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AirCheck G3 vs SolarWinds Network Configuration Manager comparison

The compared NetAlly and SolarWinds solutions aren't in the same category. NetAlly is ranked #8 in NT , and holds a 7.1% mindshare in the category. SolarWinds is ranked #14 in CM , with an average rating of 8.0, and holds a 2.8% mindshare. Additionally, 100% of NetAlly users are willing to recommend the solution, compared to 95% of SolarWinds users who would recommend it.
AirCheck G3
Read 13 AirCheck G3 reviews
  • 1,285 Views
  • 1,105 Comparison Views
100% willing to recommend
SolarWinds Network Configur...
Read 27 SolarWinds Network Configuration Manager reviews
  • 3,158 Views
  • 1,105 Comparison Views
95% willing to recommend
 

Comparison Buyer's Guide

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Executive Summary
We performed a comparison between AirCheck G3 and SolarWinds Network Configuration Manager based on real PeerSpot user reviews.

Find out in this report how the two Network Troubleshooting solutions compare in terms of features, pricing, service and support, easy of deployment, and ROI.

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To learn more, read our detailed AirCheck G3 vs. SolarWinds Network Configuration Manager Report (Updated: September 2020).
Buyer's Guide
AirCheck G3 vs. SolarWinds Network Configuration Manager
September 2020
Download the complete report
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Review summaries and opinions

We asked business professionals to review the solutions they use. Here are some excerpts of what they said:
 

Categories and Ranking

AirCheck G3
Average Rating
8.6
Number of Reviews
13
Ranking in other categories
Network Troubleshooting (8th)
SolarWinds Network Configur...
Average Rating
8.2
Reviews Sentiment
6.9
Number of Reviews
27
Ranking in other categories
Configuration Management (14th), Network Automation (4th)
 

Mindshare comparison

While both are Network Management solutions, they serve different purposes. AirCheck G3 is designed for Network Troubleshooting and holds a mindshare of 7.1%, down 7.6% compared to last year.
SolarWinds Network Configuration Manager, on the other hand, focuses on Configuration Management, holds 2.8% mindshare, up 1.3% since last year.
Network Troubleshooting Mindshare Distribution
ProductMindshare (%)
AirCheck G37.1%
Wireshark15.0%
AirMagnet Survey PRO9.8%
Other68.1%
Network Troubleshooting
Configuration Management Mindshare Distribution
ProductMindshare (%)
SolarWinds Network Configuration Manager2.8%
Red Hat Ansible Automation Platform10.9%
Microsoft Configuration Manager8.0%
Other78.3%
Configuration Management
 

Featured Reviews

David-Prusynski - PeerSpot reviewer
David-Prusynski
Senior Network Engineer at a healthcare company with 5,001-10,000 employees
A portable, rugged device that reduces resolution time and saves thousands of dollars
It would be nice if I could import an AP list with a MAC address. When it looks at access points, it should tell me the AP name instead of the MAC address. When you get a MAC address, you can eventually find out where you want to go. However, a lot of times, if I just have an AP name, I know that's in this area or that's over there. I would like that function because AirMagnet, which is the precursor of this, had that ability where you could basically import a list of APs and MAC addresses, and then it could display those instead of just a MAC address. That'd be a nice function. We should be able to put an AP to MAC address in Excel and export it as a CSV file and then import it. That'd be nice to have because I have that information for all my hospitals. The one I'm doing this weekend has got 550 access points. It is much easier for me to look at an AP name than to get a MAC address. Currently, I have to go to a different spreadsheet and try to find that MAC address. If I had the AP name, it would be like, "Okay. Yep. See it. Done." They are doing spectrum analysis in G3, which I would love to have in G2. That's a nice tool to have, and from what I heard, that's the same price. I'd like to have that. The other function I would love to see is the ability to test fiber. I know the $10,000 version has the ability to test fiber, but I would love this lower-cost device to be able to test fiber.
Read full review
AB
Alastair Brand
MD at Thembanet
Flexibility and reliability enable effective network monitoring with integrations and compliance reporting
The flexibility and reliability of SolarWinds Network Configuration Manager are particularly valuable. It allows for a significant amount of integrations, including with collaboration platforms like Microsoft Teams and Telegram, as well as ServiceNow and Microsoft BI. The solution facilitates compliance reporting through an NCM module, effectively generating out-of-the-box reports on software vulnerabilities and outdated software versions. Additionally, the real-time change detection feature significantly reduces the time to resolve issues by allowing alerts to be tracked through to resolution. The use of templates helps in deploying configuration standards, preventing configuration errors.
Read full review

Quotes from Members

We asked business professionals to review the solutions they use. Here are some excerpts of what they said:
 

