Keeping track of all hardware and software assets is one of the biggest challenges for IT departments today. Without a clear inventory, teams often waste time hunting down device details, missing software licenses, and troubleshooting outdated systems. Moreover, as organizations grow, so does the complexity of their IT infrastructure. Devices are spread across multiple locations, users may install unauthorized software, and patching can get more extensive. As a result, there can be increased security vulnerabilities and higher compliance costs. To address these issues and to stay on top of your growing inventory, you need the right computer inventory management tool.

These platforms automatically scan, catalog, and monitor every asset in your network to provide the control and visibility you need. Specifically, they address the following pain points:

• Manual asset tracking
• Compliance with licensing and regulatory requirements
• Presence of unauthorized or out-of-date software
• Downtime due to unplanned hardware upgrades and replacements
• Delayed response time to support tickets

In this article, our expert researchers have reviewed and tested, where possible, to identify the best computer inventory management software. Whether you’re managing a small team or overseeing hundreds of machines, our research will help you find a tool that fits your organization’s needs.

Here is our list of the best computer inventory management software:

1. ManageEngine Endpoint Central EDITOR’S CHOICE This endpoint management solution automates routine IT tasks like patch management, software deployment, and asset tracking. It enhances security, supports remote troubleshooting, and streamlines the management of servers, desktops, laptops, and mobile devices from a centralized platform. Available for Windows Server or as a SaaS platform. Start a 14-day free trial.
2. JIRA Service Management Asset management software with automated asset discovery, configuration management, dependency mapping, and more.
3. Spiceworks Inventory Free inventory management software with automatic IP range scanning, scheduled scans, reports, and more.
4. Atera A SaaS package that is designed for use by managed service providers and includes a system inventory management service.
5. Total Network Inventory Computer inventory management software with remote scanning, scheduled scans, configuration monitoring, and more.
6. SolarWinds Server & Application Monitor Server and application monitoring solution with automatic IT asset discovery, monitoring dashboard, software inventory reports, and more.
7. Open-AudIT Computer inventory management software that can monitor Windows and Linux PCs with automated scans, reports, and more.
8. Lansweeper Network inventory software with IP range scanning, reports, alerts, automated warranty checks, and more.
9. 10-Strike Network Inventory Explorer Network inventory monitoring software with automatic device scanning, hardware and inventory change tracking, health monitoring, and more.
10. EMCO Network Inventory Network inventory management software with remote device discovery, customizable reports, an SQL query builder, and more.

Modern enterprises are leveraging more computer systems than ever before; it’s impossible to keep track unless you have an automated computer inventory management tool.

In this article, we will look at the best computer inventory management software on the market. The list includes a range of tools for Windows, macOS, and Linux. We’ve selected tools with autodiscovery features and configuration management functions that help you build a virtual monitoring environment.

Key Points to Consider Before Purchasing Computer Inventory Management Software

With so many inventory management software programs available today, picking the right one is not easy. Here are some factors to consider.

• Asset Discovery: The tool must automatically discover all new and existing assets, like desktops, laptops, servers, mobile devices, and virtual machines, without manual interference.
• Hardware and Software Tracking: Look for software that provides detailed insights into each device, including hardware specs (CPU, RAM, storage) and installed applications, license keys, and software versions.
• Real-Time Alerts: You’ll want live alerts of asset changes, including hardware failures, unauthorized software installations, or out-of-support operating systems.
• Integration with Existing Systems: Your selected tool should work well with your current IT infrastructure and applications.
• Ease of Use: Choose a platform that offers a clear dashboard, intuitive navigation, and quick onboarding.
• Reporting: Make sure the tool offers exportable reports, audit logs, and custom reporting features that meet both IT and compliance needs.
• Deployment: Consider your organization’s security policies and infrastructure when choosing between a cloud-based or on-premise deployment. Note that some tools also offer hybrid models for more flexibility.

How to Calculate the ROI of Computer Inventory Management Software

The right inventory management software can provide complete visibility into your assets, allowing you to control and monitor them. In the process, you can proactively identify security vulnerabilities and save time and costs that come with unplanned downtime.

Below is a detailed breakdown of how you can calculate the ROI of different vendors before making a purchasing decision.

Step 1: Establish Your Metrics

Start by assessing your current inventory process. Focus on the hidden and visible costs associated with manual tracking or outdated tools. Key metrics to gather are as follows.

• Time spent on manual asset tracking (per week/month).
• IT hours spent locating assets for audits, repairs, or redeployment.
• Number of missing or unaccounted-for assets annually.
• Penalties or risks due to failed audits or licensing non-compliance.
• Software overspending due to unused licenses.
• Delays in updating asset records after changes like new deployments and disposals.

