Paessler PRTG Database Monitoring

Overview

PRTG monitors Microsoft SQL Server, MySQL, PostgreSQL, Oracle, Azure SQL Database, AWS RDS, and ODBC/ADO-compatible databases. That coverage can suit teams with several database families under one monitoring setup. Monitoring capacity is counted in sensors, however, so the practical fit depends on how many checks the environment needs, not just how many databases it contains.

PRTG Network Monitor is available as a Windows download, and Paessler also offers cloud-based PRTG Hosted Monitor. For Azure SQL Database and AWS RDS, sensors collect metrics through Azure Monitor and AWS CloudWatch APIs without an agent on the database host. Paessler states that it is certified to ISO 9001 for quality management.

Key features

Query performance and availability

Database sensors measure complete-request time separately from query execution time, both in milliseconds. This gives operators two useful timings when investigating slow database activity. PRTG can also monitor connection timeouts, authentication failures, service interruptions, and errors validated by queries, covering both access problems and database-reported conditions.

Custom checks and alerts

Users can run custom SQL queries at configured intervals and map returned values to monitoring channels. This flexibility helps teams track database-specific metrics beyond standard sensors. Backup completion can also be monitored through queries against backup history tables or file timestamps, but those checks need query-level configuration rather than working as a turnkey backup monitor.

Threshold alerts can be sent by email, SMS, push notification, syslog, or webhook. The interval is configurable per sensor; Paessler recommends five minutes for production database monitoring. Teams should account for that guidance when sizing sensor capacity and deciding how promptly they need to detect changes.

Pricing

The PRTG Freeware Edition is free and supports up to 100 sensors, or about 10 devices. It is a sensible starting point for a small environment, but its cap can constrain monitoring as checks expand.

Paid subscriptions include the latest version and email support through Paessler's ticket system. The listed annual-billing plans are:

• PRTG 500: 200.00 USD per year, billed per month paid annually; up to 500 sensors and about 50 devices.
• PRTG 1000: 358.00 USD per year, billed per month paid annually; up to 1,000 sensors and about 100 devices.
• PRTG 2500: 742.00 USD per year, billed per month paid annually; up to 2,500 sensors and about 250 devices.
• PRTG 5000: 1300.00 USD per year, billed per month paid annually; up to 5,000 sensors and about 500 devices.
• PRTG 10000: 1642.00 USD per year, billed per month paid annually; up to 10,000 sensors and about 1,000 devices.

The 30-day trial provides full access, is free, and requires no credit card. Each paid tier raises the sensor ceiling, so teams should choose by expected monitoring workload; the lower tiers may be a poor fit if frequent checks across many databases consume the allowance quickly.

Platforms

PRTG supports Android, iOS, self-hosted, web, and Windows platforms. The Windows download and hosted option give teams a choice of deployment approach, while the cloud database sensors' use of provider APIs avoids installing an agent on those database hosts.

Who it's for

PRTG is a strong candidate for IT teams that already monitor infrastructure with PRTG or need database visibility across several supported engines. Custom queries and multiple alert channels help tailor checks to operational needs. It is less compelling for teams seeking a database-only tool with ready-made backup monitoring, or for environments where the required sensors would push them beyond a suitable plan.

Pros and cons

• Broad database coverage: supports major relational databases, Azure SQL Database, AWS RDS, and ODBC/ADO-compatible systems.
• Useful timing distinction: separates full-request and query execution time in milliseconds.
• Flexible notifications: sends threshold alerts through email, SMS, push, syslog, or webhooks.
• Sensor-based limits: capacity must be matched to the number and cadence of checks, which can complicate plan selection.
• Backup checks need configuration: monitoring depends on custom queries or timestamp checks rather than a ready-made setup.

Alternatives

For a wider comparison, browse Database Monitoring.

• Percona Monitoring and Management is a free, open-source database monitoring and observability option; installation infrastructure may carry separate costs.
• PoWA is a free open project for teams using PostgreSQL and pg_stat_statements.
• MySQL is a freemium choice centered on SQL and NoSQL applications, with replication and high-availability components.
• Site24x7 Database Monitoring may suit teams comparing a paid database-monitoring service; its Lite plan is 9.00 USD per month paid annually, with two servers and five websites, while database monitors are advanced add-ons.
• Guance Container Monitoring is another freemium option, with a free plan capped at 10 hosts, 10,000 metric series per day, and 10 million log records per day, with seven-day rolling retention.
• Grafana Cloud Application Observability offers a free tier with 2,232 host hours and a Pro option billed at 0.03 USD per month, including a $19 monthly platform fee and pay-as-you-go usage above its included amount.
• New Relic Kubernetes Monitoring has a free plan and an annual Pro plan at 349.00 USD per year, with 100 GB of free data ingest and charges beyond that allowance.
• Dynatrace Kubernetes Monitoring is a paid alternative with a free trial and an hourly Kubernetes monitoring rate.

Verdict

Choose Paessler PRTG Database Monitoring if your team wants database checks within a broader PRTG setup, especially across multiple database families and custom SQL conditions. Its separate query and request timings and flexible alerts are practical strengths. Look elsewhere if you need backup monitoring without query-level setup or cannot make the sensor limits work for your monitoring workload.