Looking for a ManageEngine alternative? Whether you're currently using ServiceDesk Plus for IT Service Management or AssetExplorer for tracking hardware and software, it’s important to know there are other options that might be a better fit for your organization’s needs. While ManageEngine offers a wide portfolio of tools, it’s not uncommon for teams to outgrow specific modules, face integration challenges, or want a more modern interface and support experience.
In this article, we’ll break down alternatives to both ManageEngine ServiceDesk Plus and AssetExplorer. These tools cover different areas—one focused on IT support and service delivery, the other on asset tracking and lifecycle management—so we’ve organized our suggestions accordingly.
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TL;DR
ManageEngine offers cost-effective tools with a broad product portfolio and robust customization features. However, users have also found that the product's innovation can stay behind, that it presents limited integrations, and that customer support is unsatisfactory.In this article, we'll cover alternatives for two ManageEngine products - Click on the link to jump to details of each tool.
ManageEngine ServiceDesk Plus alternatives:
ManageEngine AssetExplorer alternatives:
What is ManageEngine?
ManageEngine is a division of Zoho Corporation that develops IT operations management software for businesses of all sizes. It offers a wide range of tools for IT Service Management (ITSM), network monitoring, endpoint management, and IT Asset Management (ITAM). Two of its most widely adopted products are ServiceDesk Plus and AssetExplorer.
- ServiceDesk Plus focuses on IT Service Management, offering support ticketing, incident and Problem Management, change workflows, and knowledge bases.
- AssetExplorer, on the other hand, is dedicated to IT Asset Management. It helps track hardware and software assets throughout their lifecycle, including discovery, inventory, license compliance, and auditing.
Disadvantages of ManageEngine
- Complex pricing structure: With multiple editions, add-ons, and separate tools, it can be difficult to estimate total cost.
- Customization can be technical: Configuration beyond defaults often requires scripting knowledge or vendor support.
- Low product innovation: While the vendor has introduced some AI/ML capabilities over the past 12 months for field and template recommendations, it still lags behind more advanced products in this category.
- Limited integrations beyond the Zoho ecosystem: Customers may be forced to build custom API connections to many other popular ITOM tools.
- In 2023, 24 company products were affected by two significant vulnerabilities rated 9.8 out of 10 on the severity scale (they allowed remote execution of malicious code and were patched).
Reviews for ManageEngine ServiceDesk Plus
Users generally provide positive feedback about ManageEngine products across platforms like Gartner Peer Insights and G2. Users highlight the excellent automation capabilities, which simplifies Incident Management.
Some users feel that the user interface could be improved for a better user experience, with certain parts feeling outdated or harder to navigate.
Support can be inconsistent, with some users experiencing difficulties in communication or receiving timely assistance. Lastly, the reporting capabilities are a point of contention, with some users finding them useful while others consider them not very effective or lacking depth.
"Overall, the software is OK for a service desk or helpdesk tool. It can be very flexible, but requires some coding to really get it working right. Their support team will assist with the coding often times, but they can be difficult to work with. (...) The interface is not as smooth as others I have used, unfortunately."
User review from Gartner, IT Manager
6 best ManageEngine ServiceDesk Plus alternatives
InvGate Service Management
InvGate Service Management is an advanced software solution for IT Service Management. It assists organizations in streamlining their IT support processes and improving overall service delivery to end-users.
The software offers the flexibility of both cloud-based and on-premise deployment options, allowing organizations to choose the hosting environment that best suits their requirements.
With InvGate Service Management, organizations can establish a cutting-edge IT services department equipped with industry best practices, including Incident Management, Problem Management, Change Management, and Service Management capabilities. It also provides a self-service platform and personalized dashboards and reports to enhance user experience and facilitate efficient operations.
