Top programs for system administrators
Scanners, monitoring and endpoint management. Read what each program does and where it falls short, then get it from the developer's own site.
Where to start
Our editorial shortlist of the programs most worth trying first. It's a recommendation, not a popularity chart.
- 1
WiresharkPacket analyzer for network troubleshooting and protocol inspection. - 2
NmapNetwork discovery and security auditing tool with a powerful scripting engine. - 3
ZabbixEnterprise monitoring for networks, servers, cloud and applications. - 4
Angry IP ScannerLightweight, cross-platform IP address and port scanner. - 5
Advanced IP ScannerWindows LAN scanner for device discovery, shared folders and remote access. - 6
PRTG Network MonitorAll-in-one infrastructure monitoring with sensor-based licensing. - 7
CheckmkInfrastructure and network monitoring with open-source and commercial editions. - 8
LibreNMSAuto-discovering network monitoring with SNMP support and alerting. - 9
LansweeperIT asset discovery and inventory across networks, devices and software. - 10
NinjaOneUnified RMM and endpoint management for IT teams and MSPs. - 11
AteraAll-in-one RMM and PSA platform with per-technician pricing. - 12
FingDevice discovery and network monitoring app for mobile and desktop.
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Monitoring
Watch networks and servers over time and get alerted when something breaks.
View 9 programsRecent articles
See all articles- How to verify a download before you run it
Four quick checks that show whether an installer really came from the developer, and why antivirus sometimes flags network scanners.
- How to Choose Network Monitoring Software (2026)
A vendor-neutral guide to choosing network monitoring software: coverage, protocols, scale, deployment, alerting and licensing — with a recommended all-in-one option.
- How to inventory a small office network (2026)
A practical, tool-agnostic walkthrough for building an accurate picture of every device on a small office network — plan the range, scan it, read the results, and turn a one-off scan into a living inventory.
- How to read a network scan: what the results actually mean
A plain-English guide to reading a network scan — status, IP, hostname, MAC and manufacturer — and to the traps that make results lie: phantom hosts, sleeping devices, randomised MACs and filtered pings.