Your computer is equipped with a lot of sensors so that the system can keep an eye on the health of the hardware. macOS has a built-in system monitoring utility called Activity Monitor, which may be unfamiliar to most casual Mac users. And even fewer understand how to properly use Activity Monitor to manage memory usage, fix slow apps, and troubleshoot various many other issues.
WebWatcher is a much more expensive monitoring software product but they support the most operating systems and platforms out of all the other products we list on this best monitoring software page. If you need to monitor activities on Windows PCs, Mac, Android, iPhone/iPad or on a BlackBerry, WebWatcher has you covered. FlexiSPY computer monitoring software is an application that you install on to a PC or Mac to supervise the processes and activities that take place on a particular machine or computer network. Our software provides the best monitoring solution for employers, parents and even personal users who understand the importance of protecting their.
Activity Monitor's advantage over all third party Mac monitoring apps is its ability to inspect and even kill a process that requires too many hardware resources. This is something no third party app has the permission to do, despite having access to all the sensor information data and displaying it in an easy-to-read design.
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iStat Menus
Available as a separate purchase or via Setapp, Bjango's iStat Menus is one of the best Mac monitoring apps available. You may already be familiar with the iStat Pro widget from the same developer, which displays the same data in the dashboard. One of the best things about iStat Menus is that there is a quick view for the essential data right in the menu bar. If you want more data and visuals, just click on the desired item. Customize the data by turning on the monitoring only for what you want it to keep an eye on. That's a nice advantage over the competing apps, even Bjango's own iStat widget which only displays all the information in one window.
iStat Menus, however, lets you monitor only the CPU, GPU, memory, disks, network, sensors, battery, power, time, or any combinations of these. Bjango's iStat Menus can be trialed for 14 days for free, but after that you'll need to purchase a license for $18 or upgrade for $9.99 if you already happen to own version 3 or 4. The Family Pack allows iStat Menus to be used on up to five Macs within the same household.
TG Pro
Short for Temperature Gauge Pro, this tool could become a Mac monitoring utility that you become attached to. While iStat Menus only displays information, TG Pro goes one step further and offers an option to control your Mac's fans, along with offering an overview of the sensor data that macOS gives access to. That's a very important feature if you want the computer to deliver optimal performance. In addition, TG Pro offers a color-coded visual explanation of what is happening with the computer's internals: green means that you can relax, orange that the hardware is approaching its limits, and red represents that it is very close to the thermal limit.
What TG Pro does is provide control over the fan speed to cool down your Mac's hardware, which is especially useful on hot summer days when Macs tend to overheat. This Mac monitoring app will display quick temperature info in the menu bar, but to gain access to all the information available you’ll need to either click on the TG Pro item to see a quick overview of the data or launch the app and get visual information for the targeted segment. While the TG Pro trial gives 10 days of free testing, it unfortunately limits the data it displays and therefore pushes users to purchase a license for $18.
XRG
Available as an open-source system monitor for Macs, XRG allows you to monitor CPU and GPU activity, memory usage, battery status, machine temperature, network activity, disk I/O, current weather, and stock market data. Just like the iStat Pro widget, it gives users a helpful overview of what is happening on your Mac, peppered with some handy visuals. In terms of the graphical user interface, XRG’s cannot be compared to that of iStat Menus or TG Pro but if you want a free app to have access to such data then XRG is a good option to choose.
Any one of these above apps will be useful to you if you are looking to optimize your Mac's performance. They each allow you to see – at a glance – the resource hogs that can be eliminated as well as all the data that your Mac’s sensors are collecting. That, combined with the use of Mac optimization apps such as CleanMyMac, CCleaner or MacKeeper, will create a computer that works optimally to perform all the tasks it is given.
Best Mac Optimization Software of 2020
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Have you put off investing in a network monitoring solution because it’s too expensive? Our list of free and open source network monitoring tools can help.
Network monitoring is key to any business’s IT management and security strategy. Yet, according to a 2019 Capterra survey, 42% of businesses don’t use network monitoring software at all.
The costs associated with network monitoring tools could be a deterrent for many businesses. On the higher end, these systems can cost up to $10,000 in the first year of use, and small businesses may pay, on average, $1,400 annually for network monitoring software.
Freemium versions of network monitoring software can serve as a stepping stone until you gain confidence in the value of these tools and are able to exploit them for maximum return on investment (ROI).
We analyzed about 80 free network monitoring tools from Capterra’s software directory and identified the best five choices to help you make a buying decision.
Each of the five tools mentioned in this article has a minimum user rating of 4.0 and at least 10 user reviews on Capterra in the past year. You can find our full methodology for product selection here. Products are listed in alphabetical order.
5 Best free and open source network monitoring software
1. Checkmk
Checkmk is a free and open source network, server, and application monitoring tool. It uses smart plug-ins to collect data from different types of hardware and software and supports agent-based as well as agentless monitoring via SNMP, HTTP, or through APIs.
