The Best Ping Monitoring Tools

There are 101 ways to monitor your network but few are as integral to the longevity of your network as ping monitoring tools. Which is why we’ve pieced together this list of the best ping monitoring tools.

Ping monitoring allows you to ping devices to assess whether they’re online and how quickly they’re responding to network requests. By sending ICMP requests you can make sure that your connected devices are performing as they should.

In the event that a device is experiencing problems, you can step in to find a solution. Taking a proactive approach through ping monitoring allows you to deal with problems in their infancy before they grow in size. Below we’re going to look at some of the best ping monitoring tools.

Here are the best ping monitoring tools:

1. ManageEngine OpManager (FREE TRIAL) A network monitor that uses Ping to discover devices connected to the network and check on availability. Available for Windows Server and Linux. Start a 30-day free trial.
2. ManageEngine Applications Manager (FREE TRIAL) This system monitor includes a Ping tool that constantly tests the performance of connections to remote sites. Runs on Windows Server, Linux, AWS, and Azure. Get a 30-day free trial
3. Site24x7 Network Monitoring (FREE TRIAL) A network monitoring add-on to the Infrastructure module that includes a Ping service to test network connections. This is a cloud-based service. Access a 30-day free trial.
4. PRTG Network Monitor (FREE TRIAL) A collection of network, server, and application monitors that includes a number of Ping-based network testing and discovery sensors. Installs on Windows Server
5. Nagios XI A leading network monitoring system that integrates Ping into a number of its network assessment tools. Available for Linux.
6. ECMO Ping Monitor A low-cost Ping monitor that has a straightforward interface and allows for a sweep of all devices on the network. Installs on Windows and Windows Server.
7. Dotcom Monitor ICMP Ping Tool (Dotcom-Monitor Server Monitoring) A sophisticated network monitor that produces availability and response time graphs from recursive Ping test results. Available for Windows.
8. SolarWinds Engineers Toolset A collection of system administration tools that includes the Ping Sweep tool, which will search through your network and identify existing devices, listing their allocated IP addresses. Installs on Windows Server.
9. Spiceworks Connectivity Dashboard A Cloud-based website availability monitor with some great data visualization graphics.
10. MetaPing A graphics-driven Ping-based network monitor that checks all device availability and response times on a network. Installs on Windows and Windows Server.
11. NirSoft PingInfoView An on-demand Ping tool with a graphical user interface that can Ping a range of addresses or a given list. Installs on Windows and Windows Server.

The best Ping Monitoring tools

1. ManageEngine OpManager (FREE TRIAL)

ManageEngine OpManager is a package of network and server monitoring systems that uses Ping to discover devices connected to the network and check on their availability and response times.

The OpManager network monitoring service also uses the Simple Network Management Protocol (SNMP) to gather status information from network devices. The combination of Ping and SNMP helps the monitor to work out how devices are connected together to form the network. This creates a network inventory and it is also the source data for a network topology map. The topology map is available in a variety of formats.

Key Features:

• Monitores networks and servers
• Device discovery
• Network mapping
• On demand Ping

Why do we recommend it?

ManageEngine OpManager is recommended for its efficient combination of Ping and SNMP protocols, which ensures thorough network and server monitoring. Its automated alert system and real-time dashboard enhance network management efficiency.

The network discovery process in OpManager is recursive, so any alterations you make to the network are spotted and recorded in the network inventory. The topology map is generated every time it is accessed. That means that it is always up to date.

Ping also contributes to the regular system checks performed by OpManager. The system presents live statuses in the OpManager dashboard. If performance drops, OpManager generates an alert that is shown in the dashboard and can also be forwarded as a notification by email or SMS.

ManageEngine OpManager is available in three editions: Free, Standard, and Enterprise. The free version can only monitor up to three devices but the Standard edition can monitor up to 1,000. The Enterprise edition is meant for businesses with multiple sites because it includes distributed tracking processes.

Who is it recommended for?

