | Wireshark Not available |
Freeware version | PRTG Available for up to 100 sensors, free for life | Wireshark Yes, open-source |
Distributed network monitoring | PRTG Monitoring an unlimited number of remote locations included | Wireshark Not available |
Server & application monitoring | PRTG Out-of-the-box integration, no extra cost | Wireshark Not available |
Network performance monitoring | PRTG Out-of-the-box integration, no extra cost | Wireshark Limited capabilities available |
Bandwidth monitoring | PRTG Out-of-the-box integration, no extra cost | Wireshark Yes, core-function |
Network traffic analyzer | PRTG Out-of-the-box integration, no extra costs | Wireshark Yes, core-function |
Cloud services monitoring | PRTG Out-of-the-box integration, no extra cost | Wireshark Not available |
Virtual infrastructure monitoring | PRTG Out-of-the-box integration, no extra cost | Wireshark Not available |
Storage resource monitoring | PRTG Out-of-the-box integration, no extra cost | Wireshark Not available |
Database monitoring | PRTG Out-of-the-box integration, no extra cost | Wireshark Not available |
Web performance monitoring | PRTG Out-of-the-box integration, no extra cost | Wireshark Not available |
Supports leading technologies | PRTG SNMP, flow protocols, packet sniffing, WMI, HTTP, ping, SQL, and much more | Wireshark Limited to network protocols |
Create your own scripts | PRTG Own PRTG API included for custom sensors and scripts | Wireshark Limited capabilities |
Includes technical support | PRTG Expert support included, no extra costs | Wireshark Community support only |
“All-around winning
network monitor”
“The real beauty of PRTG is the endless possibilities it offers”
“PRTG Network Monitor
is very hard to beat”
You are interested to know if PRTG could be an alternative to your Wireshark implementation?
Custom alerts and data visualization let you quickly identify and prevent all kinds of network issues.
PRTG is set up in a matter of minutes and can be used on a wide variety of mobile devices.
We also compared PRTG with other monitoring tools:
The basic version of the open-source tool Nagios is free of charge. But most users spent many hours to set up and customize the tool. In case of problems, browsing through forums is often the only solution.
Prometheus is an open-source tool that excels at monitoring containerized applications. However, it lacks comprehensive network monitoring capabilities and requires extensive manual configuration for infrastructure visibility.
Icinga is an open-source monitoring tool offering flexibility but requiring advanced technical knowledge. Its setup and maintenance can be complex, especially for teams lacking dedicated Linux expertise.
Zabbix is open-source software with a strong community support. But it requires lots of manual configuration work to install and set it up. You also need to install agents on the monitored systems.
Real-time notifications mean faster troubleshooting so that you can act before more serious issues occur.
Partnering with innovative IT vendors, Paessler unleashes synergies to create
new and additional benefits for joined customers.
UVexplorer integrates tightly with PRTG to bring fast and accurate network discovery, detailed device inventory, and automatic network mapping to the PRTG platform.
Combining their tools to a powerful solution for advanced analysis and automation, KnowledgeRiver and Paessler enable IT teams to ensure best performance for their infrastructure and networks.
Combining PRTG’s broad monitoring feature set with IP Fabric’s automated network assurance creates a new level of network visibility and reliability.
Network Monitoring Software – Version 24.4.102.1351 (November 12th, 2024)
Download for Windows and cloud-based version PRTG Hosted Monitor available
English, German, Spanish, French, Portuguese, Dutch, Russian, Japanese, and Simplified Chinese
Network devices, bandwidth, servers, applications, virtual environments, remote systems, IoT, and more
Choose the PRTG Network Monitor subscription that's best for you
Choosing between Paessler PRTG and Wireshark depends on several factors, such as your specific network monitoring needs, budget, and technical resources available in your organization.
PRTG is ideal:
Wireshark might be your choice:
Wireshark is the go-to tool for deep packet inspection, no doubt. But PRTG brings something different to the table. While Wireshark gives you a microscope to examine individual packets, PRTG is more like a security camera for your whole network.
For instance, the PRTG Packet Sniffer Sensor can show you which applications are hogging your bandwidth. Imagine seeing at a glance that a large file transfer from your backup system is taking up 50% of your network traffic during peak business hours. Or that an unexpected surge in video conferencing traffic is slowing down critical business applications. That's the kind of insight PRTG gives you, on top of detailed protocol info.
Absolutely! PRTG is designed with user-friendliness in mind. While Wireshark requires deep networking know-how, the web-based PRTG interface and customizable dashboards make it accessible to a wider range of IT pros. Need to monitor IP addresses, servers, or network devices? PRTG makes it simple, with an intuitive interface and real-time alerts that streamline your troubleshooting process.
Yes, PRTG offers comprehensive monitoring for cloud services, applications, and virtual infrastructures, which is beyond Wireshark's capabilities. This includes server monitoring, tracking of specific IP addresses, and management of various network devices, providing a complete view of both on-premises and cloud-based resources.
PRTG offers a commercial license with a free version for up to 100 sensors. It’s an easy way to monitor various aspects of your network, from traffic analysis to server performance. Wireshark is open-source and free but lacks enterprise support and the advanced features found in PRTG's comprehensive monitoring software. While Wireshark remains a valuable packet analyzer, PRTG provides a more complete network monitoring solution, complementing Wireshark's strengths in detailed protocol analysis.
In PRTG, “sensors” are the basic monitoring elements. One sensor usually monitors one measured value in your network, for example the traffic of a switch port, the CPU load of a server, or the free space on a disk drive. On average, you need about 5-10 sensors per device or one sensor per switch port.
Paessler conducted trials in over 600 IT departments worldwide to tune its network monitoring software closer to the needs of sysadmins. The result of the survey: over 95% of the participants would recommend PRTG – or already have.
You are interested to know if PRTG could be an alternative to your Wireshark implementation?
