10 Tools to Test and Monitor Your VoIP Performance

VoIP has revolutionised communication in UK businesses due to its cost efficiency, scalability and its ability to streamline communication processes. To fully benefit from VoIP, it is important to regularly test and monitor your VoIP performance.

VoIP monitoring tools allow you to assess your network’s ability to support the VoIP system, as well as ensure that specific VoIP communication systems are functioning perfectly. There are various VoIP monitoring and testing tools that can ensure you are getting the best performance possible.

Lauren Davies from bOnline comments: “VoIP is playing an increasingly important role in all of our lives and with 2027 and the landline shutdown coming down the track, it will only prove more important. Ensuring you are receiving the service you need is more important than ever for VoIP, particularly as more services move this way.”

 

What Does VoIP Mean?

 

VoIP (Voice over Internet Protocol) is a system that allows businesses to communicate over the internet instead of using outdated phone lines. It is a very popular system used by many businesses as it enables easy communication from anywhere in the world, provided there is a stable internet connection. 

 

Why Do Businesses Need To Monitor And Test VoIP Performance?

 

Monitoring tools provide businesses with real-time insights into the health of their VoIP infrastructure, allowing them to take proactive measures to maintain high-quality service.

There are several benefits to using VoIP monitoring and test tools, such as maintaining smooth communication, quickly identifying and troubleshooting issues, enhancing system security, and enhancing overall system performance. Dropped calls and communication glitches can severely affect productivity, but these issues can be avoided by regularly monitoring your VoIP system.

 

Can You Test and Monitor Your VoIP Performance?

 

VoIP monitoring tools can prove to be essential for evaluating the performance of your VoIP system. Here are 10 tools you can use to monitor your VoIP performance:

 

1. VoIPmonitor

 

This is an open-source tool dedicated to test for jitter, packet loss, and latency tracking. This tool was specifically designed to monitor VoIP performance, but also having the benefit of being highly customisable. 

 

2. WireShark

 

WireShark is a network protocol analyser that allows you to monitor network traffic. This is a more technical tool, but it is a great tool, but it is excellent for gaining real-time network visibility and packet analysis capabilities. 

3. Ping Test

 

This is a free test that lets businesses check their internet upload and download speed on their internet. Additionally, it tests how long it takes for internet traffic to travel between your computer and another device on the internet. 

 

4. Site24x7 VoIP Monitoring

 

Site24x7 VoIP monitoring is a cloud-based system that helps you track real-time VoIP metrics. Features include website and server monitoring, performance alerts, quality of service metrics and cloud monitoring. All these features help you to detect and troubleshoot any issues quickly and efficiently.

 

5. SolarWinds VoIP & Network Quality Manager

 

SolarWinds is a great tool to test and monitor your VoIP performance, as it tracks important metrics such as latency, jitter, and packet loss, all of which affect call quality. A key feature of this tool is real-time alerts, allowing you to troubleshoot issues rapidly. This tool is especially beneficial for larger businesses where network performance can be monitored across multiple locations.

 

6. VoIP Spear

 

This web-based tool focuses on monitoring and tracking voice services. It is ideal for businesses with multiple locations or remote workers, as it can monitor call services from various sites. VoIP Spear includes features such as mean opinion scores, tracks quality of service provided by SIP providers and ISPs, and SIP line connection testing. It also provides a performance dashboard so you can monitor performance over time. 

 

7. Thousand Eyes

 

Thousand Eyes is a comprehensive VoIP monitoring tool that offers detailed reporting and analytical capabilities. Its standout features include call simulation and troubleshooting, with metrics for jitter, packet loss and latency tracking, as well as SIP line connection testing.

 

8. ExtraHop

 

ExtraHop is a very popular tool because it provides both network performance monitoring and security monitoring. It tracks VoIP/SIP calls, providing metrics such as call volume, length, and quality. These metrics are displayed on a bird’s eye view dashboard, making it easy to identify any issues that need addressing. 

 

9. Dotcom-Monitor

 

This tool focuses on tracking server performance and monitoring VoIP protocols. Dotcom-Monitor includes features such as inbound call routing, voicemail availability, tracking of outgoing call success, and monitoring the connectivity and availability of internal systems.

 

10. TestMyVoIP

This is a very user-friendly tool that lets you test for jitter, packet loss, and latency tracking. It can be used from multiple points of presence, making it ideal for businesses with multiple offices or remote workers. You can easily assess the performance of your VoIP systems as well as the reliability and stability of your audio calls.