Quick Overview
- 1#1: Lansweeper - Automatically discovers, inventories, and manages all hardware, software, and network assets across your IT environment.
- 2#2: PDQ Inventory - Provides lightning-fast scanning and detailed inventory reporting for Windows systems and applications.
- 3#3: Snipe-IT - Open-source asset management system for tracking hardware, software licenses, and consumables.
- 4#4: GLPI - Open-source IT service management platform with comprehensive asset inventory and tracking features.
- 5#5: Spiceworks Inventory - Free network-based tool for discovering and managing IT hardware and software inventories.
- 6#6: Total Network Inventory - Scans and audits network devices, servers, and workstations with customizable reporting.
- 7#7: OCS Inventory NG - Agent-based solution for detailed hardware and software inventory collection and deployment.
- 8#8: ManageEngine Endpoint Central - Unified endpoint management with robust hardware, software, and license inventory capabilities.
- 9#9: InvGate Asset Management - Cloud-based ITAM platform for automated asset discovery, tracking, and lifecycle management.
- 10#10: NinjaOne - RMM platform featuring real-time device inventory, monitoring, and patch management.
We evaluated tools based on core features (automated discovery, reporting, lifecycle management), quality (accuracy, reliability), ease of use (user interface, onboarding), and value (cost-effectiveness, scalability) to ensure a balanced list that meets diverse IT requirements.
Comparison Table
Effective system inventory management is key for optimizing IT operations, and selecting the right software simplifies asset tracking and minimizes gaps. This comparison table explores popular tools—such as Lansweeper, PDQ Inventory, Snipe-IT, GLPI, Spiceworks Inventory, and more—highlighting features, usability, and practical benefits to help readers find the best fit for their environment.
| # | Tool | Category | Overall | Features | Ease of Use | Value |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lansweeper Automatically discovers, inventories, and manages all hardware, software, and network assets across your IT environment. | enterprise | 9.4/10 | 9.7/10 | 8.6/10 | 9.2/10 |
| 2 | PDQ Inventory Provides lightning-fast scanning and detailed inventory reporting for Windows systems and applications. | specialized | 9.1/10 | 9.5/10 | 9.2/10 | 8.7/10 |
| 3 | Snipe-IT Open-source asset management system for tracking hardware, software licenses, and consumables. | other | 8.6/10 | 8.7/10 | 8.2/10 | 9.5/10 |
| 4 | GLPI Open-source IT service management platform with comprehensive asset inventory and tracking features. | enterprise | 8.7/10 | 9.2/10 | 7.4/10 | 9.8/10 |
| 5 | Spiceworks Inventory Free network-based tool for discovering and managing IT hardware and software inventories. | other | 7.8/10 | 7.5/10 | 8.5/10 | 9.5/10 |
| 6 | Total Network Inventory Scans and audits network devices, servers, and workstations with customizable reporting. | specialized | 8.2/10 | 8.7/10 | 7.6/10 | 7.8/10 |
| 7 | OCS Inventory NG Agent-based solution for detailed hardware and software inventory collection and deployment. | specialized | 7.6/10 | 8.2/10 | 6.4/10 | 9.5/10 |
| 8 | ManageEngine Endpoint Central Unified endpoint management with robust hardware, software, and license inventory capabilities. | enterprise | 8.4/10 | 9.0/10 | 8.0/10 | 8.2/10 |
| 9 | InvGate Asset Management Cloud-based ITAM platform for automated asset discovery, tracking, and lifecycle management. | enterprise | 8.2/10 | 8.5/10 | 7.9/10 | 7.8/10 |
| 10 | NinjaOne RMM platform featuring real-time device inventory, monitoring, and patch management. | enterprise | 8.3/10 | 8.5/10 | 9.2/10 | 7.8/10 |
Automatically discovers, inventories, and manages all hardware, software, and network assets across your IT environment.
Provides lightning-fast scanning and detailed inventory reporting for Windows systems and applications.
Open-source asset management system for tracking hardware, software licenses, and consumables.
Open-source IT service management platform with comprehensive asset inventory and tracking features.
