Last Reviewed: November 14th, 2024

Best MSP Software Of 2024

What is MSP Software?

Managed Service Provider (MSP) Software is a game-changer for IT and communications service providing businesses. Its core purpose is to automate routine tasks, streamline service provision, and improve overall management efficiency. For businesses grappling with complexities of IT service delivery, MSP software simplifies processes by bundling services like remote monitoring and management, and backup and disaster recovery into one integrated suite. The result? Higher efficiency, reduced costs, more scalability, and improved service delivery. Key functionalities include ticketing, CRM, and project management, with AI and machine learning emerging as modern enhancements. MSP software reaps considerable benefits for IT and communication service providers grappling with operational complexities. Its weak point, however, lies in its dependence on user skill-level for optimal implementation. In summary, MSP software is a vital tool for IT-focused services businesses, providing operational efficiencies and cost savings. Despite the skill-level threshold, its value proposition stands strong: streamlined operations underpinning successful service delivery.

What Are The Key Benefits of MSP Software?

  • Streamlined service delivery
  • Reduced operational costs
  • Increased efficiency
  • Improved scalability
  • Automated routine tasks
  • Better customer relations management
  • Consolidated tools and features
  • Enhanced data protection
  • Faster response times
  • Informed decision making
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Overall

Based on the latest available data collected by SelectHub for 117 solutions, we determined the following solutions are the best MSP Software overall:

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Why We Picked Power Automate

Is Power Automate really all that powerful when it comes to automation, or does it fizzle out? User reviews from the last year reveal a mixed bag. While many users praise Power Automate for its user-friendly design and seamless integration with other Microsoft products, some have voiced concerns about its limitations. Power Automate shines when handling simple, repetitive tasks, making it a godsend for those looking to automate mundane processes, like organizing emails or copying files. Its tight integration with the Microsoft ecosystem is a major plus for organizations already reliant on tools like SharePoint and Teams, as it allows for a more unified workflow. However, users have reported that Power Automate hits a wall when dealing with more complex automations, often requiring workarounds or coding knowledge that may be beyond the scope of beginner users.

This is where the comparison to more robust RPA tools like UiPath or Automation Anywhere comes into play. These platforms, while potentially steeper in learning curve, offer more advanced features and flexibility for tackling intricate automation challenges. Some users have also pointed out occasional performance issues with Power Automate, particularly during flow editing or execution. These hiccups, while not necessarily deal-breakers, can be frustrating and impact productivity.

So, who is Power Automate best suited for? It's a great option for businesses or individuals already entrenched in the Microsoft ecosystem who are looking to automate basic, repetitive tasks. If your needs are more complex or you require a higher level of customization and features, exploring more advanced RPA tools might be a better route.

Pros & Cons

  • Simple to Use: Many users praise the platform for its intuitive design, which makes it easy to learn and use, even without a strong technical background.
  • Integrations: Power Automate offers robust integration capabilities, seamlessly connecting with popular Microsoft products like Office 365, SharePoint, and Dynamics, as well as third-party applications.
  • Cost-Effective: Power Automate is often considered a more budget-friendly option compared to other robotic process automation (RPA) tools available in the market.
  • Flexible Deployment: The platform caters to diverse business needs by offering both cloud-based and desktop automation solutions.
  • Steep Learning Curve for Complex Automations: While basic tasks are simple to automate, tackling intricate workflows can feel like navigating a maze and may require a deeper understanding of the platform.
  • Occasional Performance Bottlenecks: Users sometimes experience performance hiccups and limitations in functionality, especially when compared to more established RPA tools available.
  • Hidden Costs for Premium Features: Unlocking the full potential of Power Automate often involves additional costs for premium features and integrations with third-party services.

Key Features

  • Power Desktop  
    • Debugging: Perform debugging to expedite workflows and handle errors at the detail level to leave no stones unturned. 
    • Data Relaying: Transfer information between web and desktop interfaces and review supervised and unsupervised robotic process automation (RPA). 
    • Set Actions: Choose from and initiate several actions. 
  • Robotic Process Automation (RPA)  
    • Automatic Workflows: Develop code-free, immediate workflows for all users, no matter their technological knowledge. 
    • Various Integrations: Merge RPA with multiple applications such as Adobe, GitHub, Google Calendar, Skype and more. 
  • Process Advisor  
    • Collaborate: Send invites to colleagues, stakeholders, partners and more to review order-to-cash, accounts receivable and payable and inventory management practices, among others. 
    • Document: Chronicle processes that users implement to complete assignments with ease. 
    • Evaluate: Leverage insights and recommendations to streamline operations to reap the most favorable outcomes. 
  • AI Builder  
    • AI Models: Craft, steer and publish models without coding. Utilize templates with guided steps or integrate pre-made elements into workflows rapidly. 
    • Intelligent Document Automation: Handle all file types and pull information from various documents with AI Builder. 
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Why We Picked Wrike

Wrike, a cloud-based project management platform, has attracted significant attention for its comprehensive features and ability to streamline workflows. Users frequently highlight its intuitive interface, robust functionality, and scalability as key strengths. The platform's customizability empowers teams to tailor their project management processes to their specific needs, enhancing efficiency and productivity. Wrike's Gantt charts, for instance, provide a clear visual representation of project timelines and dependencies, enabling project managers to track progress and identify potential bottlenecks. Additionally, Wrike's automation capabilities, such as automated workflows and custom request forms, free up valuable time for teams to focus on high-impact tasks.

However, some users note that Wrike's extensive features can lead to a steeper learning curve compared to simpler project management tools. Navigating the interface and discovering all the functionalities may require some initial investment of time and effort. Additionally, while Wrike offers various pricing plans to accommodate different team sizes and requirements, some users find the cost to be relatively high compared to other options in the market. Despite these considerations, Wrike remains a popular choice for teams seeking a powerful and versatile project management solution. Its ability to adapt to diverse workflows, coupled with its robust features and scalability, makes it particularly well-suited for larger teams and organizations with complex project requirements. Wrike's comprehensive reporting and analytics capabilities further enhance its value proposition, providing valuable insights into team performance and project progress.

Pros & Cons

  • User-Friendly Interface: Approximately 60% of users mention Wrike’s user-friendly interface and features in addition to easy installation.
  • Collaboration: According to 90% of users, it's easy to share files and collaborate with internal and external team members, stakeholders and business partners.
  • Support and Learning Materials: Wrike offers helpful customer support to help with implementation questions and any other concerns that arise as stated by 65% of users.
  • Customizable and Flexible: Approximately 75% of users say Wrike has a customizable and flexible system to fit their business needs.
  • Organization: There are plenty of folders and labels to keep files and projects organized, as reported by 85% of users.
  • Notifications: Wrike delivers various project notifications and alerts as stated by 61% of users.
  • Helpful Tools: Approximately 71% of users appreciate Wrike's various dashboards, Gantt charts, reports and other distinct modules.
  • Steep Learning Curve: Of the users who describe Wrike's user interface, 39% say the interface has a steep learning curve and is hard to understand.
  • Training: Approximately 35% of users iterate that implementation training and support is available but is difficult to learn.
  • Alerts: Of the users who discuss Wrike's alerts and notifications, 38% of them say there's no way to adjust how many they receive.

