diff --git a/plugin/src/main/java/org/elasticsearch/xpack/monitoring/MonitoringSettings.java b/plugin/src/main/java/org/elasticsearch/xpack/monitoring/MonitoringSettings.java
index 13e4c4b327c..6f4b7889c9d 100644
--- a/plugin/src/main/java/org/elasticsearch/xpack/monitoring/MonitoringSettings.java
+++ b/plugin/src/main/java/org/elasticsearch/xpack/monitoring/MonitoringSettings.java
@@ -93,12 +93,6 @@ public class MonitoringSettings extends AbstractComponent {
     public static final Setting<Boolean> INDEX_RECOVERY_ACTIVE_ONLY =
             boolSetting(collectionKey("index.recovery.active_only"), false, Property.Dynamic, Property.NodeScope) ;
 
-    /**
-     * List of collectors allowed to collect data (default to all)
-     */
-    public static final Setting<List<String>> COLLECTORS =
-            listSetting(collectionKey("collectors"), Collections.emptyList(), Function.identity(), Property.NodeScope);
-
     /**
      * The default retention duration of the monitoring history data.
      * <p>
@@ -129,7 +123,6 @@ public class MonitoringSettings extends AbstractComponent {
                 INDEX_STATS_TIMEOUT,
                 INDICES_STATS_TIMEOUT,
                 INDEX_RECOVERY_ACTIVE_ONLY,
-                COLLECTORS,
                 CLUSTER_STATE_TIMEOUT,
                 CLUSTER_STATS_TIMEOUT,
                 HISTORY_DURATION,
diff --git a/plugin/src/test/java/org/elasticsearch/xpack/monitoring/MonitoringSettingsIntegTests.java b/plugin/src/test/java/org/elasticsearch/xpack/monitoring/MonitoringSettingsIntegTests.java
index 941f62f1dee..d22d64e1df2 100644
--- a/plugin/src/test/java/org/elasticsearch/xpack/monitoring/MonitoringSettingsIntegTests.java
+++ b/plugin/src/test/java/org/elasticsearch/xpack/monitoring/MonitoringSettingsIntegTests.java
@@ -18,7 +18,6 @@ import org.elasticsearch.xpack.monitoring.test.MonitoringIntegTestCase;
 import java.util.ArrayList;
 import java.util.Arrays;
 import java.util.Collection;
-import java.util.Collections;
 import java.util.List;
 
 import static org.elasticsearch.test.hamcrest.ElasticsearchAssertions.assertAcked;
@@ -34,7 +33,6 @@ public class MonitoringSettingsIntegTests extends MonitoringIntegTestCase {
     private final TimeValue clusterStatsTimeout = newRandomTimeValue();
     private final TimeValue recoveryTimeout = newRandomTimeValue();
     private final Boolean recoveryActiveOnly = randomBoolean();
-    private final String[] collectors = randomStringArray();
 
     @Override
     protected Settings nodeSettings(int nodeOrdinal) {
@@ -62,7 +60,6 @@ public class MonitoringSettingsIntegTests extends MonitoringIntegTestCase {
                 .put(MonitoringSettings.CLUSTER_STATS_TIMEOUT.getKey(), clusterStatsTimeout)
                 .put(MonitoringSettings.INDEX_RECOVERY_TIMEOUT.getKey(), recoveryTimeout)
                 .put(MonitoringSettings.INDEX_RECOVERY_ACTIVE_ONLY.getKey(), recoveryActiveOnly)
-                .putArray(MonitoringSettings.COLLECTORS.getKey(), collectors)
                 .build();
     }
 
