Cisco Modeling Labs alternatives: 2 apps ranked by verified data

Facts checked Nov 1, 2026AppBreakup editorialHow we rank

Common reasons people leave Cisco Modeling Labs: free tier is limited to five nodes, and personal licences cannot be expanded beyond their node cap. We ranked 2 alternatives by how directly each one replaces Cisco Modeling Labs, then by reviews, real visits and how recently each app's facts were checked against its own website. GNS3 currently ranks first.

Quick comparison

#	App	Pricing	Open source	Platforms	Verified facts	Score
1	GNS3	Open source	Yes	Windows, macOS, Linux +1	4 of 4	66.5
2	EVE-NG	Free plan + paid	No	Web, Self-hosted	5 of 5	62.6

1. GNS3Top pick
Best for: Network engineers and CCNA/CCNP students who want free labs running real device images
Open sourceSelf-hostableWindows, macOS, Linux, Self-hosted
66.5
score / 100
Why switch from Cisco Modeling Labs
Free and open source with no node limit, if you can supply your own images.
Pros
Free and open source under GPL v3
Runs real vendor images, not a simplified simulation
Mixes Dynamips, QEMU, VirtualBox, VMware and Docker nodes
One server can be shared by several clients
Cons
You must source your own licensed router and switch images
Bigger labs need a separate VM and lots of RAM
Mac version is unsigned and needs Gatekeeper workarounds
Visit GNS3 Details and reviews
How this score is calculated
Editorial fit ×0.3100
Reviews ×0.363
Clicks (90 days) ×0.150
Freshness ×0.1585
Votes ×0.150
0 counted reviews, 0 up and 0 down votes. Full formula
Is GNS3 a good Cisco Modeling Labs alternative?
Verified facts
4 of 4 verified
License
GPL-3.0
Checked Nov 1, 2026github.com(opens source in a new tab)
Open source
Yes, GNU GPL v3
Checked Nov 1, 2026docs.gns3.com(opens source in a new tab)
Minimum RAM (Windows)
4 GB, 16 GB recommended
Checked Nov 1, 2026docs.gns3.com(opens source in a new tab)
macOS build
Unsigned DMG
Checked Nov 1, 2026docs.gns3.com(opens source in a new tab)
2. EVE-NG
Best for: Teams and trainers who want shared, browser-based multivendor network labs on their own server
Free plan + paidSelf-hostableWeb, Self-hosted
62.6
score / 100
Why switch from Cisco Modeling Labs
Multivendor browser-based labs with strong multi-user features for training centres.
Pros
Clientless HTML5 interface, no desktop app required
Multi-user roles, lab timers and clustering in paid editions
Integrated Wireshark capture and link-quality controls
Docker container nodes alongside VM images
Cons
Free tier is capped at a few nodes
Community Edition has reached end of life
Needs a dedicated server or VM and your own device images
Visit EVE-NG Details and reviews
How this score is calculated
Editorial fit ×0.387
Reviews ×0.363
Clicks (90 days) ×0.150
Freshness ×0.1585
Votes ×0.150
0 counted reviews, 0 up and 0 down votes. Full formula
Is EVE-NG a good Cisco Modeling Labs alternative?
Verified facts
5 of 5 verified
Professional price
150 EUR
Checked Oct 29, 2026eve-ng.net(opens source in a new tab)
Nodes per lab (Pro)
1024
Checked Oct 29, 2026eve-ng.net(opens source in a new tab)
Base system
Ubuntu LTS 24.04 server
Checked Oct 29, 2026eve-ng.net(opens source in a new tab)
Community Edition
End of life, June 2026
Checked Oct 29, 2026eve-ng.net(opens source in a new tab)
Owner
EVE-NG Ltd, London
Checked Oct 29, 2026eve-ng.net(opens source in a new tab)