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Even the most modern and up-to-date personal computers (PCs) and operating systems experience performance decline over time. Higher software demands, resource-intensive applications, increased CPU usage, or hidden issues like malware can all cause systems to slow down or stop altogether.
When such issues arise, IT professionals can turn to PC performance monitoring software. These products enable users to track system resources in real time, identify bottlenecks, and detect any underlying issues affecting performance.
For IT professionals who want to keep personal computers running smoothly, investing in PC monitoring software is a no-brainer. But what are the best available tools for monitoring PC performance? In this article, we’ll review the top options.
What is PC performance monitoring software?
PC performance monitoring software tracks and analyzes various aspects of a computer’s performance in real time. The key performance metrics monitored include CPU usage, memory consumption, hard disk usage, network traffic, temperature levels, and more.
PC performance monitoring capabilities are often included in a network monitoring solution. A few solutions, including Atera, offer PC performance monitoring as part of their all-in-one IT management platform.
Types of PC performance monitoring software
The types of PC performance monitoring systems can be divided into system, network, cloud-based monitoring, and unified IT management solutions. Let’s look at each of these in more detail.
System monitoring tools
System monitoring tools monitor the performance of key system components including CPU, memory disk, disk, network, and more. These solutions typically provide a centralized dashboard with real-time monitoring, analytics, reporting, and alerting. All of these capabilities enable IT teams to maintain the optimal performance of multiple PCs.
Network monitoring tools
Network monitoring tools monitor various network activities including bandwidth usage, network latency, traffic patterns, and more. IT teams can leverage this information to more efficiently manage network health and troubleshoot issues like network outages.
Network monitoring tools are offered as standalone products; however, more comprehensive RMM tools often include them. Atera’s RMM tool includes network monitoring.
Cloud-based monitoring tools
Cloud-based monitoring tools allow IT professionals to track and manage the performance of multiple PCs and servers from a centralized dashboard. Cloud-based solutions are ideal for IT teams with distributed IT infrastructures.
Cloud-based monitoring tools often work in tandem with more comprehensive network monitoring or IT management tools. For example, Atera offers a cloud-based IT management solution for PC performance monitoring.
Unified IT management solutions
Unified IT management software combines PC performance monitoring with a wide range of IT management capabilities. Common features include RMM, PSA, remote access, network discovery, patching, and scripting. These tools are ideal for IT teams desiring a centralized solution for their entire IT operations.
Atera is one such solution. Its platform unites a remote PC performance monitoring tool with other essential IT management functions.
Why you need PC performance monitoring software
Now that we’ve defined what PC performance monitoring software is, we’ll review the main benefits of investing in a solution.
Bottleneck identification
PCs slow down over time for many reasons. Factors such as resource-intensive applications, system clutter, increased CPU usage, and more can all hamper a machine’s efficiency. Performance monitoring tools help users identify and address these issues by tracking metrics like CPU, memory, and disk usage.
Optimized system performance
The top PC monitoring tools provide features like automated patching to ensure the timely and systematic application of OS and third-party application updates. These regular updates optimize a system’s overall reliability and performance.
Enhanced security
PC performance monitoring software often includes real-time monitoring. This capability continuously monitors the network and analyzes security vulnerabilities. By identifying potential weaknesses—such as unpatched software or suspicious activities—IT teams can respond to threats more swiftly.
Centralized monitoring
PC performance monitoring systems provide a centralized platform for monitoring and managing various PCs. This results in many benefits, including streamlined workflows, higher productivity, better reporting, and enhanced industry compliance.
Increased productivity
PC performance monitoring tools can automate various tasks including server monitoring, alerting, troubleshooting, and responding to end-user tickets. In addition to IT automation, Atera offers AI-powered capabilities that further eliminate the manual and repetitive tasks associated with IT management.
AI and automation empower IT teams to increase their efficiency levels and focus on more strategic initiatives, leading to higher productivity.
The 10 best PC performance monitoring software
Now that we’ve covered the nuts and bolts of PC performance monitoring software, we’ll dive into the best PC performance monitoring tools available on today’s market. For each solution, we’ll highlight key features and pricing so you can make more informed decisions.
1. Atera