@@ -85,16 +82,15 @@ public class MonitoringSettingsIntegTests extends MonitoringIntegTestCase {
 
         logger.info("--> testing monitoring dynamic settings update");
         Settings.Builder transientSettings = Settings.builder();
-        final Setting[] monitoringSettings = new Setting[] {
+        final Setting[] monitoringSettings = new Setting[]{
                 MonitoringSettings.INDICES,
-        MonitoringSettings.INTERVAL,
-        MonitoringSettings.INDEX_RECOVERY_TIMEOUT,
-        MonitoringSettings.INDEX_STATS_TIMEOUT,
-        MonitoringSettings.INDICES_STATS_TIMEOUT,
-        MonitoringSettings.INDEX_RECOVERY_ACTIVE_ONLY,
-        MonitoringSettings.COLLECTORS,
-        MonitoringSettings.CLUSTER_STATE_TIMEOUT,
-        MonitoringSettings.CLUSTER_STATS_TIMEOUT };
+                MonitoringSettings.INTERVAL,
+                MonitoringSettings.INDEX_RECOVERY_TIMEOUT,
+                MonitoringSettings.INDEX_STATS_TIMEOUT,
+                MonitoringSettings.INDICES_STATS_TIMEOUT,
+                MonitoringSettings.INDEX_RECOVERY_ACTIVE_ONLY,
+                MonitoringSettings.CLUSTER_STATE_TIMEOUT,
+                MonitoringSettings.CLUSTER_STATS_TIMEOUT};
         for (Setting<?> setting : monitoringSettings) {
             if (setting.isDynamic()) {
                 Object updated = null;
diff --git a/plugin/src/test/java/org/elasticsearch/xpack/monitoring/exporter/ExportersTests.java b/plugin/src/test/java/org/elasticsearch/xpack/monitoring/exporter/ExportersTests.java
index b1d7c9205ad..da5e1c18c10 100644
--- a/plugin/src/test/java/org/elasticsearch/xpack/monitoring/exporter/ExportersTests.java
+++ b/plugin/src/test/java/org/elasticsearch/xpack/monitoring/exporter/ExportersTests.java
@@ -57,8 +57,8 @@ public class ExportersTests extends ESTestCase {
 
         InternalClient client = mock(InternalClient.class);
         clusterService = mock(ClusterService.class);
-        clusterSettings = new ClusterSettings(Settings.EMPTY, new HashSet<>(Arrays.asList(MonitoringSettings.COLLECTORS,
-            MonitoringSettings.INTERVAL, MonitoringSettings.EXPORTERS_SETTINGS)));
+        clusterSettings = new ClusterSettings(Settings.EMPTY,
+                new HashSet<>(Arrays.asList(MonitoringSettings.INTERVAL, MonitoringSettings.EXPORTERS_SETTINGS)));
         when(clusterService.getClusterSettings()).thenReturn(clusterSettings);
 
         // we always need to have the local exporter as it serves as the default one
diff --git a/plugin/src/test/java/org/elasticsearch/xpack/monitoring/resolver/cluster/ClusterInfoTests.java b/plugin/src/test/java/org/elasticsearch/xpack/monitoring/resolver/cluster/ClusterInfoTests.java
index db69509965f..ad30b68ae55 100644
--- a/plugin/src/test/java/org/elasticsearch/xpack/monitoring/resolver/cluster/ClusterInfoTests.java
+++ b/plugin/src/test/java/org/elasticsearch/xpack/monitoring/resolver/cluster/ClusterInfoTests.java
@@ -13,7 +13,6 @@ import org.elasticsearch.index.query.QueryBuilders;
 import org.elasticsearch.license.License;
 import org.elasticsearch.test.ESIntegTestCase.ClusterScope;
 import org.elasticsearch.xpack.monitoring.MonitoringSettings;
-import org.elasticsearch.xpack.monitoring.collector.cluster.ClusterStatsCollector;
 import org.elasticsearch.xpack.monitoring.exporter.MonitoringTemplateUtils;
 import org.elasticsearch.xpack.monitoring.resolver.MonitoringIndexNameResolver;
 import org.elasticsearch.xpack.monitoring.test.MonitoringIntegTestCase;
@@ -41,7 +40,6 @@ public class ClusterInfoTests extends MonitoringIntegTestCase {
         return Settings.builder()
                 .put(super.nodeSettings(nodeOrdinal))
                 .put(MonitoringSettings.INTERVAL.getKey(), "-1")
-                .put(MonitoringSettings.COLLECTORS.getKey(), ClusterStatsCollector.NAME)
                 .build();
     }
 
