Best it asset tracking software

You can also manage licenses, contracts, and documents related to each asset. The software is designed for manual data entry rather than barcodes or RFID tags, but it does support an impressive amount of information — it has fields for the manufacturer, model, type, serial number, the technical manager who controls the asset, users of the station, and specifications including power supply and firmware.

Both on-premise and cloud versions are available. If you're a free user, the service won't offer any consultations or other aid for the installation process beyond an installation manual that can be found on their FAQ page. Since it's an open source service, the occasional bug or hiccup should be expected.

While the free version tracks unlimited assets, anyone who wants the paid version with warranty and support will need to pay for a plan tier with asset caps. As you may have noticed while scrolling through your top options, even the best free asset tracking software will always come with a catch.

The trick is to pick a software with disadvantages you can live with. Free trials are not a sustainable option, and are the only real issue with big names like Samsara and Asset Panda. Trials aside, if you're looking for free software, your main concern should be with which features are absolutely essential.

One of the most essential but easy to forget about features? Data backups. If you aren't backed up, you could potentially lose an entire business' worth of asset documentation. Offline access is also pretty important, as losing internet can set you back for hours otherwise.

Another important free caveat to watch out for: asset caps. You never know when you'll need to add more, and unless you're just running a farmer's market booth, you can easily surpass 50 or assets. Finally, if you're not the technically capable type and don't have a dedicated IT employee on staff, you'll likely want to avoid free options without support or hosting included.

Similarly, open source software — as flexible as it is — will likely be too unwieldy to rely on. Of course, if you're willing to spring for a paid asset tracking system instead, you'll be able to find a full-stack asset manager that can handle not just movable and fixed asset tracking, but employee scheduling, routing, and billing as well.

A good IT asset tracking system will be able to track physical office supplies, laptops, and mobile devices, sure, but it will also track software and paperwork. What softwares have been licensed and who is using them across the company? When were they last updated? When is the lease up on each of the operation's properties?

The right system answers all these questions easily. In some cases, you may need an IT tracking system that integrates with help desk solutions, so that support tickets for access to the right software or hardware can be easily granted.

Whatever your needs, you'll have to check out the IT asset tracking abilities of each solution in order to verify that it can do what you need. How many laptops do we have in this office? Where are all the shipping containers we need? What's missing, broken, or needs updating this month? Those answers are worth a monthly fee. You can say goodbye to guesstimates and out of date manual notes, and know the exact status of all your equipment, tools, and business assets, at all times.

Here's a quick look at what sets each of the best IT asset trackers apart:. Some IT asset tracking solutions are more stripped down while others are feature-rich, and either option might be for you.

You'll want to pick the one that fits your specific needs, and that integrates well with the softwares and processes that you already follow. If you have or fewer non-moveable assets, we'd recommend AssetTiger , as it offers a stripped-down solution that's permenantly free. If you have more assets but need a free tracking system, we'd suggest Snipe-IT , a solid open-source option that supports unlimited users and assets.

And if you're considering paying for a more comprehensive, high-quality asset tracking system, you'll first need to find out how the best systems stack up against each other. You can find the best asset tracking supplier for your company's needs in a flash: Just fill out our one-minute comparison form here, and relax as we find you the best deals.

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This helps Tech. We're sorry this article didn't help you today — we welcome feedback, so if there's any way you feel we could improve our content, please email us at contact tech. Adam is a writer at Tech. He's also a Forbes Contributor on the publishing industry, for which he was named a Digital Book World award finalist. His work has appeared in publications including Popular Mechanics and IDG Connect, and he has an art history book on s sci-fi coming out from Abrams Books in Compare Asset Tracking Prices Do you already use asset or vehicle monitoring services?

Home Asset Tracking. Best for:. Great value prices Feature-rich Great support. Barcode-based system Best for hotels, healthcare, small businesses.

Stripped-down solution Best for fixed assets. Unlimited users and assets Open API. Great suite of IT-focused features License management. Customizable layout Nice third party integrations. Loan tracking Unlimited reports. Free trial only, no free version No set public pricing. No real-time tracking ability Not ideal for powered or high-value assets.

Free plan is capped at assets Not for movable assets. Limited functionality No server maintenance in free version. User interface isn't great Limited plugins. Free version requires Zoho Creator to work Not the best for large operations. Capped at assets Only on-premises service is free, not cloud-based. Software can be buggy Requires IT knowledge. Find the best asset tracking solution today Compare Now.

Below is our list of the best free asset tracking software available today. Best Free Asset Tracking Software in You can click each title below to jump directly to our mini review of each free asset tracking service, or simply scroll down to see them all one by one. Our picks for the best free asset tracking software providers are: Samsara — best for depth of features Asset Panda — best for office equipment AssetTiger — best for small companies Snipe-IT — best for programmers who want an open API Spiceworks — best for tracking documents alongside assets Zoho — best for integrating with other Zoho apps Reftab — best for hobbyists SysAid IT Asset Management — best for on-premise hosting GLPI — best for simple open-source tracking.

