Compare RackBuilder with Rackula, NetBox, Visio, RackMonkey
Searching for Rackula, Rackula Online, RackMonkey, RacksDB, or open source rack diagram software? This alternatives page compares RackBuilder with Rackula, NetBox, Visio, and RackMonkey using only claims we could verify on each vendor's public site. Where a detail is not listed publicly, we say so.
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How we compared these alternatives
Each cell is limited to facts published on the vendor's public pages at research time. We do not invent ratings, user counts, or ranking scores. Use the Sources list below to re-check current product pages before you decide. For a free-tool shortlist that includes other browser planners, see best free rack diagram software.
Alternatives comparison table
Checked as of October 2026
Product names are trademarks of their respective owners. RackBuilder is not affiliated with or endorsed by them.
| Criterion | RackBuilder | Rackula | NetBox | Visio | RackMonkey |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Price | Free to design; free accounts up to three saved designs; Pro $3/month for unlimited saves | Free; no paywall listed | Free to self-host (Apache 2.0); NetBox Cloud paid plans (see NetBox Labs pricing) | Visio Plan 1 $5/user/month; Plan 2 $15/user/month (paid yearly). Rack diagrams listed among Plan 2 examples on Microsoft compare-versions docs | Free (GPL); no payment required |
| Hosting | Web app | Web + self-host (Docker) | Self-hosted web + NetBox Cloud | Desktop app (Plan 2) + Visio web app | Self-hosted web |
| Signup required | Optional (design without an account) | Not required for browser use | Local users for self-host; account required for NetBox Cloud | Yes (Microsoft work/school or Visio subscription) | Web-server auth (.htaccess); guest account available |
| Device library | Yes (bundled manufacturer-style catalog) | Yes (hardware library; docs list branded device packs) | Yes (device types; community device-type library for import) | Rack-mounted equipment shapes in the Rack Diagram template | User-defined hardware types (not a preloaded OEM catalog) |
| Export formats | None / not available | PNG, SVG, or PDF (CSV/JSON also listed in docs) | Elevation via `/api/dcim/racks/` REST API; SVG render documented in current NetBox Labs pynetbox DCIM docs | PNG, JPEG, PDF, SVG (Microsoft save-as-graphic docs); shape reports HTML/Excel/XML (create-a-rack-diagram) | Excel XLS; browser print CSS |
| Multi-rack | No (one rack per design) | Bayed / multi-cabinet grouping listed on the project README | Yes (many racks per site/location) | not listed | Yes (side-by-side rack views) |
| Open source | No | Yes (MIT) | Yes (Apache 2.0) | No | Yes (GPL) |
Which should you pick
Homelab. Choose RackBuilder when you want a catalog elevation in the browser without signup, guest work that survives reload, and signed-in cloud sync for saved designs. Choose Rackula when you want MIT open source, PNG/SVG/PDF export, and optional Docker self-hosting.
IT / MSP. Use RackBuilder for fast client elevations from a device catalog. Use Visio when the deliverable must live in a Microsoft diagram package with rack shapes and formal exports. Use NetBox when the engagement needs durable inventory, cabling, and IPAM rather than a one-off sketch.
Data center. NetBox is the fit when you need a network source of truth with many racks and SVG elevations from live data. RackMonkey can still help with GPL self-hosted inventory and side-by-side diagrams, but its public FAQ notes development is inactive. Visio fits when you need presentation drawings for change tickets.
Where RackBuilder fits
RackBuilder is a browser elevation planner. You choose a rack height, add devices from the catalog, and see empty U while you work. New devices from the library are blocked when the rack has no free U left for that device height. Guests can plan without signup; guest work survives reload. Sign in when you want cloud sync for saved designs across devices. File or PDF export is not available.
- Start in the designer without creating an account.
- Place catalog network and server devices by U height in a live elevation (one rack per design).
- Free accounts can save up to three designs; Pro unlocks unlimited saved designs on Pricing.
- RackBuilder does not store chassis weights, so compare vendor weight totals to the rack load rating separately.
Notes on each alternative
Rackula publishes drag-and-drop planning, MIT licensing, self-hosting, and PNG / SVG / PDF export. Docs describe Rackula Online browser use with no account and branded device packs. The project README lists bayed rack grouping for multi-cabinet layouts.
NetBox is Apache 2.0 open source DCIM and IPAM. It models racks and devices at scale, imports community device types, and can render rack elevations as SVG (documented in current NetBox Labs pynetbox DCIM docs). Self-host is free; NetBox Cloud is a commercial hosted option.
