Tracking hardware assets across a growing organization is harder than it sounds. Without a dedicated tool, IT teams end up managing spreadsheets that go stale, missing assets during audits, and losing visibility into device lifecycles — all of which creates real cost and compliance risk. This article covers the best hardware asset management software for business, comparing eight leading platforms on features, deployment options, and pricing so you can make a confident decision.
What to Look for in Hardware Asset Management Software
- Automated discovery: The tool should find and inventory network-connected devices without requiring manual input for every asset.
- Lifecycle tracking: Look for support for the full asset lifecycle — procurement, deployment, maintenance, and retirement — not just a static inventory list.
- Integration with ITSM: Hardware data is most useful when it’s connected to your ticketing, incident, and change management workflows.
- Reporting and auditing: You need clear, exportable reports for compliance audits, budget planning, and hardware refresh cycles.
- Scalability: The platform should handle your current device count and grow with your organization without requiring a platform change.
Best Hardware Asset Management Software at a Glance
| Tool | Best For | Deployment | Free Trial | Pricing |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| InvGate Asset Management | Mid-to-large enterprises needing structured ITAM | Cloud & On-premise | Yes, 30 days | Starter $1,499/year (up to 500 IP devices and 1,000 non-IP devices) |
| ServiceNow IT Asset Management | Large enterprises with complex workflows | Cloud | No | Contact for pricing |
| Jira Service Management | Teams already using Atlassian products | Cloud & Data Center | Yes | Contact for pricing |
| Freshservice | SMBs and growing IT departments | Cloud | Yes, 21 days | Contact for pricing |
| ManageEngine AssetExplorer | Organizations needing on-premise control | Cloud & On-premise | Yes, 30 days | Contact for pricing |
| SolarWinds Service Desk | IT teams wanting ITSM and ITAM in one platform | Cloud | Yes, 30 days | Contact for pricing |
| Ivanti Neurons for ITAM | Enterprises with hybrid and remote device fleets | Cloud & On-premise | No | Contact for pricing |
| Lansweeper | Discovery-focused teams needing deep network scanning | Cloud & On-premise | Yes | Contact for pricing |
InvGate Asset Management
What it is: InvGate Asset Management is a dedicated ITAM platform built for IT teams that need structured hardware tracking, lifecycle management, and reporting across physical and virtual assets. It integrates directly with InvGate Service Management, making it a natural fit for organizations that want ITSM and ITAM in a single ecosystem.
- Automated network discovery for IP devices, with each IP device license covering two non-IP devices (monitors, peripherals, etc.)
- Full hardware lifecycle management from procurement through retirement
- Contract and warranty tracking tied to individual assets
- Native integration with InvGate Service Management for incident and change workflows
- Built-in reporting for compliance audits, refresh planning, and cost analysis
Best for: Mid-to-large IT teams that want a purpose-built ITAM tool with clear per-device pricing and strong lifecycle management — particularly those already using or evaluating InvGate Service Management.
Pricing:
- Starter: $1,499/year — fixed package for up to 500 IP devices (includes 1,000 non-IP devices). No add-ons. Auto-upgrades to Professional above 500 IP devices.
- Professional: From $2,500/year for 500 IP devices. Expansion packs of 250 devices at $1,250 each, up to 5,000 IP devices.
- Enterprise: Custom pricing from $12,000/year for high volume, on-premise hosting, data residency, or dedicated infrastructure.
- Free 30-day trial, no credit card required.
ServiceNow IT Asset Management
What it is: ServiceNow IT Asset Management is part of the broader ServiceNow platform, offering hardware, software, and cloud asset tracking within a highly configurable enterprise environment. It’s designed for organizations that are already invested in the ServiceNow ecosystem or need enterprise-grade workflow automation.
- Hardware asset lifecycle management with procurement and disposal tracking
- Integrated CMDB (Configuration Management Database) for dependency mapping
- Workflow automation for hardware refresh, onboarding, and offboarding
- Advanced reporting and dashboards tied to the broader ServiceNow platform
- Vendor and contract management capabilities
Best for: Large enterprises that are already running ServiceNow for ITSM and want to centralize asset management in the same platform without introducing a separate tool.
