Without a centralized IT inventory, teams operate blind. Audits become manual scrambles, onboarding and offboarding stretch into hours of cross-referencing spreadsheets, and budget planning relies on guesswork rather than data. Free IT Inventory Management software solves that problem without requiring a procurement process, and for many teams it is the natural first step after outgrowing Excel.
This article covers six tools that offer a free or open source path to IT inventory: Snipe-IT, Lansweeper, OCS Inventory Next Generation, Spiceworks Inventory Online, AssetTiger, and GLPI. For each one, we explain what it does, how its free offering works, and where it stops being enough. One transparency note: InvGate develops and sells IT Asset Management (ITAM) software, and some of the tools in this list compete in the same market. The selection is based on public documentation, verified pricing pages, and user reviews on independent platforms.
What is IT Inventory Management software?
IT Inventory Management software is a tool that discovers, records, and tracks the hardware, software, and any other resource that make up an organization's technology environment. The term refers specifically to IT assets (computers, servers, mobile devices, network equipment, and the applications installed on them) not retail stock, warehouse inventory, or supply chain management.
A functional IT inventory tool covers four core areas:
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Discovery: finding what is on the network.
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Asset registration: capturing relevant information, like specs, versions, and configuration data.
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Ownership: knowing who has what and where it is.
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Reporting: making that data useful for decisions and audits.
Teams looking to understand how these capabilities fit into a broader strategy can explore the topic in depth through our IT Inventory Management software guide.
Free vs. open source: what's the difference?
These two terms are often used interchangeably, but they describe different things, and the distinction matters when evaluating tools.
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A free plan is a pricing tier offered by a commercial vendor. The software is hosted and maintained by the vendor, and the free tier gives access to a subset of features or a capped number of assets. The tradeoff is usually ads, feature limits, or asset ceilings, but setup is fast and there is no infrastructure to manage.
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Open source is a different model. The source code is publicly available, the software is self-hosted, and there is no license fee. The tradeoff is that the team assumes responsibility for installation, configuration, updates, security, and maintenance. The software itself costs nothing; the infrastructure and staff time do.
Several tools in this list are open source (Snipe-IT, OCS Inventory Next Generation, GLPI); others offer a free commercial plan (Lansweeper, Spiceworks Inventory Online, AssetTiger). Understanding which model a tool uses is the first question to answer before evaluating fit.
How we selected these tools
The six tools in this article were selected based on the following criteria:
- Functional free offering: each tool offers either a permanent free plan from a commercial vendor or a self-hosted open source version with no license cost.
- IT inventory focus: the tool's core use case covers hardware tracking, software inventory, or network discovery for IT environments, not retail, facilities, or general Asset Management.
- Verified public information: features, pricing, and plan limits were confirmed against official vendor websites, product documentation, and pricing pages at the time of writing (June 2026).
- User review coverage: where available, ratings were pulled directly from Gartner Peer Insights, G2, and Capterra product pages. Secondary sources were used only to cross-reference, not as the primary citation.
As noted in the introduction, InvGate develops IT Asset Management software and some vendors in this list are indirect competitors. The selection and treatment of each tool is based on publicly available data, with the goal of giving IT teams the information they need to evaluate options on their own terms.
The 6 best free IT Inventory Management software tools
These are the six tools covered in this article, each approaching IT inventory from a different angle:
- Snipe-IT: open source asset registry with structured check-in/check-out workflows, license tracking, and a well-documented API.
- Lansweeper: commercial platform with a free tier, best known for agentless network discovery and automated inventory normalization.
- OCS Inventory Next Generation: open source discovery engine with agent-based hardware and software scanning, strong in Linux-first and mixed environments.
- Spiceworks Inventory Online: cloud-based, ad-supported tool with no asset limits and minimal setup, designed for small teams with no infrastructure budget.
- AssetTiger: cloud-based physical asset tracker with barcode scanning via mobile app, built around check-in/check-out and maintenance scheduling.
- GLPI: open source IT Service Management platform that combines inventory, CMDB, and a full ITIL service desk in a single self-hosted deployment.
Comparison table
Pricing and feature data verified against official vendor sources in June 2026. Values are subject to change; confirm current details at each vendor's official pricing page before making a decision.
How to choose a free IT inventory tool
The right choice depends less on feature lists and more on three constraints: the size and complexity of the environment, the technical capacity of the team, and the realistic horizon of the tool.
