Side by side
GNS3 vs iPerf2
Both stand on network testing software. Which one you can start free with, which one lets you read the code, and what each costs once you pay.
Free plan LinuxMacSelf-hosted+2
GNS3 supports multi-vendor network lab work without license fees, with practical scale tied to the host computer. Users should plan for Cisco image requirements and restrict server access at the network level.
Visit GNS3 Free plan Open source AndroidiPhoneLinux+3
iPerf2 offers a broad set of active TCP and UDP measurements, with multicast support and CSV reporting. Remember that results are measured at socket-level reads and writes, and that it is independent of iPerf3.
Visit iPerf2The facts
| GNS3 | iPerf2 | |
|---|---|---|
| Free plan | Yes | Yes |
| Open source | Not published | Yes |
| Runs on | Linux, Mac, Self-hosted, Web, Windows | Android, iPhone, Linux, Mac, Self-hosted, Windows |
| Lowest paid plan | Free or on request | Free or on request |
| Plans published | 1 | 3 |
| Maker | Not published | Not published |
| Website | gns3.com | iperf2.sourceforge.io |
| On network testing software | #6 of 33 | #2 of 33 |
GNS3: what it does well
- Open-source software with no monthly or yearly license fees.
- Supports emulated and simulated devices.
- Works with Docker, QEMU, and several hypervisors.
- Marketplace offers preconfigured appliance templates.
What to know first
- Users must provide their own Cisco IOS images.
- Server authentication is disabled by default.
- Device capacity depends on host CPU and memory.
iPerf2: what it does well
- Measures throughput, delay, jitter, and packet loss.
- Supports TCP, UDP, IPv4, and IPv6.
- Can test multicast traffic.
- Reports can be written as CSV.
- Available on Android, Linux, macOS, and Windows.
What to know first
- Metrics exclude lower-level protocol-header overhead.
- iPerf2 and iPerf3 do not interoperate.
- Tests require a traffic-generating client and receiving server.