VoIPmonitor

VoIPmonitor is an open-source VoIP packet sniffer paired with a commercial web GUI for monitoring, troubleshooting and recording calls. It suits VoIP operators, call centres, enterprises, integrators and managed service providers that need call-quality reporting alongside packet-level diagnosis. Its strongest case is the depth of troubleshooting and recording controls; channel limits and cloud retention make the plan choice consequential.

Overview

VoIPmonitor combines call-quality metrics such as MOS, jitter, packet loss, delay and RTCP data with call recording and operational analytics. That breadth makes it more than a basic quality dashboard: teams can move from a KPI alert to packet captures, SIP ladder diagrams, audio waveforms and spectral analysis. TLS/SRTP decryption is also part of its troubleshooting toolkit.

The trade-off is a Linux-based sniffer and a paid GUI license, so this is best suited to technical teams prepared to operate VoIP infrastructure rather than buyers seeking a lightweight, general-purpose calling app. The sniffer is a static binary, with builds for x86 and 32- and 64-bit ARM.

Key features

Dashboards, OLAP analytics, scheduled reports, KPI alerts and fraud-detection rules help teams monitor service across calls and investigate issues. Compatibility spans systems including Asterisk, FreeSWITCH, Kamailio, OpenSIPS, Cisco, Avaya, Genesys, Mitel, AudioCodes, Ribbon and Oracle SBC. Its protocol coverage includes SIP, RTP, RTCP, SIPREC, WebRTC, MGCP, SS7, SCTP, Diameter, TCP, SSL and TLS.

Recording support includes SIPREC and policy-based retention and deletion. DTMF suppression and a pause/resume API can help prevent cardholder data from entering recordings, while automated retention and deletion rules support controlled data handling. These are useful safeguards, though they do not replace an organization’s own compliance policies.

Support comes with the WEB GUI license, and the maker offers free deployment assistance. That is a practical advantage for teams integrating monitoring into an existing telephony environment.

Pricing

VoIPmonitor has no free plan; the stated entry price is $22/mo, with a 30-day trial. The Cloud 3 channels plan costs $22 a month, billed $22/mo. It includes full features and 21 days of CDR retention, but PCAP stays on the customer’s server. Three channels suit a small deployment or evaluation, not a larger service operation; the cloud maximum is 2,000 channels.

The On-Premise 10 channels plan costs $45 a month, billed $45/mo. It includes full features, 100% offline operation and unlimited retention, making it the clearer fit for organizations that require local control or longer-term retention. It costs more and starts with ten channels, but avoids the cloud plan’s 21-day CDR window. Choose based on channel needs and where call data must reside, not just the monthly price.

Platforms

VoIPmonitor supports Linux, self-hosted deployment, a web GUI and an API. The Linux sniffer’s x86 and ARM builds give infrastructure teams deployment options, while the web interface provides the monitoring and analytics layer.

Who it's for

Choose VoIPmonitor if you run VoIP services or a sizeable telephony environment and need quality metrics, recordings, alerts and packet-level investigation in one system. Its protocol and vendor compatibility also make it relevant to integrators and managed service providers handling varied deployments.

Look elsewhere if you need a free plan, broad desktop or mobile support, or more than three channels on the least expensive cloud tier. Organizations that need PCAP stored in the cloud should also look elsewhere: the cloud plan keeps it on the customer server.

Pros and cons

• Pros: Detailed troubleshooting tools, including packet captures, SIP ladders and audio analysis, help technical teams investigate call problems beyond headline quality scores.
• Pros: SIPREC recording, DTMF suppression, pause/resume controls and automated retention rules offer meaningful control over sensitive recordings.
• Pros: The on-premise plan supports offline operation and unlimited retention, useful where data control matters more than the lower cloud price.
• Cons: The entry cloud plan is limited to three channels and 21 days of CDR retention, so growing operations may need a higher-capacity arrangement.
• Cons: Cloud PCAP remains on the customer server, adding local storage responsibility rather than keeping packet captures in the cloud service.
• Cons: The Linux sniffer and technical toolset are a poor fit for teams without VoIP operations expertise.

Alternatives

VoIP Monitoring Software and Network Protocol Analyzers are useful category starting points for comparing tools by broader monitoring or packet-analysis needs.

Consider Telchemy SQmediator if its single-server edition and optional Web Services API better match your deployment, with passive and active monitoring offered at additional cost. CallMeter is another paid option with Starter and Professional plans billed monthly or annually, with features, usage limits and service levels varying by plan.

Obkio is worth considering if a free tier matters: it has a free plan and a 14-day trial with premium features, up to 10 agents and no credit card requirement. Bicom Systems SIP Monitoring (sipMON) is a paid Linux and self-hosted alternative.

Oracle Enterprise Operations Monitor is a paid Linux and web alternative. ServicePilot VoIP Monitoring offers a freemium model and lists object monitoring for VoIP systems including Avaya, Cisco, Oracle SBC and Genesys. MultiDSLA is a paid option built around a controller and one or more node devices, with support for controlling 100+ nodes.

If you want an open-source option with commercial support available by quote, consider HOMER.

Verdict

VoIPmonitor is a strong choice for technically equipped VoIP operators and service providers that need detailed call-quality analysis, recording controls and packet-level troubleshooting together. Its on-premise plan is especially compelling when offline operation and unlimited retention matter. The cloud entry tier is constrained by its three-channel allowance and 21-day CDR window, so teams with larger deployments or different data-storage needs should compare alternatives before committing.