Free network-based tool for discovering and managing IT hardware and software inventories.
Scans and audits network devices, servers, and workstations with customizable reporting.
Agent-based solution for detailed hardware and software inventory collection and deployment.
Unified endpoint management with robust hardware, software, and license inventory capabilities.
Cloud-based ITAM platform for automated asset discovery, tracking, and lifecycle management.
RMM platform featuring real-time device inventory, monitoring, and patch management.
Lansweeper
enterpriseAutomatically discovers, inventories, and manages all hardware, software, and network assets across your IT environment.
Agentless deep scanning with switch port mapping and PoE discovery for unparalleled network visibility
Lansweeper is a leading IT asset discovery and inventory management platform that automatically scans networks to catalog hardware, software, peripherals, and cloud assets without requiring agents on most devices. It offers robust reporting, license management, vulnerability scanning, and switch port mapping to provide IT teams with a complete view of their infrastructure. Supporting on-premises, cloud, and hybrid environments, it scales effectively for organizations of all sizes.
Pros
- Agentless discovery across Windows, Linux, Mac, printers, IoT, and cloud services
- Powerful customizable reporting and dashboards with export options
- Integrated vulnerability scanning and compliance tracking
Cons
- Initial setup and scanning configuration can be complex for large networks
- On-premises deployment requires a Windows server
- Pricing model scales steeply with asset count beyond small deployments
Best For
Mid-to-large IT teams seeking comprehensive, automated network-wide asset inventory and management.
Pricing
Free for up to 100 assets; paid plans start at ~$1/asset/year (e.g., $159/year for 2,000 assets), with subscription tiers up to enterprise.
PDQ Inventory
specializedProvides lightning-fast scanning and detailed inventory reporting for Windows systems and applications.
Dynamic Collections that automatically group and update devices based on custom inventory criteria
PDQ Inventory is a robust agentless inventory management solution designed for IT administrators to discover, scan, and track hardware, software, and configuration details across Windows networks. It provides real-time data collection, customizable reports, alerts, and dynamic collections for efficient asset management and compliance. Integrated with PDQ Deploy, it enables seamless inventory-driven deployments and maintenance tasks.
Pros
- Agentless WMI-based scanning for fast, low-overhead inventory
- Dynamic collections and powerful reporting tools
- Strong Active Directory integration and automation capabilities
Cons
- Limited to Windows environments, no native macOS/Linux support
- Subscription pricing scales with node count and can get expensive
- Advanced scripting requires some PowerShell knowledge
Best For
IT teams in Windows-centric organizations seeking automated, detailed system inventory without deploying agents.
Pricing
Subscription-based: Free for 25 computers; $1,399/year for 250, $2,699 for 500, up to $10,999 for unlimited; 14-day free trial.
Snipe-IT
otherOpen-source asset management system for tracking hardware, software licenses, and consumables.
Seamless QR code and barcode generation/scanning for rapid asset check-in, check-out, and audits
Snipe-IT is a free, open-source IT asset and license management system designed for tracking hardware, software, consumables, and accessories across an organization. It provides tools for check-in/check-out workflows, custom fields, reporting, and integrations like LDAP/AD and API access for automation. Ideal for system inventory management, it helps IT teams maintain accurate records of servers, workstations, network gear, and licenses without vendor lock-in.
Pros
- Completely free and open-source with no usage limits
- Highly customizable with custom fields, workflows, and API
- Strong reporting and QR/barcode scanning for efficient inventory audits
Cons
- Self-hosted setup requires technical expertise and server maintenance
- Lacks built-in automated network discovery or agent-based scanning
- UI can feel dated compared to modern SaaS alternatives
Best For
Small to mid-sized IT teams or organizations seeking a cost-free, flexible solution for manual asset tracking and lifecycle management.
Pricing
Free open-source (self-hosted); optional paid hosting starts at $200/year per instance.
GLPI
enterpriseOpen-source IT service management platform with comprehensive asset inventory and tracking features.
