Software Alternatives, Accelerators & Startups

SmokePing VS NetLimiter

Compare SmokePing VS NetLimiter and see what are their differences

SmokePing logo SmokePing

Smokeping is a tool for measuring latency.

NetLimiter logo NetLimiter

NetLimiter is an ultimate Internet traffic control and monitoring tool designed for Windows.
  • SmokePing Landing page
    Landing page //
    2021-10-22
  • NetLimiter Landing page
    Landing page //
    2022-12-15

SmokePing features and specs

  • Detailed Latency Measurement
    SmokePing offers detailed graphics for latency and packet loss, allowing for in-depth analysis of network performance over time.
  • Free and Open Source
    Being an open-source tool, SmokePing is freely available to anyone and can be adapted and modified as needed.
  • Wide Range of Probes
    Supports a wide range of network probes, including ICMP, TCP, and DNS, enabling comprehensive network monitoring.
  • Customization Capability
    Highly customizable through configuration files, allowing users to tailor the tool to their specific monitoring needs.
  • Alerting System
    Offers a robust alerting system that can notify administrators via email or other methods when network thresholds are breached.

Possible disadvantages of SmokePing

  • Steep Learning Curve
    The setup and configuration can be complex, requiring a solid understanding of both the tool and the underlying network technologies.
  • Limited User Interface
    The web interface is functional but could be considered dated and not as user-friendly compared to some modern network monitoring tools.
  • Resource Intensive
    Can be resource-intensive, particularly when monitoring a large number of targets, which may necessitate more robust hardware.
  • Lacks Integrated Reporting
    Does not offer advanced built-in reporting features, requiring users to manually extract data or use additional tools for detailed reports.
  • Community Support
    While it has a supportive user community, it may not have the same level of comprehensive support and documentation as some commercial solutions.

NetLimiter features and specs

  • Bandwidth Limiting
    NetLimiter allows users to set precise upload and download speed limits for applications, providing better control over network usage.
  • Real-time Monitoring
    The software offers real-time monitoring of network traffic, allowing users to see which applications are consuming bandwidth.
  • Detailed Statistics
    NetLimiter provides detailed statistics and history of application bandwidth usage, helpful for analysis and optimization.
  • Custom Rules
    Users can create custom rules to prioritize or restrict network access for specific applications, improving overall network performance.
  • User-friendly Interface
    The software features an intuitive and easy-to-navigate interface, making it accessible for both novice and advanced users.

Possible disadvantages of NetLimiter

  • Windows Only
    NetLimiter is only available for Windows, limiting its use for users who operate on macOS, Linux, or other operating systems.
  • Cost
    NetLimiter is a paid software with a trial version available, which may not be suitable for users looking for a free alternative.
  • Resource Usage
    The application can consume a noticeable amount of system resources, which might affect the performance of low-spec computers.
  • Limited to 64-bit Systems
    NetLimiter is only available for 64-bit versions of Windows, excluding users who are still running 32-bit systems.
  • Learning Curve
    While the interface is user-friendly, some advanced features and settings may require a learning curve for new users.

Analysis of SmokePing

Overall verdict

  • Yes, SmokePing is a well-regarded tool for network monitoring, especially for those who need to track latency and network stability over time. Its capabilities in visualizing and analyzing network performance make it a valuable asset for IT professionals and network administrators.

Why this product is good

  • SmokePing is a highly effective latency monitoring tool that provides valuable insights into network performance. It utilizes a simple ping system to measure and visualize latency, packet loss, and network stability over time. The tool's graphing capabilities are particularly praised for their clarity and detail. Additionally, it supports integration with a wide range of platforms and offers customization options to suit different network monitoring needs.

Recommended for

    Network administrators, IT professionals, businesses looking to monitor network latency and performance, and technical users who need detailed insights into network stability.

Analysis of NetLimiter

Overall verdict

  • Overall, NetLimiter is considered a good tool for users who need granular control over their network traffic. It has a user-friendly interface, provides comprehensive statistics, and is highly customizable, though it is primarily available for Windows.

Why this product is good

  • NetLimiter is a popular network management tool that allows users to monitor and control their internet traffic. It provides detailed insights into which applications are consuming bandwidth and offers features like traffic prioritization and bandwidth limiting, which helps in managing network resources efficiently.

