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Spiceworks Alternatives for Network Monitoring, Inventory & Management
UPDATED: April 6, 2023
Spiceworks provided a nice free network monitoring tool that had many of the important features of the major providers in the field and it was free to use thanks to its funding through adverts. As with anything that seems too good to be true, it was and Spiceworks Network Monitor has been discontinued. The replacement for the monitor is the Connectivity Dashboard, which doesn’t provide anywhere near as much functionality as the dearly departed monitor.
So, you are probably in the market for a replacement for the Spiceworks Network Monitor. If you currently enjoy using Spiceworks Inventory or Spiceworks Help Desk, don’t panic because they are still available for free. However, we have scoured the landscape for replacements for the network monitoring tool, and just in case you’re interested, we have found a good alternative for the Inventory and Help Desk systems as well.
Here is our list of the best Spiceworks alternatives for network monitoring, inventory, and management:
- SolarWinds Network Performance Monitor – FREE TRIAL This on-premises package has all the features of a network device tracker, including discovery, mapping, inventory, and constant health checks. Runs on Windows Server. Get it on a 30-day free trial.
- Paessler PRTG – FREE TRIAL This package of tools lets you assemble your own combination of network, server, and application monitors and it is free to use if you only active 100 sensors. Runs on Windows Server. Download a 30-day free trial.
- ManageEngine RMM Central – FREE TRIAL A feature-rich alternative to Spiceworks that offers scalable management, automated remediation, and patch supports for over 1000+ applications. Get it on a 30-day free trial.
- Site24x7 Network Monitoring – FREE TRIAL This package is delivered from the cloud and it beats the functionality of the Spiceworks network monitor by offering traffic analysis as well as device monitoring. Start a 30-day free trial.
- ManageEngine OpManager – FREE TRIAL Monitor networks, VMs, and servers with this system and get your entire network tracked and mapped. Free to monitor three devices and available for Windows Server, Linux, and AWS. Download a 30-day free trial.
- HaloITSM This Service Desk system provides a full IT asset management package plus a Help Desk service. Available as a SaaS platform or for installation on Windows Server.
- Progress WhatsUp Gold Discover network devices, map your network and track the statuses of all switches, routers, firewalls, and appliances. Runs on Windows Server.
Here's the Top Spiceworks Alternatives
What should you look for in security analytics software?
We reviewed the market for network monitoring tools that replace Spiceworks and analyzed the options based on the following criteria:
- Automatic device discovery and inventory creation
- A topology map of the network
- Network traffic analysis
- IT asset management
- Alerts for evolving problems in network devices
- A free trial or a free version that enables you to try the system before committing money
- Value for money from an alternative to Spiceworks that is worth paying for
With these selection criteria in mind, we looked for network monitors that will make you forget how much you loved Spiceworks Network Monitor.
1. SolarWinds Network Performance Monitor – FREE TRIAL
SolarWinds Network Performance Monitor is a Fully featured Infrastructure Monitoring and management solution that has many of the features Spiceworks has plus many more. As of recently, NPM has come out with a Network Insights for Cisco ASA to further expand their capabilities and monitor, analyze and map information from Cisco ASA devices.
Key Features:
- Automatic Topology Scanning and Mapping: Automatically scan and map network topology, providing visibility into network architecture and connections.
- Inventory Management: Manage inventory of servers, network devices, desktops, and more, streamlining asset management processes.
- Flow Protocol Support: Supports multiple flow protocols like NetFlow, jFlow, sFlow, and IPFIX, facilitating comprehensive monitoring of network traffic.
- Integration with Help Desk Management Software: Seamlessly integrates with SolarWinds' help desk management software, enhancing incident management and resolution workflows.
- Pre-Built Alerts and Notifications: Utilize pre-built alerts and notifications to proactively monitor and respond to network issues.
- Hardware Health Monitoring: Monitor hardware health and receive notifications for potential issues, ensuring optimal performance and reliability.
- VMWare & Hyper-V Monitoring: Monitor virtualized environments with VMWare & Hyper-V monitoring capabilities, providing insights into virtual infrastructure performance.
Why do we recommend it?
