Best Free Asset Tracking Software

Free asset tracking software could save you a great deal of hassle and headache. 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? You can say goodbye to guesstimates and out of date manual notes, and know the exact status of all your equipment, tools, and business assets, at all times.

The best overall asset tracking software provider you can choose is Samsara, which combines a reliable service, great value prices, and industry-leading features. It even has a free trial version, though if you're after fully free software, there are downsides to be aware of.

Opting for free asset tracking software comes with pros and cons, of course. 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. The benefit can't be ignored, however — you'll save plenty of money.

To get the full picture, you can compare quotes and solutions from a range of leading asset tracking providers, all in one place, using our free comparison tool.

Below is our list of the best free asset tracking software available today.

In this guide:

• Best Free Asset Tracking Software for 2021
• Free Asset Tracking: Too Good to be True?
• Verdict: Best Free Asset Tracking Software
• Frequently Asked Questions

Best Free Asset Tracking Software in 2021

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? Not quite: Samsara offers free installation and a 30-day free trial, but you'll have to pay around $30/month after the trial ends.

Samsara is one of the biggest names in movable asset tracking, helping you schedule travel, track the activity of powered assets, compile billable hours for your clients, and more. Reporting and analytics are strong core features, while alerts can keep managers aware of geo-fencing violations, or an asset's total engine hours on the job. Phone and email support is available 24 hours a day on weekdays and nine hours a day on the weekend.

“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.

When it comes to hardware, Samsara offers a range of ruggedized GPS tracking units that all support geofencing, reporting, and alerts, and come with industry-leading weatherproofing to protect against inclimant weather. Other features will vary depending on which unit you choose, with some tracking engine hours, diagnostics and fault codes.

The units also offer a range of different check-in rates, from real-time GPS updates to twice a day updates, and customizable with everything in between.

Feature-rich, comprehensive, well supported, and high-quality – what's not to like? Nothing, except for the fact that the “free” part of this software is simply a free trial. Samsara even lets you install its hardware units for free, but the software license will run out after giving you a taste, and you'll have to sign up for a paying plan to continue. Its prices vary depending on the needs of your operation, but likely start at around $30 per month per powered asset.

If you need a long-term free option, keep scrolling.

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 500 companies
Type of tracking: Barcodes (includes QR codes)
Is it really free? Not quite: After a 14-day free trial, Asset Panda charges around $500 per 1,000 assets annually.

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 in general. 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 that can be assigned to 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!

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 maintainance, transfers, or disposals.

One perk 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.

It's also another free trial situation. You'll have access to the full features for two weeks before your trial runs out. While Asset Panda doesn't make its pricing public, some sources put it at $500 per 1,000 assets per year.

AssetTiger

Best for: Small companies
Tracks: Fixed assets only, such as office equipment or unpowered construction tools.
Number of assets trackable: Max of 250 assets with free plan.
Type of tracking: Barcodes
Is it really free? Yes, provided you won't need more than 250 assets tracked. If you do, upgrading to an inexpensive paid plan is simple.

With over 12,500 active accounts, AssetTiger offers a permanently free, stripped-down service that tracks your fixed assets. Each cloud-based account allows for unlimited users, who each get their own permissions level. A mobile app for iOS and Android is available, letting managers track their assets on the go, while notifications can be set to remind users when maintenance is needed (an uncommon feature among free services).

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 Setup Alerts page that offers a checklist of 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 funds are running low.

The free version has one limitation: It's capped at 250 assets. If you need to track more, paid plans start at $150 per year for up to 500 assets, and go as high as $2,100 per year for 250,000 assets.

Not all of AssetTiger's features are intuitive to understand, though a support team is available if needed. It's aimed at fixed assets, not movable ones, and no significant billing or facility management is included. It's the smart choice for small operations with fewer than 250 assets, since every other aspect of the service is useful: Unlimited users, unlimited cloud storage, and mobile compatability are all great perks. Overall, it's a great service for the price – which is, again, totally free.

Snipe-IT

Best for: Programmers who want an open API
Tracks: Fixed assets only, from service tools to laptops and other office equipment
Number of assets trackable: Unlimited
Type of tracking: Barcodes (includes QR codes)
Is it really free? Yes. There's a paid version available for those who want professional support.

As a web-based open source platform, Snipe-IT is a great choice for tinkerers who are comfortable adding their own third-party integrations to build the asset tracking software they need. It's very secure and updated regularly – a huge boon for any open source program – though you'll need to manually update it each time. Functionality is pretty basic: Snipe-IT tracks assets and licences well, even including email alerts for expiring warranties or licenses, but there aren't any extra bells and whistles.

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.

Snipe-IT work with standard USB or Bluetooth barcode scanners. Assets and users are both unlimited, making it a great option for operations on a tight budget, although they'll need a software programmer or two who's comfortable with digging into the code in order to take full advantage of the open API.

A paid tier is available for $39.99 a month (it supports credit card subscriptions only — no purchase orders), which includes server maintenance, automated backups/upgrades, and a full-time in-house support team. It doesn't include any features that aren't found in the free version.

