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Snipe-IT is an open-source asset management solution that businesses can use to track IT assets uses and software licenses using barcodes. Its open API makes it ideal for code-friendly businesses, and its generous plan with no asset or user limit earns it a perfect 5/5 value score in our independent research, making it one of the best free asset tracking software solutions we’ve reviewed.
However, Snipe-IT’s free plan comes at a cost. Free users will have to host the service themselves and won’t get access to any customer support or security features – which is why its overall score is capped at 4.2/5. Snipe-IT’s barcode-first tracking features come at the expense of GPS tracking, so if you require this feature, we’d recommend using Samsara or Tenna instead.
There’s a lot to explore about this unique asset management system though, so read on to learn about Snipe-IT’s pricing plans, capabilities, and industry competitors. Or use our free comparison tool for obligation-free quotes from the best asset tracking providers.
Pros
- Free plan, which keeps costs low
- Open API, so users can build their own integrations
- Ties assets to work orders, for easier operations
Cons
- Free plan has no support or security features
- No dedicated mobile app
- Best for fixed assets, since there's no GPS tracking
- Free plan available
- Hosted plans from $39.99 per month
- Small business hosting from $99.99 per month
Snipe-IT Quick Fact-File
Not sure if Snipe-IT is right for you? We’ve rounded up some deciding factors below to clue you up at a glance:
- Snipe-ITs offers users great value. The provider offers a quality free plan, with basic hosted options available for $39.99 per month. However, support costs extra, with the price for the benefit ranging from $449 to $4,999 per year.
- Snipe-IT’s asset management system tracks assets through barcodes and QR codes instead of GPS, making it less useful to businesses that require continual tracking to monitor high-value assets.
- Snipe-IT’s open API allows businesses to adjust the software to fit their needs, but it can be off-putting to users with little coding experience.
- While Snipe-IT’s software can be accessed on desktop and mobile, it doesn’t offer a dedicated mobile app like competitors Tenna and Verizon.
- Snipe-IT lacks basic notifications like usage, out-of-hours, and in-motion alerts, earning it a dismal 1/5 score for alerts.
All of Snipe-IT plan’s have no user or asset limit. However, support options aren’t included in any of its core packages, and is only available through paid add-ons.
| Plan | Price | Automated upgrades | IP address restrictions | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | | | | |
| Self-Hosted | Basic-Hosted | Small Business Hosting | Dedicated Hosting | |
| Free | $39.99/month | $99.99/month | $249.99/month | |
| | | | | |
| | | | |
Aside from its free plan, Snipe-IT offers three paid packages: Basic Hosting ($39.99 per month), Small Business Hosting ($99.99 per month), and Dedicated Hosting ($249.99 per month).
All of its paid plans offer hosting options and have no user and asset limits, which makes them suitable for businesses of any size. However, Snipe-IT’s Basic Hosting plan lacks important API safeguards, making it less favorable for businesses wanting to take full advantage of the provider’s open-source technology.
Snipe-IT’s most advanced Dedicated Hosting package offers everything in the previous tiers, with additional VPN connectivity, private server support, and IP address control, making it ideal for businesses with complex asset tracking needs.
All of the paid plans offer email and community support through platforms like Github and Discord. To unlock further options like phone support, helpdesk support, or priority feature requests, it will cost $449 per year for the Basic Support package, while Enterprise Support – which includes private Slack access and API support – costs $4,999 per year.
Does Snipe-IT have a free plan?
Yes, Snipe-IT offers a generous free asset management plan with no cap on user or asset numbers. However, free users will need to host the service themselves and won’t get access to security safeguards or customer support – except through Github and Discord.
While Snipe-IT’s free plan isn’t a catch-all solution and isn’t suitable for large businesses with advanced needs, it is the only asset management platform we reviewed that lets you track an unlimited number of assets at no cost. This is why Snipe-IT is the joint best value asset tracker in our research, scoring a perfect 5/5 for value alongside Asset Tiger.
If you want to track your assets on the cheap, you can also learn how to build a custom asset tracking system here.
Snipe-IT Review: Key Features
While Snipe-IT may not offer every trick in the book, it does offer a number of unique features to businesses wanting to track and manage assets. We break down some of its core capabilities below.
Asset Tracking
Snipe-IT’s asset tracking relies on barcode scanning and QR code generation, allowing businesses to keep tabs on physical assets automatically. This removes the need to track work equipment manually and the low up-front cost of barcodes helps keep the price of the service low.
The Snipe-IT asset list. Image source: Snipe-IT
However, barcode tracking is less advanced than GPS tracking, which allows for continuous, autonomous, geographical tracking. So if you’re tracking high-value assets and want extra piece of mind, we’d recommend using software with GPS tracking like Samsara, Tenna, or Verizon Connect.
