The Best Network Configuration Management Software in 2026
We researched network configuration management software through official websites, including pricing pages, plan tables and product documentation. Products are ranked on their core configuration-management job, value for money and verified features, helping network and infrastructure teams compare tools for backup, change control and auditing.
Our top picks
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Top ranked
9.0/10A mature NCM suite for established teams managing complex network changes.
Pricing on request · 30-day trial
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Runner-up
Skylar Compliance#2 of 348.7/10A multi-vendor network management platform for backup, rollback, compliance, and automation.
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Top-ranked free plan
8.4/10A broad on-premises NCM platform for teams that need control, compliance, and rollback.
Free plan · 30-day trial
Advertiser disclosure: iTechGuides is reader-supported. Vendors can pay for top positions in our rankings and for a place on other products' pages, and we may earn a commission when you click some links. Bought places stand at the number bought; this page and our disclosure say so. Paying vendors may get a fuller, more detailed review from our editors, and that review can change their score. How we rank.
The full ranking 34 tools, best first
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Best forEstablished teams needing proven NCM workflows
A mature NCM suite for established teams managing complex network changes.
- Configuration backup
Pricing on request · 30-day trial Our SolarWinds Network Configuration Manager verdict → Visit SolarWindsFor vendors Sponsor this spot · #1 · $149/mo →9.0/10★★★★☆Visit SolarWinds -
Best forMulti-vendor compliance and rollback
A multi-vendor network management platform for backup, rollback, compliance, and automation.
- Compliance auditing
- Scheduled backups
- Change rollback
8.7/10★★★★☆Visit ScienceLogic -
Best forLarge networks needing governed automation
A governed platform for discovering, auditing, automating, and analyzing multi-vendor networks.
8.5/10★★★★☆Visit Infoblox -
Best forEstablished teams needing deep NCM controls
A broad on-premises NCM platform for teams that need control, compliance, and rollback.
- Configuration backup
8.4/10★★★★☆Visit ManageEngine -
Best forNetwork mapping plus automated change validation
A broad network mapping and change-validation platform for complex hybrid environments.
- Configuration backup
8.4/10★★★★☆Visit NetBrain -
Best forNCM buyers wanting broader network operations
A broad network operations platform covering configuration, faults, performance, and lifecycle work.
- Compliance auditing
- Change rollback
- Configuration comparison
8.2/10★★★★☆Visit Infosim -
Best forCompliance-focused multi-device operations
A compliance-focused network configuration manager for multi-vendor device operations.
- Compliance auditing
- Scheduled backups
- Change rollback
8.1/10★★★★☆Visit Motadata -
Best forWindows teams needing classic NCM automation
A capable classic NCM tool, but its Windows-only coverage and $1,095 price narrow its appeal.
- Scheduled backups
- Change rollback
- Configuration comparison
8.0/10★★★★☆Visit Kiwi CatTools -
Best forArista environments needing lifecycle control
A deep lifecycle and automation platform for organizations operating Arista environments.
7.9/10★★★★☆Visit site -
Best forFirewall policy governance and change control
A strong choice for firewall policy governance, risk analysis, and controlled change.
7.8/10★★★★☆Visit Tufin -
Best forSD-WAN and network-function orchestration
A focused orchestration platform for SD-WAN, network functions, and service-provider operations.
7.7/10★★★★☆Visit Juniper -
Best forCloud-managed device provisioning and policy
A broad network management platform with strong provisioning, policy, and configuration tools.
- Configuration backup
7.6/10★★★★☆Try ExtremeCloud IQ -
Best forFirewall policy analysis and optimization
A strong choice for firewall policy analysis, optimization, and controlled change management.
7.5/10★★★★☆Visit AlgoSec -
Best forMSPs combining monitoring and configuration history
A broad network operations platform with strong configuration history and MSP integrations.
7.4/10★★★★☆Visit Auvik -
UnimusVerified
Best forBroad, high-value network configuration operations
A broad on-premises toolkit for backing up, auditing, and automating network configurations.
- Compliance auditing
- Scheduled backups
- Configuration comparison
7.4/10★★★★☆Visit Unimus -
Best forTeams wanting flexible NCM with a free tier
Flexible NCM with a free, open-source tier and broad automation coverage.
