Network performance evaluation plays a critical role in ensuring the efficiency, reliability, and quality of modern communication systems. This paper presents a systematic review of three major network performance evaluation techniques: benchmarking, monitoring, and simulation. The study analyzes their principles, strengths, limitations, and practical applications. A comparative analysis is provided to highlight their differences in terms of accuracy, cost, flexibility, and real-time applicability. The qualitative ratings used in this comparison are linked directly to specific supporting studies from the reviewed literature, making the assessment traceable rather than purely subjective. A decision-oriented framework is further proposed to map common network scenarios to the most suitable evaluation technique. Furthermore, the paper discusses emerging trends such as Artificial Intelligence, Software Defined Networking, and Digital Twin technologies, supported by a dedicated comparison with prior surveys that clarifies the specific gap this review addresses. The findings show that selecting the appropriate evaluation method depends on the network environment, research objectives, and available resources................ Keywords:............ Network Performance Evaluation, Benchmarking, Monitoring, Simulation, QoS, Digital Twin.