Real-Time Bandwidth Monitoring with PeakHour
Network Management
Jul 26, 2025
Monitor your network's performance in real-time with insights on bandwidth usage, ISP speed verification, and data management tools.
Your network’s performance directly impacts your daily activities, from work meetings to streaming shows. PeakHour helps you monitor your bandwidth in real time, offering tools to identify slowdowns, track ISP performance, and manage data usage - all from your Mac.
Here’s what you need to know:
Why it matters: Real-time monitoring helps you detect network issues, verify ISP speeds, and even spot potential security threats.
What it is: PeakHour is a macOS tool that tracks your network’s health using customizable dashboards, live graphs, and protocol support (UPnP, SNMP).
Setup: Compatible with macOS 10.10 or later, it’s easy to install and configure for routers and devices supporting SNMP or UPnP protocols.
Features:
Track upload/download speeds, latency, and jitter.
Set alerts for bandwidth usage.
Access historical data to identify trends.
Monitor remotely via any browser.
Pricing: Choose between a $12.99/year subscription or a $44.95 lifetime license, both with a 7-day free trial.
PeakHour helps you stay in control of your network, ensuring smooth performance and accountability from your ISP.
Bandwidth explained and why monitoring bandwidth traffic is important (PRTG)
Setting Up PeakHour
Getting started with PeakHour on your Mac is straightforward. Here's how to set it up step by step.
System Requirements
Before diving in, make sure your system meets these requirements:
macOS Compatibility: PeakHour 4 works with macOS 10.10.0 or later, so it's suitable for most modern Macs.
Router and Device Support: Your router and any devices you want to monitor must support one of the following:
SNMP (v1, v2c, or v3)
UPnP with Internet Gateway Device (IGW) v1.0 or v2.0
If you're unsure whether your router supports these protocols, check its admin panel or user manual for terms like "SNMP", "UPnP", or "Network Management."
Once you've confirmed compatibility, you're ready to download and install PeakHour.
Installation and Setup Steps
Installing PeakHour is quick and user-friendly. Start by downloading it from the Mac App Store to ensure you're getting the official version.
When you open PeakHour for the first time, the First Time Setup Assistant will guide you through the process. This includes:
Automatically detecting your internet router via UPnP.
Configuring monitor settings and the Internet Dashboard.
Adding other network devices for monitoring.
If PeakHour doesn't detect your router during setup, you may need to enable UPnP in your router's settings and restart both the router and your Mac.
During the setup, you can select which monitors to add. For example:
Monitor your internet connection directly through your router.
Enable usage monitoring.
Customize the Internet Dashboard to show key metrics and even run periodic speed tests.
You can also add other devices, like Macs, PCs, WiFi access points, or NAS devices, as long as they support SNMP. Once the setup is complete, click Finish, and real-time data will start appearing on your dashboard within minutes.
After installation, you can begin configuring PeakHour's monitoring features to suit your needs.
Pricing Options
PeakHour offers flexible pricing plans to cater to different users:
Plan | Price | Best For | Features |
|---|---|---|---|
Annual Subscription | $12.99/year | Great for users wanting to explore real-time monitoring | Includes all features, regular updates, and email support |
One-Time Purchase | $44.95 (lifetime) | Ideal for power users or businesses preferring a one-time payment | Includes all features, lifetime updates, and email support |
If you're unsure which plan suits you, PeakHour provides a 7-day free trial. This allows you to test all features and see how the tool fits your needs. Plus, if you're upgrading from PeakHour 4, you can enjoy a 20% discount on PeakHour 5. This reduces the annual subscription to $9.99 and the lifetime purchase to $34.95.
To activate your trial, subscription, or lifetime license, simply follow the on-screen instructions. Activation is seamlessly integrated with your Mac App Store account.
With PeakHour installed and activated, you're ready to customize your setup and start analyzing your network's performance in real time.
Configuring PeakHour for Monitoring
After installing PeakHour, the next step is setting it up to monitor your network. This includes adding devices, personalizing your dashboard, and enabling alerts to keep track of bandwidth changes. Proper configuration ensures you can verify whether your ISP is delivering the speeds you're paying for.
Adding Devices to Monitor
PeakHour supports monitoring a variety of devices using UPnP, SNMP, or a local interface on your Mac. This includes routers, wireless devices, servers, and NAS systems.
You can add devices manually via SNMP, integrate local interfaces, or let PeakHour automatically detect UPnP-enabled devices. The app’s Configuration Assistant walks you through adding new monitoring targets, which can be either Bandwidth Monitors or Connection Quality Monitors.