Step 2: Know the Cost of the New Platform

Identify all direct and indirect costs of the software you plan to purchase. Make sure to account for:

• License or subscription fees.
• Setup and configuration costs, including internal hours or consulting fees.
• Training time and cost for IT staff.
• Ongoing maintenance or renewal costs.
• Integration costs, if it needs to connect with your helpdesk, CMDB, or endpoint protection.

Step 3: Calculate the Benefits

Next, identify what you’ll gain from using the new software. Some possible savings can be:

• Fewer man hours spent on manual inventory, audits, and troubleshooting.
• Reduced asset loss and theft due to real-time tracking.
• Savings in over-purchasing because of better license tracking.
• Lesser penalties from failed hardware or software audits.
• Reduced downtime.
• Timely replacement schedules that avoid surprise failures.

Step 4: Put the Numbers Together

Now, put everything together and use the below formula to estimate your return:

• Annual Savings = (Time Saved * IT Staff Hourly Rate) + (Avoided Costs from Missing Assets) + (Saved Software License Costs) + (Avoided Audit Fines)
• Total Investment = (All setup, licensing, training, and maintenance costs from Step 2)
• ROI (%) = ((Annual Savings – Total Investment) / Total Investment) × 100%

In general, a high ROI means the tool pays for itself quickly.

Use our Computer Inventory Management ROI Calculator

We have created an easy-to-use tool to calculate the ROI of different tools.

Computer Inventory Management ROI Calculator

Annual IT Hours Saved: Average Hourly Rate ($): Savings from Reduced Asset Loss ($): Savings from Software License Optimization ($): Avoided Audit Fines ($): Total Cost of Inventory Tool ($): Calculate ROI

The Best Computer Inventory Management Software

1. ManageEngine Endpoint Central (FREE TRIAL)

Best for: Unified Endpoint Management (UEM) solution to oversee diverse devices and operating systems from a single console

Relevant for: Medium to large enterprises with complex IT infrastructures, including a mix of desktops, laptops, servers, and mobile devices across various platforms

Price: The price depends on the number of endpoints. The lowest is 50 endpoints, and the annual costs are $795 for the on-premise version and $104 for the cloud

ManageEngine Endpoint Central is an asset management system that tracks both hardware and software. The system can manage desktops, laptops, mobile devices, and removable storage devices.

ManageEngine Endpoint Central’s Key Features:

• Designed for IT Departments: Can manage multiple sites from a central location
• Logs All Endpoints: Creates a hardware inventory
• Rechecks for New Devices: Automatically detects changes to the fleet
• Multiple Endpoint Platforms: Manages devices running Windows, macOS, and Linux
• Mobile Device Management: iOS and Android devices

Unique Business Proposition

An all-in-one platform that combines endpoint management and security. Endpoint Central streamlines tasks like patch management, software deployment, asset management, and remote troubleshooting. The highlight is its support for multiple operating systems and environments.

Feature-in-Focus: Patch Management

One standout feature is its robust patch management capability. Endpoint Central automates the deployment of patches for a wide range of applications to ensure that your systems are always up-to-date and secure. This automation minimizes manual intervention, reduces the risk of human error, and helps maintain compliance with security policies.

Comparitech SupportScore – 9.3

ManageEngine has been a leader in device monitoring, and is known for its excellent documentation and customer support. Its extensive employee base, coupled with steady revenue, contributes to its stability. That said, its employee job satisfaction is slightly lower than other companies, and this could lead to drops in support from time to time.

Why do we recommend it?

ManageEngine Endpoint Central is an asset management system for workstations and servers that can be running Windows, macOS, or Linux. A higher plan will also manage mobile devices running iOS and Android. This bundle creates hardware and software inventories and it includes automated performance monitoring with alerts. The management services in the system provide patch management and software license management. The system also provides technician tools for remote device access. The platform is available in versions to monitor a single site or a WAN.

The task automation services in the tool provide OS and configuration standardization and a library of software profile templates. With these two services, you can create an automated onboarding process that applies an OS image and then installs all of the software that has been allocated to a specific user group. The software management system extends to patch management that automatically polls for updates. You define maintenance windows in the management console and the service will queue patches for automatic installation at the next available window.

Who is it recommended for?

ManageEngine offers a Free edition that can monitor up to 25 endpoints. This is very appealing for small businesses who would find the full version too feature-rich and too expensive. The paid versions are ideal for mid-sized and large organizations and there is an edition available for managed service providers. The Endpoint Central package is available as software that runs on Windows Server or you can access the system as a SaaS platform. The cloud version means you can run a geographically dispersed technician team from one account.

ManageEngine Endpoint Central is offered for free to manage up to 25 devices. There are three paid plans and the upper two of these cover multiple sites. The service is offered as a SaaS platform but you can opt to download the software onto Windows Server. You can examine the Endpoint Central system with a 14-day free trial.