- Compliance auditing
- Scheduled backups
- Change rollback
7.4/10★★★★☆Visit rConfig -
Best forAutomation-heavy teams with larger budgets
A broad network automation suite with free access, but costly paid tiers.
- Compliance auditing
- Scheduled backups
- Change rollback
7.4/10★★★★☆Visit Netpicker -
Best forSmall teams seeking free core NCM features
A free small-network NCM option with strong core controls and a narrower ecosystem.
- Compliance auditing
- Scheduled backups
- Change rollback
7.4/10★★★★☆Visit FirstWave -
Best forTeams needing detailed deployment automation
Detailed configuration automation for teams managing multivendor network changes.
- Compliance auditing
- Scheduled backups
- Change rollback
7.4/10★★★★☆Visit Viewtinet -
Best forOpen-source teams wanting rich configuration history
A self-hosted choice for teams that want Git history, diffs, inventory, and scheduled backups.
- Configuration comparison
- Configuration backup
7.4/10★★★★☆Visit NetKeep -
Best forLean open-source configuration backup
A focused, free tool for scheduled configuration collection with Git-based history.
- Scheduled backups
- Configuration comparison
- Configuration backup
7.3/10★★★★☆Visit Oxidized -
Best forMinimal-cost Unix-based configuration monitoring
A focused, repository-backed choice for monitoring Unix-based network configurations.
- Scheduled backups
- Configuration comparison
- Configuration backup
7.2/10★★★★☆Visit RANCID -
Best forEnterprise automation and vulnerability workflows
BackBox unifies network automation, recovery, compliance, and vulnerability workflows.
- Configuration backup
7.1/10★★★★☆Visit BackBox -
Best forTeams needing policy-driven NCM
A policy-driven NCM tool for backups, compliance checks, bulk changes, and rollback.
- Compliance auditing
- Scheduled backups
- Change rollback
7.1/10★★★★☆Visit Kron NCM -
Best forOn-premises baseline and drift monitoring
A focused on-premises choice for baseline control, drift detection, and configuration recovery.
- Compliance auditing
- Change rollback
- Configuration comparison
7.0/10★★★★☆Visit Net-Monitor -
Best forSmall Windows teams with a low entry price
A practical Windows tool for small teams managing multi-vendor network configurations.
- Scheduled backups
- Change rollback
- Configuration comparison
6.9/10★★★☆☆Visit Lan-Secure -
Best forBuyers wanting straightforward paid NCM
A focused NCM product for backing up, comparing, restoring and auditing device configurations.
- Compliance auditing
- Change rollback
- Configuration comparison
6.8/10★★★☆☆Visit Nexsparkle -
Best forNetwork operations with basic configuration control
A focused on-premises choice for multi-vendor configuration control across up to 50 devices.
- Configuration comparison
- Configuration backup
6.7/10★★★☆☆Visit NEC -
Best forGoverned automation across many systems
A broad automation platform for teams governing workflows across network and infrastructure systems.
6.6/10★★★☆☆Visit Itential -
Best forWindows users switching local network profiles
A focused Windows utility for switching local network profiles without restarting.
6.4/10★★★☆☆Visit site -
Best forWindows network-profile automation
A focused Windows tool for automating local network-profile changes.
6.3/10★★★☆☆Visit NetSetMan -
Best forCisco-centric configuration and assurance
A Cisco-focused platform for discovery, configuration control, compliance, and assurance.
- Configuration backup
5.2/10★★★☆☆Visit Cisco -
Best forMulti-vendor provisioning and workflow automation
A broad network automation platform for multi-vendor provisioning, control, and workflow orchestration.
- Configuration backup
5.1/10★★★☆☆Visit Gluware -
Best forService-provider infrastructure orchestration
A broad orchestration platform for multivendor, multilayer network operations.
5.0/10★★☆☆☆Visit Nokia
No tools match those filters.
