Top 10 RMM Software in 2024: Analysis From 7.7K+ Reviews

Remote monitoring and management, or RMM software, enables managed service providers (MSPs) to orchestrate network elements while sustaining system health. RMM software components aim to accomplish important tasks such as keeping the network secure, efficient, and sufficient. These functionalities play an important role when choosing the right software for your business. 

RMM solutions operate in a vulnerable market; for example, a leading vendor recently experienced a security breach.¹ Therefore, it is important to holistically evaluate the capabilities of RMM software and find the right fit. In this article, we compare the top RMM software on the market and analyze them based on user reviews in light of key features, benefits, and challenges.

Top RMM software comparison

Table 1: Number of reviews and average rating

*Based on the total number of reviews and average ratings (on a 5-point scale) from Gartner, G2, Capterra, and TrustRadius software review platforms as of 02/21/2024.

Table 2: Price and features

** AIMultiple selected the most economical tier that provided all the core capabilities of an RMM. Other tiers may include additional features. Pricing is for 100 devices/year.

*** Other licensing terms, such as the minimum quantity of licenses needed, are not taken into account.

****Kaseya VSA pricing depends on the level of services, support, and vertical markets.

Vendor selection criteria

In order to provide an objective evaluation of vendors, we considered publicly verifiable data such as the number of reviews and user ratings on software review platforms. User reviews for pros and cons are selected only if multiple users report the same point.

• Number of reviews: We included the vendors with more than 135 total user reviews.
• Average rating: Above 4/5 rating on average across all software review platforms.
• Endpoint management: RMM software products may facilitate endpoint security by enabling integration with antivirus programs (AVs) or endpoint protection software products. While endpoint security, scanning, and deployment features are included in some of the products in the above table, they are available as add-on features in others. Businesses may take this factor into account in their decision-making process.
• Price: RMM software products vary in price, and publicly available prices of products are added to the table. Potential users can compare products according to their price and pricing drivers.
• Pricing driver: The price of products depends on multiple aspects, such as minimum licensing or admin user quantity, device quantity, or domain quantity. Businesses can choose between pricing driver options in accordance with the quantity and admin user quantity.
• Deployment, compatibility, and mobile application availability: We selected the vendors that deliver cloud-based deployment, multi-operating system compatibility, and mobile application availability.
• Onboarding training: Users should receive educational material to expedite the adoption process and avoid unintended issues that may arise from incomplete knowledge about features and how they are implemented. Most products come with onboarding training included, while some demand extra costs.

Top 10 RMM software analyzed

1. ManageEngine Endpoint Central

ManageEngine is a cybersecurity and IT automation platform developed by Zoho Corporation. Zoho Corporation is a technology company that develops a wide range of cloud-based applications.

Pros

• Patch management: Most reviewers praise patch management.²
• Remote access: Users find remote monitoring and management reliable.³
• Customer support: The quick response time has been praised by the reviewer.⁴

Cons

• Interface: The user interface needs improvement. Some users described it as unintuitive.⁵
• Training: Explanatory information about tools and the software in general is found to be lacking.⁶
• Multi-OS: Some features are found to be weakly operating on Linux and MacOS in comparison to Windows.⁷

2. NinjaOne RMM

NinjaOne, before rebranding as NinjaRMM, is a software company that  claims to offer solutions for IT management. The company offers services for endpoint management and security, remote access, and monitoring. 

Pros

• Onboarding: Users like easy onboarding and navigation. ⁸
• UI: Easy to use setting of the platform helps users navigate through pages without facing time-costing hurdles.⁹
• Scalability: Users describe that changing user or admin numbers is easy.¹⁰

Cons

• Mobile device management (MDM): According to a couple of users, the MDM tool needs improvements in terms of policy implementation and control rules regarding devices.¹¹
• Integration: Few users expressed concern about integration with other programs such as Bitdefender antivirus program.¹²
• Reporting: Some reviews describe the lack of customization of reports.¹³

Source:  Capterra.¹⁴

Figure 1. The above picture summarizes positive and negative user reviews the RMM software by NinjaOne.

3. GoTo Resolve

GoTo is a software as a service (SaaS) producer for communication and remote IT applications.

Pros

• Remote control and monitoring: Many users like GoTo Resolve’s remote monitoring and controlling abilities.¹⁵
• Ticket management: According to most reviews, the ticketing system has been found to be efficient at handling problems raised by their clients. Unnecessary information exchange regarding problems at hand is eliminated.¹⁶

Cons

• Reporting: Customization of the reporting is lacking. The reviewer expresses the need for tools that create more complex reports.¹⁷
• Guidance: Explanatory information on features is lacking.  ¹⁸

4. Atera

Atera launched its first product in 2016. The company is based in Tel Aviv and offers AI powered security management solutions.