2. JIRA Service Management

Best for: Streamlining IT service delivery with developer integration

Relevant for: Tech-driven companies that require tight coordination between support and development teams

Price: Depends on the number of agents. For 75 agents, the Standard plan costs $19.04, while the Premium plan costs $47.82 per agent per month

JIRA Service Management is an asset management solution that can discover devices throughout your network and add them to a central repository. Discovered systems automatically have their status updated. You can view them through the dashboard, highlighting information such as the Serial Number, Owner, Status, Model, Location, and Warranty expiration date of assets.

JIRA Servive Management’s Key Features:

• Asset Discovery: Scans the network and creates a hardware inventory
• Software Management: Maintains a software inventory for license management
• External Data Sources: Import data from third-party tools to coordinate information

Unique Business Proposition

Built by Atlassian, it provides structured service desk operations with the flexibility to collaborate on incidents, changes, and problems directly with the engineering team. Unlike traditional ITSM platforms, Jira bridges the gap between operations and developers to support faster ticket resolution, smoother change control, and transparent communication across teams.

Feature-in-Focus: Developer Integration with Incident Management

Jira Service Management connects support tickets with Jira Software issues, so developers and IT teams can work off the same data. When an incident is created, it can be escalated with full context to the dev team, who can investigate and resolve it within their usual workflows.

Why do we recommend it?

JIRA Service Management provides Service Desk functions that locate and track assets, including endpoints and network devices. The discovery function compiles an asset inventory, which details the attributes of each computer and piece of equipment. This system is a management console for asset issues. It takes feeds from other tools, such as system monitors that generate alerts. The package then renewables investigation of the problem to be prioritized and assigned to a technician for investigation or resolution.

The platform also includes a range of configuration management features. For instance, it can automatically add items to a configuration management database and detect configuration changes. It can also display dependencies between configuration items or assets and services.

JIRA Service Management provides users with alerts that notify them about the device regarding incident response capabilities. Users can configure escalation policies to ensure that urgent alerts are handled in a timely fashion. Reporting and analytics features allow you to monitor incident response activities and ensure there are no gaps.

Who is it recommended for?

JIRA is a package for large organizations. It isn’t a Help Desk system and doesn’t include a ticketing package. So, if you want to combine asset tracking and user support with one team management system, this isn’t the package for you. The JIRA Server Management is a SaaS package, so you don’t need to host any software on your own servers to use the service.

JIRA Service Management is ideal for enterprises that want to create asset inventories within a solution that includes incident management capabilities. Free plan available with up to 3 agents and 2GB of storage. The Data Center version starts at $17,200 (£12,185) per year for 50 agents. You can begin the 7-day free trial from this link here.

3. Spiceworks Inventory

Best for: On-premises IT inventory tracking

Relevant for: Small to mid-sized businesses with limited budgets that need a simple way to monitor hardware and software assets

Price: Free

Spiceworks Inventory is a free inventory management tool that can automatically discover devices connected to your network. With Spiceworks Inventory, you can add an IP range to scan and start finding all assets within that range. You can also schedule scans by group and scan devices every five minutes.

Spiceworks Inventory’s Key Features:

• Online Tool: Create a free account for access
• Requires Agent Program: The dashboard downloads that for you
• Scans the Network: Creates a hardware inventory

Unique Business Proposition

This is a no-cost, ad-supported solution for managing IT assets without needing a complex setup or licensing. It auto-discovers devices connected to your network and organizes them with useful system details like installed software, storage capacity, and patch history. What sets it apart is its combination of simplicity, offline functionality, and tight integration with other free Spiceworks tools like Help Desk and IP Scanner.

Feature-in-Focus: Agentless Network Scanning

Uses agentless scanning to detect and document every connected device. You don’t need to install software on endpoints. Just configure credentials, and the platform pulls system info through WMI, SSH, or SNMP. It continuously monitors changes and sends alerts when something needs attention, like low disk space or unauthorized software installs. This reduces manual tracking and provides a centralized, up-to-date picture of your entire IT inventory.

Why do we recommend it?

Spiceworks Inventory is a good solution for small businesses because it is lightweight, hosted, and free to use. This system reaches out to your network through the installation of an agent – there are agents available for Windows and macOS. It then discovers all devices and creates a hardware inventory. The system is also able to scan endpoints for software if that endpoint has an agent installed on it, so, for the best results, you need to install a collection agent on each computer on your network.

After discovering devices, you can automatically update the installed software, view info on the device manufacturer, MAC address, installed software, open ports, and more. This provides you with a basic overview of your environment to take inventory of your environment and identify vulnerabilities.