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For small environments without dedicated IT infrastructure skills, cloud-based tools with low setup friction (Spiceworks Inventory Online and AssetTiger) are the practical starting point. Both are operational within hours and require no server configuration.
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For teams comfortable with self-hosting, the open source options (Snipe-IT, OCS Inventory Next Generation, GLPI) remove asset and user limits entirely and offer far more flexibility in customization and integration.
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Scope matters too. If the priority is network discovery and automated software scanning, Lansweeper and OCS Inventory Next Generation are meaningfully stronger than the others.
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If the use case is physical asset tracking (knowing who has what, where, and for how long) Snipe-IT and AssetTiger are better fits.
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GLPI occupies a different tier: it is not just an inventory tool but a full IT Service Management platform, which makes it powerful but also heavier to implement and maintain.
The most important question is about the ceiling. Most teams that start with a free inventory tool hit the same inflection point within 12 to 18 months: the inventory works, but compliance reporting does not, License Management is manual, lifecycle tracking is a spreadsheet again, and integrating with the service desk requires custom scripting. For teams that can already see that horizon, the question is not which free tool to choose but when to move to a platform built for that scope.
1. Snipe-IT
Snipe-IT is an open source IT Asset Management system developed by Grokability Inc., written in PHP on the Laravel framework. It runs as a self-hosted web application, accessible from any browser, and requires a server with a LAMP stack or equivalent. It has become one of the most widely adopted open source options globally for teams that have the technical capacity to manage their own infrastructure.
Its core strength is asset tracking by user: who has what, where it is, and what its full history looks like. Snipe-IT does not include automated network discovery, which means assets are added manually, through CSV import, or via API. That positions it clearly as an asset registry rather than a discovery platform, a distinction worth understanding before evaluating it for environments where automated scanning is a requirement.
Features of Snipe-IT
The following features are based on information published on the official Snipe-IT product page, consulted in June 2026.
Snipe-IT covers five key areas for IT Inventory Management:
- Asset tracking and check-in/check-out: assets are assigned to users or locations, with a full movement history and one-click check-in. The system shows at a glance which assets are deployed, pending, ready to deploy, or archived.
- License Management: software licenses are tracked with seat counts, expiration dates, and email alerts. Multi-pack licenses are supported, and each license record can include attached documents and purchase information.
- Custom fields and fieldsets: each asset model supports user-defined fields (for example: warranty expiration, purchase order, encryption status, compliance tag) that are typed, validated, and searchable.
- REST API: an OAuth2-protected API with public documentation allows integration with tools like Zapier, Jira (via a third-party plugin), and proprietary systems. The community has developed multiple open source SDKs extending integration options further.
- Email notifications: configurable alerts for administrators and users cover asset check-outs, check-ins, expected return deadlines, expiring warranties, expiring licenses, and upcoming audits.
Rating of Snipe-IT
Ratings consulted in June 2026 on verified review platforms:
- Gartner Peer Insights: No information available.
- G2: 4.6/5 (26 reviews).
- Capterra: 4.4/5 (23 user reviews).
Pricing of Snipe-IT
According to the official pricing page, consulted in June 2026, Snipe-IT offers two paths:
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Self-hosted (free): Snipe-IT is and always will be free in its self-hosted version. There are no asset or user limits. The team is responsible for installation, server maintenance, updates, and security. No free trial is offered separately; the self-hosted version can be evaluated indefinitely at no cost.
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Hosted plans (paid): for teams that prefer Grokability to manage the infrastructure, three hosted tiers are available:
- Basic Hosting: $399.99/year ($39.99/month). Includes automated backups, upgrades, server maintenance, TLS certificate, and email support. API calls capped at 120/minute.
- Small Business Hosting: $999.99/year ($99.99/month). Adds increased API rate limits and increased LDAP memory.
- Dedicated Hosting: $2,499.99/year ($249.99/month). Adds a private server, IP restrictions, and VPN connectivity. API calls are uncapped (subject to hardware limits).
Support plans for self-hosters are available separately and are not included in the above. Pricing verified on the official Snipe-IT pricing page in June 2026 and subject to change.
2. Lansweeper
Lansweeper is a Technology Asset Intelligence platform founded in 2004, with more than 30,000 active environments worldwide according to the company's own figures. Its central strength is automated, agentless network discovery: it detects and catalogs hardware, software, users, and devices across IT, operational technology (OT), Internet of Things (IoT), and cloud environments without requiring agents on most endpoints.
