# Zabbix vs Nagios: which do AI models recommend for network monitoring, October 2026

IT AI Recommendation Index, October 2026 Edition, Network monitoring and management. Zero of fourteen models named Zabbix first on the direct prompt; zero named Nagios. Page: https://it-ai-index.com/network/network-monitoring-and-management/zabbix-vs-nagios/

| | First-choice share | Rank | Negative rate | Labels | Models naming it |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Zabbix | 17% | #3 of 12 | 13% | 47 | 13 of 14 |
| Nagios | 4% | #7 of 12 | 44% | 32 | 14 of 14 |

## The direct prompt, model by model

- Claude Haiku 4.5: neither first, one named (first choices: ManageEngine OpManager, Paessler PRTG Network Monitor) (alternatives: Zabbix)
- GPT-5.4 mini: neither first, one named (first choices: SolarWinds Network Performance Monitor) (alternatives: Datadog Network Monitoring, Paessler PRTG Network Monitor, Zabbix)
- Llama 4 Maverick: neither first, one named (first choices: Datadog Network Monitoring) (alternatives: Nagios, Netdata)
- Qwen 3.7 Flash: neither first, one named (first choices: ManageEngine OpManager) (alternatives: Datadog Network Monitoring, LogicMonitor, Progress WhatsUp Gold, Zabbix)
- GLM 4.7 FlashX: neither first, one named (first choices: Paessler PRTG Network Monitor) (alternatives: ManageEngine OpManager, SolarWinds Network Performance Monitor, Zabbix)
- MiniMax M2.5: neither first, one named (first choices: ManageEngine OpManager, Paessler's PRTG Network Monitor) (alternatives: Zabbix)
- Gemini 3.5 Flash: neither named (first choices: Auvik) (alternatives: LogicMonitor, ManageEngine OpManager, Paessler PRTG Network Monitor)
- Perplexity Sonar: neither named (first choices: ManageEngine OpManager) (alternatives: Datadog Network Monitoring, Domotz, LogicMonitor)
- Grok 4.1 Fast: neither named (first choices: ManageEngine OpManager) (alternatives: Progress WhatsUp Gold)
- Mistral Small: neither named (first choices: LogicMonitor) (alternatives: Datadog Network Monitoring, ManageEngine OpManager)
- DeepSeek V4 Flash: neither named (first choices: Auvik) (alternatives: Datadog Network Monitoring, LogicMonitor, Paessler PRTG Network Monitor)
- Kimi K2: neither named (first choices: ManageEngine OpManager) (alternatives: Auvik, Paessler PRTG Network Monitor, Progress WhatsUp Gold)
- GPT-6 Luna: neither named (first choices: Auvik) (alternatives: LogicMonitor, Paessler PRTG Network Monitor, Site24x7)
- Muse Glimmer 30B: neither named (first choices: ManageEngine OpManager) (alternatives: Auvik, Datadog Network Monitoring, LogicMonitor, Progress WhatsUp Gold, Site24x7, SolarWinds Network Performance Monitor)

## What the models said about Zabbix

- "open-source is usually a poor fit for mid-market teams" (Gemini 3.5 Flash, direct prompt, hard negative)
- "For most small businesses, Zabbix and Nagios Core are the top free choices due to their comprehensive features and no-cost licensing." (Mistral Small, budget prompt, first choice)
- "I'd suggest starting with Zabbix or Netdata since they are open-source and don't have licensing costs" (MiniMax M2.5, budget prompt, first choice)

## What the models said about Nagios

- "Nagios: Steer clear if you're not a highly technical user." (Grok 4.1 Fast, negative prompt, hard negative)
- "often an open-source option like Zabbix or Nagios Core, as they provide robust features at zero licensing cost" (Grok 4.1 Fast, budget prompt, first choice)
- "For most small businesses, Zabbix and Nagios Core are the top free choices" (Mistral Small, budget prompt, first choice)
- "Nagios Xi - a broad network and infrastructure monitoring tool with sensor-level control, suitable for mid-market IT teams." (Llama 4 Maverick, direct prompt, alternative)

Share is the count of first choices across the direct, paraphrase, budget and scale prompts over all fourteen models, for a mid-market B2B company; rank is within the category. Comparisons are drawn for the top eight products in each category. Published under CC BY 4.0; the output is the models' output, and nothing here is a recommendation by the index.