Reports provide you with critical information on connected devices. For instance, you can create a report that shows devices that don’t have an antivirus installed. These reports can be scheduled to be regularly sent to your email, giving you periodic updates about the status of connected systems.

Who is it recommended for?

This tool is good for small businesses. It is even good for businesses that run an in-house Help Desk because the online platform provides a Help Desk ticketing system that can be linked into the Inventory module. Although the tool discovers all of the devices that are connected to the same network that the Spacework agent host is on, the device details that the inventory management service isn’t great for devices that don’t have an agent. As the agent is only available for Windows and macOS, you won’t get any details for computers running Linux, mobile devices, or network equipment.

Spiceworks Inventory is an excellent choice for enterprises that need a low-cost computer inventory management solution for creating an IT asset inventory. It is an online system but you need to install an agent on at least one device on your network. Install a collector on each device to get more details than just that node’s make and IP address. Unfortunately, the agent/collector is only available for Windows and macOS. The software is entirely free and supports unlimited devices, agents, and users. You can sign up for the tool from this link here.

4. Atera

Best for: All-in-one RMM and IT asset management

Relevant for: MSPs and internal IT teams managing remote endpoints, software, and support from a single dashboard

Price: Four plans: Professional – $149, Expert – $189, Master – $219, and Enterprise – custom

Atera is a cloud-based platform that includes a package of tools for the remote monitoring and management of client systems. An inventory of equipment on each client site lies at the heart of this monitoring service and so it helps your technicians to keep track of the computer inventory on each site.

Atera’s Key Features:

• Remote Monitoring and Management Package: Provides tools for IT support technicians
• Creates a Hardware Inventory: Lists all network devices and endpoints
• Compiles a Software Inventory: Implements license management and patching
• Versions for IT Departments and Managed Service Providers: Each type of user has different needs

Unique Business Proposition

Atera combines Remote Monitoring and Management (RMM), Professional Services Automation (PSA), patch management, ticketing, and IT asset tracking into one platform. It operates on a per-technician pricing model, making it scalable and cost-effective for small teams managing many devices.

Feature-in-Focus: Real-Time Device Monitoring and Alerts

Provides continuous, real-time visibility into every device on the network. Its agent-based monitoring system tracks CPU usage, memory consumption, storage health, installed software, and more.

Comparitech SupportScore – 8.8

Atera has a solid support infrastructure backed by well-developed documentation and good customer support. It has reasonable funding, reflecting its stability for more than a decade. However, its employee count is relatively small, and the job satisfaction score is average, which could cause some delays in responding to queries.

Why do we recommend it?

Atera is designed to perform remote monitoring and management of IT assets. The package is able to monitor multiple sites simultaneously and there is also an edition for managed service providers that is multi-tenanted, keeping the data of each client separate. Each MSP client could also be operating multiple sites that need to be monitored. The tool scans each enrolled network and compiles an inventory that covers network devices and endpoints. This list of assets is stored as both hardware and software inventories. The software inventory forms the basis for license management and patch management. The asset monitoring service in the package performs constant status checks on network devices and endpoints, looking for resource exhaustion or component failure.

The computer inventory services of Atera can be enhanced by an add-on service that performs automated network mapping, keeping track of the connections between all computers and network devices.

Who is it recommended for?

Atera is designed for IT departments and for managed service providers. This is a cloud-based subscription system, so your technicians can access the console from anywhere through any standard Web browser – even from home. The rate for the package is set per technician per month so just a single subscriber gets all of the functions that large businesses enjoy. Thus, the Atera system is particularly advantageous for independent support specialists and small managed service providers.

As Atera is a cloud-based service, its console can be accessed through any standard browser and it is even possible to group together technicians located at several sites or from their homes. The system is offered in three plans that all also include team and business management tools. There are integrations available for Atera that enable the system to interact with third-party tools, expanding your system monitoring toolset. You can assess Atera with a free trial.

5. Total Network Inventory

Best for: Agentless network scanning and reporting

Relevant for: IT admins in mid-sized organizations needing quick audits, inventory snapshots, and license tracking across Windows, macOS, and Linux environments

Price: The cost depends on the number of nodes. The minimum is 25 nodes, and it costs $90

Total Network Inventory is a computer inventory management tool that allows you to monitor devices in real-time. With Network Inventory Advisor, you can remote scan Windows, Unix, VMware, and SNMP-based systems to build your monitoring environment. Once devices are connected, you can collect information from them, such as the type of software they have installed.