InvGate Service Management features
- Incident, Problem, and Change Management with ITIL-ready workflows
- Custom approval flows and SLA monitoring
- Self-service portal and knowledge base
- Integration with Active Directory, Microsoft Teams, and more
InvGate Service Management pros and cons
Pros:
- Easy to configure and deploy
- Strong reporting and visual dashboards
- Customizable without scripting
- Integration with InvGate Asset Management
Cons:
- Limited third-party app marketplace compared to larger vendors
InvGate Service Management pricing details
Starting at $17/agent/month. Offers on-premise or cloud implementation. 30-day free trial available.
InvGate Service Management user reviews and ratings
Widely praised for its usability, implementation speed, and support. Gartner rating: 4.8/5. G2 rating: 4.6/5.
Customers reviewing InvGate Service Management said:
"The whole process from demo, to quoting, implementation, and launch has been great. We have a small team and was able to get this project complete ahead of deadline with the help of the great implementation team"
User review from Gartner, IT Manager
Freshservice
Freshservice by Freshworks is a cloud-based ITSM platform offering modern Service Management features, including native incident, request, and Change Management.
Freshservice features
- ITIL-based ticket management.
- SLA and workflow automation.
- Change calendar and release tracking.
- Built-in asset tracking.
Freshservice pros and cons
Pros:
- User-friendly interface.
- Easy to deploy and maintain.
Cons:
- Advanced analytics require higher-tier plans.
Freshservice pricing details
Starts at $29/agent/month. Features vary significantly across plans.
Freshservice user reviews and ratings
Reviewers often mention quick onboarding and clean UI. G2 rating: 4.5/5. Gartner rating: 4.2/5.
"Simple, cloud based, ticketing system. Straightforward integration, and nicely pulls up user info with tickets. Lots and lots of features, some are excellent, some need a little more love to reach efficiency. Reporting is the life's blood of the Service Desk. Some obvious reports aren't there and you'll have to make."
User review from G2, IT Director
Jira Service Management
Built by Atlassian, Jira Service Management integrates naturally with Jira Software, making it a strong option for dev-centric teams.
Jira Service Management features
- Incident, problem, and change workflows.
- Automation rules and SLA tracking.
- Integrates with Confluence for knowledge sharing.
- Asset tracking (available in Premium plans).
Jira Service Management pros and cons
Pros:
- Powerful for agile teams.
- Strong integration ecosystem.
Cons:
- Steeper learning curve.
- Asset Management not included in Standard plan.
Jira Service Management pricing details
Premium plan with Assets: $49.35/agent/month. Discounts for annual contracts and volume.
Jira Service Management user reviews and ratings
Valued for DevOps focus. G2 rating: 4.3/5. Gartner rating: 4.4/5
"Jira Service Management works well to provide an integrated experience to users and technicians. It presents well as a whole package - ITSM tool, end user facing support site/resources (...) It can feel too busy visually, with too many fields and open spaces making it more challenging to focus in on the details that matter most when you are in the middle of working an incident with a user"
User review from Gartner, Service Desk Supervisor
SysAid
SysAid is a flexible service desk tool available in cloud and on-premise versions, often used by mid-sized IT teams.
SysAid features
- Help desk automation with routing rules.
- Knowledge base and self-service portal.
- Custom form creation.
- Basic asset tracking included.
SysAid pros and cons
Pros:
- Strong on-premise support.
- Configurable workflows.
Cons:
- The interface can be outdated.
SysAid pricing details
Custom pricing based on user count and modules.
SysAid user reviews and ratings
Positive mentions for reliability and internal routing. G2 rating: 4.4/5. Gartner rating: 4.5/5.
"SysAid Support is next level and I have not seen any other vendor or supplier come close to matching the level of support SysAid provides its customers. I dislike the FAQ and Knowledgebase as it's extremely old fashioned and no end-user would ever want to interact with it. Some of the workflow interfaces are extremely outdated."
User review from Gartner, Senior Desktop Support Manager
ServiceNow
ServiceNow is an enterprise-level platform offering ITSM, ITAM, HR service delivery, and more. It’s known for its scalability and breadth of features.
ServiceNow features
- ITIL-aligned for Incident, Problem, and Change Management.
- Custom workflows and low-code automation.
- CMDB and service catalog.