Bandwidth Monitors: Track upload and download speeds.
Connection Quality Monitors: Measure latency to a specific host.
For automatic device discovery, make sure UPnP is enabled on your router. If a device doesn’t show up, double-check your router's UPnP settings and refer to troubleshooting resources.
SNMP offers more advanced monitoring options compared to UPnP, allowing you to choose specific interfaces for more precise throughput tracking. Once you've added your devices, you can customize your dashboard to display real-time metrics.
Customizing the Dashboard
The Internet Dashboard in PeakHour offers a live view of your network’s latency and throughput. You can tailor this dashboard to focus on the metrics that matter most to you by accessing the configuration options under the Dashboard tab in settings.
Some key metrics you can display include:
Latency and jitter
Upload and download speeds
Automated speed tests to verify ISP performance
The dashboard also allows you to monitor latency and jitter at critical points, such as your router, ISP, and up to three specific websites. You can select these hosts from pre-configured options or manually enter hostnames or IP addresses. This ensures you’re tracking connectivity to the services you rely on most.
Additionally, you can adjust which monitors appear in the menu bar and fine-tune their appearance. For example, you can modify latency thresholds and color indicators for congestion in Settings > Display & Colors. This lets you set alert levels that align with your expectations for network performance.
Setting Up Bandwidth Alerts
PeakHour efficiently tracks bandwidth usage on devices that support SNMP or UPnP. To make the most of this feature, ensure your router supports one of these protocols. SNMP provides greater detail and control, making it ideal for monitoring devices that handle critical traffic.
Focus on adding key devices like routers and primary access points, as these provide the clearest view of your network’s overall performance and any bottlenecks.
Once your devices are set up and your dashboard is customized, PeakHour gives you real-time insights into your network. This makes it easier to identify potential issues before they disrupt your internet experience.
Monitoring and Analyzing Bandwidth with PeakHour
Once you’ve set everything up, PeakHour provides tools to analyze historical trends, helping you understand your internet usage and verify how well your ISP is delivering on its promises.
Real-Time Bandwidth Monitoring
PeakHour offers a convenient menu bar widget that shows live upload and download speeds, latency, and connection quality right on your macOS interface. This feature allows you to keep an eye on your network’s performance without needing to open the full application. It’s a handy way to catch performance issues as they happen.
If your network usage suddenly spikes or drops, visual alerts notify you immediately. Within the main application, real-time graphs provide a more detailed look at your network activity. These graphs break down bandwidth usage over different time periods, allowing you to identify patterns and pinpoint peak usage times. For those monitoring multiple devices via SNMP or UPnP, PeakHour highlights how much bandwidth each device is consuming, making it easier to identify which devices are hogging the network.
Dive into these monitoring tools to take full advantage of what PeakHour has to offer.
Reviewing Historical Data
PeakHour doesn’t just stop at real-time monitoring - it also keeps a detailed log of bandwidth and latency measurements over time. You can review this historical data for periods ranging from days to months.
This historical view can uncover patterns that might be missed during live monitoring. For example, you might discover that your internet slows down at specific times of the day, hinting at possible network congestion during those hours.
PeakHour also includes a data export feature, allowing you to download performance logs in various formats. This is particularly useful if you need to create reports on your internet quality - whether you’re addressing issues with your ISP or assessing the impact of changes like upgrading your router or internet plan.
Remote Monitoring Access
With PeakHour Remote, you can extend your monitoring capabilities beyond your Mac, giving you real-time insights from anywhere with an internet connection. You can access PeakHour Remote through any modern web browser.
To set it up, enable the "Enable PeakHour Remote" option in the preferences menu. A specific URL will appear at the bottom of the preferences pane, which you can add to your phone’s home screen for quick access. The remote interface provides an overview of all your monitoring targets, and you can tap on any section to see detailed graphs. This feature is especially useful for troubleshooting network problems while you’re away, helping you determine whether the issue affects your entire network or just specific devices.
Keep in mind that PeakHour Remote connections aren’t encrypted by default. If you’re planning to access your monitors over the internet and not just within your local network, it’s a good idea to use additional security measures like a VPN to protect your data.
Improving Internet Performance with PeakHour
PeakHour provides valuable data to help you fine-tune your network performance and assess the quality of your internet service provider (ISP). By leveraging its real-time and historical monitoring features, you can make informed decisions to enhance your internet experience.