Atera’s all-in-one IT management platform makes it easy for IT professionals to monitor the performance of PCs and other network devices. Users can monitor performance levels including CPU load, memory usage, disk space, network bandwidth, and more. Atera’s RMM tool includes performance monitoring capabilities.
The platform also offers professional services automation (PSA), network discovery, automated patching, remote access, reporting, and other commonly-sought IT management capabilities. By combining various IT management tools into one solution, IT teams can eliminate the need to invest in different software solutions and simplify their tech stack.
Atera integrates with third-party software—such as Splashtop for remote access, Cynet for security, and Domotz for network monitoring. Accounting software integrations are available for MSPs. Atera also supports API integrations.
Features and capabilities
Threshold-based alerts are a key component of any strong software for PC performance monitoring. Atera’s threshold-based alerts provide early warning of potential threats and help protect against them. Users can set the Atera agent to monitor CPU load, memory usage, network bandwidth, and more.

Atera Threshold profiles
Once a certain threshold is reached, users can drill down to the individual device to see what tasks/processes/programs are causing the issue.
Atera’s Network Discovery tool is also highly beneficial for performance monitoring. It shows a list of all network devices—PCs, laptops, routers, servers, printers, etc—while also delivering status reports and attributes for each piece of equipment.

Atera Network Discovery tool
A select handful of IT management solutions offer similar performance monitoring features to Atera. However, its AI capabilities differentiate it from competitors. Atera Copilot enables IT teams to manage their IT environments in a much more streamlined and efficient way.

Atera Copilot
Atera Copilot’s AI capabilities include remote session summaries, instant ticket summaries, knowledge article generation, script generator, and device troubleshooting. If the AI detects a problem in a device, it automatically generates suggestions for fixing it.
To offer further support, Atera’s AI script generator generates scripts automatically to fix issues such as slow device performance or concurrent application crashes. Scripting is normally a manual process that takes a considerable amount of time. The script generator relieves technicians of this burden, allowing them to commit their time to other endeavors.
User interface and usability
From the ground up, Atera was designed with ease of use in mind. Its platform features an intuitive and user-friendly interface that makes navigation simple. These well-considered design elements are lauded by users and set a high benchmark for other IT management solutions.

Atera’s admin dashboard
If users encounter any issues navigating Atera’s platform, they can contact customer support via live chat 24/7. Atera’s website also hosts an extensive library of self-help documents including a knowledge base, hundreds of blog articles, webinars, and an active IT community.
Pricing and value for money
Atera’s all-in-one IT management platform has a transparent pay-per-technician pricing model. The pricing plans for IT departments range from $149 to $199 per month, and the MSP pricing plans range from $129 to $209 per month. Enterprise customers can receive a custom quotation for a more tailored service. Atera Copilot and Network Discovery tools are available as add-ons.
Atera’s pay-per-technician pricing plans diverge from the industry norm of pay-per-endpoint pricing plans. The pay-per-technician model allows users to manage unlimited endpoints/devices at no additional cost. Conversely, the costs associated with pay-per-endpoint plans rise with each added endpoint. This model makes it difficult to scale efficiently, as costs can rapidly and unpredictably rise.
Atera G2 rating: 4.6 out of 5.0 stars (600+ reviews)
What Atera users are saying on G2:
A G2 user describes Atera as a “feature-packed and simple-to-use” IT management solution. The reviewer’s favorite part of the software is the AI integrations enabled by Atera Copilot. Its AI ticketing tool summarizes tickets and provides action items to resolve them, making closing tickets a cinch. The reviewer praises the AI tool’s ability to provide the right PowerShell scripts for fixing issues, and points out that Atera is easy to integrate with various third-party tools.
Atera Capterra rating: 4.6 out of 5.0 stars (300+ reviews)
What Atera users are saying on Capterra:
A Capterra user appreciates Atera’s all-in-one approach to IT management. They cite the platform’s inclusion of RMM, PSA, remote access, patch management, network discovery, reporting and analytics, and more. The reviewer also celebrates Atera as a cloud-based solution that enables remote management of IT environments.
Atera pricing:
Atera’s pricing plans for IT departments:
- Professional: $149 per month, per technician
- Expert: $169 per month, per technician
- Master: $199 per month, per technician
- Enterprise: Custom quotation. Contact sales for pricing.
Atera’s pricing plans for MSPs:
- Pro: $129 per month, per technician
- Growth: $179 per month, per technician
- Power: $209 per month, per technician
- Superpower (Enterprise): Custom quotation. Contact sales for pricing.
Get started today with Atera’s free 30-day trial—no credit card required.
2. Paessler PRTG