Total Network Inventory’s Key Features:

• Network Scans: Runs through Active Directory or an IP scanner
• Hardware Inventory: Logs all endpoints and network devices
• Creates a Software Inventory: Provides software license management

Unique Business Proposition

Total Network Inventory (TNI) is a lightweight tool focused on providing a full overview of your networked devices without the need for complex setups. It doesn’t require agents for most operations and supports multi-platform environments. Its strength lies in rapid scanning, detailed reporting, and software license compliance management. without regular subscription costs.

Feature-in-Focus: Scheduled Scans and Auto-Grouping

With TNI, you can set up recurring scans to automatically detect changes in the IT environment. Once devices are discovered, they are categorized into logical groups to make auditing and reporting easier. These smart groupings save time and help with asset organization, especially in dynamic or growing infrastructures.

Why do we recommend it?

Total Network Inventory is a system discovery and monitoring tool that will create hardware and software inventory for your network. It can identify computers running Windows, Linux, macOS, and Unix. The tool then provides continuous availability and status monitoring of all devices through the use of the Simple Network Management Protocol (SNMP). The system creates a changelog for hardware and software and it also provides software license management in its highest plan. That upper plan, which is called Total Network Inventory Professional will also create a network topology map. The system is able to scan local networks and also remote networks.

You can monitor the hardware and software changes of all connected devices. The software does this by creating configuration snapshots of devices with each scan, comparing the results against past scans, and listing everything that was added, changed, or removed.

Scheduling scans enable you to determine how regularly the system will discover new devices. You can also create a topology map of your network by drag-and-drop. Simply add assets to a canvas view and create a map that highlights your entire network. There is also a notification system that notifies you about asset and software issues.

Who is it recommended for?

Total Network Inventory is ideal for use by small businesses. However, the company reports that it serves some very large businesses, including IBM, Disney, and NASA. The system is an on-premises package that runs on Windows and Windows Server. It will run network scans on demand or it can be set up to perform a sweep regularly on a schedule.

Total Network Inventory is a reliable solution for SMEs looking for a low-cost and straightforward inventory management platform. It is available on Windows. Prices start at $90 (£63.77) for 25 nodes. You can start the 60-day free trial from this link here.

6. SolarWinds Server & Application Monitor

Best for: Hardware and software inventory tracking across large server environments

Relevant for: IT departments managing on-premises and cloud-based servers

Price: Starts at $2,075

SolarWinds Server & Application Monitor is a server and application monitoring solution that provides automated inventory management. With SolarWinds Server & Application Monitor, you can automatically discover IT assets and monitor over 1200 vendors, applications, servers, and databases from a web-based GUI.

SolarWinds Server & Application Monitor’s Key Features:

• Asset Discovery: Creates an endpoint and software inventory
• Service Tracking: Records server resource capacity and utilization
• Alerts for Performance Issues: These appear in the dashboard

Unique Business Proposition

SolarWinds SAM provides real-time visibility into the hardware and software assets deployed across your infrastructure. It automatically detects server components, installed applications, operating systems, and configuration changes, making it a powerful solution for both performance tracking and inventory control.

Feature-in-Focus: Automated Asset Discovery and Tracking

This tool continuously scans connected servers and applications to detect changes in configurations, software versions, and installed components. It maintains an updated inventory of all monitored nodes, complete with detailed metrics such as server make and model, CPU and memory specs, installed patches, and running services.

Comparitech SupportScore – 8.9

SolarWinds is a dependable company offering excellent support materials and good customer support. In recent years, there has been a drop in its employee job satisfaction score, and this could create gaps in customer support.

Why do we recommend it?

SolarWinds Server and Application Monitor is a thorough asset documentation system, listing servers and the software packages that they host. This tool keeps a constant check on server performance, watching the key metrics of activity, such as disk space, CPU, memory, and network interfaces. In each case, the tool measures utilization against the known capacity of that resource. The package provides alerts if any resource runs short. The monitor tracks software interactions between packages, with services, and with server resources. This application dependency map enables the tool to quickly identify the root cause of performance impairment.

Through the dashboard, you can monitor recent configuration changes and see newly added or removed hardware. This enables you to monitor changes in your environment. There are also software inventory reports that detail current infrastructure updates, admins who installed the updates, resources used, unused hardware, and more.

The platform also comes with application infrastructure dependency mapping that enables you to see a visual display of application dependencies and issues throughout your environment.

Who is it recommended for?

This tool is a cost saver because it enables technicians to get on with other tasks and leave the automated monitoring tool to watch over servers and applications. So, this is a lot more than an inventory management software package because it also provides performance monitoring. The system is ideal for large businesses that run many on-premises servers, each hosting many software packages. Mid-sized businesses would also benefit from using this package, however, it probably provides a lot more inventory monitoring and management functions than a small business would need.

SolarWinds Server & Application Monitor is a great choice for enterprises looking for an automated inventory management tool with a wide range of monitoring capabilities. It is available on Windows. Pricing starts at $1,813 (£1,377). You can download a free 30-day trial.

