Is Zabbix really free?

The software is. Zabbix is free and open-source (AGPLv3 from version 7.0) with no license fee and no device limits. What you pay for is running it: a Linux server and database you maintain, the time to build templates and maps, and optional paid support (from €245 per month, billed annually). Zabbix Cloud, the managed option, starts at $50 per month and is tiered by capacity rather than devices. Domotz is a cloud-based platform with nothing to host and support included, and pricing starts at $35 per Collector per month.

What's the difference between Domotz and Zabbix?

The operating model, and what each does after discovery. Operating model: Zabbix is software you self-host on Linux (or run through Zabbix Cloud); Domotz is a cloud-based platform with a Collector at each site and nothing to host. Features: Domotz identifies devices by MAC address for an inventory that stays accurate as IP addresses change, and includes power management, configuration backup and restore, and remote access. Zabbix keys hosts on IP address or DNS name, maps are built by hand, and configuration backup and remote access aren't built in. AI: Domotz provides both an in-app AI assistant and an MCP server, with the MCP server included in every subscription; Zabbix's official MCP server is planned for 8.0 and unreleased as of September 2026.

Is Zabbix good for MSPs?

It can be, for MSPs willing to build it. Zabbix separates customers through host groups, user groups, and roles rather than a dedicated multi-tenant edition, so client isolation is something you configure and maintain, and Zabbix's MSP support tiers (500 to 100,000 hosts) are quote-based. 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 that makes it practical to deploy at every client. Teams with strong Linux expertise may still prefer Zabbix's open-source control; teams that need to be monitoring quickly across many sites tend to choose Domotz.

What's the real cost of Zabbix?

The license is free; the cost is people and infrastructure. Self-hosting means a Linux server, a database, template and map building, upgrades, and the staff expertise to do all of it, repeated for every network you add. Paid support starts at €245 per month billed annually, and Zabbix Cloud starts at $50 per month, tiered by capacity. Domotz pricing starts at $35 per Collector per month with support and the MCP server included, so the published price is the total cost.

Network monitoring comparison

Domotz vs Zabbix: Managed Cloud vs Open-Source Monitoring

See why teams choose Domotz over self-hosting: nothing to run, support included, management features every technician can use, and AI operability through the Domotz MCP server, at a transparent price.

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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 Zabbix differ in two ways that matter: what it takes to run them, and what you can do with them.

Cost and operating model. Zabbix is free, open-source software with no license fee. You install and maintain it on your own Linux server and database, and you configure the templates, maps, and alert rules yourself. Zabbix Cloud (from $50 per month, tiered by capacity) removes the hosting but not the configuration work, and paid support starts at €245 per month, billed annually. Domotz is a cloud-based platform with nothing to host, support included, and pricing that starts at $35 per Collector per month, with volume discounts available.

Functionality. Domotz identifies devices by MAC address, so your inventory stays accurate as IP addresses change; Zabbix keys discovered hosts on IP address or DNS name. Domotz also covers the work that comes after discovery, with power management, configuration backup and restore, and remote access built in, and exposes monitoring and management to AI agents through the Domotz MCP server. Zabbix is highly extensible for teams that can build and maintain templates and scripts, and its official MCP server is planned for the 8.0 release but unreleased as of September 2026.

Side-by-side

How Domotz and Zabbix Compare

Pricing model, deployment, and management.

