Nagios vs Dynatrace: Which Should You Choose in 2026?
Choosing between Nagios and Dynatrace comes down to understanding what each tool does best. This comparison breaks down the key differences so you can make an informed decision based on your specific needs, not marketing claims.
By Toolradar Team · Last updated February 28, 2026 · Methodology
Short on time? Here's the quick answer
We've tested both tools. Here's who should pick what:
Nagios
The industry standard in open-source IT monitoring tools for servers, networks, applications, and services.
Best for you if:
- • You want to try before committing
- • Open-source IT monitoring for servers, networks, applications, and services.
- • Offers both a free, community-supported core and an enterprise-grade paid version (Nagios XI).
Dynatrace
Full-stack observability and AIOps platform
Best for you if:
- • You want the higher-rated option (8.6/10 vs 8.5/10)
- • Dynatrace is an AI-powered observability platform for monitoring applications and infrastructure
- • It provides APM, infrastructure monitoring, and AIOps with automatic root cause analysis
| At a Glance |  Nagios |  Dynatrace |
|---|---|---|
Price | Free + Paid | Paid |
Best For | Monitoring | Monitoring |
Rating | 85/100 | 86/100 |
| Feature | Nagios | Dynatrace |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing Model | Freemium | Paid |
| Editorial Score | 85 | 86 |
| Community Rating | No ratings yet | No ratings yet |
| Total Reviews | 0 | 0 |
| Community Upvotes | 0 | 0 |
| Categories | MonitoringIncident Management | MonitoringLog Management |
How Nagios and Dynatrace Compare
Nagios
The industry standard in open-source IT monitoring tools for servers, networks, applications, and services.
Free tier available · 85/100 score
Dynatrace
Full-stack observability and AIOps platform
Paid · 86/100 score
Who Should Use What?
On a budget?
Nagios has a free tier. Dynatrace is paid only.
Go with: Nagios
Want the highest-rated option?
Nagios: 85/100. Dynatrace: 86/100.
Go with: Dynatrace
Value user reviews?
Neither has user reviews yet.
Go with: Dynatrace
3 Questions to Help You Decide
What's your budget?
Nagios is freemium. Dynatrace is paid. Nagios lets you start free.
What's your use case?
Both are monitoring tools. Compare their specific features to decide.
How important are ratings?
Dynatrace scores higher: 86/100 vs 85/100.
Key Takeaways
Dynatrace
- Higher score: 86/100 vs 85
- Our pick for this comparison
Nagios
- Has a free tier
The Bottom Line
Dynatrace (86/100) is our pick. Nagios has a free tier if you want to test without paying.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Nagios or Dynatrace better?
Dynatrace scores 86/100 in our evaluation. Nagios is freemium and Dynatrace is paid.
What are Nagios and Dynatrace used for?
Nagios: The industry standard in open-source IT monitoring tools for servers, networks, applications, and services.. Dynatrace: Full-stack observability and AIOps platform.
What does Nagios cost vs Dynatrace?
Nagios is freemium (free tier + paid plans). Dynatrace is a paid tool. Visit their websites for detailed pricing.