How is SolarWinds NPM priced?

SolarWinds now sells network monitoring primarily through SolarWinds Observability Self-Hosted (formerly Hybrid Cloud Observability), licensed per node at published starting prices of $8 (Essentials), $14 (Advanced), and $17.50 (Premier) per node per month on multi-year contracts billed annually. Network Performance Monitor is still available as a standalone module by custom quote, using legacy element-based tiers where nodes, interfaces, and volumes each count and the license is sized to the largest of the three. Domotz prices per Collector, starting at $35 per Collector per month, with volume discounts available and no annual commitment.

What's the difference between Domotz and SolarWinds?

They target different ends of the market. Price: Domotz starts at $35 per Collector per month; SolarWinds prices per node on multi-year contracts, with configuration management and remote access sold in higher tiers or separate products. Infrastructure: SolarWinds runs on Windows Server and SQL Server you maintain (or as SaaS); Domotz is cloud-based with a Collector at each site. Features: Domotz identifies devices by MAC address for better accuracy than IP-based polling, is multi-tenant by design, and includes power management, configuration management, and remote access. SolarWinds offers deep SNMP polling, NetFlow analysis, and a broad module ecosystem. AI: Domotz includes an in-app AI assistant and an MCP server; SolarWinds' SW1 agent is in tech preview with no published MCP server.

Is SolarWinds good for MSPs?

SolarWinds is built primarily for enterprise network operations teams managing one large network. Multi-tenancy isn't native in the self-hosted platform, so separating clients means account limitations and custom views, and per-node, multi-year licensing adds up quickly across many small customer networks. Domotz is multi-tenant by design, with every site in one dashboard, role-based access that also governs the Domotz MCP server, and pricing from $35 per Collector per month, which is why MSPs and distributed IT teams managing many networks tend to choose it.

Is Domotz a SolarWinds alternative?

For MSPs and distributed IT teams, yes. Domotz delivers network monitoring and management at a published price with native multi-site management, no Windows or SQL Server infrastructure, and power management, configuration management, remote access, and an MCP server included rather than sold as separate modules. For a single large enterprise network that needs SolarWinds' depth and module ecosystem, the two aren't direct substitutes.

Network monitoring comparison

Domotz vs SolarWinds: Multi-Site Simplicity vs Enterprise Network Management

See why MSPs and distributed IT teams choose Domotz for multi-site monitoring and management with transparent Collector pricing, no Windows or SQL Server infrastructure, management features included, and AI operability through the Domotz MCP server.

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Domotz at a glance

$35
per Collector per month. Volume discounts available.
4 million
devices monitored by Domotz
G2 4.8 ★
based on customer reviews

Quick answer

Domotz and SolarWinds differ in two ways that matter: what you pay, and what it takes to run them.

Price. Domotz charges per Collector, starting at $35 per Collector per month, with volume discounts available and no annual commitment. SolarWinds Observability Self-Hosted (formerly Hybrid Cloud Observability) lists $8, $14, and $17.50 per node per month across its Essentials, Advanced, and Premier tiers on multi-year contracts billed annually, and Network Performance Monitor is still sold as a standalone module by custom quote. Configuration management (NCM) requires the Advanced tier or higher, and remote access requires separately licensed products such as Engineer's Toolset or Dameware.

Infrastructure and functionality. SolarWinds runs on Windows Server with Microsoft SQL Server that you size, patch, and maintain (or as SolarWinds Observability SaaS), and multi-tenancy isn't native in the self-hosted platform. Domotz is cloud-based, multi-tenant by design, and monitoring a new site takes about 15 minutes after the Collector is installed. Domotz identifies devices by MAC address so your inventory stays accurate as IP addresses change, includes power management, configuration backup and restore, and remote access, and exposes monitoring and management to AI agents through the Domotz MCP server. SolarWinds' SW1 AI agent is in tech preview, and SolarWinds has no published MCP server.

Side-by-side

How Domotz and SolarWinds Compare

Pricing model, deployment, and management.