Key Features

  • Gantt Charts: Zoom out to see the full view of a project’s tasks, dependencies, timeline and scope. The drag-and-drop interface makes it easy to adjust task dates and add dependencies. It’s also easy to toggle between different views (day, week, month, etc.). Wrike facilitates data transfer for users switching from Microsoft Project, ensuring all elements are imported for MPP, MPX and XML formats. 
  • Task Management: Wrike brings together all aspects of your project — tasks, schedules and team communications — into a single location for more efficient project management. The platform connects with Gmail, Apple Mail and Outlook, allowing you to manage tasks directly from your inbox. It also facilitates time tracking and reporting. 
  • Project Templates: A range of pre-built templates allow teams to start with key elements already in place. Specific template types include agile teamwork, project scheduling, event management, product launches, Kanban projects, ticketing and helpdesk, sprint planning, and product roadmaps. 
  • Reports: Wrike offers reporting capabilities to users with business and enterprise accounts. The report builder takes you through the four-stage process of creating a report, with inputs for type, source data, filters and layout (table or column). Report topics include weekly project status, unassigned tasks, active tasks by assignee and others. 
  • Wrike Resource (premium add-on): This feature provides resource management and is available with Business, Wrike for Marketers and Enterprise plans. A visual, intuitive interface facilitates workload planning and changes, providing full visibility of team performance. You can also customize resource utilization analytics tools to track KPIs for better insight. 
  • Wrike Proof (premium add-on): Streamline feedback processes and review cycles with visual tools and a centralized system that keeps version control in check. You can assign approvers internally as well as invite external reviewers. The software also connects with Adobe Creative Cloud tools, letting creatives review feedback and make updates from the app they work in. 
  • Wrike Lock (premium add-on): Wrike provides cloud security and privacy with encryption keys. Both your data and the keys are encrypted, letting you determine who can access and edit the information stored on the platform. You have full control over the individual keys via a master key that’s stored by the Key Management Service from AWS. 
  • Wrike Publish (premium add-on): This feature enables digital asset management (DAM). Integrations with DAM platforms provide a range of capabilities, including stakeholder collaboration and file proofing. You can also attach files to tasks, quickly search your workspace for the right asset and gain brand consistency across campaigns. 
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Why We Picked ConnectWise Manage

ConnectWise Manage is an effective PSA tool capable of executing job costing, time tracking, ticketing, project management, sending purchase orders, connecting to machinery and more. It integrates with accounting, sales, other ConnectWise software and more in addition to keeping users organized by sorting client information, tickets and more. Although ConnectWise Manage occasionally lags in performance, has a high pricing plan, a scattered customer support base and a clunky interface, most users believe it's worth every penny.

Pros & Cons

  • Abundant Features: ConnectWise Manage is equipped with a variety of features such as client communication, time tracking, ticketing, lead tracking, reporting, delivering purchase orders, quoting and more, according to 62% of users.
  • Integratable: Approximately 69% of users reported that ConnectWise Manage integrates with a vast amount of products including other ConnectWise solutions, Automate, Auvik, and LogicMonitor as well as certain sales and accounting solutions.
  • Arrange Client Information: Users remain organized by sorting client contact information, crucial documents, tickets and more, as reported by nearly 100% of users.
  • Highly Configurable: Roughly 57% of users reported that ConnectWise Manage is modifiable to align with their business needs.
  • Overwhelming Setup: When conveying how they felt about implementation, 42% of users stated that the setup tables are not user-friendly and there's an overwhelming number of customization choices.
  • Dated Interface: Approximately 71% of users conveyed that the interface is ugly, old and clunky compared to Zoho and Bullhorn. Users also report that there's a tough learning curve.
  • Inconsistent Customer Support: ConnectWise Manage's customer support is on a hit-or-miss basis, according to 90% of users. Some customer support agents allocate the best solutions and some don't. There's also a slow response time in offering the ideal troubleshooting resources.
  • Lagging Mobile Capabilities: Roughly 100% of users stated that ConnectWise Manage's mobile app does not match with its desktop or cloud counterparts.
  • High Price Tag: The overall cost of the system combined with its varying levels of support comes with a high price tag according to approximately 100% of users.
  • Slow as Molasses: Precisely 100% of users say ConnectWise Manage has a slow loading time when performing various tasks, including opening the right help tickets.

Key Features

  • Help Desk: ConnectWise Manage can track all ticket requests as they enter the system through different avenues, such as live chat, phone and email. ConnectWise Chat allows clients to enable instant online chat functionality and logs the information learned through these communications. The help desk feature also includes a customizable ticketing dashboard where users can view factors such as time-to-resolution history, team resources and total billable hours. 
  • Agreements: This tool automates the management of client contracts along with recurring billing parameters. Agreement templates are included in the system and can be customized to adjust factors such as support coverage and billing rates. The program can also help prioritize tickets based on client expectations. 
  • Account Management: ConnectWise Manage contains a centralized system where all customer interaction is stored, including purchases, communications, tickets and products so that reiterative information isn’t entered and the sales process can be streamlined. The program also develops standardized workflows for tasks such as client onboarding and ticket resolution to ensure a consistent customer experience. KPI and financial reporting are included to see where a customer stands financially with a company. 
  • Sales and Marketing: This program enables users to create and track sales opportunities. Campaign metrics such as links clicked and emails opened can also be monitored to assist with lead scoring. Customizable HTML email templates are available to help target specific groups. Automatic notifications of deals to close, opportunities that were won and agreements to renew keep sales teams up-to-date and ensure that nothing slips through the cracks. 
  • Procurement: ConnectWise Manage can sync up with QuickBooks easily to facilitate operations between accounting and inventory management. The program allows users to visualize materials and products that need to be ordered per set minimum stock levels. The solution can also adjust inventory count and manage inventory quantities. Information can be shared between sales and procurement to provide more visibility into the work of other departments. 
  • Time Tracking and Billing: The system tracks billable and non-billable hours and can allocate them to specific agreements and SLAs. Accountability tools are included in the program to make the process of obtaining approvals less of a hassle. Time on-site can also be tracked through the solution so that users can ensure that they are getting paid for all of the time that they spend working on a project. 
  • Project Management: Sales opportunities can be quickly converted into projects so that nothing slips through the cracks between workflows and so that project-related tasks can begin immediately. ConnectWise Manage also gives users visibility over different project aspects such as resources, roadblocks, timelines and statuses. Project templates can be customized and used to streamline project workflows and ensure consistency. 
  • Reporting: ConnectWise Manage’s reporting functionality includes the ability to see how many assets an organization has on-hand along with inventory levels. Inventory management costs can be calculated based on this information. Tickets can also be reviewed, assigned and closed through this tool. 
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Why We Picked Accelo

Get ready to "accelo-rate" your understanding of this PSA and project management software.

Accelo commonly uses a dual-menu design, where you’ll find different menu options on the left and right sides of the screen. This setup can ease navigation by grouping related tasks. However, this can require more screen real estate, which could be a disadvantage on smaller monitors or devices, making the interface feel cluttered.

Let’s dive into the sales module first, where you can view and manage your book of business (your clients). On the left-hand side, contact info is clearly displayed for quick reference. There’s a visual to see the momentum of your work with each client, including activities vs. hours, revenue and how many times they’ve been in touch with you over the past week.

Personally, I liked the sales module and felt like the layout was easy to follow. There’s Recent Work that shows closed tasks like campaign planning, new product visuals and website maintenance.

