Atera vs. Datto – The full 2026 comparison

In the world of IT management, two names clearly stand out: Atera and Datto. Both platforms help to simplify IT operations, enhance efficiency, and offer comprehensive support to IT departments.

Datto was initially established as a cybersecurity company but was acquired by Kaseya in 2022. The acquisition resulted in mixed feelings among IT professionals, which left many looking for Datto alternatives.

Atera was built as an all-in-one IT management solution that offers a wide range of features, including remote monitoring and management (RMM), professional services automation (PSA), remote access, Autonomous IT, and more.

Atera vs. Datto: An overview

To help you quickly see the differences between Atera and Datto, we have created the following overview table:

As you can see, Atera and Datto share similar features on the surface, such as RMM and PSA. However, when starting to look closer, we can start seeing clear differences, such as Atera’s innovative Autonomous IT and transparent pay-per-technician pricing.

#1: Features and capabilities

Both Atera and Datto RMM offer cloud-based remote monitoring and management capabilities for both IT departments and MSPs.

Datto’s key offerings include real-time monitoring and alerting, automation, scripting, patch management, remote access, and security integrations. It is most compatible with Windows operating systems.

Datto’s features, such as RMM and PSA, are split between different products:

Many Datto users have commented that the quality of the platform has gone down since the platform was purchased by Kaseya in June of 2022. Many customers have reported billing issues, including overcharging, as well as slower support and glitchy features.

Related to the acquisition, this is what one Reddit user said:

Datto review via Reddit

While Datto has had a strong reputation in the past, it appears to be headed downhill.

Atera, on the other hand, is known for its holistic set of features and capabilities, which makes it ideal for both SMEs and enterprises. Atera’s key features include IT automation, real-time monitoring and alerts, patch management, advanced remote maintenance, numerous integrations, asset and inventory scanning, robust reporting, and so much more.

Unlike Datto, Atera offers these capabilities through its all-in-one platform, so you don’t have to juggle multiple licenses or products for IT management.

#2: Agentic AI development

Agentic AI is changing the way IT operations are managed, so it’s important to compare Atera and Datto here.

Of the two platforms, only Atera has incorporated an Agentic AI technology into its platform, capable of transforming how you manage your IT environment.

Atera’s Robin is the perfect AI agent for enterprises that deal with high ticket volumes, limited IT resources, and staff shortages.

It takes care of your first-tier support by answering customer queries, diagnosing and fixing issues, creating step-by-step instructions, and much more. What’s best, Autopilot works in the channels your end-users already use: Teams, Slack, chat, email, and your Customer Portal.

Autopilot within Microsoft Teams

Autopilot is available 24/7 and learns from the context you give it. This means, the more you teach it, the more helpful it becomes.

If an issue is too complex for Autopilot, it can automatcially escalate it to a human technician, which is when AI Copilot comes in handy.

Atera Copilot is an IT service agent that handles the mundane tasks, so your technicians can focus on the strategic work.

Think of tasks like running health checks, diagnosing and fixing device issues, summarizing tickets, and generating scripts; Copilot is capable of doing all of that autonomously.

As part of device troubleshooting, you can give Copilot account-specific questions/tasks, such as:

• “Check which devices are running on outdated software.”
• “Apply the latest security patches to all endpoints.”
• “Provide a summary of all open high-priority tickets.

Copilot’s filtering capability is especially helpful for enterprises with large device lists. No need for manual filtering; simply ask Copilot to narrow results based on criteria.

Atera is leading the AIOps space with it’s AI agents and G2 even selected us as the #1 best AIOps tool for 2025.

#3: User interface and usability

Both Datto RMM and Atera offer a range of capabilities that users can access and take advantage of through robust dashboards. Each platform allows users to review numerous reports and analytics at the click of a button.

At Atera, we have spent extensive time and effort creating an intuitive user interface (UI) that will facilitate a smooth transition from other IT management platforms.

