A free asset discovery tool helps you find devices connected to your network without having to pay for a full ITAM platform first. For IT teams, it provides a faster way to build an inventory, find unknown devices, and check existing asset records.
However, free tools vary widely. Some tools are completely free; some are open-source but require self-hosting, and others limit the number of assets. The right choice depends on how much device detail, setup effort, and ongoing management you need.
Free Asset Discovery Tools at a Glance
Every free asset discovery tool below helps answer the same question: what is connected to your network? The difference is how each tool discovers devices, what its free model includes, what it can export, and where its limits are.
The right choice depends on your needs. You may only need a quick, one-time network scan, or you may need a system that keeps a detailed inventory up to date.
Nmap and Lansweeper are two well-established names in this space. We include them as useful benchmarks, so you can see where a lighter free tool like AssetLoom Network Scanner or OCS Inventory NG can do the job and where a more advanced platform may be a better fit.
Free Asset Discovery Tools Compared for IT Teams in 2026
A free asset discovery tool can vary widely in discovery depth, setup effort, reporting, and free-plan limits. The comparisons below show what each tool does well, where it falls short, and what “free” actually includes.
Note: Free plans, limits, and pricing policies may change over time. Check each provider’s official website or contact the vendor for the latest information.
1. AssetLoom Network Scanner
AssetLoom's free network scanner is a simple, agentless network scanner for IT teams that need a quick view of connected devices without installing agents or setting up a server.
Technical Evaluation Criteria
- Discovery Depth: Agentless network-level scan includes: IP address, MAC address, hostname, manufacturer, device type, and basic network info.
- Speed & Performance: Fast, point-in-time scans with nothing to install on target devices.
- OS Compatibility: Runs on Windows, macOS, and Linux.
- Network Scope: Any authorized network range you point it at.
- Export & Reporting: Exports to CSV or JSON; no built-in dashboard.
Free model: Completely free. No subscription, no credit card, no asset cap.
Pros: Zero cost, quick setup, cross-platform, fast to run.
Cons: Still under development, so supported discovery methods may be limited.
Best for: Quick, agentless network snapshots without installing software on every device.
2. Lansweeper
Lansweeper is a well-known IT asset management platform that combines a free asset discovery tool with deeper hardware and software inventory, dashboards, and reporting.
Technical Evaluation Criteria
- Discovery Depth: Supports detailed discovery and inventory using multiple methods; exact methods and available data depend on asset type, credentials, configuration, and product edition.
- Speed & Performance: Initial setup, credentials, scan configuration, and network topology all affect performance.
- OS Compatibility: Can discover and inventory Windows, macOS, Linux, and other network cloud assets.
- Network Scope: Covers more than ordinary endpoints (including network, IoT, OT, and cloud assets), but coverage varies by discovery method and licensing.
- Export & Reporting: Strong built-in reporting and dashboards.
Free model: Freeware version, capped at 100 assets. Assets beyond the limit can remain visible in inventory and reports but stop receiving updated scan data, and support/hotfix access is limited.
Pros: Strong discovery depth and reporting even at the free tier.
Cons: The 100-asset ceiling is a real limitation for anything beyond a small environment, and paid plans currently begin with a 2,000-asset package.
Best for: Small environments that want richer asset discovery and management, with a free limit of up to 100 assets.
3. Nmap
Nmap is a popular open-source network scanning tool for finding hosts, ports, services, and operating system details.
Technical Evaluation Criteria
- Discovery Depth: Excellent for hosts, ports, services, and OS fingerprinting; not an asset/hardware inventory tool.
- Speed & Performance: Depends heavily on scan type, target count, latency, filtering, and the options used.
- OS Compatibility: Runs on Linux, Windows, macOS, and other Unix-like systems.
- Network Scope: As wide as you can configure, highly flexible via its scripting engine (NSE).
- Export & Reporting: Supports XML, grepable, and normal text output; no full ITAM dashboard or lifecycle database on its own.
Free model: Open-source, with no commercial asset limit.
Pros: Exceptionally flexible and widely used, entirely free.
Cons: Command-line only, steep learning curve, and no built-in layer for turning scan results into an asset inventory.
Best for: Technical users who need more control over host, port, and service discovery.
4. OCS Inventory NG
OCS Inventory NG is an open-source, self-hosted inventory system that uses agents and network scanning to collect detailed hardware and software data.
Technical Evaluation Criteria
- Discovery Depth: Deep hardware/software inventory via agents, plus a network scan module for unmanaged devices.
- Speed & Performance: Thorough but slower to get running; agent deployment takes time upfront.
- OS Compatibility: Agents available for Windows, Linux, and macOS.
- Network Scope: LAN-focused, with network discovery for devices without agents.
- Export & Reporting: Built-in console and reporting; export options via plugins.
Free model: Open-source and self-hosted. The software is free, but total cost includes servers, database, administration, upgrades, and support.
Pros: Provides detailed inventory for managed endpoints and supported network devices without license fees.
Cons: Requires server setup and ongoing maintenance before you can use it effectively.
Best for: Teams that want a self-hosted hardware and software inventory system.
5. Open-AudIT
Open-AudIT is an open-source network discovery and auditing tool that can collect detailed device information through credentialed scans.
Technical Evaluation Criteria
- Discovery Depth: Solid network and device discovery, with credentialed scans for deeper detail
- Speed & Performance: Scheduled scans work well for moderate-sized networks.
- OS Compatibility: Runs on Windows and Linux; discovers Windows, Linux, macOS, and network devices.
