Top 11 SolarWinds Alternatives IT Teams Are Using in 2026

The IT management market is saturated with different options, making it challenging for customers to find a suitable software solution. Some tools focus on specific aspects of IT management, while others cover all IT organizations’ needs in one package.

SolarWinds is a trusted IT service management solution for IT teams, but it doesn’t fit the bill for all users. To help you make the best decision for you and your organization, we have reviewed the top 11 alternatives to SolarWinds below. After that, we will look at what SolarWinds is, what its strengths are, and why IT teams look for alternatives.

11 best SolarWinds alternatives for IT teams in 2026

1. Atera
2. Jira
3. ManageEngine
4. ConnectWise
5. ServiceNow
6. Freshservice
7. SysAid
8. LogMeIn
9. Lansweeper
10. NinjaOne
11. SuperOps

Let’s now review the best SolarWinds alternatives for IT management. For each alternative, we will look at the key features, pros and cons, and pricing so you can make a more informed decision on the solution that’s right for you.

1. Atera

Key differences

1. Key features: When comparing Atera vs SolarWinds, Atera’s all-in-one IT management platform includes remote monitoring and management (RMM), patch management, IT ticketing, PSA, Network discovery, integrations with third-party software, and Agentic AI technology at the core of the product. SolarWinds focuses on features such as IT service management, service desk, asset management, incident management, and IT security.

2. Agentic AI: Atera is the first IT management platform to introduce Agentic AI through its autonomous IT agents, which cut 40% of your IT workload and eliminate 100% of tasks that drain your team.

We’re recognized as leaders in the AIOps market, with G2 selecting Atera as the #1 best AIOps tool for 2026.

SolarWinds offers AI capabilities for its Service Desk, but it does not extend AI across the entire platform like Atera does.

3. Customer support: Atera provides industry-leading customer support through 24/7 live chat, extensive knowledge bases, webinars, and customer communities. SolarWinds offers similar self-help materials, but customer support is only available through tickets, which customers report taking a long time to respond to.

4. User interface: Atera is commonly known as one of the most user-friendly IT management solutions. SolarWinds doesn’t share that strength, as many customers cite complications with the user interface.

1. Features and capabilities

Both Atera and SolarWinds cater to enterprises and growing businesses with their range of IT management features.

Atera offers an all-in-one IT management platform with complete RMM, network discovery, PSA, helpdesk and help desk , IT security, Agentic AI technology at its core, and many native integrations to expand your capabilities seamlessly.

In comparison, SolarWinds offers features like observability, network management, systems management, database management, ITSM, and service desk, which are spread across multiple products. SolarWinds’ diversity may appeal to some users; however, most users prefer a streamlined and all-in-one toolset like Atera’s.

Atera’s clear standout feature over other SolarWinds alternatives is its AI agents, which take on manual and repetitive tasks off techs’ tables, freeing their time for more strategic tasks.

Atera’s Robin takes care of your first-tier support by interacting with end-users on channels, such as Microsoft Teams, Slack, email, or your Customer Portal.

It doesn’t just respond to user queries; it’s capable of:

• Solving actual issues, such as doing password resets, unlocking users, and running scripts
• Providing personalized assistance, such as step-by-step instructions or software setup guidance
• Installing pre-approved software on users’ devices without technician involvement
• Proactively detecting and addressing issues before they impact your workflows
• Escalating more complex issues to human technicians, with a full context of the problem

Autopilot is ideal for enterprises dealing with high ticket volumes and limited staff shortages.

With Autopilot providing 24/7 support, end-user satisfaction increases, and employee downtime is minimized.

Atera’s AI Copilot is our second AI agent, which is your go-to IT companion for running health checks, summarizing Splashtop remote sessions, generating scripts, crafting CLI commands, or generating ready-to-use KB articles.

For example, Atera’s AI script generator corrects script issues such as poor device performance or application crashes. You simply need to write instructions for the tool to generate the script automatically.

SolarWinds also has built-in AI capabilities, but these are limited to AI-generated responses from the service desk.

2. User interface and usability

Among all IT management platforms, Atera is well known for its intuitive user interface. (It even won a G2 award for ease of use and implementation.) From the ground up, Atera’s dashboard and interfaces are designed to be intuitive and easy to use. New users can be up and running within minutes of signing up.