ServiceNow pros and cons
Pros:
- Highly scalable.
- Large integration ecosystem.
Cons:
- Expensive and resource-intensive to implement.
ServiceNow pricing details
Enterprise-focused. Pricing varies by module and user count.
ServiceNow user reviews and ratings
Valued for enterprise capabilities; noted for long onboarding times. G2 rating: 4.4/5. Gartner rating: 4.3/5.
"ServiceNow provides user friendly interface due to which we can easily get out work done. It also seamlessly integrates with many enterprise applications. Initial setup might cost higher also for some advanced customizations specialized skills are required."
User review from G2
Best ManageEngine AssetExplorer alternatives
These tools focus on IT Asset Management, discovery, inventory, and license compliance — offering different deployment models and feature sets.
InvGate Asset Management
InvGate Asset Management is a flexible IT asset management tool with hardware/software inventory, license tracking, and CMDB. You can use it on its own or together with InvGate Service Desk.
InvGate Asset Management features
- Agent-based and agentless asset discovery
- Software compliance and license tracking
- Contract and warranty tracking
- CMDB with relationship mapping
InvGate Asset Management pros and cons
Pros:
- Unified with InvGate Service Management or works standalone
- Clean interface and detailed reporting
Cons:
- Asset grouping and bulk edits could be more intuitive
InvGate Asset Management pricing details
Quote-based. Available as a standalone module or bundled with InvGate Service Management.
InvGate Asset Management user reviews and ratings
Praised for asset visibility, clarity of dashboards, and simple setup. G2 rating: 4.7/5. Gartner rating: 4.5/5.
"My Overall experience with InvGate Asset Management is Awesome. It's maintenance scheduling feature has reduced downtime, we can easily schedule in advance. It's user interface is good intuitive and easy to use, It's implementation process is smooth and we can track and manage our asset disposal easily."
User review from Gartner, Facilities Manager
Lansweeper
Lansweeper is a discovery-first IT Asset Management platform used by companies with complex infrastructure visibility needs.
Lansweeper features
- Network scanning (agentless/agent-based)
- Asset location and warranty data
- Software and license inventory
Lansweeper pros and cons
Pros:
- Granular scan data
- Lightweight setup
Cons:
- No built-in service desk
Lansweeper pricing details
- Starter plan: $ 219/ month (2000 assets, billed annualy)
- Pro plan: $399/ month (2000 assets, billed annualy)
Lansweeper user reviews and ratings
Known for reliable discovery. G2 rating: 4.5/5. Gartner rating: 4.3/5.
"Lansweeper provides us with a comprehensive solution for IT asset management. It effectively automates the discovery of our devices across the network and simplifies our reporting.My only real complaint or negative would be that it could be updated with a more modern look and UI. The reporting features are powerful, but they could benefit from more flexibility in customization for specific needs."
User review from Gartner, IT Systems Engineer
NinjaOne
NinjaOne is a remote monitoring and endpoint management tool with built-in ticketing. It suits IT departments that want centralized control over endpoints and basic service desk functions.
NinjaOne features
- Lightweight help desk ticketing.
- Endpoint monitoring and patching.
- Scripting and remote management tools.
- Asset visibility and inventory.
NinjaOne pros and cons
Pros:
- Fast and lightweight agent
- Good integration with tools like TeamViewer and Splashtop
Cons:
- Lacks advanced ITSM features (e.g., CMDB, change workflows)
NinjaOne pricing details
Quote-based, typically priced per device.
NinjaOne user reviews and ratings
Praised for speed, support, and simplicity. G2 rating: 4.7/5. Gartner rating: 4.9/5.
"They are responsive to both billing and service requests and have continually made the RMM tools better and better. They've been a cornerstone part of our MSP business. Reporting could be stronger, especially end-user-facing reports that convey the value of what we are providing to our customers. Occasionally we get some hit or miss with the patch management but I'd say it's 95% effective in getting patching done correctly."
User review from G2
Snipe-IT
Snipe-IT is an open-source Asset Management platform focused on physical IT asset tracking. Ideal for small ITAM teams with in-house hosting capabilities.