Within this list, Lansweeper stands out for the depth of its automated discovery and its built-in data normalization. It reduces the manual cleanup work that typically comes with large inventories by automatically standardizing software names, versions, vendors, and firmware data across sources. The free plan covers up to 100 assets, which is functional for home networks, labs, or tool evaluation; most organizational environments will exceed that limit quickly.
Features of Lansweeper
The following features are based on information published on the official Lansweeper product pages, consulted in June 2026.
- Agentless discovery: Lansweeper scans the network without requiring agents as its primary method. It detects workstations, servers, routers, printers, mobile devices (via Intune, Airwatch, and other MDM connectors), cloud resources, and OT/IoT assets. For remote endpoints outside the network, the LsAgent collects data locally and sends it through a cloud relay.
- Centralized asset inventory: hardware, software, and user data are consolidated into a single view. The platform automatically normalizes software names, versions, vendors, models, and firmware, removing duplicates and reducing manual cleanup. Each asset profile includes configuration details, installed software, and ownership relationships.
- Software inventory and license audit: installed software is automatically scanned across Windows, Linux, and macOS. Titles are normalized for license audit purposes. The Software Asset Management module (available in paid plans) extends this to license optimization and compliance tracking.
- Network topology diagrams: the platform generates dynamic diagrams of asset relationships, network topologies, virtual environments, and Active Directory structures, providing visual context for the inventory.
- Warranty and lifecycle signals: warranty status is retrieved automatically for physical devices. Lifecycle Insights (available in Pro and Enterprise plans) surface assets approaching end-of-life and connect that data to vulnerability context.
Rating of Lansweeper
Ratings consulted in June 2026 on verified review platforms:
- Gartner Peer Insights: 4.3/5 (245 reviews).
- G2: 4.4/5 (67 verified reviews).
- Capterra: 4.5/5 (75 verified reviews).
Cross-referencing multiple review platforms provides a more complete picture of user experience. For Lansweeper, reviews consistently identify strong value in discovery depth and inventory visibility, alongside recurring friction points around the pricing jump from the free tier (100 assets) to the Starter plan (2,000 assets minimum) and pricing increases at renewal.
Pricing of Lansweeper
According to the official pricing page, consulted in June 2026, Lansweeper's structure is as follows:
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Free plan: $0. Up to 100 assets, unlimited users, community support. Suitable for home networks, labs, or initial evaluation. Most organizational environments exceed this limit quickly.
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Paid plans (subscription, billed annually, asset-based): exact prices in USD are not directly displayed on the pricing page; they require requesting a quote via the vendor's site. Based on information published on Capterra in June 2026, reference points are:
- Starter: from approximately $239/month, includes 2,000 assets as a base. This is the first paid tier after the free plan, with no intermediate option for environments between 100 and 2,000 assets.
- Pro: from approximately $439/month, starts at 2,000 assets and scales up to 9,000 in increments of 1,000. Adds Vulnerability Insights and expanded attachment storage.
- Enterprise: custom pricing, starting at 10,000 assets. Includes dedicated support and advanced governance features.
Lansweeper offers a 14-day free trial of the full platform, with no credit card required. Asset count is based on all discovered assets; retired or disposed assets continue to count toward the license limit until removed from the inventory.
3. OCS Inventory Next Generation
OCS Inventory Next Generation (Open Computers and Software Inventory NG) is an open source IT inventory solution with history since 2001. Originally a community project, it is today actively maintained with participation from the French company FactorFX, which also offers professional integration and support services. It is one of the reference tools in the space for automated hardware and software discovery, particularly strong in Linux-first and mixed environments.
OCS Inventory NG occupies a specific role in the open source ecosystem: it is frequently used as the discovery engine that feeds GLPI, with which it integrates natively. On its own, it covers hardware and software inventory in depth via an agent-server architecture, but it does not include Lifecycle Management, service desk, or license compliance features.
Features of OCS Inventory Next Generation
The following features are based on information published on the official OCS Inventory project website, consulted in June 2026.
- Agent-server inventory: agents installed on client machines (Windows, Linux, macOS, Android, and others) collect hardware and software data and send it to the management server via HTTP/HTTPS in compressed XML format. The server centralizes results and exposes them through a web administration console.
