If you’re looking to take control over your bandwidth consumption, look no further. In this article, we’ll explore the eight best bandwidth limiter tools you can start using today.
Here are our top eight choices for the best bandwidth limiter tools:
- ManageEngine NetFlow Analyzer (FREE TRIAL) – Uses threshold-based filters for more granular control. Start a 30-day free trial.
- SolarWinds Network Bandwidth Analyzer Pack – Allows administrators to quickly and efficiently shape and filter traffic in both small and enterprise-sized networks.
- Paessler PRTG Network Monitor – Locates new devices on the network through autodiscovery.
- NetLimiter – Features quota-based filters that only trigger after a certain time or limit.
- Glasswire – Combined firewall and bandwidth limiter tool that is also available for Android.
- NetBalancer – Comes standard with IPv4 & IPv6 support.
- Net Peeker – Allows for TCPDUMP format exporting.
- Zscaler – Cloud-based bandwidth limiter tool available as a monthly service.
Our methodology for selecting the best bandwidth limiter tools:
We’ve broken down our analysis for you based on these key criteria:
- Effectiveness in shaping and filtering network traffic.
- Granularity of control over bandwidth usage.
- Ability to identify and report on high-consumption applications and endpoints.
- Support for different network sizes, from small to enterprise-scale.
- Additional features like network topology mapping and advanced alerting capabilities.
The best bandwidth limiter tools (BLTs):
1. ManageEngine NetFlow Analyzer (FREE TRIAL)
ManageEngine NetFlow Analyzer is a traffic analytics and bandwidth management tool designed for use in corporate environments. This tool simultaneously captures, categorizes, and records traffic on your network to help you understand exactly where your bandwidth is being used.
Key Features:
- QoS policies
- Threshold-based alerts
- Bandwidth usage reporting
Why do we recommend it?
ManageEngine NetFlow Analyzer, with features like QoS policies, threshold-based alerts, and bandwidth usage reporting, simplifies troubleshooting and bandwidth management tasks, ensuring optimal network performance. It is an essential traffic analytics and bandwidth management tool designed for corporate environments. It provides real-time traffic insights to help understand bandwidth usage.
Troubleshooting issues such as poor VoIP call quality or slow online streaming can be a time-consuming task when faced with mountains of log files. NetFlow Analyzer allows you to pick this traffic out from the network in real-time to see exactly where settings may need to be changed.
Under the Netflow Reports tab, you can view an audit of all captured traffic on the network. This traffic paints a clear picture by showing you exactly where the traffic is coming from, where it is going, and what service it is associated with. From right inside the tool you can configure QoS policies to limit bandwidth consumption.
Through the customizable dashboard, you can track and chart the top usage by application, source IP, and protocol.
Who is it recommended for?
This tool is recommended for network administrators and IT professionals in corporate environments. It simplifies bandwidth management, making it ideal for organizations dealing with complex network traffic and quality issues. The customizable dashboard helps monitor and control bandwidth usage efficiently, and its free version offers a valuable introduction for smaller businesses or those on a budget.
Pros:
- Granular control with threshold-based filters.
- Intuitive bandwidth usage reporting and QoS policies.
- Useful for troubleshooting network issues like poor VoIP quality.
Cons:
- May require technical expertise to fully utilize all features.
- The interface can be overwhelming with extensive data and options.
ManageEngine NetFlow Analyzer comes in three pricing tiers, one is completely free. You can test out any of the paid versions through a 30-day free trial.
2. SolarWinds Network Bandwidth Analyzer Pack
The Network Bandwidth Analyzer Pack includes two tools to measure and restrict networking traffic, NetFlow Traffic Analyzer, and Network Performance Monitor. Together these tools allow administrators to limit bandwidth, troubleshoot network speeds, and measure the overall health of a network’s connectivity.
Key Features:
- Network topology map
- QoS queuing
- Advanced alert templates
Why do we recommend it?
The Network Bandwidth Analyzer Pack offers essential tools, NetFlow Traffic Analyzer and Network Performance Monitor, for measuring and controlling network traffic. With dynamic network topology maps, administrators can identify issues quickly and assess their impact, ensuring optimal network performance. The tool’s advanced alerting templates streamline incident management and meet specific SLAs, making it suitable for medium to large enterprises and service providers.
The tool works by capturing traffic over the network and analyzing its destination, size, and bandwidth usage. As the tool runs it begins to paint a picture of bandwidth usage and allows you to easily identify what applications, endpoints, or services are consuming the most network resources. These insights are elegantly displayed on the Netflow Analyzer Summary page and are broken down by the top ten applications, the number of sources, and most bandwidth-intensive processes.
Network topology maps are also included and populate network nodes automatically. This makes it easy to visualize exactly where network issues are stemming from, and how something such as a switch failure impacts certain parts of your network. The network map is dynamic and reflects new nodes and changes in real-time.
