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
Try Scanopy
Scanopy deploys a lightweight daemon that discovers your network and builds a live topology map. No per-device fees, unlimited hosts. It pairs with whatever monitoring tool you already use.
Started as a homelabber, now deep in SNMP MIBs, Layer 3 topology, and service fingerprinting - building the network documentation tool I wished existed.