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Auvik is a cloud-based network management software designed to provide comprehensive visibility and control over IT infrastructure. It offers features such as automated network discovery, real-time mapping, performance monitoring, and traffic analysis.
Auvik simplifies network management by providing automated configuration backups, syslog analysis, and integration with various IT platforms.
This software is beneficial for IT departments and managed service providers (MSPs) looking to enhance network oversight and efficiency. It helps in quickly identifying and resolving network issues, optimizing operational workflows, and maintaining network security and compliance.
Auvik’s intuitive interface and powerful APIs enable seamless integration with existing IT systems, making it a robust solution for managing complex network environments.
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Users consistently praise Auvik for its straightforward setup and intuitive interface. It simplifies complex network monitoring tasks, making it accessible even for those with limited technical knowledge. This ease of use is particularly highlighted when compared to competing solutions, which often require more extensive setup times.
Auvik integrates well with other tools commonly used by Managed Service Providers (MSPs), such as ConnectWise Manage and Automate. This seamless integration allows for efficient workflow management and enhanced productivity.
The software provides comprehensive network mapping, which helps users visualize their entire network infrastructure. This feature is especially useful for troubleshooting and managing complex networks, allowing for quick identification and resolution of issues.
Auvik offers robust monitoring and alerting features. These capabilities enable users to stay ahead of potential issues by receiving timely alerts on network performance and device status, thus reducing downtime and improving network reliability.
Auvik’s customer support is highly regarded for its responsiveness and effectiveness. Users appreciate the availability of support via live chat and the quality of assistance provided, which helps resolve issues swiftly and efficiently.
Some users have reported issues with Auvik’s billing structure, finding it complicated and sometimes confusing. This includes being charged for all discovered devices, which can be problematic if only core devices need management.
Although the interface is generally well-received, there are some complaints about difficulty navigating large network maps. Features like zooming and panning can be cumbersome, and improvements in these areas would enhance user experience.
Users have noted that certain advanced features require additional licensing, which can be a burden if only specific functionalities are needed. More flexible licensing options would benefit users who do not require full feature sets across all devices.
There is a need for more granular control over user permissions across multiple clients. Implementing better security group management and RBAC would improve the software’s usability in multi-tenant environments.
The search feature within Auvik could be more refined, allowing for more customized field queries. Enhanced search capabilities would aid in quicker device management and troubleshooting.
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Auvik is a leading Datadog alternative for network-first monitoring, designed specifically for IT teams and MSPs who need automated network discovery, real-time mapping, and predictable per-device pricing—without the consumption-based surprise bills that plague enterprise monitoring platforms.
While tools like Datadog excel at application performance monitoring, Auvik takes a network-first approach with purpose-built features for managing switches, routers, firewalls, servers, and endpoints across single-site and multi-client environments.
If you’re looking for network monitoring that deploys in minutes rather than weeks, with pricing that doesn’t explode as your infrastructure grows, Auvik delivers exactly that.
In this review, we’ll cover why over 15,000 IT professionals trust Auvik to automate network management, how it compares to enterprise alternatives like Datadog and SolarWinds, and whether Auvik’s Basic or Core plan fits your monitoring needs.
Auvik is cloud-based network monitoring management software that provides IT professionals with network insights in under 30 minutes. This software offers network discovery, inventory, and IT asset management, along with network troubleshooting techniques and uncomplicated performance reports.
Designed to deploy in minutes, Auvik helps resolve problems faster than ever with real-time network mapping. It provides remote monitoring and management (RMM) focused on network infrastructures, including switches, routers, firewalls, and Wi-Fi controllers.
This software works on Macintosh platforms and can also be used as MSP (Managed Service Provider) billing software.
We believe that network management should be easy and manageable. Auvik makes it possible by automating network management and making IT professionals’ lives easier.
