Software Alternatives, Accelerators & Startups

phpIPAM VS Nmap

Compare phpIPAM VS Nmap and see what are their differences

phpIPAM logo phpIPAM

phpipam is an open-source web IP address management application (IPAM).

Nmap logo Nmap

Nmap Free Security Scanner, Port Scanner, & Network Exploration Tool. Download open source software for Linux, Windows, UNIX, FreeBSD, etc.
  • phpIPAM Landing page
    Landing page //
    2023-03-28
  • Nmap Landing page
    Landing page //
    2022-06-15

phpIPAM features and specs

  • Open Source
    phpIPAM is an open source IP address management (IPAM) software, which means that it's freely available and can be modified to suit specific needs without any licensing fees.
  • Web-Based Interface
    The tool provides a user-friendly, web-based interface that enables easy access and management of IP addresses from anywhere with an internet connection.
  • Feature-Rich
    phpIPAM comes with a comprehensive set of features, including VLAN management, subnet management, and device tracking, which are essential for effective network management.
  • Integrations
    phpIPAM supports various integrations with other systems, such as DNS servers and DHCP servers, to provide a more cohesive and automated network management experience.
  • Active Community Support
    There is an active community around phpIPAM that contributes to its development and provides support, making it easier to find solutions to common problems.
  • Scalability
    The software is designed to scale well, making it suitable for both small and large networks without significant performance degradation.

Possible disadvantages of phpIPAM

  • Complex Installation
    Setting up phpIPAM may require some technical know-how, particularly in configuring web servers, databases, and ensuring all dependencies are met.
  • Limited Vendor Support
    As an open source project, phpIPAM might not offer the same level of professional support and documentation as some commercial IPAM solutions.
  • User Interface
    While functional, the user interface of phpIPAM may not be as polished or intuitive as some other commercial alternatives, which can affect user experience.
  • Update Management
    Managing updates and ensuring compatibility with existing systems can require careful planning and can sometimes lead to disruptions.
  • Learning Curve
    New users, especially those without a background in network management, may find the learning curve steep, requiring time to fully grasp all the available features.

Nmap features and specs

  • Comprehensive Scanning
    Nmap can perform a wide variety of scans, including port scanning, service detection, and OS fingerprinting, making it a versatile tool for network exploration and security auditing.
  • Open Source
    As an open-source tool, Nmap is free to use and has a large community of users contributing to its development and improvement.
  • Scripting Engine
    The Nmap Scripting Engine (NSE) allows users to write custom scripts to automate tasks, detect vulnerabilities, and extract information, significantly extending its capabilities.
  • Cross-Platform Support
    Nmap is available on multiple platforms, including Windows, Linux, and macOS, ensuring broad accessibility for users.
  • Large Knowledge Base
    Nmap has extensive documentation and a wealth of online resources, tutorials, and community support, making it easier for beginners to learn and use the tool effectively.
  • Performance Optimization
    Nmap is designed to be efficient and can handle large networks, making it suitable for both small-scale and enterprise-level scanning.

Possible disadvantages of Nmap

  • Complexity
    Due to its extensive features and options, Nmap can be overwhelming for beginners, requiring a steep learning curve to fully utilize its capabilities.
  • Potential for Misuse
    Nmap can be used for malicious activities such as unauthorized network scanning, potentially leading to security violations and ethical concerns.
  • Permission Issues
    Using Nmap without proper authorization can be illegal in some jurisdictions, and unauthorized scans can be considered invasive or hostile by network administrators.
  • False Positives/Negatives
    Like any scanning tool, Nmap can produce false positives and negatives, requiring additional verification and analysis to ensure accuracy.
  • Resource Intensive
    Some Nmap scans, especially comprehensive ones, can be resource-intensive, potentially affecting network performance and consuming significant CPU and memory resources.
  • Network Disruption
    Aggressive scanning techniques used by Nmap can disrupt network services and lead to denial of service, particularly in sensitive or critical environments.

phpIPAM videos

IPAM Server mit phpIPAM - IP adress management

More videos:

  • Review - Foreman Integration with phpIPAM
  • Review - Apresentação PHPiPAM para provedores!

Nmap videos

Nmap Tutorial For Beginners - 1 - What is Nmap?

More videos:

  • Review - Nmap - Review of Scan Types
  • Review - LABS 50 Bypassing Windows Firewall Using Nmap Evasion Techniques REVIEW

Category Popularity

0-100% (relative to phpIPAM and Nmap)
Monitoring Tools
28 28%
72% 72
Log Management
50 50%
50% 50
Security
0 0%
100% 100
Network & Admin
100 100%
0% 0

User comments

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Reviews

These are some of the external sources and on-site user reviews we've used to compare phpIPAM and Nmap

phpIPAM Reviews

The 10 Best IP Address Management Tools for Linux
phpIPAM is a free and open-source IPAM solution with an effective feature set. It is written using PHP, as implied by its name, and aims at providing a modern but lightweight alternative to paid IPAM solutions. phpIPAM also leverages the MySQL database, jQuery, and HTML5/CSS3 for its user interface. The developers provide a nice introductory demo to help admins get a better...
Best IP Address Management Tools for Linux
phpIPAM is an open-source IP address management application, whose main motive is to offer light, modern and easy IP address management. It is based on PHP and uses MySQL database as a backend, it also uses jQuery libraries, Ajax and some HTML5/CSS3 features.
Source: www.tecmint.com

