Kentik sees the attack. Flowtriq stops it.
Kentik is a strong network observability platform, but it detects DDoS attacks without stopping them. Flowtriq provides 1-2 second detection with 4-tier auto-mitigation built in, at $9.99/node/month with transparent pricing.
The mitigation gap
Detection without response is just a notification
Kentik can tell you an attack is happening. But telling you is where it stops. You still need a separate tool, a separate vendor, and a separate workflow to actually make it stop.
What Kentik users actually say
Real complaints from verified Kentik customers
These are sourced from peer review platforms. We have not altered the quotes, only censored names and companies for privacy.
Detection without mitigation
This is the most common frustration from Kentik users working in DDoS defense. Kentik identifies anomalies and generates alerts, but stopping the attack requires a completely separate toolchain. Every minute between detection and mitigation is a minute your infrastructure is taking hits.
Opaque, expensive pricing
Kentik's pricing model factors in per-device counts, per-BGP session counts, and flow volume. For operators running large networks, costs can scale unpredictably as infrastructure grows. The lack of public pricing makes budgeting difficult before you engage with sales.
Complex API
Kentik offers an API, but users report that the complexity of calling it makes automation harder than expected. For teams building custom integrations or automated workflows, this friction adds development time and maintenance overhead.
Data storage limits historical analysis
Kentik's data retention is limited by storage tiers, which restricts how far back operators can investigate traffic patterns and attack history. For post-incident forensics and long-term trend analysis, this can be a significant limitation.
Support response times during incidents
When an active attack is happening and you need help from your detection vendor, response time matters. Some Kentik users report that support responsiveness does not always match the urgency of real-time security incidents.
Side-by-side comparison
Kentik vs Flowtriq
A factual comparison across detection, mitigation, deployment, and pricing. The key difference: Flowtriq includes mitigation. Kentik does not.
| Capability | Flowtriq | Kentik |
|---|---|---|
| Detection | ||
| DDoS detection | 1-2 second, sliding-window p99 baselines | Flow-based anomaly detection |
| Detection granularity | Per-server dynamic baselines | Per-device/subnet from flow data |
| Attack classification | Automatic multi-vector with confidence scoring | Flow-based classification |
| Server-side PCAP | Automatic PCAP on every attack (ring buffer) | No packet capture |
| Mitigation | ||
| Built-in mitigation | 4-tier auto-escalation included | No mitigation, detection only |
| Local rate limiting | Tier 1 - automatic on-server response | Not available |
| FlowSpec | Tier 2 - upstream router filtering | Not available |
| RTBH blackholing | Tier 3 - BGP blackhole signaling | Not available |
| Cloud scrubbing | Tier 4 - Cloudflare, OVH, Hetzner, DO, Vultr, Linode | Not available |
| BGP adapters | ExaBGP, GoBGP, BIRD 2, FRR, Cloudflare, Radware, F5, webhook | No mitigation adapters |
| Deployment | ||
| Deployment model | Software agent on existing servers | SaaS, requires flow export from routers |
| Setup time | 5 minutes per server | Days to weeks (router configuration required) |
| Router configuration | None required | Must configure NetFlow/sFlow/IPFIX export on every router |
| Network Analytics | ||
| NetFlow/sFlow analytics | Not a flow analytics platform | Deep flow analytics and visualization |
| BGP routing analysis | Not a routing analytics platform | BGP path analysis and visualization |
| Capacity planning | Not a capacity planning tool | Network capacity planning and forecasting |
| Alerting & Integrations | ||
| Alert channels | Slack, Discord, PagerDuty, OpsGenie, Telegram, SMS, email, Teams, webhook | Slack, PagerDuty, email, webhook, others |
| REST API | Full REST API included | API available (reported as complex) |
| Pricing | ||
| Starting cost | $9.99/node/month ($7.99 annual) | Not public (per-device, per-session, per-flow volume) |
| Pricing transparency | Public pricing page, one simple metric | Multi-variable pricing, requires sales engagement |
| Free trial | 14-day free trial, no credit card | Demo available through sales |
True cost of ownership
Kentik vs Flowtriq pricing
Kentik does not publish pricing. Their model uses per-device, per-BGP session, and per-flow volume variables. Flowtriq has one number: $9.99 per node per month.
Kentik Platform
- Per-device licensing fees
- Per-BGP session charges
- Flow volume-based pricing tiers
- Annual or multi-year contracts typical
- Cost scales with network complexity
- No built-in mitigation (separate vendor required)
- Mitigation tool is an additional cost
- Deep NetFlow/sFlow analytics
- BGP routing analysis
- Network capacity planning
Flowtriq
- 50 nodes: $499.50/month ($4,794/year annual)
- 150 nodes: $1,498.50/month ($14,382/year annual)
- 500 nodes: $4,995/month ($47,940/year annual)
- Detection AND mitigation included
- 4-tier auto-escalation built in
- No separate mitigation vendor needed
- Per-server PCAP capture and forensics
- 8 BGP adapters, 6+ scrubbing integrations
- Public pricing, one metric, no surprises
- Monthly or annual, cancel anytime
Who each tool serves
Observability platform vs detection and response platform
Kentik and Flowtriq solve different problems. The right choice depends on whether you need network analytics or DDoS detection with automated mitigation.
Flowtriq works well for
Hosting providers, ISPs, game server operators, and cloud infrastructure operators who need DDoS detection and mitigation in a single tool. Teams that want automated response rather than just alerts. Operators using upstream cloud scrubbing, FlowSpec, or RTBH for mitigation. Anyone who wants per-server PCAP forensics and transparent, predictable pricing.
Kentik works well for
Large carriers and enterprises that need deep NetFlow/sFlow/IPFIX analytics across thousands of router interfaces. Network engineering teams focused on capacity planning, BGP routing analysis, and traffic visualization. Organizations that already have a separate DDoS mitigation solution and need an observability layer on top of it.
Use both together
Kentik provides network-wide flow analytics, BGP routing visibility, and capacity planning from the router level. Flowtriq adds per-server DDoS detection, automatic PCAP capture, and 4-tier mitigation automation from the server level. Together, you get both the observability layer (Kentik) and the detection-to-response layer (Flowtriq), closing the mitigation gap that Kentik users consistently ask for.
Flowtriq as Kentik alternative
If your primary use case for Kentik is DDoS detection and you are frustrated by the lack of built-in mitigation, Flowtriq replaces the detection layer and adds the response layer in a single tool. You lose Kentik's broad network analytics, but you gain 1-2 second per-server detection, automatic PCAP capture, and 4-tier auto-mitigation, all at a lower and more predictable price point.
Common questions
Kentik alternatives: FAQ
Getting started
Deploy Flowtriq in
5 minutes
Whether you are adding Flowtriq alongside Kentik for mitigation automation or replacing Kentik for DDoS detection entirely, the install is the same: one command, no router configuration, no flow export setup.
Next Steps
Ready to see how Flowtriq compares?
Two ways to get started. Pick whichever works for you.