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LibreNMS

LibreNMS is free, open-source network monitoring that auto-discovers devices over SNMP and other protocols, for IT teams that self-host.

Our take: LibreNMS covers most of what a small or mid-sized network team needs from monitoring, and it costs nothing to license.

Best forFree SNMP network monitoring
ReviewedPricing: Free
7.5 out of 105 criteria · see breakdown
Try LibreNMSFree (GPLv3, self-hosted)

LibreNMS is free, open-source (GPLv3) network monitoring software that auto-discovers routers, switches and servers and alerts you when something breaks. It suits network and IT teams that can run their own Linux server. There is no paid edition; SLA-backed support is available from partners.

The bottom line

Excellent free network monitoring for teams that can run their own server.

Our score

Reviewed by the Conversion Gems editorial team. Hover a facet to focus it; click to pin.Tap a facet to focus it.

What it is, and why we rate it

One line each. Open a row for detail.

What it really isFree, self-hosted SNMP network monitoring with auto-discovery, alerting, graphs and an API.
Our takeLibreNMS covers most of what a small or mid-sized network team needs from monitoring, and it costs nothing to license.
The bill arrives as work: a Linux server to build, PHP and MariaDB to keep current, and SNMP to configure on every device. If you have that skill in-house, it is hard to beat on value. If you want someone else to answer the phone when it breaks, budget for a partner or pick a hosted tool.
Why we rate itBroad discovery, alerting and billing features with no licence cost and an active release cadence.
The catchYou host, secure and update it yourself, and there is no vendor support desk.

Best / not good for

Best for
  • ISPs and MSPs monitoring mixed-vendor networks
  • IT teams that want SNMP monitoring without per-device fees
  • Engineers comfortable running Linux services
Not good for
  • Teams with no one to maintain a server
  • Buyers who need a vendor support contract
  • Cloud-native stacks that mostly need logs and traces
Trade-offs

Friction report

Trade-offs to know before signing up.

  1. Time to value
    An hour or more to install on Linux, faster with the Docker setup or VM image; SNMP must be enabled on devices.
  2. Scale breakpoint
    Large device counts call for distributed pollers, which means more servers to run.
  3. Walled garden
    Low: GPLv3 code, REST API and standard SNMP.
Still a fit?
If none of these block you, start on the free plan.
Try LibreNMS

What you need to run LibreNMS

ItemRequirement
LicenceGPLv3, free
Operating systemLinux: Ubuntu 24.04 or 26.04, Debian 12 or 13, Rocky Linux, AlmaLinux or Oracle Linux 8.10+, 9.8+, 10.2+
PHP8.4 minimum, 8.5 recommended
DatabaseMariaDB
Web serverNGINX (recommended) or Apache with PHP-FPM
Other optionsDocker setup or prebuilt VM images
Paid supportThrough partners such as Config Services Ltd (prices not published)

From the LibreNMS install guide and librenms.org, checked 4 October 2026.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is LibreNMS free?

Yes. LibreNMS is open source under GPLv3 and has no paid edition. Your costs are the server you run it on, your time to maintain it, and optional SLA-backed support, which librenms.org says is sold through partners such as Config Services Ltd (checked 4 October 2026).

What is LibreNMS used for?

Monitoring network devices and servers. It discovers devices automatically, graphs ports, sensors and protocols such as BGP and OSPF, sends alerts, and can produce bandwidth bills for ports.

How do I set up LibreNMS?

The install guide asks for a Linux server with PHP 8.4 or newer (8.5 recommended), MariaDB and NGINX or Apache, and documents Ubuntu, Debian, Rocky Linux, AlmaLinux and Oracle Linux. Docker and VM images are also available, and a validation script checks the result.

What is the latest version of LibreNMS?

Version 26.9.1, released on 22 September 2026, according to the project's GitHub releases page (checked 4 October 2026). The project ships updates often, and LibreNMS lists automatic updates as a feature.

Does LibreNMS have a demo?

Yes. The librenms.org homepage links to an online demo you can log in to before installing anything.

Can I get paid support for LibreNMS?

Not from the project itself. The homepage says commercial support is offered through partners who provide SLA-backed support and consultancy. Free help is available on Discord, the community forum and GitHub.

LibreNMS alternatives

Other network monitoring tools to compare:

Showing 1–3 of 4
Sources checked October 4, 2026: LibreNMS homepage, LibreNMS features, LibreNMS install guide, LibreNMS on GitHub, LibreNMS releases.

Conversion Gems independently reviews every tool.

Tags

#NetworkMonitoring#OpenSource#SNMP#SelfHosted

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