Pricing: Contact for pricing. ServiceNow licenses are typically module-based and negotiated directly with their sales team.
Jira Service Management
What it is: Jira Service Management includes asset and configuration management capabilities through its Assets module (formerly Insight). It allows teams to build custom asset schemas and link hardware records directly to service requests, incidents, and changes.
- Flexible asset schema builder — not locked into a fixed data model
- Asset linking to tickets, incidents, and change requests
- Import from CSV, network discovery tools, or third-party integrations
- Native integration across the Atlassian suite (Confluence, Bitbucket, etc.)
- Cloud and Data Center deployment options
Best for: Development-focused or DevOps-oriented IT teams that already use Atlassian products and want asset management woven into their existing workflows without adopting a separate platform.
Pricing: Contact for pricing. Jira Service Management pricing varies by plan tier and agent count. A free tier is available for small teams.
Freshservice
What it is: Freshservice is a cloud-based ITSM platform with a built-in asset management module. It’s known for a clean interface and relatively fast time-to-value, making it popular with IT departments that are scaling up their processes for the first time.
- Automated asset discovery via agent-based and agentless scanning
- Hardware lifecycle tracking with purchase, warranty, and depreciation records
- Asset relationships and dependency mapping in a visual CMDB
- Integration with MDM solutions and procurement tools
- Native ITSM modules (ticketing, change, problem) connected to asset data
Best for: SMBs and mid-market IT departments that want an all-in-one ITSM and ITAM platform with a lower barrier to entry and a straightforward setup process.
Pricing: Contact for pricing. Freshservice offers tiered plans with asset management features available on higher tiers. A 21-day free trial is available.
ManageEngine AssetExplorer
What it is: ManageEngine AssetExplorer is a dedicated IT asset management tool from Zoho’s IT division. It covers hardware and software assets with strong on-premise deployment options, making it a solid choice for organizations with data residency requirements or existing ManageEngine infrastructure.
- Automated discovery via network scanning, agent deployment, and barcode scanning
- Full asset lifecycle management with purchase order and warranty tracking
- Software license compliance management alongside hardware tracking
- Integration with ManageEngine ServiceDesk Plus for ITSM workflows
- Audit trail and compliance reporting for regulatory requirements
Best for: Organizations that need a dedicated, on-premise-capable asset management tool and are already running other ManageEngine products, or those with strict data governance requirements.
Pricing: Contact for pricing. ManageEngine typically offers both perpetual and subscription licensing. A 30-day free trial is available.
SolarWinds Service Desk
What it is: SolarWinds Service Desk combines IT service management with asset management in a single SaaS platform. It’s built for IT teams that want to connect hardware asset data directly to service request and incident workflows without managing two separate systems.
- Agent-based hardware discovery and inventory tracking
- Asset lifecycle and depreciation tracking
- CMDB with relationship mapping for hardware and software assets
- Integrated ticketing, change management, and SLA tracking
- Risk detection and alert workflows based on asset status
Best for: IT teams of 50–500 users that want ITSM and hardware asset management in a single, cloud-delivered tool without the complexity or cost of enterprise platforms like ServiceNow.
Pricing: Contact for pricing. A 30-day free trial is available.
Ivanti Neurons for ITAM
What it is: Ivanti Neurons for ITAM is an enterprise-grade asset management solution that spans hardware, software, and cloud assets. It’s designed for organizations managing large, distributed device fleets across on-site, remote, and hybrid environments.
- Automated discovery across physical, virtual, and cloud assets
- Hardware normalization and data enrichment for accurate asset records
- Financial management features including depreciation and total cost of ownership
- Integration with Ivanti’s broader endpoint management and ITSM suite
- Risk and compliance dashboards for audit readiness
Best for: Large enterprises with complex, geographically distributed hardware environments that need deep visibility and financial asset tracking, especially if already using Ivanti for endpoint management.
Pricing: Contact for pricing. Ivanti pricing is quote-based and typically tied to device count and module selection.
