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Networking · head to head

PRTG Network Monitor vs Twingate

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
Twingate logo

Twingate

Networking

Zero trust remote access that publishes individual resources instead of a network

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Only Twingate has a free tier, so it costs nothing to try first.
  • 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; Twingate the control plane is proprietary and hosted, so it cannot be run inside your own boundary and a vendor outage prevents new connections from being established even though the connectors are yours.
  • They diverge on capability: PRTG Network Monitor covers Sensor-based monitoring, Twingate covers Outbound only connectors.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 1 September 2026.

Where they differ

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

Attributes where PRTG Network Monitor and Twingate differ
AttributePRTG Network MonitorTwingate
Starting priceOn requestFree
Pricing modelPer sensor tier, billed monthly on an annual contractPer user per month
Free tierNoYes
PlatformsWindows, Web, iOS, AndroidWindows, macOS, Linux, iOS, Android, Docker

Identical on both: 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 Twingate

  • Outbound only connectors
  • Per resource access
  • Identity provider integration
  • Device posture checks
  • Split routing
  • Access logging

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 Twingate
  • An organisation that wants a Windows-installable on-premises monitoring server with a polished UI out of the boxnot Twingate
  • A team sizing a monitoring purchase that needs to calculate sensor density per device carefully before committing to a tiernot Twingate
  • A company wanting hybrid on-premises and cloud monitoring from the same licence and dashboardnot Twingate

Twingate

  • Retiring a VPN concentrator that grants whole network access to anyone who authenticatesnot PRTG Network Monitor
  • Giving contractors access to two internal applications without putting them on the corporate networknot PRTG Network Monitor
  • Reaching private cloud resources across several accounts without building peering and bastion hostsnot PRTG Network Monitor
  • Producing per user access logs for an audit that a network level VPN cannot supplynot PRTG Network Monitor

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

Twingate

  • The control plane is proprietary and hosted, so it cannot be run inside your own boundary and a vendor outage prevents new connections from being established even though the connectors are yours.
  • Every device needs the client installed and running, so unmanaged machines, appliances and third parties who will not install software are awkward to accommodate.
  • Pricing is per user per month, so an organisation with many occasional contractors pays full seats for accounts that connect twice a month.
  • Connections are client initiated, so server initiated flows back to a user device, and protocols that need arbitrary inbound reachability, do not fit the model.
  • It replaces remote access but not site to site networking, so an organisation that also needs offices and datacentres meshed together still runs a second network product alongside it.

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

Twingate

Free
  • StarterFree
    • Small number of users
    • Limited remote networks
    • Community support
  • Business$undefined/month
    • Per user per month billing
    • Device posture checks
    • Identity provider group sync
  • Enterprise$undefined/year
    • Custom terms and volume pricing
    • Advanced controls and support commitments
    • Dedicated onboarding

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 Twingate if

  • You need outbound only connectors.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Windows, macOS, Linux, iOS, Android, Docker.
  • You also want per resource access.
Twingate review

Questions people ask

Is PRTG Network Monitor or Twingate better?
Neither clearly leads. PRTG Network Monitor starts at On request and Twingate at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, PRTG Network Monitor or Twingate?
Twingate has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at On request for PRTG Network Monitor and Free for Twingate.
Does PRTG Network Monitor or Twingate run on more platforms?
PRTG Network Monitor runs on Windows, Web, iOS, Android. Twingate runs on Windows, macOS, Linux, iOS, Android, Docker.
Can I use Twingate for free?
Yes. Twingate has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. PRTG Network Monitor starts at On request.
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 Twingate is typically brought in for.
What can PRTG Network Monitor do that Twingate cannot?
PRTG Network Monitor covers Sensor-based monitoring, Auto-discovery, Multiple monitoring technologies, Maps and dashboards. Twingate covers Outbound only connectors, Per resource access, Identity provider integration, Device posture checks.

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.

Twingate: Can I self host it?

No. Connectors run in your network but the control plane is a hosted service, which is the main structural difference from the open source mesh tools.

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.

Twingate: Does it replace a site to site VPN?

No. It is remote access from users to resources. Connecting networks to each other is a different product category.

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.

Twingate: What happens if Twingate is unavailable?

Established sessions may continue, but new connections depend on the hosted service to broker them, so plan a break glass path for administrators.

Twingate: Is the free tier usable for a small team?

For a handful of users and a small number of remote networks, yes. Group based policies and posture checks are the practical reason to move up.

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