Best Azure Virtual Network Manager Alternatives in 2026
The top Azure Virtual Network Manager alternatives are VMware NSX, Cisco Nexus Dashboard Fabric Controller and Cisco Catalyst Center: 15 Software-Defined networking software our editors would look at instead of Azure Virtual Network Manager, in our ranking order.
Azure Virtual Network Manager: A centralized Azure control plane for network grouping, policy, routing, and verification. Where it falls short: cloud-only deployment limits use outside azure environments.
Switching from Azure Virtual Network Manager? For most software-defined networking software buyers the best Azure Virtual Network Manager alternative is VMware NSX, built for virtualized and hybrid-cloud networking. OpenStack Neutron has a free plan.
Why People Look for an Azure Virtual Network Manager Alternative
- Cloud-only deployment limits use outside Azure environments
- Usage-based billing spans subscriptions, virtual networks, and active IPs
- Advanced capabilities add separate billing dimensions
Quick Picks by What You Need
- Best overallVMware NSX9.3
Virtualized and hybrid-cloud networking
Visit VMware NSX - Best free optionOpenStack Neutron8.4
Has a free plan
Visit OpenStack Neutron
All 15 Azure Virtual Network Manager Alternatives, Ranked
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.
-
Best forVirtualized and hybrid-cloud networking
- Better than Azure Virtual Network Manager:
- Editor score 9.3 vs 8.2
A broad hybrid-cloud networking and security platform with contact-sales pricing.
- Policy segmentation
- Northbound API
9.3/10★★★★★Visit VMware NSX -
Best forCisco VXLAN EVPN fabrics
- Better than Azure Virtual Network Manager:
- Editor score 9.1 vs 8.2
A focused controller for provisioning, automating, and governing VXLAN EVPN fabrics.
- Policy segmentation
- Northbound API
9.1/10★★★★★Visit Cisco NDFC -
Best forCisco enterprise network automation
- Better than Azure Virtual Network Manager:
- Editor score 9.0 vs 8.2
A broad Cisco network-operations platform for discovery, automation, compliance, and assurance.
9.0/10★★★★☆Visit Cisco -
Best forData-center fabric orchestration
- Better than Azure Virtual Network Manager:
- Editor score 9.0 vs 8.2
Centralized fabric orchestration for multi-vendor, multi-cloud data-center networks.
- Policy segmentation
- Northbound API
9.0/10★★★★☆Visit Huawei -
Best forNutanix hybrid-cloud networking
- Better than Azure Virtual Network Manager:
- Editor score 8.8 vs 8.2
A focused choice for centralized hybrid-cloud networking in Nutanix AHV environments.
- Policy segmentation
- Northbound API
8.8/10★★★★☆Visit Nutanix -
Best forHPE data-center fabric management
- Better than Azure Virtual Network Manager:
- Editor score 8.6 vs 8.2
Centralized fabric orchestration for HPE Aruba Networking data-center environments.
- Policy segmentation
- Northbound API
8.6/10★★★★☆Visit HPE -
Best forOpenStack cloud networking
- Better than Azure Virtual Network Manager:
- Editor score 8.4 vs 8.2
A broad, modular networking layer for OpenStack deployments.
- Policy segmentation
- Northbound API
8.4/10★★★★☆Visit OpenStack -
Best forOpen-source multivendor SDN control
A broad, open-source SDN controller for teams managing multivendor networks.
8.1/10★★★★☆Visit OpenDaylight -
Best forCloud-native transport orchestration
A broad, API-driven controller for cloud-native transport orchestration.
- Northbound API
8.0/10★★★★☆Visit TeraFlowSDN -
Best foreBPF-based Kubernetes networking
A focused open-source choice for eBPF-based Kubernetes networking and security.
- Policy segmentation
- Northbound API
7.9/10★★★★☆Visit Cilium -
Best forEnterprise Kubernetes security networking
A broad Kubernetes networking and security suite for enterprise cluster operations.
- Policy segmentation
- Northbound API
7.8/10★★★★☆Visit Tigera -
Best forMultivendor service-provider networking
A multivendor platform for discovering, automating, assuring and optimizing service-provider networks.
7.7/10★★★★☆Visit Nokia -
Best forCentralized hybrid network control
Centralized hybrid network control with Kubernetes, Terraform, and EVPN/VXLAN automation.
