Remote monitoring and management software helps monitor, maintain, and troubleshoot IT systems in a remote setup.
Being a managed IT service provider may often feel like you're working 24/7, especially if your clients face frequent networking issues or server downtime. Such problems can disrupt your clients’ daily workflows by freezing their systems and networks, and trying to fix these issues manually can take a long time.
Fortunately, you can tackle such issues with the help of remote monitoring and management (RMM) software. RMM software solutions remotely monitor your clients’ endpoints, servers, networks, and systems to detect and resolve IT issues such as server failure. They can also remotely install software apps, patches, and updates on all network-connected devices and systems, helping save time and boost productivity.
To help you make the right software choice, we’ve listed the nine best RMM software tools based on two parameters: user ratings and popularity. Each parameter is weighed and scaled to a value between 1 and 50.
User ratings: This parameter considers the overall user ratings of products based on reviews written in the last 24 months. Users rate products on a scale of 1 (lowest) to 5 (highest).
Popularity: This parameter considers the average monthly search volume for a standardized set of keywords for each product, as derived by a proprietary search methodology, as well as the position of the vendor’s domain on the search engine results page (SERP) for each keyword. It’s a measure of user interest and relevance used as a proxy for popularity.
Note: Products are listed in descending order of their total scores—i.e., summation of user ratings and popularity scores. If two or more products have the same score, they are listed alphabetically. (Read how we selected these products.)
1. Atera: Sets automation profiles for devices and end users
User rating: 48/50
Popularity score: 50/50
Atera is a remote monitoring and management solution for IT managers and engineers.
It lets you monitor system activity in real time; track individual devices and systems; and set specific alert thresholds for different devices in case of any faults with system resources, network and IP configuration, or SQL servers. You can scale up to manage as many customers, devices, or sites as you need.
The software automates routine tasks such as setting system restore points, deleting temporary files, and defragmenting disks. You can achieve this by setting IT automation profiles and assigning them to different devices or end users.
Atera offers chat, email, and phone support. It is a web-based tool and also has a mobile app for Android and iOS devices.
Key Features
- Access controls/permissions
- Automated routing
- Automatic patch deployment
- Availability management
- Bandwidth monitoring
- Call center management
Trial/Free Version
- Free Trial
- Free Version
Starting price
Device compatibility
Screenshots
Monitoring dashboard in Atera
2. Syncro: Centralizes all devices under one dashboard
User rating: 49/50
Popularity score: 42/50
Syncro is a remote monitoring and management platform that helps manage server-based operations for internal staff as well as external clients.
It performs comprehensive network monitoring and sends alerts on detecting issues in the connected systems. Its RMM reporting functionality provides insights into server speed and connectivity issues and sends critical alerts during server failures.
The software lets you synchronize all your devices and bring all policy settings onto a single platform. You can make global changes to all systems and devices through the dashboard. You can use the built-in remote access feature to initiate unattended remote sessions. You can also use the command and PowerShell prompt to enter commands in the system and manage services remotely.
Syncro is a web-based tool that offers chat, email, and phone support.
Key Features
- Access controls/permissions
- Activity tracking
- Client portal
- Configuration management
- Dashboard
- Help desk management
Trial/Free Version
- Free Trial
- Free Version
Starting price
Device compatibility
Screenshots
Dashboard in Syncro
3. NinjaOne: Offers a ticket-based support system
User rating: 50/50
Popularity score: 40/50
NinjaOne is an IT management solution that helps monitor, manage, and support devices and users remotely.
It helps you manage clients’ devices more efficiently by bringing every system and its associated network onto a centralized dashboard. It features a built-in automation engine that lets you automate monitoring for multiple devices. You can also add custom fields and scripts to monitor a particular device or user.
With a ticket-based remote support process, you can prioritize client issues based on the urgency and level of technical assistance required. This process helps improve client satisfaction and make your workflows more efficient.
NinjaOne offers chat, email, and phone support. It is a web-based tool and also has a mobile app for Android and iOS devices.
