Best Network Automation Software in 2026
Updated
In short: ManageEngine Network Configuration Manager is ranked #1 of 26 as of 4 October 2026, ahead of Nautobot and Arista NG Firewall. The best-ranked option with a free plan is Nautobot. The lowest first paid tier on this page is ManageEngine Network Configuration Manager at $19.83/mo.
Keeping network changes manageable can involve configuring devices, coordinating deployments, and testing networks. Compared on configuration management, deployment, device limit, free plan, network testing, paid from, supported platforms, and workflow orchestration, these tools offer several practical points to weigh. ManageEngine Network Configuration Manager, Nautobot, and Arista NG Firewall are among the entries. Check which supported platforms suit your environment, whether device limits fit your needs, and which automation tasks matter most to your team; the listed plan and pricing details provide cost context.
26 network automation software ranked on what their makers publish — plans and prices, free tiers, platforms and the facts on their own pages.
Network Automation Software, ranked on how quickly a newcomer can get going. 12 of the 25 on this page can be tried for free.
- 1 ManageEngine Network Configuration ManagerPaid from $19.83/mo
- Free to practise on: yes
- Free trial: yes
- Well documented: yes
- Runs where you work: yes
- 2 NautobotFree plan
- Free to practise on: yes
- Free trial: not on record
- Well documented: yes
- Runs where you work: not on record
- 3 Arista NG FirewallPaid from $22.50/mo
- Free to practise on: yes
- Free trial: not on record
- Well documented: yes
- Runs where you work: not on record
- 4 Cisco pyATSFree plan
- Free to practise on: yes
- Free trial: not on record
- Well documented: yes
- Runs where you work: not on record
- 5 NornirFree plan
- Free to practise on: yes
- Free trial: not on record
- Well documented: yes
- Runs where you work: not on record
- 6 ContainerlabFree plan
- Free to practise on: yes
- Free trial: not on record
- Well documented: yes
- Runs where you work: yes
- 7 NetBrain
- Free to practise on: not on record
- Free trial: yes
- Well documented: yes
- Runs where you work: yes
- 8 ONAPFree plan
- Free to practise on: yes
- Free trial: not on record
- Well documented: yes
- Runs where you work: not on record
- 9 NetmikoFree plan
- Free to practise on: yes
- Free trial: not on record
- Well documented: yes
- Runs where you work: not on record
- 10 OpenDaylightFree plan
- Free to practise on: yes
- Free trial: not on record
- Well documented: yes
- Runs where you work: yes
- 11 NAPALMFree plan
- Free to practise on: yes
- Free trial: not on record
- Well documented: yes
- Runs where you work: not on record
- 12 Infoblox Cloud Network Automation
- Free to practise on: not on record
- Free trial: not on record
- Well documented: yes
- Runs where you work: yes
- 13 SolarWinds Network Configuration Manager
- Free to practise on: not on record
- Free trial: yes
- Well documented: yes
- Runs where you work: not on record
- 14 AlgoSec
- Free to practise on: not on record
- Free trial: not on record
- Well documented: yes
- Runs where you work: not on record
- 15 Huawei HiSecEngine USG6800G
- Free to practise on: not on record
- Free trial: not on record
- Well documented: yes
- Runs where you work: not on record
- 16 Juniper Security Director
- Free to practise on: not on record
- Free trial: not on record
- Well documented: yes
- Runs where you work: not on record
- 17 Tufin
- Free to practise on: not on record
- Free trial: not on record
- Well documented: yes
- Runs where you work: not on record
- 18 Batfish
- Free to practise on: not on record
- Free trial: not on record
- Well documented: not on record
- Runs where you work: yes
- 19 Blue Planet Orchestration
- Free to practise on: not on record
- Free trial: not on record
- Well documented: not on record
- Runs where you work: not on record
- 20 ONOS
- Free to practise on: not on record
- Free trial: not on record
- Well documented: not on record
- Runs where you work: not on record
- 21 Juniper Apstra
- Free to practise on: not on record
- Free trial: not on record
- Well documented: not on record
- Runs where you work: not on record
- 22 BackBox
- Free to practise on: not on record
- Free trial: not on record
- Well documented: not on record
- Runs where you work: not on record
- 23 Itential Automation Platform
- Free to practise on: not on record
- Free trial: not on record
- Well documented: not on record
- Runs where you work: not on record
- 24 Forward Enterprise
- Free to practise on: not on record
- Free trial: not on record
- Well documented: not on record
- Runs where you work: not on record
- 25 Gluware
- Free to practise on: not on record
- Free trial: not on record
- Well documented: not on record
- Runs where you work: not on record
Is your platform on this list?
Numbered spots on this list can be sponsored. They are labelled, and the editorial order and scores never change for payment.
Questions about this list
Which network automation software is ranked first on The Geeks Club?
ManageEngine Network Configuration Manager is ranked #1 of 26 with a score of 7.9. Nautobot is second and Arista NG Firewall third.
How many of these have a free plan?
10 of the 25 on this page publish a free plan on their own pricing pages.
Which is the cheapest paid option?
On this page, ManageEngine Network Configuration Manager has the lowest first paid tier we found: $19.83/mo.
How is this list ranked?
Ranked on how quickly a newcomer can get going: documentation depth, a free tier or trial, and the platforms it runs on. Paid placements never change a rank.