Datto Review: A full look at its RMM, PSA, & backup tools

Datto is an RMM/PSA tool designed for MSPs that need to manage their clients’ IT environments. 

It’s easy to use and has broad integrations, but users find the new UI updates limiting and say that the quality of the platform and support has declined after the recent Kaseya acquisition.

To help you get an honest picture of Datto, we’ve created this review. We’ve looked at Datto’s key features, pricing, AI technology, security, and user interface.

We’ll also share user reviews and compare it to the top Datto alternatives, so you know when another option is better.

What is Datto?

Datto was initially known as a backup solution, but has expanded to include other parts of IT, such as RMM software, PSA, and network monitoring. As of now, it’s best known for its Datto RMM product, which is used to secure, monitor, and manage workstations, servers, and other network devices. 

Datto was acquired by Kaseya and is part of the Kaseya product family.

#1: Key features of Datto

Datto isn’t just one product; it’s a suite of products designed to protect your clients’ data and devices from potential threats.

Datto’s main products and their features are:

1. Datto RMM: Monitor, manage, and support your clients’ IT infrastructure remotely.

2. Datto SIRIS:  BCDR solution that combines backup, recovery, and disaster recovery capabilities.

3. Datto EDR: Endpoint detection and response platform that identifies, analyzes, and stops cyber threats.

4. Datto ALTO: Datto’s second BCDR solution for small businesses that need quick backup and recovery for limited endpoints.

5. Datto Autotask PSA: PSA tool for ticketing, contracts, billing, and service management.

6. Datto AV: Antivirus software that helps to detect and block malware, ransomware, and other endpoint threats.

Datto’s products

Datto aims to compete in the all-in-one IT management space with its range of products. While it’s possible to create an all-in-one software from Datto’s products, each product comes with its own subscription cost, which can quickly skyrocket.

With Atera, you get a similar feature set to Datto’s with one simple monthly/annual subscription.

Atera’s true all-in-one feature set includes:

• RMM software for monitoring and securing endpoints
• AI agents for autonomously managing 40% of your IT workload
• Help desk and ticketing for customer support and issue tracking
• Remote access for quick troubleshooting from anywhere
• Patch management to keep endpoints up-to-date and secure
• Network discovery for full visibility into devices in your IT environment
• Reporting and analytics to get insights into IT performance and costs

With Atera, you don’t need to invest in redundant software for IT management. Still, we offer broad integrations for enterprises relying on third-party tools for endpoint security.

#2: Agentic AI technology

Datto recently introduced its AI assistant (Cooper Copilot), which works on the Autotask PSA product. It’s essentially the same AI assistant as Kaseya’s Cooper AI, just rebranded under the Datto name.

Cooper Copilot assists with crafting instant ticket summaries, refining responses, and generating step-by-step resolution notes for completed tickets.

Unfortunately, Datto’s AI assistant is limited only to its ticketing system, which is a notable drawback. Alternatives, like Atera, expand its Agentic AI technology to all parts of IT, capable of solving real-world IT issues just like technicians would.

Atera’s Robin is built for IT teams facing rising ticket volumes and growing demands for instant resolution. It handles your first-tier support by interacting with users on the channels they already live in, whether it’s email, Slack, Teams, or your Customer portal.

The best part is, Autopilot doesn’t just respond to user queries; it’s capable of solving actual issues.

If an issue is too complex for Autopilot, it automatically escalates it to a human technician, with a full context of the issue.

For technicians dealing with manual and repetitive tasks, we have Atera Copilot. It’s your go-to IT companion for running health checks, executing scripts and terminal commands, and summarizing tickets. Copilot can truly do it all. 

#3: Interface and usability

Datto boasts many interfaces across its different products, and most people agree that they’re easy to use.

Datto doesn’t have much information on their website about how their interfaces look, but this is what we found:

Datto RMM interface (via Datto)

One G2 user said, “Datto is quite easy to use; I didn’t have to train much to use it. You could tweak as much as you want, even on a not-so-good internet connection.”

As a drawback, some users have commented that Datto’s interface has gotten worse in recent years, possibly due to the Kaseya acquisition.

This is how Datto’s interface ease of use compares to some of its main competitors:

As you can see, Atera has a slight advantage over Datto RMM and other alternatives to it.

This is mainly thanks to our intuitive interfaces that make onboarding quick for both technicians and end-users. 

Here’s a look at Atera’s admin dashboard:

One Capterra user who switched from Datto to Atera said, “The best part about Atera is that it is super easy to navigate. Managing several companies at once is simpler with the way the site is set up; it’s all really clear.”

