Top Free & Open-Source Asset and Tool Tracking Systems for Manufacturers

Even in highly digital plants, tools and fixtures still go missing. Assets drift between shifts, setups, or departments — and the cost adds up in downtime, reordering, and lost calibration control.

Modern asset tracking systems solve this by linking physical assets with digital records — through barcodes, RFID, BLE beacons, or simple mobile apps. They help operations teams see where every piece of equipment is, who’s using it, and when it was last maintained.

1. Snipe-IT

Best for: General-purpose equipment and tool tracking across facilities.
Snipe-IT is the benchmark open-source asset management system. It supports barcode/RFID tagging, check-in/check-out, audit logs, and depreciation tracking. Mobile-ready and widely adopted in both IT and industrial use.
License: GPLv3 / Open Source.
Used by: Factories, service depots, and tool calibration centers.

2. OpenMAINT

Best for: Integrated facility and asset lifecycle management.
While known as an open-source EAM/CMMS, OpenMAINT also excels in physical asset tracking. It links assets to locations, maintenance plans, and RFID identifiers, giving full traceability of plant equipment.
License: AGPLv3 / Open Source.
Used by: Utilities, manufacturing plants, and facility operators.

3. PartKeepr

Best for: Tracking small components, spare parts, and consumables.
Originally designed for electronics inventory, PartKeepr works well for toolrooms managing inserts, fasteners, and calibration spares. It includes barcode scanning, stock location mapping, and supplier tracking.
License: GPLv3 / Open Source.
Used by: Tool management departments and maintenance teams.

4. AssetTiger (Free Edition)

Best for: Cloud-based tool and asset check-in/check-out.
AssetTiger offers a free tier for up to 250 assets with barcode/RFID tagging, maintenance reminders, and mobile scanning. Despite being SaaS, it’s often used as a bridge to full-scale CMMS or ERP.
License: Freemium / Proprietary.
Used by: Small manufacturers and workshops.

5. Ralph

Best for: Asset tracking with data center-grade traceability.
Ralph is an open-source asset management system built by Allegro, featuring barcode generation, asset history, and hierarchical location tracking. While created for IT infrastructure, its model adapts easily to machine tools and fixtures.
License: Apache 2.0 / Open Source.
Used by: Companies managing large equipment inventories and modular assets.

6. Odoo Inventory (Community Edition)

Best for: Integrated warehouse and asset tracking via barcodes and IoT.
Odoo’s inventory module (in its open-source community edition) supports location tracking, barcode scanning, and tool assignment via custom models. Assets can be linked to work orders or machines.
License: LGPLv3 / Open Core.
Used by: SMEs connecting inventory and equipment management in one system.

7. CalemEAM (Community Edition)

Best for: Combining EAM and RFID-enabled asset tracking.
CalemEAM’s community version includes equipment tracking, location history, and asset classification. It supports IoT connectors and mobile apps for tool identification.
License: GPL / Open Source.
Used by: Process industries and equipment service companies.

8. RFID Asset Tracking (by Open Source RFID Lab)

Best for: Hardware-based open-source RFID infrastructure.
Developed for academic and industrial prototyping, this toolkit supports UHF and HF RFID readers, antennas, and middleware for real-time asset location systems. Requires configuration but offers full control over the tech stack.
License: MIT / Open Source.
Used by: Research labs and pilot factories developing custom RFID systems.

9. Barcode Inventory System (by Phppointofsale)

Best for: Simplified barcode-based tracking for small toolrooms.
A lightweight PHP/MySQL application that enables barcode scanning, categorization, and location assignment. Ideal for tool cribs, calibration benches, and equipment checkout.
License: GPL / Open Source.
Used by: Technical schools, service centers, and prototyping labs.

10. Open-Asset-Tracker

Best for: IoT-enabled real-time tracking of movable assets.
Open-Asset-Tracker is a community-driven platform combining LoRa/BLE tracking with a web dashboard. Provides geofencing, usage metrics, and low-power asset monitoring for industrial environments.
License: Apache 2.0 / Open Source.
Used by: Factories adopting Industry 4.0 location tracking.

Tool Tracking Solutions Comparison

Tool Tracking Recommendations

For general equipment and tool tracking, Snipe-IT remains the most practical and widely supported option.

For RFID or IoT-based setups, OpenMAINT, CalemEAM, and Open-Asset-Tracker provide robust frameworks for integration with industrial networks.

For small workshops, AssetTiger and Barcode Inventory System offer quick deployment with minimal setup effort.

Asset tracking doesn’t have to mean expensive RFID suites or handheld scanners locked behind enterprise licenses.

In 2025, free and open-source platforms allow manufacturers to trace every fixture, gauge, and tool across the plant — using barcodes, RFID tags, or IoT sensors. The result is less time hunting for lost assets, fewer reorders, and higher utilization of the tools already in your shop.

Small step, big payoff: once you know where your equipment really is, you start understanding how it works for you.

About MDCplus

Our key features are real-time machine monitoring for swift issue resolution, power consumption tracking to promote sustainability, computerized maintenance management to reduce downtime, and vibration diagnostics for predictive maintenance. MDCplus's solutions are tailored for diverse industries, including aerospace, automotive, precision machining, and heavy industry. By delivering actionable insights and fostering seamless integration, we empower manufacturers to boost Overall Equipment Effectiveness (OEE), reduce operational costs, and achieve sustainable growth along with future planning.