22 Open-source and Free Network Monitoring Apps for Linux, macOS, Windows and Servers

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A network monitor app oversees and controls a computer network’s operations, providing continuous reports on traffic, bandwidth utilization, and network uptime. It can also detect and report device or connection failures.

The benefits of using a network traffic monitor include:

Enhanced security: It helps identify suspicious activity that could indicate a security breach.
Optimal performance: By monitoring network usage, it’s possible to identify bandwidth hogs or bottlenecks that can slow down the network.
Reduced downtime: Quick identification and resolution of network issues can minimize downtime and its associated costs.
Planning capacity: It provides valuable data that can aid in planning for network capacity needs.

Network traffic monitors are indispensable tools for organizations across the spectrum, from small businesses to large enterprises. They’re the go-to solution for IT departments, network administrators, and security teams. Moreover, they’re invaluable assets for managed service providers (MSPs) and other IT service providers.

This list include the best open-source free network monitoring tools, for Linux, Windows, macOS and servers.

1- TrafficMonitor

TrafficMonitor is a network monitoring software with floating window feature for Windows. It displays the current internet speed and CPU and RAM usage. There are also other capabilities like an embedded display in the taskbar, changeable display skins, and historical traffic statistics.

Features of the standard free version:

Internet speed monitoring
CPU and RAM usage monitoring
CPU, GPU, hard disk, mother board temperature
Network connection details
If multiple network adapters are available, users can automatically or manually select networks to connect
Display network connection details
Support embedded display in taskbar
Support skin change and customizable skins
Historical traffic statistics

2- OpenWISP

OpenWISP Monitoring is an open-source network monitoring module offering device status and network performance monitoring, as well as alert settings for network issues. It is part of the OpenWISP project and is written in Python and Django, designed to be extensible, programmable, scalable, and user-friendly.

Key Features

Open-source network monitoring module
Offers device status and network performance monitoring
Alert settings for network issues
Part of the OpenWISP project
Written in Python and Django
Extensible, programmable, scalable, and user-friendly
Allows any type of configuration supported by OpenWRT
Uses NetJSON configuration templates
Automatic registration to automate the deployment of new nodes
Modular and extensible

3- Johann

Johann is a web-based tool for monitoring Cisco IOS XE devices, allowing for the collection of configuration and operational data in a structured database. It supports adding multiple devices at once and provides a structured web-dashboard for displaying device information.

Features

Add single or multiple devices (.csv file) at once to the johann SQLite database
Show device information on a structured web-dashboard
Update all device information
Show simple report graphs
Export database as .xlsx
Toolset:
- Enable RESTCONF on a single IOS XE device
- Test RESTCONF: Get current configuration in JSON format
- Show logs

Supported Devices

ASR 1000
ASR 900 RSP2/RSP3, ASR 920, NCS 520 and NCS 4200
Catalyst 9200,9300,9400,9500,9600,9800
Catalyst 8000V
CSR 1000v
ESS 3×00
IR 1101
IE 3×00
ISR 1000
ISR 4000

4- Picosnitch

Picosnitch is a free, open-source tool that monitors network traffic per executable, providing visualizations and notifications for new or modified network connections.

It breaks down traffic by various parameters, offers web and terminal interfaces with GeoIP lookups, checks hashes or executables using VirusTotal, caches executable hashes for performance, and detects applications running inside containers.

Features

Monitors network traffic per executable
Provides visualizations and notifications for new or modified network connections
Breaks down traffic by various parameters
Offers web and terminal interfaces with GeoIP lookups
Checks hashes or executables using VirusTotal
Caches executable hashes for performance
Detects applications running inside containers
Sends notifications for new network connections or modifications
Monitors bandwidth, providing breakdowns by executable, hash, parent, domain, port, or user over time
Differentiates multiple versions of the same app based on their hash
Uses BPF for accurate, low overhead bandwidth monitoring and fanotify to watch executables for modification
Logs parent executable and hash for each connection
Focuses on accurate detection with clear and reliable error reporting

Supported Systems

Arch Linux
Ubuntu
Debian
Nix
Python
Fedora, Mageie and Mandriva

5- ntopng

ntopng is a GPLv3-licensed, web-based network traffic monitoring application. It is an updated version of the original ntop from 1998, improved in performance, usability, and features.

Install and Download

Instructions for compiling and using ntopng can be found in the doc/README.md file. Pre-built packages are available for platforms including Debian/Ubuntu LTS x64, CentOS/RedHat/RockyLinux/AlmaLinux Linux x64, Windows x64, RaspberryPI/Debian ARM, and FreeBSD/OPNsense/pfSense.

6- Netdata

Netdata is a high-performance monitoring tool that collects real-time metrics from over 800 integrations, presenting them in low-latency dashboards.

It operates on physical and virtual servers, cloud deployments, Kubernetes clusters, and edge/IoT devices. Key features include real-time, low-latency, high-resolution data collection, and unsupervised anomaly detection using machine learning models.