Checkmk supports log- and event-based monitoring, creation of time-series graphs and reports, and log data analysis. Other features include alerts/notifications, auto discovery, rule-based configuration, and inventory tracking.
This software is suited for businesses of all sizes and is available in both hosted and on-premise versions.
Pros | Cons |
---|---|
Capterra reviewers say the software is simple and easy to use. Users especially like the software’s auto-discovery and monitoring features and customization capabilities. | Some users feel that documentation should be updated and more detailed. Some users also say that the user interface could be modernized. |
Cost to upgrade: Checkmk Raw Edition is completely free and open source; the Enterprise Edition costs $660 per year for monitoring up to three devices.
Most often reviewed by: In 2018 to 2019, 35% of user reviews for Checkmk on Capterra came from small businesses (fewer than 100 employees), 18% from midsize businesses (101 to 1,000 employees), and 47% from large businesses (more than 1,000 employees).
The majority of reviewers are from the IT services and automotive industries.
Mobile app: Not available
Service graphs in Checkmk (Source)
2. CloudStats
CloudStats is a website and server monitoring tool for Linux and Windows operating systems. It helps identify processes that consume large volumes of network bandwidth.
CloudStats is set up to monitor resources on the cloud as well as on-premise servers; it also supports data backup on Amazon S3 or local storage. This software is an agent-based monitoring system and it uses its proprietary CloudStats Agent to collect and send network data to user accounts.
The software is suited for businesses of all sizes and is available as a cloud-based solution.
Pros | Cons |
---|---|
Capterra reviewers mention that the software is easy to use and has a simple and clutter-free user interface. Users also say that configuring the software is easy and that it offers all the necessary features for tracking IT resources. | Some users feel that the accompanying documentation could be improved. Some users mention that the software is not as customizable as they’d like to see. |
Cost to upgrade: The free version supports only one user, basic alerts, and 24-hour data retention. The paid version costs $5 per server, per month and offers 30-day data retention, advanced alerts, and role-based permissions for multiple users.
Most often reviewed by: Between 2018 to 2019, 90% of user reviews for CloudStats on Capterra came from small businesses (fewer than 100 employees), 5% from midsize businesses (101 to 1,000 employees), and 5% from large businesses (more than 1,000 employees).
Most reviewers are from IT services, software, and internet businesses.
Mobile app: Not available
Server monitoring in CloudStats
3. Spiceworks
Spiceworks is a free IT asset management solution that offers network monitoring and help desk tools. The network monitoring tool allows for tracking critical IT infrastructure such as servers, IP devices, and switches; the help desk tool supports ticket management, reporting, ticket rule automation, and integration with active directory.
Spiceworks is primarily suited to small and midsize businesses and is available in both cloud-based and on-premise versions.
![Best free computer monitoring software for mac pro Best free computer monitoring software for mac pro](https://venturebeat.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/09/office_365_2.png?w=705)
Pros | Cons |
---|---|
Capterra reviewers say that Spiceworks is simple and easy to use. Users say the Spiceworks community promptly responds to queries. Many users mention that the large volume of functionalities offered by Spiceworks sets it apart from other free tools. | Users say that the application slows down occasionally. Some users also mention that the software setup is slightly complicated. Many users say that too many ads in the software are distracting. |
Cost to upgrade: All plans offered by Spiceworks are free.
Most often reviewed by: In 2018 and 2019, 67% of user reviews for Spiceworks on Capterra came from small businesses (fewer than 100 employees), 20% from midsize businesses (101 to 1,000 employees), and 13% from large businesses (more than 1,000 employees).
Most reviewers were from the IT services, education management, financial services, and nonprofit sectors.
Mobile app: iOS, Android
Overview of all devices connected to a network in Spiceworks
4. Splunk Enterprise
Splunk Enterprise is an IT infrastructure monitoring tool that helps collect and analyze data from different IT devices. It supports application monitoring, server monitoring, network monitoring, event analytics, container monitoring, virtualization monitoring, and more.
Splunk Enterprise measures the latency, volume, and status of all HTTP connections, helping track response and query time from web servers. The software also helps with cloud infrastructure monitoring and managing security compliance.
This tool is primarily suited for midsize and large businesses. Splunk Enterprise is the on-premise version while Splunk Cloud is the hosted version of the software.
Pros | Cons |
---|---|
Capterra reviewers appreciate the software’s capability to handle large datasets and analyze log data. Many users also praise the dashboard and reporting capabilities of Splunk that allow users to combine data from multiple sources. | Some users feel that the software’s learning curve is steep. Users mention that the software becomes slow when saving large queries. |
Cost to upgrade: Splunk Enterprise’s free version supports only one user and 500 MB data per day. Paid plans start at $225 per month (billed annually) and support unlimited users.
Most often reviewed by: In 2018 to 2019, 15% of user reviews for Splunk on Capterra came from small businesses (fewer than 100 employees), 30% from midsize businesses (101 to 1,000 employees), and 55% from large businesses (more than 1,000 employees).