SolarWinds Network Performance Monitor (NPM) earns our recommendation due to its comprehensive feature set, scalability, and recent expansions, such as Network Insights for Cisco ASA. With automatic topology scanning, inventory management, and flow protocol support, NPM offers robust infrastructure monitoring and management capabilities. Its seamless integration with SolarWinds' help desk management software enhances incident management workflows. Furthermore, the pre-built alerts and notifications enable proactive monitoring and response to network issues, ensuring optimal performance and reliability.
Who is it recommended for?
Recommended for large enterprises seeking a fully-featured solution for infrastructure monitoring and management, SolarWinds NPM is designed to scale and accommodate the needs of complex network environments. IT professionals and network administrators will benefit from its intuitive interface, pre-built alerts, and comprehensive hardware health monitoring. With its ability to monitor virtualized environments and facilitate granular traffic analysis, NPM is an invaluable tool for organizations prioritizing network performance and reliability.
Pros:
- Protocol Support: Supports multiple protocols like NetFlow, ideal for monitoring Cisco equipment and facilitating granular traffic analysis.
- Seamless Integration: Works well alongside SolarWinds' help desk management software, providing comprehensive incident management capabilities.
- Scalability: Scales well and is designed for large enterprise networks, accommodating the needs of complex environments.
- Granular Traffic Analysis: Provides the ability to view traffic on a per-hop basis, allowing for detailed traffic analysis and troubleshooting.
- Comprehensive Feature Set: Offers a comprehensive feature set, including automatic topology scanning, inventory management, flow protocol support, and more.
Cons:
- Enterprise Focus: Built for enterprise use, may not be suitable for small home networks due to its complexity and feature set.
As you can see, the list goes on and on about the features and capabilities of SolarWinds NPM. They are continually evolving their offering for Network Management and monitoring as well as their help desk features. You can get a 30-day free trial.
2. Paessler PRTG – FREE TRIAL
Paessler PRTG offers many of the same options as SolarWinds NPM does in terms of options and availability. If your looking for software that is flexible and has a ton of features, than PRTG is one you should consider. The flagship product, “Network Network” has features such as Network Maps that you can customize on your own, detailed Reporting and alerting features with 10 built-in types of technologies to alert you including SMS, Triggering EXE files and push notifications to your phone to name a few.
Key Features:
- Customized Sensors: Leverages customized sensors to provide a detailed look into Apache server environments, including infrastructure, enhancing monitoring capabilities.
- Customizable Dashboard: The dashboard is customizable through a series of widgets, offering an intuitive and personalized monitoring experience out of the box.
- Free Version: Supports a completely free version for up to 100 sensors, making it accessible to organizations with budget constraints.
- Flexible Pricing: Pricing based on sensor utilization enables scalability for larger networks and accommodates budget-conscious organizations.
- Multi-language Support: Extensive support for multiple languages, including English, German, Spanish, French, Portuguese, Dutch, Russian, Japanese, and Simplified Chinese, ensuring accessibility for users worldwide.
Why do we recommend it?
Paessler PRTG earns our recommendation for its flexibility, extensive features, and user-friendly interface, reminiscent of Spiceworks. With customizable network maps, detailed reporting, and alerting features, including SMS and push notifications, PRTG offers comprehensive monitoring and alerting capabilities. The availability of multiple language support enhances accessibility and usability for users worldwide. Additionally, the option for a completely free version with up to 100 sensors, coupled with pricing based on sensor utilization, makes PRTG a flexible and scalable solution for organizations of all sizes and budgets.
The User interface is very interactive and easy to use, very much like Spiceworks is, as well as extensive support for multiple languages including English, German, Spanish, French, Portuguese, Dutch, Russian, Japanese, and Simplified Chinese.
Who is it recommended for?
Recommended for organizations seeking a feature-rich and scalable solution for network monitoring and management, Paessler PRTG is suitable for both large networks and budget-conscious organizations. IT professionals and network administrators will appreciate its intuitive interface and extensive support for multiple languages, ensuring accessibility and ease of use. With its customizable dashboard and support for customized sensors, PRTG is an ideal choice for those looking for a comprehensive and flexible network monitoring solution.
Pros:
- Feature-Rich: Offers extensive features, including customizable network maps, detailed reporting, and alerting capabilities, enhancing monitoring and management capabilities.