Paessler PRTG Network Monitor provides centralized monitoring for the entire IT infrastructure. It monitors various devices’ hardware, software, and network performance—including that of PCs. Paessler offers a built-in alarm system to detect and resolve issues proactively. For increased functionality, Paessler can integrate with select third parties.
Paessler offers three powerful network monitoring products, making it a great option for users solely focused on networking monitoring capabilities. But it lacks other features many IT teams consider essential, including a strong RMM, PSA, and remote access. Users seeking these features may want to consider another IT monitoring tool.
G2 rating: 4.6 out of 5.0 stars (80+ reviews)
Capterra rating: 4.6 out of 5.0 stars (200+ reviews)
Paessler PRTG pricing:
- Prices start at $2,149 per year. This plan allows users to monitor up to 500 aspects of devices within a user’s network.
3. SolarWinds NPM

SolarWinds NPM is a network performance monitoring software that monitors the health of PCs and other network devices. Users can set threshold-based alerts to receive notifications on issues such as high CPU usage, request failures, low server health, and more. As is the case with Atera, SolarWinds NPM automatically discovers devices on a user’s network and provides a list of available devices to monitor.
For increased functionality, SolarWinds NPM integrates with other SolarWinds products. For example, it connects with SolarWinds Service Desk so IT teams can proactively solve end-user support requests.
G2 rating: 4.5 out of 5.0 stars (200+ reviews)
Capterra rating: 4.5 out of 5.0 stars (70+ reviews)
SolarWinds NPM pricing:
- Custom quotation. Prices start at $1,856; to find out the exact cost, request a quote on their website.
4. Kaseya VSA

Kaseya VSA is RMM software that offers real-time monitoring and alerting, automated patch management, asset management, and network discovery tools. Its monitoring system tracks metrics like CPU load, disk utilization, bandwidth, and memory—as well as an alarm that’s triggered when thresholds are exceeded. Kaseya VSA offers basic IT automation tools for automating tasks such as patching, auto-remediation, and reporting.
Kaseya VSA’s drawbacks include its user interface. Users on G2 often complain that the platform is challenging to navigate. Considering the adept design of other modern IT management solutions, this is a notable drawback.
G2 rating: 4.0 out of 5.0 (250+ reviews)
Capterra rating: 4.1 out of 5.0 (200+ reviews)
Kaseya VSA pricing:
- Custom pricing system in place. Visit their website to learn more.
5. Pulseway

Pulseway is an RMM solution for MSPs and IT departments. It grants real-time insights into workstations, servers, and other network equipment performance. Pulseway hosts IT automation capabilities and auto-remediation capabilities that enable instantaneous handling of IT issues. Users can also choose from predefined script templates when resolving problems.
Pulseway’s RMM tool includes comprehensive remote monitoring capabilities, but lacks the PSA capabilities many IT teams seek. Users who handle end-user support requests on a regular basis will need to integrate Pulseway with their service desk software or invest in an all-in-one solution like Atera.
G2 rating: 4.5 out of 5.0 (50+ reviews)
Capterra rating: 4.7 out of 5.0 (180+ reviews)
Pulseway pricing:
- Pulseway’s pricing structure is public and transparent. It charges per endpoint/device, and hosts a calculator on its website that includes variables like contract length, number of endpoints, third-party add-ons, etc.
- Pulseway charges $149 for a one-time “Advanced Onboarding and Best Practices” session.
6. ManageEngine