- Network Scope: Subnet-based discovery, scales reasonably well.
- Export & Reporting: Supports web-based output as well as PDF and CSV output.
Free model: Community edition is free and open-source (self-hosted); an Enterprise edition adds paid features and support.
Pros: Capable free network auditing tool with decent reporting.
Cons: Community edition is missing the enterprise features (support, advanced access control) reserved for the paid tier; still self-hosted overhead.
Best for: Teams that need network discovery and auditing and can maintain their own server.
6. GLPI + GLPI Agent
GLPI + GLPI Agent is an open-source IT asset management platform that combines a free asset discovery tool, SNMP, and ITAM features.
Technical Evaluation Criteria
- Discovery Depth: GLPI Agent collects hardware and software details from endpoints. It can also find network devices and use SNMP to collect more information from supported devices.
- Speed & Performance: Scan speed depends on network size, agent setup, credentials, and how scans are scheduled.
- OS Compatibility: GLPI Agent supports Windows, Linux, and macOS. GLPI itself runs as a web application on a compatible server.
- Network Scope: It can scan IP ranges and collect SNMP data from devices such as switches, routers, and printers when the agent can reach them and has the right credentials.
- Export & Reporting: GLPI adds inventory, ITAM, lifecycle, and help-desk features on top of discovery. Reporting and export options depend on the version and setup.
Free model: Free and open-source, self-hosted. Hosting, maintenance, upgrades, backups, and security still create real operational costs, even without a license fee.
Pros: Combines inventory, ITAM, and helpdesk in one open ecosystem, with a lot of functionality for no license cost.
Cons: PHP web server setup, database, and agent deployment all fall on your team to maintain.
Best for: Teams that want open-source asset inventory and ITAM capabilities with agent-based inventory, network discovery, and SNMP support.
7. ManageEngine AssetExplorer
AssetExplorer is a commercial ITAM tool that combines asset discovery with CMDB, license tracking, and inventory management.
Technical Evaluation Criteria
- Discovery Depth: Agentless probes covering hardware/software inventory, with CMDB support in the on-premises edition.
- Speed & Performance: Efficient agentless scanning once probes are configured.
- OS Compatibility: Covers Windows, Linux, and Mac workstations/servers, plus network devices and printers.
- Network Scope: Supports multi-site deployment, on-premises or cloud.
- Export & Reporting: Built-in reports and CMDB visualization.
Free model: Free edition, permanent, with 25 nodes for on-premises, 50 nodes for cloud, and it doesn't expire.
Pros: Includes useful ITAM features, such as CMDB and license tracking, even in the free edition.
Cons: The free edition supports only a small number of nodes, and its limits are lower than the temporary trial.
Best for: Teams that want discovery plus basic ITAM features, with free limits of 50 cloud nodes or 25 on-premises nodes.
AssetLoom Network Scanner: The Affordable, Low-Setup Option
AssetLoom Network Scanner takes a lighter approach. Instead of deploying a server, maintaining a database, or installing an agent on every endpoint, you can use it to scan an authorized network and create a point-in-time inventory.
This free network scanner tool runs on Windows, macOS, and Linux, with no subscription or credit card required. It scans authorized network ranges without installing an agent on each device. Depending on the network and available device information, a scan can return:
- IP address
- MAC address
- Hostname
- Manufacturer
- Device type
- Available network information
You can export the results as CSV or JSON. The output stays local unless you choose to move it elsewhere, such as a spreadsheet, ticketing system, or ITAM platform. This makes AssetLoom useful when you need a quick network snapshot without setting up a server or deploying agents across your environment.
Final Thought: Discovery Is Only the First Step in IT Asset Management
A free asset discovery tool uncovers connected devices, but complete control requires true lifecycle management. Transforming raw scan data into operational insights lets you track hardware ownership, warranties, maintenance, and deprecation seamlessly. Move beyond static spreadsheets by bridging network discovery with active governance.
Ready to take total control of every device, license, and workflow from a single integrated platform? Experience AssetLoom’s free plan today and turn your discovery baseline into complete IT asset control.
Free Asset Discovery Tool FAQs
1. Can asset discovery find unknown devices?
Yes, if those devices are reachable via the tool's discovery methods. Network scanning can uncover laptops, printers, servers, routers, and other connected devices that may be missing from your current records.
2. Can asset discovery detect installed software?
It depends on the discovery method. Basic free asset discovery tools that use network scanning usually provide limited software information. A detailed software inventory typically requires an agent or authenticated access to the endpoint.
You can read more about “Basic network discovery methods.”
3. What is the difference between network discovery and asset discovery?
Network discovery focuses on finding reachable devices and services on a network. IT asset discovery is broader and may include endpoint hardware, installed software, virtual machines, cloud resources, network devices, and other technology assets. Network scanning is therefore one method within a wider asset discovery process.
4. Can I export discovered devices to Excel?
Yes, if the tool supports CSV export. CSV files can be opened in Microsoft Excel, Google Sheets, LibreOffice Calc, and similar spreadsheet applications.
AssetLoom Network Scanner exports discovery results to CSV or JSON.
5. Can I import discovered devices into an IT asset management system?
Yes, if the destination platform supports CSV, API, or another compatible import method. For example, AssetLoom Network Scanner can create the initial network inventory, which you can review and then use as a starting point for ongoing asset management.
Start with visibility first! Download the AssetLoom Free Network Scanner to find connected devices and export your results to CSV or JSON.
