Network Access Control
What you can actually try in 2026
Network Access Control has been declared dead for years.
It is still here, but harder to evaluate.
This site tracks which NAC products you can actually try in 2026: open source, free editions, trials, demos, and evaluation paths.
Vendor Access Paths
Try NAC Before You Commit
Eight vendors, one common thread: each offers some form of hands-on access before you buy. Vendors with no evaluation path were excluded. Scores are based on publicly available information, measured against each metric above. Pick the tab that matches how you want to start.
Last reviewed: July 2026 — scores based on publicly available trial information
How We Measure Access
Not all trials are equal
These six metrics measure evaluation access, not product quality: how fast you can start, what you can test, and how much friction stands in the way.
| Metric | What it measures |
|---|---|
| Click-to-start | Steps from landing page to working environment |
| Required expertise | Networking or NAC knowledge required before the evaluation makes sense |
| Feature coverage | How much of the core product is accessible in free or trial tier |
| Enforcement depth | Whether you can test actual blocking, quarantine, or VLAN assignment |
| Vendor transparency | Whether pricing, limitations, and release notes are publicly available |
| Docs & community | Official docs quality plus forum and GitHub activity |