	Domotz	SolarWinds
Pricing	$$ Per Collector pricing Pricing starts at $35 per Collector per month with volume discounts available. No annual commitment.	$$$$ Per node, multi-year contract SolarWinds Observability Self-Hosted lists $8 (Essentials), $14 (Advanced), and $17.50 (Premier) per node per month on multi-year contracts billed annually. NPM as a standalone module is quote-based.
Multi-Site Management	Multi-tenant by design: every site in one dashboard with role-based access.	Not native in the self-hosted platform. Client separation relies on account limitations and custom views.
Software Deployment Options	15+ Options Windows, Ubuntu, Synology, VMware, Hyper-V, Raspberry Pi, Docker, and more.	Windows Server + SQL Server On-premises Windows Server with Microsoft SQL Server that you size and maintain, or SolarWinds Observability SaaS.
Hardware Deployment Option	Domotz Box appliance is available to plug into the network.	No first-party hardware appliance option.
MAC Address Device Identification	MAC-based identification ensures accuracy, even with IP changes.	Network Sonar Discovery scans IP ranges and polls devices by IP address. Tracking DHCP devices requires a resolvable hostname.
Custom Drivers	Open development framework to deploy custom drivers for metrics and automation on any IP device.	Universal Device Poller for custom SNMP OIDs, plus the Orion SDK and SAM templates.
Power Management	Built-in remote power control with on/off and cycling.	PoE monitoring only. No power control for network devices documented.
Network Topology	Real-time topology mapping and visualization.	Intelligent Maps generate Layer 2 and Layer 3 topology automatically. (Network Atlas is deprecated.)
Configuration Management	Automated configuration backup and restore for network gear, expandable to any device through the Open Development Framework.	Network Configuration Manager is a separate module, included only in the Advanced and Premier tiers of Observability Self-Hosted.
Remote Access	Secure tunnels (HTTP/HTTPS, SSH, RDP, Telnet, TCP) plus VPN on Demand for full LAN access.	Not built in. SSH and RDP sessions require the separately licensed Engineer's Toolset or Dameware.
Meaningful Alerts	Domotz delivers reliable, customizable alerts that keep teams focused.	Reviewers on G2 describe alerts as too frequent without tuning and say configuration gets complicated for more detailed alerts.
AI Operability	Both an in-app AI assistant and an MCP server for programmatic monitoring and management. The MCP server is included in every subscription.	SW1 AI agent in tech preview; in the self-hosted platform it requires a connection to SolarWinds' cloud. No published MCP server.
Quality of Support (*according to customer reviews on G2)	9.5	8.2

Audience fit

Which Fits Which Team

Where Domotz fits

MSPs and distributed IT teams managing many networks who want native multi-site management, transparent Collector pricing, no Windows or SQL Server infrastructure, and management features (power, configuration, and remote access) included alongside an MCP server.

Where SolarWinds fits

Enterprise network operations teams running one large, complex network who need SolarWinds' depth (granular SNMP polling, NetFlow analysis, and configuration management modules) and have the infrastructure, staff, and multi-year budget to run it.

Watch for

What to Watch For

SolarWinds is licensed per node on multi-year contracts, and the features MSPs rely on are spread across tiers and products. Configuration management requires the Advanced tier or higher, remote access needs Engineer's Toolset or Dameware, and multi-tenancy isn't native in the self-hosted platform. Price the full stack, not the Essentials entry point. If you're quoted classic NPM, ask whether the license counts elements (nodes, interfaces, and volumes) or nodes, because the two models price a 48-port switch very differently. Domotz pricing starts at $35 per Collector per month with management features and the MCP server included.

Bottom line

The Bottom Line

SolarWinds for enterprise operations teams managing one large network with the staff and infrastructure to run it. Domotz for MSPs and IT teams managing many distributed networks who want transparent pricing, management features included, and an MCP server ready for AI agents. Rarely a direct either/or.

FAQ

Frequently Asked Questions

What teams ask when comparing Domotz and SolarWinds.

How is SolarWinds NPM priced?

SolarWinds now sells network monitoring primarily through SolarWinds Observability Self-Hosted (formerly Hybrid Cloud Observability), licensed per node at published starting prices of $8 (Essentials), $14 (Advanced), and $17.50 (Premier) per node per month on multi-year contracts billed annually. Network Performance Monitor is still available as a standalone module by custom quote, using legacy element-based tiers where nodes, interfaces, and volumes each count and the license is sized to the largest of the three. Domotz prices per Collector, starting at $35 per Collector per month, with volume discounts available and no annual commitment.
What's the difference between Domotz and SolarWinds?

They target different ends of the market. Price: Domotz starts at $35 per Collector per month; SolarWinds prices per node on multi-year contracts, with configuration management and remote access sold in higher tiers or separate products. Infrastructure: SolarWinds runs on Windows Server and SQL Server you maintain (or as SaaS); Domotz is cloud-based with a Collector at each site. Features: Domotz identifies devices by MAC address for better accuracy than IP-based polling, is multi-tenant by design, and includes power management, configuration management, and remote access. SolarWinds offers deep SNMP polling, NetFlow analysis, and a broad module ecosystem. AI: Domotz includes an in-app AI assistant and an MCP server; SolarWinds' SW1 agent is in tech preview with no published MCP server.
Is SolarWinds good for MSPs?

SolarWinds is built primarily for enterprise network operations teams managing one large network. Multi-tenancy isn't native in the self-hosted platform, so separating clients means account limitations and custom views, and per-node, multi-year licensing adds up quickly across many small customer networks. Domotz is multi-tenant by design, with every site in one dashboard, role-based access that also governs the Domotz MCP server, and pricing from $35 per Collector per month, which is why MSPs and distributed IT teams managing many networks tend to choose it.
Is Domotz a SolarWinds alternative?

For MSPs and distributed IT teams, yes. Domotz delivers network monitoring and management at a published price with native multi-site management, no Windows or SQL Server infrastructure, and power management, configuration management, remote access, and an MCP server included rather than sold as separate modules. For a single large enterprise network that needs SolarWinds' depth and module ecosystem, the two aren't direct substitutes.