Atera’s admin dashboard

Reviews for SolarWinds’ user interface tend to be more skewed. Customers report that the platform’s complex user interface makes it difficult to use on a daily basis.

Screenshot of SolarWinds

While Atera and SolarWinds offer similar features, they have entirely different dashboards and user interfaces. (See the images above.)

3. Pricing plans and value for money

Unlike most SolarWinds competitors, Atera uses a transparent pay-per-technician pricing model. Users pay a fixed price no matter how many endpoints/devices they manage. Atera’s monthly subscription includes all-in-one IT management functionality, whereas SolarWinds users may need to combine different products to get the necessary features.

Here are Atera’s pricing plans laid out:

Atera pricing plans for IT departments:

• Professional: $149 per month, per technician
• Expert: $189 per month, per technician
• Master: $219 per month, per technician
• Enterprise: Custom quotation; contact sales for pricing

Atera pricing plans for MSPs:

• Pro: $129 per month, per technician
• Growth: $179 per month, per technician
• Power: $209 per month, per technician
• Superpower (Enterprise): Custom quotation; contact sales for pricing

While SolarWinds has pay-per-technician pricing for its Service Desk, most of its other IT monitoring products are based on pay-per-device.

4. Customer reviews and ratings

Atera’s G2 Rating: 4.6 out of 5 stars (840+ reviews)

SolarWinds’s G2 Rating: 4.4 out of 5 stars (700+ reviews)

What Atera users are saying on G2:

• “Atera AI integrations really help our Level 1 technicians to succeed. The automation of scripts on alerts and Copilot pointing technicians in the right direction makes Atera a cut above the rest,” a G2 user says.

• “Atera continues to push the envelope, now incorporating more AI tools to help monitor and maintain the broad spectrum of endpoints,” a G2 user says.

Atera’s Capterra Rating: 4.6 out of 5 stars (400+ reviews)

SolarWinds’s Capterra Rating: 4.6 out of 5 stars (500+ reviews)

What Atera users are saying on Capterra:

• “Atera uses AI technology to automate and streamline IT operations, thus saving time and eliminating manual work and repetitive tasks,” a Capterra user says.

• “Atera is a must-have for RMM, and the AI Copilot function is amazing! It can help you to solve an issue and also help create a knowledge base for the issue,” a Capterra user says.

2. Jira Service Management

Jira Service Management is an ITSM platform for IT, HR, and enterprise teams. Like SolarWinds, it offers IT asset management, incident management, request management, and knowledge management capabilities. As part of the Jira product family, it integrates with other Jira products, including Jira Product Management.

Jira Service Management caters to many different industries and does not tailor its solutions to IT management as Atera does. For this reason, IT professionals may find its features are too broad and general.

G2 Rating: 4.2 out of 5.0 (750+ reviews)

Capterra Rating: 4.5 out of 5.0 (600+ reviews)

Jira Service Management Pricing:

• Free: Free for up to 3 technicians
• Standard: $22 per month per technician
• Premium: $49 per month per technician
• Enterprise: Pricing is based on custom quotation; visit their website to learn more.

3. ManageEngine ServiceDesk Plus

ManageEngine ServiceDesk Plus belongs to the ManageEngine family and is a suitable alternative to SolarWinds for small businesses, IT departments, and enterprises that need service desk capabilities. The platform includes incident management, asset management, project management, and service catalog features.

Users requiring more all-in-one IT management functionality can integrate it with another ManageEngine product—ManageEngine RMM Central—for remote monitoring and management capabilities. Customers with a flexible budget who can pay for multiple subscriptions might appreciate this highly customizable option.

G2 Rating: 4.2 out of 5.0 stars (200+ reviews)

Capterra Rating: 4.4 out of 5.0 stars (200+ reviews)

ManageEngine ServiceDesk Plus Pricing:

• Custom quotation. Contact ManageEngine’s sales team on their website for more details.

4. ConnectWise

ConnectWise offers a suite of tools for MSPs and IT departments to manage their IT environments. The closest alternative to SolarWinds is ConnectWise PSA, which has helpdesk and ticketing, time tracking and billing, account management, and analytics and reporting features.

ConnectWise also has a mobile app for its service desk, allowing users to manage and resolve issues on the go. ConnectWise PSA is known for its robust capabilities, but numerous users report that it’s complicated to use. This drawback means users pour considerable resources into learning to use the software, which is especially problematic for smaller businesses.