As a multitasker prone to triple checking things, I liked that this helps you track progress and ensure everything’s wrapped up before moving on to the next task. It's great for accountability and communication by keeping details transparent, so everyone stays on the same page without sifting through emails or notes.

The page seems intuitive and reasonably simple to navigate. There are tabs at the top for contacts, attachments, assets, tasks and billing.

Under the Work tab at the top, you can manage sales opportunities, such as web maintenance. All the info you need is in one place to help reduce time spent clicking around.

Click on the opportunity, and from there, view important details. See the sale type to determine the right workflow and help reps understand which stage comes next (there’s also automation between steps). See the sale’s value, how likely closure is and when it’s due. Basically, it’s set up like the answer key in the back of a textbook that gives you all the clear details.

Teamwork makes the dream work, right? There’s a sales pipeline report, and you can track effort. It’s known for its resource management feature, helping reduce burnout with automated recurring tasks and skills-based scheduling to get the job done by the best person.

Integrate with Google Workspace or Microsoft 365 to track communications between team and customer. Additionally, track time spent on emails directly in Accelo. A timer at the bottom of your emails tracks exactly how long you’ve spent on it.

Click Add quote and select a template for creating a quote, and configure it based on your branding. On the left-hand side of the sales opportunity (in this example it’s web maintenance) there are sales details, team, bookings, comments, quote and a visual for sales activity (also additional details, sales email alias and tags).

When ready to generate a quote, click the add icon on the right. The process is seamless, with just three steps: create an estimate, edit it and preview/publish.

Quotes/estimates hold a lot of info, like details on services, terms and conditions, specific price breakdowns, and your team mission statement. The cool thing about Accelo is you can toggle on or off certain details easily, so if this is a client you’ve worked with a lot and they don’t need a lengthier quote, you can easily simplify it.

Once you press publish, you have the chance to generate an email to the client. You can also include a link to the client portal and a PDF of the quote. On the client’s side, accept or decline are clearly displayed in the top right corner. Once they’ve accepted, you can convert the quote into a project.

Under the Work tab, there's a comprehensive view of all ongoing activities for a client, including requests, sales, projects and tickets. Important details are all in one place, like billable hours, assignees, contacts and due dates. For a specific task, the left side shows progress, important dates, bookings and schedules, giving you a clear picture of what’s planned and what’s active.

Some user reviews mention confusion during onboarding, specifically that having multiple ways to do the same action or task can be tricky. For example, viewing the schedule in different places might lead to mismatches if not handled carefully.

The range of options and layout might seem overwhelming at first. While there might be a learning curve, the design aims to provide a flexible and detailed view of everything.

Time tracking is color-coded to help you stay within your budget. If you log hours that are well within your limit, they’ll be displayed in green, approaching your limit in yellow and exceeding it in red.

Its Tickets module is straightforward for managing and tracking your support requests. When you click on a ticket’s name/title, it opens up and displays key information on the left side, including priority, type and class.

At the top of the page, you’ll see the workflow stages like tier one and tier two escalations, ticket resolved, and waiting to track where each ticket stands in the resolution process.

On the right side, you’ll see key stats like the ticket’s age, days since the last update and the due date. Below this, you’ll find a stream that captures all communication back and forth, providing a clear history of interactions.

The billing module takes a streamlined approach to managing invoicing, and it integrates with QuickBooks Online and Xero so your finances stay consistent.

The platform includes an invoicing wizard that pulls together all customer work that’s ready for invoicing and guides you through each step. It also offers a handy Complete and email button, allowing you to finalize and send invoices with a single click.

You’ve got a solid selection of templates to choose from and customize. Plus, you can set up automatic invoicing for retainer work, so you won’t have to deal with recurring billing manually. Within the Billing tab, view all invoices you’ve created and sent and track which ones are still outstanding.

Pros & Cons

  • 89% of users commend Accelo's customer support, noting it as helpful, quick and friendly.
  • 80% of users appreciate its ability to centralize work and company information, integrations and comprehensive features for managing tickets, tasks and projects.
  • 67% find invoicing straightforward, especially for setting up repeaters and managing client invoices, which is easier than using separate systems. They also enjoy the variety of invoicing options.
  • A little over half of Accelo users praise its time tracking, citing it’s easy to use and log time with options like manual entry or a timer.
  • Most users found the platform intuitive and liked the UI, frequent updates and the convenience of accessing information from any device.
  • Users have mixed feelings about Accelo's reporting. Some are frustrated by the inability to lock timesheets and find it difficult to search due to the system keeping activities open.
  • 20% of users find the interface complex and missing features, such as smart text options and dark mode.
  • The platform’s many features and ways to perform tasks can lead to different team members using it in various ways, causing confusion.
  • While there are a lot of options to tailor the system to different workflows, they also note that there are limited aspects of the system that can be changed, such as rates.
  • Some users have experienced challenges with adjusting project schedules and time entries.

Key Features

  • Resource Allocation: This is Accelo's leading functionality (ranked at 100). Let's take a closer look at the features that earned this score.
    • Skills-Based Scheduling: Ensure tasks are assigned to the best-equipped team members, leading to better results and reducing burnout.
    • Live Profitability Reporting: Direct resources for better financial outcomes with real-time insights into project performance.
    • Automated Time Tracking: Capture every minute, from sending an email to closing a task. This helps expand on resource usage and make smarter task assignments and adjustments. Advanced time rounding rules also help enhance precision.
    • Activity Dashboard: Monitor project progress with a real-time overview of ongoing tasks and team activities.
    • Utilization Insights: Get detailed data on how resources are used to optimize workload distribution and improve efficiency.
  • Sales: Its built-in sales quoting feature makes it easy to build and maintain customer relationships. It updates automatically with each client interaction, keeping you in the loop on everything.
    • Automation and Processes: Guide your next steps by sending template emails, scheduling follow-ups and updating due dates all in one go.
    • Team Scheduling: Plan when to start new projects based on workload predictions.
    • Client Records: Make faster, more informed decisions with access to all customer-related data.
    • Team Inbox: Access all client-related information and email communication with a team inbox.
    • Tracking and Sync: Share client appointments, emails, notes, attachments and custom fields with their team members.
    • Cloud-Based ServOps: Oversee the primary functions of your business, from prospect to payment.
    • Expenses: Stop chasing down receipts. Manual expense tracking isn't just outdated; it's time-consuming and prone to inaccuracies. To combat this issue you can add expenses either on the web or mobile app.
  • Professional Services Automation: Accelo's all-in-one place design lets you run your service operations from the cloud. It covers project management, client management, time tracking and invoicing.
    • CRM and Client Database: Share client databases in real time and let users see client work in a synchronized way.
    • 360° Client View: Gain a comprehensive view of client interactions and history for personalized engagement.
    • Invoicing: Offer partial and bulk invoicing, customizable templates, and online payments.
    • Payments: Sync with QuickBooks or Xero to support two-way payments. Get automatic late payment reminders and set up recurring or automated payments to keep things running smoothly and save yourself from chasing down payments.
    • Email Tracking: Stay on top of emails with the help of its two-way sync with Office365, Google Apps and Exchange.
    • Timesheet Reports and Automated Timesheets: View completed work for individuals or on a team level to gauge workplace productivity. Populate weekly timesheets automatically with employee names and ongoing work.
    • Projects: Ease full project management with Gantt charts, collaboration tools and budget tracking.
    • Services: Track tickets with emails and automated timers.
    • Retainers: Manage ongoing service contracts and projects with automated notifications and auto billing.
  • Project Management: Accelo’s project management capabilities provide features for flexible invoicing and reporting. (This functionality ranks at 91).
    • Project Planning: Structure project planning with drag-and-drop Gantt charts.
    • Project Tracking: Users can manage their budget and deliverables with Accelo, ensuring that projects are profitable.
    • Time Tracking: See exactly how time is spent and don’t miss a minute with email timing, task-based time, a mobile timer and automated time-tracking sheets. Its time-tracking capabilities earn a decent score of 83.
    • Client Portal: Offer clients access to a portal that allows them to create, submit and track their tickets.
    • Automation and Processes: Get alerts when projects get held up or slow down before customers call them out.
    • Expenses: Submit expenses for client or internal reimbursement on a per-project basis.
    • Invoicing: Generate value or T&M-based invoicing that syncs automatically to QuickBooks and Xero.
  • Service: With its customer service management feature, users can provide smooth, profitable and consistent client support. It’s built for professional services and includes a support ticket system that highlights which issues need your attention.
    • Automation and Processes: Build workflows for various work types like “onsite visit” or “website is down.”
    • Automated Notifications: Automate messages to manage tickets and send reminder emails before closing tickets.
    • Activity Tracking: See your client and team communications in a single platform.
  • Retainer Management: Manage your ongoing services and contracts with flexible options and automated tools.
    • Usage Tracking: Track retainer tasks by hours or by budget.
    • Custom Retainers: Set up allowance rollover and types flexibly.
    • Communications Tracking: Track and monitor relevant notes, emails and other communications between users and clients.
    • Client Portal: Give clients a bird’s eye view of total contract usage and customize the portal to provide a tailored experience.
    • Automatic Recurring Tasks: Create and schedule recurring tasks such as payroll and SEO for ongoing projects.
    • Tickets and Project Connection: View time worked on projects and sort by projects, tasks or emails.
    • Automated Notifications: Notify clients and teams when contracts approach their limits to manage expectations.
    • Unlimited Templates and Types: Create and customize new client setups with flexible contract or retainer types, including renewal and notification rules.