- IpDiscover and SNMP scans: the IpDiscover module detects all active devices on a subnet via ARP, including those without an agent installed. SNMP scans, available since version 2.0, complement IpDiscover data and retrieve information from network devices such as printers, switches, routers, and copiers.
- Remote package deployment: from the administration interface, software packages or scripts can be created and assigned to remote machines for execution. Agents download and run packages via HTTP/HTTPS, enabling automated software updates and configuration changes without direct endpoint access.
- Plugin engine: the architecture supports extensions via VBS or PowerShell scripts on Windows, and shell or Perl scripts on Unix systems. Plugins can collect additional data such as Microsoft Office product keys, scheduled tasks, virtual machine inventories, and CVE detection via the CVE Search module.
- REST API: available since version 2.4 of the communication server. Allows OCS Inventory NG to integrate with third-party management tools and automate import and query processes against inventory data.
Rating of OCS Inventory Next Generation
Ratings consulted in June 2026 on verified review platforms:
- Gartner Peer Insights: No score found.
- G2: 4.8/5 (8 reviews).
- Capterra: Not enough information.
Consulting independent review platforms is useful even when the review count is low, as it surfaces recurring user patterns. For OCS Inventory NG, users on G2 highlight hardware and software discovery depth and cross-platform agent coverage. Recurring limitations noted include server setup complexity and an administration interface that is functional but dated.
Pricing of OCS Inventory Next Generation
According to information published on the official OCS Inventory project site, consulted in June 2026:
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Open source version (self-hosted): completely free under the GPLv2 license. No license cost. Includes the management server, agents for multiple platforms, and the web administration console. The team is responsible for installation and maintenance of the required stack (Apache or Nginx, MySQL or MariaDB, PHP, Perl, and associated modules).
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Professional services and support: FactorFX, the company that actively maintains the project, offers integration, support, and technical accompaniment services for organizations that want to implement OCS Inventory NG with professional backing. Pricing for these services is not published on the official site and requires direct contact with FactorFX. No cloud-hosted plan is offered by the project itself. There is no free trial in the traditional sense; the self-hosted version can be evaluated without time limits or cost.
4. Spiceworks Inventory Online
Spiceworks Inventory Online is the cloud-based, active inventory product from Spiceworks, a platform designed for small and medium-sized IT teams. The on-premises version was discontinued in June 2021 and should not be referenced as a current option. The Online version runs on an ad-supported model: completely free on its Core plan, with no asset, user, or agent limits, financed through advertising displayed within the interface. As of June 2025, a Premium paid plan is available that removes ads.
Its main advantage within this list is the lowest barrier to entry of any tool covered: setup takes minutes, agents install directly on endpoints, and inventory data starts flowing without server configuration. That accessibility makes it a natural option for teams migrating from spreadsheets with no budget or technical infrastructure for self-hosting. The tradeoff is a tighter ecosystem: native integrations exist with other Spiceworks products, but there are no built-in connectors to external IT Service Management platforms.
Features of Spiceworks Inventory Online
The following features are based on information published on the official Spiceworks product description on G2, consulted in June 2026.
- Automated device discovery: scans the network via WMI and SNMP to identify and catalog all IP-enabled devices, including laptops, servers, smartphones, and IoT devices. Collects manufacturer, MAC address, IP address, device name, and open port information. Discovery is IP-based, which makes it less reliable for mobile assets that are frequently off-network.
- Hardware and software inventory: the agent installed on each endpoint reports hardware specifications, installed applications, and software versions. Inventory data is accessible from the cloud console without requiring local infrastructure on the admin side.
- Alerts and monitoring: the platform monitors devices and generates alerts for conditions such as low disk space, outdated software, or hardware anomalies, supporting proactive maintenance without manual checks.
- Integration with Spiceworks Cloud Help Desk: asset data connects natively with the Spiceworks help desk module, allowing assets to be linked directly to support tickets. This integration is limited to the Spiceworks ecosystem and does not extend natively to external IT Service Management platforms.
- Reporting: predefined and customizable reports covering device status, serial numbers, last logged-in user, operating system versions, and installed software. Reports are generated and exported from the web console.
Rating of Spiceworks Inventory Online
Ratings consulted in June 2026 on verified review platforms. Note: Spiceworks Inventory Online is a specific product within the broader Spiceworks platform. Ratings for the Spiceworks Cloud Help Desk (a separate product) are more numerous and are not included here; only scores specific to the Inventory Online product are cited.
- Gartner Peer Insights: No score found.