Pros

"Therefore, AirCheck G2 is the best of both worlds; it's an affordable product with many useful features."
"One device takes the place of many, which is time efficient and cost-efficient."
"The airCheck is the real-time spectrum analyzer to see clients that could be connecting to our network, not just rogue networks out there, but rogue clients and other interference in that particular spectrum."
"There is just so much this device does that it's unbelievable sometimes."
"I like the cloud functionality. That's very useful because somebody can go onsite, someone who is not really skilled, and I can see the test results from the office."
"We're a customer because it is a well-performing device that we can give our people in the field, they feel comfortable with it, and they don't dread using it."
"The information provided by the solution for resolving connectivity and performance problems is very thorough. The reporting functionality is extremely good as I can pass that information on with little input. The device will identify issues and problems, e.g., the diagnostic material. When you have Internet access, it sends the information to your email address, which is very useful."
"The ability to push data to Link-Live is really important. On the main screen, you can see all the system parameters, and then you can also go and see all the current systems that are operating. They all have different SSIDs or system identifiers, and you can see all SSIDs that are operating in a certain area. Being able to see that and being able to dive into each one and figure out what frequency it is operating under is valuable."
More AirCheck G3 pros
"Compared to other vendors, like NetBrain, managing the solution is easy. They made it very user-friendly."
"It is a stable solution."
"It's a helpful tool and I really like it."
"The tool is useful for security purposes."
"Compared to other vendors, like NetBrain, managing the solution is easy; they made it very user-friendly."
"The most valuable features the solution offers are compliance, reliability, and information about reliability."
"The most valuable features the solution offers are compliance, reliability, and information about reliability."
"This solution has helped our organization by allowing us to store all the device configurations for the various network devices in NCM and making it easy for us to retrieve and look them over."
More SolarWinds Network Configuration Manager pros
 

Cons

"If it was capable of downloading MIBs onto the device, then we could identify the manufacturer."
"You spend money on and invested in multiple devices and can't even use half of the features."
"My biggest complaint about it is that I wish it was cheaper."
"NetAlly has been behind the curve on visualization, Wi-Fi design, and heat maps for a little while now. They're perfectly aware of this deficiency, but what they offer is good enough for a lot of people. It's not suitable for larger shops, but it works in a pinch. The AirMapper and subsequent AirMagnet integration is an afterthought."
"It is a bit expensive, to be honest. For a small firms, like a wireless consultant or small IT support company, it is hugely expensive and that's a shame because it is a fantastic tool."
"The only thing that would be an improvement would be the ability to do MPO/MPT testing, which is another mode of fiber, along with more options on the SFP to do that testing."
"It was hard to determine which AP was which because it only shows the MAC address. It'll also display the MAC address of the BSSID, so it looked like I had 12 APs in my house. If I have three access points and each is a dual-band with an SSID or BSSID for each radio, it comes out to about 12 APs. That's one of the bugs fixed in the latest firmware update, but it's only available if you have a NetAlly support contract."
"I would like them to modify the interface. The button to change profiles is fairly small. When you have interventions, it is not always possible to have a ballpoint pen or perfect precision touch with it, since sometimes you need to touch it quite a lot when your hands are very dirty. I would like a special pen that is compatible with that responsive screen. That would make it easier."
More AirCheck G3 cons
"Releasing a product compatible with operating systems other than Windows would be advantageous."
"The interface of solar winds could be improved."
"We want to be able to store it in a data warehouse format and integrate it with Google single sign-on."
"The integration with the network performance monitor wasn't complete as at the last time I used it."
"When we run the SolarWinds NCM jobs at the cellular line, it runs in the morning. They're just not finishing. We're getting false processing."
"The interface of solar winds could be improved."
"On NCM, reporting could be a bit better. It's completely become just one report. When I try to create a custom report, the solution just commits old server data."
"The network flow is a problem for this solution."
More SolarWinds Network Configuration Manager cons
 

Pricing and Cost Advice

"The product has a pretty good price."
"If you find a feature you need, you have to call them and add it, but you should be able to use the product. You spend money on and invested in multiple devices and can't even use half of the features. They should negotiate with large enterprises who buy large numbers of units to provide NetAlly support for all of them at a nominal fee."
"Pricing is on par with the rest of the industry and the licensing is decent."
"For a few thousand dollars, you save yourself a ton of time. It's a great deal."
"I'd always love a lower price, but as compared to some of the other tools, it is fairly reasonable. I personally bought one. So, I must have thought the value was there because I'm spending my own hard cash on it, not just the company's. You can get support. I don't have support on my personal device. We did buy support for our company devices. It is reasonable. It is not super expensive or astronomical."
"Because I work in a big company, it is a no-brainer. If I were a consultant, I would still buy it, but it would be a huge investment. Overall, it's a good tool to have."
"It is definitely well worth the price. It is approximately $2,500. It pays for itself since it eliminates troubleshooting costs and labor due to all the money you would spend kind of troubleshooting the device if you didn't have any of these tools with you."
"The upfront cost of the solution is around $4,000."
More AirCheck G3 pricing and cost advice
"The price of the solution is high compared to other solutions."
"You have a base license for 50 devices, and then you can add more licenses as you go."
"Pricing is reasonable and competitive."
"There is a license for the use of this solution and it is priced well, there is a lot of value for the money."
"We have to pay additionally for its support and maintenance."
"I have a yearly subscription."
"Available at a moderate price"
"There is a license needed to use SolarWinds Network Configuration Manager."
More SolarWinds Network Configuration Manager pricing and cost advice
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Top Industries

