Best PingPlotter Alternatives

PingPlotter takes information about your network performance and records it in a graphical format so you can analyze network performance.

Although a popular network monitoring tool that has helped countless organizations to troubleshoot their networks, it does have its limitations, like:

  • Limited features
  • Outdated graphics
  • Communication is limited to using TCP port 9636
  • No map interface

Here is our list of the best PingPlotter Alternatives:

  1. Paessler PRTG Network Monitor (FREE TRIAL) A software suite of network management tools that includes Traceroute and Ping monitors. Runs on Windows Server. You can use up to 100 sensors for free. Download a 30-day free trial.
  2. SolarWinds TraceRoute NG (FREE TOOL) Live network path analysis using TCP and ICMP that runs on Windows. Great for detecting path changes and continuous probing. 100% Free Download.
  3. WinMTR Free Ping and Traceroute tool for Windows.
  4. GPing This tool gives a graphical representation of Ping results and it is better than PingPlotter because it is free.
  5. Path Analyzer Pro A handy pack of traceroute, DNS resolutions, whois resolutions and ASN/ISP resolutions for Windows and Mac OS.
  6. Open Visual TraceRoute This free traceroute tool plots communication paths on a real-world map. Runs on Windows, Mac OS, and OpenSUSE Linux.
  7. CountryTraceRoute A free traceroute that shows paths live and runs on Windows.
  8. NetScanTools Basic Ping, Traceroute, Whois, and DNS tools in a simple interface. This tool runs on Windows and is free to use.
  9. SmokePing A free open source ping tool that runs on Linux and BSD Unix.
  10. Multiping A Ping-based network scanner and device discovery tool that runs on Windows.
  11. Bping A free command-line Ping variant that is available for Windows.

The best PingPlotter alternatives

Our methodology for selecting a PingPlotter alternative

We reviewed the market and analyzed PingPlotter alternatives based on the following criteria:

  • A system that matches the functions in PingPlotter or exceeds them
  • A better way to choose which ports to use than PingPlotter offers
  • A good interface with illustrative graphics that show live results
  • The integration of other tools, such as DNS tests and WHOIS reports
  • Options to test the availability of one destination or scan an entire network
  • A free tool or a free assessment period
  • A set of services that is worth installing and, if charged for, worth the price tag

1. Paessler PRTG Network Monitor (FREE TRIAL)

PRTG network monitor screenshot

First up on the list, we have PRTG Network Monitor. PRTG Network Monitor is a network monitoring tool that offers a diverse range of features beyond those provided by PingPlotter. With PRTG Network Monitor you can run ping scans and Traceroute with configurable sensors.

Key Features:

  • A comprehensive network monitor
  • Includes Ping and Traceroute
  • Constant device availability testing

Why do we recommend it?

PRTG Network Monitor is a package of network, server, and monitoring tools that you can customize. The heart of the tool provides a network discovery tool that is based on SNMP and Ping. However, the package also provides specific Ping and TraceRoute sensors. These show the performance of paths to specific destinations, which can be remote devices.

For Traceroute monitoring, there is a dedicated Traceroute Hop Count Sensor which is used to monitor the number of hops a probe sensor needs before reaching another device. With the Traceroute HopCount Sensor you can view the following metrics: Execution time and Number of Hops.

In addition, there is a Ping sensor dedicated to measuring the availability of connected devices. With PRTG Network Monitor’s Ping Sensor you can monitor the following metrics: Ping time, Minimum Ping time when using more than one Ping per interval, Maximum Ping time when using more than one Ping per interval and packet loss as a percentage.

Paessler PRTG Network Monitor Pingplotter

Who is it recommended for?

PRTG can be tailored because you receive a very large package of tools and you buy an allowance of sensors to turn on – you choose which to activate. The system is free to use for up to 100 sensors, which is appealing to small businesses. Larger businesses can use many more features alongside the Ping and TraceRoute utilities.

Pros:

  • Provides significantly more functionality than competing products
  • Detailed graphing and reporting provide enterprise-level reports for larger networks
  • Integrates well into the PRTG product ecosystem
  • All monitors are highly configurable and designed to scale
  • Great option for businesses of all sizes who are looking for more proactive monitoring

Cons:

  • Very feature-rich – requires time to truly master

PRTG Network Monitor is one of the best PingPlotter alternatives on account of its modern user interface. The monitoring experience stands out amongst other similar network management tools in this list. There is a free version of PRTG Network Monitor which allows the monitoring of up to 100 sensors free of charge. If you require more, the paid plans of PRTG start at $1,750 (£1,303) for 500 sensors. There is also a 30-day free trial you can download below.