G2 Rating: 4.1 out of 5.0 (130+ reviews)

Capterra Rating: 4.2 out of 5.0 (130+ reviews)

ConnectWise Automate Pricing:

• Custom quotation: Available from their team upon request.

5. ServiceNow

ServiceNow offers an ITSM solution for IT departments and MSPs. Its ITSM features include IT asset management, incident and problem management, contract management, and user request fulfillment with a self-service portal.

ServiceNow is a respectable alternative for basic IT service management. However, it lacks some core features of other solutions, such as RMM, patch management, and advanced remote access.

G2 Rating: 4.3 out of 5.0 (800+ reviews)

Capterra Rating: 4.5 out of 5.0 (250+ reviews)

ServiceNow ITSM Pricing:

• Based on a custom quotation; contact the ServiceNow team to learn more.

6. Freshservice

Freshservice is an ITSM solution with service desk, knowledge management, incident management, and change management features. It integrates seamlessly with other Freshworks products and third-party software. For MSPs, Freshservice has an MSP Mode that allows them to create multiple customer portals for different customers.

Freshservice is a popular option for basic IT service management. However, IT teams that need more advanced capabilities, such as RMM and patch management, may find it lacking.

G2 Rating: 4.6 out of 5.0 stars (1,200+ reviews)

Capterra Rating: 4.5 out of 5.0 stars (500+ reviews)

Freshservice Pricing:

• ITSM plans start at $115 per month per technician

7. SysAid

SysAid is an AI-powered IT service management platform for MSPs, IT departments, and small businesses. With features such as help desk and ticketing, asset management, remote control, reporting and analytics, and workflow automation, SysAid aims to help IT staff work more efficiently.

SysAid uses an AI-powered IT ticketing tool. Technicians can access AI ticket summarization, categorization, and insights. Note that while SysAid’s AI capabilities relate mostly to its help desk feature, Atera’s AI extends to other areas, including RMM and patch management.

G2 Rating: 4.5 out of 5.0 stars (700+ reviews)

Capterra Rating: 4.5 out of 5.0 stars (450+ reviews)

SysAid Pricing:

• Based on custom quotation. Book a demo call with SysAid to receive pricing.

8. LogMeIn Resolve

LogMeIn Resolve (formerly GoTo Resolve) is an all-in-one IT management solution for MSPs and IT managers. Its capabilities include real-time device monitoring and management, IT automation, help desk, asset management, and remote access.

LogMeIn Resolve is known for its intuitive user interface and is popular among small businesses that seek simplicity. While it’s a cost-effective option, it’s not the most customizable.

G2 Rating: 4.4 out of 5.0 (400+ reviews)

Capterra Rating: 4.4 out of 5.0 (200+ reviews)

LogMeIn Resolve Pricing:

• Remote Access: $23 per month, up to 25 devices
• Remote Support Plus: $44 per month, up to 100 devices
• Standard: $57 per month
• Premium: Custom pricing is available

9. Lansweeper

Lansweeper provides IT asset management and service desk solutions for IT departments, MSPs, system administrators, and cybersecurity teams. Some of its key features include unified asset inventory, cross-platform asset discovery, risk insights, reporting, and analytics.

Lansweeper is focused on the IT asset discovery portion of IT management, arguably at the expense of other features, such as RMM, patch management, and advanced PSA.

G2 Rating: 4.4 out of 5.0 stars (50+ reviews)

Capterra Rating: 4.5 out of 5.0 stars (60+ reviews)

Lansweeper Pricing:

• Starter: Starting at $219 per month, for 2000 assets
• Pro: Starting at $399 per month, for 2000 assets
• Enterprise: Custom pricing. Starts from 10,000 assets

10. NinjaOne

NinjaOne is an IT management solution with RMM, helpdesk and ticketing, patch management, and mobile device management (MDM) capabilities. It also has different third-party integrations for more functionality. If you need an all-in-one IT management alternative to SolarWinds, NinjaOne may be a suitable option.

NinjaOne’s main drawback is its pricing model, which is structured pay-per-endpoint. This means that the more endpoints you manage, the higher the price. NinjaOne alternatives that are priced pay-per-technician, such as Atera, are better suited for users who value cost-effectiveness.