- User-Friendly Interface: Interactive and easy-to-use interface, reminiscent of Spiceworks, ensuring accessibility and usability for both novice and experienced users.
- Free Version: Availability of a completely free version with up to 100 sensors, catering to organizations with budget constraints.
- Scalability: Pricing based on sensor utilization allows for scalability, making it suitable for both large networks and budget-conscious organizations.
Cons:
- Learning Curve: With its feature-rich platform, PRTG may require time to fully learn all of its features and options available, particularly for new users.
They offer 100 Free Sensors to use in your network to get you started! You can access a 30-day free trial to figure out your network requirements
3. ManageEngine RMM Central – FREE TRIAL
ManageEngine RMM Central can be described as a swiss army knife option for any sysadmin looking to replace Spiceworks. The platform enables administrators to quickly scan their network for assets and place monitors on crucial infrastructure to start gaining insights fast.
Key Features:
- Native Remote Access: Provides native remote access to devices and network equipment, facilitating efficient management and troubleshooting.
- Simple Reporting and Live Dashboard: Offers simple yet powerful reporting and a live dashboard, enabling administrators to gain insights and monitor network health in real-time.
- Support for Windows and Linux: Supports both Windows and Linux operating systems, ensuring compatibility and flexibility in managing diverse IT environments.
- Automatic Highlighting of Areas of Concern: Automatically highlights areas of concern as data is collected, enabling immediate deployment of solutions or ticket creation.
- Custom SLAs and Alerts: Enables users to specify custom SLAs and thresholds in the alerts section, facilitating proactive monitoring and remediation.
Why do we recommend it?
ManageEngine RMM Central emerges as a versatile solution, serving as a comprehensive replacement for Spiceworks and offering a range of powerful features for sysadmins. With its native remote access, simple yet powerful reporting, and support for both Windows and Linux operating systems, RMM Central enables administrators to efficiently manage their network infrastructure and gain valuable insights. Our recommendation is grounded in its flexible nature, automatic highlighting of areas of concern, and support for custom SLAs, making it an invaluable tool for both small and large networks.
As data is collected, the platform automatically highlights areas of concern, allowing you to deploy solutions or create tickets immediately. If you have custom SLAs in place, the alerts section enables you to specify certain thresholds and remediation options.
The flexible nature of RMM Central makes it a great option for both small and large networks. Users will find the platform offers many advanced features and options that were missing in Spiceworks.
Who is it recommended for?
Recommended for sysadmins seeking a versatile and feature-rich solution for network management, ManageEngine RMM Central caters to organizations of all sizes. Ideal as a replacement for Spiceworks, RMM Central offers advanced features and options, making it suitable for users accustomed to a comprehensive IT management platform. With its simple and customizable interface, RMM Central is accessible to both novice and experienced users, ensuring ease of use and adaptability.
Pros:
- Automated Software Deployments: Streamlines the process of adding new machines to the client network with automated software deployments, enhancing efficiency and productivity.
- Monitoring of Overall Health: Does a good job at monitoring overall health and resource consumption of devices, enabling administrators to maintain optimal performance and reliability.
- Simple and Customizable Interface: Features a simple and customizable interface, making it accessible to users of all skill levels and adaptable to individual preferences.
Cons:
- Short Trial Period: Would benefit from a longer trial period for testing, allowing users more time to explore and evaluate the platform's capabilities thoroughly.
Access a 30-day free trial.
4. Site24x7 Network Monitoring – FREE TRIAL
Site24x7 Network Monitoring offers SNMP-based device monitoring plus traffic analysis. The package includes an autodiscovery feature that compiles a network inventory and draws up a Layer 2 network topology map. The dashboard for the system is hosted in the cloud and displays live device statuses. Its traffic analysis feature extracts statistics with NetFlow, J-Flow, sFlow, CFlow, IPFIX, NetStream, and AppFlow.
Key Features:
- SNMP-Based Device Monitoring: Offers SNMP-based device monitoring and traffic analysis, providing insights into device availability and performance.
- Autodiscovery and Topology Mapping: Compiles a network inventory and draws up a Layer 2 network topology map, facilitating network visualization and management.