OpManager is ideal for medium to large-sized organizations that need a scalable solution for monitoring network performance, with an emphasis on automation and comprehensive reporting.

OpManager is a software package that installs on Windows Server or Linux. You can get it on a 30-day free trial.

ManageEngine OpManager Start 30-day FREE Trial

2. ManageEngine Applications Manager (FREE TRIAL)

ManageEngine Applications Manager monitors all types of software and the platforms that those systems run on. The package can monitor servers running Windows server and Linux and also cloud platforms, including AWS, Azure, and GCP. The Ping tool in this package is part of a User Experience summary. The Ping system is optional and it will run continuously, checking on the connections to specific locations.

Key Features:

• Application monitoring
• Continuous Ping
• Performance alerts

Why do we recommend it?

ManageEngine Applications Manager stands out for its continuous Ping capability and user experience summaries, offering efficient application and platform monitoring across various environments.

The User Experience summary just shows a color-coded status symbol for the Ping tests to each location. Clicking on the link in the line provides more detailed information. The Ping screen shows time series graphs of results to each location and also reports on packet loss.

You can set up an alert so that, if a Ping test fails, you will receive a notification. One option in the setup for that service is to specify that the connection should be checked again at least twice before raising an alert. Those alerts can be forwarded as notifications by SMS, email, or Slack post.

ManageEngine provides three editions for the Applications Manager. The first of these is the Free edition, which is limited to monitoring five assets. The paid packages are the Professional edition for a single site and the Enterprise edition for WANs. The Ping tool can be launched from the single site implementation.

Who is it recommended for?

It is recommended for businesses managing a diverse range of applications and platforms, including cloud services, and seeking detailed performance insights with alerts for potential issues.

The software for Applications Manager is available for Windows Server and Linux. You can also get it as a service on AWS and Azure. Whichever platform you choose, you can get the system on a 30-day free trial.

ManageEngine Applications Manager Start a 30-day FREE Trial

3. Site24x7 Network Monitoring (FREE TRIAL)

Site24x7 Network Monitoring is a component of the Site24x7 Infrastructure package. The network monitoring tool is also available as part of the All-in-one plan, which includes all of the monitoring capabilities of the Site24x7 platform. One of the functions available within the Network Monitoring system is a Ping test.

Key Features:

• SaaS platform
• Network device monitoring
• Network traffic analysis

Why do we recommend it?

Site24x7 offers a cloud-based network monitoring solution with a focus on device discovery and traffic analysis, making it a versatile choice for real-time network insights.

The Site24x7 system is hosted in the cloud. That means that all of the processing of data takes place on the Site24x7 servers, which also host the console for the monitoring service. Technicians access the dashboard from anywhere through any standard Web browser. However, there is one part of the4 Site24x7 system that needs to be installed on the monitored site. This is an agent program that collects data locally and then uploads it to the Site24x7 servers over an encrypted connection.

The Network Monitor includes a device discovery system, which starts its service as soon as a network is enrolled. This identifies all of the devices connected to the network and the Site24x7 server then compiles a network inventory and topology map. The autodiscovery process keeps working and automatically updates the inventory and topology map if any devices are added, moved, or removed. The dashboard for the Network Monitor includes a utility that enables a technician to set up a Pint test on any one of the devices listed in the network inventory.

Who is it recommended for?

This tool is particularly beneficial for organizations looking for a SaaS network monitoring solution with the convenience of cloud hosting and the flexibility of remote access.

The Ping test service is a recursive process for which the user can specify a polling frequency. The options range from a test every minute to a test once a day.

Site24x7 Infrastructure and its Network Monitoring component are subscription services. You can experience them on a 30-day free trial.

Site24x7 Network Monitoring Start 30-day FREE Trial

4. Paessler PRTG Network Monitor (FREE TRIAL)

Paessler PRTG Network Monitor is an extensive network monitoring platform that offers a range of ping monitoring abilities. You can use PRTG Network Monitor to check the availability of your devices through the use of a dedicated ping sensor. You can start ping monitoring during the setup process by pinging multiple IP addresses. The main advantage of this is that it configures your network from the get-go by creating sensors for connected devices.