Pros

• Device management: Users are satisfied with the device management tools such as device control, device monitoring, and notifications.¹⁹
• Pricing driver: The per-technician payment method is liked by reviewers. Pricing is based on the technician number and does put a limit on the number of devices.²⁰

Cons

• Slow connection: Multiple reviews are about the interface and network being slow.²¹
• Patch management: Users disliked that patching is inefficient at times.²²

Source: TrustRadius.²³

Figure 2. The above picture matches features with average user ratings.

5. Kaseya VSA

Kaseya has been delivering IT management solutions since 2000. The company provides its customers with IT security software, service automation, ticket management, and quote management (As mentioned on its website).

Pros

• Windows updates: Users like the product’s ability to update Windows applications. Users describe they can update Windows-based applications easily.²⁴
• Remote management: Many users like the products’ remote management capabilities.²⁵

Cons

• Product updates: Reviewers express concern about the product’s updates. They seem to be problematic at times.²⁶
• User experience: Multiple users address the fact that the product demands a steep learning curve. Understanding the tools and the interface demands effort.²⁷

6. ConnectWise Automate

ConnectWise provides security, automation, and staff support for IT teams. ConnectWise disclosed that a previous version of their product, Screenconnect, a remote desktop monitoring application, has become vulnerable, and user data is at risk. Users should upgrade their product or seek support immediately.²⁸ 

Pros

• Scripts: Reviewers like the availability of ready-to-implement script libraries.²⁹

Cons

• Customer support: Some users are disappointed with customer support.³⁰

Source: G2.³¹

Figure 3. The screenshot depicts ConnectWise Automate’s client page.

7. N-Sight

N-Able has been producing IT management software for 20 years. In 2021, N-Able parted ways with the IT management company SolarWinds.

Pros

• Training: Reviewers like the availability of training content.³²
• Easy use: Multiple users like the product’s easy settings.³³

Cons

• Deployment of functions: The reviewer does not like the product’s responses. The product is claimed to demand useless information when deploying different tools.³⁴
• Navigation: Some users find navigating through the product cumbersome.³⁵ 

8. Pulseway

Pulseway is a software company that delivers IT security, automation, backup, and monitoring solutions. 

Pros

• Mobile app: The user likes the availability of the mobile application and highlights its practicality.³⁶ 
• User interface: Reviewers appreciate the easy-to-use interface.³⁷ 

Cons

• Price: The product’s overall cost has been found to be expensive in comparison to others.³⁸ 
• Remote management: Remotely managing client’s devices seems at times unreliable. The system sleeps off and on; the connection is lost.³⁹

Source: G2.⁴⁰

Figure 4. The above screenshot depicts Pulseway’s user interface.

9. Action1

Action1 is a cyber security software company focused on patch management. Mike Walters and Alex Vovk, who had earlier founded Netwrix, which TA Associates later purchased, founded Action1. 

Pros

• Interface: The easy-to-use interface is liked by most of the reviewers.⁴¹ 
• Device management: Action1 Asset Management add-on feature is found to be very helpful for device control.⁴²

Cons

• Remote management user experience: User experience fails to satisfy user’s needs, when remote monitoring is in process. On the client’s desktop, when monitored, informative notifications are lacking.⁴³
• Mobile application for iOS devices: Mobile application for iOS devices is not available.⁴⁴

Source: G2. ⁴⁵

Figure 5. The above screenshot captures Action1’s user interface.

10. Datto RMM

Datto was founded in 2017 in Texas, America.  The company produces backup, SaaS, remote monitoring and management, professional service automation, quote management software, and hardware such as routers, and WiFi. Datto acquired Bitdam and Infocyte, cyber threat detection and response companies. Later, in 2022, Datto was acquired by Kaseya.

Pros

• Device management: Reviewer praises the product’s endpoint management skills.⁴⁶
• Remote monitoring: There are multiple tools available in the product that offer remote monitoring. The reviewer finds it practical.⁴⁷

Cons

• Configuration process: Reviewers describe the configuration process as complex; the availability of predefined configurations is demanded.⁴⁸
• Patch management: Some users express frustration at patching because the process is claimed to be unambiguous and hard to follow.⁴⁹

RMM market overview

According to the report prepared by Business Research Insights, RMM tools have been increasing in popularity. By 2031, the market share of  RMM tools is expected to rise to USD 1,842.67 million, with a CAGR of 9.1%. The report highlights the effectiveness of the COVID-19 pandemic in its increase. RMM tools boosted with AI technology account for their effectiveness in delivering automated functionality.⁵⁰

What does RMM software do?

RMM software lets IT teams and MSPs remotely track and manipulate system objects such as servers, networks, clients, applications, workstations, and peripheral devices in accordance with needs, requirements, and developments. Thanks to developments in artificial intelligence and machine learning, most of the tasks can be completed by automated tools. 

Source: InfoMSP. ⁵¹

Figure 6. The graphic summarizes the definition for managed service providers (MSPs).

What are RMM software capabilities?

The functional components of the RMM system are called RMM tools. General definitions of common RMM tools are listed below.

