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The best free asset management software is AssetTiger due to its useful alert system, unlimited cloud storage and number of users – but it is for fixed assets only, and maxes out at 250 assets.
The best overall asset tracking software provider is Samsara, which combines a reliable service, great value prices and industry-leading features. We’ve included it at the top of this list as it has a 30-day free version, but after this you’ll need to pay.
Opting for free asset tracking software comes with pros and cons. The pros are obvious – no costs. The downside is that features tend to be limited, and the best of the best usually only come as free trials that run out after a matter of weeks.
Best Free Asset Tracking Software Overview
Asset Tracking may cost less than you think. Use our quick cost comparison form to generate custom quotes for your needs. Otherwise, the Best Free Asset Tracking Companies are:
- Samsara – Best overall
- FreshService – Best for IT businesses
- AssetTiger — Best for small companies
- Snipe-IT — Best for customization with an open API
- Spiceworks – Best for tracking documents alongside assets
- GLPI – Best for simple open-source tracking
- Asset Panda – Best for office equipment only
- Zoho – Best for integrating with other Zoho apps
- SysAid IT Asset Management – Best for on-premise hosting
Click on the links to start comparing options for the best asset tracker today.
The benefits of paying (even a little) can’t be ignored – you’ll get better security, support, data backups, offline access and add-ons that could save your business thousands, like maintenance alerts for powered assets. Compare price quotes with our asset tracking comparison tool to view your options.
Best for: | Free trial | Permanently free | Paid version | Tracks | Trackable assets | Type of tracking | ||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
SPONSORED | BEST OVERALL | |||||||
Spiceworks | GLPI | Asset Panda | Zoho | SysAid IT Asset Management | ||||
Larger companies | Best overall | Companies with few assets | Programmers who want an open API | Tracking documents alongside assets | Simple open-source tracking | Office equipment | Integrating with other Zoho apps | On-premise hosting |
| | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | With Zoho Creator | |
$120/500 assets/year | $39.99/month | N/A | Warrenty starts at 120 Euros/yr | Price on request | $10/month (Zoho creator) | $1,200/500 assets/5 users/year | ||
Vehicles and construction machinery | From small office equipment to construction cranes | Office equipment and unpowered construction tools | Service tools, laptops and other office equipment | Software, cloud services and users | Computers, printers, and mobile devices | From laptops to construction tools | Desktop computers, mobile devices, and software | Office equipment and construction tools |
Unlimited | Unlimited | 250 assets max with free plan | Unlimited | Unlimited | Unlimited | Unlimited | Unlimited | 100 assets max with free plan |
GPS | GPS | Barcodes | Barcodes and QR codes | IP addresses and manual entry | Manual data entry | Barcodes and QR codes | Manual entry | Manual entry |
If you’re looking for reliable tracking software with a great depth of features, your best bet is Samsara. It’s one of the most popular asset tracking tools on the market, and comes with everything you need to keep track of your movable, powered assets.
While Samsara’s asset tracking software isn’t completely free, the reason we’d recommend it over AssetTiger is because, for what little you do invest, you’ll get so much more value for money. Its free trial will give you access to the full range of features, so you can see firsthand why it’s considered one of the top tracking tools for businesses interested in effective management, maintenance and growth.
Of course, for the smallest businesses, a free trial won’t cut it. But, if your business assets are valuable, you might not be willing to take the risk on free software, as it could end up costing you more in the long run.
You can use our free tool to compare asset tracking quotes for a better idea of your options between the always-free tools and the cost of something potentially better for the needs of your business – and that may fit within your budget.
Our picks for the best free asset tracking software providers are:
- Samsara – Best overall
- FreshService – Best for IT businesses
- AssetTiger – Best for small companies
- Snipe-IT – Best for customization with an open API
- Spiceworks – Best for tracking documents alongside assets
- GLPI – Best for simple open-source tracking
- Asset Panda – Best for office equipment only
- Zoho – Best for integrating with other Zoho apps
- SysAid IT Asset Management – Best for on-premise hosting
1. Samsara – Best Overall
Scoring a solid 4.7/5 in our impartial research, Samsara beats any other option in this guide, proving the merit behind being one of the biggest names in movable asset tracking.
What we liked most is that it’s completely wireless, feature-rich, and allows you to track assets of any size. Its software is one of the most widely trusted names in the business and, having explored the platform, it’s not difficult to see why. Samsara’s features help you to track the activity of powered assets, compile billable hours for your clients, schedule travel and more.
