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GNS3 alternatives: 2 apps ranked by verified data

Facts checked Nov 1, 2026AppBreakup editorialHow we rank

Common reasons people leave GNS3: you must source your own licensed router and switch images, and bigger labs need a separate VM and lots of RAM. We ranked 2 alternatives by how directly each one replaces GNS3, then by reviews, real visits and how recently each app's facts were checked against its own website. EVE-NG currently ranks first.

Quick comparison

#AppPricingOpen sourcePlatformsVerified factsScore
1EVE-NG logoEVE-NGFree plan + paidNoWeb, Self-hosted5 of 566.5
2CiCisco Modeling LabsFree plan + paidNoWeb, Self-hosted8 of 862.6
  1. EVE-NG logo

    1. EVE-NGTop pick

    Best for: Teams and trainers who want shared, browser-based multivendor network labs on their own server

    Free plan + paidSelf-hostableWeb, Self-hosted

    66.5

    score / 100

    Why switch from GNS3

    Browser-based, clientless labs on a dedicated server, with multi-user features in the paid edition.

    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 ×0.3100
    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 EVE-NG a good GNS3 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)
  2. Ci

    2. Cisco Modeling Labs

    Best for: Cisco certification students and network teams who want official Cisco images in their labs

    Free plan + paidSelf-hostableWeb, Self-hosted

    62.6

    score / 100

    Why switch from GNS3

    Cisco's own simulator ships licensed Cisco images, so you don't have to hunt for them yourself.

    Pros

    • Licensed Cisco images included
    • Full API and Python client for automation
    • Free tier with no expiry date
    • Enterprise edition adds multi-user and clustering

    Cons

    • Free tier is limited to five nodes
    • Personal licences cannot be expanded beyond their node cap
    • Mostly focused on Cisco gear
    Visit Cisco Modeling Labs 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 Cisco Modeling Labs a good GNS3 alternative?

    Verified facts

    8 of 8 verified
    Personal licence
    $199, 20 Cisco nodes
    Checked Oct 30, 2026developer.cisco.com(opens source in a new tab)
    Personal Plus licence
    $349, 40 nodes
    Checked Oct 30, 2026developer.cisco.com(opens source in a new tab)
    Free tier
    5 nodes, no expiry
    Checked Oct 30, 2026cisco.com(opens source in a new tab)
    API
    Yes, with Python client library
    Checked Oct 30, 2026developer.cisco.com(opens source in a new tab)
    Deployment
    On-premises, workstations and servers
    Checked Oct 30, 2026developer.cisco.com(opens source in a new tab)
    Starting price
    $199 for CML Personal (20 nodes)
    Checked Nov 1, 2026developer.cisco.com(opens source in a new tab)
    Personal Plus plan
    $349 (40 nodes)
    Checked Nov 1, 2026developer.cisco.com(opens source in a new tab)
    Free plan
    Yes, Cisco Modeling Labs Free
    Checked Nov 1, 2026developer.cisco.com(opens source in a new tab)

The best GNS3 alternative for…

The highest-ranked app in this list for each need.

EVE-NG logo

Best GNS3 alternative for most people

EVE-NG

Browser-based, clientless labs on a dedicated server, with multi-user features in the paid edition.

Ci

Best GNS3 alternative for a free plan you can upgrade

Cisco Modeling Labs

Cisco's own simulator ships licensed Cisco images, so you don't have to hunt for them yourself.

EVE-NG logo

Best GNS3 alternative for self-hosting

EVE-NG

Browser-based, clientless labs on a dedicated server, with multi-user features in the paid edition.

EVE-NG logo

Best GNS3 alternative for working in the browser

EVE-NG

Browser-based, clientless labs on a dedicated server, with multi-user features in the paid edition.

GNS3 alternatives: common questions

What is the best alternative to GNS3?

EVE-NG ranks first right now. Browser-based, clientless labs on a dedicated server, with multi-user features in the paid edition.

Is there a free alternative to GNS3?

Yes. EVE-NG (free plan + paid) and Cisco Modeling Labs (free plan + paid) have a free option. Check each app's verified facts for current plan limits.

Is there an open-source alternative to GNS3?

None of the 2 alternatives in this list is open source.

Why do people switch from GNS3?

The complaints we hear most: 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.

How is this list ranked?

Every app is scored with the same published formula: how directly it replaces GNS3, reviews (weighted by verification), visits from AppBreakup, how recently its facts were checked against its own website, and reader votes.