diff --git a/plugin/src/test/java/org/elasticsearch/xpack/monitoring/resolver/cluster/ClusterStateTests.java b/plugin/src/test/java/org/elasticsearch/xpack/monitoring/resolver/cluster/ClusterStateTests.java
index 1d884e489db..255535c91fc 100644
--- a/plugin/src/test/java/org/elasticsearch/xpack/monitoring/resolver/cluster/ClusterStateTests.java
+++ b/plugin/src/test/java/org/elasticsearch/xpack/monitoring/resolver/cluster/ClusterStateTests.java
@@ -15,7 +15,6 @@ import org.elasticsearch.test.ESIntegTestCase.ClusterScope;
 import org.elasticsearch.test.ESIntegTestCase.Scope;
 import org.elasticsearch.xpack.monitoring.MonitoredSystem;
 import org.elasticsearch.xpack.monitoring.MonitoringSettings;
-import org.elasticsearch.xpack.monitoring.collector.cluster.ClusterStateCollector;
 import org.elasticsearch.xpack.monitoring.exporter.MonitoringTemplateUtils;
 import org.elasticsearch.xpack.monitoring.resolver.MonitoringIndexNameResolver;
 import org.elasticsearch.xpack.monitoring.test.MonitoringIntegTestCase;
@@ -44,7 +43,6 @@ public class ClusterStateTests extends MonitoringIntegTestCase {
         return Settings.builder()
                 .put(super.nodeSettings(nodeOrdinal))
                 .put(MonitoringSettings.INTERVAL.getKey(), "-1")
-                .put(MonitoringSettings.COLLECTORS.getKey(), ClusterStateCollector.NAME)
                 .put("xpack.monitoring.exporters.default_local.type", "local")
                 .put("node.attr.custom", randomInt)
                 .build();
diff --git a/plugin/src/test/java/org/elasticsearch/xpack/monitoring/resolver/cluster/ClusterStatsTests.java b/plugin/src/test/java/org/elasticsearch/xpack/monitoring/resolver/cluster/ClusterStatsTests.java
index 49567a0903c..12364e40807 100644
--- a/plugin/src/test/java/org/elasticsearch/xpack/monitoring/resolver/cluster/ClusterStatsTests.java
+++ b/plugin/src/test/java/org/elasticsearch/xpack/monitoring/resolver/cluster/ClusterStatsTests.java
@@ -12,7 +12,6 @@ import org.elasticsearch.search.SearchHit;
 import org.elasticsearch.test.ESIntegTestCase.ClusterScope;
 import org.elasticsearch.test.ESIntegTestCase.Scope;
 import org.elasticsearch.xpack.monitoring.MonitoringSettings;
-import org.elasticsearch.xpack.monitoring.collector.cluster.ClusterStatsCollector;
 import org.elasticsearch.xpack.monitoring.test.MonitoringIntegTestCase;
 import org.junit.After;
 