Detailed alerting templates allow you to create notifications using nested triggers and conditions. This helps cut down on unnecessary duplicate tickets and alert fatigue on your team. If your organization is responsible for a specific SLA, Network Bandwidth Analyzer can alert based on preconfigured thresholds to ensure customers are satisfied.
Who is it recommended for?
It provides a comprehensive solution for monitoring and managing network bandwidth, making it suitable for organizations with complex network environments and service commitments. The advanced alerting templates are beneficial for organizations aiming to reduce alert fatigue and ensure SLA compliance.
Pros:
- Comprehensive bandwidth analysis with NetFlow Traffic Analyzer and Network Performance Monitor.
- Network topology mapping for easy visualization of network issues.
- Advanced alert templates for efficient notification management.
Cons:
- Can be complex for smaller organizations or those with limited IT resources.
- The full range of features may be more than needed for simple bandwidth limiting tasks.
You can test out SolarWinds Network Bandwidth Analyzer Pack free through a 30-day trial.
3. Paessler PRTG Network Monitor
PRTG Network Monitor enables you to control bandwidth usage and other network protocols at scale through a simple three-step process. The platform uses Netflow technology to monitor network traffic and then provides you with the tools needed to create rules and policies to restrict and shape that usage.
Key Features:
- Windows and macOS compatible.
- Premade monitoring templates.
- Autodiscovery of new devices.
Why do we recommend it?
PRTG Network Monitor stands out for its effective bandwidth control and network traffic management capabilities. It utilizes Netflow technology, offers easy auto-discovery, and provides detailed insights into bandwidth consumption. With a user-friendly interface and pre-made monitoring templates, it’s a valuable addition for network administrators.
Probing your network traffic can be done through either manual interface selection or a simple auto-discover tool. Auto Discovery is accomplished through lightweight sensors that use WMI and SNMP to obtain utilization metrics. Once captured these insights are pulled into a customizable dashboard and displayed through live charts and graphs.
The overview dashboard gives you a top-down view of bandwidth consumption as a whole. Historical charts allow you to see right when abnormal spikes occur, where that traffic was coming from, and what service it was associated with.
Between the pre-configured sensors and autodiscovery features, PRTG Network Monitor makes for a great addition to any sysadmins toolkit.
Who is it recommended for?
This tool is recommended for network administrators, sysadmins, and IT professionals who need robust network monitoring and bandwidth control. Its affordable starting price and a 30-day free trial make it suitable for businesses of various sizes, providing comprehensive network insights and traffic management tools.
Pros:
- Compatible with Windows and macOS.
- Auto Discovery feature for new devices.
- Premade monitoring templates simplify setup.
Cons:
- The cost of the paid version may be prohibitive for smaller businesses.
- Initial setup and configuration can be time-consuming.
The paid version of PRTG Network Monitor starts at $1,750 (£1,410). You can test its features out yourself through a 30-day free trial.
4. NetLimiter
NetLimiter is a bandwidth limiter tool and traffic control tool that allows administrators to quickly and easily limit, prioritize, or block specific traffic.
Key Features:
- Preset traffic control limits
- Visual bandwidth displays
- Quota based rules
Why do we recommend it?
NetLimiter is a valuable bandwidth limiter and traffic control tool with features like preset traffic limits, visual bandwidth displays, and quota-based rules. It offers an intuitive interface for easily managing traffic, allowing users to prioritize, limit, or block specific applications or services. Its flexibility in creating custom filters and zones makes it suitable for a wide range of network configurations.
Through a simple interface, you can select the maximum transfer speed for a specific application, or build out a custom filter to get more granular with your controls. For example, custom filters allow you to build zones and put applications inside of them.
The zones feature is great for larger networks that want a detailed level of control without all the clutter. Ports can also be filtered the same way as applications. Set either an individual port or a port range to restrict bandwidth traffic for those services.
QoS can be done directly in NetLimiter via the Priorities section. There are three built-in levels you can choose from, Critical, High, and Low. A Critical priority is best for applications where low latency is crucial. Services such as VoIP or video streaming platforms that need consistent bandwidth connections would be a good fit for High priority.
On the opposite end, Low priority puts tagged applications below the Normal level. This is useful for networks that want to allow services like internet radio or entertainment apps, but don’t want them to negatively impact businesses functions.
Who is it recommended for?
With customizable rules and priority settings, it can cater to various network environments. Additionally, its reasonable pricing options and a 30-day money-back guarantee make it accessible for both home and business use. NetLimiter is recommended for network administrators, IT professionals, and businesses seeking a simple and effective solution for bandwidth control and traffic management.
Pros:
- Provides preset traffic control limits.
- Visual displays for easy bandwidth monitoring.
- Quota-based rules for detailed traffic management.
