PRTG Freeware: Keeping an Eye on the Network Without Breaking the Budget
Every network has blind spots — those moments when something slows down or breaks and nobody knows why… until it’s too late. PRTG Freeware steps in as a smart, approachable way to monitor devices, traffic, and uptime before things go sideways.
It’s the same core engine as the commercial version, but limited to 100 sensors — which is more than enough for small to mid-size networks that want real-time visibility without setting up a whole monitoring stack from scratch.
Install it once. Watch the graphs roll in. That’s the idea.
What It’s Good At
| Feature | How It Works in Real Life |
| Auto-Discovery | Scans your network and adds sensors for ping, ports, CPU, memory, etc. |
| SNMP, WMI, Flow Support | Monitors Windows, Linux, routers, switches, printers — anything SNMP-able |
| Web Interface | Clean dashboard, drag-and-drop views, historical data |
| Alerts & Notifications | Email, SMS, push — threshold-based or sensor failure triggers |
| Remote Probes | Monitor multiple sites from a single server |
| Built-In Maps | Visualize your infrastructure using real-time status objects |
| Mobile Apps | iOS and Android apps for alerting and quick checks on the go |
| 100 Sensors Free | No time limit — just a cap on sensor count |
Who Uses the Free Version?
– Small IT teams with under 100 monitored parameters
– Admins looking to monitor routers, Windows servers, UPS units, and bandwidth
– Home lab owners or MSPs testing PRTG before upgrading
– Anyone tired of checking logs manually to see if something crashed overnight
PRTG Freeware is often where teams start — and sometimes stay. If 100 sensors are enough, there’s no pressure to upgrade.
What It Needs to Run
– Windows Server or Desktop OS (2016/2019/2022 or Windows 10/11)
– .NET Framework (automatically installed if missing)
– SNMP/WMI/Flow credentials for target devices
– 2+ CPU cores, at least 2GB RAM (more is better)
– Browser access to the web UI (local or remote)
The installer includes both the core server and probe in one package — no extra downloads.
How to Set It Up
1. Download the Freeware edition
https://www.paessler.com/download/prtg-download
2. Run the installer
Accept the license, choose ports, and let it configure services.
3. Login to the web interface
Usually available at http://localhost or the IP of the host.
4. Run auto-discovery
Let PRTG scan your subnet and suggest sensors based on detected devices.
5. Tweak and name sensors
Rename, group, or remove — customize as needed.
6. Set thresholds and alerts
Configure notification templates for email, SMS, or push alerts.
7. Done
Monitoring begins immediately — graphs, uptime stats, and traffic data start populating.
What Admins Say
“PRTG was up and watching our switches in under 30 minutes — didn’t even need to read the manual.”
“The free version monitors our entire core — servers, UPS, internet line — without cost.”
“Once we hit 100 sensors, we just split it across two sites. Still free, still working.”
Before You Ask
No, 100 sensors isn’t 100 devices — it’s 100 parameters. One server might use 5–10 sensors (CPU, disk, ping, RAM, etc.). Still, for small setups or critical-path monitoring, it’s surprisingly capable.
PRTG Freeware is one of those rare tools that offers just enough — without being a teaser or a trap. It’s a solid option when what’s needed is visibility, not complexity.
