Side by side
GNS3 vs Mininet
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 APILinuxMac+2
Mininet provides a free way to build and investigate virtual networks using Linux networking and OpenFlow. Its single-server resource ceiling and Linux compatibility limits matter when choosing it for larger or non-Linux environments.
Visit MininetThe facts
| GNS3 | Mininet | |
|---|---|---|
| Free plan | Yes | Yes |
| Open source | Not published | Not published |
| Runs on | Linux, Mac, Self-hosted, Web, Windows | API, Linux, Mac, Self-hosted, Windows |
| Lowest paid plan | Free or on request | Free or on request |
| Plans published | 1 | 1 |
| Maker | Not published | Not published |
| Website | gns3.com | mininet.org |
| On network testing software | #6 of 33 | #10 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.
Mininet: what it does well
- Free under a permissive BSD open source license
- Includes parameterized and custom topologies
- Extensible Python API for network experiments
- Networks can connect to real networks
What to know first
- Limited by one server’s CPU and bandwidth
- Cannot run non-Linux-compatible OpenFlow switches or applications
- Requires the Linux kernel