- Policy segmentation
- Northbound API
7.7/10★★★★☆Visit Netris -
Best forOpen-source Kubernetes networking
A broad open-source CNI for Kubernetes connectivity, security, and observability.
- Policy segmentation
- Northbound API
7.5/10★★★★☆Visit Antrea -
Best forOpen-source Kubernetes and VM networking
A broad, self-managed Kubernetes network stack for teams operating on Linux.
- Policy segmentation
- Northbound API
7.4/10★★★★☆Visit Kube-OVN
Azure Virtual Network Manager Alternatives: Common Questions
What is the best alternative to Azure Virtual Network Manager?
VMware NSX: #1 in our Software-Defined Networking Software ranking, with an editor score of 9.3 out of 10. A broad hybrid-cloud networking and security platform with contact-sales pricing.
Is there a free alternative to Azure Virtual Network Manager?
Yes. OpenStack Neutron, OpenDaylight, TeraFlowSDN, Cilium and Antrea have a free plan or a free tier (6 of the 15 alternatives on this page).
Why do people look for Azure Virtual Network Manager alternatives?
Cloud-only deployment limits use outside Azure environments; Usage-based billing spans subscriptions, virtual networks, and active IPs; Advanced capabilities add separate billing dimensions.
How do I switch from Azure Virtual Network Manager?
Export your data from Azure Virtual Network Manager (most tools have an export in their settings). Sign up for the alternative; start on its free plan or trial if it has one. Import your export and set up the integrations your team relies on. Run both side by side for a short while, then cancel Azure Virtual Network Manager.
How to Switch from Azure Virtual Network Manager
- Export your data from Azure Virtual Network Manager (most tools have an export in their settings).
- Sign up for the alternative; start on its free plan or trial if it has one.
- Import your export and set up the integrations your team relies on.
- Run both side by side for a short while, then cancel Azure Virtual Network Manager.
Azure Virtual Network Manager vs Each Alternative
| # | Tool | Paid from | Deployment model | Control-plane model | Policy segmentation | Northbound API | Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 8 | Azure Virtual Network Manager | Cloud | Centralized | Yes | Yes | 8.2 | |
| 1 | VMware NSX | Hybrid | Hybrid | Yes | Yes | 9.3 | |
| 2 | Cisco Nexus Dashboard Fabric Controller | On-premises | Centralized | Yes | Yes | 9.1 | |
| 3 | Cisco Catalyst Center | Hybrid | 9.0 | ||||
| 4 | Huawei iMaster NCE-Fabric | On-premises | Centralized | Yes | Yes | 9.0 | |
| 5 | Nutanix Flow Virtual Networking | Hybrid | Centralized | Yes | Yes | 8.8 | |
| 6 | HPE Aruba Networking Fabric Composer | On-premises | Centralized | Yes | Yes | 8.6 | |
| 7 | OpenStack Neutron | Free | Hybrid | Hybrid | Yes | Yes | 8.4 |
| 8 | OpenDaylight | Free | 8.1 | ||||
| 9 | TeraFlowSDN | Free | On-premises | Yes | 8.0 | ||
| 10 | Cilium | Free | Hybrid | Hybrid | Yes | Yes | 7.9 |
| 11 | Calico Enterprise | Hybrid | Centralized | Yes | Yes | 7.8 | |
| 12 | Nokia Network Services Platform | On-premises | 7.7 | ||||
| 13 | Netris | Hybrid | Centralized | Yes | Yes | 7.7 | |
| 14 | Antrea | Free | Hybrid | Centralized | Yes | Yes | 7.5 |
| 15 | Kube-OVN | Free | On-premises | Centralized | Yes | Yes | 7.4 |
Head-to-Head
- Azure Virtual Network Manager vs VMware NSX
- Azure Virtual Network Manager vs Cisco Nexus Dashboard Fabric Controller
- Azure Virtual Network Manager vs Cisco Catalyst Center
- Azure Virtual Network Manager vs Huawei iMaster NCE-Fabric
- Azure Virtual Network Manager vs Nutanix Flow Virtual Networking
- Azure Virtual Network Manager vs HPE Aruba Networking Fabric Composer
Reviewed by iTechGuides Editors · Editorial team · Updated Oct 2026
Last updated · How we research and update