Pros
- Great value prices
- Geofencing alerts
- Continuous real-time GPS tracking
- Automatic updates
- Historical data
- Maintenance tracking and alerts
- Inventory reporting
- Auto-generated reports
Cons
- No barcode-based systems
- Continual updates can slow the app down
Samsara features
Samsara offers a range of ruggedized GPS tracking hardware units that all support geofencing, reporting, and alerts, and come with industry-leading weatherproofing to protect against inclement weather. Reporting and analytics are also two of Samsara’s strongest core features, while its alerts will keep managers aware of geofencing violations and maintenance needs, as well as authorized usage.
Take a look at some of Samsara’s best features below.
- Asset tag type: GPS
- Geofencing alerts
- Automatic updates
- Historical data
- Maintenance tracking and alerts
- Inventory reporting
- Auto-generated reports
Network coverage includes North America, the EU, and the UK. Features will vary depending on which unit you choose, with some allowing you to track engine hours, diagnostics, and fault codes.
“If my generator or backhoe isn’t where it’s supposed to be and I need to find it, it only takes two clicks for me to track my machines down” says Victor Miral, Service Manager at Ghilotti Bros.
The units also offer a range of customizable check-in rates, from real-time GPS updates to twice-a-day updates. Samsara stands out in this guide due to the active tracking that GPS hardware allows: you’ll be able to know far more about your assets’ locations and activity with Samsara than with FreshService, AssetTiger, or any other service that relies on barcodes or manual data entry.
Is Samsara software really free?
Samsara is not permanently free. The service offers free installation and a 30-day free trial, but you’ll have to pay once the trial ends, with prices varying depending on your business’ needs. Still, if you’re looking for a feature-rich platform with reliable asset tracking software, Samsara’s asset tracking software is your best bet. You can also compare asset tracking quotes for free if you want to find something that better fits your budget.
2. FreshService – Best for IT Businesses
The FreshService software (4.6/5) is our top pick for free asset tracking when it comes to IT service management. Users are given more tools than just a barcoding system: with FreshService, you can set up a company knowledge base, multiple internal workspaces, and a ticket support system to help your customers. A bonus here is that all of these management tools can be used from one central hub.
Pros
- Good work order functionality
- Includes IT service management tools
- Starts at $49/month
Cons
- Capped at 100 assets, adding more costs $75/mo/500 assets
- No GPS trackers
FreshService features
Like other services including AssetTiger and Snipe-IT, FreshService uses both barcodes and QR codes to log assets, with support for 3G connectivity. Users won’t get automatic alerts for usage, but you can manually create an incident report. The system allows users with admin access to assign assets to other agents in the organization, allowing for work order support. FreshService also lets users calculate depreciation in three modes: declining balance, straight line, and sum-of-the-years’ digits method.
Here are some of FreshService’s key features:
- Asset tag type: Barcodes, QR codes
- Barcodes, QR codes
- Work orders
- Incident reports
- IT knowledge base
- 21-day free trial
Is FreshService software really free?
FreshService does not have a permanently free plan, although you can get a free 21-day trial. Paying users can choose from four plans, but only these three include asset tracking: Growth, for $49 per agent per year; Pro, for $95 per agent per year; and Enterprise, for $119 per agent per year. Plus, these plans only manage up to 100 assets: additional tags will cost $75 per month per 500 assets, or $1,500 per month for unlimited assets.
Try our free asset tracking quotes comparison for more information on the best options.
3. AssetTiger – Best for Small Companies
AssetTiger (4.5/5) offers a permanently free, stripped-down service that tracks your fixed assets. The free plan is capped at 250 assets, with paid plans supporting more assets (we’ll cover the paid tiers later in this section). Each cloud-based account allows for unlimited users, who will each receive their own permissions level. Managers can track their assets on the go with a mobile app (available on iOS and Android). Notifications can be set to remind users when maintenance is needed, which is an uncommon feature among free services. Barcode tags are heatproof, but there is no GPS functionality (Samsara remains our top pick for GPS tracking).