- Cloud-Based Dashboard: Hosted in the cloud, the dashboard displays live device statuses, enabling real-time monitoring and management from anywhere through any web browser.
- Traffic Analysis: Extracts statistics with support for various traffic analysis protocols, including NetFlow, J-Flow, sFlow, CFlow, IPFIX, NetStream, and AppFlow.
- VoIP Quality of Service: Monitors VoIP Quality of Service, ensuring optimal voice communication performance and reliability.
Why do we recommend it?
Site24x7 Network Monitoring is a comprehensive solution offering SNMP-based device monitoring, traffic analysis, and autodiscovery features, making it an invaluable tool for network administrators. Hosted in the cloud, the dashboard displays live device statuses, providing real-time insights into network health. With support for various traffic analysis protocols and customizable monitoring screens, Site24x7 Network Monitoring offers flexibility and accessibility, ensuring efficient network management. Our recommendation is based on its comprehensive feature set, cloud-based accessibility, and suitability for both WANs and LANs.
Who is it recommended for?
Recommended for network administrators seeking a comprehensive network monitoring solution, Site24x7 Network Monitoring caters to organizations of all sizes. Ideal for both WANs and LANs, Site24x7 offers customizable monitoring screens and VoIP Quality of Service monitoring, making it suitable for diverse network environments. With its cloud-based hosting and accessible from anywhere through any web browser, Site24x7 Network Monitoring is an ideal choice for organizations prioritizing flexibility and accessibility in network management.
Pros:
- Cloud-Based Accessibility: Delivered from the cloud, accessible from anywhere through any web browser, ensuring flexibility and accessibility in network management.
- Customizable Monitoring Screens: Offers customizable monitoring screens, allowing users to tailor monitoring views to their specific requirements and preferences.
- Suitable for WANs and LANs: Suitable for both WANs and LANs, with support for wireless network monitoring, catering to diverse network environments.
- Comprehensive Feature Set: Includes automated monitoring with alerts, device CPU and memory availability tracking, capacity planning support, and network configuration management, providing a comprehensive network monitoring solution.
Cons:
- No On-Premises Hosting Option: Lacks an on-premises hosting option, limiting deployment options for organizations with specific hosting requirements.
The Network Monitoring service in Site24x7 is integrated into a plan, called Infrastructure, which also provides server and cloud platform monitoring. Other plans include an APM or Web application monitoring services. You can get any plan on a 30-day free trial.
5. ManageEngine OpManager – FREE TRIAL
ManageEngine OpManager and their ServiceDesk Plus solution is another great alternative to Spiceworks, as you not only have the flexbility of monitoring devices and computers on your network, but like SolarWinds NPM, they offer a Tech Support/Help Desk software solution as well.
Key Features:
- Comprehensive Network Monitoring: Offers a wide range of features, including IP Address Management, Fault Management, and bandwidth monitoring, ensuring comprehensive network monitoring and management.
- Seamless Integration with ServiceDesk Plus: Integrates seamlessly with ManageEngine's ServiceDesk Plus solution, providing a complete IT management solution from monitoring to help desk and support software.
- Alerting Channels: Supports email, SMS, and webhook for alerting, ensuring timely notifications of network issues and performance deviations.
- Application-Level Resource Consumption Tracking: Monitors bandwidth and resource consumption on the application level, allowing identification of specific users consuming the most resources.
- Integration Within ManageEngine Ecosystem: Integrates well with other ManageEngine products, facilitating a cohesive IT management ecosystem.
Why do we recommend it?
ManageEngine OpManager emerges as a comprehensive network monitoring solution offering a wide range of features to keep your network and servers in check. With its competitive pricing and full array of options, including IP Address Management and Fault Management, OpManager is an excellent alternative to Spiceworks. Additionally, its integration with ManageEngine's ServiceDesk Plus solution provides a seamless transition from monitoring to IT help desk and support software, offering a complete IT management solution. Our recommendation is grounded in its robust feature set, flexibility, and seamless integration within the ManageEngine ecosystem.
