Tidal LightMesh

Overview

Tidal LightMesh is IP address management software for teams that need to discover and plan address space across Microsoft DHCP, AWS, and Azure. Its strongest fit is an organization combining cloud inventory with network planning; its main drawback is that the affordable plans restrict both users and managed IPs.

LightMesh is cloud-first, with SaaS on every plan and Docker self-hosting reserved for Enterprise. It brings discovery, subnet planning, and address governance together, but organizations using Google Cloud will need another approach for that environment.

Key features

A read-only Windows Discovery Agent makes Microsoft DHCP scopes, leases, hostnames, and history searchable. AWS and Azure discovery is read-only and agentless, covering VPCs or VNets, subnets, and assignments. That combination suits teams that want visibility without making LightMesh the system that changes those environments.

Cloud inventory freshness depends on the plan: AWS and Azure sync every five minutes on Enterprise and hourly on Pro and Team, while Free syncs on demand. The Free cadence is a meaningful compromise for anyone relying on current cloud assignments. Google Cloud support is planned but not currently available.

TreeView and Network Containers bring planned and live networks together, helping teams identify overlapping ranges and group address space. The visual Subnet Builder divides a parent subnet into address sizes for cloud and data center plans. These tools make LightMesh useful before allocation as well as for tracking existing address data; they are less compelling if discovery alone is the priority.

LightMesh records changes per record. Audit history lasts 7 days on Free and Pro, 30 days on Team, and is included on Enterprise. Tidal says it completed a SOC 2 Type II audit and uses AES-256 encryption at rest and TLS v1.2 in transit. API rates are 10 requests per second on Free and Pro, 25 on Team, and unlimited on Enterprise, so integrations with heavier request needs point toward the top tier.

Authentication options include Okta SSO, Google, Microsoft, and email-and-password sign-in. Enterprise adds RBAC and custom SAML, while support rises from best-effort email on Free and Pro to 8-hour email support on Team and email, phone, and Slack on Enterprise.

Pricing

The Free plan costs nothing and allows one user, fewer than 1,000 IPs, unlimited subnets, basic IPAM, and DHCP discovery. Its on-demand cloud sync and 7-day audit retention make it a sensible solo evaluation tier, not a dependable shared inventory for teams that need regular updates.

Pro costs $35 a month (billed $35 USD /month) or $385 a year (billed $385 USD /year). Both versions allow one user, fewer than 1,000 IPs, unlimited subnets, and DHCP discovery. Pro raises the Free plan's basic IPAM positioning to a paid tier, but does not expand the seat or IP ceiling; hourly cloud sync and 7-day audit retention remain limiting for larger or more time-sensitive operations.

Team costs $249 a month (billed $249 USD /month) or $2,739 a year (billed $2,739 USD /year). It supports five users and fewer than 5,000 IPs, with unlimited subnets and DHCP discovery. For a small group, the added seats and capacity are more relevant than Pro's single-user structure, along with 30-day audit retention and hourly sync. API access is capped at 25 requests per second.

Enterprise has custom pricing and includes unlimited users and IPs, unlimited subnets, on-premise hosting, priority support, and DHCP discovery. It is the only stated route to self-hosting, five-minute cloud sync, unlimited API rates, and included audit retention. A 14-day trial is available; the Free plan is also an ongoing no-cost option.

Platforms

LightMesh supports web, API, Linux, macOS, and Windows, with self-hosting on Ubuntu LTS, AWS, or Azure available on Enterprise. SaaS is offered across all plans, so most buyers can avoid managing deployment; organizations requiring their own deployment must budget for Enterprise.

Who it's for

LightMesh is best for organizations that need to keep Microsoft DHCP and AWS or Azure address inventory alongside planned networks, and can match their workload to its user and IP limits. Free works for one user under 1,000 IPs; Pro has the same stated seat and IP ceiling, while Team suits up to five users and fewer than 5,000 IPs. Larger estates, self-hosting, or faster cloud sync make Enterprise the natural fit, subject to custom pricing.

It is a weaker choice for Google Cloud environments, teams requiring frequent cloud refresh on a lower tier, or groups whose shared usage exceeds the Free and Pro single-user limit.

Pros and cons

• Pro: DHCP and agentless AWS/Azure discovery share a service, reducing the split between cloud inventory and Microsoft DHCP visibility.
• Pro: TreeView, Network Containers, and Subnet Builder support overlap checking and address planning, not just inventory.
• Pro: SaaS is available on every plan, with Enterprise self-hosting for organizations that need deployment control.
• Con: Free and Pro are limited to one user and fewer than 1,000 IPs, making collaboration and growth difficult without moving up.
• Con: Free sync is on demand and Pro and Team sync hourly, less frequent than Enterprise's five-minute cadence.
• Con: Google Cloud is not currently supported, leaving a gap for teams managing that cloud's address space.

Alternatives

For a broader shortlist, see IP Address Management Software.

Subnetly is worth comparing if its free plan's stated 256 IPAM addresses, 10 subnets, and included DHCP pools and DNS zones fit a small deployment better than LightMesh's discovery and planning emphasis.

GestióIP offers free IPAM software and a paid configuration-management module for up to 50 devices; consider it when that configuration-management option is the priority.

teemIP is a free community option with 100% open-source code, free download and installation, and community support, making it a candidate for teams that prioritize an open-source self-hosted route.

phpIPAM is free, open-source IP address management software for self-hosted installation; choose it when that deployment model is the main requirement.

SpatiumDDI is another free option.

Danbyte is free and open source, with all features included, no seat license, and self-hosted deployment; it may suit teams seeking those licensing and deployment terms.

Obelinf offers a Personal plan for one user and one organization; consider it if those stated personal-use limits match the intended scope.

Infoblox Cloud Network Automation uses token-based licensing; consider it if that licensing approach better fits the purchasing model.

Verdict

Choose Tidal LightMesh if you need DHCP and AWS/Azure discovery in the same IPAM service as subnet planning, and can work within the plan's user and IP limits. Its key advantage is that combination of inventory and planning, with SaaS available throughout and self-hosting at Enterprise. Look elsewhere if you need Google Cloud support, more frequent sync without Enterprise, or broad multi-user access at a lower tier.