15 Best Network Automation Software in 2026

14 min

Manual network configuration is a liability. Every CLI command typed by hand is an opportunity for human error. Every configuration change pushed without version control is a potential outage. And every hour your team spends on repetitive provisioning tasks is an hour not spent on architecture, security, or service delivery.

Network automation software exists to close that gap. But “network automation” covers a wide range of tools, from Python libraries and open-source frameworks to enterprise intent-based networking platforms. Choosing the right one depends on your infrastructure, your team’s skill set, and the specific problems you need to solve.

This guide covers the 15 best network automation software tools available in 2026, what each one does, who it’s built for, and how to evaluate them against your actual requirements. We also cover where network visibility fits into an automation strategy, because no automation initiative succeeds without accurate, real-time data about the network it is managing.

What is Network Automation and Why Does it Matter in 2026?

Network automation is the use of software to manage, configure, provision, monitor, and remediate network infrastructure with minimal or no manual intervention. Instead of engineers logging into individual devices to make changes, automation tools execute those changes programmatically, consistently, and at scale.

The scope of automation ranges from simple configuration backups to fully orchestrated, policy-driven network changes that span thousands of devices across multiple vendors and cloud environments.

Beyond Scripts: The Evolution to Intent-Based Networking

Early network automation was largely script-driven. Engineers wrote Python or Expect scripts to SSH into devices and run commands. This approach reduced manual effort but introduced its own fragility: scripts break, devices change, and maintaining custom code becomes a job in itself.

Modern network automation platforms have evolved significantly. Infrastructure-as-Code (IaC) tools like Terraform treat network configuration the same way software developers treat application code: version-controlled, testable, and repeatable. NetDevOps practices integrate network changes into CI/CD pipelines, applying the same rigor to network operations as software deployment.

At the highest level of maturity, intent-based networking (IBN) platforms allow teams to define the desired state of the network in business terms. The platform translates that intent into device-level configuration and continuously validates that the network conforms to that state. Systems like Cisco Catalyst Center and Juniper Apstra represent this generation of tooling.

The Business Case: ROI, Agility, and Reduced Risk

The operational argument for network automation is straightforward. According to EMA Research, human error during manual configuration changes is responsible for a majority of network outages. Automation eliminates the inconsistency that causes those errors. Configuration drift, where devices gradually diverge from a known good state, is caught and remediated automatically rather than discovered during an incident.

The agility argument is equally compelling. Teams that can provision new network segments in minutes rather than days respond faster to business requirements. Security policies can be enforced at scale rather than device by device. And audit evidence for compliance is generated automatically rather than assembled manually before each audit cycle.

Core Capabilities of Modern Network Automation Platforms

Not all network automation tools do the same things. Before evaluating specific products, it helps to understand the functional categories that matter most to your environment.

Network Discovery and Topology Mapping

Automation tools can only manage what they know about. Automated network discovery identifies every device on the network, builds an accurate inventory, and maps how devices connect to each other. Without this foundational layer, automation workflows operate on incomplete or stale data. Tools that skip this step rely on static inventory files that age poorly in dynamic environments.

Configuration Management and Version Control

Configuration management tools back up device configurations, track changes over time, and can restore a previous known-good state when something goes wrong. Version control integration means every configuration change has an audit trail with timestamps, author information, and a diff against the prior state. This is essential for compliance and incident response.

Automated Provisioning and Orchestration

Provisioning automation handles the deployment of new devices, services, and network segments. Orchestration goes further, coordinating multi-step workflows across multiple systems. For example, provisioning a new VLAN might require changes on a core switch, updates to firewall rules, modifications to DHCP configuration, and entries in a CMDB. Orchestration tools coordinate all of those steps as a single workflow.

Compliance and Security Automation

Compliance automation continuously checks device configurations against a defined policy baseline, such as a CIS Benchmark or a custom internal standard. Deviations trigger alerts or automated remediation. Security automation extends this to policy enforcement, access control validation, and anomaly detection across the network.

Real-Time Monitoring and Telemetry

Automation without monitoring is blind. Real-time telemetry feeds data about device health, traffic, and performance into automation workflows, enabling proactive responses before issues become outages. SNMP, streaming telemetry, and API-based polling are the primary collection mechanisms depending on the vendor and platform.

