Best Network Automation Software in 2026
Updated
In short: ManageEngine Network Configuration Manager is ranked #1 of 26 as of 7 October 2026, ahead of Containerlab and Cisco pyATS. The best-ranked option with a free plan is Containerlab. The lowest first paid tier on this page is ManageEngine Network Configuration Manager at $19.83/mo.
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.
26 network automation software ranked on what their makers publish — plans and prices, free tiers, platforms and the facts on their own pages.
11 of the 25 here have a free tier you can use, 0 have open-source code on record, and 0 have full bars: free, open, on most of your devices and documented.
| # | App | Signal | Free tier | Open code | Devices | From | Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | ManageEngine Network Configuration ManagerWeb · Windows · Linux · Android · iPhone · Self-hosted | Three bars | — | 5 of 6 | $19.83/mo | 6.7 | |
| 2 | ContainerlabWeb · Windows · Mac · Linux · Self-hosted · API | Three bars | — | 4 of 6 | Free | 6.6 | |
| 3 | Cisco pyATSMac · Linux · Self-hosted | Two bars | — | 2 of 6 | Free | 6.5 | |
| 4 | NautobotWeb · Linux · Self-hosted · API | Two bars | — | 2 of 6 | Free | 6.5 | |
| 5 | ONAPWeb · Linux · Self-hosted · API | Two bars | — | 2 of 6 | Free | 6.5 | |
| 6 | OpenDaylightWindows · Mac · Linux · Self-hosted · API | Three bars | — | 3 of 6 | Free | 6.5 | |
| 7 | Arista NG FirewallWeb | Two bars | — | 1 of 6 | $22.50/mo | 6.4 | |
| 8 | NAPALMMac · Linux · Self-hosted · API | Two bars | — | 2 of 6 | Free | 6.4 | |
| 9 | NetmikoLinux · API | Two bars | — | 1 of 6 | Free | 6.4 | |
| 10 | NornirMac · Linux | Two bars | — | 2 of 6 | Free | 6.4 | |
| 11 | GluwareWeb · Self-hosted · API | Two bars | — | 1 of 6 | Free | 6.3 | |
| 12 | BatfishWindows · Mac · Linux · Self-hosted · API | Two bars | — | — | 3 of 6 | — | 5.6 |
| 13 | Infoblox Cloud Network AutomationWeb · Windows · Linux · Self-hosted · API | Two bars | — | — | 3 of 6 | — | 5.6 |
| 14 | AlgoSecWeb · Linux · Self-hosted · API | One bar | — | — | 2 of 6 | — | 5.4 |
| 15 | Huawei HiSecEngine USG6800GWeb | One bar | — | — | 1 of 6 | — | 5.4 |
| 16 | NetBrainWeb · Windows · Linux · Self-hosted · API | Two bars | — | — | 3 of 6 | — | 5.2 |
| 17 | Blue Planet OrchestrationNo platforms listed | No signal | — | — | 0 of 6 | — | 5.1 |
| 18 | ONOSWeb | No signal | — | — | 1 of 6 | — | 5.1 |
| 19 | BackBoxNo platforms listed | No signal | — | — | 0 of 6 | — | 5.0 |
| 20 | Juniper Security DirectorWeb · Self-hosted | One bar | — | — | 1 of 6 | — | 5.0 |
| 21 | SolarWinds Network Configuration ManagerWeb · Windows · Self-hosted · API | One bar | — | — | 2 of 6 | — | 5.0 |
| 22 | TufinWeb · Self-hosted | One bar | — | — | 1 of 6 | — | 5.0 |
| 23 | Forward EnterpriseWeb | No signal | — | — | 1 of 6 | — | 4.7 |
| 24 | Itential Automation PlatformWeb | No signal | — | — | 1 of 6 | — | 4.7 |
| 25 | Juniper ApstraNo platforms listed | No signal | — | — | 0 of 6 | — | 4.7 |
Compare all 25 in a table
| # | App | Score | Free plan | From | Free plan | Paid from | Deployment | Configuration management |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | ManageEngine Network Configuration Manager | 6.7 | Free plan | $19.83/mo | Yes | — | — | — |
| 2 | Containerlab | 6.6 | Free plan | Free | — | — | self_hosted | Yes |
| 3 | Cisco pyATS | 6.5 | Free plan | Free | Yes | — | self_hosted | Yes |
| 4 | Nautobot | 6.5 | Free plan | Free | Yes | — | hybrid | Yes |
| 5 | ONAP | 6.5 | Free plan | Free | — | — | self_hosted | Yes |
| 6 | OpenDaylight | 6.5 | Free plan | Free | — | — | self_hosted | Yes |
| 7 | Arista NG Firewall | 6.4 | Free plan | $22.50/mo | No | — | — | — |
| 8 | NAPALM | 6.4 | Free plan | Free | Yes | — | self_hosted | Yes |
| 9 | Netmiko | 6.4 | Free plan | Free | Yes | — | self_hosted | Yes |
| 10 | Nornir | 6.4 | Free plan | Free | — | — | self_hosted | Yes |
| 11 | Gluware | 6.3 | Free plan | Free | No | — | — | — |
| 12 | Batfish | 5.6 | No | — | — | — | self_hosted | — |
| 13 | Infoblox Cloud Network Automation | 5.6 | No | — | — | — | self_hosted | Yes |
| 14 | AlgoSec | 5.4 | No | — | — | — | — | — |
| 15 | Huawei HiSecEngine USG6800G | 5.4 | No | — | — | — | — | — |
| 16 | NetBrain | 5.2 | No | — | No | — | — | — |
| 17 | Blue Planet Orchestration | 5.1 | No | — | — | — | cloud | Yes |
| 18 | ONOS | 5.1 | No | — | — | — | self_hosted | Yes |
| 19 | BackBox | 5.0 | No | — | — | — | — | — |
| 20 | Juniper Security Director | 5.0 | No | — | No | — | — | — |
| 21 | SolarWinds Network Configuration Manager | 5.0 | No | — | No | — | — | — |
| 22 | Tufin | 5.0 | No | — | — | — | — | — |
| 23 | Forward Enterprise | 4.7 | No | — | No | — | — | — |
| 24 | Itential Automation Platform | 4.7 | No | — | No | — | — | — |
| 25 | Juniper Apstra | 4.7 | No | — | No | — | — | — |
Is your app on this list?
Numbered spots on this list can be sponsored, and a sponsored row is labelled as paid.
Questions about this list
Which network automation software is ranked first on Freedom251?
ManageEngine Network Configuration Manager is ranked #1 of 26 with a score of 6.7. Containerlab is second and Cisco pyATS third.
How many of these have a free plan?
11 of the 25 on this page publish a free plan on their own pricing pages.
Which is the cheapest paid option?
On this page, ManageEngine Network Configuration Manager has the lowest first paid tier we found: $19.83/mo.
How is this list ranked?
Ranked free-and-open first: a usable free tier and open-source code, then the platforms it runs on and its documentation.