- G2: 4.1/5 (30 reviews).
- Capterra: No score found.
Looking at independent reviews matters when evaluating a free, ad-supported tool. For Spiceworks Inventory Online, G2 users consistently note ease of setup and cloud accessibility as strengths, while recurring friction points include the ad-heavy interface and limited integrations outside the Spiceworks ecosystem.
Pricing of Spiceworks Inventory Online
According to publicly available information from Spiceworks, consulted in June 2026:
Core plan (free): $0/month. Includes device discovery, hardware and software inventory, asset tracking, alerts, and reporting. No asset, user, technician, or agent limits. The interface contains advertising (ad-supported model).
5. AssetTiger
AssetTiger is a cloud-based asset tracking platform developed by MyAssetTag.com, designed for organizations that need a ready-to-use solution with minimal configuration. It runs entirely from the browser and has iOS and Android apps with barcode scanning capabilities. No server installation is required. The platform is aimed at teams that prioritize speed of adoption and operational asset tracking over network discovery or software inventory depth.
Its differentiator within this list is the focus on physical asset tracking with barcodes: check-in and check-out workflows, field audits via mobile scanning, maintenance scheduling, and expiration alerts. AssetTiger does not include automated network discovery or software inventory at the level of Lansweeper or OCS Inventory NG. It is broadly adopted by organizations in education, construction, IT services, and facilities management that manage mixed physical equipment, not only network endpoints.
Features of AssetTiger
The following features are based on information published on the official AssetTiger features page, consulted in June 2026.
- Asset tracking with check-in and check-out: records the status of each asset, to whom it is assigned, and its location. The system logs every interaction in the asset's event history, supports reservations in advance, and generates check-out reports with due dates and overdue flags. All operations are available from the browser or the mobile app.
- Barcode scanning via mobile app: the iOS and Android app allows scanning barcodes in the field to update asset status instantly. Compatible with Bluetooth scanners. Custom barcode tags can be purchased through MyAssetTag.com, and qualifying orders unlock additional free service months.
- Maintenance scheduling: assets can be enrolled in recurring maintenance programs with configurable schedules. Reports cover maintenance history by asset tag, person, and date, supporting audit readiness and preventive maintenance workflows.
- Configurable email alerts: reminders and alarms can be set for assets requiring maintenance, overdue check-outs, expiring contracts and licenses, and other custom conditions. Alert frequency and trigger conditions are user-defined.
- Custom reports and role-based access control: predefined reports cover asset status, depreciation, maintenance, and check-out history. Custom reports can be saved and reused. Multiple user accounts are supported with differentiated access levels, from limited viewer to full administrator, at no additional cost per user in paid plans.
Rating of AssetTiger
Ratings consulted in June 2026 on verified review platforms:
Consulting independent review platforms helps identify real satisfaction patterns. For AssetTiger, Capterra users consistently highlight ease of adoption, the value of the free plan, and barcode scanning as strengths. Recurring criticism points to the jump between the free tier (250 assets, 2 users) and the first paid plan, limited integration options, and the absence of native IT Service Management connectors.
Pricing of AssetTiger
According to the official pricing page, consulted in June 2026, the structure is asset-volume-based with unlimited users on all paid plans:
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Free plan: up to 250 assets, 2 users, 50 sites, 50 categories, 5 custom fields, and up to 100 email alerts per 24 hours. Access to core features including tracking, check-in/check-out, barcode scanning, alerts, and reports. No cost.
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Paid plans (annual billing):
- Basic: up to 500 assets, $220/year ($240/year billed monthly). Unlimited users. Adds unlimited email alerts, custom logo on emails, and priority support.
- Core: up to 2,500 assets, $440/year ($480/year billed monthly). Most popular plan according to the vendor.
- Advanced: up to 10,000 assets, $825/year ($900/year billed monthly).
- Pro: up to 50,000 assets, $1,540/year ($1,680/year billed monthly).
- Enterprise: up to 250,000 assets, $3,025/year ($3,300/year billed monthly).
- Ultimate: up to 500,000 assets, $5,500/year ($6,000/year billed monthly).
All paid plans include unlimited users with no per-user charges. A separate inventory add-on for consumable items is available at $15/month or $165/year. No free trial is offered beyond the permanent free plan. Pricing verified on the official AssetTiger pricing page in June 2026.