By visitors reading reviews
Comms Service Provider
9%
University
9%
Government
8%
Performing Arts
8%
Government
12%
Manufacturing Company
11%
Computer Software Company
7%
University
7%
 

Company Size

By reviewers
Large Enterprise
Midsize Enterprise
Small Business
By reviewers
Company SizeCount
Small Business1
Midsize Enterprise2
Large Enterprise11
By reviewers
Company SizeCount
Small Business15
Midsize Enterprise5
Large Enterprise8
 

Questions from the Community

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Earn 20 points
What is your experience regarding pricing and costs for SolarWinds Network Configuration Manager?
The licensing costs of SolarWinds Network Configuration Manager are expensive, but considering its reliability, feature enhancements, and support, it is worthwhile.
See all answers
What needs improvement with SolarWinds Network Configuration Manager?
NCM could benefit from enhanced automation capabilities — for instance, enabling workflow-based configuration automation tasks. While regex and command-line scripting are available, they require sp...
See all answers
What is your primary use case for SolarWinds Network Configuration Manager?
I work with SolarWinds Network Configuration Manager ( /products/solarwinds-network-configuration-manager-reviews ) as a significant part of our operations. Our primary use case involves handling c...
See all answers
 

Comparisons

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AirMagnet Survey PRO vs AirCheck G3 Logo
AirMagnet Survey PRO vs AirCheck G3
Compared 18% of the time
LinkRunner vs AirCheck G3 Logo
LinkRunner vs AirCheck G3
Compared 12% of the time
Broadcom Network Flow Analysis vs AirCheck G3 Logo
Broadcom Network Flow Analysis vs AirCheck G3
Compared 11% of the time
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Red Hat Ansible Automation Platform vs SolarWinds Network Configuration Manager Logo
Red Hat Ansible Automation Platform vs SolarWinds Network Configuration Manager
Compared 9% of the time
Cisco DNA Center vs SolarWinds Network Configuration Manager Logo
Cisco DNA Center vs SolarWinds Network Configuration Manager
Compared 8% of the time
HashiCorp Terraform vs SolarWinds Network Configuration Manager Logo
HashiCorp Terraform vs SolarWinds Network Configuration Manager
Compared 6% of the time
ManageEngine Network Configuration Management vs SolarWinds Network Configuration Manager Logo
ManageEngine Network Configuration Management vs SolarWinds Network Configuration Manager
Compared 4% of the time
NetBrain vs SolarWinds Network Configuration Manager Logo
NetBrain vs SolarWinds Network Configuration Manager
Compared 3% of the time
More SolarWinds Network Configuration Manager Competitors
 

Product Reports

Buyer's Guide
AirCheck G3
April 2026
AirCheck G3 reportDownload AirCheck G3 product report
Buyer's Guide
SolarWinds Network Configuration Manager
April 2026
SolarWinds Network Configuration Manager reportDownload SolarWinds Network Configuration Manager product report
 

Also Known As

AirCheck G2, AirCheck
SolarWinds NCM
 

Overview

AirCheck G3 is the most cost-effective hardware-enabled site survey solution for Wi-Fi 6/6E networks. It provides network professionals of any skill level with complete and accurate information to survey and validate Wi-Fi deployments and changes, resolve connectivity and performance problems quickly, speed up closure of trouble tickets, and ensure your Wi-Fi network meets end users’ needs.

The new and improved battery life of 10 hours (3 - 4 hours charge) lasts you and your teams throughout the day.

AirCheck G3 Product Info

NetAlly
Before you monitor your network, configure it! A reliable and secure network starts with carefully planned, executed, and monitored network configuration and change management. SolarWinds Network Configuration Manager (NCM) saves time and improves network reliability and security by managing configurations, changes, and compliance for routers, switches, and other network devices from Cisco, Juniper, HP, Dell, Brocade, Aruba, Rukus, and more.
SolarWinds
 

Sample Customers

Information Not Available
United Lincolnshire Hospitals, Air Rarotonga, NetSuite, Thai AirAsia, REA Group, 335th Signal Command, Agilisys, Marine Expeditionary Force
Buyer's Guide
AirCheck G3 vs. SolarWinds Network Configuration Manager
September 2020
Free Report: AirCheck G3 vs. SolarWinds Network Configuration Manager
Find out what your peers are saying about AirCheck G3 vs. SolarWinds Network Configuration Manager and other solutions. Updated: September 2020.
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