Visio documents a Rack Diagram template with industry-standard equipment shapes. Microsoft compare-versions docs list rack diagrams among Plan 2 examples. Microsoft save-as-graphic docs cover PNG, JPEG, PDF, and SVG export. Multi-rack as a named product feature is not listed on the cited Microsoft pages.
RackMonkey is GPL self-hosted inventory with visual rack diagrams, side-by-side multi-rack views, Excel export, and print CSS. The public FAQ states active development has stopped.
Sources (vendor public pages)
- Rackula product site: https://www.racku.la/
- Rackula quick start (Rackula Online, no account, exports): https://docs.racku.la/getting-started/
- Rackula project README (MIT, bayed / multi-cabinet): https://github.com/RackulaLives/Rackula
- NetBox product overview: https://netboxlabs.com/products/netbox/
- NetBox Labs pricing: https://netboxlabs.com/pricing/
- NetBox community repo (Apache 2.0): https://github.com/netbox-community/netbox
- NetBox facilities model (many racks per site/location): https://docs.netbox.dev/en/stable/features/facilities/
- NetBox REST API (including `/api/dcim/racks/`): https://docs.netbox.dev/en/stable/integrations/rest-api/
- NetBox Labs pynetbox DCIM docs (rack elevation JSON and SVG via `render='svg'`): https://netboxlabs.com/docs/sdks/pynetbox/dcim/
- NetBox community device-type library: https://github.com/netbox-community/devicetype-library
- Microsoft Support: create a rack diagram: https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/visio/create-a-rack-diagram
- Microsoft Support: compare Visio versions and features (Plan 2 rack diagram examples; SVG export row): https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/visio/compare-visio-versions-and-features
- Microsoft Support: save a Visio diagram as a graphic or image file (PNG, JPEG, PDF, SVG): https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/visio/save-a-visio-diagram-as-a-graphic-or-image-file
- Microsoft Visio plans and pricing: https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/microsoft-365/visio/visio-plans-and-pricing
- RackMonkey features: https://flux.org.uk/projects/rackmonkey/features/
- RackMonkey FAQ (GPL, inactive development, Excel export, auth): https://flux.org.uk/projects/rackmonkey/faq/
- RacksDB (related open source modeling tool): https://rackslab.io/en/solutions/racksdb/
Related RackBuilder pages
Also see the best free rack diagram software comparison, plus the server rack builder, rack planner, network rack builder, and rack configurator, and 12U to 24U homelab racks guides.
Frequently asked questions
What is Rackula Online?
Rackula Online is the hosted browser app at count.racku.la. Rackula is free MIT-licensed open source rack layout software with drag-and-drop planning, a hardware device library, PNG/SVG/PDF export, optional Docker self-hosting, and no account required for browser use. Confirm current details on the Rackula product site and docs linked in the Sources list.
How does NetBox differ from a browser rack planner?
NetBox is an Apache 2.0 open source network source of truth and DCIM platform. It models many racks, devices, cables, and IP resources, with rack elevations available through its REST API (including SVG render documented in current NetBox Labs pynetbox DCIM docs). It is not a lightweight drag-and-drop elevation sketch tool. Self-host is free; NetBox Cloud is a paid hosted option. See the NetBox Labs and NetBox docs links in Sources.
Does Microsoft Visio support rack diagrams?
Yes. Microsoft documents a Rack Diagram template with rack-mounted equipment shapes that snap into place. Microsoft compare-versions docs list rack diagrams among Visio Plan 2 examples. Visio can save diagrams as PNG, JPEG, PDF, or SVG per Microsoft save-as-graphic docs. A Microsoft account or Visio subscription is required. See the Microsoft Support links in Sources.
Is RackMonkey still a useful open source option?
RackMonkey is GPL-licensed self-hosted web software for rack inventory and side-by-side rack diagrams, with Excel export and print CSS. Its public FAQ states the original author is no longer actively developing it. Teams that need a maintained product should verify whether a fork or another tool fits better. See the RackMonkey features and FAQ links in Sources.
Where does RacksDB fit among open source rack diagram software?
RacksDB is a separate MIT-licensed YAML database for datacenter infrastructure modeling. It can generate room and rack diagrams (PNG, SVG, PDF) from that model. It is not one of the five table columns above; open it when you want infrastructure-as-code inventory rather than a browser elevation designer. See https://rackslab.io/en/solutions/racksdb/.
Which tool should a homelab or MSP start with?
Homelab users can start with RackBuilder for a catalog elevation in the browser without signup, or Rackula when they want open source export and optional self-hosting. RackBuilder fits MSP and IT teams when they need quick client elevations; Visio fits when the deliverable must live in a Microsoft diagram package; NetBox fits when they need a durable inventory source of truth. Re-check the Sources list before you decide.
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