	Domotz	Zabbix
Pricing	$$ Per Collector pricing Pricing starts at $35 per Collector per month with volume discounts available. Support included.	$ Free software, paid to run Zabbix is free to self-host. Zabbix Cloud starts at $50 per month, tiered by capacity rather than devices. Support subscriptions start at €245 per month billed annually; MSP tiers are quote-based.
Infrastructure to Run	None. Domotz runs the platform; you run a Collector at each site.	Self-hosted: a Linux server, a MySQL or PostgreSQL database, upgrades, and backups are yours to manage. Zabbix Cloud removes the hosting but not the configuration work.
Software Deployment Options	15+ Options Windows, Ubuntu, Synology, VMware, Hyper-V, Raspberry Pi, Docker, and more.	Self-hosted or Zabbix Cloud Server packages for Linux distributions, official Docker images, an evaluation-only virtual appliance, and cloud marketplace images. The Zabbix server doesn't run on Windows.
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 discovery keys hosts on IP address or DNS name, so a changed IP address can appear as a new host.
Custom Drivers	Open development framework to deploy custom drivers for metrics and automation on any IP device.	Templates, user parameters, external scripts, and JavaScript webhooks make Zabbix highly extensible for teams that can build and maintain them.
Power Management	Built-in remote power control with on/off and cycling.	IPMI reboot and custom remote commands. No built-in PoE or PDU outlet control.
Network Topology	Real-time topology mapping and visualization.	Manual drag-and-drop maps.
Configuration Management	Automated configuration backup and restore for network gear, expandable to any device through the Open Development Framework.	Not built in. Zabbix itself recommends a separate tool such as Oxidized for configuration backups.
Remote Access	Secure tunnels (HTTP/HTTPS, SSH, RDP, Telnet, TCP) plus VPN on Demand for full LAN access.	Not built in. Zabbix can run remote scripts, but offers no remote-access tunnels or VPN.
Meaningful Alerts	Domotz delivers reliable, customizable alerts that keep teams focused.	Reviewers on G2 say alert tuning takes experience to avoid excessive notifications, and priorities have to be defined by hand.
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.	No AI assistant and no vendor-built MCP servers exist.
Support Included	Support is part of every Domotz subscription.	Community forums, or paid support from €245 per month billed annually. MSP support tiers (500 to 100,000 hosts) are quote-based.
Quality of Support (*according to customer reviews on G2)	9.5	7.9

Audience fit

Which Fits Which Team

Where Domotz fits

MSPs and IT teams that need to be monitoring quickly across many sites with nothing to host, support included, management features every technician can use (power, configuration, and remote access), and AI operability through the Domotz MCP server.

Where Zabbix fits

Organizations with strong Linux and database expertise, time to build and maintain templates, maps, and alert rules, and a preference for open-source control with no license fee.

Watch for

The Hidden Cost of Self-Hosting

If you self-host Zabbix, the software is free, but running it isn't. Server infrastructure, database administration, template building, upgrades, and the staff expertise to do all of it are real costs, and they repeat for every client network an MSP takes on. Paid support starts at €245 per month billed annually, and Zabbix Cloud (from $50 per month) removes the hosting but not the configuration work. Domotz pricing starts at $35 per Collector per month with support included, so the total cost is the published price.

Bottom line

The Bottom Line

Zabbix for teams with Linux expertise, time for configuration, and a preference for open-source control. Domotz for teams that need to be monitoring and managing fast across many sites, with nothing to host, support included, and an MCP server ready for the AI agents they already use.

FAQ

Frequently Asked Questions

What teams ask when comparing Domotz and Zabbix.

Is Zabbix really free?

The software is. Zabbix is free and open-source (AGPLv3 from version 7.0) with no license fee and no device limits. What you pay for is running it: a Linux server and database you maintain, the time to build templates and maps, and optional paid support (from €245 per month, billed annually). Zabbix Cloud, the managed option, starts at $50 per month and is tiered by capacity rather than devices. Domotz is a cloud-based platform with nothing to host and support included, and pricing starts at $35 per Collector per month.
What's the difference between Domotz and Zabbix?

The operating model, and what each does after discovery. Operating model: Zabbix is software you self-host on Linux (or run through Zabbix Cloud); Domotz is a cloud-based platform with a Collector at each site and nothing to host. Features: Domotz identifies devices by MAC address for an inventory that stays accurate as IP addresses change, and includes power management, configuration backup and restore, and remote access. Zabbix keys hosts on IP address or DNS name, maps are built by hand, and configuration backup and remote access aren't built in. AI: Domotz provides both an in-app AI assistant and an MCP server, with the MCP server included in every subscription; Zabbix's official MCP server is planned for 8.0 and unreleased as of September 2026.
Is Zabbix good for MSPs?

It can be, for MSPs willing to build it. Zabbix separates customers through host groups, user groups, and roles rather than a dedicated multi-tenant edition, so client isolation is something you configure and maintain, and Zabbix's MSP support tiers (500 to 100,000 hosts) are quote-based. 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 that makes it practical to deploy at every client. Teams with strong Linux expertise may still prefer Zabbix's open-source control; teams that need to be monitoring quickly across many sites tend to choose Domotz.
What's the real cost of Zabbix?

The license is free; the cost is people and infrastructure. Self-hosting means a Linux server, a database, template and map building, upgrades, and the staff expertise to do all of it, repeated for every network you add. Paid support starts at €245 per month billed annually, and Zabbix Cloud starts at $50 per month, tiered by capacity. Domotz pricing starts at $35 per Collector per month with support and the MCP server included, so the published price is the total cost.