Our modern dashboards are totally customizable, and our baseline product is designed to ensure a low entry barrier and easy access to all data.

Here is a look at Atera’s admin dashboard:

Screenshot of Atera’s admin dashboard

In comparison, most Datto users say the user dashboard is simple, attractive, and easy to use, although some G2 users point out that it has a steep learning curve due to its many layers of features.

Here is a look at Datto RMM’s admin dashboard:

Screenshot of Datto’s System Status Interface (via Datto)

Comparing the two, many users have commented that Atera’s dashboards and user interface are more intuitive and easy to use, leading to a quicker time-to-use curve and an easier onboarding process.

One Capterra user who switched from Datto to Atera said, “The best part of Atera is how easy it is to navigate. Managing several companies at once is simpler with the way the site is set up.”

Atera review via Capterra

#4: Performance and reliability

Every IT professional knows that performance and reliability are crucial. Excessive downtime poses a serious security risk and, depending on the size, can cost organizations $100,000 or more per hour.

With that in mind, you must ensure that your next IT investment protects you and your organization from these problems.

As you compare Datto vs Atera, you will find that users have reported different quality and levels of support for ensuring performance and reliability. After parent company Kaseya acquired Datto nearly two years ago, users have experienced significantly less reliable support and long wait times to speak with a live agent or receive assistance.

Support is a crucial piece of avoiding downtime, and Datto has been falling in that area recently. Here is one user’s perspective, noting that the tech support has gone downhill:

Datto review via Reddit

In comparison, our team at Atera has made incredible advancements in expanding our support offerings. We have compiled a wide range of digital resources, including an in-depth knowledge base, a constantly updated blog, and a thriving online community – and that’s all before we have touched on our 24/7 support.

Finally, our commitment to proactive IT solutions, as opposed to reactive IT solutions, amplifies our performance and reliability. With Atera’s RMM, you will enjoy real-time monitoring and alerts that allow you to anticipate potential problems and then address them before they spiral out of control.

Atera gives you a truly bird’s-eye view of your entire IT environment that allows you to act quickly when problems arise and, oftentimes, resolve issues before they become serious. Our RMM suite is also equipped with in-depth reporting and analytics, Agentic AI technology, a complete activity log, asset and inventory scanning, and more.

#5: Pricing and value for money

When evaluating IT management platforms like Atera and Datto RMM, any decision maker will need to account for the budget. With Atera, you will always know what you are signing on for. We are dedicated to transparent pricing – we want you to fully understand what you are getting and our value proposition.

Our unique pricing model makes growth and scalability possible without emptying out your wallet. The pay-per-technician model starts at just $149 per month for IT departments.

Unfortunately, Datto does not provide transparent pricing information online. You will need to reach out to their sales team to get a customized quote. With a lack of clear pricing information, it can be difficult to tell if you are truly getting strong value for your investment.

Datto’s RMM pricing is based on a custom quotation

#6: Customer support and community

We have touched on the importance of reliability and performance – and customer support is a piece of that equation. Atera and Datto both have a selection of online resources such as blog posts, guides, and tutorials. Both platforms also offer real-time user assistance through live chat and email.

Atera is well-known for its 24/7 customer service, which offers support to users at any hour of the day (even at night). One G2 user commented on our support and said, “Customer support is live chat and when they cannot resolve it immediately, they escalate it further up the chain.”

We are proud of our commitment to making troubleshooting simple for all of our users.

Despite Datto’s claim to offer 24/5 customer support, many users have been disappointed with the service provided. One Reddit user said, “It took me 9 days to escalate an issue only to be told it was a known issue with no resolution.”

Datto review via Reddit

Another place where Atera users can troubleshoot issues is in Atera’s active IT community. 

Our community is the subject of strong praise from users, who find it an excellent place to network with fellow IT pros, be the first to know about Atera news and features, and receive feedback from others who have dealt with similar situations. When you join Atera’s IT community, you will see for yourself why this community has received such generous praise!

