“Asset management software” covers three separate problems, and the right tool depends on which one you have. Rankings of the best asset management software for small business often mix them together.
| Meaning | Typical question | Free tools |
|---|---|---|
| IT and equipment tracking | Who has which laptop, and when is it due back? | Snipe-IT, GLPI, Ralph |
| Fixed assets for accounting | What is it worth after depreciation? | ERPNext |
| Maintenance management | When is the machine due for service? | Check ERP modules or specialist tools |
Depreciation, in a line
A laptop costs 1,200 and you expect it to last 3 years with no resale value. Straight-line depreciation is 400 a year, about 33 a month. Rates and methods are set by local tax rules, so agree them with your accountant.
Free tools compared
1. Snipe-IT
IT and equipment trackingSnipe-IT is a popular open source asset manager for tracking who has which laptop, phone or tool, with check-in and check-out.
What it offers for asset management
- Track who holds each laptop, phone or tool with check-in and check-out
- Purchase dates and costs so assets can be depreciated
- Software license tracking
- Web-based access for several users
15,040 stars · AGPL-3.0 · repo updated Oct 2026
Read the full Snipe-IT review2. ERPNext
Fixed assets with depreciationERPNext includes an asset module that records fixed assets and their depreciation in accounting.
What it offers for asset management
- Leads, opportunities and quotations
- Accounting and inventory included
- Very large community
- Frappe Cloud hosting optional
40,232 stars · GPL-3.0 · repo updated Oct 2026
Read the full ERPNext review3. GLPI
IT assets and helpdeskGLPI combines IT asset inventory with ticketing and contracts, suited to businesses with an IT function.
What it offers for asset management
- Asset and configuration management with dynamic inventory
- Service desk: requests, incidents, problems and changes
- Contract management, including supplier contracts
- Software and license management
6,463 stars · GPL-3.0 · repo updated Oct 2026
Read the full GLPI review4. Ralph
Data center and back office assetsRalph is an asset management and CMDB system for data centers and offices.
What it offers for asset management
- Track asset purchases and their lifecycle
- Flexible flow system for the lifecycle of assets
- Data center and back office support
- Built-in data center visualization
2,528 stars · Apache-2.0 · repo updated Oct 2026
Read the full Ralph review5. Dolibarr ERP CRM
Small business suiteDolibarr covers day-to-day business operations. Check its modules for the fixed asset features you need.
What it offers for asset management
- Modular: enable only what you use
- Invoicing, stock and agenda built in
- Runs on cheap shared hosting
- Very active project
7,732 stars · GPL-3.0 · repo updated Oct 2026
Read the full Dolibarr ERP CRM reviewSet it up properly the first time
A name to avoid for new setups
Check the license before you commit. These show up often in roundups:
- Homebox: The GitHub repository is archived (read-only), so it no longer receives updates.
Checked from LICENSE files and GitHub status on 16 October 2026. Licenses can change. Evidence links are listed at the end of this guide.
Example: an office with 25 laptops and some equipment
An illustrative example, not a real company.
An office has 25 laptops, phones and shared equipment. Nobody knows who holds what, and warranties lapse unnoticed.
They install Snipe-IT, label every device with a QR tag, record serial numbers and purchase dates, and assign each item to a person. When someone leaves, the checklist includes returning assets. Once a year the accountant gets a list for depreciation.
For depreciation, fixed asset records also live in the accounting system, because tax rules apply there.
Mistakes that cost small businesses time
- Tracking only IT items and ignoring furniture and tools of value.
- No labels, so audits are guesswork.
- Not recording serial numbers.
- Forgetting the return process for leavers.
- Confusing equipment tracking with accounting depreciation.
Self-hosted vs paid: the honest trade-off
Paid asset tools add mobile scanning apps and automatic device discovery. Open source Snipe-IT covers the core of equipment tracking well. Pick based on whether you need discovery or just a reliable register.
Related: inventory management tracks items you sell or use up, while assets are things you keep using. Snipe-IT and GLPI need a server. A hosting plan or VPS from Hostinger is typical for small teams.
Need a server to host it?
Self-hosting a CRM needs a server. PHP and MySQL apps can often run on ordinary web hosting, while Docker, Node, Python or Java apps usually need a VPS. Check each project's requirements first. Hostinger offers both shared web hosting and VPS plans.
Affiliate disclosure: this is an affiliate link. If you buy through it we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. CRMs and software are listed independently of any hosting partner. Learn more.
Official links for the tools in this guide
Every tool above has its own page on our site with the full review. These are the official sources, so you can download the latest version safely.
- Snipe-IT: Official website · Source on GitHub
- ERPNext: Official website · Source on GitHub
- GLPI: Official website · Source on GitHub
- Ralph: Official website · Source on GitHub
- Dolibarr ERP CRM: Official website · Source on GitHub
Sources for the license and maintenance warnings in this guide, so you can check them yourself:
- Homebox: repository and LICENSE file