Recommended for

    NetLimiter is particularly recommended for power users, network administrators, and gamers who need detailed control over their network usage. It's also beneficial for users with limited bandwidth or those looking to optimize their internet speed by controlling application access.

SmokePing videos

Smokeping

More videos:

  • Tutorial - How to Install and Config SmokePing on Ubuntu Server 16.04
  • Tutorial - How to Install & Integrate Smokeping into Librenms with Nginx on Ubuntu

NetLimiter videos

Netlimiter 4: How to Download, Install & Use ( Review 2020 )

More videos:

  • Tutorial - How to Use NetLimiter 4 Control Internet Download and Upload Speed over Network
  • Tutorial - NETLIMITER - how to control bandwidth (play online games with stable ping) no lag! tagalog

Category Popularity

0-100% (relative to SmokePing and NetLimiter)
Monitoring Tools
58 58%
42% 42
OS & Utilities
100 100%
0% 0
Firewall
0 0%
100% 100
Log Management
100 100%
0% 0

User comments

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Reviews

These are some of the external sources and on-site user reviews we've used to compare SmokePing and NetLimiter

SmokePing Reviews

  1. Stan
    · Founder at SaaSHub ·
    Such a helpful tool

    Smokeping used to be one of my favourity tools when I was working as a SysAdmin long time ago. It's offers such a clever way of presenting the data, that it is super easy to identify any issues.

    I still wonder why modern tools haven't adopted this ingenious technique.

    👍 Pros:    Usability
    👎 Cons:    Not actively maintained

NetLimiter Reviews

We have no reviews of NetLimiter yet.
Be the first one to post

Social recommendations and mentions

Based on our record, SmokePing seems to be a lot more popular than NetLimiter. While we know about 28 links to SmokePing, we've tracked only 2 mentions of NetLimiter. We are tracking product recommendations and mentions on various public social media platforms and blogs. They can help you identify which product is more popular and what people think of it.

SmokePing mentions (28)

  • Show HN: I built a tool that texts you if your server goes down
    This is cool. I did something similar at my work using smokeping and the #@vtext.com to send the texts. https://oss.oetiker.ch/smokeping/. - Source: Hacker News / about 1 month ago
  • Anyone else using unifi to track the isp outages?
    I'd recommend setting up SmokePing or Vaping to get a better idea of latency and connectivity. Source: almost 2 years ago
  • N-Central, Connectivity Service and 15 minute minimums, oh my!
    Let me introduce you to a rather old, but still highly useful, tool for free. Takes a little leg work to get going, but pays off in style. https://oss.oetiker.ch/smokeping/. Source: almost 2 years ago
  • Is there any way to fix packet loss!?
    So I would run Smoke Ping (https://oss.oetiker.ch/smokeping/) for a while to get an idea of the loss. If it really is an external issue, you can try a VPN to hopefully pickup a different route. Source: almost 2 years ago
  • lightweight monitoring tool
    I personally like smokeping, https://oss.oetiker.ch/smokeping/ . Has lots of different probes so you can do more than just "ping if it is alive". Source: about 2 years ago
View more

NetLimiter mentions (2)

  • Steam.exe downloading while playing competitive
    Get Netlimiter and you can limit Steam and anything else you want to use practically no bandwidth. Source: about 4 years ago
  • Traffic Shaping on Big Sur
    On Windows, the classic tool to solve this problem is called NetLimiter, and it allows you to control bandwidth usage on a per-app basis. I used it back in my Win98 days and it was fantastic, and probably still is. Source: about 4 years ago

What are some alternatives?

When comparing SmokePing and NetLimiter, you can also consider the following products

PingPlotter - PingPlotter is a troubleshooting tool that helps IT professionals and neophytes identify, diagnose, and resolve network issues.

GlassWire - Visualize network activity in detail, get notified when new apps access the network, look out for...

Fping (open source) - fping is a program to send ICMP echo probes to network hosts, similar to ping, but much better performing when pinging multiple hosts.

TinyWall - Lightweight and non-intrusive firewall

Ping Meter Gadget - Customizable, graphical, semi-transparent ping (latency) meter.

Emsisoft Online Armor Firewall - Emsisoft Online Armor Firewall is a freemium online firewall protection system by the Emsisoft that is based on the own independent protection technology of the Emsisoft.