Lansweeper
What it is: Lansweeper is primarily a network discovery and asset inventory platform. Its core strength is scanning and cataloging every device on a network — physical, virtual, OT, and IoT — with a high level of hardware detail. It’s a discovery-first tool rather than a full lifecycle management platform.
- Agentless network scanning with detailed hardware and software inventory
- Support for a wide range of device types including OT and IoT assets
- IT asset reporting and risk assessment dashboards
- Integrations with ServiceNow, Jira, and other ITSM platforms for workflow connectivity
- Cloud-hosted and on-premise deployment options
Best for: IT and security teams that need comprehensive, accurate device discovery and inventory as a foundation — often paired with a separate ITSM tool for ticketing and lifecycle workflows.
Pricing: Contact for pricing. Lansweeper offers a free tier for smaller environments and a free trial for its cloud platform.
How to Choose the Right Hardware Asset Management Software
Start with your device count and environment complexity. If you’re managing fewer than 500 networked devices and want a straightforward tool, a packaged solution like InvGate Asset Management’s Starter tier or Freshservice’s asset module gives you structure without overhead. If you’re above 1,000 devices across multiple sites or working with OT and IoT equipment, you’ll need a platform with stronger discovery capabilities — Lansweeper or Ivanti Neurons are worth evaluating at that scale.
Consider how tightly your asset data needs to connect to service management. Teams that handle a high volume of hardware-related incidents and change requests benefit from platforms where ITSM and ITAM are native to each other — SolarWinds Service Desk, Freshservice, and InvGate Asset Management (paired with InvGate Service Management) all handle this well. If your ITSM platform is already fixed, prioritize tools with strong integrations into that ecosystem.
Deployment model matters more for hardware asset management than for most ITSM tools, because discovery requires access to your internal network. On-premise or hybrid deployments give you more control over scanning without opening network access to a cloud service. ManageEngine AssetExplorer and Ivanti Neurons both support on-premise deployments if that’s a requirement for your organization.
Finally, think about the total cost of ownership beyond licensing. Some platforms require significant configuration, professional services, or training to get to a useful state. Tools like Freshservice and InvGate Asset Management are generally faster to implement, while ServiceNow and Ivanti tend to involve longer deployment timelines and higher setup costs. Match the platform’s complexity to your team’s capacity to implement and maintain it.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is hardware asset management software?
Hardware asset management (HAM) software helps IT teams track physical devices — computers, servers, network equipment, and peripherals — throughout their entire lifecycle, from procurement to retirement. It typically includes automated discovery, inventory tracking, lifecycle management, and reporting features.
How is hardware asset management different from IT asset management?
IT asset management (ITAM) is the broader category that covers hardware, software, cloud, and other digital assets. Hardware asset management is a subset focused specifically on physical devices. Many ITAM platforms handle both, but some tools specialize in one or the other.
Do I need a separate tool for hardware asset management, or can my ITSM platform handle it?
It depends on your requirements. Many ITSM platforms include basic asset tracking, which works well for smaller environments. If you need detailed lifecycle management, financial tracking, automated discovery, or compliance reporting, a dedicated ITAM tool or a platform with a mature ITAM module will serve you better than a bolted-on feature.
What’s the difference between agent-based and agentless asset discovery?
Agent-based discovery installs a small software agent on each device to collect hardware data. It’s generally more accurate and works for devices that aren’t always on the network. Agentless discovery scans the network without installing anything on endpoints, which is easier to deploy at scale but may miss devices that are off-network at scan time. Most mature platforms support both methods.
How much does hardware asset management software cost?
Pricing varies widely by platform and scale. Entry-level packages for small environments can start under $2,000/year, while enterprise platforms from vendors like ServiceNow or Ivanti are negotiated based on device count and module selection. InvGate Asset Management, for example, starts at $1,499/year for up to 500 IP devices, while larger deployments are priced on a per-device basis. Most vendors offer free trials so you can evaluate the platform before committing.
Pricing accurate as of the publish date and subject to change. Verify current pricing on each vendor’s official site before purchasing.
Photo by Elimende Inagella on Unsplash