Cons:
- The interface may seem dated or less intuitive.
- Primarily suitable for Windows environments, limiting cross-platform utility.
Pricing for NetLimiter starts at $29.95 (£22.68) per standard license and $24.95 (£18.89) for a home license. Licenses are lifelong and come with a 30-day money-back guarantee.
5. Glasswire
Glasswire is a firewall application that contains intuitive bandwidth limiter tools geared towards smaller businesses and home networks.
Key Features:
- Simple user interface
- Firewall profiles
- Android mobile app
Why do we recommend it?
GlassWire stands out as a firewall application with intuitive bandwidth limiter tools tailored to small businesses and home networks. Its simple user interface, the ability to create firewall profiles, and availability as an Android mobile app make it a versatile and user-friendly choice. With features like bandwidth usage tracking and the option to block or limit traffic, GlassWire provides valuable insights and control over network activity.
Through a simple and vibrant interface, Glasswire sniffs networks for traffic and provides insights such as bandwidth usage, traffic type, open ports, and where that traffic originated from. The main interface has an easy to read dashboard that breaks down all apps, hosts, and traffic along with their corresponding bandwidth usage.
From here, you can block or limit this traffic as you see fit. These rules can be saved into profiles that can apply to other networks running Glasswire. Having multiple profiles can be useful. For example, if you’re in the middle of application testing, that may require opening up ports and allocating resources differently. A simple profile swap can make dozens of detailed changes in just a few seconds.
A neat feature called “Ask To Connect” forces new applications to prompt you before connecting. This is similar to how UAC works in Windows, but with a bit more custom control. Glasswire is also available as an Android app where you can measure bandwidth speeds per app, as well as restrict certain access and permissions.
Who is it recommended for?
GlassWire is recommended for small businesses, home network users, and individuals who want an accessible yet effective solution for monitoring and controlling network traffic. The profile feature allows for easy configuration adjustments, making it suitable for various network scenarios. The Android app version extends its functionality for users looking to manage network activity on mobile devices. With pricing starting at $39.00 for one PC, it’s an affordable choice for those seeking network security and bandwidth control.
Pros:
- Simple and user-friendly interface.
- Combines firewall and bandwidth limiter functionalities.
- Available for Android, offering mobile application management.
Cons:
- More suited for smaller businesses and home networks.
- Limited in terms of advanced network management features.
Glasswire has three pricing tiers and currently starts at $39.00 (£29.54) for one PC. This tier includes features like graphical reporting, dark themes, and Ask To Connect.
6. NetBalancer
NetBalancer is a Windows-based application for monitoring and managing network traffic. The tool is able to limit bandwidth by using Deep Packet Inspection (DPI) to help you identify what types of applications and services are running in your environment.
Key Features:
- IPv4 & IPv6 support
- Schedule-based filtering
- Historical connection logs
Why do we recommend it?
NetBalancer employs Deep Packet Inspection (DPI) to identify applications and services in your network, allowing you to limit bandwidth based on specific criteria. This capability is particularly useful for controlling network resources and maintaining a stable network environment. The tool offers features like IPv4 and IPv6 support, schedule-based filtering, and historical connection logs, making it a robust solution for bandwidth management.
Upload and download limits can be set to restrict network resources based on application, and a full historical view of downloads overtime can be reviewed for auditing purposes. To help visualize this data NetBalancer includes graphs and charts displaying insights such as top process, number of connections, and most visited websites. If you’re experiencing intermittent issues, the system tray and toolbar widget gives an instant graphical representation of your current usage.
Rules are created on the host machine running NetBalancer and have a number of different in-depth ways you can limit bandwidth usage. Rather than just selecting a service, NetBalancer gives you detailed control over port ranges, source, and destination MAC addresses, and source IP addresses.
Using those details you can build unique filters that are either always in place, or controlled based on an hourly, daily, or monthly schedule. Advanced statistics and text logs are also available with more detailed troubleshooting. These logs include information like response time, TTL, and timeouts.
Who is it recommended for?
It’s suitable for network administrators, IT professionals, or anyone looking to optimize network resources. The tool’s flexibility in setting upload and download limits, detailed rules creation, and scheduling options make it versatile for various network environments. Priced at $49.95 for lifetime activation on one PC, it offers a cost-effective solution for those seeking in-depth network traffic control and monitoring.
Pros:
- Supports both IPv4 & IPv6.
- Schedule-based filtering for better traffic management.
- Historical connection logs for in-depth analysis.
Cons:
- The interface can be complex for new users.
- Limited functionality for more advanced networking needs.
NetBlancer costs $49.95 (£37.83) for lifetime activation on one PC and includes free upgrades for one year.
7. Net Peeker
Net Peeker is a Windows-based bandwidth limiter tool and networking monitor that focuses on providing basic traffic shaping capabilities for workgroups and smaller networks.