6. GLPI
GLPI (Gestionnaire Libre de Parc Informatique) is an open source IT Service Management (ITSM) and Asset Management platform developed and maintained by Teclib', with history since 2003. It has wide adoption in Europe, Latin America, and public sector and educational institutions globally. Unlike the other tools in this list, GLPI integrates Asset Management, a full ITIL-aligned service desk, Configuration Management Database (CMDB), Contract and License Management, and project tracking in a single platform. That breadth makes it the most functionally complete option in this article, at the cost of a steeper implementation curve.
For the purposes of this article, GLPI covers IT inventory natively from version 10 onward through its built-in automated inventory module, and integrates directly with OCS Inventory NG for deeper network discovery. The on-premises version is completely free under the GPLv3 license; paid plans correspond to the cloud-hosted version (GLPI Network Cloud) or self-hosted subscriptions that include official support and premium plugins from Teclib'.
Features of GLPI
The following features are based on information published on the official GLPI project site and the GitHub repository, consulted in June 2026.
- Asset tracking and automated inventory: manages computers, peripherals, network printers, installed software, components, and mobile devices. Since version 10, a native dynamic inventory module maintains an up-to-date asset base without manual intervention. Lifecycle state covers the full span from stock through active use to withdrawal.
- CMDB with relationship mapping: configuration items and their relationships are tracked, including associated incidents and lifecycle state over time. The CMDB updates dynamically from inventory data, providing a continuously current view of asset dependencies.
- Software inventory and license management: installed software is automatically scanned across Windows, macOS, Linux, and BSD Unix environments. License records track seat counts, installations per platform, and compliance status.
- Integrated ITIL service desk: incident, problem, and change management with configurable SLAs and OLAs. Tickets link directly to inventory assets, giving a full issue history per device. A self-service portal and knowledge base are included.
- Plugin ecosystem: hundreds of plugins are available in the official GLPI marketplace, extending functionality to OCS Inventory NG integration for network discovery, data center management, environmental impact tracking, monitoring integrations, and more.
Rating of GLPI
Ratings consulted in June 2026 on verified review platforms:
- Gartner Peer Insights: 4.3/5 (7 reviews.
- G2: 4.5/5 (41 reviews).
- Capterra: 4.5/5 (41 reviews).
Cross-referencing platforms helps build a fuller picture for a tool with GLPI's scope. Reviews consistently highlight functional richness, open source flexibility, and the integration of tickets with asset records as its main strengths. Recurring friction points center on implementation complexity, the learning curve for new administrators, and the dependency on technical resources for deep customization.
Pricing of GLPI
According to the official pricing page, consulted in June 2026:
On-premises (free): GLPI is open source software under GPLv3. The self-hosted version is completely free with no license cost, no asset limit, and no user limit. The team is responsible for installation, server maintenance, and updates. Community support is included; official Teclib' support requires a paid subscription.
GLPI Network Cloud (paid, per IT agent per month):
- Public Cloud: from €19/month per IT agent, billed from 1 agent. Includes unlimited assets, unlimited end users, automated backups, updates, and server maintenance. Shared infrastructure.
- Private Cloud: from €21/month per IT agent, billed from 25 agents. Adds dedicated server, VPN tunnel, IP filtering, and hourly incremental backups.
GLPI Network self-hosted subscriptions (paid, flat monthly fee):
- Basic: €100/month. Up to 10 IT agents, up to 500 assets. Includes community and basic plugins, Level 3 support, and one production instance.
- Standard: €300/month. Up to 50 IT agents, up to 5,000 assets. Adds standard plugins and advanced dashboard.
- Advanced: €1,000/month. More than 50 IT agents, more than 5,001 assets. Full plugin access across all tiers.
GLPI Network Cloud offers a 45-day free trial with no credit card required. All prices are in euros, excluding VAT, and are subject to change. Pricing verified on the official GLPI pricing page in June 2026. Confirm current details at glpi-project.org/en/pricing.
When free IT inventory tools are not enough: InvGate Asset Management
Most teams that adopt a free inventory tool start with a clear and limited goal: know what they have and where it is. For environments of a few hundred assets with a technically capable team and no compliance pressure, that goal is achievable with any of the tools in this list.
The pattern that eventually surfaces is predictable. The inventory works, but the moment the team needs to track assets through their full lifecycle, manage software licenses at scale, enforce compliance policies, or connect inventory data to service desk operations, the free tool stops being enough. Compliance reporting requires manual exports, license audits become spreadsheet exercises, and integrating with the service desk requires custom scripting or simply does not happen.
