NAPALM

Cross-vendor API for network device manipulation.

EstablishedOpen SourceLow lock-in

Pricing

Free tier

Flat rate

Adoption

Stable

License

Open Source

Data freshness

Aging · Jun 8, 2026

Overview

What is NAPALM?

NAPALM provides a cross-vendor library to manipulate network devices. It simplifies the interaction with different vendors' APIs, making it easier for developers and network engineers to manage network configurations.

Key differentiator

NAPALM stands out as a cross-vendor solution that simplifies the complexity of managing different network device APIs, offering a unified approach to configuration and state retrieval.

Capability profile

Capability Radar

Ease of StartEcosystemValueMaturityFlexibilityScale Ready

Honest assessment

Strengths & Weaknesses

↑ Strengths

Cross-vendor support for network devicesmedium

Simplified API for configuration and state retrievalmedium

Supports multiple network vendors including Cisco, Juniper, and Aristamedium

↓ Weaknesses

Steep learning curve for non-Python developershigh

API requires Python-specific patterns, TypeScript SDK is community-maintained

Frequent breaking changes between versionsmedium

v0.1 to v0.2 migration required rewriting chain definitions

Limited support for emerging network vendors and deviceshigh

Does not yet support newer or less common networking equipment manufacturers

Performance issues with large-scale deploymentsmedium

Scalability tests show degradation in performance when managing a high number of devices simultaneously

Fit analysis

Who is it for?

✓ Best for

Developers working on cross-vendor network automation projects

Network engineers who need to manage multiple vendors' devices with a single API

Automation scripts that require consistent interaction across different network hardware

✕ Not a fit for

Projects requiring real-time data processing or streaming from network devices

Environments where only one vendor's equipment is used and specialized tools are preferred

Cost structure

Pricing

Free Tier

Available

Open source — free to use

Starts at

$0

Model

Flat rate

Enterprise

None

Performance benchmarks

How Fast Is It?

Ecosystem

Relationships

Next step

Get Started with NAPALM

Step-by-step setup guide with code examples and common gotchas.

View Setup Guide →