1. Remote monitoring

Servers, workstations, networks, apps, and other devices in an organization’s IT environment are all continuously monitored by RMM software. It gathers information on network traffic, system health indicators, resource usage, log reports, and performance measurements.

2. Remote management

Enabling the remote management and troubleshooting of IT systems and devices by administrators, including the installation of settings, scripts, patches, and software upgrades.

3. Security management

Providing security capabilities to guard against malware, cyberthreats, and security breaches, such as antivirus management, intrusion detection, and vulnerability screening.

4. Reporting and analytics

Creating analytics and reports to offer information on security posture, compliance status, system performance, and other important parameters.

5. Alerting and notifications

Producing messages and alerts in response to important events, like system malfunctions, declining system performance, security lapses, or other thresholds that have been set.

6. Patch management

Automating the process of updating and patching firmware, operating systems, and software on a variety of devices.

7. Back-up and incident management

Assisting in the backup and recovery processes for disaster recovery and data protection; frequently includes settings for offsite storage, recovery point objectives (RPOs), and recovery time targets (RTOs).

8. Asset management

Enabling the tracking of hardware and software assets, along with information on licenses, warranties, serial numbers, and device specs, through inventory management tools.

Top 5 benefits of RMM software

Software for remote monitoring and management, or RMM, has many advantages for companies, especially those in the IT services sector or any other industry where technology infrastructure plays a major role. The main advantages are listed below.

1. Efficiency

RMM software makes IT teams more productive with its automation and centralized management features. They can more efficiently allocate resources, prioritize tasks according to their level of severity, and monitor and manage multiple endpoints at once, which will ultimately save time and lower operating expenses.

2. Automation

Regular maintenance chores like patch management, antivirus scans, software updates, and system optimizations can be automated with RMM software. Businesses can guarantee that their systems are safe, current, and operating at peak efficiency without human intervention by automating these tasks.

3. Proactive monitoring

Businesses can identify and address issues before they become more serious by using RMM software to monitor their IT infrastructure in real-time. This proactive strategy reduces downtime and upholds business continuity.

4. Enhanced security

Strong security features like intrusion detection, firewall management, antivirus software, and vulnerability assessments are frequently included in RMM tools. By continuously monitoring for security threats and vulnerabilities, businesses can strengthen their defenses and protect sensitive data from cyberattacks.

5. Scalability

Easily adding new devices, servers, or networks to monitoring and management systems is made possible by RMM software, which is made to grow with your business. This scalability ensures that businesses can adapt to changing needs and expand their IT infrastructure without outgrowing their management tools.

Top 3 challenges for RMM software

Organizations may face a number of difficulties when putting remote monitoring and management (RMM) software into practice. Here are three key challenges:

1. Integration

It may be difficult to integrate RMM software with the current IT systems, procedures, and resources. It is necessary to ensure compatibility and seamless integration with the current infrastructure, particularly when multiple technologies, protocols, or configurations are involved.

Additionally, it could take time, resources, and organizational change management to modify current workflows and procedures to fit the new RMM solution.

2. Compliance

Organizations must ensure the RMM solution adheres to stringent security standards and compliance requirements, such as GDPR, HIPAA, or industry-specific regulations. 

Implementation and design of security policies are challenging tasks, because they require the implementation of multiple security tools, such as access controls, encryption mechanisms, and authentication protocols, to mitigate security risks and protect against unauthorized access.

3. Resource allocation and training

Businesses need to consider costs regarding deployment, hardware, software, and personnel when adapting to remote monitoring and management software. Employees might need an education when introducing RMM into the network.

Top 3 best practices for RMM software

Following specific best practices is necessary to ensure optimal performance, security, and efficiency when implementing remote monitoring and management (RMM) software. Here are five key best practices for RMM software:

1. Customization

Make sure the RMM software is fully configured and customized to match your organization’s unique needs and specifications. This includes setting up monitoring policies, defining alert thresholds, configuring automation rules, and tailoring reports to align with business objectives.

2. Security protocols and access controls

To secure sensitive information and prevent unauthorized access to the RMM platform, put strong security measures in place. This includes enforcing strong authentication mechanisms, implementing role-based access controls (RBAC), and regularly reviewing user permissions.

While remotely accessing devices over the internet, it is important to encrypt communication channels between the managed endpoints and the RMM software to prevent sensitive information from being intercepted and manipulated.

3. Regular maintenance and updates

To keep the RMM software safe and current, perform routine maintenance procedures, including patch management, database maintenance, and software updates.

FAQ

Further reading

• Top 10 Hexnode Alternatives Based on 10,800+ Reviews
• Device Control Policy: Features, Benefits & Challenges
• In-Depth Forcepoint DLP Review
• Top 10 Device Control Software: Review-based Analysis
• Top 10 Endpoint Management Software: 12K+ Reviews

If you need help finding a vendor or have any questions, feel free to contact us:

Find the Right Vendors

External Links

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