Meraki Dashboard vs PRTG Network Monitor comparison

Cancel
You must select at least 2 products to compare!
Comparison Buyer's Guide
Executive Summary
Updated on Jul 29, 2023

We compared Meraki Dashboard and PRTG Network Monitor across several parameters based on our users' reviews. After reading the collected data, you can find our conclusion below:

  • Features: Meraki Dashboard users like its centralized console, cable testing, firmware updates, and group policy features. The solution is also praised as user-friendly, stable, and scalable. PRTG Network Monitor customers like its user-centric approach, straightforward reporting, and customizability.

  • Room for Improvement: Users say Meraki Dashboard could improve its client VPN, hardware discovery, and integration with external solutions, Some users mentioned a need for more comprehensive documentation and granular control. PRTG Network Monitor could improve its performance and resource efficiency. Other pain points include usability and cross-platform compatibility.

  • Service and Support: Meraki Dashboard's customer service receives mixed feedback. Some users spoke fondly of the technical support they received, while others expressed frustration over long wait times and had a hard time finding the right person to help them. PRTG Network Monitor received mixed reviews for its customer service. Some users commended the support team’s prompt service, while others reported slow response times and noted the lack of remote session support.

  • Ease of Deployment: Users said Meraki Dashboard was effortless and intuitive to set up, noting that features like templates and configuration cloning saved time during deployment. PRTG Network Monitor’s setup isn’t considered to be overly complex. Deployment times may vary depending on the environment's complexity and device count.

  • Pricing: Opinions on Meraki Dashboard's pricing varied, with some users finding it pricey and others deeming it fair. PRTG Network Monitor is deemed reasonably priced and cheaper than its competitors.

  • ROI: Meraki Dashboard simplifies IT operations, and some users expect returns within a few years. Users said that PRTG Network Monitor has proven to save time and money through automation and proactive support.

Comparison Results: Meraki Dashboard is a scalable, user-friendly solution with a smooth, painless setup made easy by built-in templates and features like configuration cloning. However, some users complained that the solution is too expensive and needs better integration with non-Cisco platforms. PRTG Network Monitor is regarded as a simple, user-friendly, and cost-effective solution, but users would like to see improvements in performance, documentation, integration, and technical support.

To learn more, read our detailed Meraki Dashboard vs. PRTG Network Monitor Report (Updated: March 2024).
763,955 professionals have used our research since 2012.
Featured Review
Quotes From Members
We asked business professionals to review the solutions they use.
Here are some excerpts of what they said:
Pros
"We can manage the entire system across the network and troubleshoot the pain points."

More Juniper Mist Premium Analytics Pros →

"The most valuable feature is the single pane of glass that gives you multisite visibility.""The most valuable feature of Meraki Dashboard is we can manage our switches and access point in one place.""Some of the features I have found valuable are the ease of access, simple configuration, and monitoring.""It has improved my organization in the way that we've got a much better wireless coverage than we had before, and secondly, we have the visibility of all the users.""Meraki Dashboard does not require a lot of maintenance. Cisco tells communicates through the Meraki Dashboard web client, it will automatically send updates to the equipment. They will send you an email on what day the updates will take place. If you want to proceed, you can click on accept, or you can decline them and schedule the updates at another time.""We greatly utilize the network because we can plug it into the DNS, VPN, or equipment. It's very good. Meraki Dashboard enhances wireless network management. We appreciate its flexibility, as it allows for easy suite configuration. We can handle everything on there when there's a policy or any other requirement.""The ability of the product to perform with simplicity of deployment make it a valuable solution.""Great visibility on the dashboard."

More Meraki Dashboard Pros →

"It's very easy to manage when you've got time to do some work on it: things like adding devices, adding groups, adding sensor clusters, and being able to clone and move stuff around.""Technical support has been very helpful so far.""Network Discovery is a feature that our customers like a lot.""The alerting is the most valuable feature. I also like the iPhone app. I get alerts in an email on the iPhone app.""The most valuable feature of PRTG Network Monitor is the different monitoring probes available.""The sensors and probes are great, nice and lightweight, they don't take up too many resources on the system. We just deploy them out and they start reporting instantly.""The product is easy to use and the web interface is fantastic.""The most valuable feature of PRTG Network Monitor is the dashboards. We can check to see the resources and the uptime."

More PRTG Network Monitor Pros →

Cons
"The Wi-Fi side needs improvement."

More Juniper Mist Premium Analytics Cons →

"They can improve the landing page in Meraki Dashboard. When I go into an organization, they can include a lot more infographics. They can also simplify it a bit and consolidate it. For example, if I've got five branches and I go into customer A's profile or organization, I'd like to see an infographic on the landing page providing a snippet of the entire network layout, that is, all branches in one snapshot. From there, I would like to go into the network that I want to work on or view.""I would like to receive decent notification alerts regarding the license's expiry. Or any help on correcting or optimizing licenses, because in certain circumstances you can add a license but it's the wrong licensing. However, the Dashboard adds the license in some way, and you do not utilize it. You can simply extend the license's expiration date.""It is not appropriate for large, enterprise businesses.""What needs improvement in Meraki Dashboard is its configuration. It'll also be better if the tool has more functionality, and that is what I'd like to see in its next release.""It would be nicer if the dashboard was lighter.""Some features could be added.""The pricing for this solution needs to be improved.""I think this product could be improved with a CLI for more directives."

