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Technology · head to head

Nagios XI vs RAD Studio

Nagios XI logo

Nagios XI

Technology

Enterprise-grade monitoring solution with advanced visualization and reporting

From
Free
Free plan
Yes
RAD Studio logo

RAD Studio

Developer Tools

Cross-platform native app development with Delphi and C++Builder

From
$2000/perpetual
Free plan
No

The short version

  • Only Nagios XI has a free tier, so it costs nothing to try first.
  • Each has a real cost: Nagios XI free Edition caps at 7 nodes or 100 services, whichever limit is hit first; RAD Studio professional edition costs $2,000 for the perpetual license plus $599 for year one maintenance, totaling $2,599 before tax
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 29 August 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Nagios XI and RAD Studio actually diverge.

Attributes where Nagios XI and RAD Studio differ
AttributeNagios XIRAD Studio
Starting priceFree$2000/perpetual
Free tierYesNo
CategoryTechnologyDeveloper Tools

Identical on both: pricing model (one-time), platforms (Web), user rating (Not yet rated).

What people use each for

The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.

Nagios XI

  • Monitoring servers, networks, and IoT devices for status changesnot RAD Studio
  • Detecting infrastructure problems before they cause outagesnot RAD Studio
  • Creating customizable dashboards for real-time IT visibilitynot RAD Studio
  • Tracking SLA compliance and generating capacity planning reportsnot RAD Studio

RAD Studio

  • Building Windows desktop applications with VCL componentsnot Nagios XI
  • Creating iOS and Android apps from shared Delphi codebasenot Nagios XI
  • Connecting to Oracle databases through FireDAC connectivitynot Nagios XI
  • Building REST web services that run on Linux serversnot Nagios XI

Where each one falls short

Documented limitations, not opinions. Every one is a constraint you would hit in normal use.

Nagios XI

  • Free Edition caps at 7 nodes or 100 services, whichever limit is hit first
  • Standard Edition is licensed per node count, starting at $2,595 for 100 nodes and rising to $14,995 for 1,000 nodes
  • Enterprise Edition, which adds capacity planning and SLA reporting, is sold as an add-on starting at $4,690 for 100 nodes on top of the base license
  • Sitewide Edition for large distributed environments has no published price and requires contacting sales

RAD Studio

  • Professional edition costs $2,000 for the perpetual license plus $599 for year one maintenance, totaling $2,599 before tax
  • Enterprise edition steps up to $3,400 license plus $1,199 maintenance, and Architect edition to $4,416 license plus $2,183 maintenance
  • The perpetual license only entitles the buyer to updates for one year; continued access to new updates and upgrades requires an annually renewable Update Subscription

Pricing, plan by plan

Nagios XI

Free
  • Free EditionFree
    • 7 nodes OR 100 services limit
    • Self-supported only
  • Standard 100-Node$2595/perpetual
    • 100 nodes
    • First year includes support and upgrades
  • Standard 500-Node$8295/perpetual
    • 500 nodes
    • First year includes support and upgrades
  • Standard 1000-Node$14995/perpetual
    • 1,000 nodes
    • First year includes support and upgrades

RAD Studio

$2000/perpetual
  • Professional Edition$2000/perpetual
    • Perpetual License
    • First year maintenance $599
    • Total $2,599 + Tax
  • Enterprise Edition$3400/perpetual
    • Perpetual License
    • First year maintenance $1,199
    • Total $4,599 + Tax
  • Architect Edition$4416/perpetual
    • Perpetual License
    • First year maintenance $2,183
    • Total $6,599 + Tax

Which should you pick?

Choose Nagios XI if

  • You want to start without paying.

Choose RAD Studio if

Nothing in the data separates RAD Studio from Nagios XI on the points above - pick on price and on how each one feels to use.

Questions people ask

Is Nagios XI or RAD Studio better?
Neither clearly leads. Nagios XI starts at Free and RAD Studio at $2000/perpetual, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Nagios XI or RAD Studio?
Nagios XI has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at Free for Nagios XI and $2000/perpetual for RAD Studio.
Does Nagios XI or RAD Studio run on more platforms?
Both run on Web, so platform support will not decide this one for you.
Can I use Nagios XI for free?
Yes. Nagios XI has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. RAD Studio starts at $2000/perpetual.
What is Nagios XI best used for?
Nagios XI is most often used for monitoring servers, networks, and iot devices for status changes, detecting infrastructure problems before they cause outages, creating customizable dashboards for real-time it visibility, tracking sla compliance and generating capacity planning reports. Of those, monitoring servers, networks, and iot devices for status changes and detecting infrastructure problems before they cause outages are not what RAD Studio is typically brought in for.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

Nagios XI: What is Nagios XI's pricing model?

Nagios XI uses perpetual licensing with one-time purchase costs based on node count, ranging from $2,595 for 100 nodes to $14,995 for 1,000 nodes.

Source
RAD Studio: How much does RAD Studio cost?

RAD Studio uses perpetual licensing: Professional Edition $2,000 perpetual license + $599 first year maintenance ($2,599 total + tax). Enterprise Edition $3,400 license + $1,199 maintenance ($4,599 total + tax). Architect Edition $4,416 license + $2,183 maintenance ($6,599 total + tax).

Source
Nagios XI: Is there a free version of Nagios XI?

Yes, Nagios XI Free Edition is available at no cost with a limit of 7 nodes or 100 services, whichever is reached first.

Source
RAD Studio: What is the difference between RAD Studio editions?

Professional Edition ($2,599 total + tax) targets individual developers. Enterprise Edition ($4,599 total + tax) adds multi-tier app capabilities. Architect Edition ($6,599 total + tax) includes advanced database and cloud features. All three include perpetual licenses.

Source
Nagios XI: What is included with Nagios XI licensing?

Initial licenses include one year of free version upgrades, up to 10 support cases, and support portal access. Each license permits three installations: production, backup/failover, and testing/development.

Source
RAD Studio: Does RAD Studio offer Kai AI integration and discounts?

Yes, adding Kai AI to any edition provides discounts: 25% off Professional ($2,136 + tax), 30% off Enterprise ($3,394 + tax), and 40% off Architect ($4,109 + tax). This promotion is active through August 31, 2026.

Source
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