PingZen vs PRTG: Free Uptime Monitoring vs Enterprise Network Monitoring
PRTG Network Monitor by Paessler is an enterprise IT monitoring tool founded in 1997 in Nuremberg, Germany. It offers 250+ native sensor types for monitoring networks, servers, applications, and cloud services. Free tier includes 100 sensors (~10 devices). Uses sensor-based licensing — each monitored metric counts as one sensor.
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Quick Comparison
- Price
- Free forever
- Intervals
- 30 seconds
- Protocols
- 22 protocols
- Alerts
- 12+ channels
- Price
- Free (100 sensors) / from $1,600
- Intervals
- 30 seconds (configurable)
- Protocols
- 250+ sensor types (SNMP, HTTP, WMI, etc.)
- Alerts
- Email, SMS, push, HTTP triggers
Feature Comparison
| Feature | PingZen | PRTG |
|---|---|---|
| HTTP/HTTPS monitoring | ||
| TCP port monitoring | ||
| Ping (ICMP) | ||
| DNS monitoring | ||
| SSL certificate monitoring | ||
| SMTP monitoring | ||
| SNMP monitoring | ||
| WMI monitoring | ||
| NetFlow analysis | ||
| WebSocket monitoring | ||
| gRPC monitoring | ||
| WHOIS/Domain expiry | ||
| DNSBL monitoring | ||
| Auto-discovery | ||
| Network topology maps | ||
| Cloud monitoring (AWS/Azure) | ||
| Public status pages | ||
| Incident management | ||
| No server required Requires on-premises Windows server |
Why Choose PingZen
- Free forever with unlimited monitors vs 100 sensors (~10 devices) free
- Zero setup SaaS — no Windows server or on-premises installation
- Simple, modern UI vs complex enterprise interface
- Public status pages and incident management built-in
- WebSocket, gRPC, WHOIS, DNSBL protocols
- Transparent pricing vs $1,600-$14,000 sensor licensing
When PRTG is Better
- 250+ native sensor types for comprehensive network monitoring
- SNMP, WMI, and NetFlow for network device monitoring
- Auto-discovery scans your entire network automatically
- Network topology maps and bandwidth monitoring
- Cloud monitoring (AWS, Azure, Google Cloud)
- 27+ years of enterprise production reliability
Not sure about PingZen vs PRTG?
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Migration Tip
PRTG is an enterprise network monitoring tool — overkill for website uptime monitoring. Use PingZen for external uptime checks (free, 22 protocols, zero setup). Consider PRTG only if you need to monitor routers, switches, and internal network infrastructure with SNMP.
Frequently Asked Questions
Related Alternatives
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