Lantern

At a glance

• Editor score
  6.9 / 10
• Pricing
  Free plan
• Best for
  Solo users exploring routes and observed network hosts
• Free plan
  Yes
• Paid from
  None
• Automatic discovery
  Yes
• Facts checked
  24 Sep 2026

• Where it wins

  • Correlates Nmap discovery with local mDNS/DNS-SD advertisements
  • Combines route maps with address-space and temporal observation views
  • Keeps scan history and supporting evidence in a local SQLite database

• Where it doesn't

  • Requires users to build or run the software with required network tools
  • Its focus is route and observation mapping rather than broad topology layers
  • Support is community-based

Our verdict on Lantern

Lantern is a local-first network discovery workspace for people who need to examine observed devices, services, names, ownership, and routes. Its interactive 3D map draws on active Nmap scans and local mDNS/DNS-SD discovery, with DNS and registry lookups adding context. The product is aimed at solo and small-scale use, and its open-source, self-hosted approach suits users comfortable running software locally. It is a focused choice for route and observation exploration, rather than a general-purpose topology platform.

Lantern’s most distinctive value is the way it correlates evidence across observations. It records ports, services, product and operating-system matches, hostnames, and MAC-vendor information; HTTPS certificate inspection can contribute hostname evidence. Reverse DNS and RDAP/WHOIS data add further context. MTR or traceroute observations feed route maps, while address-space and temporal views let users compare what was observed over time. Background and concurrent observations include progress, logs, and cancellation. These capabilities make Lantern relevant when the goal is to inspect how discovered hosts and routes relate, not simply display a static network diagram.

The published product description says Lantern runs as a locally hosted web interface embedded in a binary, with scan history, host observations, services, OS matches, and routes stored in SQLite. It is licensed under GPL-3.0 and is free and open source. Users should expect to build or run it with the required network tools, and community support is the stated support channel. That setup and its route-, address-space-, and time-oriented views will appeal to technically comfortable solo users who want local evidence retention. Teams seeking a broader topology model or a different support arrangement should consider another fit.

Your product? Our editors can test Lantern in depth and publish a review, labelled as paid · from $99/mo →

Lantern pricing

Lantern fact sheet

Lantern integrations

Lantern lists 6 integrations on its own site.

• Nmap
• mDNS/DNS-SD
• RDAP
• WHOIS
• MTR
• traceroute

Alternatives to Lantern

• Auvik Network ManagementAuvik combines Layer 1–3 maps, live monitoring, traffic insights, and configuration history.8.9
• ManageEngine OpManagerOpManager pairs device monitoring and Layer 2 maps with plans for small or distributed networks.8.8
• DomotzNetwork discovery, topology maps, and monitoring with free and paid options.8.7

See all Lantern alternatives →

Featured on iTechGuides

Lantern is listed in our Network Mapping Software directory. Add the badge to your site — it links back to this page.

<a href="https://www.itechguides.com/products/lantern-network-mapping-software/"><img src="https://www.itechguides.com/best/badge/lantern-network-mapping-software.svg" alt="Featured on iTechGuides" width="230" height="46"></a>

Guides on network mapping software

• Network Mapping Tools: The Best Free and Paid SolutionsAug 2026

Reviewed by iTechGuides Editors · Editorial team · Updated Oct 2026

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. How we rank.

Last updated 7 Oct 2026 · How we research and update