NetBox vs Open Network Diagram
NetBox
netboxlabs.comOpen Network Diagram
github.comSide by side
| Figure | NetBox | Open Network Diagram |
|---|---|---|
| Price from | Free | Free |
| Free plan | Yes | Yes |
| Free trial | — | — |
| Open source | Yes | — |
| Web | Yes | Yes |
| Linux | Yes | — |
| API | Yes | Yes |
| Self-hosted | Yes | Yes |
| Plans published | 5 | 1 |
| Spec score · Network Documentation Software | 8.4 (#11) | 8.1 (#12) |
| Deployment | NetBox can be used as a fully hosted SaaS edition or deployed in the customer's own infrastructure; open source community use is also offered. | The project provides Docker and Docker Compose deployment instructions with writable data volume support. |
| Integrations | The integrations catalog lists connectors and plugins including Jira Assets, ServiceNow, Arista CloudVision, Proxmox, and SIEM event streams. | The project says it has no runtime dependency on external APIs and includes a locally vendored icon catalog for offline-friendly behavior. |
| Purpose | NetBox is a platform for understanding, operating, automating, and securing networks and infrastructure. | Open Network Diagram is a declarative, self-hosted tool for visualising and managing home lab and network architecture diagrams. |
| Security | NetBox Labs says it is SOC 2 Type II compliant and lists IP allow lists, mTLS, encrypted production data, and annual penetration tests among its security measures. | Open Network Diagram does not include authentication or TLS. |
Plans
NetBox
- NetBox Cloud Free PlanFree
- NetBox EnterprisePriced on request
- PremiumPriced on request
- ProfessionalPriced on request
- StarterPriced on request
In their own words
NetBox
NetBox is a network and infrastructure platform that keeps physical components, virtual assets, IPs, and VLANs in a shared source of truth. Its stated uses include data center infrastructure management, IP address management, network automation, and network source-of-truth work. Every action is recorded in an audit log. Teams can use the hosted SaaS edition, deploy NetBox in their own infrastructure, or use the open-source community offering. NetBox Labs describes itself as the commercial steward of the open-source project. Hosted plans are positioned for different scales and needs: Starter for infrastructure with hundreds of devices, Professional for infrastructure at scale and automation, and Premium for scaled environments requiring advanced security, compliance, and deployment options. NetBox Enterprise is self-managed, with an air-gap edition available. Enterprise subscriptions include 24/7 expert assistance and training. Named integrations include ServiceNow, Splunk, Ansible, Itential, Gluware, and VMware. NetBox Cloud offers SSO integrations with Azure, Okta, and Google. Prices for the named plans are not displayed; the pricing page directs prospective customers to sales.
Open Network Diagram
Open Network Diagram is a free, self-hosted tool for visualizing and managing home lab and network architecture. It provides network, Hosts & VMs, and rack views for mapping topology and inventory, including subnets, VLANs, virtual machines and rack positions. Connections can record cable type, colour and length. Its IPAM panel reports subnet utilization, detects duplicate addresses and suggests the next free IP. The application keeps JSON as its source of truth; self-hosted changes autosave, writes are persisted atomically, and rolling backups retain the last five files. Deployment is Docker-first, with writable data volumes and Docker Compose support. The runtime exposes GET and PUT operations at /api/network-data, and published Docker images support AMD64 and 64-bit ARM, including Raspberry Pi systems. The project is licensed under GNU GPL v3 and has no runtime dependency on external APIs. It does not include authentication or TLS. The project warns that topology details may expose sensitive infrastructure information and advises restricting access or using an authenticated TLS-terminating reverse proxy.