NinjaOne vs ConnectWise

Choosing the right IT management platform to meet your company’s needs is no small task. With the vast number of options available in today’s crowded market, it can be tough to determine the differences between these offerings, especially the small distinctions. However, not all platforms are created equal.

You have probably already heard of NinjaOne and ConnectWise, two leading IT management platforms with significant industry adoption. With features and capabilities specifically designed for the needs of modern IT providers, these two platforms are often found at the top of the shortlist as teams evaluate the best solutions for their needs.

NinjaOne and ConnectWise are both RMM (remote monitoring and management) platforms that are looking toward the future with modern integrations and intuitive interfaces. However, while they might seem similar on the surface, there are numerous differences that IT decision-makers should understand before making the ultimate choice.

User interface and usability

ConnectWise and NinjaOne are both mature RMM platforms with a strong set of reporting capabilities, patch management tools, and more. However, many users have reported that NinjaOne has a more intuitive and updated UI than ConnectWise, and find NinjaOne easier to set up and get started with.

Screenshot of ConnectWise’s RMM dashboard (via G2)

ConnectWise users have commented that the dashboard’s comprehensive coverage makes it simple to gain a big-picture overview of their network. However, in terms of updates and features, many users are not fans of where the company has been going—some even say that the old interfaces were more intuitive than those introduced with new updates.

At Atera, we’ve dedicated significant resources to building our UI, which is appreciated by customers for its high-quality visual design, intuitive processes, and easy navigation. With the ability to manage IT assets, workflows, and tasks all in one place, our system is built specifically for IT departments and MSPs, prioritizing the needs of both groups.

Tip: You can read our Atera vs. ConnectWise comparison and Atera vs. NinjaOne comparison here.

Features and capabilities

As you look at NinjaOne alternatives and compare ConnectWise vs NinjaOne, it is important to keep a key differentiator in mind. One of the main distinctions between NinjaOne and ConnectWise is that ConnectWise is specifically targeted toward MSPs, whereas NinjaOne offers a broad range of solutions for both MSPs and IT departments. 

Therefore, ConnectWise may not be as aligned to the needs of IT departments and larger organizations as other alternatives.

ConnectWise offers features like cybersecurity management, unified monitoring and management, RMM offerings, and more. At NinjaOne, you will see similar capabilities, such as endpoint task automation, script deployment, software management, flexible reporting, real-time monitoring, and more. One of ConnectWise’s key offerings is business management, which includes solutions for front and back-office providers. This sector of offerings includes items like PSA, real-time business insight dashboards, advanced quote and proposal automation, documentation, customer service feedback and more.

While both NinjaOne and ConnectWise have robust RMM offerings, neither platform has made significant improvements on their AI offerings, which competitors, such as Atera, have brought to the market.
Users have also noticed this, and it is arguably a drawback of the two platforms, as AI can significantly simplify IT operations. One Reddit user said, “We currently use NinjaOne as well and have been demoing Atera. They have AI built-in to the platform, and you can use regular speech to have it perform a large number of tasks on your endpoints, and it works pretty well.”

Atera’s AI Copilot is accessible from anywhere within the platform, and you can ask it account-specific questions, such as “How can I optimize this slow PC?” Whether you’re managing tickets, troubleshooting devices, or generating scripts, Atera’s AI is there to assist you in real-time.

Performance and reliability

Whether employed in an internal-facing IT department or an MSP, IT technicians across the board understand the importance of performance and reliability. IT systems that are underperforming may experience excessive downtime, and may also be exposed to increased security risks. Choosing an MSP software or IT management tool for IT departments, that is renowned for its robustness and reliability is a sure way to ensure solid performance of your IT ecosystem.

NinjaOne is well-regarded as a reliable tool, and offers a wide range of customer support channels to deal with issues and glitches that arise. While ConnectWise is a preferred platform for many MSPs, users have reported that the platform can be slow and glitchy.

In today’s market, there is no need to settle for software that’s known for its heavy downtime.

At Atera, we pride ourselves on high levels of performance and reliability. Plus, if you ever do run into problems, you can access our support 24/7, offered in several different languages.

Pricing and value for money

IT budget is one of the basic factors that must be taken into account for any software acquisition, including IT management platforms. Neither NinjaOne or ConnectWise shares their pricing online, so it is not possible to do initial cost-benefit analysis without first contacting sales and scheduling demos to request a quote. This can be frustrating when you are trying to do baseline research to determine viability.

What we do know is that both NinjaOne’s and ConnectWise Automate’s RMM pricing plans are based on pay-per-endpoint.  Pay-per-endpoint pricing means that you will experience an upcharge for every endpoint you add, which arguably can get expensive.

In addition to the lack of specific dollar amounts on the NinjaOne and ConnectWise websites, there’s minimal information about the type and setup of their pricing plans. Do they offer all-in-one packages, or do you need to create a custom set of functions? Will you need to pay for add-ons for integrations?

Searching on the internet, we can find some pricing information on both platforms. For example, NinjaOne users state that the pay-per-endpoint pricing starts at $5.30 per endpoint for 50-99 endpoints:

NinjaOne review via Reddit

In addition to this price, users state that you need to pay extra for add-ons such as ticketing or third-party integrations. 