7. Open-AudIT

Best for: Comprehensive IT asset discovery and auditing

Relevant for: Organizations seeking full visibility into hardware, software, and configuration data across Windows, Linux, and network devices

Price: Free

Open-AudIT is an inventory management software that enables users to query Windows and Linux PCs from a web-based user interface. Information you can view includes hardware, software, OS settings, security settings, users, groups, IP address, MAC address, open ports, and more. This information is available in PDF, CSV, web page format, or via export by Dia and Inkscape.

Open-AudiT’s Key Features:

• Free to Use: Run for free by Opmantek, which markets its own system for sale
• On-Demand Scanner: Launch the scan manually
• Scheduled Scanning: On a daily basis

Unique Business Proposition

Open-AudIT offers deep discovery capabilities with a strong emphasis on transparency. It identifies every device on the network and logs critical details like user info, software installations, patch levels, and configuration changes. More importantly, it provides detailed audit trails and granular reporting, making it ideal for compliance-driven environments.

Feature-in-Focus: Script-Based Discovery and Detailed Audit Logs

Using Open-AudIT, you can create customizable scripts to perform in-depth scans of devices, capturing everything from BIOS versions and motherboard serial numbers to user session history and network interface data. Additionally, this platform automatically stores historical records of asset states, to help you track changes over time.

Why do we recommend it?

Open-AudIT is a network discovery and asset management tool. The system is available as an on-premises package for Windows and Windows Server and there is also a SaaS version. Free stuff is great but there is a catch with Open-Audit because it won’t run on Windows 2016 or any version of Windows Server after 2016. This system will create hardware and software inventories and it will also provide a software license manager. The paid versions give you network mapping and the top edition, including its cloud counterpart, provides file integrity monitoring and cloud services discovery.

The platform enables you to schedule daily automatic scans to keep your environment updated and ensure that the software identifies newly added devices. Choose from over 50 out-of-the-box reports to generate summaries on operating system type, device type, manufacturers, MS office, installs, disk usage, and more.

Paid versions Open-AudIT, such as the Opmantek Professional, Opmantek Enterprise, and Opmantek Cloud versions, provide additional features like network analysis dashboards, geographical maps, and enhanced visual reporting that the community version lacks.

Who is it recommended for?

Open-AudIT is an appealing proposition for small businesses, except there probably aren’t many companies that haven’t upgraded to Windows 10 yet, so there won’t be many SMBs that will be able to run this free package. The company has some very large businesses on its client list, including Microsoft and Cisco Systems, so big businesses should consider the Open-AudIT system. The cloud version makes the Open-AudIT system available for businesses that don’t have any Windows computers to load the software onto – that option also relieves you of the task of maintaining the software.

Open-AudIT is a useful tool for smaller enterprises that want a tool to gather information on Windows and Linux systems. It is available for Windows and Linux. Please note this platform isn’t compatible with Windows 10. You can download the for free from this link here.

8. Lansweeper

Best for: Agentless IT asset discovery and centralized inventory management

Relevant for: Mid-sized to large businesses that need accurate visibility into all connected devices and software across their IT environment

Price: Four plans; Free, Starter, Pro, and Enterprise. The Starter plan is priced at 199 Euros and the Pro at 359 Euros per month

Lansweeper is a network inventory software that can IP range scan your network to discover connected devices and sort them into categories based on device type. Users can search through discovered devices by IP and filtered searches so they can quickly detailed Critical gather information on the infrastructure they’re looking for.

Lansweeper’s Key Features:

• Asset Discovery: Creates a hardware inventory
• Endpoint Scanning: Compiles a software inventory
• Scans Active Directory: Provides a user count

Unique Business Proposition

Known for its powerful agentless scanning, which can detect and inventory hardware, software, and users across both Windows and non-Windows systems without deploying software on every endpoint. Its deep integration options and built-in data normalization make it easy to unify asset data from multiple sources, whether in physical, virtual, or cloud environments.

Feature-in-Focus: Asset Radar and Risk Insights

The Asset Radar detects every device the moment it connects to the network, even before it’s assigned an IP. Combined with its risk-based insights engine, the tool helps organizations track what’s in their environment. It also helps identify outdated software, missing patches, and unauthorized devices.

Why do we recommend it?

Lansweeper is a nice network scanner that is ideal for small businesses in its free version. The paid version starts at a price for a minimum of 20,000 assets, which is a lot and so pushes its audience up into the market of large organizations – mid-sized businesses would get a better deal from many of the other tools on this list. As well as discovering devices on-premises, the tool can identify cloud assets. It then compiles an inventory for all of the systems that it encounters. Extras in the top plans include vulnerability scanning and asset lifecycle management.

