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Free IT asset management software: know what you own before an auditor asks
Hardware walks out of offices, licences sit unused, and audits arrive on the vendor's schedule. A free ITAM tool gives you the first honest inventory, and that inventory is where the savings start.
The short answer. You can run IT asset management for free with open source tools such as Snipe-IT, GLPI and OCS Inventory. They track devices, owners and lifecycle dates well. They are weaker at software licence reconciliation, SaaS discovery and vendor audit defence. Start with hardware and a licence register, then add discovery when the estate grows.
Written by Procurement VMS Editorial Team · Reviewed by Michael, Procurement Advisor Expert · Updated
The inventory is the whole game
IT teams rarely lack tools. They lack a trustworthy list. Spreadsheets drift, ticket systems know some devices, and procurement knows what was bought. The first win from any ITAM tool is a single list that all three can agree on.
A complete record answers four questions: what exists, who has it, what is installed and when does it need replacing. Everything else, from patching to licence true-ups, hangs off those.
What free ITAM covers and what it leaves out
- Strong: hardware register, user assignment, check in and out, warranty and refresh dates, labels and barcodes, simple reports.
- Mixed: automatic discovery on the network, software inventory from agents, contract and supplier links.
- Weak or absent: licence entitlement matching, SaaS usage discovery, vendor audit support and cost allocation.
Software is the harder half. Knowing a laptop exists is easy; knowing whether you are entitled to every application on it is not. Vendors know that, which is why audit activity stays high.
Free routes worth testing
| Option | Type | Who runs it | Best for | Watch for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Snipe-IT | Open source, with hosted plans | You or vendor | Teams managing laptops, phones and peripherals with check in and out | Licence tracking is basic, and self hosting is your job |
| GLPI | Open source | You or partner | IT teams wanting inventory and a service desk together | Heavier setup, and some plugins are paid |
| OCS Inventory | Open source discovery | You | Teams that want agent based discovery of hardware and software | Reporting is plain, and it is not a full ITAM suite |
| Ralph | Open source | You | Larger estates and data centres with technical staff | Built for technical teams; smaller community |
| Spreadsheet plus MDM export | Process | You | Under 50 devices and one administrator | Drifts quickly and has no audit trail |
Snipe-IT
A widely used open source IT asset tracker. Strong on hardware assignment, labels and audit; confirm hosted and self hosted terms.
GLPI
An IT asset and service management platform with inventory, tickets and contract records.
OCS Inventory
An open source tool that collects hardware and software inventory from agents across a network.
Ralph
An open source asset management and DCIM system from a large technology company. Check current maintenance status.
Spreadsheet plus MDM export
Export device lists from your management console monthly and reconcile them against a master sheet.
Free download
Get the free it asset management software scorecard and checklist
An Excel scorecard that scores up to four options against the criteria on this page, plus a one-page PDF checklist of upgrade triggers. Free, and ready the moment you submit the form.
- Excel scorecard with weights you can change and totals that update
- PDF checklist: the questions to ask before you commit and the signs it is time to pay
- No account, and no sales call unless you ask for one
The SaaS problem free tools do not see
Cloud subscriptions are bought by credit card, by team leads and by individuals. They never touch the hardware register. The result is overlap, unused seats and renewals nobody planned.
Use the SaaS licence waste calculator to price your own idle seats, the seat true-up calculator to see what an audit could cost, and the software renewal price increase calculator before the next renewal. For the subscription side in depth, read the free subscription management software guide.
A two week pilot
- Export what you already have. Pull device lists from your management console, identity provider and finance records.
- Reconcile. Find devices that appear in one list and not another. Those gaps are the quick wins.
- Load 50 devices. Add owners, serials, purchase dates and warranty dates.
- Build a licence register. List major software, entitlements, renewal dates and the contract file.
- Run a mock audit. Pick one vendor and ask: can we show what we own and what we use?
Two-minute check
Is free IT asset management enough?
Tick every statement that is true.
When to move to paid ITAM
Move when audits or security reviews demand proof you cannot produce, when SaaS spend is a top five cost line, or when you need discovery across cloud, endpoints and contracts. Paid tools also connect identity, procurement and finance. Our integration notes for Okta, Microsoft Entra ID and ServiceNow show how that linking works.
For general equipment such as tools and vehicles, see free asset management software. For the buying side, our spend management software overview shows how purchases tie back to assets.
Free download
Get the free it asset management software scorecard and checklist
An Excel scorecard that scores up to four options against the criteria on this page, plus a one-page PDF checklist of upgrade triggers. Free, and ready the moment you submit the form.
- Excel scorecard with weights you can change and totals that update
- PDF checklist: the questions to ask before you commit and the signs it is time to pay
- No account, and no sales call unless you ask for one
Curious what idle seats cost you?
Price them in the SaaS licence waste calculator, then bring the number to your next renewal.
Questions people ask about free it asset management software
Is there free IT asset management software?
Yes. Snipe-IT, GLPI, OCS Inventory and Ralph are open source options. You run and secure them yourself; some also offer hosted plans.
What is the difference between ITAM and asset management?
IT asset management covers devices, software, licences and cloud services. General asset management covers equipment, vehicles and fixed assets. Some tools cover both.
How do I prepare for a software audit?
Keep a licence register with entitlements and contracts, reconcile it with what is installed, and know who owns each product. Run an internal audit before a vendor does.
How do I find unused SaaS licences?
Compare assigned seats with login activity from your identity provider or the vendor admin console, and review at each renewal.
When do I need paid ITAM software?
When audits, SaaS sprawl or security reviews demand discovery and proof that free tools cannot supply.
Sources and how this page is kept current
- Flexera, 2026 State of ITAM Report (512 technology professionals), 24 June 2026.
- Flexera, State of ITAM 2026 (audit and SaaS sprawl findings), 24 June 2026.
- Zylo, 2025 SaaS Management Index (as summarised by Zylo), 2025.
Every figure above was opened at its source on 25 October 2026 and quoted as written. Where a source reports a survey, we name the year it was fielded. Tools named on this page are examples, not endorsements. Features, licences and free limits change, so read the vendor page before you commit, and tell us on the contact page if something is out of date. Our editorial team reviews each guide at least twice a year.