OpManager is competitively priced and has quite a few bells and whistles right out of the box. Ranging from IP Address Management to Fault Management, they have a full array of options to keep your network and servers in check. On the other hand, if your looking for a IT Help Desk or Support software, than they have their ServiceDesk Plus package which can be either On-premises or hosted in their Cloud. This provides not only help desk features and tracking, but also Software assest management, Purchase/Contract management and Hardware discovery.
Who is it recommended for?
Recommended for organizations seeking a comprehensive and competitively priced network monitoring solution, ManageEngine OpManager caters to businesses of all sizes. Ideal for IT professionals and network administrators, OpManager offers features such as bandwidth monitoring, configuration change alerts, and application-level resource consumption tracking, making it suitable for diverse network environments. With its seamless integration with ManageEngine's ServiceDesk Plus solution, OpManager is an ideal choice for organizations prioritizing efficiency and integration in IT management.
Pros:
- Comprehensive Feature Set: Offers a wide range of features, including bandwidth consumption monitoring and configuration change alerts, ensuring thorough network monitoring and management.
- Seamless Integration: Integrates seamlessly with ManageEngine's ServiceDesk Plus solution, providing a complete IT management solution with help desk and support software capabilities.
- Alerting Channels: Supports multiple alerting channels, including email, SMS, and webhook, ensuring timely notifications of network issues and performance deviations.
- Application-Level Resource Consumption Tracking: Allows tracking of bandwidth and resource consumption on the application level, enabling identification of resource-intensive users or applications.
- Integration within ManageEngine Ecosystem: Integrates well within the ManageEngine ecosystem, facilitating streamlined IT management and operation.
Cons:
- Learning Curve: Takes time to fully explore all the options available in the ManageEngine software suite, particularly for new users.
Start with a 30-day free trial download.
6. HaloITSM
HaloITSM is an alternative to Spiceworks Inventory and Spiceworks Help Desk. It combines all of the ITSM processes defined in the ITIL standards. You don’t get network monitoring with HaloITSM, but then, Spiceworks doesn’t offer that feature anymore.
Key Features:
- Comprehensive ITSM Processes: Combines all ITSM processes defined in ITIL standards, including incident management, change management, problem management, and more.
- Self-Service Portal: Includes a self-service portal with knowledge base integration, enabling users to raise support tickets and track progress.
- Ticket Management System: Implements routing algorithms for ticket management, with features for ticket splitting, merging, rerouting, and cancellation.
- Workflow Automation: Supports workflow automation, enhancing efficiency and reliability in servicing complex clients and managing IT processes.
- SLA Tracking: Integrated SLA tracking service helps maintain service levels and compliance with service level agreements.
Why do we recommend it?
HaloITSM emerges as a comprehensive IT Service Management (ITSM) solution, offering a full suite of ITIL-defined processes and modules. Ideal as an alternative to Spiceworks Inventory and Help Desk, HaloITSM combines incident management, change management, problem management, configuration management, knowledge management, and an ITIL service catalog. Our recommendation is based on its robust feature set, including a self-service portal with knowledge base integration and ticket management system, making it an invaluable tool for organizations prioritizing efficient IT service delivery.
This system can discover all of your devices automatically – that function is a paid add-on. The service creates an inventory of all devices. It also provides a list of services offered by the Service Desk department and creates an SLA compliance tracking system.
Modules in the HaloITSM package include:
- Incident Management
- Change Management
- Problem Management
- Configuration Management
- Knowledge Management
- ITIL service catalog
HaloITSM competes very well with Spiceworks Help Desk. The package includes a self-service portal, which you can set up with a knowledge base. The portal also includes a form for users to raise a support ticket. That screen also presents the user’s open tickets, showing progress.
The system provides a ticket management system that implements your routing algorithms. Tickets can be split, merged, rerouted, or canceled manually by the team manager. Deeper, systemic issues can be forwarded to the Problem Management unit for system redesign solutions. Ticket management includes task timeline recording and an integrated SLA tracking service helps you keep your service up to scratch. The HaloITSM package is offered as a SaaS platform or as a download for Windows Server.
Who is it recommended for?
Recommended for organizations seeking a comprehensive ITSM solution aligned with ITIL standards, HaloITSM caters to IT service providers and internal IT departments alike. IT professionals and service desk managers will appreciate its intuitive admin dashboard, technician toolkit, and support for workflow automation, facilitating efficient and reliable service delivery. With options for both SaaS and on-premises deployment, HaloITSM is suitable for organizations of all sizes and deployment preferences.