GLPI Agent integration for agentless and agent-based automated inventory discovery across diverse networks
GLPI is a free, open-source IT Service Management (ITSM) platform with robust system inventory management capabilities, enabling comprehensive tracking of hardware, software, networks, and other IT assets. It supports automated inventory collection through integration with the GLPI Agent or FusionInventory plugins, providing detailed asset discovery, lifecycle management, and compliance reporting. Beyond inventory, it combines helpdesk ticketing and project management, making it a full ITSM suite for IT environments.
Pros
- Comprehensive asset tracking with automatic discovery via native agents
- Highly customizable with plugins and multi-tenancy support
- Excellent value as a free, open-source solution with strong community backing
Cons
- Complex initial setup requiring server configuration and database management
- Outdated user interface that can feel clunky despite functional depth
- Full inventory features depend on additional agent deployment and configuration
Best For
Mid-to-large IT teams needing a scalable, cost-free platform for detailed system inventory alongside ITSM workflows.
Pricing
Completely free under GPLv3 license; optional paid enterprise plugins, hosting, or support contracts available.
Spiceworks Inventory
otherFree network-based tool for discovering and managing IT hardware and software inventories.
Agentless, automatic discovery of unlimited devices at no cost
Spiceworks Inventory is a free, agentless network scanning tool that automatically discovers and tracks hardware, software, and devices across Windows, Linux, Mac, and network infrastructure. It provides detailed inventory reports, custom alerts, and warranty tracking to help IT teams maintain asset visibility. The tool integrates seamlessly with other Spiceworks products like Help Desk for a unified IT management experience.
Pros
- Completely free for unlimited devices and users
- Agentless discovery simplifies deployment
- Strong community support and integrations
Cons
- Dated user interface
- Limited advanced reporting and customization
- Performance issues on very large networks
Best For
Small to medium-sized IT teams seeking a cost-free solution for basic network inventory management.
Pricing
Free for all features with no device limits.
Total Network Inventory
specializedScans and audits network devices, servers, and workstations with customizable reporting.
Agentless multi-OS scanning with live inventory updates and interactive network maps
Total Network Inventory (TNI) is a robust agentless network scanning and inventory management tool that discovers, catalogs, and tracks hardware, software, and configuration details across Windows, Linux, macOS, FreeBSD, and network devices. It offers automated scanning schedules, change detection, license management, and customizable reports to maintain an accurate IT asset overview. The software excels in generating visual network maps and exporting data in various formats for compliance and auditing purposes.
Pros
- Agentless scanning supports diverse platforms without deployment hassles
- Extensive reporting and change tracking capabilities
- Perpetual licensing option provides long-term cost predictability
Cons
- Runs only on Windows for the storage server, limiting deployment flexibility
- User interface appears dated and has a learning curve
- Pricing scales steeply for large networks exceeding 500 assets
Best For
Small to medium-sized IT teams managing heterogeneous networks who prioritize detailed reporting and agentless inventory without cloud dependencies.
Pricing
Perpetual licenses start at $195 for up to 100 assets, scaling to $2,495+ for 10,000 assets; annual maintenance ~20% of license cost, with subscription alternatives available.
OCS Inventory NG
specializedAgent-based solution for detailed hardware and software inventory collection and deployment.
Integrated software deployment engine that pushes updates and installers directly from the inventory database
OCS Inventory NG is an open-source IT asset management tool designed for tracking hardware and software inventories across networks. It deploys lightweight agents on Windows, Linux, macOS, and other systems to collect detailed information on devices, including CPU, memory, installed software, and peripherals. The collected data is stored in a centralized MySQL database accessible via a web interface, enabling reporting, querying, and software deployment features for IT administrators.
Pros
- Completely free and open-source with no licensing costs
- Comprehensive multi-platform agent for detailed hardware/software tracking
- Supports software deployment and SNMP for network devices
Cons
- Complex installation requiring LAMP/WAMP stack setup
- Dated web interface with limited modern UX
- Scalability challenges for very large environments without customization
Best For
Small to medium-sized IT teams seeking a customizable, no-cost solution for network-wide asset inventory and basic deployment.
Pricing
Free (open-source under GPL license); optional paid support available.