No matter if you’re managing five or 1000+ endpoints, you’ll have a clear picture of your IT infrastructure in a matter of days, not months or years.

#4: Security and compliance

Originally, Datto was a cybersecurity company, and its commitment to safety and security remains strong. It offers multiple products for backups and protecting your data.

For example, Datto SIRIS is a backup and disaster recovery solution that protects your backups and helps you secure data at every stage of its lifecycle. Another Datto product, Datto Unified Backup, is for MSPs that want to protect their clients’ Windows-based computers and quickly recover data if needed.

At Atera, we’re also highly focused on our commitment to compliance and security. With endpoint management, zero-trust architecture, and backups, we’re proud to compete with Datto in this space.

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

#5: Pricing and plans

Datto offers multiple products, each with its own pricing plan. What we know is that the base pricing structure is pay-per-endpoint, which means you pay for the number of endpoints/devices you manage.

Unfortunately, Datto’s pricing plans aren’t publicly listed, making it difficult to review them fully. To get the pricing, you need to fill out a form on Datto’s website.

The lack of transparent pricing is arguably a drawback of Atera. Datto alternatives, like Atera, have fully transparent pricing plans, which make it easy to estimate how much the exact monthly cost will be.

Not only this, Atera’s pricing is pay-per-technician, which differs from most RMM pricing plans. This means that you can manage unlimited endpoints/devices for a fixed cost, making scaling predictable.

#6: User feedback and reviews

Let’s continue with an honest look at Datto’s user feedback. While the RMM capabilities and integrations were the strengths, the subpar customer service, quality decline, and new UI updates were the limitations.

Datto pros: What real users like about the platform

These are the things customers appreciated about Datto:

RMM capabilities:

Datto is best known for its RMM software, which lets users manage their computers and other network devices in an organization. One G2 user said, “There are lots of ways to filter out devices, alerts, software, and more.”

While users found these features helpful, they’re essentially the baseline features of the best RMM software. Atera offers the same features, but also stand-out features, like Network Discovery and innovative AI agents that automate manual and repetitive tasks and help technicians resolve issues faster.

Integrations with other platforms:

Another benefit of Datto is its extensive third-party integrations with network security, CRM, PSA, and helpdesk software. Datto RMM also integrates with other Datto products, which users appreciate.

One G2 user said, “The integration with Datto BCDR and Datto SaaS simplifies backup management through a single portal.”

At Atera, we also offer extensive third-party integrations with ESET, Miradore, Cynet, Keeper, ThreatDown, Bitdefender, Webroot, and more. Many of our integrations, such as with AnyDesk and Splashtop, are included in our base pricing plans.

We also have the added benefit of our Robin integrations, which make sure your automation works wherever your IT lives.

Datto cons: What real users find limiting

This is what users found limiting about Datto:

Changes to the UI that make it harder to use:

Datto has recently made changes to its UI, which according to users, have made it more difficult to use and some features don’t work.

For example, this is what one Reddit user said:

Another Capterra user said, “Nothing works on the new platform. Screen Connect no matter which one you choose to use, is inconsistent.”

At Atera, we constantly update our user interface to make it even more intuitive to use. But we always keep the base

Quality decline since the acquisition:

After Kaseya acquired Datto in 2022, customers mentioned a decline in the platform’s quality. This is visible in users getting overcharged, support quality declining, and changes to the UI that users don’t like.

This is what one Reddit user said:

In another Reddit thread, users commented this:

At Atera, we take a proactive approach to making sure users are happy with our product offerings.

Atera has a feature board, where users like you can submit and vote for new ideas. When a feature gets a large number of votes, we know that it is in high demand and will be considered for implementation.

Customer support has declined:

Long time Datto users say that the customer support quality has declined in the past years and getting a solution can take months.

For example, see what this Reddit user said:

Another user said, “Datto is still a great product. However, the support has fallen off a cliff. There are more bugs and outages that they don’t bother alerting about, so you have to open a case.”

To prevent this from happening, Atera offers 24/7 live chat and email support. This means you’ll always have access to high-quality support.

The only Datto alternative with Agentic AI technology

While Datto can prove to be helpful for IT teams with basic RMM and PSA needs, we genuinely believe that Atera offers more value for most enterprises.

Unlike traditional IT management solutions that rely on obsolete technology, Atera enables IT to run autonomously, completely transforming how organizations operate in the modern world.

With Robin handling up to 40% of routine workloads by empowering users to resolve issues on their own, and AI Copilot working alongside technicians with better insights, Atera enables IT teams to do more with less.

Interested in learning more? Sign up for Atera’s 30-day free trial today to try the AI agents yourself.

Or, get in touch with our sales team today to discuss your specific needs further.