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Networking · head to head

PRTG Network Monitor vs Ubiquiti UniFi

PRTG Network Monitor logo

PRTG Network Monitor

Networking

Infrastructure monitoring licensed by sensor count, not by device, which changes what a licence actually covers

From
On request
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Ubiquiti UniFi logo

Ubiquiti UniFi

Networking

Effortlessly manage 100+ APs in the same way you manage an individual AP

From
On request
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Each has a real cost: PRTG Network Monitor licensing by sensor rather than device means the real cost per device is unpredictable until sensor density is measured; a small network of complex devices can need a much larger tier than device count alone suggests; Ubiquiti UniFi product page states no licensing fees but publishes no hardware price; buyers must go to the Ubiquiti Store or an authorized distributor for a figure
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 1 September 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which PRTG Network Monitor and Ubiquiti UniFi actually diverge.

Attributes where PRTG Network Monitor and Ubiquiti UniFi differ
AttributePRTG Network MonitorUbiquiti UniFi
Pricing modelPer sensor tier, billed monthly on an annual contractone-time
PlatformsWindows, Web, iOS, AndroidWeb

Identical on both: starting price (On request), free tier (No), user rating (Not yet rated), category (Networking).

What each one covers

Drawn from each product's published feature list. An absence here means we hold no record of it - not that the product lacks it.

Only in PRTG Network Monitor

  • Sensor-based monitoring
  • Auto-discovery
  • Multiple monitoring technologies
  • Maps and dashboards
  • Cloud and hybrid deployment

Only in Ubiquiti UniFi

Nothing recorded that PRTG Network Monitor does not also cover.

What people use each for

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

PRTG Network Monitor

  • An IT team wanting network, server and application monitoring in one product rather than assembling separate open source toolsnot Ubiquiti UniFi
  • An organisation that wants a Windows-installable on-premises monitoring server with a polished UI out of the boxnot Ubiquiti UniFi
  • A team sizing a monitoring purchase that needs to calculate sensor density per device carefully before committing to a tiernot Ubiquiti UniFi
  • A company wanting hybrid on-premises and cloud monitoring from the same licence and dashboardnot Ubiquiti UniFi

Ubiquiti UniFi

No use cases recorded yet. See the Ubiquiti UniFi review.

Where each one falls short

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

PRTG Network Monitor

  • Licensing by sensor rather than device means the real cost per device is unpredictable until sensor density is measured; a small network of complex devices can need a much larger tier than device count alone suggests
  • Different PRTG licence sizes cannot be combined on one server, so outgrowing a tier means a step change to the next tier rather than a smooth incremental add
  • It requires a Windows server for on-premises deployment, which is an added infrastructure and patching burden compared with a Linux-native open source alternative
  • Pricing is materially higher than open source options like Icinga or LibreNMS for comparable core monitoring capability, and the premium is for polish and support rather than unique functionality
  • The free tier (100 sensors) is limited enough that most real deployments quickly need a paid tier, so it functions more as a trial than a genuinely usable free offering
  • Custom sensor scripting and advanced configuration still require real monitoring expertise; the polished UI does not remove the underlying complexity of correctly instrumenting a large network

Ubiquiti UniFi

  • Product page states no licensing fees but publishes no hardware price; buyers must go to the Ubiquiti Store or an authorized distributor for a figure
  • Newest WiFi 7 access points such as the U7 Pro require compatible UniFi controller hardware or cloud console to manage centrally

Pricing, plan by plan

PRTG Network Monitor

On request
  • PRTG 500$200/month
    • Up to 500 sensors
  • PRTG 1000$358/month
    • Up to 1,000 sensors
  • PRTG 2500$742/month
    • Up to 2,500 sensors
  • PRTG 5000$1300/month
    • Up to 5,000 sensors

Ubiquiti UniFi

On request

No published plan breakdown. See the Ubiquiti UniFi review.

Which should you pick?

Choose PRTG Network Monitor if

  • You need sensor-based monitoring.
  • You work on Windows, Web, iOS, Android.
  • You also want auto-discovery.
PRTG Network Monitor review

Choose Ubiquiti UniFi if

Nothing in the data separates Ubiquiti UniFi from PRTG Network Monitor on the points above - pick on price and on how each one feels to use.

Ubiquiti UniFi review

Questions people ask

Is PRTG Network Monitor or Ubiquiti UniFi better?
Neither clearly leads. PRTG Network Monitor starts at On request and Ubiquiti UniFi at On request, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, PRTG Network Monitor or Ubiquiti UniFi?
PRTG Network Monitor starts at On request and Ubiquiti UniFi at On request.
Does PRTG Network Monitor or Ubiquiti UniFi run on more platforms?
PRTG Network Monitor runs on Windows, Web, iOS, Android. Ubiquiti UniFi runs on Web.
What is PRTG Network Monitor best used for?
PRTG Network Monitor is most often used for an it team wanting network, server and application monitoring in one product rather than assembling separate open source tools, an organisation that wants a windows-installable on-premises monitoring server with a polished ui out of the box, a team sizing a monitoring purchase that needs to calculate sensor density per device carefully before committing to a tier, a company wanting hybrid on-premises and cloud monitoring from the same licence and dashboard. Of those, an it team wanting network, server and application monitoring in one product rather than assembling separate open source tools and an organisation that wants a windows-installable on-premises monitoring server with a polished ui out of the box are not what Ubiquiti UniFi is typically brought in for.
What can PRTG Network Monitor do that Ubiquiti UniFi cannot?
PRTG Network Monitor covers Sensor-based monitoring, Auto-discovery, Multiple monitoring technologies, Maps and dashboards.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

PRTG Network Monitor: Is PRTG licensed per device or per sensor?

Per sensor. Each individually monitored metric counts as one sensor, so a single device is typically several sensors.

PRTG Network Monitor: Can I combine two PRTG licence tiers on one server?

No, Paessler states different license sizes cannot be combined on one PRTG installation.

PRTG Network Monitor: Is there a free tier?

Yes, PRTG offers a free tier limited to 100 sensors, which most production networks will exceed quickly.

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