Pros
- Unlimited users
- Contract and license management
- Maintenance alerts
- Unlimited cloud storage
Cons
- Fixed assets only
- Limited documentation
- Maximum of 250 asset tags allowed on free plan
AssetTiger features
Our team of researchers found that AssetTiger offers a decent set of asset tracking features when compared with other providers on this list. From the software’s dashboard, users can easily view a list of assets, add an asset; or sort through contracts, employees, customers, funding, insurance, users, and “groups” (the term for different sets of user permissions). Alerts can also be managed with a checklist featuring different types of alerts to activate. Alerts can be triggered when contracts, warranties, or insurance policies are about to expire, when an asset needs maintenance, or when an asset is past due. Check out our quick summary of AssetTiger’s features below:
- Asset tag type: Barcodes, QR codes
- Mobile barcode creation and scanning
- Maintenance tracking
- Email alerts and notifications
- Contract tracking
- Great security features with customizable permissions
- iOS app rating: 3.3 stars
- Android app rating: 4.2 stars
While AssetTiger doesn’t offer the detailed depreciation tracking offered by FreshService, it does support scheduled maintenance alerts.
There are a few other downsides, too: not all of AssetTiger’s features are intuitive to understand, and no significant billing or facility management is included. However, a support team is available if needed, and this system is aimed at fixed assets, not movable ones, so facility and billing management aren’t essential.
We’ve found it to be a smart choice for small operations with fewer than 250 assets, because it will be totally free and every other aspect of the service is useful – unlimited users, unlimited cloud storage, and mobile compatibility are all great perks.
Is AssetTiger software really free?
AssetTiger’s asset tracking software is completely free, but is capped at 250 assets. If you need to track more, its paid plans start at $120 per year for up to 500 assets, with tiers rising as high as $3,200 per year for 500,000 assets. The tags themselves are sold separately, and buying enough at once will earn businesses a free year of tracking software: $180 of tags will cover a year of tracking for up to 500 assets, for instance.
AssetTiger is a good offer, and our highest-rated system to come with a completely free plan, since both Samsara and FreshService only offer free trials. We’d recommend you compare asset tracking software for yourself, so you can find a platform that’s best suited to your needs.
4. Snipe-IT – Best for Customization With an Open API
As a web-based open source platform, Snipe-IT (4.2/5) is a great choice for users who are comfortable adding third-party integrations to build the asset tracking software needed for their business. What we like most about the Snipe-IT asset tracking software is that it’s very secure and receives regular updates – a huge boon for any open source program. It’s worth noting that you’ll need to manually update it each time.
The software’s list of assets makes data easily viewable and sortable by device image, asset tag, serial number, model, category, status, and which user the asset is checked out to. On each individual asset page, even more data can be collated, from purchase date and cost to the supplier name to the level of depreciation and the final date at which the asset is considered fully depreciated.
Pros
- Open source, open API - works on any device
- Unlimited users
- Unlimited assets
- Slack integrations
- SAML login integration
Cons
- No free support
- No free hosting
- Not for beginners
Snipe-IT features
Snipe-IT, like FreshService and AssetTiger, is another barcode-based tracking system, although neither FreshService or AssetTiger have an open API. Snipe-IT works with standard USB or Bluetooth barcode scanners.
A plus is that assets and users are both unlimited, making it a great option for operations on a tight budget, but you’ll need a software programmer or two to take full advantage of the open API. There’s no mobile app, but the mobile-friendly software is accessible from the web.
See Snipe-IT’s best asset tracking features below:
- Asset tag type: Barcodes, QR codes
- Easily import and export assets
- Ability to group asset models by common features
- Customizable fields for additional asset attributes
- Pre-marked assets can be requested by a user
- Full history including checkouts, check-ins and maintenance
- Optional digital signatures on asset acceptance
- Email alerts for expiring warrantees and licenses
- Open API
- Fast and easy asset auditing
Snipe-IT for IT Asset Tracking
As the name implies, Snipe-IT is suitable for handling IT assets and for use in work orders. Functionality is pretty basic, though. Snipe-IT tracks assets and licenses well, but there aren’t any extra bells and whistles: limited alerts, no maintenance other than manually-entered data, and no network connectivity.
The service’s ability to track which assets have been checked in or out makes it a perfect fit for an IT department that supplies laptops or other equipment to workers on a rotating basis. Email alerts can be set for expiring warranties and licenses (though little else), while the customizable fields can accommodate unique features. Each asset’s maintenance history is tracked but, unlike FreshService and AssetTiger, no proactive maintenance alerts are available.
Is Snipe-IT asset tracking software really free?