What InvGate Asset Management covers
InvGate Asset Management: 5-Minute Demo
InvGate Asset Management is a dedicated IT Asset Management platform designed for the point where basic inventory is no longer sufficient. It has many features and capabilities for a compete ITAM strategy:
- Multi-source discovery: a lightweight agent installed on endpoints, agentless network scanning, integrations, and manual entry or CSV import. The result is a single unified inventory that covers on-premise endpoints, remote devices, cloud resources, and assets that do not respond to network scans.
- Full lifecycle tracking: assets are tracked from procurement through disposal. Warranty tracking, depreciation, purchase history, ownership history, and configurable lifecycle states are all native. No spreadsheet required at any stage.
- Software inventory and license compliance: per-device visibility of installed applications, versions, and authorization status. Alerts fire when an installation does not match the approved software list. Software metering tracks actual usage, identifying underutilized licenses before renewal.
- Atlas and Smart Recommendations: Atlas is an AI-powered asset enrichment database that centralizes end-of-life and end-of-support information across the inventory. Smart Recommendations uses Atlas data alongside inventory and best practices to surface proactive alerts when assets are approaching critical lifecycle stages, shifting the team from reactive to planned.
- Health rules and automated alerts: configurable conditions (antivirus active, operating system version, warranty expiration, license expiration) generate alerts without manual review. Remediation actions can be triggered automatically.
- CMDB with auto-mapping: relationship mapping between assets and services, with assisted auto-mapping to accelerate CMDB creation. Connects inventory to change and incident management without manual data entry.
- Native integration with InvGate Service Management: assets link directly to tickets, incidents, and change records. The full issue history per device is visible from the asset record and from the service desk.
- No-code configuration: custom fields, dashboards, reports, and automation rules are configurable without development resources.
Teams evaluating the platform can start with a 30-day free trial with no credit card required, or contact Sales to discuss requirements.
Pricing of InvGate Asset Management
InvGate Asset Management pricing is based on IP devices, which are network-connected assets such as computers, servers, and network equipment. Each IP device includes two non-IP devices (monitors, headsets, and similar assets without a network address).
- Starter: $1,499/year. Fixed package of 500 IP devices. No add-ons or customization available. Organizations exceeding 500 IP devices move automatically to Professional.
- Professional: from $2,500/year (500 IP devices included), scaling up to 5,000 IP devices in expansion packs of 250 at $1,250 each. Organizations exceeding 5,000 IP devices move automatically to Enterprise.
- Enterprise: custom pricing from $12,000/year for organizations that need higher volume, on-premise hosting, data residency, or dedicated infrastructure. Contact sales for a quote.
FAQs
What is the best free IT Inventory Management software?
There is no single best option. The right tool depends on environment size, team technical capacity, and scope requirements. Teams without infrastructure skills and fewer than a few hundred assets typically fit Spiceworks Inventory Online or AssetTiger best. Teams with self-hosting capacity and deeper discovery needs are better served by Snipe-IT, OCS Inventory NG, or GLPI.
Is Spiceworks Inventory still free?
Spiceworks Inventory Online, the current cloud-based version, remains free on its Core plan with no asset or user limits. The on-premises version was permanently discontinued in June 2021 and is no longer supported or updated.
What is the difference between free and open source IT inventory software?
A free plan is a pricing tier from a commercial vendor, typically with asset or feature limits and vendor-managed hosting. Open source means the source code is publicly available, the software is self-hosted, and there is no license fee, but the team assumes responsibility for installation, maintenance, and updates.
Can free IT inventory tools handle software inventory?
Some can. Lansweeper, OCS Inventory NG, and Spiceworks Inventory Online include automated software scanning as part of their discovery. Snipe-IT covers license tracking but not automated software scanning. AssetTiger focuses on physical asset tracking and does not include software inventory. GLPI includes software inventory natively from version 10 onward.
When should I switch from a free IT inventory tool to a paid solution?
The clearest signals are: the environment has grown beyond the free tool's asset ceiling, compliance reporting requires manual work outside the tool, license management has become a separate spreadsheet process, integrating with the service desk requires custom development, or the team is managing assets across cloud, remote, and on-premise environments that the free tool cannot discover consistently. When those conditions appear together, the cost of staying on a free tool typically exceeds the cost of moving to a dedicated platform.