Regarding ConnectWise, their plans generally revolve around a per-endpoint pricing model, but it can vary widely depending on the “deal” that your rep offers you. Users have shared that it can be difficult to feel like you’re getting a straight-up quote.

In one Reddit thread, a user mentioned they were quoted $4.65 per device and over $44 per server:

ConnectWise review via Reddit

This is around the same cost NinjaOne offers. IT teams should keep in mind that this price only includes RMM, and different add-ons and ticketing capabilities may increase the price. For example, for ConnectWise PSA, you need to request another quote.
At Atera, we believe things should be different, and we are committed to transparent pricing. While enterprises can request a custom quotation, our MSP pricing plans range from $129 to $209 per month, and the IT department pricing plans range from $149 to $219 per month. Atera’s pricing plans allow you to manage unlimited endpoints, allowing you to predict costs more easily and making scaling simpler.

Atera’s IT department pricing

Additionally, our platform includes numerous native integrations that you can enjoy at no additional cost. These include well-known IT players like Webroot, IT Glue, Splashtop, AnyDesk, Emsisoft, Bitdefender, and so many more.

Customer support and community

One of the ways to ensure the reliability and performance of an IT management platform is solid customer support. Users of NinjaOne and ConnectWise can take advantage of a wide range of online resources, like blog posts, guides, and tutorials, which they can access at any time to get their questions answered and learn more about specific features and processes. This is invaluable, particularly as reviewers of both platforms are fairly critical of the available tech support, and lament the difficulty of getting in touch with live support agents.

At Atera, we are one of the few IT management platforms offering a 24/7 live chat and email support. In addition, we provide a range of online resources, such as our extensive knowledge base and our blog.
We also host an exclusive online IT community, where IT professionals come together to collaborate on issues and troubleshoot with others who have dealt with similar situations.

Security and compliance

When exploring the right IT management platform for your needs, RMM security is a top requirement. For both MSPs and IT departments, staying ahead of cyber threats and ensuring compliance across your IT environment are key aspects of the job.

When it comes to ConnectWise vs NinjaOne, it’s important to point out that ConnectWise lists cybersecurity as one of its top goals. ConnectWise offers an “MDR” solution, which stands for monitor, detect, and respond. This security plan, like the rest of ConnectWise’s products, is made for MSPs, and ConnectWise can deploy this system to MSP client infrastructure. This helps to minimize client threats and thus client satisfaction with the MSP.

However, NinjaOne does not really consider the issue in its description of RMM offerings.  Its security offerings are tailored for enterprise IT clients, and advanced reporting allows you to manage all of your IT assets at a glance. Additionally, patch operating systems and backup capabilities enhance security. Keep in mind, however, that this is made for large-scale clients and might not necessarily be the right fit for small or midsize businesses.

That said, both platforms have strong security protocols, and according to users, the platforms do enforce security updates on a consistent basis, which provides the necessary compliance.

When looking at ConnectWise and NinjaOne reviews, users are pleased with the platforms’ security offerings and their reporting in this area.

Similarly, Atera is strongly focused on compliance and security in our endpoint management strategy. With smart logging and reporting, and strict adherence to all industry standards, we give our customers unmatched peace of mind, helping to keep their IT systems and organizations safe from the growing threat of cyber attacks.
In addition, enterprises can benefit from Atera’s security integrations with different EDR, XDR, MDR, cybersecurity, backup, antivirus, and email security platforms. The integrations include Bitdefender, Cynet, ESET, Emsisoft, Ironscales, ThreatDown, Webroot, and much more.

User feedback and reviews

NinjaOne and ConnectWise have both received strong reviews in areas such as endpoint management, scripting, support for remote access, and patch management. 

Of the two platforms, NinjaOne is generally considered to be more easy to use, while ConnectWise offers more advanced capabilities. The reviews on both platforms are generally positive, although they have also received criticism.
Many NinjaOne users don’t generally like the lack of transparent pricing, which a Reddit user commented on, “You need to fight for a month to get the best price.”

NinjaOne review via Reddit

As the user mentioned, “seeing 100-300% price differences for the same setups is pretty sickening,” and we couldn’t agree more at Atera, which is why we provide transparent pricing plans.

ConnectWise’s criticism mainly revolves around its customer support, which according to users, is lacking. Users mention that the amount of ways to contact support and the amount of support reps has decreased:

ConnectWise review via Reddit

NinjaOne vs ConnectWise, the bottom line

As NinjaOne vs ConnectWise go head-to-head, this guide has provided an overview of pros and cons of both platforms. Each has a wide range of RMM, patch management, ticketing, and remote access capabilities, aimed towards MSPs and IT teams.

While both platforms offer a wide range of features, neither platform has improved their AI offerings to the levels of what competitors such as Atera offer. Atera’s Autonomous IT uses Agentic AI technology throughout the entire platform to help IT teams eliminate manual processes.

Plus, with Atera’s transparent per-technician pricing, multi-language support, scalability, and online community, it stands as a strong alternative to NinjaOne and ConnectWise.

Would you like to speak to the Atera team to get more information about our all-in-one IT management platform capabilities? Talk to our sales team today.