The best IPAM software keeps a live record of every subnet and IP address on your network, shows what's free and what's used, and often manages DNS and DHCP too. Small teams can start with free open source tools, while larger and hybrid networks usually want a full DDI platform. Eleven options follow in no particular order.
Plenty of networks still run on a spreadsheet of IP addresses that nobody fully trusts. That works until two devices grab the same address or a new office needs a subnet nobody planned.
The eleven tools below are listed alphabetically and in no particular order, and every description comes from the vendor's own website, read this week. If DNS is new to you, my explainer on what DNS is covers the basics.
IPAM software compared
I checked the free plan column on each tool's own website, as of Oct 2026. Yes means the site names a free plan, a free version, a free edition or an open source edition. Trial only means a time-limited trial. Not stated means the pages I read named neither, even where there's a button inviting you to try it, so check the vendor's page before you sign up.
| Tool | Type | Good for | Free plan |
|---|---|---|---|
| EfficientIP | IPAM and DDI solutions | Hybrid networks with DNS security | Not stated |
| GestióIP | Open source web IPAM | Network discovery on a shoestring | Yes |
| Infoblox | IPAM and DHCP management | Hybrid and multi-cloud networks | Not stated |
| Micetro | DDI management overlay | Managing existing DNS and DHCP | Not stated |
| Nautobot | Network source of truth | Network automation teams | Yes |
| NetBox | Infrastructure management platform | Documenting the whole network | Yes |
| NIPAP | Open source IPAM | Large address spaces on PostgreSQL | Yes |
| OpUtils | IP address and switch port management | IP and switch port tracking together | Yes |
| phpIPAM | Open source web IPAM | Simple web-based IP tracking | Yes |
| SolarWinds IP Address Manager | IPAM software | Teams already on SolarWinds | Trial only |
| TCPWave | AI-powered DDI | DNS, DHCP and IPAM in one | Not stated |
Eleven IPAM tools worth a look
EfficientIP
Best for: Network teams who want IP address management alongside DNS security and network automation in one DDI platform.
GestióIP
Best for: Administrators who want free, web-based IPv4 and IPv6 address management with network discovery built in.
Infoblox
Best for: Large organisations who want to simplify IP address management across hybrid and multi-cloud environments.
Micetro
Best for: Teams who want integrated DNS, DHCP and IPAM management to consolidate and automate their network services, from BlueCat Networks.
Nautobot
Best for: Network automation engineers who want an open source network source of truth that IP data and automation can build on.
NetBox
Best for: Engineers who want an open source system of record for their network and infrastructure data, trusted by thousands of organisations.
NIPAP
Best for: Engineers with big address spaces who want an open source IPAM under the MIT licence, built to handle large amounts of addresses.
OpUtils
Best for: IT teams who want IP address and switch port management together from ManageEngine, with a free edition and a trial.
phpIPAM
Best for: Small IT teams and MSPs who want a free, open source web app for IP address management they host themselves.
SolarWinds IP Address Manager
Best for: IT teams who want IPAM software within the SolarWinds platform, with a fully functional trial to test it.
TCPWave
Best for: Enterprises who want DNS, DHCP, IPAM and load balancer management controlled from one AI-assisted platform.
Which tool to try first
- Free and open source: phpIPAM, NIPAP or GestióIP.
- A source of truth for automation: NetBox or Nautobot.
- IP and switch ports together: OpUtils.
- SolarWinds customers: SolarWinds IP Address Manager.
- Managing existing DNS and DHCP: Micetro.
- Hybrid and multi-cloud networks: Infoblox or EfficientIP.
- DNS, DHCP, IPAM and load balancers: TCPWave.
Everyone shares the same private ranges
The IETF's RFC 1918 sets aside three blocks of address space for private networks: 10.0.0.0 to 10.255.255.255, 172.16.0.0 to 172.31.255.255 and 192.168.0.0 to 192.168.255.255.
Because every organisation reuses those ranges, overlaps don't hurt until two networks meet, such as a merger, a new VPN or a cloud link. That's the moment an accurate IPAM saves days of untangling.
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Standalone IPAM or full DDI?
Standalone IPAM tracks subnets and addresses and is often free and open source. It suits small and mid-sized networks where DNS and DHCP already run elsewhere.
DDI combines DNS, DHCP and IPAM so changes in one update the others automatically. It's more to set up, but it removes the gap between what the spreadsheet says and what the network does.
If you're automating network changes, look for a tool with a good API. It'll let scripts and pipelines ask for a free address instead of guessing, which is where most conflicts start.
Once the network is tidy, our guide to software asset management weighs up tools that track the software running on it.
Questions to ask before you choose
- Do we need IPv6 as well as IPv4?
- Should it discover devices automatically?
- Does it manage our DNS and DHCP servers?
- Can it see our cloud subnets?
- Does it have an API for automation?
- Will we host it ourselves?
Knowing your addresses is one thing, and our list of network mapping tools sets out tools that draw how devices connect.
Signs you've outgrown the IP spreadsheet
- Address conflicts keep appearing. Track assignments centrally.
- Nobody knows which subnets are free. Run discovery.
- DNS records go stale. Link DNS to IPAM.
- Cloud and office ranges clash. Plan them in one place.
Do you make IPAM, DNS or network management tools? Tool makers can ask to be considered for a featured place on this list.
My plain advice on IPAM software
Start by importing the spreadsheet you already have into a free tool and running discovery against it. The gaps it finds will tell you quickly whether you need a full DDI platform or just a tidy record.
Then make the IPAM the only place addresses are assigned, or it'll drift again. If you look after DHCP too, my piece on securing DHCP ports is worth a read.
Frequently asked questions
What is IPAM software?
IPAM, or IP address management, software tracks the subnets and IP addresses on a network and shows which are in use and which are free.
What is DDI?
DDI combines DNS, DHCP and IPAM in one system so changes to addresses and names stay in step.
Is there free IPAM software?
Yes. Several open source IPAM tools are free to host yourself, and some vendors offer free editions.
Which IP ranges are private?
RFC 1918 reserves 10.0.0.0/8, 172.16.0.0/12 and 192.168.0.0/16 for private networks.
Can I keep using a spreadsheet?
For a tiny network, maybe. Once you have several sites, VLANs or cloud links, a spreadsheet goes out of date too quickly.
Does IPAM help with cloud networks?
Many tools can discover or import cloud subnets so on-premises and cloud addresses don't overlap.
