Best Network Management Software in 2026
Updated
In short: ManageEngine Network Configuration Manager is ranked #1 of 31 as of 4 October 2026, ahead of MikroTik RouterOS and UniFi Network. The best-ranked option with a free plan is MikroTik RouterOS. The lowest first paid tier on this page is Domotz at $1.50/mo.
Managing a network means keeping track of devices while handling configuration work and policy changes. Compared on network discovery, managed device limit, configuration management, and configuration backup, these tools also differ in API access and policy automation. Deployment model, free-plan availability, and paid-from pricing are useful factors to weigh against your operating needs. ManageEngine Network Configuration Manager, MikroTik RouterOS, and UniFi Network are among the named options; Domotz and Cisco Meraki Dashboard offer other choices to examine. Use the published criteria to decide which capabilities and access terms suit the network you oversee.
31 network management software ranked on what their makers publish — plans and prices, free tiers, platforms and the facts on their own pages.
#1 ManageEngine Network Configuration Manager Top pick · 8.0 Free plan · $19.83/mo
#2 MikroTik RouterOS Runner-up · 7.6 Free plan · $45/mo
#3 UniFi Network Also great · 7.5 Free plan · Free
- Free planFree trial AndroidiOSLinuxself-hostedWebWindows
- Free plan
- Yes
- Deployment model
- on-premises
- Managed device limit
- 10 devices
- Network discovery
- Yes
- Configuration management
- Yes
RecognisedDocumentedFree planFree trialPlatforms$19.83/mofirst paid tier About ManageEngine Network Configuration ManagerVisit site - Free planFree trial AndroidiOSWindows
- Free plan
- No
RecognisedDocumentedFree planFree trialPlatforms$45/mofirst paid tier About MikroTik RouterOSVisit site - Free plan AndroidapiiOSLinuxmacOSself-hostedWebWindows
- Free plan
- Yes
- Paid from
- 29 /mo
- Deployment model
- hybrid
- Managed device limit
- 1,000 devices
- Network discovery
- Yes
- Configuration management
- Yes
RecognisedDocumentedFree planFree trialPlatforms - Free trial AndroidapiiOSLinuxmacOSWebWindows
- Free plan
- Yes
- Paid from
- 1.5 /mo
RecognisedDocumentedFree planFree trialPlatforms$1.50/mofirst paid tier About DomotzVisit site - Free plan AndroidiOSLinuxWebWindows
- Free plan
- Yes
- Deployment model
- hybrid
- Network discovery
- Yes
- Configuration management
- Yes
RecognisedDocumentedFree planFree trialPlatforms - Free plan Web
- Free plan
- No
- Deployment model
- hybrid
- Network discovery
- Yes
- Configuration management
- Yes
RecognisedDocumentedFree planFree trialPlatforms$22.50/mofirst paid tier About Arista NG FirewallVisit site - Free trial apiLinuxself-hostedWebWindows
- Free plan
- No
- Deployment model
- hybrid
- Network discovery
- Yes
- Configuration management
- Yes
RecognisedDocumentedFree planFree trialPlatforms - Free trial AndroidapiiOSWeb
- Free plan
- No
- Deployment model
- cloud
- Network discovery
- Yes
- Configuration management
- Yes
RecognisedDocumentedFree planFree trialPlatforms - Free trial Linuxself-hostedWeb
- Deployment model
- on-premises
- Managed device limit
- 50 devices
- Network discovery
- Yes
- Configuration management
- Yes
RecognisedDocumentedFree planFree trialPlatforms$50/mofirst paid tier About HPE Morpheus VM Essentials SoftwareVisit site - Free trial apiLinuxself-hostedWeb
- Free plan
- No
- Deployment model
- hybrid
- Network discovery
- Yes
- Configuration management
- Yes
RecognisedDocumentedFree planFree trialPlatforms - Free trial apiself-hostedWebWindows
- Free plan
- No
- Deployment model
- hybrid
- Network discovery
- Yes
- Configuration management
- Yes
RecognisedDocumentedFree planFree trialPlatforms - Windows
- Free plan
- Yes
- Deployment model
- on-premises
- Network discovery
- Yes
RecognisedDocumentedFree planFree trialPlatforms - Web
- Free plan
- No
- Deployment model
- hybrid
- Network discovery
- Yes
- Configuration management
- Yes
RecognisedDocumentedFree planFree trialPlatforms - Web
- Configuration management
- Yes
RecognisedDocumentedFree planFree trialPlatforms - self-hostedWeb
- Free plan
- No
- Deployment model
- cloud
- Configuration management
- Yes
RecognisedDocumentedFree planFree trialPlatforms - WebiOSAndroid
- Free plan
- Yes
- Deployment model
- on-premises
- Network discovery
- Yes
- Configuration management
- Yes
RecognisedDocumentedFree planFree trialPlatforms - Linux
- Free plan
- Yes
RecognisedDocumentedFree planFree trialPlatforms - apiself-hostedWeb
- Free plan
- Yes
- Deployment model
- hybrid
- Network discovery
- Yes
- Configuration management
- No
RecognisedDocumentedFree planFree trialPlatforms -
- Deployment model
- hybrid
- Configuration management
- Yes
RecognisedDocumentedFree planFree trialPlatforms - Web
- Free plan
- Yes
- Deployment model
- hybrid
- Configuration management
- Yes
RecognisedDocumentedFree planFree trialPlatforms - Web
- Free plan
- Yes
- Deployment model
- hybrid
- Network discovery
- Yes
- Configuration management
- Yes
RecognisedDocumentedFree planFree trialPlatforms - AndroidiOSWeb
- Free plan
- No
- Deployment model
- cloud
- Configuration management
- Yes
RecognisedDocumentedFree planFree trialPlatforms - Web
- Free plan
- No
- Deployment model
- hybrid
- Network discovery
- Yes
RecognisedDocumentedFree planFree trialPlatforms - Web
- Free plan
- No
- Deployment model
- hybrid
- Network discovery
- Yes
- Configuration management
- Yes
RecognisedDocumentedFree planFree trialPlatforms -
- Free plan
- No
- Deployment model
- on-premises
- Configuration management
- Yes
RecognisedDocumentedFree planFree trialPlatforms
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 management software is ranked first on The Geeks Club?
ManageEngine Network Configuration Manager is ranked #1 of 31 with a score of 8.0. MikroTik RouterOS is second and UniFi Network third.
How many of these have a free plan?
5 of the 25 on this page publish a free plan on their own pricing pages.
Which is the cheapest paid option?
On this page, Domotz has the lowest first paid tier we found: $1.50/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.