The platform comes with over 400 out-of-the-box reports that you can use to collect specific information from your environment. For example, you can create reports that detail all devices that are out of warranty or highlight unauthorized administrators. You can also create custom reports if you’re looking for other information.

Automated warranty checks are another helpful feature that comes with Lansweeper. These checks automatically scan devices and retrieve warranty details from the vendor’s websites and then issue you email alerts to notify you when a warranty is about to expire.

Who is it recommended for?

The free version is a good option for small businesses. The paid tool’s minimum asset count will be off-putting for most other businesses. Large companies would probably be more interested in a full Service Desk package rather than a standalone inventory system such as Lansweeper.

Lansweeper is an excellent solution for enterprises that require a free computer inventory management tool. It is available for Windows. Free and paid versions available. The free version supports up to 100 assets. The Starter plan version costs $2,408 (£2,000) per year. You can download the free trial from this link here.

9. 10-Strike Network Inventory Explorer

Best for: Agentless inventory tracking across LAN environments

Relevant for: Small to mid-sized businesses that need to audit and manage hardware and software assets without installing agents on each device

Price: Varies based on the number of computers monitored. The lowest is 50 computers, and costs $199.95

10-Strike Network Inventory Explorer is a network inventory monitor that automatically scans for devices throughout your network so you can monitor them. 10-Strike Network Inventory Explorer allows you to collect installed hardware, hardware changes, software changes, and more.

10-Strike Network Inventory Explorer’s Key Features:

• PC Discovery: Documents all devices on the network
• Software Management: Scans endpoints and logs all its software
• Change Detection: Continuous scanning spots changes and additions to hardware and software

Unique Business Proposition

10-Strike Network Inventory Explorer provides agentless network inventory using WMI, SSH, and SNMP protocols. It offers deep visibility into asset data without overcomplicating the setup.

Feature-in-Focus: Change Tracking and Alerts

One standout feature is its ability to track changes in hardware and software configurations over time. This tool logs every change and can send alerts if something deviates from the baseline. This helps your IT teams detect unauthorized modifications and maintain compliance with internal policies or audit standards.

Why do we recommend it?

10-Strike Network Inventory Explorer offers device discovery and inventory creation, detailing endpoints, running Windows, Linux, and MacOS it can also include Android devices if they are manually enrolled in the scanning program. When the system encounters a computer, it scans the device for all of its installed software and notes its operating system. This leads to the creation of a software inventory, which can be used for license management. Hardware discovery also scans each device for status reports, such as resource availability and component performance.

The tool comes with a range of health monitoring capabilities that allow you to remotely read S.M.A.R.T parameters of connected computers, monitor disk health and temperature. You can use these parameters to find performance issues and then create reports to gather further information about the problem.

Who is it recommended for?

This is a good package for small and mid-sized enterprises. The continuous scans provide a system monitoring services along with inventory management functions. This means that it offers two functions for the price of one. The software is sold on a perpetual license with a price that is dictated by the number of devices that need to be tracked. This system runs on Windows and Windows Server.

10-Strike Network Inventory Explorer is a good starting point for enterprises looking to monitor a smaller network environment. It is available on Windows. Pricing for the standard version starts at $79.95 (£56.65) and supports up to 25 computers. You can start the 30-day free trial from this link here.

10. EMCO Network Inventory

Best for: Comprehensive Windows network audits without agents

Relevant for: IT administrators in mid-sized Windows-based environments looking to automate hardware and software inventory across workstations and servers

Price: Negotiated price

EMCO Network Inventory is a network inventory management tool that can remotely detect devices throughout your environment and provide you with an inventory summary. This summary includes OS name, OS type, service pack, build number, product ID, digital product ID, and install date of devices.

EMCO Network Inventory’s Key Features:

• Endpoint Discovery: Creates a database of computer details
• Asset Tracking: Maintains both hardware and software inventories
• Software License Management: Prevents too many copies being installed

Unique Business Proposition

This computer inventory management software offers agentless scanning in Windows environments with detailed asset reporting. It scans the network using administrative credentials and compiles structured data about hardware, software, users, and license keys. The software requires no client-side installation, which simplifies deployment and lowers system overhead.

Feature-in-Focus: Software Licensing and Compliance

Its license management feature is notable as it collects license keys from remote machines and checks them against installed applications. It also tracks unauthorized software and flags licensing inconsistencies, helping companies stay compliant with software vendors and avoid penalties during audits.

Why do we recommend it?

EMCO Network Inventory is a competent device inventory creator that has a search tool in it that can create queries with SQL. The queries help you locate specific devices in the inventory or filter records to produce your own reports. This is a useful service that details the operating system of each of the computers that it encounters. It also scans each computer for all of the software installed on it. The inventory shows that list per device, but you can also use SQL queries to gain enterprise-wide summaries, which is useful for license management.