More Meraki Dashboard Cons →

"They just released a newer version of the desktop app, a beta version, that I have been trialing out. I prefer the older version, only because of how the layout is designed""Having a Unix implementation or Unix installation could be an improvement. Right now, it's based just on Windows, and that's a problem for some customers.""We need something that is more predictive. We would prefer if it wasn't a solution that was corrective and instead offered predictive insights so that we can handle problems before they even occur.""In terms of sensors and probes, it would be really cool if PRTG had a purely Azure-based solution. We had to install a probe on one of our cloud servers and then let that probe out from there. It would be really cool if it just monitored Azure without having to install something on the device.""I would like to see Office 365 monitoring. Essentially, it doesn't do it. I assumed not at all, but apparently it does it slightly. However, due to issues with APIs, they currently don't provide full monitoring for O365.""It probably has this already, but if it had a mobile app that would be helpful. For example, on a day like today when I'm out, if I could just fire it up and see green, green, green, green, green or red, that would be good.""This solution is a good product so far, but I haven't been using it long enough to know how it could be improved.""It would be good if there were better graphical interfaces when you have it on multiple monitors... Because we have so many servers, things can get lost in the fog a little bit. Maybe having a better way of showing different geographies, Flash, etc., would help."

More PRTG Network Monitor Cons →

Pricing and Cost Advice
Information Not Available
  • "Licensing is around under 1000 pounds. The licensing is either one year, three years, five years or ten years and during the licensing, we can choose to renew it per year or per every three years. We've got a license for three years. It's about 160 or about 200 pounds each."
  • "From a pricing perspective, they are still expensive."
  • "The licensing fees are $180 USD, per AP, for three years."
  • "It is said to be expensive."
  • "The pricing for a small setup is only a few hundred dollars a year. The fee is subscription-based."
  • "Typically, the license model is for one, three, and five years. They can just be a bit more flexible around it and look into providing an option for 24 months."
  • "My view is that it's expensive, but it's the best."
  • "The price of Meraki Dashboard is not expensive because knowing that it is a cloud-based solution has its benefits."
  • More Meraki Dashboard Pricing and Cost Advice →

  • "Licenses are very expensive, so I would like to see cheaper licensing."
  • "If you're looking for a cost effective software I’d suggest this product."
  • "Sensors on free version can run out quick."
  • "The ability to use the base version with 100 free sensors is great. The cost on other packages can be very reasonable."
  • "When you buy PRTG, everything comes in one bundle. Licensing is very easy."
  • "The price was pretty good, very competitive."
  • "The pricing is not too bad. It's not massively expensive, and the ability to upscale or even downscale licenses every year is brilliant for us."
  • "On a yearly basis, I believe it's between £1,200 and £1,500."
  • More PRTG Network Monitor Pricing and Cost Advice →

    report
    Use our free recommendation engine to learn which Network Monitoring Software solutions are best for your needs.
    763,955 professionals have used our research since 2012.
    Questions from the Community
    Ask a question

    Earn 20 points

    Top Answer:It is a reliable product. It provides a lot of information that is easy to read.
    Top Answer:The product’s pricing is neither high nor low. I rate the product’s pricing a five out of ten, where one is cheap, and… more »
    Top Answer:There could be an on-premise server for the dashboard. Meraki can download the full server from the cloud to on-prem for… more »
    Top Answer:PRTG network monitor is one of the best tool i have ever used for the monitoring. It have auto discovery option. it… more »
    Top Answer:Stability-wise, I rate the solution a ten out of ten.
    Top Answer:I rate the price of PRTG Network Monitor an eight on a scale of one to ten, where one is a high price, and ten is a low… more »
    Comparisons
    Learn More
    Overview

    Juniper Mist Premium Analytics is a comprehensive network analytics solution that provides organizations with valuable insights into their network performance and user experience. The primary use case of this product is to enable IT teams to proactively monitor, troubleshoot, and optimize their network infrastructure.

    The most valuable functionality of Juniper Mist Premium Analytics is its AI-driven insights and recommendations. Leveraging machine learning algorithms, it analyzes vast amounts of network data to identify anomalies, predict potential issues, and suggest remediation actions. This proactive approach helps organizations minimize network downtime, improve user experience, and optimize network performance.

    By providing real-time visibility into network performance, Juniper Mist Premium Analytics helps organizations quickly identify and resolve network issues. It offers detailed analytics on network traffic, application performance, and user behavior, allowing IT teams to pinpoint the root cause of problems and take immediate action. This not only reduces troubleshooting time but also enhances overall network reliability.

    Furthermore, Juniper Mist Premium Analytics enables organizations to optimize their network infrastructure. It provides insights into network capacity utilization, application usage patterns, and user behavior, allowing IT teams to make informed decisions about network design, resource allocation, and capacity planning. This helps organizations to ensure that their network is efficiently utilized and can support the growing demands of their users.