Yes, the Snipe-IT asset tracking software is free, but it also offers affordable hosting packages to businesses that also need support and security features. A paid tier with Snipe-IT starts at $39.99 a month (credit card subscriptions only), and includes server maintenance, automated backups/upgrades, and a full-time, in-house support team to take care of any issues.
While the paid version doesn’t include any features that aren’t found in the free version, getting a support team and security upgrades will be important for most businesses. See how Snipe-IT compares to others by using our free asset tracking comparison tool.
5. Spiceworks – Best for Tracking Documents Alongside Assets
Spiceworks asset tracking software is targeted at IT-focused businesses, and operates on a unique revenue model: it’s ad-supported. As long as you’re okay with seeing a few ads, Spiceworks enables you to inventory your hardware, manage your network and licenses, and easily generate reports on your fixed assets, your inventory, and your latest network metrics – all through a free software system.
Pros
- License management
- Automated email alerts
- Help desk integration
Cons
- Supports manual entry, not GPS or barcodes
- Some plugins incompatible with newest version
Spiceworks features
The type of tracking offered is more limited than many others in this guide: Spiceworks doesn’t support scannable barcodes or RFID tags. Instead, users will have to manually enter data or upload spreadsheets. One feature allows users to scan their subnets for all hardware with an IP address, letting them automatically add computers, routers, switches, and printers.
No alerts are offered, with one exception: users will get an email notification if resources are down or unreachable from remote sites. Barcoding is supported with an integration, the linkIT app, but in general, Spiceworks is best for office managers who need to keep track of documents and software as much as (if not more than) their physical assets.
- Asset tag type: Manual entry (Barcodes with integration)
- Web-based, self-hosted platform
- Automatically updates as devices are added and removed
- Reporting, auditing and compliance tools
- Detects and tracks cloud service assets
- Great for tracking software licenses and mobile devices
Spiceworks for IT Asset Tracking
Unlike Samsara’s GPS asset tracking system, Spiceworks is designed primarily for IT asset tracking, from laptops to software licenses and warranties.
It offers two benefits for IT assets: help desk integration and network monitoring. The former means that support tickets can be easily tied to specific assets, while the latter allows Spiceworks to automatically find any assets connected to your network, log details, and categorize them all by itself — workstations, servers, routers, switches, printers and phones are all included. Did we mention it’s free?
Is Spiceworks asset tracking software really free?
Spiceworks asset tracking software is completely free, and you have the choice between two types of free asset tracking. One option lets users download it and run a self-hosted version, keeping all data on their network and server. The other option is the cloud-based version, which requires an internet connection but is fast and easy to set up and maintain.
Just like FreshService, Spiceworks offers help desk software to handle work tickets and centralize your operation. It also offers access to troubleshooting forums – even the support is free.
6. GLPI Asset Tracking – Best for Simple Open-Source Tracking
GLPI asset tracking is designed for manual data entry rather than barcodes or RFID tags, but it does support an impressive amount of information. It only 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.
In addition to community support, GLPI’s FAQ page offers pages of detailed advice if you need help with troubleshooting. 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 the installation manual, which can be found on its FAQ page.
Pros
- Historical data
- License management
- Contract management
Cons
- Coding knowledge required
- No support or warranties for free plan
GLPI features
The open source, web-based GLPI lets you manage IT expenses, budget, IT assets and a service desk. You’ll be able to log computers, printers, network equipment, devices, and phones. With the right plugins, you can add non-IT assets like vehicles or other tools. You’ll have the complete historical data on every asset modification, and assets can be tracked right down to their connections and network ports.
As with Spiceworks, users must manually enter asset information to track its use, although GLPI does not have the same option Spiceworks supports for a barcode integration.
You can also manage licenses, contracts, and documents related to each asset, and users can track work orders as well as maintenance needs. See a full list of GLPI’s best asset tracking features below:
- Asset tag type: Manual entry
- Asset inventory: computers, screens, printers, network equipment, and mobile devices
- History of modifications for each asset
- Operating system management (name, version, edition, kernel, license, etc)
- Inventory and management tracking of installed software
- Management of internal components
- Asset lifecycle management (from stock to withdraw)
- Virtualization
- Inventory or OCS Inventory plugins
Is GLPI asset tracking software really free?
Yes, but there’s no support or warranties unless you opt for one of the paid plans. If you’re paying, you’ll get a 45-day trial period, with plans starting at €19 per month. That’s right, it’s in Euros, as the software hails from across the pond. It’s a good pick for an international business.