Compare at a glance
| # | Tool | Free plan | Paid from | Configuration backup | Configuration comparison | Deployment model | Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | SolarWinds Network Configuration Manager | No | Yes | On-premises | 9.0 | ||
| 2 | Skylar Compliance | No | Yes | Yes | Hybrid | 8.7 | |
| 3 | Infoblox NetMRI | 8.5 | |||||
| 4 | ManageEngine Network Configuration Manager | Yes | $595/device usage-based | Yes | On-premises | 8.4 | |
| 5 | NetBrain | Yes | On-premises | 8.4 | |||
| 6 | Infosim StableNet | Yes | Yes | 8.2 | |||
| 7 | Motadata Network Configuration Manager | Yes | Yes | Hybrid | 8.1 | ||
| 8 | Kiwi CatTools NG | No | Yes | Yes | On-premises | 8.0 | |
| 9 | Arista CloudVision | Hybrid | 7.9 | ||||
| 10 | Tufin | Hybrid | 7.8 | ||||
| 11 | Contrail Service Orchestration | Hybrid | 7.7 | ||||
| 12 | ExtremeCloud IQ | No | Yes | Cloud | 7.6 | ||
| 13 | AlgoSec | Hybrid | 7.5 | ||||
| 14 | Auvik Network Management | No | 7.4 | ||||
| 15 | Unimus | Yes | Yes | Yes | On-premises | 7.4 | |
| 16 | rConfig | Yes | $3,900 one-time | Yes | Yes | Hybrid | 7.4 |
| 17 | Netpicker | Yes | Yes | Yes | Hybrid | 7.4 | |
| 18 | FirstWave opConfig | Yes | Yes | Yes | On-premises | 7.4 | |
| 19 | Viewtinet Configuration Manager | Yes | Yes | Hybrid | 7.4 | ||
| 20 | NetKeep | Free | Yes | Yes | On-premises | 7.4 | |
| 21 | Oxidized | Yes | Free | Yes | Yes | On-premises | 7.3 |
| 22 | RANCID | Free | Yes | Yes | On-premises | 7.2 | |
| 23 | BackBox | Yes | Hybrid | 7.1 | |||
| 24 | Kron NCM | Yes | Yes | 7.1 | |||
| 25 | Net-Monitor Network Configuration Management | Yes | Yes | On-premises | 7.0 | ||
| 26 | Configuration Center | No | Yes | Yes | 6.9 | ||
| 27 | Nexsparkle ConfigVault | Yes | Yes | 6.8 | |||
| 28 | NEC MasterScope Network Manager | Yes | Yes | On-premises | 6.7 | ||
| 29 | Itential Automation Platform | No | Hybrid | 6.6 | |||
| 30 | Mobile Net Switch | Yes | Free | 6.4 | |||
| 31 | NetSetMan | Yes | On-premises | 6.3 | |||
| 32 | Cisco Catalyst Center | Yes | Hybrid | 5.2 | |||
| 33 | Gluware | No | Yes | Hybrid | 5.1 | ||
| 34 | Nokia Network Services Platform | No | On-premises | 5.0 |
Head-to-head All 27 comparisons →
- SolarWinds Network Configuration Manager vs Skylar Compliance
- SolarWinds Network Configuration Manager vs Infoblox NetMRI
- SolarWinds Network Configuration Manager vs ManageEngine Network Configuration Manager
- SolarWinds Network Configuration Manager vs Infosim StableNet
- SolarWinds Network Configuration Manager vs Motadata Network Configuration Manager
- SolarWinds Network Configuration Manager vs Kiwi CatTools NG
- Skylar Compliance vs Infoblox NetMRI
- Skylar Compliance vs ManageEngine Network Configuration Manager
- Skylar Compliance vs NetBrain
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How we rank network configuration management software
Every tool on this page was researched by iTechGuides Editors from its official website — pricing pages, plan tables and product documentation. We rank on how well each one does this category's core job, what the free or entry plan includes, and where it falls short. Where we have enough verified facts, the score out of 10 is a rubric — job fit, value and how much we could verify — shown with its breakdown on every tool's page; a tool we have not verified enough to score yet shows its rank without a number. Scores are re-checked when a product changes its plans. Read the full editorial policy, or submit a tool we missed.
Reviewed by iTechGuides Editors · Editorial team · Updated Oct 2026
Last updated · How we research and update