OCS Inventory NG

OCS Inventory NG is open-source software for tracking computers and network hardware, with tools to deploy software to managed devices. It suits IT teams that want inventory, discovery and deployment together, particularly those able to run an on-premise or hybrid system. Its unlimited-agent free plan is a strong starting point, while hosted service and higher-touch support come at a cost.

Overview

Agents collect hardware and software details from client computers, and a management server brings those results together in a web console. IP discovery and SNMP scans add a way to find network hardware that has no OCS agent. That combination makes OCS useful for teams whose asset picture extends beyond enrolled endpoints, though the value depends on having the capacity to administer the system.

OCS Inventory has been around since 2001. Its editor, FactorFX, provides integration and support. The deployment model is hybrid, and agent-to-server communication uses HTTP or HTTPS, with XML inventory data compressed using zlib.

Key features

Inventory and discovery

Agent-based collection provides the detailed inventory of client machines; IP discovery and SNMP scans broaden coverage to network devices without agents. Hardware, software, network asset and agentless discovery are supported, making the product more than a software inventory tool.

The main site lists Windows, Linux, BSD, Sun Solaris, IBM AIX, HP-UX, MacOS X and Android support. The platform list also includes iOS, API, web and self-hosted. Teams with mixed environments have a wide range to consider, although that breadth alone does not establish identical capabilities across operating systems.

Deployment, integrations and extensions

Administrators can upload packages for agents to retrieve over HTTP or HTTPS, then review deployment status and statistics. The publisher says remote deployment is used on fleets exceeding 150,000 machines, so the feature can serve large environments as well as smaller ones. Teams should still consider whether managing a deployment system alongside inventory fits their operating model.

A REST API web service supports integrations with ITSM-NG, GLPI, CMDBuild and iTop. Plugins can add agent data collection and change server-side storage, administration displays or task control, giving teams room to adapt the system to their workflows.

CVE Search compares inventory against the CVE-Miter register to identify machines exposed to software vulnerabilities. This can help focus remediation on affected machines, though it is a vulnerability-identification feature rather than a substitute for broader security operations.

Release status and support

The 3.0.0-rc2 release candidate, announced on August 26, 2026, is intended for testing, not production deployment. Organizations evaluating that build should account for its pre-production status. The free package comes with community support; a best-effort one-hour support ticket costs €120.

Pricing

OCS Free is the clearest fit for teams able to rely on community support: it includes the complete software, plugins and unlimited agents at no charge. OCS Cloud adds hosted operation, updates and unlimited support for teams that prefer SaaS. OCS Pro is aimed at organizations running on-premise deployments that want unlimited support and, on the up-to-10,000-agent plan, documentation and project expertise; larger fleets require custom pricing. The €120 one-hour best-effort ticket is a separate support option for free users.

Platforms

OCS Inventory uses a hybrid deployment model. The main site lists Windows, Linux, BSD, Sun Solaris, IBM AIX, HP-UX, MacOS X and Android; the platform range also includes iOS, API, web and self-hosted.

Who it's for

OCS Inventory fits IT teams that need to combine endpoint inventory with agentless network discovery and software deployment, and that can operate a hybrid or on-premise management system. Its unlimited-agent free plan is particularly attractive for organizations that can work with community support. Teams that want SaaS hosting can choose OCS Cloud; those requiring a testing build for production should wait rather than deploy the announced release candidate.

Pros and cons

• Pro: Agent-based collection plus IP and SNMP discovery can bring managed computers and agentless network hardware into one inventory.
• Pro: Free includes the complete software, plugins and unlimited agents, lowering the barrier for large fleets.
• Pro: Package deployment includes status and statistics, and the publisher says it is used on fleets exceeding 150,000 machines.
• Pro: REST API integrations and plugins provide options to connect service-management tools and adapt collection or administration.
• Con: The free package relies on community support; unlimited support is part of the paid Cloud and Pro plans.
• Con: The announced 3.0.0-rc2 is for testing rather than production, a material caveat for teams considering that build.

Alternatives

IT Asset Discovery Software is a useful place to compare more tools in this category.

LOGINventory is worth considering for teams that want a freemium option with a 20-device Forever-Free plan and a free trial.

CloudQuery may suit teams focused on cloud asset inventory in their own database; its free tier is limited to 1M rows and includes 50+ sources and an MCP server.

Open-AudIT offers an unlimited-device free plan with community support, making it another option for teams prioritizing a no-cost inventory system.

runZero is an alternative for teams whose needs fit a community edition capped at 100 assets, one organization, 10 recurring tasks and 30 days of data retention.

IT Asset Tool may be a better fit for small environments that can stay within its free Basic plan's 35-asset limit.

rxInventory is another freemium inventory alternative.

GLPI is worth comparing for organizations already considering its public cloud option, priced at €19 a month per IT agent.

Flexera One IT Asset Management is an alternative for teams looking at a paid IT asset management product.

Verdict

Choose OCS Inventory NG if you want agent-based inventory, agentless network discovery and software deployment under one system, and can handle its administration. The unlimited-agent free package makes it especially compelling for teams comfortable with community support. Look elsewhere if you need production use of the announced 3.0.0-rc2 build, or prefer a hosted service without the €250.00 monthly OCS Cloud charge.