Since it’s an open source service, the occasional bug or hiccup should be expected. Like Snipe-IT, GLPI has a paid version available for those who could use some tech support. If you need a reliable version of GLPI, you can pay for a warranty that ensures a “stable and predictable performance” thanks to a team of techs.
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. See how GLPI compares to other providers with our free asset tracking comparison tool.
7. Asset Panda – Best for Office Equipment Only
Asset Panda’s tracking software relies on barcode scanning to log and manage assets. It specializes in a series of industries, including non-profits, hotels, and healthcare, as well as small businesses.
A robust mobile app is used for scanning, as well as automatically tracking each asset scanned via GPS. Reports can be generated automatically using custom templates – in fact, pretty much everything within the asset tracking software can be customized, from the interface itself to the role-based security permissions for each user.
However, it won’t work for live-tracking your powered assets or movable, high-value items. Asset Panda is designed for relatively low-value assets, including any type of fixed asset as well as tools, phones, computers, office furniture, important documents, or artworks. Asset Panda even notes that a client has used their service to track chickens.
Pros
- Asset photo tagging
- Historical data
- Insurance tracking
- Reporting and analysis
Cons
- Only a 14-day free trial
- No automated GPS tracking
- Can't track powered asset use
Asset Panda features
This solution is best for businesses that need to avoid double-purchases of office items or who have assets that need to be maintained to ensure a long service life. It supports customizable fields and actions, so managers can set up a tailored routine for workers to properly schedule maintenance, transfers, or disposals. Take a look at its best features below:
- Asset tag type: Barcodes, QR codes
- Purchase/Lease information
- Compliance tracking
- Maintenance tracking and alerts
- Funding source tracking
- Asset photo tagging
- Insurance tracking
- Reporting and analysis
- Work orders
One key perk with Asset Panda is the historical data available for each asset. Each scan is logged, and the entire lifecycle, from purchase to disposal, is viewable for better accountability in audit trails. Users can upload photos, documents, and videos to a central hub that allows other users to see the latest updates.
As with Samsara and FreshService, it also only offers a free trial. You’ll have access to the full features for two weeks before you need to pick from a paid plan. Read our complete Asset Panda review for more on its features.
Asset Panda for IT Asset Tracking
Like FreshService, Asset Panda’s emphasis on office equipment barcoding makes it a great IT tracking system. IT assets can be sorted and searched for by category, who they’re assigned to, current location, last calibration, or audit history. An option for unlimited attachments allows users to connect an asset with its visual repair histories, warranty information, receipts, or related manuals.
Through the same customizable fields that track hardware assets, software information can be stored in the platform as well. Users can set renewal notifications to be alerted when subscriptions or licenses are about to expire. Each subscription can be sorted by the users who have access.
Is Asset Panda software really free?
Asset Panda offers a 14-day free trial, but users will have to pay once this ends. Billed annually, its plans start at $125 for 500 assets, going up on a sliding scale to $191.42 for 1,000, and $324.25 for 2,000 (and so on). It’s a little pricey, given that brands like AssetTiger charge $120 per 500 assets, annually – but prices have dropped, as Asset Panda used to charge $500 per 1,000 assets a few years ago. A plus is that it does offer a good range of features that most businesses will benefit from.
Still, if it’s out of your price range, and you are interested in using high quality asset tracking software, you can use our free asset comparison tool to find something within your budget.
8. Zoho Asset Tracking – Best for Integrating With Other Zoho Apps
Zoho’s IT Asset Tracker app can be found within the Zoho Creator platform. Like Asset Panda, it allows you to manage all your computers and software licenses from a central location. Three tabs let you manage assets by type — machines, software, and hardware. A limited but useful list of third-party integrations includes Google Drive, OneDrive, and WordPress.
This solution depends on manual data entry and not scannable barcodes, making it more useful for tracking intra-office asset use than for tracking actual asset locations. But if you need to know who has checked out the laptop you need, this app offers a simple way to find out.
