Open Source IPAM

phpIPAM vs Obelinf

Open source self-hosted IPAM vs managed infrastructure documentation

phpIPAM is one of the most popular open-source IPAM tools. Obelinf combines IPAM and DCIM in a managed platform without requiring you to operate the application stack.

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Deployment & Operations

The stack you skip.

phpIPAM runs on a PHP web server and MySQL database that you deploy, secure, patch, and back up yourself. A Docker option helps with setup, but it does not eliminate the ongoing maintenance.

Obelinf is a managed platform with no server to patch and no database to back up. You sign up and start documenting.

Nothing to deploy, configure, update, back up, or monitor.

No patching cycle

Security updates and feature releases land automatically, on your schedule, not yours to run.

Backups handled

The platform takes care of the database, so your documentation survives without a backup script.

IP Address Management

IPAM with the full picture.

phpIPAM covers the fundamentals: IPv4 and IPv6 address management, subnet scanning, VLAN and VRF tracking, and a REST API.

Obelinf connects IP management with infrastructure context: subnets, addresses, devices, racks, interfaces, and physical relationships in one model.

Subnet hierarchy

Define your address space as a tree of subnets, from /16 down to individual /32s.

Utilization at every level

Drill from a parent block to its subnets and see consumption at each level.

Status for everything

Know what is static, what is DHCP, what is reserved, and what is available at a glance.

Interface & Workflow

A modern interface your team will actually use.

phpIPAM provides a practical interface focused on IP management. Teams looking for a more modern application workflow with faster navigation and integrated infrastructure views may prefer Obelinf.

Obelinf is fast, keyboard-driven, and updated continuously: a command palette jumps to any entity type, full-text search works across every entity and attribute, and results are connected.

Command palette

Jump to any entity type with a few keystrokes, no menu hunting during an incident.

Full-text search everywhere

Find devices, IPs, subnets, serial numbers, and asset tags instantly, with connected results.

Fast and responsive

A modern interface built for daily use, not for the occasional audit someone forces.

Topology & DCIM

More than addresses.

phpIPAM is an IPAM tool; it has no topology visualization, no device inventory, no rack management, and no cable or circuit tracking.

Obelinf pairs IPAM with the rest of infrastructure documentation in one system, so the address, the device, and the cable all live together.

Interactive topology

Cables and circuits render as edges between devices in a visual diagram.

Device inventory

Every physical and virtual device with serial numbers, interfaces, and status.

Racks and cables

Rack elevations and end-to-end cable tracking alongside your IP space.

Change Tracking

Every change, recorded automatically.

phpIPAM provides logging capabilities, while Obelinf provides an always-on audit trail with user attribution and field-level diffs across infrastructure objects.

Obelinf's changelog records every create, update, and delete with the user, timestamp, and field-level diffs, with no configuration and no extra tooling.

Immutable history

Changes cannot be rewritten or deleted, so the audit trail is trustworthy by construction.

Field-level diffs

See exactly what changed, from the old value to the new one, inline on every entity.

Retention that matches your plan

From 7 days on the free plan up to custom retention on Enterprise, priced by what you need.

Pricing & Total Cost

Free to start. Free to stay.

phpIPAM is free software, which makes it attractive for teams comfortable maintaining their own infrastructure. Obelinf trades self-hosting for a managed experience with predictable subscription pricing.

Obelinf's free Personal plan covers homelabs and small setups, and paid plans at $99 and $299 per month unlock circuits, VMs, API access, and team management. The total cost stays predictable.

Free Personal plan

1 organization, up to 30 devices, rack elevations, basic IPAM, and a topology diagram.

Teams at $99/mo

Circuits, VMs and clusters, API access, and team management with admin and member roles.

Scale at $299/mo

SSO/OIDC, custom roles, up to 50 members, and 6-month changelog retention.

Who should choose phpIPAM?

Choose phpIPAM if:

You want free open-source IPAM
You only need address management
You are comfortable maintaining your own server
You prefer self-hosted tools

Choose Obelinf if:

You need IPAM connected to devices and racks
You need topology and cable documentation
You want team collaboration
You want a managed platform

Migration

Moving from phpIPAM to Obelinf

Export your IP data

phpIPAM exposes a REST API and CSV exports; pull your subnets, IP addresses, and VLANs out first.

Import into Obelinf

Load the data through the REST API or CSV import, and verify counts before you switch. Existing IP addresses, VLANs, and subnet structures can be imported without rebuilding your documentation from scratch.

Invite your team

Set up your organization and assign roles so everyone lands with the right permissions from day one.

Go live

No PHP server to migrate and no MySQL to stand up; the platform is already running.

FAQ

Frequently Asked Questions

Is phpIPAM a good alternative to Obelinf?

Yes, for teams that want a free self-hosted IPAM solution and are comfortable managing the application themselves. Obelinf is designed for teams that want IPAM combined with DCIM capabilities without operating the platform.

Does Obelinf scan subnets like phpIPAM?

No. Obelinf does not scan your network. It documents the assignments you enter through the interface or API, which keeps the data intentional and accurate. phpIPAM's subnet scanning discovers hosts on your network.

Does phpIPAM have topology visualization?

No. phpIPAM focuses on IPAM; it has no topology diagrams, device inventory, rack management, or cable tracking. Obelinf includes all of these.

Can I migrate from phpIPAM to Obelinf?

Yes. phpIPAM exposes a REST API and CSV exports; import the data into Obelinf through its REST API or CSV import.

Is Obelinf free like phpIPAM?

Obelinf has a free Personal plan for homelabs and small setups. Paid plans start at $99 per month for teams. Either way, there is no server infrastructure to run.

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