Multi-Vendor and Multi-Cloud Support

Most enterprise networks run hardware from multiple vendors. A network automation platform that only supports one vendor’s ecosystem has limited practical value. Multi-vendor support, combined with cloud network management for AWS, Azure, and GCP, is a baseline requirement for most modern IT environments.

Quick Comparison: 15 Best Network Automation Tools

Tool	Type	Best For	Deployment	Pricing
Red Hat Ansible	Configuration Management / Orchestration	Multi-vendor automation, agentless workflows	On-prem, Cloud	Free (Core); Subscription (AAP)
HashiCorp Terraform	Infrastructure as Code	Cloud and hybrid network provisioning	Cloud, On-prem	Free (OSS); Paid (HCP Terraform)
Cisco Catalyst Center	Intent-Based Networking Platform	Cisco-centric enterprise environments	On-prem appliance	Enterprise licensing; contact Cisco
SolarWinds NCM	Configuration Management	Multi-vendor config backup and compliance	On-prem, SaaS	Subscription; contact for quote
Juniper Apstra	Intent-Based Networking Platform	Multi-vendor data center automation	On-prem, Virtual	Contact Juniper for pricing
Cisco NSO	Network Services Orchestrator	Service provider and large enterprise orchestration	On-prem	License-based; contact Cisco
BackBox	Configuration Backup and Automation	Backup, recovery, and compliance automation	On-prem, Cloud	Custom pricing; contact vendor
NetBrain	Visual Network Automation	Documentation, troubleshooting, change automation	On-prem, Cloud	Custom pricing; contact vendor
Batfish	Configuration Analysis (Open Source)	Pre-deployment configuration validation	Self-hosted	Free (open source)
Nornir	Python Automation Framework (Open Source)	Python-first network automation pipelines	Self-hosted	Free (open source)
NAPALM	Multi-Vendor Python Library (Open Source)	Vendor-agnostic device interaction via Python	Self-hosted	Free (open source)
Netmiko	SSH Library (Open Source)	SSH-based device management via Python	Self-hosted	Free (open source)
OpenText Network Automation	Enterprise Configuration Management	Large-scale multi-vendor config and compliance	On-prem, Cloud	Enterprise pricing; contact OpenText
Unimus	Configuration Management	Straightforward multi-vendor config management	On-prem	From approx. $5.90/device/year
Domotz	Network Discovery and Visibility	Foundational network visibility for automation	Cloud, On-prem, Hardware	$1.50/managed device/month

Pricing is based on publicly available and community-sourced information and may not reflect current or exact vendor pricing. Always check with the vendor for the latest details.

The 15 Best Network Automation Software and Tools

1. Red Hat Ansible Automation Platform

Ansible is the most widely adopted open-source automation tool in network operations. Originally designed for Linux server configuration management, Ansible has become a primary tool for network automation across hundreds of vendors including Cisco, Juniper, Arista, and F5. Its agentless architecture is a critical differentiator: Ansible connects to network devices via SSH or API, requiring no agent installation on target devices, which is a practical necessity for most network hardware.

Best for: Teams implementing multi-vendor automation with a NetDevOps or Infrastructure-as-Code approach. Works well in environments integrating network automation into CI/CD pipelines.

Key capabilities: Agentless automation, over 200 network modules, playbook-based orchestration, YAML-defined workflows, integration with AWX (open source) and Ansible Automation Platform (enterprise with GUI and RBAC).

Pricing: Ansible Core is free and open source. Red Hat Ansible Automation Platform requires a subscription; contact Red Hat for current pricing.

2. HashiCorp Terraform

Terraform is the leading Infrastructure-as-Code tool for provisioning and managing network infrastructure across cloud providers and on-premises systems. Terraform uses a declarative configuration language (HCL) to define the desired end state of infrastructure, then determines and executes the steps to reach that state. It is particularly strong for cloud network management across AWS, Azure, and GCP.

Best for: Cloud architects and DevOps teams managing hybrid or multi-cloud network infrastructure. Teams that want version-controlled, repeatable network provisioning workflows.

Key capabilities: Declarative IaC, state management, provider ecosystem for 3,000+ integrations including cloud networks, on-prem firewalls, and load balancers, plan and apply workflow for change validation before execution.