G2 Rating: 4.7 out of 5.0 (1,700+ reviews)

Capterra Rating: 4.8 out of 5.0 (200+ reviews)

NinjaOne Pricing:

• Pricing is based on custom quotation; to learn more, visit their website.

11. SuperOps

SuperOps is a PSA-RMM platform specifically designed for MSPs who want to manage their IT environment within one platform. The platform’s key features are service desk, remote monitoring and management, patch management, remote access, IT documentation, and project management.

SuperOps uses pay-per-technician pricing for MSPs. It also charges extra if you exceed the maximum number of endpoints per plan. This is a slight disadvantage compared to solutions that allow unlimited endpoints, such as Atera.

G2 Rating: 4.6 out of 5.0 stars (100+ reviews)

Capterra Rating: N/A

SuperOps Pricing:

• MSP pricing: Starting at $129 per month for the unified PSA and RMM package
• IT team pricing: Starting at $150 per month for 100 devices

What is SolarWinds?

SolarWinds offers a suite of tools for IT professionals to manage their IT environments. One of its main products, SolarWinds Service Desk, includes a service desk for handling and resolving service requests, an asset management solution for managing IT assets, and an incident management tool for resolving problems.

Why look for a SolarWinds alternative?

We looked into customer review platforms such as G2, Capterra, and Gartner. Our research revealed that SolarWinds’s limitations include a steep learning curve, security concerns, and a lack of customer support. Let’s examine each of these in more detail.

1. Steep learning curve

Many SolarWinds customers find the platform challenging to learn due to its cluttered interface and extensive customization options.

While the ability to customize is an advantage, the complex interface can make it difficult to use these features fully. Although users can eventually learn to use SolarWinds effectively, a complicated user interface creates ongoing issues, particularly for new technicians who have to undergo a lengthy training process.

One Capterra user mentioned the following about SolarWinds’ interface:

SolarWinds review via Capterra

Another user mentioned the following about the steep learning curve:

SolarWinds review via Capterra

When selecting a SolarWind alternative, look for an option with an intuitive user interface and quick setup process. One example is Atera, which has won multiple G2 awards for its ease of use and intuitive user interfaces.

2. Customers have security concerns

SolarWinds had its major security breach in 2020, which affected thousands of government agencies, enterprises, and IT service providers. However, this wasn’t the only security concern customers have had.

In 2019, their update server was accessible via a simple password that was leaked to the internet. And, just last year, SolarWinds appeared in the news regarding a warning of exploitation of a critical vulnerability in SolarWinds Web Help Desk.

All of these events combined have left many customers concerned about the company’s security practices.

In response to the latest security risk with SolarWinds Web Help Desk, Reddit users commented the following:

SolarWinds review via Reddit

As any IT professional knows all too well, security is a key factor to consider when choosing a management platform. For this reason, these security concerns are a notable drawback of SolarWinds.

3. Customer support slow to respond

For customer assistance, SolarWinds offers various self-help materials, including online resources, blog posts, guides, and knowledge bases that users can access at any time of day.

In addition, users can open support tickets for more personalized support.

SolarWinds has received criticism for its ticket support, which, according to Reddit users, has slow response times and repetitive requests for information. Users report waiting days, even after escalation, without meaningful updates or resolution:

SolarWinds review via Reddit

In our opinion, support should be available immediately when issues arise. This is why Atera offers 24/7 live chat and email support for all customers, so you can get help whenever you need it (day or night).

What are SolarWinds’ strengths?

SolarWinds has several advantages, including its service desk system and reliable customer service.

1. Effective service desk system

While this isn’t a standout feature per se, as most alternatives offer similar functionality –  SolarWinds users on Capterra value the service desk system. One Capterra user specifically mentions, “For IT issue management, change management, and software purchase approvals, we use SolarWinds ServiceDesk.”

2. IT monitoring capabilities

SolarWinds can be used to monitor IT infrastructure, including networks, servers, applications, databases, and cloud environments, which is something users appreciate. One G2 user mentions using it for monitoring routers, switches, and firewalls.

SolarWinds pros and cons: Takeaways

According to customer reviews, the pros and cons of SolarWinds are as follows.

The pros:

• Good helpdesk and ticketing capabilities for addressing and resolving issues
• Users can monitor networks, servers, applications, and cloud environments

The cons:

• SolarWinds has a steep learning curve
• Customers have raised security concerns
• Customer support has declined in the past years