Best Network Management Software in 2026
Updated
In short: ManageEngine Network Configuration Manager is ranked #1 of 32 as of 5 October 2026, ahead of UniFi Network and TP-Link Omada SDN. The best-ranked option with a free plan is UniFi Network. The lowest first paid tier on this page is Domotz at $1.50/mo.
Network management software can help you discover devices and handle configuration work across a network. Compared on network discovery, configuration management, and configuration backup, these options also list API access, policy automation, deployment model, and managed device limit. Free-plan availability and paid-from pricing offer additional ways to weigh access. UniFi Network, ManageEngine Network Configuration Manager, and TP-Link Omada SDN are among the entries shown, alongside MikroTik RouterOS and Domotz. Check which management functions matter for the network you oversee, and whether the deployment and device limits fit your operating needs.
32 network management software ranked on what their makers publish — plans and prices, free tiers, platforms and the facts on their own pages.
7 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 | UniFi NetworkWeb · Windows · Mac · Linux · Android · iPhone · Self-hosted · API | Three bars | — | 6 of 6 | Free | 6.7 | |
| 3 | TP-Link Omada SDNWeb · Windows · Linux · Android · iPhone | Three bars | — | 5 of 6 | Free | 6.6 | |
| 4 | Arista NG FirewallWeb | Two bars | — | 1 of 6 | $22.50/mo | 6.4 | |
| 5 | MikroTik RouterOSWindows · Android · iPhone | Three bars | — | 3 of 6 | $45/mo | 6.4 | |
| 6 | FRRoutingLinux · Self-hosted | Two bars | — | 1 of 6 | Free | 6.3 | |
| 7 | GluwareWeb · Self-hosted · API | Two bars | — | 1 of 6 | Free | 6.3 | |
| 8 | DomotzWeb · Windows · Mac · Linux · Android · iPhone · API | Two bars | — | — | 6 of 6 | $1.50/mo | 5.7 |
| 9 | HPE Intelligent Management CenterWeb · Windows · Linux | One bar | — | — | 3 of 6 | — | 5.4 |
| 10 | NetBoxWeb · Self-hosted · API | One bar | — | — | 1 of 6 | — | 5.4 |
| 11 | ExtremeCloud IQWeb | One bar | — | — | 1 of 6 | — | 5.3 |
| 12 | Huawei HiSecEngine USG6800GWeb | One bar | — | — | 1 of 6 | — | 5.3 |
| 13 | Synology Router ManagerWeb · Android · iPhone | One bar | — | — | 3 of 6 | — | 5.3 |
| 14 | VyOSLinux | One bar | — | — | 1 of 6 | — | 5.3 |
| 15 | WhatInStartupWindows | One bar | — | — | 1 of 6 | — | 5.3 |
| 16 | Cambium cnMaestroWeb | No signal | — | — | 1 of 6 | — | 5.2 |
| 17 | NetBrainWeb · Windows · Linux · Self-hosted · API | Two bars | — | — | 3 of 6 | — | 5.2 |
| 18 | OpenWISPWeb | No signal | — | — | 1 of 6 | — | 5.2 |
| 19 | BackBoxNo platforms listed | No signal | — | — | 0 of 6 | — | 5.1 |
| 20 | Cisco Meraki DashboardWeb · Android · iPhone · API | Two bars | — | — | 3 of 6 | — | 5.1 |
| 21 | HPE Morpheus VM Essentials SoftwareWeb · Linux · Self-hosted | One bar | — | — | 2 of 6 | $50/mo | 5.1 |
| 22 | WakeMeOnLanWindows | No signal | — | — | 1 of 6 | — | 5.1 |
| 23 | IP FabricWeb · Linux · Self-hosted · API | One bar | — | — | 2 of 6 | — | 5.0 |
| 24 | Juniper Security DirectorWeb · Self-hosted | One bar | — | — | 1 of 6 | — | 5.0 |
| 25 | SolarWinds Network Configuration ManagerWeb · Windows · Self-hosted · API | One bar | — | — | 2 of 6 | — | 5.0 |
Compare all 25 in a table
| # | App | Score | Free plan | From | Free plan | Paid from | Deployment model | Managed device limit |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | ManageEngine Network Configuration Manager | 6.7 | Free plan | $19.83/mo | Yes | — | on-premises | 10 devices |
| 2 | UniFi Network | 6.7 | Free plan | Free | Yes | 29 /mo | hybrid | 1,000 devices |
| 3 | TP-Link Omada SDN | 6.6 | Free plan | Free | Yes | — | hybrid | — |
| 4 | Arista NG Firewall | 6.4 | Free plan | $22.50/mo | No | — | hybrid | — |
| 5 | MikroTik RouterOS | 6.4 | Free plan | $45/mo | No | — | — | — |
| 6 | FRRouting | 6.3 | Free plan | Free | Yes | — | — | — |
| 7 | Gluware | 6.3 | Free plan | Free | No | — | hybrid | — |
| 8 | Domotz | 5.7 | No | $1.50/mo | Yes | 1.5 /mo | — | — |
| 9 | HPE Intelligent Management Center | 5.4 | No | — | — | — | on-premises | 50 devices |
| 10 | NetBox | 5.4 | No | — | Yes | — | hybrid | — |
| 11 | ExtremeCloud IQ | 5.3 | No | — | No | — | hybrid | — |
| 12 | Huawei HiSecEngine USG6800G | 5.3 | No | — | — | — | — | — |
| 13 | Synology Router Manager | 5.3 | No | — | Yes | — | on-premises | — |
| 14 | VyOS | 5.3 | No | — | Yes | — | — | — |
| 15 | WhatInStartup | 5.3 | No | — | Yes | — | on-premises | — |
| 16 | Cambium cnMaestro | 5.2 | No | — | Yes | — | hybrid | — |
| 17 | NetBrain | 5.2 | No | — | No | — | hybrid | — |
| 18 | OpenWISP | 5.2 | No | — | Yes | — | hybrid | — |
| 19 | BackBox | 5.1 | No | — | — | — | hybrid | — |
| 20 | Cisco Meraki Dashboard | 5.1 | No | — | No | — | cloud | — |
| 21 | HPE Morpheus VM Essentials Software | 5.1 | No | $50/mo | — | — | on-premises | 50 devices |
| 22 | WakeMeOnLan | 5.1 | No | — | Yes | — | on-premises | — |
| 23 | IP Fabric | 5.0 | No | — | No | — | hybrid | — |
| 24 | Juniper Security Director | 5.0 | No | — | No | — | cloud | — |
| 25 | SolarWinds Network Configuration Manager | 5.0 | No | — | No | — | hybrid | — |
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 management software is ranked first on Freedom251?
ManageEngine Network Configuration Manager is ranked #1 of 32 with a score of 6.7. UniFi Network is second and TP-Link Omada SDN third.
How many of these have a free plan?
7 of the 25 on this page publish a free plan on their own pricing pages.
Which is the cheapest paid option?
On this page, Domotz has the lowest first paid tier we found: $1.50/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.