Net2Plan review
A free desktop toolkit for designing, optimizing and simulating network topologies.
Reviewed by iTechGuides Editors · Editorial team · Updated Oct 2026
Net2Plan is a free, open-source Java application for planning, optimizing, simulating and evaluating communication networks. Its intended users include network operators, ISPs, researchers and academic teams, as well as industry planners. A graphical interface supports visual inspection and editing of nodes, links, routes and demands; a command-line interface handles batch processing and large-scale simulations. It runs as downloadable desktop software on Windows, macOS and Linux.
The central strength is the breadth of design work supported by a multilayer, technology-agnostic network representation. Planners can work with built-in topologies, traffic matrices and .n2p network-design files, generate or normalize traffic matrices, and apply built-in or user-defined algorithms. Online simulation covers recovery, admission control and dynamic provisioning scenarios. Reports can be generated automatically or customized. This makes Net2Plan a fit for teams evaluating proposed designs and scenarios, rather than primarily monitoring a live network.
The software is distributed as an archive that includes the application, library, documentation, dependencies and example topologies and traffic matrices. Its ecosystem includes Java IDEs and optimization solvers GLPK, CPLEX, XPRESS and IPOPT. It is open source and has no paid tiers described; support is through documentation. Teams needing offline topology design, simulation and optimization across desktop operating systems should consider it. Teams whose main need is automated device discovery or live topology mapping should look for a tool oriented to those workflows instead.
Net2Plan pros and cons
- Where it wins
- Models multilayer, technology-agnostic network topologies.
- Offers GUI inspection and CLI batch processing and simulations.
- Includes topology editing, optimization, simulation and report generation.
- Where it doesn't
- Focused on offline planning rather than live topology discovery.
- Requires desktop Java software rather than a hosted service.
- Optimization integrations include external solvers such as GLPK and CPLEX.
Net2Plan fact sheet, pricing and score →
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