Pricing: Terraform open source is free. HCP Terraform (formerly Terraform Cloud) offers a free tier and paid plans. Contact HashiCorp for current enterprise pricing.

3. Cisco Catalyst Center (formerly DNA Center)

Cisco Catalyst Center is Cisco’s intent-based networking platform for enterprise campus and branch environments. It provides a centralized dashboard for network design, policy, provisioning, and assurance across Cisco hardware. AI-powered analytics detect issues proactively and recommend or apply automated remediation. It represents the most complete automation solution for organizations running predominantly Cisco infrastructure.

Best for: Large enterprises with primarily Cisco networking infrastructure seeking a fully managed, intent-based platform with built-in assurance capabilities.

Key capabilities: Intent-based design and provisioning, AI-driven insights, automated compliance checks, software image management, seamless integration with Cisco’s broader SD-Access fabric architecture.

Pricing: Cisco enterprise licensing model; contact Cisco or a Cisco partner for current pricing.

4. SolarWinds Network Configuration Manager (NCM)

SolarWinds NCM is a configuration management and compliance tool designed for multi-vendor network environments. It automates configuration backups, tracks changes, generates compliance reports, and can restore configurations when needed. It integrates with SolarWinds NPM for combined monitoring and configuration management visibility.

Best for: IT teams in mid-to-large organizations that need configuration management and compliance reporting across multi-vendor environments without building custom automation pipelines.

Key capabilities: Automated config backup and change detection, compliance reporting for standards including PCI DSS, HIPAA, and SOX, bulk config deployment, role-based access control, integration with SolarWinds platform.

Pricing: Subscription-based; contact SolarWinds for current pricing.

5. Juniper Apstra

Juniper Apstra is an intent-based data center networking platform that supports multi-vendor environments including Juniper, Cisco, Arista, and others. It maintains a real-time model of the entire network, continuously validates that the physical state matches the defined intent, and surfaces any deviations. This closed-loop validation distinguishes Apstra from pure configuration tools.

Best for: Data center teams managing complex multi-vendor leaf-spine fabrics who need continuous state validation, not just one-time provisioning.

Key capabilities: Intent-based design, multi-vendor support, continuous validation, automated day-2 operations, streaming telemetry, structured change management with rollback capabilities.

Pricing: Contact Juniper Networks for current pricing and licensing options.

6. Cisco NSO (Network Services Orchestrator)

Cisco NSO is an advanced multi-vendor orchestration platform primarily used by service providers and large enterprises to automate network service lifecycle management. It maintains a live model of the network, translates service intent into device-level configuration, and supports zero-touch provisioning across heterogeneous environments. NSO uses YANG data models and NETCONF/RESTCONF protocols to interact with devices.

Best for: Service providers and large enterprises needing sophisticated, model-driven orchestration across highly complex, multi-vendor network environments.

Key capabilities: Model-driven service automation, YANG/NETCONF/RESTCONF support, multi-vendor device abstraction, transaction-based configuration with rollback, service catalog management.

Pricing: License-based; contact Cisco for current pricing and deployment options.

7. BackBox

BackBox is a network automation platform focused on configuration backup, recovery, and compliance across network and security devices. It supports a wide range of vendors and device types, making it practical for organizations with heterogeneous infrastructure. BackBox automates backup scheduling, change detection, compliance auditing, and firmware management workflows.

Best for: Organizations that need reliable, automated backup and compliance management for large numbers of network and security devices from multiple vendors.

Key capabilities: Automated configuration backup and change detection, compliance reporting, firmware management, integration with ITSM platforms, support for 180+ device types from 150+ vendors.

Pricing: Custom pricing; contact BackBox for a quote based on device count and deployment requirements.

8. NetBrain

NetBrain is a visual network automation platform that combines interactive network maps with automation capabilities for documentation, troubleshooting, and change management. Its “Runbook Automation” feature allows teams to encode expert troubleshooting steps into automated workflows that can be triggered on demand or when specific conditions are met.

Best for: Network operations teams that want to automate diagnostic and troubleshooting workflows, capture institutional knowledge, and reduce mean time to resolution for network incidents.

