UNIO24 vs GLPI
The Modern GLPI Alternative — Assets, ITSM, and Mobile in One Cloud
An honest look at UNIO24 and GLPI. Both offer assets, tickets, SLAs, and auto-discovery — the real question is cloud SaaS with a modern UI versus self-hosted open source.
- No server, no agents
- Free for up to 50 assets
The Bottom Line
Both products cover assets, tickets with SLAs, and auto-discovery. The real choice is between a modern cloud SaaS (UNIO24) and a self-hosted open-source platform (GLPI) with the maintenance that comes with it.
Capabilities supported
UNIO24 covers 18 of 20 core features — including ticketing with SLAs and auto-discovery. GLPI covers 9 natively and leans on plugins for the rest.
Setup time (cloud)
Sign up, import, done. GLPI self-hosting takes days (PHP, MySQL, Apache/Nginx, cron, agents, then the actual configuration).
Starting cost
UNIO24 Free tier up to 50 assets, no infrastructure. GLPI is free in code, but hosting, patches, and admin time add real TCO.
Why Compare UNIO24 and GLPI?
Both cover assets, tickets with SLAs, and auto-discovery. The real difference is how you run them — and what that costs you week after week.
The self-hosted reality
- Full LAMP stack to install, tune, and secure — PHP, MySQL, web server, cron
- Dated web UI and limited mobile experience for field teams
- Every new capability ships as a plugin you must install and maintain
- Patches, upgrades, and backups are your team's responsibility
The managed cloud equivalent
- Zero infrastructure — assets, tickets, SLAs, and auto-discovery as SaaS
- Modern UI with native iOS and Android apps out of the box
- All capabilities included — no plugin marketplace to curate
- Updates, backups, and security handled continuously by our platform team
Who Is This Comparison For?
This is for teams using or evaluating GLPI for assets and tickets who want the same capabilities without the self-hosting burden.
IT teams running GLPI
Using GLPI for helpdesk, assets, and auto-discovery — and tired of patching PHP, MySQL, and plugins on top of it.
Operations & facilities
Inherited GLPI from IT and find its admin UI overwhelming for day-to-day asset work.
Beyond-IT asset owners
Expanding tracking into facilities, fleet, tools, or field equipment — not just laptops and servers.
Mobile-first teams
Want native iOS/Android apps, NFC scanning, and a modern UX on top of the same ITSM capabilities.
Feature-by-Feature Comparison
A side-by-side look at UNIO24 (SaaS asset management) and GLPI (open-source ITSM with inventory).
| Capability | UNIO24Recommended | GLPI |
|---|---|---|
| Asset Tracking | ||
| Centralized asset databaseSingle source of truth for all assets | ||
| QR code & barcode scanningInstant asset lookup via mobile | Via plugin | |
| NFC tag supportTap-to-identify via smartphone NFC | ||
| Photo & document attachmentsVisual records attached to assets | ||
| Auto-discovery via network agentsScan the network for devices and pull them in automatically | ||
| Setup & Hosting | ||
| No-install cloud SaaSStart without installing or hosting | Self-host or GLPI Network | |
| Instant account setupFrom signup to first asset | Under 10 minutes | Days (self-host) |
| Managed updates & securityNo patch windows or backups to run | DIY on self-host | |
| Native mobile app (iOS / Android)First-class mobile experience | Limited | |
| Modern UI & onboardingClean interface, minimal training | Dated / complex | |
| Maintenance & Workflows | ||
| Scheduled maintenance remindersNever miss a service date | ||
| Helpdesk / ticketing / SLAsIntegrated incident and request management | ||
| Check-in / check-out workflowTrack who has what and when | Via plugin | |
| Compliance & certification trackingExpiry reminders for certificates, licenses, inspections | ||
| Reporting & Analytics | ||
| Built-in dashboardsVisual overview of asset health | Basic / plugin | |
| Custom reports & filtersGenerate reports with filters | ||
| Export to CSV / PDFDownload data in common formats | ||
| Extensibility & Industries | ||
| REST API & integrationsConnect with other tools | ||
| Industry-specific templatesReady-to-use for construction, healthcare, retail, logistics, education | IT / ITSM focused | |
| Open-source code accessFork and modify the source | ||
| Full support | 18/ 20 | 9/ 20 |
Which One Fits Your Team?
Two valid paths depending on what matters most — self-hosted control or managed cloud simplicity.
Keep self-hosting
When open-source control and on-prem hosting matter most.
- You need full source-code access to fork, audit, or modify the platform
- Strict data sovereignty, regulatory, or air-gapped requirements force on-prem hosting
- Your ops team is comfortable running PHP/MySQL with years invested in plugins
- You rely on specific GLPI plugins with no direct equivalent elsewhere
- License-free software (with the hidden TCO of self-hosting) fits your cost model
Move to managed cloud
When you want the same capabilities without running your own infrastructure.
- You do not have (or no longer want) someone patching PHP, MySQL, and plugins
- You need a modern UI and native iOS / Android apps, not a dated web console
- Asset scope expands beyond IT — tools, vehicles, facilities, field equipment
- You want NFC tags, mobile scanning, and compliance/maintenance tracking built in
- Total cost of self-hosting (server + admin time + downtime) outweighs the licence savings
How to Migrate from GLPI in 3 Steps
Moving from GLPI to UNIO24 is straightforward when assets are all you need — CSV export, bulk import, done.
Export assets from GLPI
Use GLPI built-in CSV or PDF export for computers, monitors, peripherals, and other asset types. The REST API is also supported as a source during import.
Import into UNIO24
Upload to UNIO24 bulk-import wizard. Field mapping auto-detects asset tag, serial, model, assigned user, and location. GLPI entity hierarchy becomes UNIO24 locations.
Retire GLPI, or keep it for tickets
If GLPI was only your asset system, shut down the host. If you still need helpdesk, keep GLPI for tickets and link asset records to UNIO24 via the API.
UNIO24 vs GLPI — Frequently Asked Questions
Honest answers to the most common questions IT and operations teams ask when comparing GLPI to UNIO24.
Can I import my GLPI data into UNIO24?
Yes. GLPI supports native CSV and PDF exports for all asset types, plus a full REST API. UNIO24's import wizard reads GLPI CSV directly and auto-maps fields like asset tag, serial, model, user, and location. GLPI's entity hierarchy becomes UNIO24 locations, and custom fields migrate as custom fields.Will I keep my asset history during migration?
Yes. GLPI's history log can be exported and imported into UNIO24 as historical records, preserving assignments, status changes, and maintenance events. Photos and document attachments migrate too, either in the initial import or as a second bulk pass.How long does a GLPI → UNIO24 migration take?
For most teams with fewer than 2,000 assets, migration completes in a few hours — export, upload, review mapping, generate QR tags. Larger and multi-entity deployments typically finish within one to two working days.
Still unsure whether to migrate from GLPI? Contact us →