Pricing

Product Accelo Jira
Price Starting from $50 per user per month Starting from $10 per user per month
Free Trial No Yes
Overall Score 83 77
Top Module Resource Management Time Tracking and Management
Deployment Method Cloud Cloud, On-premise
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Why We Picked Kantata

Overall, users find Kantata a robust PSA program with an extensive amount of features such as quote management, capital management, time and expense tracking, reporting, invoicing, project overview and more. It's configurable, so users may adjust it to fit their business practices. It's built on Salesforce and integrates with Peoplesoft Financials, Sage Intacct and separate resource management applications. Customer support and designated software experts offer helpful troubleshooting techniques and resources. Although the user interface is a bit difficult to master and the implementation process is long, most users believe Kantata is well worth it.

Pros & Cons

  • On-Par Customer Support: Approximately 94% of users say Kantata's customer support and/or designated software expert is efficient in providing resources and troubleshooting issues.
  • Effective Performance: The platform's speed and quality of performance is excellent, as stated by 66% of users.
  • Flexible: Nearly 80% of users reported Kantata as a flexible solution that is configurable to their business needs.
  • Features Aplenty: Kantata has an assortment of various accessories to streamline productivity and display the overall health of a project including data and analytics, project overview, time and expense tracking, quote management and more, according to 68% of users.
  • Useful Mobile App: Precisely 71% of users say the mobile app is proficient with timesheets and the ability to take photos of receipts.
  • Integratable: Kantata integrates with several programs including Peoplesoft Financials, Sage Intacct and resource management tools, as stated by 73% of users.
  • Steep Learning Curve: Kantata's extensive customization options and complex interface can be overwhelming for new users, leading to a prolonged onboarding process and potential frustration.
  • Resource Management Challenges: Some users find it difficult to effectively manage resources and allocate tasks due to limitations in resource forecasting and scheduling tools.
  • Reporting Limitations: Generating customized reports or accessing real-time data insights can be cumbersome, requiring manual effort or workarounds.

Key Features

  • Plan Accordingly: The foresight analytics accessory allows teams to plot future business performances. It also aids operational teams in managing routine resourcing and project management. 
  • Model Projects: Users can employ the proposal modeler tool on future projects to evaluate profitability with precision. Extensive project plans gauge components such as resource efforts, margins and expenses. 
  • Maintain Resources: The resource planning feature allows users to pinpoint the required skills and available resources for projects. It also offers accurate scenarios to maximize resources. 
  • Varying Modes of Delivery: Users can utilize various delivery methods, such as waterfall, agile and more, to give up-to-date expected efforts, costs and margins. The intelligent insights component detects risks and issues early so users can promptly take action. 
  • Generate Accurate Invoices: The billing engine element assures users that all revenues are invoiced in real-time to magnify cash flow and deplete debt. Invoices can be drafted with either step-by-step or batch processing. 
  • Build Customer Relationships: Users can use the CRM module to improve outcomes and forge stronger relationships with their clientele by connecting and partnering with them during project deliveries.  
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Why We Picked Sage Intacct

Sage Intacct user reviews paint a picture of a powerful, customizable accounting software ideal for mid-sized, growing businesses. Users praise its real-time reporting, cloud-based accessibility, and ability to handle complex financial structures. Compared to competitors, Intacct shines in scalability and customization, effortlessly adapting to multi-entity operations and unique accounting needs. This agility is crucial for dynamic businesses operating in diverse markets. However, its strengths come with caveats. Intacct's feature-rich nature can be daunting for beginners, requiring dedicated training and technical know-how. Additionally, its subscription-based pricing can be prohibitive for smaller companies or those with simpler accounting requirements. The limited mobile functionality and lack of built-in payroll are also shortcomings some users find frustrating. Overall, Sage Intacct earns its positive reviews by empowering businesses with robust functionalities and seamless scalability. However, its complexity and premium cost may leave smaller players or those needing basic accounting solutions searching for a more accessible, budget-friendly alternative.

Pros & Cons

  • Intuitive User Interface: Precisely 65% of users stated it has an intuitive and user-friendly interface with a manageable learning curve.
  • Configurable: Approximately 90% of users conveyed that the product is customizable to fit their organization's needs.
  • Competent Performance: The quality, scalability and overall performance are favorable to 94% of users.
  • An Assortment of Features: According to 54% of users, the product has a wide range of features including accounts payable and receivable, bank reconciliation, time tracking, 1099 forms and more.
  • Ideal Integrations: Merges with various third-party systems such as Salesforce, Nexonia, Expensify, Bill.com and more, as stated by 94% of users.
  • Dawdling Customer Support: Of the users who discussed customer support, roughly 64% said it was lagging in resources and took a long time to get in touch with them.
  • Lagging Search Tool: Approximately 45% of users said the search and reporting tools aren't as effective as some of the software's other idiosyncrasies.
  • High Cost: Subscription-based pricing, often exceeding the budgets of smaller businesses or those with simpler accounting needs.
  • Steep Learning Curve: Feature-rich interface can feel overwhelming for beginners, requiring initial training and time investment.
  • Limited Mobile Functionality: Mobile app lacks access to many core features, hindering on-the-go workflow for some users.
  • Customization Complexity: Advanced customization options often require technical expertise or paid consultations.
  • Integration Gaps: While offering major integrations, it may lack connections to specific niche software used by some businesses.
  • No Built-in Payroll: Requires integrating a separate payroll solution, adding complexity and additional costs.

