Kathará vs NetSim
Kathará
kathara.orgNetSim
netsim.boson.comSide by side
| Figure | Kathará | NetSim |
|---|---|---|
| Price from | Free | $2.42/mo |
| Free plan | Yes | — |
| Free trial | — | Yes |
| Open source | — | — |
| Web | — | Yes |
| Windows | Yes | Yes |
| macOS | Yes | Yes |
| Linux | Yes | Yes |
| API | Yes | — |
| Self-hosted | Yes | — |
| Plans published | 1 | 6 |
| Spec score · Network Simulation Software | 8.0 (#9) | 7.8 (#15) |
| Purpose | Kathará is an open-source container-based network emulation system for interactive lessons and demos, sandbox testing of production networks, and network protocol development. | NetSim simulates Cisco networking hardware and software for certification training. |
Plans
NetSim
- NetSim Lab Pack: IPv4 Subnetting$29 a year
- NetSim Lab Pack: Troubleshooting$29 a year
- NetSim Lab Pack: VLSM$29 a year
- NetSim for Cisco 200-301 CCNA$179 a year
- NetSim for Cisco 300-410 ENARSI$179 a year
- NetSim for Cisco 350-401 ENCOR$179 a year
In their own words
Kathará
Kathará is a free, open-source system for emulating networks in interactive lessons, demos, production-network sandbox tests, and protocol development. It represents network devices with containers connected through virtual Layer-2 LANs, and scenarios can use Docker or Kubernetes as their virtualization backend. Built-in images include Quagga, FRRouting, Bind, P4, and OpenVSwitch; users can also supply their own container images. A Python package exposes APIs for custom code. Kathará supports Linux, macOS on Intel or Apple Silicon, and Windows 10 and 11. Debian and Ubuntu installations are available through apt, with precompiled packages for other listed distributions. Settings cover IPv6, terminal behavior, volume mounts, and remote Docker or Kubernetes connections. The software depends on Docker by default, and rootless Docker and Podman are unsupported. The project lists version 3.8.3 as covered by security patches. It is free, with a listed price of free.
NetSim
NetSim is a browser-based simulator of Cisco networking hardware and software for certification training. Its preconfigured labs provide the materials needed to complete each objective. Learners can compare their configurations with expected configurations to identify mistakes and get instant feedback, while lab progress and history sync between devices. Labs run in a web browser on modern internet-capable devices without installation; supported systems include Linux, macOS, and Windows. Network Designer lets users create custom labs with complex topologies, devices, connections, annotations, imported icons, and saved device configurations. It is included with the listed certification-specific plans. NetSim also includes the IOS images needed for its labs, without requiring additional licensing of those materials. Listed lab packs cost $29 a year and include 10 or 16 guided labs. Certification plans cost $179 a year and list between 70 and 101 guided labs. Online licenses last one year from purchase and can be used without usage limits during that period.