CMDBuild review
A free, configurable CMDB for organizations prepared to manage on-premises software.
Reviewed by iTechGuides Editors · Editorial team · Updated Oct 2026
CMDBuild is an open-source web platform for building configurable asset-management and configuration-management applications. It is designed for organizations that need to model configuration items, ownership, dependencies, service relationships, and lifecycles in a CMDB they can deploy and administer themselves. Its free core software supports service mapping, dependency mapping, discovery imports, ownership tracking, multitenant configuration, and on-premises deployment. Separate preconfigured solutions are available for IT governance and property and facility management.
The main strength is configurability. Teams can define classes, attributes, domains, and relationships, then use workflow design and execution to support operational processes. Reports, dashboards, file-based data import and export, visual relationship graphs, georeferencing, and GIS and BIM support extend the platform beyond a basic asset register. REST and SOAP web services, external-system connectors, and integrations with Active Directory, OCS Inventory, VMware vCenter, Amazon AWS, and REST web services provide connection points for surrounding systems. Mobile application support is also included.
CMDBuild fits organizations that value control, customization, and a freely downloadable core more than managed convenience. On-premises deployment places responsibility for infrastructure and administration with the organization, so it is less suitable for teams seeking a fully hosted CMDB with minimal operational ownership. The published commercial model also matters: maintenance, support, connectors, and other premium components may require a contract, with support costs depending on instance complexity and service level. Choose CMDBuild when configurable modeling and self-hosting are priorities; consider an alternative when a broader integration ecosystem or simpler deployment is more important.
CMDBuild pros and cons
- Where it wins
- Configurable classes, attributes, domains, and relationships
- Workflows, reports, dashboards, imports, and REST/SOAP services
- Supports multitenancy, visual graphs, GIS, BIM, and mobile access
- Where it doesn't
- On-premises deployment requires your own infrastructure and administration
- Integrations center on a narrower set of listed external systems
- Maintenance, support, and premium components may require a contract
CMDBuild fact sheet, pricing and score →
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