Key capabilities: Dynamic network maps, runbook automation, pre-change and post-change network snapshots, automated root cause analysis, multi-vendor support, integration with ITSM tools including ServiceNow.

Pricing: Custom pricing based on network size and requirements; contact NetBrain for a quote.

9. Batfish (Open Source)

Batfish is an open-source network configuration analysis tool that allows teams to validate network behavior without running changes on live infrastructure. It analyzes configuration files to model network behavior, identify misconfigurations, and answer hypothetical questions such as what traffic would be affected if a particular device or link failed. Batfish is particularly valuable as a pre-deployment testing layer for configuration changes.

Best for: Teams with Python skills who want to validate configuration changes before deployment and catch potential issues without risking production traffic.

Key capabilities: Configuration parsing and modeling for multi-vendor devices, policy compliance checking, reachability analysis, impact assessment for proposed changes, integration into CI/CD pipelines.

Pricing: Free and open source. Intentionet, the company behind Batfish, offers enterprise support and Pybatfish integrations.

10. Nornir (Open Source)

Nornir is a pure Python automation framework designed specifically for network tasks. Unlike Ansible which uses YAML-defined playbooks, Nornir expresses automation logic entirely in Python, giving engineers full programmatic control. It is fast, scalable, and highly customizable, making it a popular choice for NetDevOps teams who want the expressiveness of Python without the constraints of a higher-level abstraction layer.

Best for: Python-proficient network engineers and NetDevOps teams who need a fast, flexible, code-first automation framework that integrates cleanly with Python-based toolchains.

Key capabilities: Python-native automation, parallel task execution, inventory management, plugin architecture, integration with Netmiko, NAPALM, and other network libraries.

Pricing: Free and open source.

11. NAPALM (Open Source)

NAPALM (Network Automation and Programmability Abstraction Layer with Multivendor support) is an open-source Python library that provides a unified API for interacting with network devices from multiple vendors. It abstracts vendor-specific differences so that the same Python code can retrieve data from or push configuration to Cisco IOS, Juniper JunOS, Arista EOS, and other platforms without writing vendor-specific logic.

Best for: Developers and network engineers building multi-vendor automation scripts or integrating network data into other systems and workflows.

Key capabilities: Unified multi-vendor API, configuration management and deployment, getter methods for structured data retrieval, integration with Ansible, Nornir, and Salt.

Pricing: Free and open source.

12. Netmiko (Open Source)

Netmiko is a Python library that simplifies SSH connections to network devices. It handles the complexity of different device prompt behaviors, terminal settings, and command formats, enabling consistent SSH-based automation across a wide range of Cisco, Juniper, Arista, HP, and other vendor devices. Netmiko is foundational to many custom network automation scripts and is used internally by tools like NAPALM.

Best for: Network engineers writing custom Python scripts to manage devices via SSH, particularly in environments where API access is limited or unavailable.

Key capabilities: SSH connectivity abstraction, support for 100+ device types, send_command and send_config methods, TextFSM and NTC-Templates integration for structured output parsing.

Pricing: Free and open source.

13. OpenText Network Automation

OpenText Network Automation (formerly Micro Focus Network Automation) is an enterprise-grade configuration management platform for large multi-vendor network environments. It provides centralized workflows for configuration backup, change management, policy compliance, and automated remediation. Its strength is in structured, policy-driven operations at scale across thousands of devices.

Best for: Large enterprises and regulated industries that need structured, auditable configuration management workflows across extensive multi-vendor infrastructure.

Key capabilities: Device discovery, configuration backup and version control, compliance policy enforcement, automated remediation, multi-vendor support, integration with IT service management platforms.

Pricing: Enterprise pricing; contact OpenText for current licensing information.

14. Unimus

Unimus is a lightweight, on-premises network configuration management platform designed for fast deployment and ease of use across multi-vendor environments. It supports over 400 device types from more than 150 vendors and focuses on configuration backup, change detection, compliance auditing, and configuration deployment without the complexity of larger enterprise platforms.

Best for: Mid-sized organizations or MSPs that need practical, no-frills configuration management across a diverse device inventory without significant implementation overhead.

Key capabilities: Configuration backup and diff tracking, compliance auditing, bulk configuration deployment, API access, support for a broad range of network and security devices.