An SQL query builder gives you the ability to run custom queries to find particular device data. Key systems data can be exported in Excel, PDF, XML, and other formats so that you can share information easily with the rest of your team/

Generate custom reports to highlight particular data points on devices. For instance, you can create a license report that allows you to compare the number of licenses you own against unused licenses. You can also create a report that lists the applications installed on a particular device.

Who is it recommended for?

This is a tool that SMBs would enjoy using and it is very affordable. The system doesn’t offer any monitoring services, which puts it at a disadvantage when compared to 10-Strike Network Inventory Explorer. Although this EMCO Network Inventory seems a little lightweight for use by large organizations, EMCO offers licenses to scan more than 1,000 devices and it counts Westinghouse, the US Army, and Pepsi among its clients.

EMCO Network Inventory is suitable for enterprises that require an affordable and effective computer inventory management solution. It is available on Windows. Prices start at $149 (£105.57) for the Professional Edition, which supports up to 25 nodes. You can start the 30-day free trial via this link here.

Choosing Computer Inventory Management Software

Tools like ManageEngine Endpoint Central provide a hassle-free inventory management experience you can use to monitor configurations easily.

However, suppose you want a lower-cost tool with more limited features. In that case, an alternative like Spiceworks Network Inventory with network autodiscovery is a good choice because it’s reliable and free. That being said, we recommend trying out multiple tools before you decide to buy to make sure that you discover the solution that’s right for your environment.

Our Methodology for Choosing Computer Inventory Management Software

We approached the selection of computer inventory management tools by evaluating their practical relevance in real-world IT environments. Our research spanned both vendor documentation and independent user reviews. We considered the following aspects as a part of our methodology.

1. Breadth of Discovery

We looked at how well each platform could automatically detect hardware, installed software, virtual machines, and cloud assets across diverse operating systems.

2. Scalability

The software we recommend must support your growing needs. This is why we looked for platforms that can scale to hundreds or even thousands of endpoints, without performance degradation.

3. Development Roadmap

A tool’s development activity speaks volumes about vendor commitment. We prioritized platforms that receive frequent updates and show a clear roadmap direction.

4. Support for Remote Environments

With hybrid and remote workforces, we gave preference to tools that allow inventory tracking across on-site and remote endpoints, including BYOD setups.

5. Data Export

We reviewed how easily users could extract inventory data, generate compliance-ready reports, and feed information into external systems like CMDBs or SIEMs.

6. Integration

Tools that integrate well with ticketing systems, patch management tools, or asset databases scored higher.

7. Value for Money

We also reviewed pricing transparency, billing structure (per device/user/site), and how well pricing aligns with features delivered.

Based on these factors, we filtered out tools that may look good on paper but fail under production conditions. Only those platforms that demonstrated consistent, proven performance made it to our list.

Broader B2B Software Selection Methodology

When reviewing B2B software, we look beyond features and technical specs. A vendor’s credibility plays a key role in our evaluation process. Our broader approach includes:

• Comparing the platform’s cost with the value it delivers in real-world use
• Reviewing the vendor’s track record in the IT or systems management space
• Analyzing independent user reviews and feedback from verified professionals
• Checking how clearly the company communicates its capabilities and limitations
• Evaluating whether the vendor is positioned to support customers long term

While not every criterion appears in each review, we focus on bringing to your notice the strengths and red flags that help buyers make informed decisions.

For more details, check out our complete B2B software evaluation methodology.

Comparitech SupportScore Methodology

Our internal scoring model measures how well each vendor supports their software throughout its lifecycle. This includes everything from initial onboarding to troubleshooting and long-term maintenance.

We evaluate vendors using the following factors:

• Availability of 24/7 customer support
• Responsiveness during critical issues or outages
• Frequency and reliability of software updates
• Access to self-help resources, such as user guides, videos, and knowledge bases
• Size and structure of the support team

Each vendor receives a SupportScore between 0 and 10. Scores are weighted based on how each factor affects business operations and continuity in practice.

To know more, head to our SupportScore Methodology page.

Why Trust Us?

We research, write, and review with one goal in mind – to help you choose the right computer inventory management software for your organization. Our team has decades of combined experience in systems management, cybersecurity, compliance, and enterprise IT.

Every tool featured in this article has been independently analyzed using multiple data points like:

• Hands-on testing (when possible)
• Analysis of third-party reviews and user feedback
• Product documentation and change logs
• Vendor reputation and customer service history

Our rankings are based on real performance, feature reliability, and support quality, and our editorial process is strict, so you get content you can rely on.

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