Paessler PRTG Download 30-day FREE trial

2. SolarWinds TraceRoute NG (FREE TOOL)

Traceroute NG

TraceRoute NG from SolarWind, is a network path analysis solution and PingPlotter alternative for Windows. TraceRoute NG offers support for IPv4 and IPv6 and can detect path changes when they occur. Path changes are monitored on TCP and ICMP to ensure maximum visibility.

Key Features:

  • Free to use
  • Works with IPv4 and IPv6
  • Identifies path changes
  • ICMP and TCP
  • Writes to a log file

Why do we recommend it?

SolarWinds TraceRoute NG is a GUI version of the well-known command line TraceRoute tool. This utility shows the routers on a path to a given destination address. Each node on the route is given a sequence number and its henry in the list shows the time a test packet takes to get to it.

Once live, TraceRoute NG can be used to identify details like IP addresses and hostnames. In addition, you can also monitor for performance issues like packet loss and latency. All of this is monitored through the simple user interface which provides a graphical display of network usage.

Solarwinds Traceroute NG pingplotter

TraceRoute NG offers a well-laid out console that is easy to use and supplies all of the route information that you could need. A nice feature of this tool is that it can detect when a path has changed. It is also able to work with both IPv4 and IPv6 addresses. This tool will give you the IP addresses of all of the routers that manage the connection to a given destination.

Who is it recommended for?

The TraceRoute NG output shows packet loss and latency to each node on the path and also indicates whether a router or endpoint is unavailable. The tool is free to use and it runs on Windows. It is an interesting utility for any network manager to have available.

Pros:

  • Lightweight tool allows you to run it on virtually any network off of any machine
  • Supports both IPv4 and IPv6, making it flexible or larger networks utilizing more modern protocols
  • Acts as a troubleshooting tool to detect packet loss, jitter, and latency
  • Offers simple visual representations of network traffic
  • Is completely free

Cons:

  • Advanced features such as alerting and network monitoring are not supported but can be found in SolarWinds flagship tool – Network Performance Monitor

Overall TraceRoute NG is a free alternative to PingPlotter, that provides everything you need to monitor network performance and troubleshoot for key issues. Though it is not as sophisticated as a tool like SolarWinds Network Performance Monitor, it provides all the basics necessary to monitor a network. You can download TraceRoute NG for free.

TraceRoute NG Download 100% FREE Tool

3. WinMTR

WinMTR

WinMTR is a Windows-based ping and Traceroute tool. To use WinMTR all you need to do is enter the hostname or destination IP address of two points you wish to monitor. The tool will then monitor the connection quality between the two points and relay the results to you for analysis.

Key Features:

  • Ping and Traceroute
  • Ongoing availability tests
  • Reports in text or HTML format
  • Good for small networks

Why do we recommend it?

WinMTR is a useful free tool that is very similar to the SolarWinds TraceRoute NG system. The tool is a GUI window that tests each node on a link to a given destination. The service sends multiple packets to each node and reports on performance issues. This tool can store results to a file.

Once your ping scan is complete, you can view the results as an HTML or .txt file. You can then use this information to look for any issues that you might have missed. For instance, you can see how many hops there are between the two points to see if packet transfers are efficient or not.

Who is it recommended for?

The WinMTR system is a handy tool to have and it is difficult to choose between this utility and the SolarWinds TraceRoute NG, although the SolarWinds option has a more attractive interface. This software runs on Windows and requires a network connection in order to run as a local test.

Pros:

  • Lightweight tool, great to throw on a USB for onsite visits
  • Can count hops, network drops, and output network averages
  • Can identify both IP addresses and hostnames

Cons:

  • Interface is simple, but very limited and outdated looking
  • Lacks any form of network visualization
  • Only available for Windows

This tool is available in all 32- and 64-bit versions of Windows making it ideal for any network using that operating system. WinMTR is all-in-all a reliable alternative for those looking for network diagnostics monitoring within small networks. The main limitation is its lack of graphical features. WinMTR can be downloaded for free.

4. GPing

GPing

GPing is a free tool that runs on Windows and gives a live representation of a recursive Ping run. The tool has a no-fuss appearance, but it has some nice extras to help make the tracking of connection performance an easier task. It has an integrated DNS lookup so it can give hostnames for given IP addresses. It is possible to perform a ping sweep, looking at addresses in a range and it is also able to upload a list of IP addresses to use a multiple host tracking feature.

Key Features:

  • Repeated ping tests
  • Graph for results
  • DNS lookup

Why do we recommend it?

GPing is a free GUI interpretation of Ping for Windows. This tool provides a graphical representation of Ping results and it can be set to run continuously, showing results per hour. It can also Ping multiple destination addresses. Enter a hostname instead of an IP address to test DNS as well.