Pros
- Third-party integrations
- License management
- Customizable navigation and layout
Cons
- Requires Zoho Creator to use (not free)
- Limited reporting
- No backup
- No offline access on mobile app
- No notifications
Zoho IT Asset Tracking features
Zoho’s IT asset tracking service is customizable, with updatable user profiles and asset reports that can be configured and grouped by time or department. Screenshots can be attached to verify that assets are at a location. Since the app is built using a low-code platform, most updates can be made with a drag-and-drop interface and any additional tweaks come with relatively little coding. See Zoho’s best IT asset tracking features below:
- Asset tag type: Manual entry
- Mobile-friendly, allows you to manage your assets and reports on the go
- Easy drag-and-drop interface
- Good third-party app integrations including Excel and GSuite
- Customizable profiles and reports
- Integrates with all Zoho products, including Books and Zoho CRM
The Zoho suite of apps includes plenty of additional business software, from Books and CRM to SalesIQ. The Zoho IT Asset Tracker integrates with all of them so it’s easy to cover your auxiliary needs. Granted, if you don’t use Zoho for those other needs, you might not want to start using their asset tracking software — it’s more of an all or nothing deal. This makes Zoho a great choice for a new startup that wants it all.
FreshService fills a similar niche, offering additional tools beyond tracking assets (like your own company knowledge base and ticket support).
Is Zoho asset tracking software really free?
While Zoho IT asset tracker is always free, you need the core Zoho Creator platform to run it. A paid version of Zoho Creator starts at $8 per user, per month, (down from $10 in our previous round of research for this guide) and includes data backups, reports, offline access, and notifications. Zoho is a great free asset tracker for a small operation, but you’ll need to upgrade to a paid option as your business grows.
9. SysAid IT Asset Tracking – Best for On-Premise Hosting
SysAid IT asset tracking software has been around since 2002, and it’s still going strong. It allows you to manage all your IT assets directly from your service desk, with the intention of helping you to resolve your issues faster. With SysAid you can keep all the asset data and records you need inside each ticket, while easily taking stock of your hardware and software assets.
While other SysAid software supports barcode scanning, the asset tracking application does not. As with Spiceworks, GLPI, and Zoho, you’ll need to manually enter the assets.
Pros
- License management
- Customizable alerts
- Reporting and analytics
Cons
- No free hosting
- Requires manual updates and fixes
- No barcode support
SysAid features
Reporting and analytics features offered by SysAid asset tracking are particularly comprehensive, letting users generate reports to cover asset details, assets that haven’t been updated, and any asset changes by date as well as by group. The service is mobile-friendly, but does not have an iOS or Android app.
Key SysAid features include:
- Asset tag type: Manual entry
- AI service desk
- Service automation
- Task automation
- Workflow automation
- Incident management
- Service orchestration
- BI analytics
SysAid for IT Asset Tracking
The system handles license management in addition to physical hardware, making this a potential management solution for offices with documentation tied to each of their assets. Like all the non-GPS options in this guide, SysAid doesn’t have active tracking, so it can’t send many alerts. However, IT managers can track CPU, disk space, and memory usage, with both email and SMS notifications available.
Like FreshService and Zoho, SysAid’s core product is designed to let businesses set up and manage a service desk for their customers, so the asset tracking solution integrates well with the SysAid help desk solution. If your business uses both, you’ll be able to manage assets directly from the service desk, keeping everything in an efficient, centralized location.
Is SysAid asset tracking software really free?
SysAid asset tracking used to be free for on-premises installation only, which was capped at 100 assets (well below AssetTiger’s 250 asset cap). Today, the service sells both the on-premise and cloud-based versions, though it does not make the prices public. Free trials of both are available.
The on-premise version is likely less expensive, but you’ll need to install the software on your local servers, and you’re responsible for keeping it debugged and running smoothly. If you opt for the cloud, prices still aren’t public, but sources indicate it will cost around $1,200 per 500 assets per year, with support for five users.
Use our free asset tracking comparison tool to see how SysAid asset tracking compares with other top providers.
Is Free Asset Tracking Software Worth It?
As you may have noticed while scrolling through your top options, even the best free asset tracking software comes with a catch. The trick is to pick software that fulfills the needs of your business.
Free asset tracking software saves your business money, but often lacks features. One of the most essential but easily overlooked: Data backups. If you aren’t backing up your work, you could potentially lose all of your asset documentation. Samsara and FreshService offer backups or data exports, while others do not (Zoho’s free plan doesn’t have data backups, although they are available from the paid Zoho Creator, starting at $10 per user, per month). Offline access is also pretty important, as losing internet can set you back for hours otherwise.
Another important free caveat to watch out for is 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 100 assets.
Finally, if you’re not technically savvy 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.
