Free and open first
Best Network Automation Software in 2026
Automating network work can involve managing configurations, deploying changes and coordinating workflows across supported platforms. Compared on configuration management, deployment, device limits, network testing and workflow orchestration, the entries also show free-plan availability and paid-from pricing. ManageEngine Network Configuration Manager and Containerlab are two options to examine, with Cisco pyATS also included. Check platform support and device limits against your environment, then consider whether the listed configuration, testing and orchestration capabilities match the tasks you need to handle. Pricing details provide another basis for comparing the available options.
- 29 apps
- Research read 23 Sept 2026
- How the order is worked out
- 1
Containerlab
Free plan Open source APIExtensionLinux+4Containerlab offers a topology-as-code workflow for creating network labs across supported container and VM platforms.
- 2
Batfish
Free plan APILinuxMac+2Choose Batfish if you need configuration-based checks for policy, security, change impact, or network resilience.
- 3
Cisco pyATS
Free plan LinuxMacSelf-hostedCisco pyATS combines reusable network tests, device libraries, and test-suite management in a free framework.
- 4
Gluware
Free plan APISelf-hostedWebGluware combines network discovery, configuration monitoring, lifecycle management, integrations, and API access.
- 5
ManageEngine Network Configuration Manager
Free plan AndroidAPIiPhone+4Network Configuration Manager combines backup, change tracking, automation, compliance checks, and firmware vulnerability information.
- 6
NAPALM
Free plan APILinuxMac+1NAPALM brings device configuration, data retrieval, and validation into a Python library with core and community drivers.
- 7
Nautobot
Free plan APILinuxSelf-hosted+1 - 8
ONAP
Free plan APILinuxSelf-hosted+1ONAP combines service design, lifecycle orchestration, and runtime automation in a modular open source platform.
- 9
ONOS
Free plan APILinuxMac+2Choose ONOS for a software-defined network control plane with distributed operation and a broad set of device interfaces.
- 10
OpenDaylight
Free plan APILinuxMac+2OpenDaylight combines programmable network control with a broad set of protocols and scaling components. Its self-hosted setup and Java requirement are important considerations for deployment.
- 11
Netmiko
Free plan APILinuxNetmiko provides a Python library for network command execution and configuration work across a broad device list.
- 12
Nornir
Free plan LinuxMacNornir provides a Python-first way to manage inventory and run tasks across supported network platforms.
- 13
Forward Enterprise
Free trial APISelf-hostedWebForward Enterprise brings network modeling, verification, and security visibility together for enterprise-scale environments.
- 14
- 15
BackBox
Paid APILinuxSelf-hosted+1Choose BackBox if your network or security team needs configuration backup, restore and automation across network infrastructure.
- 16
Cisco Catalyst Center
Paid APILinuxMac+3 - 17
NetBrain
Free trial APILinuxSelf-hosted+2NetBrain focuses on network diagnosis, assessment, and governed change operations using live network context.
- 18
SolarWinds Network Configuration Manager
Free trial APISelf-hostedWeb+1Network Configuration Manager brings configuration automation, monitoring, compliance, vulnerability identification, and inventory into one network-management product.
- 19
Itential Automation Platform
Paid APISelf-hostedWebChoose Itential when an enterprise infrastructure team needs controlled automation across production systems and a choice of deployment models.
- 20
Juniper Security Director
by Juniper Security DirectorPaid Self-hostedWebChoose Juniper Security Director if your organization manages Juniper SRX security policies across on-premises and cloud environments and needs centralized policy analysis.
- 21
Blue Planet Orchestration
PaidChoose Blue Planet Orchestration if your communications service provider needs to automate ordering and activation across multi-vendor, multi-domain networks.
- 22
- 23
Cisco Catalyst SD-WAN
Paid WebCisco Catalyst SD-WAN lists routing, provisioning, security and cloud connection capabilities in a hybrid deployment model.
- 24
Arista CloudVision
Paid Web - 25
Cisco Meraki Dashboard
Paid Web
#1Places #1, #2, #3, #4, #5 on this list can be bought by the makers of the software on it. See the price
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