Top antivirus apps for mac. The cons are the missing of browser protection.6. In the basic software, the users get antivirus protection and firewall protection. Intego included two of their Mac tools VirusBarrier X9 and NetBarrier X9 as a bundle to make Intego Mac Internet Security X9.The premium version includes three more tools – ContentBarrier X9, Mac Washing Machine X9 and Personal backup 10.9.
Most reviewers were from the software, IT services, and banking industries.
Mobile app: Android, iOS
Network monitoring dashboard in Splunk Enterprise
5. Zabbix
Zabbix is a free and open source network monitoring software. The software supports server monitoring, application monitoring, and cloud infrastructure monitoring; it uses advanced problem detection techniques to predict trends and detect anomalies.
Other features offered by Zabbix include auto discovery of devices on a network, alerts, event correlation, and remote command execution. The software has an active community that regularly updates the software and adds features. Mac os software on windows.
Zabbix is used by businesses of all sizes in a variety of industries including financial services, retail, IT, and telecommunications. Zabbix is available as a hosted solution (Zabbix Cloud) as well as on-premise software.
Pros | Cons |
---|---|
Capterra reviewers appreciate the available integration options as well as the tool’s alerts/notification and dashboard features. Users liked the software’s ability to generate graphs from network data. | Some users feel that the tool is hard to set up and its documentation and training options are limited. Some users also mentioned that the learning curve is steep. Jan 18, 2018 The above mentioned parental control Mac software apps are excellent in content filtering or app managing or both. Cisdem AppCrypt is a great choice for website filtering and app locking on Mac. It’s easy to use and customize with great flexibility. Webwatcher 2015 Parental Controls Protect your child and monitor Internet usage from anywhere. With WebWatcher's parental control software you will easily begin monitoring ALL Internet & PC usage for your child from any computer in the world. Best parental control software for mac 2015. Jun 18, 2020 Best Mac Monitoring Software of 2020. Qustodio is honestly the best and highly recommended software. With an increase in devices used by kids, parents cannot supervise. Kaspersky Safe Kids. Norton Family Premier. Net Nanny Monitoring Software for Mac. Mobicip's most popular parental controls for Mac OS lets you block inappropriate web content before it can be viewed. You can also schedule allowed screen time. Apr 14, 2020 The best free parental control software for PC, Mac, iOS, and Android By Jon Martindale April 14, 2020 Everything in this world has gone digital, and that includes homework if you have kids. |
Cost to upgrade: Zabbix is a free tool with no paid plans.
Most often reviewed by: During 2018 and 2019, 43% of user reviews for Zabbix on Capterra came from small businesses (fewer than 100 employees), 38% from midsize businesses (101 to 1,000 employees), and 19% from large businesses (more than 1,000 employees). Most reviewers were from the software, IT, and computer services industry.
Mobile app: Third-party Android and iOS applications
Dashboard in Zabbix
Next steps to choose the right tool for your business
Best Free Computer Monitoring Software
Selecting the tool that works best for your organization is always a challenging task.
Here are some tips to help you choose the right network monitoring software for your business.
If you’re currently using a free or open source network monitoring solution or have used one in the past, tell us about your experience in the comments section below. Check out Capterra’s network monitoring software directory for a complete list of vendors. |
METHODOLOGY
Survey methodology: Capterra conducted this survey in June, 2019, among 714 respondents who reported full-time employment in the United States. Of the 714 respondents, 207 identified as IT professionals.
Product Selection Methodology:
Products considered for this article fulfill the following criteria:
Free Software For Mac
Free products:
For this article, we classified a product as free if:
- It offers a free, stand-alone version of the software.
- It’s not a trial version of the software where you must purchase a paid version after a limited amount of time.
Open source products
For open source software to be considered for this article, the tool has to make its source code open to everyone to inspect, modify, and enhance. The source code must also have been updated (full version or small fix) within the past 12 months and must support one of the following operating systems: Windows, Mac, or Linux.
Selection criteria
![Best free computer monitoring software for mac software Best free computer monitoring software for mac software](https://www.networkmanagementsoftware.com/wp-content/uploads/best-free-network-admin-tools.jpg)
The products that met the above criteria were then evaluated against our network monitoring software definition— network monitoring software tracks and monitors computer network systems for failed or delayed components and notifies network administrators of any network issues.
This check verified the basic network monitoring capabilities and appropriateness for the category. A product was classified as network monitoring software if it contained all the core features—bandwidth monitoring, server monitoring, and dashboards.
Software that met the market definition also needed a minimum of 10 reviews published on the network monitoring software category page between September 5, 2018, and September 5, 2019.
Best Monitoring Software For Mac
Note: Listed pros and cons are derived from features listed on the product website and product user reviews on Gartner Digital Markets domains (Capterra, GetApp, and Software Advice). They do not represent the views of, nor constitute an endorsement by, Capterra or its affiliates.
Free Mac Os Software
Looking for Network Monitoring software? Check out Capterra's list of the best Network Monitoring software solutions.