Samsara Best for: Depth of features Tracks: Unpowered, powered, rental, and heavy equipment — everything from small office equipment to construction cranes Number of assets trackable: Unlimited Type of tracking: GPS Is it really free? If you need a long-term free option, keep scrolling. Samsara Asset Tracking. One of the best — all the features you'll need, with an easy-to-use interface 5.

In Short. Gallery Click to expand. Compare Samsara Prices. Asset Panda Best for: Office equipment Tracks: Fixed or moveable but unpowered assets, such as laptops or construction tools Number of assets trackable: Unlimited — Asset Panda serves international Fortune companies Type of tracking: Barcodes includes QR codes Is it really free?

Asset Panda. A feature-rich asset tracking service with a great day free trial 5. Get Quotes. AssetTiger Best for: Small companies Tracks: Fixed assets only, such as office equipment or unpowered construction tools. A free service for fixed assets that's used by thousands. Pros Unlimited users Contract and license management Maintenance alerts Unlimited cloud storage.

Cons Fixed assets only Limited documentation Maximum of asset tags allowed on free plan. Compare Prices. A secure free asset tracking service that's updated regularly. Cons No free support No free hosting Not for beginners. Spiceworks Best for: Tracking documents alongside assets Tracks: Fixed assets and intangible assets such as software, cloud services, and users Number of assets trackable: Unlimited Type of tracking: IP address scanning and manual data entry Is it really free?

Spiceworks for IT Asset Tracking Unlike some big asset trackers, Spiceworks is designed primarily for IT asset tracking, from laptops to software licenses and warrenties. An IT-focused free asset tracking system that can integrate with a help desk. Pros License management Automated email alerts Help desk integration.

Cons Not the most intuitive Some plugins incompatible with newest version. Zoho Best for: Integrating with other Zoho apps Tracks: Fixed assets, including desktop computers, mobile devices, and software Number of assets trackable: Unlimited Type of tracking: Manual entry Is it really free? An IT asset tracker that comes free but requires Zoho Creator to use 4.

Pros Third-party integrations License management Customizable navigation and layout. Reftab Best for: Hobbyists Tracks: Small or unpowered assets, like office laptops or equipment. An asset tracking system that includes unlimited reports for free. Pros Automated email alerts Loan tracking Unlimited reports License management. Cons Slow to use No free document attachments Capped at 50 assets. Be warned, though — some systems are better than others, or simply suit different types of businesses.

This article will help you decide which asset tracking software is right for your business. Thanks to our extensive research and years of experience in the field, we were able to select and review five of the best solutions in the US today.

The best overall option is Samsara, but it might not be exactly right for you. Check out the table below for a quick snapshot of which suppliers made the cut, followed by our individual reviews that discuss pricing, features, pros and cons, and more. Those companies will then contact you with more information on how they can help your business, along with tailored, no-obligation quotes for you to compare.

Our service is quick, easy, and totally free. During our deep-dive into Samsara, we particularly liked its maintenance alerts. You can also set up location-based geofence alerts to give you clear eyes on where your most valuable assets are at all times. With its wealth of features, including GPS tracking and geofencing, Samsara could be overkill for some small businesses looking to track everyday tools or equipment.

However, it's our top rated asset tracking software for a reason — it has everything most businesses would need in order to successfully manage assets. AssetCloud also works for Education and government programs, with the ability to customize listings using government compliance codes.

Asset tracking software can save your IT department time and money by reducing tedious data entry and protecting compliance. If you already have a system in place, consider whether or not it meets your needs, and whether any of the products on this list could bring measurable improvements. Need help comparing these six? Want to learn more? Call one of our Tech Advisors for a free consultation. Learn more about the benefits of IT Software with our market-leading research.

Looking for software? Try our Product Selection Tool. Get results fast. Talk to an expert now. Get Our Newsletter. Why people use asset tracking software: Inventory management: Users enter data to track physical tools, software licenses, and contracts. The resulting database simplifies auditing. Asset onboarding dates and check-in or -out features help prevent loss and promote regular updates. Asset lifecycle management: Notify users of mandatory or helpful software updates.

Manage asset disposal. Central help desk: Create a digital paper trail to track acquisitions, requests, updates, license management, compliance, optimization needs and more. Why buy software instead of using a spreadsheet?

A dedicated asset tracking tool provides: A centralized location for storing data about all assets Automatic segmenting and organization with tagging and sorting options Loss prevention features Device discovery: find wifi-linked items on your network Helpdesk and ticketing integration Here are six asset tracking platforms to test: SolarWinds SolarWinds provides an all-encompassing IT platform spanning network, system, and database management and integrating IT security and help desk.