Snipe-IT features
- Asset tagging and assignment
- Check-in/check-out system
- Email alerts for warranty or license expiration
Snipe-IT pros and cons
Pros:
- Free and open-source
- Actively maintained community
Cons:
- No CMDB or discovery
Snipe-IT pricing details
Free (self-hosted) or hosted plan starting at $39.99/month.
Snipe-IT user reviews and ratings
Users like its simplicity, but notice it's not as scalable as other options. G2 rating: 4.6/5.
"Snipe-IT is a very straightforward solution for Asset Management. It doesn't take much training to be able to manage as an administrator. Snipe-IT doesn't have a lot of bells and whistles, and the interface feels a bit dated. It doesn't have built-in integrations (at least the annual hosted plan we used does not), so it is more of a stand-alone option."
User review from G2
Asset Panda
Asset Panda offers cloud-based asset tracking for IT and other physical assets, with a mobile-first design and customizable fields.
Asset Panda features
- Asset lifecycle workflows
- Mobile barcode scanning
- Audit logs and compliance fields
Asset Panda pros and cons
Pros:
- Strong mobile support
- Custom field templates
Cons:
- Syncing can lag
Asset Panda pricing details
Custom pricing based on asset count.
Asset Panda user reviews and ratings
Flexible and responsive support team. G2 rating: 4.6/5. Gartner rating: 4.3/5.
"The best part of this product is that the ease it provides to your work is impeccable and unmatchable. This makes your task as a user really very smooth and fast and accurate too. The mobile app shows a few glitches and it is not very user-friendly for beginners. Sometimes QR scanning also shows a bit of an issue."
User review from Gartner
Pulseway
Pulseway is a remote monitoring and management tool with asset tracking features built in. It’s designed for small IT teams and MSPs looking for lightweight asset visibility.
Pulseway features
- Real-time hardware/software tracking
- Remote access and command execution
- Patch management and monitoring
Pulseway pros and cons
Pros:
- Simple mobile interface
- Works across OS platforms
Cons:
- Asset reports are limited compared to full ITAM platforms
Pulseway pricing details
Pricing starts at around $32/month for basic plans.
Pulseway user reviews and ratings
Positive reviews for mobility and control. G2 rating: 4.6/5. Not listed in Gartner peer reviews.
"Pulseway seamlessly integrates their RMM and PSA solutions, allowing me to better track and invoice my time without any additional overhead. There is definitely a learning curve associated with the more powerful aspects of the RMM and PSA, fortunately Pulseway is very responsive to questions."
User review from G2
Atera
Atera is an all-in-one platform combining remote monitoring and management (RMM) with help desk features. It’s cloud-based and tailored for managed service providers (MSPs) and small IT teams.
Atera features
- Help desk ticketing with automation rules.
- Remote access and monitoring tools.
- Built-in patch management.
- Asset visibility and reporting.
Atera pros and cons
Pros:
- Pricing per technician, not per endpoint.
- All-in-one for small IT teams.
Cons:
- Service desk functionality is more basic than dedicated ITSM tools.
Atera pricing details
Starts at $99/month per technician. All plans include unlimited endpoints.
Atera user reviews and ratings
Popular for ease of use and value. G2 rating: 4.6/5. Gartner rating: 4.8/5.
"I found Atera easy to use and really slick to deploy, and it is available for a wide range of users. Having an extensive list of features and the capability to integrate with the rest of our toolset has exceeded expectations by far. I think the reporting and analytics module would benefit from more flexibility and customization."
User review from Gartner, Director, IT Security and Risk Management
In conclusion
Finding the right ManageEngine alternative for your service desk software needs is a crucial decision that can greatly impact your ITSM processes.
You can make an informed choice by thoroughly evaluating options like InvGate Service Management and InvGate Asset Management, comparing their features, support, and pricing. With the right alternative, you can streamline your IT operations, enhance customer support, and drive overall organizational efficiency. Request our 30-day free trial or book a meeting with our experts if you have any questions!