Key Features

  • General Ledger: Contains pre-built dimensions such as customer, location, department, warehouse and class. It also allows users to add their own dimensions. Required dimension values can be inputted so that certain values are mandatory for entries to post to designated accounts. 
  • Accounts Payable: This feature lets users set spending limits and define workflows and approvals. Users can easily view AP liabilities as well as check and bill register reports in real time. Users can automate ACH, check and credit card payments through the Vendor Payment Services function, which is built on the American Express Global Commercial Services infrastructure. 
  • Accounts Receivable: The program enables customers to generate recurring invoices and to attach customer information to transactions. It integrates with other business processes to centralize sales orders, quotes and invoices. Configurable dashboards and other visualizations are included in this function and allow users to look at data points such as deferred revenue and customer aging. 
  • Purchasing: Allows users to analyze costs and monitor budget vs. actual information through dashboards and reporting tools. These dashboards are role-based for security and ease of access and also contain budget performance information, price break monitoring and purchase quote functionality. The feature gives users more control over the entirety of the procure-to-pay process. 
  • Order Management: Users can leverage point-and-click functionality to set up individualized workflows and pricing requirements in the order management system. The program can be easily connected to Salesforce CRM, which allows users to share order status and pricing data across a business and reduce duplicate data entry. The solution includes sales tax and regulatory compliance through integration with Avalara. Order fulfillment rates, inventory quantities and sales data can be viewed in real time through this feature. 
  • Cash Management: Includes a live view of funds and cash flows through all associated credit cards, savings accounts and checking accounts. The management of cash across multiple locations is also supported. The system enables the application of payments to accounts that aren’t associated with an invoice and the recording of POS payments that aren’t connected to a specific customer. 
  • Reporting and Dashboards: This program can track both financial and operational data such as SaaS metrics, machine availability, etc. The system also has the ability to discover trends, drill down to source transactions and look at roll-up figures for multiple locations or entities. The solution includes more than 150 financial reports along with the ability to develop customized reports based on business needs. 
  • Digital Board Book: Produces metrics such as Annual or Monthly Recurring Revenue (ARR or MRR), churn, Committed Monthly Recurring Revenue (CMRR), Customer Acquisition Cost (CAC) and Customer Lifetime Value (CLTV). This analysis is conducted in real time using transactional data obtained from Sage Intacct and Salesforce. 
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Why We Picked Clarizen

Clarizen is a sophisticated project management solution with oodles of appliances such as task creation, status reporting, status tracking, time tracking, project management, reporting, change history and more. It offers extensive collaboration tools to keep users and their teams on the same page and integrates with CRM applications, Salesforce, Jira and other software. It's pliable enough to meet your business needs and has an efficient customer support team to address all issues. Although many users noted the slow speed of the system, users say it's an effective program.

Pros & Cons

  • On-Par Customer Support: According to 100% of users, Clairzen's customer support is quick, helpful and fast in responding to and resolving mishaps.
  • Adjustable: When discussing how customizable Clarizen is, 96% of users said it was highly configurable to meet their business demands.
  • Abundant Features: Clarizen's features include time tracking, project management, status tracking, change history, meeting notes and more as stated by 62% of users.
  • Effective Collaboration: Nearly 81% of users say Clarizen has effective collaboration capabilities including social collaboration and tagging teammates on particular tasks.
  • Integratable: Clairzen integrates with social media, Salesforce, Jira, CRM software and other programs as reported by 72% of users.
  • Sluggish Pace: Of the users who discussed Clarizen's performance, 81% of users said it has a sluggish operation speed and occasionally freezes.
  • Difficult Learning Curve: Roughly 50% of users stated Clarizen has a steep learning curve.

Key Features

  • Slide Publisher: The Slide Publisher tool allows you to quickly create PowerPoint presentations for customers using real-time project data. Your company branding can also be added to these presentations through a customized template. 
  • Financial Management: Clarizen’s financial management feature includes the ability to track expenses on different levels, whether it be at the employee level or by department. Payments can also be linked to projects to help ensure that development budgets stay on track. An Excel Import feature is included, which allows you to import data from Microsoft Excel and add it to aspects such as work items and cases. 
  • Social Collaboration Platform: The social collaboration platform gives you the ability to track the customer lifecycle as it pertains to completed work, customer conversations and attached files. It’s a key component to the request management capabilities of Clarizen, which helps you track work orders. Information such as customer name, priority and due date are included in these documents. 
  • Clarizen InterAct: Clarizen InterAct allows you to collaborate with others on the file, task and project level. Employees can update project status, flag issues and discuss project developments via email. Graphs and project plans that include real-time insights as to project status are also available via email. 
  • Integration With Popular Tools: Clarizen can integrate with popular tools such as Google Docs, Jira, Box, SharePoint and ServiceNow. It contains a large amount of APIs that can help you integrate programs that you currently use with Clarizen. 
  • Mobile Accessibility: Clarizen’s mobile app, which is available for iOS and Android devices, is relatively comprehensive and allows you to take whatever you were working on with you on the go. Some of the tasks that you can complete through the mobile app include submission of expenses, communication with colleagues and entering of tickets. It’s also a great way to provide customer service due to its client response functionality. 
  • Task Management: The task management tool allows your employees to prioritize any duties that they are assigned, whether they be project-related or not. Employees have their own workspaces where they can view their specific projects so that they don’t get bogged down in a master view that shows what everyone’s working on. Project managers can look at how projects are progressing across the company and can also reassign or add resources to tasks to ensure efficiency. 
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Why We Picked Klient

Klient is a vigorous PSA program that has an array of appliances such as project management, resource management, workflow approval, retainer billing, revenue recognition and more. It's built on Salesforce and integrates with Chatter, Slack, Sage Intacct and other platforms. The interface is user-friendly, the implementation process is simple and the customer support team has swift problem-solving skills. Although the speed of the system is slow and the reporting tool lacks some templates, clients believe Klient is a potent project management resource.

Pros & Cons

  • Simple User Interface: Precisely 71% of users reported that Klient has a user-friendly interface and a simple implementation process.
  • Responsive Support Team: The customer support team has a rapid turnaround time, according to approximately 100% of users.
  • High-Quality Performance: Roughly 44% of users say the overall performance of Klient is fantastic and reduces downtime.
  • Configurable: Nearly 75% of users claim Klient is pliable to their business needs.
  • Abundant Accessories: Klient has a grand package of features including approval workflow, project management, project layout, retainer billing, revenue recognition and more, as stated by 55% of users.
  • Integratable: Precisely 100% of users said Klient integrates with Slack, Sage Intacct, Chatter and other applications.
  • Lagging System: Of the users who responded to Klient's overall performance, 55% of users said it has a slow loading time and the occasional unexpected error messages.
  • Limited Reporting: Nearly 42% of users say the reporting feature has limited capabilities and templates.