Auvik is a comprehensive cloud-based network management solution designed to provide IT professionals with true network visibility and control. With its real-time, automatically updating maps, Auvik offers a clear visualization of the network, enabling faster troubleshooting.
The platform boasts features like automated device documentation, configuration backups, and over 50 customizable alerts to preemptively address network issues.
Auvik’s SaaS management tool helps in discovering, managing, and securing SaaS apps, highlighting shadow IT and potential redundancies.
Their Wi-Fi management, powered by Chanalyzer, ensures optimal Wi-Fi performance by identifying sources of congestion, tracking RF interference, and providing insights into connection issues.
Auvik supports integrations with various third-party applications and offers APIs for custom integrations.
In essence, Auvik is a trusted choice for network management, SaaS oversight, and Wi-Fi optimization.
The key benefits of using Auvik network monitoring software are:
One of the most common questions IT teams ask: “Should we use Datadog or Auvik for network monitoring?”
The answer depends on your primary monitoring focus:
Auvik and Datadog solve different problems. Auvik dominates network monitoring with automated discovery, network-specific insights, and MSP workflows. Datadog dominates application monitoring with APM, distributed tracing, and custom metrics.
Many organizations use both: Auvik for network infrastructure + Datadog (or similar) for application performance. But if you only need network monitoring, Auvik provides everything at a fraction of Datadog’s cost.
💡 Key differentiator: Auvik’s unlimited users, unlimited sites, unlimited endpoints model means your entire IT team can access network insights without per-user licensing—something Datadog doesn’t offer.
Now that you understand how Auvik compares to application monitoring platforms like Datadog, let’s dive into the specific features and capabilities that make Auvik the go-to choice for network-first teams.
Auvik helps IT teams resolve network problems faster than ever with comprehensive monitoring capabilities:
Once the Auvik collector is successfully deployed in your network, it automatically scans the local subnet to discover other networks.
When new networks are found, users can choose whether to have Auvik scan them. After approving the scan, Auvik uses Nmap to identify active hosts on the network.
The system looks for open ports to help identify device characteristics, including make and model.
During the network scan, Auvik looks for network devices that expose the following information:
Auvik discovers all the network topology and device information automatically, maintaining this data in real-time for instant troubleshooting access.
Auvik’s feature set is designed around three core principles: automation (no manual network mapping), predictability (per-device pricing, not consumption-based), and network-first insights (built for infrastructure teams, not just application developers).
The Basic plan handles essential network monitoring, while the Core plan adds NetFlow analysis, machine learning-powered application visibility, and advanced hardware monitoring—features that typically require separate tools in Datadog or SolarWinds ecosystems.
Auvik is recognized in the market for its MSP-focused features:
Auvik is designed with an intuitive interface that enables users to navigate and perform network management tasks without extensive training or complex setup.
The software doesn’t require heavy-duty hardware for installation, making it accessible for organizations of all sizes.
Auvik offers extensive flexibility regarding configurations. This allows organizations to customize the software to match their specific workflows and requirements.
With an interface teams are comfortable with, they can optimize the software’s effectiveness and raise their productivity.
Auvik’s Core plan (formerly Performance) adds traffic intelligence capabilities that help MSPs and enterprise IT teams understand what’s happening on the network—beyond just device up/down status:
Why this matters for MSPs: NetFlow analysis reveals which clients are consuming the most bandwidth, which applications are causing network congestion, and whether security policies are being violated—all without deploying agents on end-user devices.
Datadog comparison: Datadog’s Network Performance Monitoring (NPM) requires agents on every host and costs significantly more than Auvik’s per-device Core pricing.
Auvik uses predictable per-device pricing for four device types: routers, switches, firewalls, and physical wireless controllers. All other devices are monitored for free.
This scalable model allows organizations to add or remove devices as needed, with billing adjusting automatically to match actual usage.
Auvik provides transparent pricing with no hidden costs or unexpected fees. Organizations can budget accurately without fearing complex subscription programs or licensing surprises.