Key Features:

• Flexible package
• On premises or SaaS
• Ping to remote locations

Why do we recommend it?

PRTG Network Monitor’s diverse range of Ping sensors and cloud ping options make it a comprehensive solution for monitoring network availability and performance across various locations.

One of the strongest aspects of PRTG Network Monitor’s design is the dashboard. The dashboard is easy to read and provides you with the core information you need to monitor your network effectively. Whether you drill down into the Ping, Ping Jitter, or Sip Options Ping sensor you can tell exactly what is going on in a matter of seconds.

In the event that you don’t catch a device failure, you will be sent a notification. Notifications allow you to take a step back from hands-on monitoring and take a more reactive approach without worrying about losing control. This makes PRTG Network Monitor one of the most convenient ping monitoring tools on the market.

Who is it recommended for?

It’s an excellent choice for organizations of all sizes needing a flexible and scalable monitoring solution, with a particular emphasis on cloud and remote location testing.

There are a number of different pricing options based on sensors available. It starts with a freeware version that supports up to 100 sensors for free. If you want to purchase a paid license for PRTG Network Monitor then your prices start at $1,600 (£1,230) for PRTG 500 which supports 500 sensors. This continues up until unlimited sensors for PRTG XL1 at $14,500 and PRTG XL5 at $60,000 (£46,137). You can download a 30-day free trial of PRTG Network Monitor to evaluate it.

PRTG Network Monitor Start 30-day FREE Trial

5. Nagios XI

Nagios XI is another networking platform that delivers a high quality ping monitoring experience. With Nagios XI you can monitor the availability, reachability, and packet loss of your connected devices. If you want to be able to check for signs of performance issues emerging then Nagios XI can help you do this.

Key Features:

• Full stack monitoring
• Expandable with plug-ins
• Customizable dashboard

Why do we recommend it?

Nagios XI is recommended for its full-stack monitoring capabilities and expandability with plugins, offering a customizable and in-depth monitoring experience.

One feature that really makes Nagios XI stand out is that of plugins. There are a wide variety of ICMP monitoring plugins that build on the out-of-the-box features. Many of these plugins like check_ping have their own scripts to add to the foundations already established in the default program. This gives you that little bit more choice about how your monitoring environment is structured.

If you’re working in a team then Nagios XI is a product you should definitely consider on account of its Multi-Tenant capabilities. You can segment your monitoring environment and provide user-specific views of certain infrastructure. This is useful for handing over maintenance tasks to relevant staff members without handing over complete control.

Who is it recommended for?

Ideal for larger organizations or IT teams that require a high degree of customization and detailed performance analytics in their network monitoring efforts.

Nagios XI is available in two editions; the Standard and Enterprise. The Standard edition starts at a price of $1,995 (£1,533)  for the basics such as custom dashboards and user views. The Enterprise edition costs $3,495 (£2,687) and also allows you to schedule reports and create capacity planning reports. There is also a free trial version of Nagios XI.

6. ECMO Ping Monitor

ECMO Ping Monitor is a ping monitoring platform aimed at those who want to monitor their network on a shoestring budget. It can be used to monitor the availability of your devices providing data on whether devices are up or down.

Key Features:

• Automated Ping
• Server monitoring
• Availability monitoring

Why do we recommend it?

ECMO Ping Monitor’s focus on automated ping and server monitoring, combined with its affordability, makes it an attractive choice for budget-conscious network monitoring.

With this product, you can actually configure EMCO Ping Monitor to run custom commands when a connection goes down. You can also receive event-based notifications such as Connection Lost, Connection Restored to keep you in the loop. These can be sent one time or multiple times depending on your preferences.

You also have the opportunity to view graphs of your ping monitoring data so that you can view your network from an overhead perspective. If you find something you’d like to take a closer look at then you can generate a report to view your ping statistics in closer detail.