    Meraki Dashboard is a comprehensive cloud-based platform that offers centralized management and control for all Meraki networking and security products. It provides a user-friendly interface, allowing administrators to easily monitor and configure their network infrastructure from anywhere. With real-time visibility, troubleshooting becomes effortless, ensuring optimal performance and minimizing downtime. 

    The intuitive dashboard offers a holistic view of the network, enabling quick identification of potential issues and proactive measures. It simplifies network deployment and scaling, with zero-touch provisioning and automatic firmware updates. The robust security features include advanced threat protection, content filtering, and VPN connectivity. 

    Meraki Dashboard also offers powerful analytics and reporting capabilities, providing valuable insights into network usage, application performance, and user behavior. With its seamless integration and scalability, 

    Meraki Dashboard is the ideal solution for organizations of all sizes, ensuring efficient network management and enhanced productivity.

    PRTG Network Monitor runs on a Windows machine within your network, collecting various statistics from the machines, software, and devices which you designate. PRTG comes with an easy-to-use web interface with point-and-click configuration. You can easily share data from it with non-technical colleagues and customers, including via live graphs and custom reports. This will let you plan for network expansion, see what applications are using most of your connection, and make sure that no one is hogging the entire network just to torrent videos.

    To monitor a large IT environment, it's important to be able to scale PRTG up. Paessler PRTG Enterprise Monitor includes all the proven capabilities of PRTG Network Monitor, which are enhanced by exclusive ITOps Board for a service-oriented, central overview of multiple PRTG servers.

    Offer
    Learn more about Juniper Mist Premium Analytics
    Learn more about Meraki Dashboard
    Get ahead of IT infrastructure issues

    With PRTG Network Monitor you can identify and solve potential issues before it affects anyone. Download a free 30-day trial today and experience the benefits of 24-hour IT Infrastructure Monitoring.

    Sample Customers
    Information Not Available
    Coop eG, Peet's Coffee & Tea, Priefert Manufacturing, Century Care Management, Clifton College, Zürs Ski Resort, Capital FM Arena, MAXI Autohöfe
    Jameson Bank, Sidnix, RungeICT, MedicalAnimal, Truck-lite, GamingGrids, The Covell Group, Forsythn County Schools, NetMass, Musgrove Park Hospital, Lanes Health, Columbia Southern University, Vodafone, Intrust Bank
    Top Industries
    VISITORS READING REVIEWS
    Computer Software Company18%
    Financial Services Firm12%
    Manufacturing Company9%
    Government8%
    REVIEWERS
    Retailer13%
    Comms Service Provider10%
    Financial Services Firm10%
    Security Firm7%
    VISITORS READING REVIEWS
    Computer Software Company24%
    Financial Services Firm7%
    Manufacturing Company7%
    Construction Company5%
    REVIEWERS
    Comms Service Provider14%
    Financial Services Firm11%
    Manufacturing Company9%
    Construction Company8%
    VISITORS READING REVIEWS
    Educational Organization45%
    Computer Software Company10%
    Government6%
    Financial Services Firm4%
    Company Size
    VISITORS READING REVIEWS
    Small Business22%
    Midsize Enterprise15%
    Large Enterprise63%
    REVIEWERS
    Small Business38%
    Midsize Enterprise23%
    Large Enterprise38%
    VISITORS READING REVIEWS
    Small Business26%
    Midsize Enterprise16%
    Large Enterprise58%
    REVIEWERS
    Small Business47%
    Midsize Enterprise17%
    Large Enterprise35%
    VISITORS READING REVIEWS
    Small Business17%
    Midsize Enterprise53%
    Large Enterprise29%
    Buyer's Guide
    Meraki Dashboard vs. PRTG Network Monitor
    March 2024
    Find out what your peers are saying about Meraki Dashboard vs. PRTG Network Monitor and other solutions. Updated: March 2024.
    763,955 professionals have used our research since 2012.

    Meraki Dashboard is ranked 9th in Network Monitoring Software with 30 reviews while PRTG Network Monitor is ranked 5th in Network Monitoring Software with 31 reviews. Meraki Dashboard is rated 8.6, while PRTG Network Monitor is rated 8.2. The top reviewer of Meraki Dashboard writes "Provides reports on hacking attempts, threats to devices, and how well access points are working". On the other hand, the top reviewer of PRTG Network Monitor writes "Easy to use, has a remote probe feature and a lower annual support cost; it doesn't require much manpower to deploy and manage". Meraki Dashboard is most compared with SolarWinds NPM, ThousandEyes, Mist AI and Cloud, Cisco DNA Center and Centreon, whereas PRTG Network Monitor is most compared with Zabbix, Nagios XI, Centreon, SolarWinds NPM and ManageEngine OpManager. See our Meraki Dashboard vs. PRTG Network Monitor report.

    See our list of best Network Monitoring Software vendors.

    We monitor all Network Monitoring Software reviews to prevent fraudulent reviews and keep review quality high. We do not post reviews by company employees or direct competitors. We validate each review for authenticity via cross-reference with LinkedIn, and personal follow-up with the reviewer when necessary.