Pros:
- Intuitive Admin Dashboard: Features a great admin dashboard that is easy to navigate and quickly learn, enhancing usability and productivity.
- Technician Toolkit: Includes a technician toolkit, providing essential tools for IT service delivery and troubleshooting.
- Workflow Automation: Supports workflow automation, facilitating efficient and reliable service delivery, particularly for complex clients.
- Deployment Flexibility: Can be installed locally or used as a SaaS platform, offering flexibility in deployment options to suit organizational preferences.
Cons:
- Pricing Contact Required: Pricing information is not readily available and requires contacting the vendor, potentially causing delays in decision-making and procurement processes.
Access a 30-day free trial.
7. Progress WhatsUp Gold
WhatsUp Gold from Progress provides very much of the same functionality that Spiceworks does as well plus much more. They have integrated Network Discovery and Mapping tools into their product, like SolarWinds and PRTG, as well as many of the same features that these other companies have as well.
Key Features:
- Integrated Network Discovery and Mapping: Offers integrated network discovery and mapping tools, facilitating network visualization and management.
- Extensive Monitoring Capabilities: Provides extensive monitoring capabilities, including application performance, configuration management, network analysis/bandwidth monitoring, VM monitoring, and more.
- User-Friendly Interface: Features a great interface that balances user experience with monitoring features, ensuring ease of use and efficiency in network management.
- Support for Flow-Enabled Devices: Supports a wide range of flow-enabled devices, enabling comprehensive network monitoring and analysis.
- Support for Virtual and Physical Hardware: Can support both virtual and physical hardware environments, catering to diverse network infrastructures.
Why do we recommend it?
Progress WhatsUp Gold offers a robust set of features and capabilities, making it an excellent alternative to Spiceworks and other similar solutions. With integrated network discovery and mapping tools, extensive monitoring capabilities including application performance and bandwidth monitoring, WhatsUp Gold provides comprehensive network management. Its user-friendly interface, support for a wide range of devices, and balance between user experience and monitoring features make it a top choice for network administrators. Our recommendation is based on its extensive feature set, usability, and ability to cater to both virtual and physical hardware environments.
As with the other software providers we've listed above, WhatsUp Gold also has extensive monitoring capabilities that includes:
- Application performance
- Configuration Management
- Network Analysis/Bandwidth Monitoring
- VM Monitoring
- and much more!
Who is it recommended for?
Recommended for network administrators seeking a comprehensive network management solution, Progress WhatsUp Gold caters to organizations of all sizes. Ideal for IT professionals responsible for managing network infrastructure, WhatsUp Gold offers features such as application performance monitoring, configuration management, and VM monitoring, making it suitable for diverse network environments. With its user-friendly interface and support for both virtual and physical hardware, WhatsUp Gold is an ideal choice for organizations prioritizing usability and comprehensive network monitoring.
Pros:
- Comprehensive Feature Set: Offers a wide range of features and capabilities, including network discovery, application performance monitoring, and bandwidth monitoring, ensuring comprehensive network management.
- User-Friendly Interface: Features a great interface that balances user experience with monitoring features, making it easy to navigate and use for network administrators.
- Support for Flow-Enabled Devices: Supports a wide range of flow-enabled devices, facilitating comprehensive network monitoring and analysis.
- Support for Virtual and Physical Hardware: Can support both virtual and physical hardware environments, ensuring compatibility and flexibility in network management.
Cons:
- Limited Operating System Support: Only available for Windows operating systems, potentially limiting deployment options for organizations with diverse IT environments.
- Limited Free Version: The free version can only monitor up to five resources, which may be insufficient for larger networks or organizations with extensive monitoring needs
They provide a 30-day free trial to test the software in your environment.
Any and all of these solutions above will be a suitable alternative to Spiceworks – all of them have free trials and can be installed, configured and run in your network for several weeks for you to get a better understanding and feel of what they are capable of.
On top of Inventory Discovery and management, all of these provide network analysis and monitoring features that really have additional benefits over Spiceworks if you are looking for a more well-rounded solution.