Who is it recommended for?

This tool is well-suited for small to medium-sized businesses looking for a reliable and cost-effective solution for basic network monitoring on Windows platforms.

ECMO Ping Monitor is available for Windows x64/x86. ECMO Ping Monitor is free for the first five hosts anymore than that and you’ll have to pay. You can purchase a single version of this product for $99 (£76) or unlimited licensing for $245 (£188). You can download ECMO Ping Monitor for free.

7. Dotcom-Monitor ICMP Ping Tool (Dotcom-Monitor Server Monitoring)

The Dotcom-Monitor ICMP Ping Tool is one of the most underrated ping monitoring tools around. This tool uses ICMP ping requests to check the status of your connected devices and scan for outages and faults. You can view ping tests rendered as high quality graphs that allow you to see exactly where and when your connection failed.

Key Features:

• Monitor application performance
• Specializes in Web application monitoring
• API monitoring

Why do we recommend it?

Dotcom-Monitor is an underrated tool that excels in web application monitoring with its sophisticated alert system and high-quality graphical representations of ping tests.

Of course, Dotcom-Monitor ICMP Ping Tool doesn’t leave you under pressure to monitor everything manually; that is why it has an alerts system. The alerts system is threshold-based so that once certain trigger conditions are met you’re notified immediately. This is sophisticated enough for the needs of most organizations.

Who is it recommended for?

It’s particularly useful for small to midsize organizations focusing on web applications and seeking a low-maintenance yet effective monitoring solution.

Overall this tool is ideal for small to midsize organizations wanting to use a low maintenance ping monitoring solution. In order to see the price, you’ll need to contact the Dotcom-Monitor sales team. If you’d like to download Dotcom-Monitor ICMP Ping Tool you can download the 30-day free trial.

8. SolarWinds Engineers Toolset

SolarWinds Engineers Toolset is one of the most high-performance ping monitoring tools on the market. Whether you’re new to ping monitoring or an expert, this tool has the ability to help. SolarWinds Engineers Toolset has fast-track configurations from the moment you finish setting it up. For instance, you can conduct automated network discovery to automatically connect to devices throughout your network. This means you don’t have to waste time with manual configurations.

Key Features:

• More than 60 tools
• Strong on network management
• Device discovery
• Port scanning
• Ping and Traceroute

Why do we recommend it?

We recommend SolarWinds Engineers Toolset for its comprehensive suite of over 60 tools, making it ideal for in-depth network analysis and efficient management. Its automated network discovery and real-time monitoring capabilities streamline network management tasks significantly.

You can monitor your devices in real time to see what is going on beneath the surface. You are assisted through this process via the use of alerts which notify you via email and SMS if any problematic behavior is identified. This reduces your administrative burden so you don’t have to catch everything live to stay up-to-date.

In the event that you need to run in-depth troubleshooting, you can use the Ping Sweep tool to conduct an ICMP sweep. This will allow you to scan your IP range and see which IP addresses are occupied or vacant. Once you’ve run your sweep you can then export the results in CSV, TXT, XLS, and HTML for further analysis.

Who is it recommended for?

This tool is best suited for network administrators and IT professionals who require a robust set of tools for network monitoring, device discovery, and troubleshooting in a Windows Server environment.

Overall SolarWinds Engineers Toolset is an excellent ping monitoring product because it offers the perfect blend of sophisticated network analysis with a design that is easy to use. SolarWinds Engineers Toolset is available from a price of $1,495 (£1,149). You can download the 14-day free trial for SolarWinds Engineers Toolset.

9. MetaPing (Hammer Software)

While MetaPing isn’t a tool that will blow you away on first impression it offers a solid and lightweight ping monitoring experience. MetaPing is graph-based which means most of your time analyzing what is going on will be through the perspective of a graph. The graph design does look quite outdated but it still offers enough clarity to get the job done just fine.