Pricing: Approximately $5.90 per device per year based on publicly available information. Contact the vendor for current pricing.

15. Domotz: The Network Visibility Foundation for Automation

Domotz is a network discovery, monitoring, and management platform used by MSPs, IT departments, and network engineers to gain complete visibility into their network infrastructure. While Domotz is not a configuration orchestration tool or a scripting framework, it serves a critical and often underestimated role in any automation strategy: it provides the accurate, real-time network data that every other automation tool depends on to function effectively.

You cannot automate a network you cannot see. Configuration management tools need an accurate device inventory. Orchestration platforms need to know current network topology before deploying changes. Security automation needs a baseline of what devices exist and what state they are in. Domotz delivers that foundation.

Domotz automatically discovers and identifies every device on a network using SNMP, LLDP, CDP, and other protocols, building a live topology map that stays current as devices are added, removed, or reconfigured. It monitors device status in real time, alerts teams when something changes, and provides the structured device and infrastructure data that feeds into broader automation and monitoring workflows through its API and integration ecosystem.

Best for: MSPs managing multiple client environments, IT departments that need real-time network visibility without building custom discovery infrastructure, and teams looking to establish an accurate network inventory as the foundation for automation.

Key capabilities:

• Automated network discovery and topology mapping across all connected devices
• Real-time device status monitoring and alerting
• SNMP monitoring for managed devices
• Remote access and remote troubleshooting
• Configuration backup for managed network devices
• Network diagnostics and performance monitoring
• Multi-site management from a single interface
• API access for integration with PSA, ITSM, and automation platforms

Pricing: $1.50 per managed device per month, billed in bundles of 10 devices ($15/month minimum). Free discovery, identification, and device status for all other devices. Includes a 14-day free trial with full feature access and no credit card required.

Start a free Domotz trial and get complete network visibility within minutes of deployment.

How to Choose the Right Network Automation Tool

No single tool is the right answer for every environment. The decision depends on several factors that vary significantly across organizations.

Start with the problem you are actually solving. Configuration drift and backup management call for a tool like BackBox or Unimus. Cloud infrastructure provisioning calls for Terraform. Multi-vendor device management at scale via code calls for Ansible or Nornir. Intent-based data center operations call for Apstra or NSO. Mapping what you have before you automate anything calls for Domotz.

Assess your team’s skill set honestly. Open-source tools like Netmiko, NAPALM, and Nornir deliver exceptional flexibility but require Python proficiency and the ability to build and maintain custom code. Teams without that capability will find more operational value in managed platforms with GUIs, pre-built workflows, and vendor support.

Consider your vendor mix. Tools tightly coupled to a single vendor, such as Cisco Catalyst Center or Cisco NSO, provide the deepest integration in homogeneous environments but become problematic when multi-vendor coverage is required. Ansible, NAPALM, and platforms like Apstra and BackBox are designed for heterogeneous environments from the ground up.

Do not underestimate the data problem. Automation workflows depend on accurate, current information about what devices exist, how they are connected, and what state they are in. Static inventory files age quickly. A tool like Domotz that continuously discovers and updates network state provides the live data layer that keeps automation workflows accurate over time, rather than acting on stale information from a spreadsheet last updated six months ago.

Frequently Asked Questions

Build Your Automation Strategy on a Foundation of Visibility

Network automation delivers its full value only when it operates on accurate, real-time network data. The 15 tools in this guide each address specific parts of the automation problem, from device-level scripting with Netmiko and NAPALM, to configuration management with Ansible and BackBox, to intent-based orchestration with Cisco NSO and Juniper Apstra.

But before you can automate what your network does, you need to know what your network is. That means knowing every device on every site, understanding how they connect, tracking when things change, and having that information continuously updated rather than frozen in a static spreadsheet.

Domotz provides that foundational visibility layer. Automatic network discovery, real-time topology mapping, device monitoring, and a rich integration ecosystem mean that your automation tools always have the accurate data they need to operate effectively. Domotz deploys in minutes, works across 25+ platform options, and starts at $1.50 per managed device per month with no setup fees and no long-term commitment.

Start your free 14-day trial today and give your automation strategy the visibility it needs to succeed.