The display statistics can be altered by configuring the ICMP features that you want to deploy. For example, you can adjust the packet size of the request message, the polling interval, and the timeout period. It is also possible to adjust the display, capitalizing on stored historical data to get graphs showing hourly, daily, weekly, monthly, and yearly time horizons. You can also adjust the aesthetics of the graphs, choosing colors and font for the display.

Who is it recommended for?

GPing is effectively a rudimentary network performance monitor. If you have a small network, you can set up Pings to each node on your network and it will show the availability and response time to that point. If you don’t want to bother with a full network monitor, this could be useful.

Pros:

  • Provides simple but informative network performance graphing
  • Simple recursive ping checks with easy to read outputs
  • Can track and monitor multiple hosts
  • Allows you to adjust packet size during testing

Cons:

  • Could use better export options for reporting

GPing is a good substitute for PingPlotter.

5. Path Analyzer Pro

Path Analyzer Pro

Path Analyzer Pro is a network monitoring tool that can run traceroute, DNS resolutions, whois resolutions and ASN/ISP resolutions. In other words, you can use this tool to find IP addresses, email addresses, network paths and monitor network availability. All of this information can be viewed further by creating reports.

Key Features:

  • Ping and Traceroute
  • DNS and whois resolution
  • Measures latency and jitter

Why do we recommend it?

PathAnalyzer Pro is a TraceRoute implementation that shows a graphical representation of the path to a given destination as well as a table of Ping results to each node. It is also possible to get the route plotted on a world map when testing a connection to a remote site.

This tool is an ideal solution for users looking for a more visual experience, as you can create graphs that display problems like latency and jitter. Being able to use these graphs is extremely useful for keeping on top of events as they occur and making sure that you don’t miss anything important.

Pathanalyzer  Pro Pingplotter

Who is it recommended for?

PathAnalyzer Pro is a halfway tool between a traceroute and a network mapper. However, it only shows one path at a time so you can’t get a full live network topology map out of it. This software will run on Windows and macOS. This isn’t a free tool.

Pros:

  • Available for Mac and Windows
  • Can detect network drops, latency, and jitter, making it a solid option for troubleshooting VoIP networks
  • Features simple network graphing

Cons:

  • Interface can be clunky, especially around the protocol and tracing mode options
  • Reporting lacks customization options and isn’t as user-friendly as some of the leading tools

Path Analyzer Pro is available on Mac OS and Windows (although the Windows version is limited to Windows XP, Vista and Windows 2003 Server. The price of Path Analyzer Pro starts at $29.95 (£22.59) for an individual personal license and $89.95 (£67.84) for a business user. There is also a limited free version.

6. Open Visual Traceroute

Open Visual Traceroute

If you’re looking for an open-sourced Traceroute tool then you should look no further than Open Visual Traceroute. Open Visual Traceroute allows you to view a 3D map of the world to see how data is travelling from your computer to the server. You can also use 2D maps if your hardware can’t support the 3D map.

Key Features:

  • Free to use
  • Runs on Windows, macOS, and Linux
  • Whois lookup

Why do we recommend it?

OpenVisual Traceroute is an enthusiast-created tool that is free to use. This utility offers a world map on which the route to a remote destination is plotted. It also shows a table with the results of a ping to each node on the route. Traceroutes are also shown in a table and as a chart.

Open Visual Traceroute has a packet sniffer as well. With the packet sniffer you can see what data is being sent through your network. The packet sniffing function is useful because it can help you see if there are any services that are hogging bandwidth or if any attackers have breached the network. There is also a Whois lookup feature so that you can find more information about specific domains.

Who is it recommended for?

This is an impressive free tool and it is available for Windows, macOS, and Linux, which gives it a wider audience than most of the other tools on this list. The software isn’t maintained by a team and it isn’t updated very often. However, it works well.

Pros:

  • Offers more in-depth testing such as DNS resolutions, whois lookups, and geolocation for IP addresses
  • Offers a much more visual experience than competing tools
  • Available for both Windows and Mac
  • Includes a packet sniffer tool for live packet analysis

Cons:

  • Is an older tool, with a more limited interface
  • Better suited for smaller networks, lacks enterprise functionality

For smaller organizations that want a more visual Traceroute experience, Open Visual Traceroute is ideal. On Windows, Open Visual Traceroute is available for Windows XP, Vista, 7, 8 and 10. You can also use Open Visual Traceroute on OpenSUSE and Mac OS as well. You can download this tool for free.