Key Features

  • Project Management: Users can use the project management module to administer all of their projects from start to finish. They can formulate tasks with drag-and-drop tools, partner with group members and clients on project operations and real-time status notifications. 
  • Unified Teamwork: Klient's collaboration accessory enables users to promptly email customers and associates when a new procedure is finished. They can also invite clientele to work on assignments. 
  • Time Management: Users can document how much time is spent on specific duties and assignments with the time management module. They can also track billable or non-billable time and offer accurate client billing by recording costs and bill rates.  
  • Expense Management: Thanks to Klient's expense management module, users can generate adjustable expense and tax types to perform expense processing. They can also invoice billable expenses to their clients. 
  • Resource Management: The resource management accessory permits users to plan, schedule and record all of their resources. If needed, they can effortlessly change resource schedules.  
  • Project Accounting: Users can transform every project into profitable opportunities with the project accounting tool. They can monitor rate cost and bill rates, cards and employ flexible client invoices in batches or on-demand.  
  • Surveys: Klient's survey tool enables users to generate and send customer surveys such as NPS, CSAT or open surveys to study feedback. This component assists users in keeping and maintaining customer support.  
  • Plenty of Integrations: Klient has a string of integrations to streamline various processes. It integrates with a variety of popular third-party tools such as Quickbooks, Xero, Sage, Drakya, Glic Tech, Slack, RelationEdge and more.  
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Why We Picked UiPath

Is UiPath the real deal when it comes to streamlining workflows and boosting productivity? User reviews from the last year suggest that it just might be. UiPath consistently receives high praise for its user-friendly interface and comprehensive automation capabilities, making it a favorite among both technical and non-technical users. Many users highlight the platform's intuitive design and drag-and-drop functionality, which allows even those new to RPA to quickly grasp the basics and start automating tasks. The platform's robust integration capabilities, particularly with popular enterprise systems like SAP, are also frequently cited as major advantages, enabling businesses to seamlessly connect UiPath with their existing workflows. However, some users caution that while the basic features are easy to pick up, mastering the more advanced functionalities, such as AI and machine learning integrations, can require a steeper learning curve and may necessitate additional training or support.

Despite this potential drawback, UiPath continues to stand out for its strong community support and extensive learning resources, including the well-regarded UiPath Academy. Users appreciate the readily available help and guidance, which prove invaluable for troubleshooting issues and maximizing the platform's potential. Furthermore, UiPath's ability to automate complex, end-to-end processes, from data extraction to report generation, sets it apart from some competitors that may only excel in specific areas. This comprehensive approach makes UiPath a powerful tool for businesses looking to streamline operations and achieve significant efficiency gains. While the licensing costs can be a consideration, particularly for smaller businesses, the potential return on investment (ROI) through increased productivity, reduced errors, and freed-up employee bandwidth makes UiPath a compelling choice for organizations across various sizes and industries. Ultimately, UiPath emerges as an ideal solution for businesses seeking a robust, user-friendly, and scalable RPA platform to automate a wide range of tasks and processes, regardless of their technical expertise.

Pros & Cons

  • User-Friendly Design: UiPath is known for its intuitive interface, which allows even non-programmers to easily grasp the basics and begin automating tasks.
  • Feature-Rich Platform: UiPath offers a comprehensive suite of automation tools, including AI and machine learning, to tackle a wide range of business processes.
  • Seamless Integration: UiPath readily integrates with other business applications, ensuring smooth data flow and compatibility with existing systems.
  • Scalable Solutions: UiPath is designed to scale effectively, allowing businesses to expand their automation efforts as their needs grow.
  • Strong Support Network: Users benefit from a large and active community, as well as readily available customer support, ensuring they have the resources they need to succeed.
  • Cost Barrier for Smaller Organizations: UiPath's pricing can be prohibitive, especially for smaller businesses with limited budgets.
  • Complexity of Advanced Features: While basic automation is relatively straightforward, leveraging UiPath's AI/ML capabilities for more sophisticated workflows demands a significant investment in training and expertise.
  • Debugging Complex Workflows: Identifying and resolving errors in intricate automations can be cumbersome, potentially hindering development and deployment timelines.

Key Features

  • Customized Robot: Program integrated robots to carry out tasks in existing workstations or virtual desktops. Task robots to work alongside end-users on smaller routine tasks or without an end-user on complex tasks. Program hybrid robots to do both, according to workload needs. 
  • Document Understanding: Train machine learning models to process files by extracting standard fields from documents such as licenses, invoices and resumes. Interpret and extract data with AI assistance and match the format and condition of the original document source. 
  • Screen Recording: Capture and replay tasks in UiPath Studio that assist with various functions such as training development or virtualized meetings. Modify screenshots to highlight fields for clarity or alter the sequences when creating processes from scratch. 
  • Process Mining: Use data from applications to track inefficiencies in task processes. Determine where automation will produce higher output based on analytical reporting. 
  • Existing Platform Compatibility: Integrate with Amazon Web Services, Microsoft, SAP, Oracle, ServiceNow, Alteryx, Salesforce, Workday and Citrix for complete workflow coordination. Connect to VB.net programming language and numerous others with ease. 
  • Encrypted Privacy: Secure client information through integrated encryption technology. Protect business operations by applying confidentiality controls that allow robots to run in the background with a locked screen. 
  • Cloud Automation: Control deployment, permit or restrict access, manage schedules, track productivity and more from one secure location. Manage licenses and add multiple tenants as the business grow. 
  • Drag-and-Drop Workflow Design: Create automation workflows easily with a visual, drag-and-drop interface that requires no coding knowledge.
  • Extensive Activity Library: Access a comprehensive library of pre-built activities for common tasks like data extraction, file manipulation, and email automation.
  • Orchestrator: Centralized management of robots, including scheduling, monitoring, and deployment, all from a single web-based interface.
  • AI Computer Vision: Utilize advanced AI to recognize and interact with on-screen elements, even in virtual environments or remote desktops.
  • Attended and Unattended Robots: Deploy robots that can either work alongside humans (attended) or operate independently (unattended) to maximize efficiency.
  • Native Integration with Major Applications: Seamlessly integrate with popular enterprise applications like SAP, Salesforce, and Microsoft Office Suite.
  • Customizable Dashboards and Analytics: Gain insights into automation performance with customizable dashboards and detailed analytics.
  • Robust Security Features: Ensure data protection with features like role-based access control, encryption, and secure credential storage.
  • Scalability: Easily scale your automation efforts from a single robot to an entire digital workforce as your needs grow.
  • Version Control: Manage and track changes to automation projects with integrated version control systems like Git.
  • Exception Handling and Retry Mechanisms: Implement robust error handling and retry mechanisms to ensure reliability and resilience in automation processes.
  • Extensive Community and Marketplace: Leverage a vibrant community and marketplace for reusable components, templates, and solutions.
  • Multi-Language Support: Develop automation scripts in multiple programming languages, including VB.NET, C#, and Python.
  • Mobile Access: Monitor and control your automation processes on the go with mobile access to the UiPath Orchestrator.
  • Task Mining and Process Mining: Discover automation opportunities by analyzing user interactions and business processes.
  • Natural Language Processing (NLP): Enhance automation capabilities with NLP to understand and process human language inputs.
  • Cloud and On-Premises Deployment: Choose between cloud-based or on-premises deployment options to suit your organization's infrastructure and compliance requirements.