@@ -31,7 +30,6 @@ public class ClusterStatsTests extends MonitoringIntegTestCase {
         return Settings.builder()
                 .put(super.nodeSettings(nodeOrdinal))
                 .put(MonitoringSettings.INTERVAL.getKey(), "-1")
-                .put(MonitoringSettings.COLLECTORS.getKey(), ClusterStatsCollector.NAME)
                 .put("xpack.monitoring.exporters.default_local.type", "local")
                 .build();
     }
diff --git a/plugin/src/test/java/org/elasticsearch/xpack/monitoring/resolver/indices/IndexRecoveryTests.java b/plugin/src/test/java/org/elasticsearch/xpack/monitoring/resolver/indices/IndexRecoveryTests.java
index 58e03a24d5c..3748729d54e 100644
--- a/plugin/src/test/java/org/elasticsearch/xpack/monitoring/resolver/indices/IndexRecoveryTests.java
+++ b/plugin/src/test/java/org/elasticsearch/xpack/monitoring/resolver/indices/IndexRecoveryTests.java
@@ -12,7 +12,6 @@ import org.elasticsearch.common.settings.Settings;
 import org.elasticsearch.search.SearchHit;
 import org.elasticsearch.test.ESIntegTestCase.ClusterScope;
 import org.elasticsearch.xpack.monitoring.MonitoringSettings;
-import org.elasticsearch.xpack.monitoring.collector.indices.IndexRecoveryCollector;
 import org.elasticsearch.xpack.monitoring.resolver.MonitoringIndexNameResolver;
 import org.elasticsearch.xpack.monitoring.test.MonitoringIntegTestCase;
 import org.junit.After;
@@ -37,7 +36,6 @@ public class IndexRecoveryTests extends MonitoringIntegTestCase {
                 .put(super.nodeSettings(nodeOrdinal))
                 .put(MonitoringSettings.INTERVAL.getKey(), "-1")
                 .put(MonitoringSettings.INDICES.getKey(), INDEX_PREFIX + "*")
-                .put(MonitoringSettings.COLLECTORS.getKey(), IndexRecoveryCollector.NAME)
                 .put("xpack.monitoring.exporters.default_local.type", "local")
                 .build();
     }
diff --git a/plugin/src/test/java/org/elasticsearch/xpack/monitoring/resolver/indices/IndexStatsTests.java b/plugin/src/test/java/org/elasticsearch/xpack/monitoring/resolver/indices/IndexStatsTests.java
index 9d32505aeeb..b99fd0ec03f 100644
--- a/plugin/src/test/java/org/elasticsearch/xpack/monitoring/resolver/indices/IndexStatsTests.java
+++ b/plugin/src/test/java/org/elasticsearch/xpack/monitoring/resolver/indices/IndexStatsTests.java
@@ -12,7 +12,6 @@ import org.elasticsearch.search.SearchHit;
 import org.elasticsearch.test.ESIntegTestCase.ClusterScope;
 import org.elasticsearch.test.ESIntegTestCase.Scope;
 import org.elasticsearch.xpack.monitoring.MonitoringSettings;
-import org.elasticsearch.xpack.monitoring.collector.indices.IndexStatsCollector;
 import org.elasticsearch.xpack.monitoring.test.MonitoringIntegTestCase;
 import org.junit.After;
 
@@ -29,7 +28,6 @@ public class IndexStatsTests extends MonitoringIntegTestCase {
         return Settings.builder()
                 .put(super.nodeSettings(nodeOrdinal))
                 .put(MonitoringSettings.INTERVAL.getKey(), "-1")
-                .put(MonitoringSettings.COLLECTORS.getKey(), IndexStatsCollector.NAME)
                 .put("xpack.monitoring.exporters.default_local.type", "local")
                 .build();
     }
diff --git a/plugin/src/test/java/org/elasticsearch/xpack/monitoring/resolver/indices/IndicesStatsTests.java b/plugin/src/test/java/org/elasticsearch/xpack/monitoring/resolver/indices/IndicesStatsTests.java
index cff3f0503a2..c45c7b2a203 100644
--- a/plugin/src/test/java/org/elasticsearch/xpack/monitoring/resolver/indices/IndicesStatsTests.java
+++ b/plugin/src/test/java/org/elasticsearch/xpack/monitoring/resolver/indices/IndicesStatsTests.java
@@ -12,7 +12,6 @@ import org.elasticsearch.search.SearchHit;
 import org.elasticsearch.test.ESIntegTestCase.ClusterScope;
 import org.elasticsearch.test.ESIntegTestCase.Scope;
 import org.elasticsearch.xpack.monitoring.MonitoringSettings;
-import org.elasticsearch.xpack.monitoring.collector.indices.IndicesStatsCollector;
 import org.elasticsearch.xpack.monitoring.test.MonitoringIntegTestCase;
 import org.junit.After;
 