ManageEngine Endpoint Central is an endpoint management software that provides remote troubleshooting, automated patching, IT asset management, and ransomware protection capabilities. It allows the monitoring of laptops, desktops, mobile devices, servers, and more. Endpoint Central automatically detects and remediates vulnerabilities within a user’s IT environment.
ManageEngine also offers other IT management products, such as ManageEngine OpManager—a popular option for monitoring the health of IP-based devices. Users seeking a comprehensive IT management solution can combine different ManageEngine products offerings; however, this approach may come at a high cost.
G2 rating: 4.4 out of 5.0 (600+ reviews)
Capterra rating: 5.0 out of 5.0 (750+ reviews)
ManageEngine Endpoint Central pricing:
- Professional: Starting at $104 per month, per technician
- Enterprise: Starting at $124 per month, per technician
- UEM: Starting at $139 per month, per technician
- Security: Starting at $205 per month, per technician
7. Domotz

Domotz is an IT infrastructure monitoring tool that helps monitor the performance of various IT components including computers, laptops, servers, and various SNMP-enabled devices. Users gain insight into bandwidth usage, latency, network traffic, and device connectivity.
For comprehensive IT management, Atera offers a native integration with Domotz. These two solutions combined allow users to take advantage of Domotz’s powerful network monitoring capabilities and Atera’s strong RMM, PSA, remote access, and patching tools.
G2 rating: 4.8 out of 5.0 (80+ reviews)
Capterra rating: 5.0 out of 5.0 (85+ reviews)
Domotz pricing:
- Pro: $35 per month, per site
- Enterprise: Starting at $1,000 per month
8. Datto RMM

Datto RMM allows the monitoring of PCs, laptops, servers, and other network devices. It helps to simplify IT troubleshooting through auto-responses to alerts. Like Atera, Datto offers 24/7 customer support. Datto RMM includes network topology maps that visually display client networks.
Datto RMM integrates with Datto Autotask PSA to offer PSA capabilities. The hidden drawback to this approach is its cost. Using two software products to manage IT environments is pricier than relying on an all-in-one solution like Atera.
G2 rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars (400+ reviews)
Capterra rating: 4.3 out of 5 stars (20+ reviews)
Datto pricing:
- Custom pricing available. Contact Datto’s sales team to get the pricing.
9. N-able N-central

As part of the N-able family, N-central offers network monitoring capabilities for Windows, Mac, and Linux workstations and servers. Users can track various performance metrics and resolve issues through command lines and scripts. The product integrates with N-able Automation Manager to achieve IT automation capabilities.
Like Atera, N-central has an AI-powered script generator. Upon receiving a simple set of instructions, the tool automatically generates scripts to resolve issues. While these two solutions are similar in that respect, Atera hosts an expanded suite of AI capabilities such as remote session summaries, instant ticket summaries, and device troubleshooting.
G2 rating: 4.3 out of 5.0 stars (250+ reviews)
Capterra rating: 3.9 out of 5.0 stars (40+ reviews)
N-central pricing:
- The company does not publicly disclose its pricing. Custom quotations are available on N-able’s website.
10. SuperOps

SuperOps is an IT management solution for MSPs that provides RMM, IT documentation, service desk, asset management, and network monitoring. Its network monitoring tool enables MSPs to monitor their clients’ PC performance and receive alerts when issues arise. The built-in PSA capability automatically converts alerts into tickets.
Like Atera, SuperOps uses pay-per-technician pricing. However, SuperOps charges users extra if they exceed the plan’s endpoint limit of 150 endpoints. Atera allows customers to add unlimited endpoints at no additional cost.
G2 rating: 4.6 out of 5.0 stars (100+ reviews)
Capterra rating: N/A
SuperOps pricing:
- Starts at $119 per month for the unified PSA and RMM package.
PC performance monitoring combined with proactive IT management
Atera’s all-in-one IT management solution empowers IT teams to manage their environments in a streamlined and proactive manner. The platform hosts various automation tools such as automated patch management, scripting, and AI capabilities. Its auto-healing capabilities can automatically fix issues in response to alerts.
Because Atera’s platform includes PC performance monitoring capabilities, IT teams don’t need to invest in multiple software solutions to achieve their IT monitoring objectives. This benefit streamlines workflows and increases cost savings.
To try out Atera, you can sign up for a 30-day free trial or contact our sales team for a custom demo.
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