27 Best Free Network IP Scanning Tools for 2023

Network and IP scanning constitute the most critical defensive activities for IT admins. While performing these activities manually is exhaustive, thankfully, many helpful Network IP scanning tools exist today that automate the process and ensure delivering precise results. Some tools are even available for free, facilitating small IT security teams. This article lists the best free networking and IP scanning tools available today .

Network and IP scanning tools are software allowing network administrators or users to find loopholes in the environment. That, in turn, is the first step in safeguarding from unexpected and unwanted behavior within the system that can become problematic or even threatening. Securing a computer network is hard, and scanning tools are a convenient help.

This article shares the best IP scanners handpicked for everyday professional use. The list includes both free and commercial software, so you can use them as you prefer.

Quick overview of the best 27 network scanners today

If you are familiar with network and IP scanning and want to know the best tools, here is a list of the 27 picks described in this guide. But if you’re curious to know more details on every option, you can skip this section.

What is network scanning?

As the term implies, network scanning is the process of analyzing the entire network for any possible security lapse. It includes scanning everything connected to a network, such as all the devices, operating systems, ports, active hosts, filtering systems, and the entire traffic. This thorough IT infrastructure assessment helps the admins apply remedial measures by proactively detecting vulnerabilities. That’s how network scanning is crucial, preventing any disastrous situations from happening.

While such a detailed scanning would be tedious to conduct manually, thanks to the dedicated network scanners, you can quickly monitor the entire network. Besides detecting security bugs, these tools also help in real-time vulnerability detection and alert generation. That means once you deploy such a tool, you don’t have to worry about going after every endpoint for possible flaws, as the tool will keep monitoring it for you.

The best 27 network scanners for 2023 – Detailed list

(Alamy)

Now that you know about network scanning, let’s move on to the best, free-to-use network scanners you can use today.

1. ManageEngine OpUtils

ManageEngine OpUtils makes a complicated task, well, still complex but precise. It will give you a comprehensive view of your network infrastructure in real-time, which includes address tracking and network scanning. The tool scans across several subnets, routers, and switch ports. That’s how it shows you where your network’s issues are and help you troubleshoot them. 

The OpUtils can automate network scanning to run at pre-scheduled times. It’s scalable and supports many subnets and IPv4 and IPv6 addresses. Besides, it detects rogue devices through streamlined network scanning. Other noteworthy functionalities include generating threshold-based alerts to detect emerging problems that could escalate and creating reports you can use later to audit your network. ManageEngine OpUtils is popular because of its short time to boot and seamless integration into the network environment.

2. Security Event Manager

Security Event Manager, a robust product from the tech giant SolarWinds, makes your network safer and shows you compliance easily. It has a central log collection system and a built-in file integrity monitoring capability.

Many users will like the intuitive dashboard in Security Event Manager, the automated response to incidents, and the real-time log analyzer. Additionally, it comes with compliance reporting tools out of the box.

3. Intruder