Overview

CMDBuild is an open-source environment for assembling browser-based asset-management applications. It is a strong fit for organizations that need to tailor a CMDB and have the technical staff to run it; teams wanting a populated system they can use immediately should look elsewhere.

Its breadth is the draw: asset records, workflows, reporting, permissions, and integrations can be configured around an organization’s needs. The trade-off is substantial setup: the standard download has no data model, workflows, reports, or dashboards, and operating it calls for server expertise.

Key features

CMDBuild tracks asset composition, location, functional relationships, updates, and lifecycle. Administrators can model databases and configure workflows, reports, dashboards, external connectors, georeferencing, and administration. The feature set also includes file import and export, document archives, GIS and BIM, history, task management, and scheduling. That range gives teams room to structure both asset information and its supporting work, but they must build the structure rather than start from a supplied model.

REST services can read and write data, run operations, and exchange notifications with external asset, staff, ERP, infrastructure, monitoring, and IoT systems. This makes CMDBuild useful when a CMDB must participate in a wider systems environment. Discovery imports, service mapping, dependency mapping, and ownership tracking further support keeping asset relationships and responsibility in view.

Permissions can be assigned by role and narrowed to classes, rows, columns, processes, views, filters, reports, and dashboards. Authentication options include local authentication, LDAP, CAS, SAML 2.0, ADFS 4 through SAML, HTTP proxy headers, and custom OAuth2 authentication. Multitenancy can isolate tenants in separate databases or divide data partially while retaining some shared information. These controls suit complex environments, though configuring them is part of the implementation burden.

Pricing

CMDBuild is free: its CMDBuild plan is free and provides open-source AGPL software. There are no paid tiers or seat and usage caps in the plan terms provided, but free does not mean turnkey: the plan requires self-hosting and server setup, and the standard download lacks a data model, workflows, reports, and dashboards.

The maker directs users to its community forum or the maintainer for assistance. Subscription support is described as adding assistance, upgrades, bug fixes, a certified appliance, a mobile app, and interoperability connectors. Organizations that need that support package should account for a subscription rather than treating the free software as a complete support arrangement.

Platforms

CMDBuild is accessed through a browser and runs on a web server. The platform list includes API, Linux, macOS, self-hosted, web, and Windows; deployment is on-premises. The maker says it runs on Linux, OSX, and Windows and requires web-server setup knowledge. Minimum requirements are a server-class computer with 16 GB RAM, 150 GB of disk per instance, and four cores, plus PostgreSQL 17.x, Tomcat 10, and Java 17. Those requirements make it a better fit for teams with server capacity and administration skills than for buyers seeking a hosted, low-maintenance service.

The download page offers CMDBuild 4.2.0 as the latest version, with a WAR, shell installer, extra resources, and source code. The software is licensed under the GNU Affero GPL; modified versions are subject to specified legal notice and logo requirements.

Who it's for

CMDBuild is best suited to organizations that need a configurable asset-management application, want control over on-premises deployment, and can supply the modeling and operations effort. Its extensive integration and access-control mechanisms are particularly relevant where asset data must connect to other systems or be partitioned carefully. It is not the best choice for a small team without server expertise or anyone expecting ready-made workflows and dashboards on installation.

Pros and cons

Pros

Deep configurability: database, workflow, report, and dashboard mechanisms let organizations shape an application around their processes.
Broad integration surface: REST operations and notifications can connect asset data with business and infrastructure systems.
Fine-grained controls: role-based permissions can reach individual rows, columns, processes, and reporting views.
Free, open-source software: the AGPL plan avoids a software charge and permits use, distribution, and editing subject to the license requirements.

Cons

Significant implementation work: the standard download omits the data model and core configured content, so teams must build what they need.
Operational prerequisites: server setup knowledge, substantial minimum hardware, and a PostgreSQL, Tomcat, and Java stack are required.
Support beyond community help is subscription-based: organizations needing the maker’s assistance and associated services should plan for that arrangement.

Alternatives

Compare CMDB software if you want to consider the wider category. BlueKing CMDB is another free option with a free trial, one-click deployment, automated operations, and community documentation; consider it if those deployment and operations provisions better suit your needs.

GLPI offers a free trial, a free plan, and a public-cloud plan at 19.00 EUR per month per IT agent, from one billed agent, with 5 GB disk and a 20 MB maximum attachment size. It may suit buyers who prefer a cloud plan with a stated per-agent entry price. teemIP has a free open-source Community plan with free download and installation plus GitHub, wiki, and forum access; consider it if those community resources are a closer fit.

iTop has a free Community offer with on-premise availability, making it another option to consider for an on-premises deployment. dust, Matrix42 FastViewer, BeaverFlow CMDB, and CMDB-360 are also alternatives to compare.

Verdict

Choose CMDBuild if you need an adaptable, self-hosted asset-management application and have the technical capacity to model, integrate, and operate it. Its free AGPL software and extensive configuration controls are compelling for that audience. Look elsewhere if you need a ready-populated CMDB or cannot take on the server and implementation work.

	CMDBuild	Ivanti Neurons CMDB
Free plan	Yes
Paid from	Free
Platforms	api, Linux, macOS, self-hosted, Web, Windows	api, Web
Free plan	Yes
Service mapping	Yes	Yes
Dependency mapping	Yes	Yes
Discovery imports	Yes	Yes
Ownership tracking	Yes	Yes
Deployment options	on-premises	hybrid

CMDBuild vs Ivanti Neurons CMDB

CMDBuild

Ivanti Neurons CMDB