NetMeter

Name: NetMeter
Availability: Discontinued
Author: ReadError

NetMeter was a lightweight network bandwidth monitor for Windows that displayed real time upload and download speeds in a small floating window or system tray icon. It tracked daily, weekly, and monthly data usage to help users stay within ISP bandwidth caps.

What it did

A floating graph window showed current upload and download speeds updating in real time. The program logged all bandwidth usage with daily, weekly, and monthly totals. Alerts could notify you when approaching a data cap. The display was customizable with different graph styles, colors, and transparency levels.

Multiple network adapters were monitored separately, useful for computers with both wired and wireless connections. Export options saved usage logs for analysis.

Advantages

Simple, always-visible bandwidth display
Usage tracking with monthly totals
Data cap alerts
Lightweight and unobtrusive

Drawbacks

No longer maintained
Windows Task Manager shows network usage natively
Most ISPs have removed bandwidth caps
NetWorx or GlassWire are maintained alternatives

Who it was for

NetMeter was for users monitoring bandwidth usage against ISP data caps or diagnosing network speed issues. Windows Task Manager now shows network usage in the Performance tab. For detailed monitoring, NetWorx and GlassWire are maintained alternatives with firewall and app-level tracking.

Frequently Asked Questions

What was NetMeter?

A lightweight bandwidth monitor that displayed real time upload/download speeds and tracked daily, weekly, and monthly data usage with cap alerts.

How do I monitor bandwidth on Windows now?

Task Manager (Ctrl+Shift+Esc) > Performance tab shows real time network usage. Settings > Network & Internet > Data usage shows monthly totals.

What detailed network monitors are available?

GlassWire shows per-app bandwidth usage with a visual graph. NetWorx tracks data usage with quotas and alerts. Both have free versions.

Features & How-To Guide

#	Feature	How to use
1	Real-time bandwidth graph	Right-click the tray icon › Show Meter. A floating graph with colored lines for upload and download.
2	Polish name days and holidays	The tray icon changes dynamically showing incoming/outgoing traffic without opening the main window.
3	Network interface selection for monitoring	Right-click the tray icon › Select a network adapter (Wi-Fi/Ethernet/VPN) or monitor all simultaneously.
4	Graph appearance customization	Options › Adjust graph colors/font size/line thickness/background color. Resize the window by dragging.
5	Daily/weekly/monthly reports	Right-click › Totals. Statistics of transferred data broken down by day/week/month.
6	Bandwidth limit exceeded alerts	Options › Notifications › Set a speed threshold. Alert when upload/download speed exceeds the limit.
7	Automatic Windows startup	Options › Check Start with Windows. NetMeter starts automatically at login.
8	Transparency and click-through	Options › Set the graph window transparency. Option to pass mouse clicks through to applications underneath.
9	Portable mode	Distributed as a ZIP archive without an installer. Run from any folder or USB drive.
10	Icon hover animation	Options › Display. The graph appears when the mouse hovers over it and disappears when the mouse moves away.
11	Report export to CSV	In the Totals/Reports window click Export. Saves statistics to a CSV file for use in spreadsheets.
12	Logitech LCD display support	Options › Enable LCD plugin. Shows bandwidth on a Logitech G15 keyboard display.