ManageEngine Endpoint Central
enterpriseUnified endpoint management with robust hardware, software, and license inventory capabilities.
Integrated software metering and license optimization directly tied to inventory data for proactive compliance management
ManageEngine Endpoint Central is a comprehensive unified endpoint management (UEM) solution with robust system inventory management features, enabling automated discovery and tracking of hardware, software, and configurations across Windows, macOS, Linux, and mobile devices. It provides detailed inventory reports, custom views, software metering, and license compliance tracking to help IT teams maintain visibility into their endpoint ecosystem. The platform integrates inventory data with patching, deployment, and remote control for holistic endpoint oversight.
Pros
- Comprehensive hardware and software inventory with real-time updates
- Advanced reporting and custom dashboards for asset insights
- Scalable for large enterprises with multi-platform support
Cons
- Steep learning curve for configuration and advanced customization
- Pricing can be expensive for small teams or low endpoint counts
- Agent deployment and occasional sync delays in very large environments
Best For
Mid-to-large enterprises seeking integrated endpoint inventory management alongside patching and deployment capabilities.
Pricing
Free for up to 25 endpoints; paid subscriptions start at ~$1 per endpoint/month for Professional edition, with Enterprise tiers scaling by volume and adding advanced features (annual billing).
InvGate Asset Management
enterpriseCloud-based ITAM platform for automated asset discovery, tracking, and lifecycle management.
Advanced normalization engine for accurate software inventory and license reconciliation
InvGate Asset Management is a robust IT asset management solution that automates hardware and software discovery, inventory tracking, and lifecycle management for IT environments. It offers detailed reporting, license compliance monitoring, and procurement workflows to optimize asset utilization and reduce costs. Integrated within the InvGate Service Management platform, it provides a centralized CMDB view for better IT governance.
Pros
- Automated agent-based and agentless discovery
- Strong license management and compliance tools
- Seamless integration with ITSM platforms like InvGate Service Desk
Cons
- Interface can feel dated compared to modern competitors
- Higher pricing for smaller teams
- Advanced customization requires technical expertise
Best For
Mid-sized IT teams in enterprises needing integrated asset management with service desk capabilities.
Pricing
Subscription-based starting at $25 per technician/month for Asset Management add-on, with volume discounts and custom enterprise pricing.
NinjaOne
enterpriseRMM platform featuring real-time device inventory, monitoring, and patch management.
Real-time, agent-based inventory scanning with one-click remote control and scripting directly from asset views
NinjaOne is a cloud-based RMM platform that provides robust system inventory management as part of its endpoint management suite, automatically discovering and cataloging hardware, software, and network assets across Windows, macOS, and Linux devices. It offers real-time inventory updates, detailed reporting, and integration with monitoring and patching tools for comprehensive asset visibility. While powerful for IT operations, it's best leveraged within its broader RMM ecosystem rather than as a standalone inventory solution.
Pros
- Automated device discovery and real-time inventory updates
- Detailed hardware/software tracking with custom reports
- Seamless integration with patching and remote access
Cons
- Higher cost for users needing only inventory (not full RMM)
- Limited advanced asset lifecycle management like depreciation tracking
- Cloud-only deployment may not suit air-gapped environments
Best For
MSPs and mid-sized IT teams managing distributed endpoints who want inventory bundled with monitoring and automation.
Pricing
Per-device subscription starting at ~$4/device/month (Professional plan, billed annually); scales with features and volume, quote-based for Enterprise.
Conclusion
Evaluating system inventory management software reveals standout tools, with Lansweeper leading as the top choice due to its robust automated discovery and management of all hardware, software, and network assets. PDQ Inventory impresses with lightning-fast scanning for Windows systems, offering detailed reporting, while Snipe-IT’s open-source flexibility excels in tracking hardware, software licenses, and consumables. Each tool addresses specific needs, but Lansweeper’s comprehensive approach sets it apart as the preferred option.
Take the first step to optimize your inventory management—try Lansweeper today to simplify asset tracking and boost operational efficiency.
Tools Reviewed
All tools were independently evaluated for this comparison