Features

Collects metrics from 800+ integrations
Real-Time, Low-Latency, High-Resolution data collection
Unsupervised Anomaly Detection using Machine-Learning (ML) models
Powerful Visualization for data analysis
Out of box Alerts for common issues and pitfalls
systemd Journal Logs Explorer for log analysis
Low Maintenance with automated features
Open and Extensible, can be extended and integrates with other monitoring solutions

7- Netiquette

Netiquette is a free lightweight, open-source network monitor for macOS, allowing users to view all network connections, uncover listening sockets, and filter and export network information through its simple and intuitive UI.

8- Skydive

Skydive is an open-source, real-time network topology and protocols analyzer. It collects topology information and flows via agents and forwards them to a central agent for analysis. All data is stored in an Elasticsearch database, and while Skydive is SDN-agnostic, it provides SDN drivers for enhanced topology and flow information.

Features

Captures network topology and flows
Full history of network topology and flows
Distributed
Ability to follow a flow along a path in the topology
Supports VMs and Containers infrastructure
Unified query language for topology and flows (Gremlin)
Web and command line interfaces
REST API
Easy to deploy (standalone executable)
Connectors to OpenStack, Docker, OpenContrail, Kubernetes

9- Netproc

Netproc is a free and open-source tool to monitor network traffic based on processes.

10- Fluere

Fluere stands as an unmatched network monitoring and analysis tool, expertly capturing network packets in pcap format and transforming them into the highly useful NetFlow data. Offering seamless support for both live and offline data capture, it delivers an unparalleled, detailed view of network traffic.

Featuring cross-platform support, a robust Terminal User Interface, and instant feedback during live capture, Fluere is the definitive solution for your network analysis needs.

11- nload

nload is a free and open-source robust console application expertly designed to monitor network traffic and bandwidth usage in real time. It masterfully visualizes incoming and outgoing traffic with two dynamic graphs, while providing valuable additional information such as the total amount of transferred data and the network usage at its peak and lowest points.

12- Realtime Traffic

Realtime Traffic is a powerful and reliable Linux tool designed for monitoring network traffic in real time.

It can graph rx and tx of a Linux network interface, delivering the information instantly to any modern web browser that supports WebSockets and SVG. Proudly developed at struktur AG, it stands as a testament to our technical expertise and commitment to quality.

13- PHPNetMap

PHPNetMap is a free self-hosted web application for network device monitoring using SNMP v(1/2c/3) protocol, compatible with various models including 3Com/HP, ProCurve, Dell, and Extreme devices.

It displays connected hosts based on FIB or CAM switch tables and ARP table devices. Features include search within these tables, map view of connections, port status display, and the ability to change the ifAdminStatus or set ifAlias with an SNMP community with read/write permission.

14- Nagios Core

Nagios is a powerful open-source, enterprise-class host, server, application, and network monitoring system. It is designed to help system administrators monitor and troubleshoot infrastructures, ensuring systems, applications, services, and business processes are functioning properly.

15- PHPNetMap

PHPNetMap is a web application for network device monitoring using SNMP v(1/2c/3) protocol, compatible with various models including 3Com/HP, ProCurve, Dell, and Extreme devices.

16- Observium

Observium is an SNMP-based network monitoring platform that supports a wide range of network hardware and operating systems. It includes all standard features in TurnKey Core, additional configurations, and recommended packages for virtual machine monitoring.

It also includes a cronjob for discovery and polling, SSL support, Adminer administration frontend for MySQL, Postfix MTA for email sending, and Webmin modules for configuring Apache2, PHP, MySQL, and Postfix. Updates may require supervision and are not configured to install automatically.

17- LibreNMS

LibreNMS is an open-source network monitoring system that supports a wide range of hardware and operating systems. It aims to be a viable project and community that encourages contribution, focuses on user needs, and offers a welcoming environment.

Its priorities are based on the Debian Social Contract, and mutual respect guides its interactions.

18- Cacti

Cacti stands as a superior, open-source, web-based network monitoring and graphing tool. It has been expertly designed to function as a front-end application for the unbeatable data logging tool RRDtool.

With Cacti, users gain the power to poll services at intervals of their choosing, allowing for precise graphing of the resulting data. This tool is an indispensable asset for network administrators, providing a comprehensive solution to monitor and manage network traffic and server performance.

Cacti® – The Complete RRDTool-based Graphing Solution

19- Netmon

Netmon is a simple bandwidth and latency monitor for cheap home routers written in Node.js. Netmon uses SNMP to collect the bandwidth data and optionally the system ping command to collect latency data and presents them via a simple web or cli UI.

20- OpenNetMeter (Windows)

OpenNetMeter is a free tool designed specifically for daily Windows users, offering seamless network and data usage monitoring.

Its features include precise network speed tracking, real-time session data usage, comprehensive daily data usage, an extensive data usage history spanning up to the past 60 days, and a compact yet detailed widget for displaying network speed.

21- SimpleMonitor

SimpleMonitor is a Python script designed for effective host and network connectivity monitoring. It is easy to set up and provides a streamlined solution for small businesses or home networks. It also allows remote monitor instances to send results back to a central location.

22- Bandwidth monitor

Bandwidth Monitor is a cool straightforward Python script that confidently manages your upload and download tracking, along with data consumption, at no cost.

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22 Open-source and Free Network Monitoring Apps for Linux, macOS, Windows and Servers