@@ -29,7 +28,6 @@ public class IndicesStatsTests extends MonitoringIntegTestCase {
         return Settings.builder()
                 .put(super.nodeSettings(nodeOrdinal))
                 .put(MonitoringSettings.INTERVAL.getKey(), "-1")
-                .put(MonitoringSettings.COLLECTORS.getKey(), IndicesStatsCollector.NAME)
                 .put("xpack.monitoring.exporters.default_local.type", "local")
                 .build();
     }
diff --git a/plugin/src/test/java/org/elasticsearch/xpack/monitoring/resolver/node/NodeStatsTests.java b/plugin/src/test/java/org/elasticsearch/xpack/monitoring/resolver/node/NodeStatsTests.java
index 30bf4156e5d..f0cbb6e26b4 100644
--- a/plugin/src/test/java/org/elasticsearch/xpack/monitoring/resolver/node/NodeStatsTests.java
+++ b/plugin/src/test/java/org/elasticsearch/xpack/monitoring/resolver/node/NodeStatsTests.java
@@ -12,7 +12,6 @@ import org.elasticsearch.search.SearchHit;
 import org.elasticsearch.test.ESIntegTestCase.ClusterScope;
 import org.elasticsearch.test.ESIntegTestCase.Scope;
 import org.elasticsearch.xpack.monitoring.MonitoringSettings;
-import org.elasticsearch.xpack.monitoring.collector.node.NodeStatsCollector;
 import org.elasticsearch.xpack.monitoring.exporter.local.LocalExporter;
 import org.elasticsearch.xpack.monitoring.test.MonitoringIntegTestCase;
 import org.junit.After;
@@ -33,7 +32,6 @@ public class NodeStatsTests extends MonitoringIntegTestCase {
         return Settings.builder()
                 .put(super.nodeSettings(nodeOrdinal))
                 .put(MonitoringSettings.INTERVAL.getKey(), "-1")
-                .put(MonitoringSettings.COLLECTORS.getKey(), NodeStatsCollector.NAME)
                 .put("xpack.monitoring.exporters.default_local.type", LocalExporter.TYPE)
                 .build();
     }
diff --git a/plugin/src/test/java/org/elasticsearch/xpack/monitoring/resolver/shards/ShardsTests.java b/plugin/src/test/java/org/elasticsearch/xpack/monitoring/resolver/shards/ShardsTests.java
index a0c24d421d8..ab13c4304fb 100644
--- a/plugin/src/test/java/org/elasticsearch/xpack/monitoring/resolver/shards/ShardsTests.java
+++ b/plugin/src/test/java/org/elasticsearch/xpack/monitoring/resolver/shards/ShardsTests.java
@@ -18,7 +18,6 @@ import org.elasticsearch.search.aggregations.bucket.terms.StringTerms;
 import org.elasticsearch.test.ESIntegTestCase.ClusterScope;
 import org.elasticsearch.test.ESIntegTestCase.Scope;
 import org.elasticsearch.xpack.monitoring.MonitoringSettings;
-import org.elasticsearch.xpack.monitoring.collector.shards.ShardsCollector;
 import org.elasticsearch.xpack.monitoring.test.MonitoringIntegTestCase;
 import org.junit.After;
 
@@ -44,7 +43,6 @@ public class ShardsTests extends MonitoringIntegTestCase {
         return Settings.builder()
                 .put(super.nodeSettings(nodeOrdinal))
                 .put(MonitoringSettings.INTERVAL.getKey(), "-1")
-                .put(MonitoringSettings.COLLECTORS.getKey(), ShardsCollector.NAME)
                 .put(MonitoringSettings.INDICES.getKey(), INDEX_PREFIX + "*")
                 .put("xpack.monitoring.exporters.default_local.type", "local")
                 .build();