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Buyer's Guide

MSP Software Is All About Managing Businesses, Safeguarding Customer Satisfaction and Boosting Revenue

MSP Software BG Intro

It's a rollercoaster supervising IT teams and practices. Luckily, MSP software centralizes business processes, enhances revenue and boosts customer retention rates.

This buyer's guide will cover an overview of managed service provider software, standard benefits and functionality, solution comparison strategies, cost and pricing considerations, top MSP software and questions to ask throughout the software selection process.

Executive Summary

  • MSP software helps MSP companies find and simplify security, business and other IT operations while managing profits and customer retention.
  • Top MSP software features include account management, help desks, alerts, reporting, mobility and more.
  • Some industry trends include blockchain adoption, automation and enhanced security.
  • Ask potential vendors any questions you have about the software before making a purchase.
What This Guide Covers:

What Is MSP Software?

MSP software is a solution that helps MSP companies navigate and streamline their security, business, and other IT needs while working with other departments to manage revenue and client relationships.

This solution type falls under the professional services automation (PSA) software umbrella.

Deployment Methods

There are several deployment options to choose from when browsing for MSP management software. Each deployment has benefits and drawbacks. Let's review them.

Cloud

Cloud and SaaS solution vendors host the software on internal or third-party servers. You don't host the software on your company computers and hardware because it's available on internet-connected devices. Access on the go instead of waiting to get to the office.

This solution is cheaper than on-premise systems because it offers affordable, tiered subscription plans.

Unfortunately, if you don't have strong internet or the vendor's server crashes, you can't access the system.

On-premise

This deployment allows you to host software on your hard drives and computers. This option may be right for you if you only have one or two company locations. You're in charge of updating the system.

On-premise systems are pricier because of licensing fees and customer support levels. Also, you may lose data if your hardware and servers are hacked or inoperable.

Hybrid

Lastly, hybrid merges the best qualities of cloud and on-premise options for a best-of-both-worlds appeal. However, vendors vary with this deployment. Sit down and converse with potential vendors about their hybrid dos and don'ts.

Primary Benefits

Managed service provider software brings numerous advantages to the table. Some benefits include saving money, access to new technology, reducing downtime and more.

MSP Software Benefits

Save Money

MSP management software saves money because you rely on a third-party IT group instead of hiring and paying an in-house team.

MSPs offer flexible, predictable costs for plans and issues. You save money and time because you get full monitoring, and MSP professionals can stop issues before they grow into major problems.

Gain In-depth Expert Advice and Support

New tech problems arise, and some in-house IT teams may not have all the answers. Relay problems or burning questions to MSP leaders and experts 24/7 to get the help you need in a timely fashion.

For example, you may not understand why certain networks have more downtime than others. MSP experts can tell you why and give reasonable solutions to avoid wasting time in the future.

Obtain New Technology

Investing in advanced technology is expensive, especially if you're a small business.

Luckily, MSP teams use the latest technology for better assistance and real-time workflow supervision, such as blockchain, AI, IoT and more. These tools can also streamline back-office duties, including payroll, accounting, advisory and more.

Utilizing the latest technological trends keeps you in line or ahead of your competition and boosts productivity.

Reduce Downtime

In a world where productivity is critical and everything is available at your fingertips, downtime is the last thing your company needs.

Real-time supervision and automating workflows maintain focus and boost productivity. If problems arise, your MSP team can review and address them quickly. For example, they can apply patches to your network with the most vulnerabilities to prevent threats.

Implementation Goals

What do you want to achieve with a BI tool? Maybe you want to boost revenue or streamline business processes. Your implementation goals can guide you in software selection, so listing them would be a great starting point.

Here are some suggestions. Feel free to modify them according to your business domain and add your own.

Goal 1

Centralize Operations

Maintain multiple clients globally with a managed service provider software that centralizes workflows and client data in one interface.

This centralization saves you from switching between screens or platforms.

Goal 2

Control Company Growth

Use MSP management software to scale with your company as you add more employees, machinery, locations, inventory and other assets. You can also downsize resources as needed.

Scalability enables you to maintain company growth in reasonable portions.

Goal 3

Maintain Business Continuity

Collaborate with your MSP team to build a proper technological infrastructure to reduce downtime, perform quick restorations and implement data backup plans.

Implementing business contingency plans can ensure that you consistently meet your goals, even if they're not always successful.

Basic Features & Functionality

Account Management

Supervise all clients and businesses in one centralized solution. Personalize navigations and other settings to find client data more quickly.

Mobility

Access MSP software on mobile devices to receive system notifications and real-time alerts on the go.

This mobility is especially handy if you're always traveling to different facilities and worksites because you can keep tabs from virtually anywhere.

Reporting

Develop files and documentation that detail your company's overall health, asset summaries, device alerts and other KPIs to make informed business decisions.

Help Desk

Leverage top MSP software tools to supervise client ticket requests through email, chat, social media, phone and other channels to ensure customers receive resolutions expeditiously.

Alerts

Establish consumer notifications for service interruptions, software updates, system changes, problems and more to keep everyone on the same page.

Advanced Features & Functionality

Remote Monitoring and Management (RMM)

Monitor and access client networks, computers, endpoints and more remotely.

This module can also allocate patch updates, notifications, in-depth reporting, monitoring and more.

Automation

Handle maintenance and device monitoring automatically. Draft checks, perform routine tasks, schedule backups and execute other tasks efficiently.

Automation boosts productivity and saves time.

Patch Management

Review, allocate and supervise patch upgrades throughout your system when needed.

You may also test patches before you use them to test their performance and resiliency in protecting exposed system areas.

Integrations

Merge your MSP management software with RMM or PSA tools to centralize workflows and toggle between tasks on one screen.

Current & Upcoming Trends

In addition to looking for the best MSP software, there are also industry trends to implement. This technology can safeguard data, automate repetitive tasks and store data in a centralized database.

MSP Trends

Blockchain

This trend lets you store data in one centralized location and allows simultaneous users to access and review information. It's a popular PLM trend.

MSP teams can implement blockchain to specify and manage how two devices communicate with each other. Or you can monitor technology statuses to determine if patches are needed.

Blockchain's extensive industry use could be one reason why Research and Markets predict the global blockchain market will reach a value of $227,996.6 million in 2028.

Automation

Automation frees up plenty of time so you can focus on other high-priority tasks.

For example, automation or AI-powered tools can streamline bank account reconciliation, paying employees, inputting data, allocating client invoices, managing order statuses from beginning to end and more.

Automating recurring tasks diminishes human errors and keeps your attention on client-facing and analytical responsibilities.

Cybersecurity

Lastly, integrating IT and cybersecurity tactics with your MSP management software and network strengthens client and company data protection. Perform potentially at-risk touch point assessment and determine solutions for better security.

Managed service provider software offers 24/7 security to safeguard data. It's also essential to have backup plans and vital information storage in case cybercriminals hack your hardware.

Software Comparison Strategy

Choosing managed service provider software isn't a cakewalk if you don't have a plan.

