Best Open Source Asset Management Software for Small Business (2026): 5 Tools Compared

Asset management can mean two things: tracking IT and equipment (laptops, phones, tools), or tracking fixed assets for accounting, including depreciation. Open source covers both, but with different tools, so decide which one you need first.

We write for small businesses, freelancers and growing teams, not large enterprises. Every tool below was checked on GitHub for license, archive status and recent activity, and prices are never quoted because they change. Our picks are based on each project's documentation and repository data, not on hands-on benchmarks, so always try a tool with sample data first. This is general information, not tax, legal or accounting advice.

Top picks at a glance

• Snipe-IT: IT and equipment tracking.
• ERPNext: Fixed assets with depreciation.
• GLPI: IT assets and helpdesk.

What to look for in asset management software for a small business

• Which kind of asset. Equipment tracking and accounting depreciation are different problems.
• Check-in and check-out. Know who holds which item and when it is due back.
• Depreciation. If assets affect your accounts, you need depreciation schedules.
• Labels and scanning. QR or barcode labels make audits faster.
• Project health and license. Choose a project that is not archived, has recent releases and a real open source license. Check the LICENSE file, not just the website.

Comparison table: best open source asset management software

Stars and update dates are a snapshot from 16 October 2026 and change daily. They show activity, not quality.

The 5 best open source asset management tools, reviewed

1. Snipe-IT

Best for: IT and equipment tracking
License: AGPL-3.0 · Stack: PHP (Laravel) · GitHub: 15,040 stars, repo updated Oct 2026

Snipe-IT is a popular open source asset manager for tracking who has which laptop, phone or tool, with check-in and check-out.

Source on GitHub · Official website

2. ERPNext

Best for: Fixed assets with depreciation
License: GPL-3.0 · Stack: Python (Frappe), MariaDB · GitHub: 40,232 stars, repo updated Oct 2026

ERPNext includes an asset module that records fixed assets and their depreciation in accounting.

Read our full guide to ERPNext · Source on GitHub · Official website

3. GLPI

Best for: IT assets and helpdesk
License: GPL-3.0 · Stack: PHP · GitHub: 6,463 stars, repo updated Oct 2026

GLPI combines IT asset inventory with ticketing and contracts, suited to businesses with an IT function.

Source on GitHub · Official website

4. Ralph

Best for: Data center and back office assets
License: Apache-2.0 · Stack: Python (Django) · GitHub: 2,528 stars, repo updated Oct 2026

Ralph is an asset management and CMDB system for data centers and offices.

Source on GitHub · Official website

5. Dolibarr ERP CRM

Best for: Small business suite
License: GPL-3.0 · Stack: PHP, MySQL/MariaDB/PostgreSQL · GitHub: 7,732 stars, repo updated Oct 2026

Dolibarr covers day-to-day business operations. Check its modules for the fixed asset features you need.

Read our full guide to Dolibarr ERP CRM · Source on GitHub · Official website

Open source vs paid asset management software

Paid cloud products usually win on polish, mobile apps, automatic bank connections and support. Open source wins on running cost as you grow, data ownership and the freedom to customize. The real cost of open source is hosting, backups, updates and your own time, so count those honestly. Several of these projects also sell hosting or support if you would rather not run a server yourself.

How to choose the best asset management software

• You track laptops and devices: Snipe-IT.
• You need depreciation in the books: ERPNext.
• You run a help desk too: GLPI.
• You manage data center hardware: Ralph.

Popular tools that are not open source (or not maintained)

These names show up in many "open source" lists, so check the license before you choose them:

• Homebox: The GitHub repository is archived (read-only), so it no longer receives updates. Repository

Checked from the projects' LICENSE files and GitHub status on 16 October 2026. Licenses can change.

Mistakes to avoid

Depreciation methods and rates are set by local tax rules, so agree them with your accountant. Homebox, a popular home inventory tool, is now archived.

Where to host it

All of these tools can be self-hosted. A small VPS or a web hosting plan from a provider such as Hostinger is enough to get started with most of them. Check each project's requirements first, and read our security and backup checklist before you add real data.

Related comparisons

• Best Open Source Inventory Management Software (2026)
• Best Open Source ERP Software for Small Business
• Best Open Source Accounting Software for Small Business
• Best Open Source Vendor Management Software (2026)

All open source business software comparisons

• Accounting
• Bookkeeping
• Billing
• Invoicing
• Payroll
• Inventory Management
• Warehouse Management
• Expense Tracking
• Spend Management
• Accounts Payable
• Accounts Receivable
• Cash Flow Management
• Bank Reconciliation
• Purchase Order
• Vendor Management
• Point of Sale (POS)
• Time Tracking
• Quotation & Estimates
• Revenue Recognition
• Financial Reporting
• Asset Management
• Lead Management
• Sales Pipeline
• ERP

Also see our directory of 50 open source CRMs.