Side by side
Forward Enterprise vs NetLab Discovery
Both stand on network discovery software. Which one you can start free with, which one lets you read the code, and what each costs once you pay.
Free trial APISelf-hostedWeb
Forward Enterprise brings network modeling, verification, and security visibility together for enterprise-scale environments. Buyers should confirm trial eligibility and request pricing; Forward Predict is currently described as beta.
Visit Forward Enterprise Paid LinuxSelf-hostedWeb
NetLab Discovery suits teams wanting local, agentless subnet discovery with inventory editing and export. Its one-time license is straightforward, but ongoing updates and priority support require renewal after the first year.
Visit NetLab DiscoveryThe facts
| Forward Enterprise | NetLab Discovery | |
|---|---|---|
| Free plan | A free trial | No |
| Open source | Not published | Not published |
| Runs on | API, Self-hosted, Web | Linux, Self-hosted, Web |
| Lowest paid plan | Free or on request | NetLab Discovery: $99.99, paid once |
| Plans published | 1 | 1 |
| Maker | Not published | Not published |
| Website | forwardnetworks.com | netlabdiscovery.com |
| On network discovery software | #22 of 35 | #26 of 35 |
Forward Enterprise: what it does well
- Builds a digital twin from network device state and configuration.
- Checks forwarding behavior, segmentation, and policy against intent.
- Identifies CVE-affected assets and ranks exposure.
- Supports hybrid deployment and API access.
What to know first
- No free plan is listed.
- Pricing is available on request.
- Forward Predict is described as being in beta.
- Trial eligibility is limited by company size and headquarters location.
NetLab Discovery: what it does well
- Uses ICMP, SNMP, and CDP/LLDP discovery
- Provides live inventory search and CSV export
- Supports LDAP authentication
- Works without internet after installation
- Includes a lab installation
What to know first
- No free plan
- One license covers one production installation
- Updates and priority support require maintenance renewal after year one
- Digital sales are final
Alternatives to Forward Enterprise Alternatives to NetLab Discovery The whole list