License management
In addition to managing assets, businesses can also manage the licenses of their assets through Snipe-IT’s software, including expiration dates and seat numbers. This helps businesses streamline the manual process and makes it easier to comply with software license renewal.
While other asset-tracking solutions like Wasp AssetCloud charge for this feature, the feature is rarely available on free software, making Snipe-IT perfect for businesses looking to track and manage documents on a budget.
Open-source API access
Unlike many popular asset-management systems like Samsara and Verizon, Snipe-IT runs on JSON REST API, allowing businesses to develop their own custom automation and third-party integration. This is a huge win for code-friendly businesses looking to tailor the software to their liking. However, Snipe-IT’s API access may be off-putting to less tech-savvy users who want a straightforward asset tracking system.
Reporting
Snipe-IT offers users more than 30 built-in asset tracking reports that businesses can schedule to run automatically – including an expiring license report, an expected check-in report, and a low inventory report. The software even lets businesses create custom reports, which can give users granular control over performance metrics.
However, unlike industry-leading systems like Samsara, Tenna, and Verizon, Snipe-IT doesn’t offer detailed historical data tracking, making it slightly less adept at streaming insurance claims or verification processes.
System alerts
Tracking alerts makes it easier for businesses to gain a clear oversight over their assets, users, and licenses – especially in the event of sudden changes. Snipe-IT has check-in alerts and can issue email alerts for expiring warranties and licenses, making it easier for users to remain compliant.
An alert for Snipe-IT assets. Image source: Snipe-IT
Unfortunately, the asset tracking system lacks a number of basic alert features offered by competitors like ATTI and Asset Cloud, including usage alerts, in-motion alerts, and geofencing alerts. Snipe-IT’s alerting features were so poor that we only gave the provider an alert score of 1/5 in our research – the lowest score among the providers we reviewed.
Customer support
Snipe-IT’s level of support depends on the plan you opt for. If you’re self-hosting with the provider’s free plan, your support will be limited to community support via Github and Discord. Those subscribing to Snipe-IT’s Basic Hosting, Small Business Hosting, or Dedicated Hosting plans will unlock email support channels, alongside community support.
You’re also able to purchase Snipe-IT’s ‘Basic Support’ package at $449 a year, for helpdesk support, installation help, and priority feature requests, while the providers’ Enterprise Support plan – which also includes access to private Slack, hands-on API integration support, and security questionnaires – costs $4,999 per year.
How Does Snipe-IT Compare to Other Providers?
Snipe-IT’s permanent plan is a boon for businesses wanting to keep costs low and it also distinguishes itself as one of the best fixed asset tracking software tools available right now. However, it’s far from the top overall asset tracking solution on the market.
Overall, Samsara is the best asset tracking company we’ve reviewed thanks to its impressive user experience and a variety of features that Snipe-IT lacks, such as real-time updates, geofencing warnings, and maintenance tracking alerts. Despite its impressive overall score of 4.7/5, pricing for Samsara is only available on request, and with no free plan in sight, the software is less suited to businesses on a tight budget.
The best low-cost alternative we’ve reviewed is AssetTiger. Like Snipe-IT, AssetTiger offers a permanent free plan, enhanced tracking features, and a mobile app. However, AssetTiger’s free plan is capped at 250 assets, so businesses managing a large number of assets will need to invest financially in the software.
There are loads of excellent alternatives to Snipe-IT, so check out our comparison table below to see how our favorites weigh up side by side.
| Best for: | Free version | Paid version | Pros | Cons | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| | BEST RATED  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
| Programmers who want an open API | Features | Diverse operations | Larger companies | Small companies with fixed assets | Best overall | Moveable assets | Companies with heavy equipment |
| Yes | No | Demo | Free demo | Demo | Yes | Demo available | Demo |
| $39.99/month | Price on request | Starts at: $1,295/user/year | $120/500 assets/year | Price on request | Price on request | ||
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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.
Final Thoughts – Is Snipe-IT Worth It?
If you need to track a high volume of assets, licenses, and users for free, Snipe-IT’s no-frills, barcode-based system is worth it. The asset tracking software’s highly customizable API also lends itself well to code-friendly businesses that are capable of building specific automation and integrations.
However, we found that Snipe-IT falls short in several areas. Outside of its value offering, its software alerts are leaps and bounds behind advanced systems like Asana and Verizon, with the system even lacking basic geofencing warnings. Its pricey support options and code-heavy interface also make it less desirable for users with little technical know-how.
Overall, the asset tracking marketplace is crowded. Other key competitors include ATTI, and businesses with extremely valuable assets may also be better off going for asset-tracking software with advanced GPS-tracking capabilities, as barcode tracking lacks real-time, geographical-based insights. There’s no shortage of competitive solutions, so use our free asset tracking comparison tool to receive quotes from the best providers in minutes.
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