Big names like Samsara and Asset Panda only offer free trials. These have benefits: You’ll gain temporary access to all the program’s tools. You can learn how the interface works, and which tools your business actually needs. Provided you cancel before the trial period is up, it’ll be free. However, a free trial is a learning experience rather than a sustainable option.
The most features and support will be available with your final option – dropping the free choices and springing for a paid asset tracking system. With a paid plan, 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.
It’s also worth noting that almost half of small companies (43%) are using ineffective tracking techniques, or even none at all. You don’t want to be one of those companies!
Best Free IT Asset Tracking Software
The best asset tracking providers are built to track movable outdoor equipment with GPS positioning devices or smaller items like IT equipment through a barcoding system. Either way, you’ll want to make sure your chosen provider caters for this in an easy-to-use and manageable way. If your budget is limited, you’ll want to know how far the free solutions can get you.
When it comes to free IT-centered asset tracking solutions, you have plenty of options: Asset Tiger, Snipe-IT, and Spiceworks are among the best for all-around IT asset tracking. All of these are reviewed in more detail above, and each comes with a different catch as to how “free” they really are.
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 software has been licensed and who is using it across the company? When was it last updated? When is the lease up on each of the operation’s properties? The right system will easily answer all these questions.
In some cases, you may need a 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 to verify that it can do what you need.
IT Asset Tracking Software Worth Paying For
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? Having easy access to answers for these questions is 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:
- Asset Panda – Every asset entry has a customizable field that allows unlimited attachments to ensure any history or related documents are on hand. Renewal notifications automate the process of keeping software licenses updated.
- Spiceworks – The help desk integration ties support tickets to any required assets, making it easy to designate devices or software to the worker requesting them. Plus, network monitoring will automatically find any assets connected to a network. Asset details will be auto-logged and reports can be generated using the information.
- Snipe-IT – Basic funtionality that includes email alerts for expiring software. Assets can be checked out and checked back in again, so this is a good IT asset tracker for a business that frequently rotates assets.
- SysAid – Particularly granular asset tracking tools can measure details like the disk space and memory usage of each asset. Notifications can be set for both email and SMS. It all integrates with the SysAid help desk software to make a slick, comprehensive internal company management system.
Some IT asset tracking solutions are 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.
In order to rate asset tracking providers and enable you to make the best decision for your business, here at Tech.co we take a hands-on approach. We are confident telling you which provider is best for you, because we've done the research.
We have compared providers across multiple criteria, including the features that the software provides, how easy it is to use, and the customer service experience.
Here are just a few areas we looked at in our in-depth research:
- Price - While price isn't everything, it know that it's important to many businesses. We rate the pricing of each provider, as well as telling you if there is a free tier, or even a free trial, so you can try it before you commit.
- Types of asset trackers - What sort of tools does the provider offer? Different types of asset tracker tags offer various levels of trackability. Barcodes might be a cheap option, and suitable for smaller businesses, but businesses operating across multiple sites will want something that can offer real time tracking, like GPS or RFID tags.
- Alerts - When tracking assets, you want to be sure that you know where they are at all times. Some platforms can tell you when an asset leaves a certain location, or is being used outside of work hours. We factor these features into our research when rating each provider.
- Mobile apps - A good mobile app can make or break a platform. A good one makes every process seamless, while a bad one can render the whole platform nothing more than a headache. We look at the quality of the apps on offer, take into account user reviews, and rate them accordingly.
If you want to learn more about the process by which we rate and rank business software providers, take a look at our in-depth research guide for more information.
Verdict: Best Free Asset Tracking Software
If you need an asset tracking software that is secure, dependable and caters to a variety of assets, the best solutions by far are Samsara (for GPS tracking) or FreshService (for a barcoding system). Samsara offers geofencing alerts, tracks maintenance needs, and has good support, while FreshService has extra IT service tools like the ability to profide a knowledge base and ticket support system for your employees.
However, neither service is permanently free. Alternatives that won’t cost any money include AssetTiger, which is capped at 250 assets, and Snipe-IT, a solid open-source option that supports unlimited users and assets but works best for those with coding experience.
As with all free platforms, free asset tracking software does come with its limitations, so it’s important to keep this in mind if you are looking for an ongoing solution. Investing in higher quality software might not be completely free, but the benefits of one that’s affordable could save your business more money in the long-run.
If you business assets are fundamental to your decision making, cost-saving and protection against theft or fraud, you’re going to want to find the best asset tracking software for your business. You can use our free asset tracking comparison tool to help.
Read more about asset tracking
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