Key Features
- Activity dashboard
- Application security
- Approval process control
- Automatic scans
- Availability testing
- Backup and recovery
Trial/Free Version
- Free Trial
- Free Version
Starting price
Device compatibility
Screenshots
Dashboard in NinjaOne
4. PRTG Network Monitor: Offers detailed statistics on connected devices
User rating: 48/50
Popularity score: 42/50
PRTG Network Monitor is a remote monitoring software solution for IT teams.
It lets you monitor all systems, devices, and traffic in your IT infrastructure. It analyzes remote device usage; finds how much bandwidth your devices, remote sites, and applications use; and identifies bottlenecks in speed during data transfers throughout the network.
The RMM platform generates detailed statistics about every application running on your network and centrally monitors and manages your cloud services. It monitors multiple servers and gives real-time data on the availability, accessibility, capacity, and overall reliability of individual servers.
PRTG Network Monitor offers chat and email support. It is a web-based tool and also has a mobile app for Android and iOS devices.
Key Features
- Activity dashboard
- Application security
- Bandwidth monitoring
- Data collection
- Event logs
- Internet usage monitoring
Trial/Free Version
- Free Trial
- Free Version
Starting price
Device compatibility
Screenshots
Network monitoring in PRTG Network Monitor
5. Pulseway: Creates a topology map to visualize networks
User rating: 48/50
Popularity score: 42/50
Pulseway is a network monitoring solution that gives total visibility across your network.
It lets you set up remote monitoring for all your systems and creates a topology map to visualize your entire network. It automatically detects new devices and scans them for threats.
The topology map provides comprehensive visual control and management across your network. You can customize the map to showcase specific device types such as mobile devices. You can also color code the alerts on the topology map to quickly identify errors and warnings.
Pulseway offers chat, email, and phone support. It is a web-based tool and also has a mobile app for Android and iOS devices.
Key Features
- Activity dashboard
- API
- Capacity management
- Compliance management
- Configuration management
- Data visualization
Trial/Free Version
- Free Trial
- Free Version
Starting price
Device compatibility
Screenshots
Centralized RMM dashboard in Pulseway
6. ConnectWise Automate: Automates device discovery
User rating: 44/50
Popularity score: 40/50
ConnectWise Automate is a remote monitoring and management solution for IT and network support teams.
Its asset discovery feature tracks the behavior and activity of all the devices connected to your network. It routinely scans the network to discover new devices and protect against unauthorized access by intruders or cyberattackers.
Its endpoint management functionality lets you internally access particular devices or connect with clients’ devices to fix networking issues. Its remote monitoring feature helps fix server downtime issues across the network to keep all systems running efficiently without facing packet losses or lags.
ConnectWise Automate offers chat, email, and phone support. It is a web-based tool and also has a mobile app for Android and iOS devices.
Key Features
- Activity dashboard
- Audit management
- Bandwidth monitoring
- Baseline manager
- Capacity management
- Configuration management
Trial/Free Version
- Free Trial
- Free Version
Starting price
Device compatibility
Screenshots
Patch management in ConnectWise Automate
7. WhatsUp Gold: Offers capacity planning for individual systems
User rating: 47/50
Popularity score: 36/50
WhatsUp Gold is a performance networking management solution that helps maintain server uptime for IT teams.
It maps your entire network and creates a network topology to easily manage systems and applications across your organization. It also lets you interconnect multiple systems to make file sharing and data transfer easier for your team.
With network monitoring, you can immediately map device dependencies and find the bandwidth usage of all the systems connected to your network. A unified dashboard uploads all network and system data in one place for easy access.
WhatsUp Gold offers chat, email, and phone support. It is a web-based tool and also has a mobile app for Android and iOS devices.
Key Features
- Bandwidth monitoring
- Color coding
- Compliance tracking
- Device auto discovery
- Event logs
- Internet usage monitoring
Trial/Free Version
- Free Trial
- Free Version
Starting price
Device compatibility
Screenshots
Automated discovery in WhatsUp Gold
8. GoTo Central: Deploys files to specific server endpoints
User rating: 49/50
Popularity score: 25/50
GoTo Central is an endpoint management solution for IT teams.
It offers remote device access to help maintain and manage your IT infrastructure. You can solve client as well as internal system issues and access endpoints to provide direct support to end users. You can deploy multiple files and folders to specific endpoints and share data easily.