Key Features:
- TCPDUMP format exporting
- Filtering by country
- Quota-based restrictions
Why do we recommend it?
Net Peeker, with features like filtering by application, hostname, source country, port, or protocol, provides fine-grained control over network traffic. It is a Windows-based bandwidth limiter and network monitoring tool designed for workgroups and smaller networks. It stands out due to its robust traffic filtering capabilities, making it a suitable choice for managing network resources and controlling bandwidth in small-scale environments.
Net Peeker’s interface won’t be winning any awards, but that doesn’t take away from its powerful traffic filtering features. You’ll have a wide variety of blocking features that allow you to filter or restrict traffic based on application, hostname, source country, port, or protocol. Using a combination of these settings ensures that even if an application’s ports change, your filter settings won’t need to be adjusted.
Hard rules can be put in place to limit bandwidth, but you can also set this dynamically using priority-based traffic shaping. This gives specified applications, servers, or remote sites priority when needed. Network bandwidth quotas can also be implemented to only restrict traffic when a monthly or daily limit is reached. Quotas can either stop traffic entirely or throttle the speed of the service.
Net Peeker is powered by live packet capture and inspection that allows you to get as specific and as detailed as needed. Traffic logs can be automatically recorded and archived in ZIP file format. This compression helps ensure no single log file gets too big to open, or overwhelms disk space. Each session logs records the start and stop time, application type, source address, ports used, speed, and total bytes transferred. For further investigation Net Peeker supports exporting logs in TCPDUMP format, allowing you to import these directly into other third-party tools.
Who is it recommended for?
Net Peeker is recommended for small businesses, workgroups, or individuals who need a cost-effective solution for controlling and monitoring network traffic. Its ability to implement hard rules, dynamic traffic shaping, and bandwidth quotas makes it versatile for different use cases. Network administrators and users in smaller network environments will find Net Peeker’s capabilities valuable. The tool offers personal licenses starting at $25.00 per machine, providing an affordable option for bandwidth management and monitoring.
Pros:
- TCPDUMP format exporting for detailed analysis.
- Filtering by country and quota-based restrictions.
- Dynamic priority-based traffic shaping.
Cons:
- The interface lacks modern aesthetics.
- Might not be as comprehensive as other enterprise-level tools.
Net Peeker personal licenses start at $25.00 per machine. Group licensing for five agents costs $125.00.
8. Zscaler
Zscaler is a cloud-based firewall solution that offers a variety of bandwidth limiting controls in addition to security features. Traffic can be shaped and filtered by application, source IP, protocol, or port range. Specific policies can be set to prioritize critical applications. For example, you can limit 25% of your bandwidth to usage for Netflix while allowing for 70% utilization for VoIP services.
Key Features:
- Bandwidth utilization limits by percentage
- Internal user account permissions
- Graphical bandwidth reporting
Why do we recommend it?
Zscaler offers a cloud-based firewall solution with robust bandwidth limiting controls. Its ability to shape and filter traffic by various parameters, such as application, source IP, protocol, or port range, makes it a powerful choice for managing network bandwidth. Additionally, Zscaler provides the flexibility to prioritize critical applications by allocating specific percentages of bandwidth.
Inside of Zscaler, you can assign rules to an admin rank. This dictates what rules specific admins can change. Administrators cannot change rules that have an admin rank higher than their own. This simple but effective form of permissions allows help desk managers to lock down certain rules without completely locking out other technicians.
The tool features basic reporting that enables you to build graphics displaying bandwidth usage over time sorted by application. This information can be viewed live, or saved as a report for future documentation.
Who is it recommended for?
Zscaler is recommended for organizations that prioritize both security and bandwidth management. The tool is suitable for businesses and enterprises looking for a cloud-based solution that allows fine-grained control over bandwidth utilization. The internal user account permissions and graphical bandwidth reporting enhance its usability for network administrators and IT teams. While pricing is based on monthly subscriptions and may vary, Zscaler is ideal for organizations seeking a comprehensive cloud-based firewall with bandwidth control features.
Pros:
- Cloud-based, offering flexibility and scalability.
- Bandwidth utilization limits can be set by percentage.
- Graphical bandwidth reporting for easy interpretation.
Cons:
- Requires monthly subscription, which may increase long-term costs.
- May require contact with the company for detailed pricing and features.
Since Zscaler is a cloud-based service, you’ll pay each month to use its features. At this time you’ll need to contact the company directly for an accurate quote.
Choosing The Right Bandwidth Limiter
Bandwidth hogs can create serious headaches for both administrators and other users. Whether it’s streaming services or massive downloads the best bandwidth limiter tools will be able to help you regain control of your network.
How do you manage bandwidth in your network? Do you use a limiter tool? Let us know in the comments below.
