Overview

CMDBuild is an open-source web environment for creating custom asset-management applications. It suits organizations with staff able to configure and operate a self-hosted system. Its modeling and integration options are substantial, but the standard download leaves teams to supply the data model, workflows, reports, and dashboards.

Key features

CMDBuild tracks assets across their lifecycle, including composition, location, relationships, and updates. Teams can model a database and configure workflows, reports, and dashboards, with task management, scheduling, and history supporting ongoing operations. File import and export and document archives extend the record-keeping options; GIS and BIM address geospatial and building information. These are building blocks rather than a finished CMDB design, so implementation effort is a central consideration.

REST services allow other applications to read and write data, run operations, and exchange notifications. The listed integration scope includes asset, staff, ERP, infrastructure, monitoring, and IoT systems. This makes CMDBuild a strong fit for teams connecting asset records to an existing stack, provided they can configure the connections and supply the underlying model.

Role-based permissions can be scoped to classes, rows, columns, processes, views, filters, reports, and dashboards. Authentication options include local authentication, LDAP, CAS, SAML 2.0, ADFS 4 via SAML, HTTP proxy headers, and custom OAuth2. Multitenant deployments can use separate databases or partial divisions with some shared information, allowing administrators to choose between stronger separation and shared data.

Service mapping, dependency mapping, discovery imports, and ownership tracking are supported. These capabilities address important CMDB needs, but they do not remove the work of defining the records and processes that make them useful.

Pricing

CMDBuild: 0.00 USD per free. The plan is open-source software under the AGPL and requires self-hosting and server setup. There are no paid tiers or seat and quota limits stated for this plan. Its main cost is operational: teams must provide and maintain the server and create the missing data model, workflows, reports, and dashboards.

The maker directs users needing a preconfigured instance to READY2USE. Assistance is available through the community forum or maintainer; subscription support includes assistance, upgrades, bug fixes, a certified appliance, a mobile app, and interoperability connectors.

Platforms

CMDBuild is browser-accessed software that runs on a web server and can be deployed on-premises. Listed platforms include API, Linux, macOS, self-hosted, web, and Windows. The maker says web-server setup knowledge is required. Minimum hardware is a server-class computer with 16 GB RAM, 150 GB disk per instance, and four cores; software requirements include PostgreSQL 17.x, Tomcat 10, and Java 17.

The download page offers version 4.2.0 as the latest release, with a WAR, shell installer, extra resources, and source code. The maker permits use, distribution, and editing under the GNU Affero GPL, subject to legal notice and logo requirements for modified versions.

Who it's for

CMDBuild is best for organizations that need a configurable asset-management system, can host it on their own infrastructure, and have technical capacity to design its data and workflows. Its broad access controls, authentication options, multitenancy, and REST services suit environments where integration and administrative control matter.

It is a poor fit for teams that need a ready-to-use CMDB, want to avoid server administration, or cannot allocate time to modeling and configuration. The hardware and software requirements also make it worth checking infrastructure capacity before choosing it.

Pros and cons

Pros: Extensive modeling and workflow configuration lets teams shape the system around their asset processes.
Pros: REST services and broad authentication choices support integration with existing systems and identity setups.
Pros: Fine-grained permissions and multitenant options give administrators control over access and data separation.
Cons: The standard download has no data model, workflows, reports, or dashboards, so teams must build core operational content.
Cons: Self-hosting requires a capable server and web-server setup knowledge, adding infrastructure and maintenance work.
Cons: AGPL obligations, including notice and logo requirements for modified versions, may not suit every deployment or distribution model.

Alternatives

CMDB Software is the broader category directory for comparing options. Consider BlueKing CMDB if its free Community Edition, one-click deployment, automated operations, user community, and documentation better match your setup priorities.

iTop is another free option, with a Community offer and on-premise availability; its Atelier plan is also offered for operational service management. Choose teemIP if a forever-free, open-source Community plan with free installation and community support fits your needs.

OpenIPAM is a free option for teams seeking a browser-only or self-hosted backend. GLPI may suit teams that want a public-cloud option: its listed Public Cloud plan is 19.00 EUR per month per IT agent, from one billed agent, with 5 GB disk and a 20 MB maximum attachment size.

Happy CMDB is another open-source CMDB, described under the Apache License 2.0. Hornbill IT Asset Management uses personalized pricing tailored to requirements and scalable packages. DemandFlow ITSM is a paid option.

Verdict

Choose CMDBuild if your team can host and configure its own system and wants detailed control over asset data, workflows, access, and integrations. Its strongest reason to choose it is that breadth of configuration; its strongest reason to look elsewhere is the combination of server requirements and the work of supplying the core model and processes.

	CMDBuild	iTop
Free plan	Yes	Yes
Free trial	No	No
Paid from	Free	Free
Open source	No	No
Platforms	api, Linux, macOS, self-hosted, Web, Windows	api, Linux, self-hosted, Web, Windows
Free plan	Yes	Yes
Service mapping	Yes	—
Dependency mapping	Yes	—
Discovery imports	Yes	—
Ownership tracking	Yes	—
Deployment options	on-premises	—

CMDBuild vs iTop

CMDBuild

iTop