Scanopy is for IT teams and MSPs who want a dedicated network diagram automation tool which works alongside their existing monitoring platform. NetDisco is for network teams that want free, open-source Layer 2 topology discovery and device tracking. The table below puts the two side by side on discovery, the four topology views, pricing, and licensing, including NetDisco's trade-offs.
Scanopy vs NetDisco: head to head
| Scanopy | NetDisco | |
|---|---|---|
| DiscoveryProtocols used to find devices and map connections | SNMP LLDP CDP ARP TCP/UDP | SNMP CDP LLDP ARP [12] |
| ServicesNo No service awareness Basic Common port detection Yes Application-level fingerprinting | Yes240+ types | No |
| Network ViewsWhich topology views the tool produces from discovery. L2 Physical switch ports and links L3 Subnets, VLANs, routing Workload VM/container host nesting Application Service-dependency / app grouping Yes supported Tag ? unverified Greyed not supported | Layer 1/2 neighbor map (CDP/LLDP); explicitly no L3 routing or subnet mapping. [31] | |
| Live UpdatesWhether diagrams update automatically after the initial scan | Yes | Yes |
| Open SourceOSI OSI-approved open source license Source available Source code available, restricted license No Proprietary | OSI AGPL-3.0 | OSI BSD |
| PricingStarting price or pricing model | Starts at $11.99 monthly, unlimited hosts | Free |
| Also IncludesCapabilities beyond network diagramming | Docker Visualization | — |
How they compare
NetDisco and Scanopy both discover devices over SNMP and read CDP/LLDP neighbor data, and both are open source. NetDisco focuses on Layer 2: it collects IP and MAC data into PostgreSQL and answers "what device is on which switch port?" — search a MAC or IP and it shows the exact switch and port, which makes it a long-running favorite for tracking down endpoints and auditing port usage. Scanopy does that same Layer 2 work — switch, port, and MAC/IP visualization — from a single scan, and adds three more views (L3, workloads, applications) plus per-host service fingerprinting on top.
The real difference is scope and setup, not Layer 2 capability. NetDisco is free (BSD-licensed) but it's Perl and PostgreSQL on Linux, and it's Layer 1/2 only — no L3 routing or subnet mapping. Scanopy is flat monthly with unlimited hosts, commercially self-hostable, or free under AGPL-3.0, runs from one daemon, and covers L3, workloads, and applications alongside the same switch-port and MAC/IP data. If switch-port and MAC tracking is all you need and you're happy administering Perl and Postgres, NetDisco does it well. If you want that Layer 2 visibility plus L3, workload, and application views in one tool you don't have to hand-assemble, Scanopy is the broader fit.
On Layer 2 itself the two land in the same place — switch, port, MAC, IP. What you're really choosing is whether you also want L3, workloads, and applications in the same map (Scanopy), or a focused, free, self-hosted Layer 2 tool you run entirely yourself (NetDisco), which has done that one job well since 2003.
When to choose which
Choose Scanopy when: You want four views over layer 2 discovery: automatic L2, L3, workload, and application views, per-host service detection, flat pricing regardless of host count, and a free, self-hostable Community edition. It sits alongside your monitoring stack rather than replacing it.
Choose NetDisco when: Network teams comfortable with Perl and Linux administration who want a free, battle-tested tool for Layer 2 discovery and device tracking. Strong at answering "what device is on which switch port?" questions.
This is a focused, two-tool comparison.Weighing other options too? See the best NetDisco alternatives. For all 13 tools side by side, see the full comparison of automated network diagram tools.
Sources
Started as a homelabber, now deep in SNMP MIBs, Layer 3 topology, and service fingerprinting - building the network documentation tool I wished existed.