Comparing Promised vs. Actual Speeds
With PeakHour, you can compare your ISP's advertised speeds against real-time measurements displayed on the app's dashboard, especially during high-usage periods. If you notice a consistent gap between the speeds you're promised and what you're actually getting, this data can serve as clear evidence of service quality issues. Beyond bandwidth, monitoring latency - how long it takes for data to travel - can uncover hidden network problems that may not appear in speed tests alone.
By documenting these discrepancies over time, you can build a solid case to discuss service adjustments or billing corrections with your ISP. This data also lays the groundwork for identifying and diagnosing broader network issues.
Identifying Network Congestion
Once you've analyzed speed differences, you can dive deeper into historical trends to identify patterns of congestion. PeakHour's historical data helps pinpoint recurring dips in performance that may indicate network congestion. Additionally, the app's device-level monitoring, which uses SNMP and UPnP protocols, distinguishes between external congestion caused by your ISP and internal bandwidth competition from devices on your network. For instance, you might find that a single device is hogging a significant portion of your available bandwidth.
Armed with this detailed information, you can plan activities like large downloads or video calls during times when your network is less congested, ensuring smoother performance.
Exporting Usage Reports
PeakHour makes it easy to document your internet performance by exporting usage reports. Whether for personal analysis or discussions with your ISP, these reports provide a clear and detailed record of your network's behavior. Through the app's interface, you can select specific timeframes and data types - such as bandwidth usage, latency, and timestamps - for export.
By focusing on longer periods, like several weeks, you can identify consistent trends rather than isolated incidents. This allows you to present specific evidence, such as differences between advertised and actual speeds, latency issues, or interruptions, instead of vague complaints about "slow internet."
PeakHour also lets you review and export data in real-time or for any historical period. These reports complement live alerts and graphs, giving you a comprehensive view of your network's performance. To stay organized, consider saving your reports by date and purpose. This makes it easier to reference past issues, track improvements, or evaluate whether it's time to upgrade your service.
Conclusion
PeakHour offers real-time insights that make managing your network easier and more effective. By visualizing key metrics across your device, router, ISP, and the broader internet, the app provides a clear picture of your network's performance. This helps you spot potential problems early and address them before they escalate.
One standout feature is how PeakHour compares your promised internet speeds with actual performance. With live monitoring of throughput and latency, you can ensure you're getting the service you're paying for. It even catches issues that basic speed tests often overlook. Plus, its historical data allows you to track trends over time, making it easier to fine-tune your network and have informed conversations with your ISP.
Users have praised the app for its reliability and utility. With a solid 4.4 out of 5 rating on the Mac App Store, PeakHour has proven its worth. As one long-time user, @hObOHammerFighter, shared:
"I'm a long time user of Peak Hour and it's one of those apps I can't do without. I have it monitoring my firewall as well as several machines. I even have it setup to monitor different firewalls at different work offices… Love it."
Whether you’re resolving connectivity issues, managing bandwidth, or holding your ISP accountable, PeakHour gives you the tools to keep your network running smoothly.
FAQs
How can PeakHour help me detect and fix network congestion?
PeakHour delivers real-time insights into your network's performance, offering a clear view of bandwidth usage, latency, and overall activity through interactive graphs and detailed metrics. By keeping a close eye on your network, it helps pinpoint areas where congestion or bottlenecks may be slowing things down.
Armed with this data, you can take action - whether that's adjusting your network settings or reaching out to your internet service provider for support. With PeakHour's advanced monitoring tools, staying on top of your internet connection's performance becomes straightforward and hassle-free.
What is the difference between using SNMP and UPnP with PeakHour for monitoring?
When using PeakHour, SNMP and UPnP serve distinct roles tailored to different needs. SNMP (Simple Network Management Protocol) is all about providing advanced monitoring capabilities. It offers detailed insights like interface-specific statistics and performance metrics, making it perfect for users who require precise control and a deeper understanding of their network devices.
In contrast, UPnP (Universal Plug and Play) prioritizes simplicity. It focuses on automatically discovering devices and enabling basic communication, making it a great choice for those who want a quick and hassle-free setup without diving into complex configurations. Whether you need SNMP's detailed monitoring or UPnP's straightforward usability, the choice depends on what works best for you.
How can I check if my internet speeds match what my ISP promises using PeakHour?
With PeakHour, you can keep an eye on your internet speeds in real time and see how they stack up against what your ISP promises. The app’s dashboard makes it easy to track your bandwidth performance and check if your connection is living up to expectations.
For a deeper look, you can set up periodic speed checks. This feature helps you spot any inconsistencies or trends in your internet performance over time, making sure you’re getting the speeds you’re paying for.