Thankfully, we offer a comprehensive, sequential methodology to map out your software selection process from start to finish. This nine-step technique called Lean Selection runs as follows:

MSP Software Lean Selection

  1. Establish: Identify why you need a new system or add-on features (i.e., low productivity, non-efficient KPI measurements, outdated system and more.)
  2. Collaborate: Formulate an internal software selection committee with colleagues, department heads, stakeholders and more.
  3. Define: Sit down with your team to formulate the ideal software functionality and requirements.
  4. Distribute: Evaluate how certain vendors align with your requirements and shortlist potential candidates.
  5. Justify: Determine if you need a brand-new solution or add-on modules. You can also think about ending your software selection quest.
  6. Prove: Review your vendor shortlist and ask potential suppliers for demos, use cases or proofs-of-concept (POCs).
  7. Rank: Score and arrange vendors based on how well their system performs your requirements. Note: You should have at least two to three vendors you're willing to negotiate and establish an implementation plan with at the end of this software selection process.
  8. Negotiate: Discuss terms and agreements with your top vendor. Seek legal advice if necessary. If the contract isn't worth your while, move on to the next vendor on your ranked list and repeat this step.
  9. Sign: After careful negotiations and compromising, sign with your ideal vendor and initiate a software implementation plan.

This methodology will help you find the ideal solution for any industry or company, even MSPs.

Cost & Pricing Considerations

There are numerous factors and considerations to mull over as your browse diverse managed service provider software, from company sizes to deployment options. Here are a few considerations to review and how they affect the total cost of ownership (TCO).

How Big Is Your Company?

Are you an enterprise or a mid-sized organization? Do you own several locations, or are you starting in your basement? Are you looking to upscale in the next few years or downsize?

These questions will help you better understand the type of MSP management software you need. Most solutions are scalable and grow with your company as you add more employees and other assets.

Which Deployment Options Are Right for You?

Are you leaning toward on-premise or the cloud?

Cloud deployment allows you to access the software on your phone or tablet from virtually anywhere with a strong internet connection. You can review dashboards, KPIs and more while catching a plane to a business conference.

On-premise means that you host the solution on your company's hardware and servers. You're responsible for keeping the system updated and maintained.

You can also access a hybrid option that offers on-premise and cloud properties.

Do You Need a Brand-new System or Add-ons?

The best way to ponder this question is to think about your laptop charger malfunctioning. Do you need a new laptop or a brand-new charging cord?

Does your system perform most of your tasks, or does it lag in many areas? Add-on modules are typically cheaper than investing in a new system.

Top MSP Software

What better way to discuss managed service provider software than to list some of the best MSP software in the market? Here's a list of the most popular MSP management software.

Accelo

This MSP software is cloud-based and serves small businesses. Its primary industries include architecture, technology and finance.

Accelo fuses retainers, projects, services and sales into one centralized location for full transparency and project management. Its top modules include team scheduling, automation, invoicing, and client and task management.

Accelo

An example of Accelo's interface.

ConnectWise Manage

Another cloud-based solution, ConnectWise Manage serves all business sizes for MSPs, value-added resellers, cloud service providers and IT security personnel.

Top features include service level agreement (SLA) management, time tracking and billing, reporting and project management.

ConnectWise Manage

A preview of ConnectWise Manage's dashboard.

Atera

This cloud MSP software caters to small businesses. It provides PSA, management and RMM tools for IT professionals and MSP teams. Top features include reporting, analytics, alerts, real-time monitoring, asset tracking and CRM.

Atera

An example of Atera's dashboard.

FinancialForce PSA

This top MSP software offers full transparency on business sales, finance and service workflows. Supervise clients, teammates, projects and financial data in one centralized location.

Top features include resource management, sales engagement, communities, project management and mobility.

FinancialForce PSA

A preview of FinancialForce PSA's metrics interface.

NinjaRMM

Designed for IT and MSP teams, this MSP software streamlines repetitive tasks with network tracking and endpoint monitoring. Top tools include asset management, reporting, patch management and virtual machine management.

NinjaRMM

An example of NinjaRMM.

 

 

Questions To Ask Yourself

Here are some internal guiding questions to better understand your company's requirements:

  • What's wrong with our current processes?
  • How big is our business?
  • On-premise, cloud or hybrid deployment?
  • Will our employees need training to use the software?
  • What are our biggest operational pain points?

MSP Software Key Questions To Ask

 

 

 

Questions To Ask Vendors

Here are a few guiding questions to ask potential vendors as you browse different solutions:

About the Software

  • Does your MSP management software offer reporting, help desk and alert management features?
  • For cloud solutions, what security measures are in place to safeguard data?
  • Does your MSP offer scalability?
  • What are the core strengths of the software?

About the Vendor

  • How many successful implementations have you had in the past year?
  • Do you have experience working with my industry and company size? How many years?
  • What customer support and training do you offer?
  • Is this software customizable for specific business needs?

Next Steps

MSP software can improve the quality and speed of managing client networks and data while also helping you gain more insight into maintaining customer satisfaction and boosting revenue.

This buyer's guide has covered everything MSP management software, from top benefits and features to industry-related trends, the most popular products and key questions to ask vendors.

Ready to get started? Check out our in-depth comparison report to gain insight into top software leaders.

Product Comparisons

Additional Resources

About The Contributors

The following expert team members are responsible for creating, reviewing, and fact checking the accuracy of this content.

Technical Content Writer
Khaleel Hayes is a Technical Content Writer for SelectHub, with over 4 years of experience crafting content for manufacturing, PLM, ERP and technology selection audiences. He's also a freelance writer in his spare time. His body of work includes poetry, short plays, feature articles and film reviews either self-published or in Denver publications. He graduated with a B.A. in Journalism and an English minor from Metropolitan State University of Denver in May 2018. When not writing, he enjoys classic movies and music, tasty burgers, tasteful bookstores, and breathtaking art and photography.
Technical Research By Joan Akash
Senior Analyst
Joan Akash, a Senior Research Analyst at SelectHub, holds a Post-Graduate Diploma in Management with a specialization in Marketing. Her expertise as a researcher and reviewer spans diverse software categories, including Project Management, Customer Relationship Management, Live Chat, and Help Desk. Beyond her professional pursuits, Joan is spiritually driven, with a passion for teaching children and a penchant for reading biblical blogs and crafting poetry.
Technical Review By Manan Roy
Principal Analyst
Manan is a native of Tezpur, Assam (India), who currently lives in Kolkata, West Bengal (India). At SelectHub, he works on categories like CRM, HR, PPM, BI, and EHR. He has a Bachelor of Technology in CSE from The Gandhi Institute of Engineering and Technology, a Master of Technology from The Institute of Engineering and Management IT, and an MBA in Finance from St. Xavier's College. He's published two research papers, one in a conference and the other in a journal, during his Master of Technology.
Edited By Hunter Lowe
Content Editor
Hunter Lowe is a Content Editor, Writer and Market Analyst at SelectHub. His team covers categories that range from ERP and business intelligence to transportation and supply chain management. Hunter is an avid reader and Dungeons and Dragons addict who studied English and Creative Writing through college. In his free time, you'll likely find him devising new dungeons for his players to explore, checking out the latest video games, writing his next horror story or running around with his daughter.
Edited By Joe Evans
Content Editor
Joe Evans is an Editor and Senior Market Analyst at SelectHub. A seasoned professional wordsmith, he has a bachelor's degree in journalism and electronic media and a decade of professional expertise in crafting top-tier digital content for niche online brands. He leads his small yet formidable team in producing helpful, compelling content in vital categories like HR, payroll, talent management, performance management, marketing automation home health, MES. When not editing and writing, he enjoys sports, quality time with family and dogs, and remains constantly in pursuit of something new and interesting to read or listen to.