7. CountryTraceRoute

CountryTraceroute

CountryTraceRoute is a fast-paced lightweight Traceroute application from Nirsoft. The GUI may not look as fancy as some other tools on this list but that doesn’t slow it down during live use. All you need to do is enter a URL into the search bar, press Go and you can view the number of hops, IP address, host name, country and average milliseconds of the connection length.

Key Features:

  • Free to use
  • Light on processor power
  • DNS resolution

Why do we recommend it?

CountryTraceRoute is a straightforward Windows-based TraceRoute implementation that is free to use. The utility shows a route to a given destination, which can be an IP address or a hostname. The IP address, hostname, and country of each node on the route are shown in the output.

Anyone looking for a basic Traceroute utility will be completely supported by CountryTraceRoute. However, if you want a more visual experience you should definitely choose an alternative tool.

Who is it recommended for?

This tool’s unique selling point is that it shows the country in which each node on a researched path is located. The tool Pings each location three times and shows the result of each test plus an average of the three. It is only available for Windows.

Pros:

  • Extremely lightweight scanning tool
  • Older interface, but it does the job
  • Provides a better verbose look into traceroute than the command-line interface

Cons:

  • Lacks reporting capabilities
  • Not good for long-term monitoring

CountryTraceRoute is available from every version of Windows 2000, up to Windows 10. You can download CountryTraceRoute for free.

8. NetScanTools Basic

NetScan tools basic

NetScanTools Basic is a barebones ping and Traceroute tool available for Windows. With NetScanTools Basic you can run ping scans, traceroute, whois lookups, and IP/hostname resolution. The user interface is incredibly simple to navigate with each tool listed on the left-hand side so that it can be accessed.

Key Features:

  • Free to use
  • Light on processor power
  • DNS and whois lookup

Why do we recommend it?

NetScanTools Basic Edition combines TraceRoutre and Ping. Get a traceroute path to a given hostname or IP address, flip to the Ping tool to see the performance of the route, use the Graphical Ping option to see a time series graph of results, and then check on DNS records and Whois information.

When you click on Ping and Traceroute tools you are asked to enter a Target Hostname or IPv4 Address before pressing Do Ping to run a ping scan. You are then shown a table of the results detailing Ping #, Responding IPv4, Time (ms), TTL and Status. You can then right-click on the results to print or save a copy.

Netscantools basic pingplotter

There is also a graphical ping tool included that displays a graph of ping scan results. You can configure what information will be shown by entering the Delay Between Pings, Response Timeout, and Max Hop Count. The graph then shows you Ping RTT and Missing Replies.

Who is it recommended for?

This tool is a free utility that runs on Windows. It provides separate TraceRoute and Ping implementations rather than a blend of the two, which some other tools implement. The graphical Ping can be set up to run continuously and therefore, becomes a small-scale network performance monitor.

Pros:

  • Can run whois, DNS lookups, and simple queries with a simple push of a button
  • User-friendly, even for non-technical users
  • Supports hostname resolution

Cons:

  • Interface feels unnecessarily crowded at times
  • Lacks visualization capabilities
  • Available only for Windows

Netscantools Basic is one of the most versatile alternatives to PingPlotter on this list. If you’d like to download NetScanTools Basic for Windows then you can do so for free.

9. SmokePing

SmokePing screenshot

SmokePing is an open-source ping and latency measurement tool that has proven popular amongst network administrators. SmokePing has live latency charts to tell you how the network is performing. Setting up this tool is incredibly easy and you can use it to schedule pings at certain time intervals so that your network is monitored when you want.

Key Features:

  • Free to use
  • Runs on Linux and Unix
  • Creates performance charts

Why do we recommend it?

SmokePing is a highly respected Ping tool because it was developed by Tobi Oetiker, who was behind many of the early network monitoring systems. For example, RPTG is one of the leading network monitoring systems and it was inspired by Oetiker’s MRTG. Smoke Poing provides graphs of recursive Ping results.

When the system detects unusually high latency you are sent an alert. Alerts are triggered with thresholds so that you only receive notifications when you need to take action. However, if you want to monitor performance more closely there are lots of visualization options to support you. For example, you can generate graphs to view ping scans and the effect of performance issues like packet loss.

Who is it recommended for?

SmokePing is a free tool that runs on Linux or Unix. It is a little dated now but it is a handy utility for consent network monitoring because it can run continuously. It can even provide alerts for performance problems, which is a central feature of all the major network monitoring systems.

Pros:

  • Open-source tool makes SmokePing highly customizable
  • Simple but impactful charting and visualizations
  • Supports threshold-based alerting

Cons:

  • Only available for Linux and BSD

SmokePing is an ideal choice for organizations looking for a free latency measurement tool on Linux and BSD. You can download SmokePing here.