Auvik facilitates 24/7 network monitoring and alerting tuned to industry best practices. It tracks your network’s utilization and health information in real time.
The platform builds and stores historical performance data, which teams can use for analysis, troubleshooting, and capacity forecasting.
With Auvik, IT teams can securely manage network devices from anywhere using the Auvik dashboard. The platform manages network device credentials securely, ensuring they’re never lost or exposed.
Auvik is cloud-based, leveraging an on-premise collector for data collection. This web-based deployment enables automatic continuous updates.
Users receive unlimited storage for their subscriptions without concerns about regular maintenance or intermittent patches.
Auvik provides comprehensive support with each subscription. Beyond an extensive Knowledge Base, the Auvik support team is available to provide customer assistance through phone, live chat, or email.
With Auvik, users can achieve the following in minutes:
This information and visualization is maintained in real-time, providing instant access for troubleshooting whenever needed.
Auvik has enhanced its functionality and performance in 2024, making it even more valuable for network management:
Auvik introduced a new quick search feature accessible via Cmd + K (MacOS) or Ctrl + K (Windows). This allows users to search for specific devices and inventory assets and navigate through different pages efficiently.
Improvements include site-level searches on ARP and FDB debug tables by MAC address, enabling quicker network troubleshooting.
The latest release includes certified incident management integration with ServiceNow. Additionally, a new feature allows copying existing user authorizations to streamline granting access to new employees.
The Docker x86 collector has moved from beta to General Availability. This collector simplifies network monitoring for Docker environments, with options for Docker Compose and Docker Desktop.
Users can now export network maps as VSDX files, which can be imported into diagramming tools like Microsoft Visio and Lucidchart. This feature includes exporting all metadata of devices and connections, making it easier to analyze network layouts in external tools.
Significant improvements have been made to the load performance of the “All sites” page, enhancing the user experience for those managing multiple sites. A dark mode feature will soon be released, providing customizable theme options for users.
The SaaS management module has been updated with new filters and workflows. These include the ability to exclude specific groups from auto-import in Google Workspace and Azure integrations and a new alert workflow for applications tagged with high license costs or sensitive data.
Auvik offers integrations with the following partner applications and third-party software:
The ecosystem integrates with 20 percent of popular business applications.
Users can configure the integration between Freshdesk and Auvik for one-way communication. Auvik creates a Freshdesk ticket for any alert within Auvik.
When the alert closes or is dismissed, the update flows back to Freshdesk to complete the associated service ticket.
To set up the integration:
Once you’ve copied the call-back URL, keep this window open. You’ll need it again to complete the setup within Auvik.
After evaluating Auvik across features, pricing, and real-world use cases, here’s our verdict:
For MSPs and Multi-Client Environments: Auvik is the gold standard for MSPs managing network infrastructure across multiple clients. The multi-tenant architecture, automated discovery across sites, and per-device pricing make it significantly easier and more cost-effective than trying to adapt Datadog, SolarWinds, or other enterprise tools for MSP workflows.
For Network-First IT Teams: If your primary pain point is “I can’t see what’s happening on my network” rather than “I need application tracing,” Auvik solves exactly that problem. Automated network mapping, configuration backups, and real-time alerting eliminate hours of manual documentation and troubleshooting.
For Budget-Conscious Teams: Auvik’s predictable per-device pricing ($25-50/device depending on type and volume) beats consumption-based alternatives that can explode in cost. Unlimited users and unlimited sites mean you’re not paying extra as your team or infrastructure grows.
Use Both if:
Auvik earns our recommendation as the best network monitoring platform for MSPs and network-first IT teams in 2025. The automated discovery, network mapping, and MSP-friendly architecture justify the investment—especially compared to trying to force application monitoring tools like Datadog into network management roles.
For teams needing both network and application monitoring, Auvik + Datadog (or Auvik + New Relic) provides comprehensive visibility without gaps.
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