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Traceroute is one of the most important tools for troubleshooting networks and is used by both IT pros and system administrators. Based on my own experience with network diagnostics, it’s clear that traceroute is the best way to track the path of packets across computers that are linked to each other. This tool carefully looks at the path these data bits take, showing any possible delays or losses along the way.
Traceroute’s impact is undeniable because it has stood the test of time, but new diagnostic tools have come out because technology is always changing. As I’ve learned more about network management, I’ve found other tools that can solve network problems just as well as or better than traceroute. These newer options promise to give you a fuller picture of the problems your network is having while also making things easier for IT staff and administrators.
With personal experiences to show what they can do, this guide aims to go deep into the world of these different traceroutes. We want to give network professionals a wide range of tools that not only keep traceroutes reliability but also make it more flexible to meet the needs of today and tomorrow by looking into these new options. Join me as we explore the game-changing possibilities of these alternatives and change the way we troubleshoot networks forever.
Best Traceroute Alternatives Comparison Table
The program “traceroute” sends three UDP packets to the host you want to arrive at. It sends an echo back to the main host as soon as it finds a network device. This shows that a “hop” has been reached. It keeps track of the round-trip time (RTT), which tells you how long it took for each packet to get to its destination. This process is done over and over again until the target host is reached. At each hop, information about the device and how long it took to get there is sent.
Feature | Open Visual Traceroute | PingPlotter | SolarWinds NPM | WinMTR | Path Analyzer Pro |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Traceroute Functionality | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
Ping Functionality | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
Network Performance Monitoring | Limited | Yes | Yes | No | Yes |
Visual Representation of Network Path | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | Yes |
Real-time Monitoring | No | Yes | Yes | No | Yes |
Historical Data Logging | Limited | Yes | Yes | No | Yes |
Alerts and Notifications | No | Yes | Yes | No | Yes |
Multi-platform Support | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
User-Friendly Interface | Yes | Yes | Yes | Limited | Yes |
Pricing | Free | Free and Paid Plans | Subscription-based | Free | Free and Paid Plans |
Best Traceroute Alternatives
The tracert (Windows OS) or traceroute (Linux/Mac OS) tool is well known and liked by system and network admins. They know that this command will help them find problems with their networks or the gadgets that are linked to them. But if you don’t want to use your computer‘s command-line interfaces (CLI), we have a list of other traceroute options that are easier to use.
Open Visual Traceroute

Feature | Description |
---|---|
Visual Traceroute | Map-based representation of network connections |
Packet Details | Display of packet details for each hop |
Geographical Information | Location-based data for network nodes |
Trace History | Save and review traceroute history |
Customization | User-friendly interface with customizable options |
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As I looked into network diagnostic tools, I came across Open Visual Traceroute, which is a great tool for fixing connection problems. I’ve found that its easy-to-use interface has made it much easier to see how data bits get from my computer to different places.
This open-source gem takes basic traceroute data and makes it more useful by showing it in an easy-to-understand graph. This not only makes it easier to find problems with the network, but it also makes the debugging process easier to understand and more fun to look at.
The Good
- Intuitive visual representation
- Comprehensive packet details
- Geographical insights for network nodes
- Trace history for easy reference
The Bad
- May lack advanced features found in premium tools
- Limited support for complex network analysis
PingPlotter

Feature | Description |
---|---|
Continuous Monitoring | Real-time monitoring of network performance |
Graphical Representation | Visual graphs for latency and packet loss |
Multi-target Tracking | Simultaneous tracking of multiple targets |
Historical Data | Store and analyze historical performance data |
Alerting | Customizable alerts for performance thresholds |
When I thought about the problems I was having with networking, PingPlotter became clear as the best way to figure out how ping and traceroute work. This tool does more than just show data; it also has a timeline that changes over time.
Real-time visualisations helped me see what was going on in the network and find problems. I could also look at performance trends and important measures like latency and packet loss. PingPlotter’s ability to organise this large amount of data in a way that is easy to understand has been very helpful in keeping a stable link.
The Good
- Clear graphical representation of network issues
- Ability to track multiple targets simultaneously
- Historical data for trend analysis
- Customizable alerting for proactive management
The Bad
- May require a learning curve for beginners
- Some advanced features available only in premium versions
SolarWinds Network Performance Monitor