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? Yes.

This asset managing service is targeted at IT-focused businesses, and operates on a unique revenue model: It's ad-supported, paid for by tech vendors who want to get their ads in front of the many IT pros who use the free service. 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 assets, your inventory, and your latest network metrics.

The type of tracking sets this service apart from the others in this guide: It 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. 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 (or more) than their physical assets.

The service is available in two forms, both free. 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.

Spiceworks also integrates with your help desk, further centralizing your operation, and offers access to troubleshooting forums. Even the support is free. The user interface might take a while to learn, but many IT pros swear by this totally free service.

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? Not exactly: The app is free, but you'll need the Zoho Creator platform to run it, and Creator starts at $10/month after a 15-day free trial.

Manage all your computers and software licenses from a central location with Zoho's IT Asset Tracker app, which can be found within the Zoho Creator platform. 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 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.

The service is customizable, with updateable 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.

The Zoho suite of apps includes plenty of additional business software, from Books to CRM to SalesIQ, and 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 sort of an all or nothing deal.

The same goes for the pricing: While the IT Asset Tracker is always free, you need the core Zoho Creator platform to run it. A paid version of Zoho Creator starts at $10 per user per month, and includes data backups, reports, offline access, and notifications – all of which are pretty important. Zoho is a great free asset tracker for a small operation, but you'll need to upgrade to paid as you grow; overall though, it's still a pretty good deal.

Reftab

Best for: Hobbyists
Tracks: Small or unpowered assets, like office laptops or equipment.
Number of assets trackable: Max of 50 assets with free plan.
Type of tracking: Barcodes (with QR codes)
Is it really free? Yes, it's entirely free, although you can upgrade to a paid plan if you hit the 50 asset maximum.

The free version of Reftab offers unlimited locations, categories, and reports, along with custom QR labels and a custom interface. However, you'll be capped at just 50 assets. This may not be a concern for a small operation, but is likely to prove troublesome as your business grows. Data can be imported and exported easily, and email alerts can be set as well.

The UI isn't the best, and some common actions are a little time-consuming. Add in the deeply limited 50-asset maximum, and this service is likely best for hobbyists such as someone running a stall at their local farmer's market who needs to keep track of their equipment.

One nice feature? Users can reserve assets through the service. They can pick out the assets needed, pick a start and end time and date for the reservation, and add any additional details in an optional section for notes. Software licenses can also be tracked through the service.

The paid version of Reftab starts at $4.99 a month, which allows you 1GB of attachments and up to 500 assets. The relatively low monthly charge for the paid plan could make this an appealing option for office managers who need to field a lot of asset reservations, even if that route isn't entirely free.

SysAid IT Asset Management

Best for: On-premise hosting
Tracks: Fixed assets, such as office equipment or some construction tools.
Number of assets trackable: Max of 100 assets with free plan.
Type of tracking: Manual entry
Is it really free? Yes, but only if you opt for the on-premises service rather than the cloud-based version.

Easily take stock of your hardware and software assets with this free IT-focused management program. It's been around since 2002, and it's still going strong. Features include license management, custom alerts, reporting, and even patch management options.

SysAid’s core product is designed to let businesses set up and manage a service desk for their customers, so naturally the asset tracking solution integrates well with the SysAid help desk solution. If your business uses both, they'll be able to manage assets directly from the service desk, keeping everything in an efficient, centralized location.

While other SysAid software supports barcode scanning, the asset tracking application does not, and you'll need to manually enter the assets. Reporting and analytics are 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. It handles license management, too, making this a potential management solution for offices with documentation tied to each of their assets.

Downsides include a cramped UI, plus the fact you'll be capped at 100 assets (which is admittedly double what you'd get with Reftab). Furthermore, only the on-premises service is free, not the cloud-based version. In other words, 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, sources show it'll cost around $1,200 per 500 assets per year, with support for five users.

GLPI

Best for: Simple open-source tracking
Tracks: Fixed assets like computers, printers, and mobile devices.
Number of assets trackable: Unlimited
Type of tracking: Manual data entry
Is it really free? Yes, although there's no support or warranties unless you opt for one of the paid plans.

The open source, web-based GLPI lets you manage your IT expenses and budget, as well as 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. 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.

In addition to community support, GLPI has a FAQ page that you can visit when in need of troubleshooting advice. 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. If you need a more 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. Plans start at 120 Euros per year (about $135) for just 50 assets, with more advanced support available from higher tiers costing 1,200 (500 assets), 3,600 (5,000 assets), and 12,000 Euros (5,001+ assets), respectively.

Free Asset Tracking Software: Too Good to be True?

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. As a result, Zoho's ‘free' version isn't that attractive, although it has other desirable features. 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 100 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.

Verdict: Best Free Asset Tracking Software

If you have 250 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.

But if you have moveable assets and need a dependable, feature-heavy asset tracker, the best solutions by far are Samsara or Asset Panda — which start at either $30 per month or $500 per year, depending on which you pick.

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.

Frequently Asked Questions