Key Features:

• Free tool
• Continuous Ping
• Performance graphs

Why do we recommend it?

MetaPing’s lightweight, graph-based interface provides a straightforward and efficient ping monitoring experience, ideal for quick and clear analysis.

When using the tool you can check in on devices to see their availability and the amount of latency they’re experiencing. Similarly, the details of each host on your network can be seen through your dashboard. This makes for a convenient monitoring experience where you know where everything is. This is a great experience for a free tool.

Who is it recommended for?

This tool is best for small businesses or SMBs with smaller networks, looking for a simple, free, and effective tool for basic network monitoring on Windows platforms.

MetaPing is a tool that is aimed towards SMBs or those with smaller networks. It doesn’t consume excessive memory or CPU so you can use the program without running into any performance issues. MetaPing is available for Windows 10, 7, Vista, Server 2012, 2008 R1/R2, 2003, and XP. MetaPing can be downloaded for free.

10. NirSoft PingInfoView

PingInfoView is another tool that seems like a throwback to the past but delivers a killer ping monitoring experience. Ping InfoView is a lightweight tool that allows you to ping hosts and IP addresses to verify their status. The main screen is relatively simple, hosts are pinged and either marked as green for success or red for failure. The display isn’t particularly fancy but it doesn’t need to be because you can see all the critical information.

Key Features:

• Lightweight
• Ping sweep
• Continuous mode

Why do we recommend it?

PingInfoView is a no-frills, lightweight tool offering straightforward ping monitoring with color-coded status symbols, perfect for basic network status checks.

One of the most convenient things about this platform is that you can configure how often you want to ping devices. This gives the program the capability to track your network status in real-time or near-real-time status depending on your settings.

In the main table view you can see information on ping results, including Host Name, IP Address, Reply IP address, Succeed, Failed, Last Ping Status, and Last Ping Time. This gives you the basics you need to see how well your devices are functioning. Once you’ve finished monitoring in PingInfoView you can then export your ping result in text, html, or XML.

Who is it recommended for?

It’s an excellent option for administrators who prefer simplicity and a classic interface for monitoring network health on Windows environments.

Overall this is a tool for administrators who want to keep everything down to the basics. If you’re not a fan of modern GUIs and want to keep things simple and classic then this is the product for you. PingInfoView is available on Windows 2000, XP, Server 2003, 2008, Vista, 7, 8, and 10. If you’d like to download PingInfoView you can do so for free.

11. Power Admin PA Server Monitor

Finally, we have PA Server Monitor. PA Server Monitor is another ping monitoring tool that takes a less is more approach to network monitoring. This program has the ability to ping multiple IP addresses so you can keep track of multiple devices at once. You can ping devices and then record their response times to evaluate how well they’re performing.

Key Features:

• Network and server monitoring
• MSP option
• Customizable alerts

Why do we recommend it?

PA Server Monitor stands out for its customizable alerts and the ability to monitor multiple IP addresses simultaneously, offering flexibility in network monitoring.

However, where PA Server Monitor really impresses is with its alerts system. The alerts system allows you to configure when you will receive alerts. For instance, you can choose to only send an alert if the monitor has detected an error that has been active for five minutes. This is good because it allows you to apply a little scrutiny to your alerts to make sure that you’re not being bombarded with countless alerts that mean nothing.

When it comes to further analysis you have the basic ability to create graphs. These aren’t as clear as other programs on this list but they are still readable. There is also the ability to generate reports for further evaluation. In fact, there are a number of different reporting templates for a more balanced perspective.

Who is it recommended for?

This tool is suitable for a range of organizations, especially those looking for a Windows-based monitoring solution with customizable alert options and detailed reporting features.

There is a wide range of pricing options available for PA Server Monitor comprised of subscription and perpetual licenses. The listed subscription price ranges for PA Server Monitor range from $6 (£4.61) each for servers 1-9 to $0.54 (£0.42) from 500-2499. You can download the 30-day free trial of PA Server Monitor.