Nmap Reviews

The Top 5 Open Source Vulnerability Scanners
Nmap is a tool that scans ports, does service fingerprinting, and identifies versions of operating systems. Nmap also comes with a scripting engine that detects security vulnerabilities. Once these are detected, Vulcan’s platform can help you to prioritize and fix vulnerabilities.
Source: vulcan.io
9 Best Angry IP Scanner Alternatives Reviewed 2021 (Free & Paid)
If you’re a network administrator looking for more depth and raw power from a port scanner, look no further than Nmap. What Nmap lacks in frills and functional GUI it makes up for with sheer command-line based power. If you’re not a fan of strictly just a command-line interface, you can always use Zenmap, which is the exact same software just with a graphical interface. Both...
15 Best Nmap Alternatives Network Security Scanner
Nmap is an open-source tool that lots of IT professionals find useful in their careers. It is a tool that can locate available hosts and other services that they offer within a network. The Nmap program makes use of raw IP packets to find the hosts and services that are available.
10 Best WireShark Alternatives for Android Devices in 2021
Nmap is a popular open-source network scanning app for Android and desktop. While it works on both rooted and non-rooted Android, you get more functionality during a rooted Android smartphone. Like some apps, Nmap is not available on Google play store or their website.
Source: techreen.com
Alternatives to Nmap: from simple to advanced network scanning
This month marks the 20th anniversary of Nmap, the open-source network mapping tool that became the standard used by many IT professionals, but that can be a bit much if you only need to do general network maintenance and are intimidated by its command-line interface.

Social recommendations and mentions

Based on our record, Nmap seems to be a lot more popular than phpIPAM. While we know about 200 links to Nmap, we've tracked only 19 mentions of phpIPAM. We are tracking product recommendations and mentions on various public social media platforms and blogs. They can help you identify which product is more popular and what people think of it.

phpIPAM mentions (19)

  • Recommended free on-prem IPAM with integrated DNS solution?
    PHPIPAM does that, plus hardware inventory and racks (you assign the IP to a pice of hardware then put it on a rack and get rack diagram). It does also vLANs, VRF, circuits... Source: almost 2 years ago
  • Looking for IPAM tools
    Given he info you provided, I would say phpipam. It is web base and very light on resources. I don't know if this counts in your portability requirement. https://phpipam.net/. Source: about 2 years ago
  • What is everyone using for IPAM (IP Management) for their home networks/labs ?
    Other than that, we use PHP IPAM at work. https://phpipam.net It’s fine. Source: about 2 years ago
  • looking for a method of managing Static IP addresses
    Because the IP address are part of the programming for our room control systems(Crestron mainly) if the address changes then we lose control of that piece of equipment. Can phpipam.net be run locally or does it need it's own server? I don't know how much our networking team will be willing to get involved. Source: about 2 years ago
  • How do you remember all your local ips?
    PhpIPAM IP Address Managemenent. Scans your network(s) automatically and tags IP addresses as used or unused. Source: over 2 years ago
View more

Nmap mentions (200)

  • 🛡️ Top 10 Free Penetration Testing Tools Every Security Team Should Use in 2025
    Nmap (Network Mapper) is like a GPS for your network. Scan ports, find devices, and discover what’s alive and vulnerable. - Source: dev.to / 6 days ago
  • 3 Types of Chaos Experiments and How To Run Them
    Start by mapping out your network’s topology, including routers, switches, gateways, and the connections between different segments. Tools like Nmap or network diagram software can help visualize your network’s structure. - Source: dev.to / 10 days ago
  • How to Install and Use Nmap in Termux
    If you want to scan a website, Nmap can help you find its open ports, see active IPs, and get other important details quickly. For anyone serious about cybersecurity, Nmap is a necessary tool. To learn more, visit their official website at Nmap.org. - Source: dev.to / 13 days ago
  • Your First Ethical Hack: Learn Network Scanning with Nmap
    Starting Nmap 7.80 ( https://nmap.org ) at 2025-04-12 00:10 IST Nmap scan report for scanme.nmap.org (45.33.32.156) Host is up (0.24s latency). Other addresses for scanme.nmap.org (not scanned): 2600:3c01::f03c:91ff:fe18:bb2f Not shown: 991 closed ports PORT STATE SERVICE 22/tcp open ssh 25/tcp filtered smtp 80/tcp open http 135/tcp filtered msrpc 139/tcp filtered netbios-ssn 161/tcp ... - Source: dev.to / 23 days ago
  • The Impact of Open-Source Tools in Cyber Warfare: A Deep Dive
    The democratization of powerful software technologies is a double-edged sword. On one hand, open-source tools empower organizations and individuals to bolster their cybersecurity defenses without incurring steep financial costs. On the other hand, these same tools can be harnessed by malicious actors, leading to a surge in both the frequency and sophistication of cyberattacks. Open-source resources like Metasploit... - Source: dev.to / about 2 months ago
View more

What are some alternatives?

When comparing phpIPAM and Nmap, you can also consider the following products

NetBox - NetBox is an open source web application designed to help manage and document computer networks. NetBox was developed specifically to address the needs of network and infrastructure engineers.

Zenmap - Zenmap is the official cross-platform GUI for the Nmap Security Scanner.

SolarWinds IPAM - Find out about getting started with IP Address Manager, including the latest release notes and documentation as well as training and helpful articles on how to best run SolarWinds IP Address Manager (IPAM).

Angry IP Scanner - Open-source and cross-platform network scanner designed to be fast and simple to use

ManageEngine OpUtils - ManageEngine OpUtils is an IP address and Switch port management software that includes a comprehensive set of 30+ tools that helps network engineers monitor, diagnose and troubleshoot their IT resources.

Fing - Discover which devices are connected to any Wi-Fi network, map devices, detect intruders, assess...