Feature | Description |
---|---|
Comprehensive Monitoring | End-to-end visibility of network performance |
Automated Discovery | Automatic detection and mapping of network devices |
Performance Analysis | in-depth analysis of network performance metrics |
Reporting | Customizable reports for performance insights |
Scalability | Suitable for small to large-scale networks |
As I looked for ways to improve network speed, the SolarWinds Network speed Monitor stood out as a complete answer. Its real-time visibility into network health, bandwidth usage, and gadget performance has given me the tools to deal with problems before they happen.
This powerful monitoring tool has become an essential tool for IT workers like me, helping us find and fix problems before they affect end users. SolarWinds NPM is an important tool for me to keep my network running smoothly because it has an easy-to-use design and a lot of powerful features.
The Good
- Automated discovery for ease of setup
- In-depth performance analysis
- Customizable reports for detailed insights
- Scalable for various network sizes
The Bad
- Higher cost compared to some alternatives
- Advanced features may be overwhelming for smaller networks
WinMTR

Feature | Description |
---|---|
Combined Traceroute and Ping | Integration of traceroute and ping functionalities |
Real-time Monitoring | Continuous monitoring of network performance |
Lightweight | Minimal resource consumption |
Packet Loss Analysis | Detailed analysis of packet loss and latency |
Exportable Data | Save and export monitoring data for analysis |
I became interested in WinMTR when I looked into free, open-source network monitoring tools. WinMTR combines the features of Ping and Traceroute to give me a full picture of the path that data packets take between my computer and certain locations.
With information on latency, packet loss, and hop-by-hop details, WinMTR has become a trusted tool for me to learn about my network connections. It’s great for people who want to do a full network study without spending a lot of money because it’s easy to use and has a lot of information.
The Good
- Combined traceroute and ping for comprehensive analysis
- Real-time monitoring with minimal resource usage
- Lightweight application for quick installation
- Detailed packet loss and latency analysis
The Bad
- User interface may be less polished compared to other tools
- Limited advanced features for complex network troubleshooting
Path Analyzer Pro

Feature | Description |
---|---|
Visual Traceroute | Graphical representation of network paths |
Geographical Mapping | Display of geographic location for each hop |
Bandwidth Measurement | Measurement of available bandwidth along the path |
DNS Resolution | DNS resolution for each network node |
Exportable Reports | Exportable reports for documentation and analysis |
As I looked into more advanced network tools, I came across Path Analyzer Pro, which is a visual master at mapping the complicated routes of internet data. This tool does more than just basic diagnostics. It shows network lines graphically and looks closely at routing details.
It turned out to be an important tool for fixing connectivity problems, finding slow spots, and improving the general performance of the network. The depth of information that Path Analyzer Pro gives makes it a useful tool for anyone who wants to fully understand their network connections, whether they are an IT worker or just a regular user.
The Good
- Visual traceroute with geographical mapping
- Bandwidth measurement for performance analysis
- DNS resolution for each network node
- Exportable reports for documentation
- Intuitive and user-friendly interface
The Bad
- May not offer as many advanced features as some competitors
- Pricing may be a consideration for smaller budgets
Key Features to Look for in Traceroute Alternatives
You can use traceroute options to see how data packets move through a network. When picking an alternative to traceroute, make sure it meets your goals by looking at the following important factors:
- Easy to Use: A good option to traceroute should have an interface that is easy to understand and use. It should be simple to use, even for people who aren’t very good at networking.
- Compatibility with Platforms: Make sure that the alternative to traceroute works with the running systems you have. Find versions that work with Windows, macOS, Linux, and any other systems you might need.
- Showing things visually: There are alternatives to traceroute that show network paths visually, which can help you understand the route better. This can be very useful for troubleshooting and research.
- Options for customisation: Look for traceroute tools that let you change how they work. This could mean being able to change things like the number of hops shown, the size of the packet, the timeout value, or other factors.
- Information about geography: It can be helpful to have features that give geographical details about each hop, like where servers or routers are located. Geographic coordinates or maps help people understand how network lines work.
- Data and logs from the past: Users can see how network paths have changed over time with traceroute options that log and store data. This helps you find patterns, trends, or problems that keep happening.
- Help with protocols: Make sure that the option to traceroute works with both IPv4 and IPv6. This makes sure that it works with the newest networking technologies.
- Checking the network: Look for diagnostic tools that go beyond the basic traceroute functions. Some tools come with ping tests, DNS lookups, and other network monitoring tools, so they can be used for a wide range of tasks.
Questions and Answers
The traceroute tool only does one thing at a time, but MTR does several and adds up the results. A traceroute is fine if all you want to do is see which routes your packet goes through. MTR is the tool to use if you want to figure out what’s wrong, like packet loss.
“traceroute” and “ping” are both network debugging tools that can be used together in mtr. When mtr starts up, it checks the network link between the host it is running on and a host chosen by the user.