Another part of this equation is end-user support.

With Atera’s Autopilot, users have access to 24/7 autonomous IT support, which ensures their issues are addressed instantly, without waiting for a technician to become available. This means, employee downtime and costs are minimized.

#7: Security and compliance

Datto was initially created as a cybersecurity-focused company, and its commitment to safety and security remains strong. Its reputation in this area precedes it. However, that is not to say that Atera lags behind – in fact, the opposite is true.

We are highly focused on our commitment to compliance and security. Atera’s robust, built-in security is at the center of everything we do — so you can be sure your data is always safe and protected. Atera has achieved ISO/IEC 27001, 27017, 27018, and 27032 compliances.

We are constantly developing our cybersecurity offerings, and we are proud to compete with all major players in this space. With endpoint management, zero-trust architecture, and so much more, we are dedicated to providing our customers with effective cybersecurity and compliance measures.

How does Atera act on this commitment to security? It all begins with our smart logging and reporting capabilities and our promise of strict adherence to all industry security standards. 

Our automated patch management helps ensure that nothing slips through the cracks and that malevolent actors do not take advantage of bugs publicized by a software provider.

Plus, Atera’s AI agents add a layer of security by detecting and addressing potential issues before they impact your workflow. Autopilot automatically installs and updates pre-approved software, removing one of the most commonly exploited vulnerabilities: outdated applications.

Additionally, we have numerous security-focused integrations to allow you to combine Atera with your favorite cybersecurity platforms. Our integrations include Cynet, Keeper, ESET, Emsisoft, Webroot, ThreatDown, Bitdefender, and Ironscales. We are also GDPR compliant, HIPAA compliant, and AICPA SOC2 compliant. At Atera, your security is our top priority.

#8: User feedback and reviews

Across G2 and Capterra (two leading customer review platforms), Atera has an average rating of 4.6 stars with almost 1,200 reviews, while Datto RMM has an average rating of 4.5 stars with almost 600 reviews.

Atera has an edge over Datto RMM and beats it across all G2 categories:

G2 comparison of Atera and Datto

Atera users appreciate the platform’s fair per-technician pricing, all-in-one functionality, and Agentic AI capabilities, which eliminate manual and repetitive IT management tasks.

One G2 user said, “Atera’s AI has transformed our IT workflow. The AI troubleshooting is a game-changer; it helps us resolve issues 70% faster.”

Another Capterra user said, “I love the integration of AI within the ticketing and scripting. It helps when you forget that one command to make progress.”

Atera’s commitment to continuous innovation is also highly regarded by our users. One G2 user said, “Atera continues to push the envelope, now incorporating more AI tools to help monitor and maintain the broad spectrum of endpoints.”

In comparison, Datto has also mostly received positive feedback from users, although it declined significantly after Kaseya acquired it. The feedback is often related to the platform’s ease of use, available integrations, and RMM capabilities.

Atera vs. Datto: what’s the conclusion?

In conclusion, when comparing Atera and Datto, it is evident that both platforms offer robust IT management solutions with their own unique strengths.

Atera stands out for its user-friendly interface, comprehensive feature set, and commitment to continuous AI innovation. The platform’s intuitive design allows businesses to easily navigate and leverage its powerful tools, even without extensive technical expertise. With a wide range of features, from remote monitoring and management to ticketing and AI agents, Atera provides a holistic solution that caters to the diverse needs of IT professionals.

Atera is the only IT management platform powered by Agentic AI to help organizations eliminate Tier 1 support, cut down response and resolution times, and boost operational efficiency.

Before making a final decision about IT software, it’s important to conduct thorough research. Some of the best ways to do so are to request demos, sign up for free trials, and speak with company representatives to learn more about each platform’s capabilities.

Wondering where to start? Talk with our customer support team today to see if Atera is right for you.