Checkmk vs PRTG: Pricing and Ratings Compared (2026)
Entry prices and free plans as read on each vendor's pricing page, and user ratings as published on review sites, for Checkmk and PRTG side by side. This page compares data; it is not a hands-on review.
On the data: On the data below the two are close or not directly comparable, so we do not name a winner for this pair.
Short on time? Here's the quick answer
Based on published vendor pricing and features and on public review data, here's who should pick what:
Checkmk
Comprehensive IT monitoring platform for cloud, hybrid, and data center infrastructures.
Best for you if:
- • You want comprehensive monitoring across diverse IT environments (cloud, hybrid, data center)
PRTG
All-in-One Network Monitoring Software to stay ahead of IT infrastructure issues.
Best for you if:
- • You want good network monitoring
| At a Glance | Checkmk | PRTG |
|---|---|---|
Starts at | Free plan, paid from $240/mo, billed monthly Cloud SaaS plan | Free plan, paid from $200/mo flat, billed monthly PRTG 500 plan |
Category | Monitoring DevOps | Monitoring Cloud & Infrastructure |
Rating | 4.7/5 G2 4.7 · Capterra 4.7 · TrustRadius 4.6 344 reviews | 4.7/5 G2 4.7 · Capterra 4.6 372 reviews |
Free plan | Yes | Yes |
Watch out for | Potential for increased costs with more monitored hosts/services. | Sensor count can balloon quickly, each device typically needs 5-10 sensors for meaningful monitoring. |
Choose Checkmk or PRTG?
Choose Checkmk if
- You want comprehensive monitoring across diverse IT environments (cloud, hybrid, data center)
- You want high degree of automation reduces manual work (auto-discovery, auto-configuration)
Choose PRTG if
- You want good network monitoring
- You want comprehensive
In-Depth Analysis
Checkmk
Comprehensive IT monitoring platform for cloud, hybrid, and data center infrastructures.
Checkmk offers a generous free 'Raw' tier, making it accessible for small teams or individuals.
Watch out
Potential for increased costs with more monitored hosts/services.
Strengths
- Pro: Comprehensive monitoring across diverse IT environments (cloud, hybrid, data center)
- Pro: High degree of automation reduces manual work (auto-discovery, auto-configuration)
- Pro: Massively scalable architecture supports millions of services
- Pro: Extensible with open source code and custom plug-ins
- Pro: Rich feature set including advanced alerting, dashboards, and business intelligence
Weaknesses
- Con: The free 'Raw' edition is for mid-sized infrastructures, implying limitations for very small setups or advanced features.
Key features
PRTG
All-in-One Network Monitoring Software to stay ahead of IT infrastructure issues.
PRTG offers a genuinely useful free tier, 100 sensors covering roughly 10 devices is enough for a small office or homelab.
Watch out
Sensor count can balloon quickly, each device typically needs 5-10 sensors for meaningful monitoring.
Strengths
- Pro: Good network monitoring
- Pro: Comprehensive
- Pro: Good for enterprise
- Pro: Active development
- Pro: Free tier available
Weaknesses
- Con: Windows only
- Con: Per-sensor pricing
- Con: Complex configuration
- Con: UI dated
- Con: Better alternatives exist
Key features
Plans and prices: Checkmk vs PRTG
| Tool | Plans and prices | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Checkmk |
| checkmk.com/pricing read Oct 27, 2026 |
| PRTG |
| paessler.com/prtg/pricing read Nov 1, 2026 |
Prices as read on each vendor's own pricing page on the date shown. Plans are listed per tool and are not matched against the other tool's plans: a plan name or price in one column says nothing about the same row in the other. Details on Checkmk pricing and PRTG pricing.
Key Takeaways
Checkmk
- Choose if you want comprehensive IT monitoring platform for cloud, hybrid, and data center infrastructures
PRTG
- Choose if you want all-in-One Network Monitoring Software to stay ahead of IT infrastructure issues
What the data shows
On the data below the two are close or not directly comparable, so we do not name a winner for this pair.
- User ratings are within 0.2 points (4.7/5 from 344 reviews for Checkmk, 4.7/5 from 372 reviews for PRTG).
- Entry prices are not ranked, they are charged on different bases: Checkmk $240/mo, billed monthly; PRTG $200/mo flat, billed monthly.
- Both have a free plan.
Criteria: user rating (only above 20 reviews on both sides, gap of 0.2 or more), entry price (only on the same billing basis), free plan. How we rate
Frequently Asked Questions
How do Checkmk and PRTG compare in 2026?
On the data below the two are close or not directly comparable, so we do not name a winner for this pair. User ratings are within 0.2 points (4.7/5 from 344 reviews for Checkmk, 4.7/5 from 372 reviews for PRTG). Entry prices are not ranked, they are charged on different bases: Checkmk $240/mo, billed monthly; PRTG $200/mo flat, billed monthly. Both have a free plan.
What are Checkmk and PRTG used for?
Checkmk: Comprehensive IT monitoring platform for cloud, hybrid, and data center infrastructures. PRTG: All-in-One Network Monitoring Software to stay ahead of IT infrastructure issues.
What does Checkmk cost vs PRTG?
Checkmk's cheapest paid plan is Cloud SaaS at $240/mo, billed monthly; it also has a free plan. PRTG's cheapest paid plan is PRTG 500 at $200/mo flat, billed monthly; it also has a free plan. Prices read on the vendors' pricing pages, latest check Nov 1, 2026.
What's the main difference between Checkmk and PRTG?
Checkmk's main strength: comprehensive monitoring across diverse IT environments (cloud, hybrid, data center). PRTG's main strength: good network monitoring.