Netpicker vs Shadow
Netpicker
netpicker.ioShadow
shadow.github.ioSide by side
| Figure | Netpicker | Shadow |
|---|---|---|
| Price from | $625/mo | — |
| Free plan | Yes | — |
| Free trial | — | — |
| Open source | — | — |
| Web | Yes | — |
| Linux | Yes | Yes |
| API | Yes | — |
| Self-hosted | Yes | — |
| Plans published | 3 | 0 |
| Spec score · Network Testing Software | 8.2 (#8) | 6.8 (#29) |
| Privacy | Flock9 says it uses organisational and technical security measures but does not guarantee that internet transmission or storage can be completely secure. | Shadow says simulations are private and segregated from the Internet. |
| Purpose | Netpicker continuously validates network state, configurations, compliance, security and network behavior, and can automate remediation. | Shadow is a scientific experimentation tool for research, development, testing, and evaluation of real networked applications on simulated networks. |
| Support | Foundation includes a knowledge base, YouTube training courses, best-effort tickets and best-effort Discord; Professional adds 24-hour ticket response and a private Discord channel. | The project directs users to GitHub Discussions for community support and GitHub Issues for bug reports. |
Plans
Netpicker
- Netpicker - FoundationFree
- Netpicker - Professional$7,500 a year
- Netpicker - Enterprise$33,500 a year
In their own words
Netpicker
Netpicker validates network state, device configurations, compliance, security and behavior, and can automate remediation. It runs automated Python tests in pytest format against device configurations, show-command output and API data. The free version includes unlimited configuration backups, Git history, diffs, search and drift detection. Netpicker supports devices from more than 180 vendors and can be deployed as a Docker container or OVA virtual appliance, on-premises or in air-gapped environments. API-based connections link it to source-of-truth systems, Git, ITSM tools and other existing tools. Its REST API manages devices, backups and tests, runs show commands and tests, and restores backups; documentation is provided through Swagger/OpenAPI. Security validation covers CVEs, security configurations, compliance and pen-test findings without sending network data outside the customer's environment. Potential CVEs are matched by OS version, while verified CVEs also check whether vulnerable features are enabled and mitigations are present. AI can draft tests, remediation jobs and troubleshooting queries from plain English, subject to engineer review and approval. The free Foundation plan is available; Professional starts at $7,500 a year.