10. MultiPing

MultiPing

MultiPing is a Windows-based ping monitor which offers a network discovery feature. You can scan a list of IPs and automatically add devices to your network monitoring environment. Metrics you can monitor with MultiPing include packet loss percentage and latency (minimum, maximum, and average). The platform also has support for IPv4 and IPv6 so that you have all the information you need to monitor network performance.

Key Features:

  • Network discovery 
  • Works with IPv4 and IPv6
  • Packet loss and latency

Why do we recommend it?

MultiPing runs on Windows and it provides a discovery utility that creates a rudimentary network inventory. The tool will provide a constant recursive Ping to each discovered device and includes an alerting system, which allows managers to pay attention to other tasks. The live performance graphs provide attractive features.

multiping pingplotter

Your monitoring efforts are supported via an alert system that sends a notification to your email if a problem is identified. With MultiPing you aren’t limited to monitoring real-time events. You can browse through the network’s performance history to see if there are any key trends that you might have missed.

Who is it recommended for?

This tool runs on Windows and it provides a network performance monitor, based on Ping. It also checks on DNS availability. The utility is not free to use. However, it is cheap and will appeal to small businesses – especially owner-managers who might feel overwhelmed by full network monitoring systems.

Pros:

  • Allows for network discovery and testing across multiple hosts
  • Can measure packet loss, jitter, and latency across IPv4 and IPv6
  • Good fit for smaller tech support teams or quick onsite scans

Cons:

  • Only for Windows operating systems
  • Paid tool, competing tools offer similar features for free

MultiPing is also a good choice if you’re still using PingPlotter because of its integration options. You can purchase MultiPing for a price of $39.99 (£30.16). This price purchases for you a year of free upgrades and the option to monitor unlimited targets. You can also download the MultiPing trial for free on Windows.

11. Bping

Bping screenshot

Finally we have Bping (beeping!) which is a Windows ping tool that lets out an auditory beep every time it gets a reply. You can also configure it to beep when it doesn’t receive a reply as well. You can choose custom wav files to play if you want to change the default sounds to something more familiar.

Key Features:

  • Command line utility 
  • Free to use
  • Makes a beep sound

Why do we recommend it?

Bping is a handy tool for busy techies but it will drive co-workers up the wall. The tool beeps constantly, which is an availability confirmation for people who are too busy with other things to look at the screen. You might return from lunch to find your computer smashed up.

Bping also checks your internet connection and highlights available IP addresses within a network. While the system is a little rudimentary the auditory beeps is excellent for keeping you in the loop over changes on your network.

Who is it recommended for?

This tool runs on Windows and it is recommended for use by people who don’t share an office. It is possible to set the tool to beep when the Ping fails rather than every time it gets a response. That mode is a life saver … literally.

Pros:

  • Extremely lightweight tool
  • Provides audible alerts when hosts lose connectivity
  • Good for small businesses and home networks
  • Option for custom .wav files to play when network connection is lost

Cons:

  • Lacks reporting capabilities
  • No visualization options
  • Not ideal for more in-depth troubleshooting scenarios

Bping can be downloaded for free on Windows.

Choosing a PingPlotter alternative: TraceRoute NG and WinMTR

No matter what Traceroute tool you use, there are plenty of alternatives to PingPlotter. Old school Traceroute tools like TraceRoute NG and WinMTR provide you with the essentials needed to monitor your network. If you need a tool that is more versatile and modern, then a tool like PRTG Network Monitor would be a better choice. Likewise, for enterprises that require more visualization, a tool like Open Visual Traceroute would be a good fit.

No two environments are the same, so if one tool doesn’t work for your environment, try another. The biggest consideration is whether you want a simple tool or one that incorporates visualization.

PingPlotter Alternatives FAQs

Which PingPlotter alternative can also do network mapping?

For a PingPlotter alternative that includes automatic network mapping, look at Paessler PRTG. Open Visual Traceroute shows site-to-site connection routes imposed on a real-world map.

Is there a PingPlotter alternative for Android?

StreamSoft has a network discovery, monitoring and port checker that is available in free and paid versions and runs on Android. The free version is called PingTools Network Utilities. It is ad-supported and has all of the network monitoring features that PingPlotter has. The paid version is called PingTools Pro. That has the same functionality as the free version but without any ads. You could also look at Network Analyzer by Jiri Techet, which is a free ping-based network monitoring utility that runs on Android.

What is the best free PingPlotter alternative?

The best free PingPlotter alternative is probably SolarWinds TraceRoute NG. This tool offers insights into network problems and calculates packet loss, jitter, and latency.