The software helps automate routine tasks such as keeping system backups, regularly analyzing disks for errors and bugs, and updating the registry settings for all the systems in your network. In addition, it lets you install updates, edit system plans, add comments for other users, and create commands remotely.
GoTo Central offers chat, email, and phone support. It is a web-based tool and also has a mobile app for Android and iOS devices.
Key Features
- Automatic scans
- Bandwidth monitoring
- Backup and recovery
- Capacity management
- Compliance tracking
- License management
Trial/Free Version
- Free Trial
- Free Version
Starting price
Device compatibility
Screenshots
Patch management in GoTo Central
9. Tanaza: Centralizes the management of Wi-Fi access points
User rating: 47/50
Popularity score: 21/50
Tanaza is a network management platform that helps manage and monitor access points.
It offers centralized management for Wi-Fi access points, service set identifiers (SSIDs), and clients within your networks. Its remote monitoring functionality offers network speed and connectivity insights for each system and helps monitor multiple system performances in real time. Tanaza also sends email notifications if it encounters any system issues such as disconnected access points.
You can integrate the software with multiple third-party software apps to manage and monitor external captive portals and guest networks. You can also create a customized guest Wi-Fi experience on your public hotspot's authentication page.
Tanaza is a web-based tool that offers email and phone support.
Key Features
- Alerts/notifications
- Bandwidth monitoring
- Capacity analysis
- Change management
- Internet usage monitoring
- Inventory Management
Trial/Free Version
- Free Trial
- Free Version
Starting price
Device compatibility
Screenshots
Managing devices in Tanaza
What features do remote monitoring and management software tools offer?
Here are the key features of remote monitoring and management solutions:
Remote access/control: Access client devices and endpoints remotely to manage systems and applications.
Reporting/analytics: Create customizable real-time reports on bugs, system failures, and overall network bandwidth usage.
Simplified deployment: Identify network-connected systems that need updates and deploy patches or updates remotely.
All the products listed in this report include the core features mentioned above.
Besides these core features, remote monitoring and management software solutions also tend to offer certain common features, which include:
IT asset management
Network monitoring
Patch management
Real-time alerts
Remediation management
How to choose the best remote monitoring and management software for your business
Assess whether the software offers real-time network monitoring. An ideal RMM tool should monitor your entire network in real time instead of waiting for your clients or teammates to find bugs in network devices and inform you about them. Ask the service provider whether their product offers real-time network monitoring to automatically detect and resolve network issues.
Look for intelligent automation. The remote management software you shortlist should offer intelligent automation for routine tasks such as creating system restore points and deleting temporary files to save your workforce time and let them focus on higher-value work.
Check for patch management functionality. Your shortlisted RMM solution should be able to automate patch management so you can remotely deploy system and network patches with a single click. Be sure to check that the software you buy has a universal patch management dashboard for handling patches for multiple networks and systems.
Searching for IT Services Agencies to hire for your business? We've got you covered. Check out our list of companies in the following areas:
Common questions to ask when choosing remote monitoring and management software
When looking for a comprehensive and robust remote monitoring and management solution, it's crucial to ask the following questions to vendors:
How complicated is it to set up the software?
The deployment process should be simple, and it shouldn’t take the remote monitoring software a long time to adapt to your internal or clients’ systems and networks. A customizable and easy-to-use RMM tool is what your team needs. Before finalizing your purchase, ask the vendor how long it takes to deploy and set up their software.
What kind of security does the software have?
RMM software handles sensitive data for both managed service providers and their clients. Thus, it’s crucial to select software that protects your clients’ data and ensures the integrity of system backups. When considering options, ask vendors what kind of security their RMM system provides against cyberattacks and data leaks.
Will you provide training resources for my team?
Opt for an RMM software vendor that offers training resources, how-to guides, and webinars to make it easier for you and your team to get accustomed to the new software.
How did we choose these products? We didn’t—you did
To find your ideal software match, you need information you can trust—so you can save time, stay on budget, and focus more energy on growing your business. It’s why we vet and verify all our user reviews and recommend only the tools endorsed by people like you.
In other words, our product recommendations are never bought or sold, or based on the opinion of a single individual—they’re chosen by your peers, reflecting the views and experiences of our independent base of software reviewers.