Atera vs. Autotask: Comparing IT Management Solutions

Are you looking for the right PSA and/or RMM software for an IT department or managed service provider (MSP)? Look no further. You may have heard of Autotask and Atera, two major players in the SaaS sphere of IT. 

While these two IT SaaS players might seem tomato-tomato (please sound out two different pronunciations of tomato to get the full effect), they each have a lot of differences that make them better in different contexts. So without further ado, let’s dive into what sets these two platforms apart so that you can make the best decision for the unique needs of your organization. 

User Interface and Usability

When it comes to user interface and usability, Atera’s integrated dashboards simply cannot be topped. What do we mean by that? Well, our dashboards are simple – just like our user experience. 

From the main screen, you’ll see a quick overview of all of the essential information, while still being able to do a deep dive into any given area with just one (or maybe two clicks) of a button. To give you a visual idea of what we mean – here’s what our comprehensive dashboard looks like: 

How does this stack up to Autotask? Well, Reddit users share that Autotask does have a comprehensive dashboard as well – but they have found that its interface is a bit dated and clunky, with a learning curve in order to get started. In contrast, Atera’s interface is intuitive and easy-to-use, which will get you up and running in a matter of minutes. 

Features and Capabilities

Atera and Autotask each offer PSA services for both managed service providers (MSPs) and IT departments. While Autotask is limited to PSA use cases, Atera has a broad range of features that go above and beyond the world of PSA. 

Atera offers expansive scripting capabilities to automate those mundane and repetitive tasks that seem to eat up half of your day. Plus, advanced AI capabilities make patch management automation even easier – which also enhances your company’s security. But that’s not all. With Atera, you can find everything you need in one convenient place. 

We offer top-tier network discovery solutions so you always have the full picture of your digital and physical IT assets. Further, our product comes equipped with PSA tools, helpdesk, ticketing, and countless integrations. Plus, our IT ticketing system is better than ever with AI enhancements that allow you to work smarter, not harder. 

Let’s take a closer look at all that is possible with Atera’s AI-powered IT enhancements. We are proud to be on the forefront of the AI revolution, and our Action AI allows IT teams across the globe to enhance efficiency and do more with less resources. With a “Copilot” option to empower your technicians and an “Autopilot” option to enhance end user experiences, Atera’s AI is changing the face of IT as we know it. 

For instance, consider the upgrades to your typical ticketing system that you will see when you use Atera’s AI-powered product. With the help of AI, our helpdesk platform can even help resolve some basic tickets for you. For more complex tasks, we are still here to help. The AI chatbot can help draft responses to end users with natural language capabilities, can suggest potential solutions, and can even write PowerShell scripts to deploy. This is truly new-age IT!

Autotask’s features are much more limited, with inclusions such as service desk, integrations with Datto for a unified RMM-PSA experience, ticket resolution, and a live mobile app. However, users on TrustRadius have shared that the mobile app is not very functional and any integrations outside of Datto products are difficult to use. 

For many users, the need to combine Autotask with Datto to perform RMM functions is frustrating enough to make them go with another provider like Atera. 

Performance and Reliability

Atera has built a strong reputation as a product you can count on. We are always working to minimize downtime and allow you to get the most out of our product. For our team, consistency and reliability are two top priorities.  Plus, should anything go wrong, you can count on our 24/7 live support, which is available in several different languages. Or do you prefer an at-your-leisure support experience? If so, we offer a collection of digital resources including a blog, online community, and knowledge base. Many users agree that Atera is a reliable, exemplary platform:

Autotask is a Kaseya company, which has a reputation for strong customer service as well. But the downside is that it’s likely that you will need to ask for help due to downtime and reduced functionality. 

Reviewers on SoftwareAdvice.com shared that, because Autotask is a Datto product (which has now been acquired by Kaseya), it is difficult to do integrations to non-Datto products. This appears to be a major point of annoyance for users that leads to reduced functionality and increased downtime with the platform. 

Pricing and Value for Money

There’s no way around it; pricing is a big factor whenever you’re considering a new product for your IT team. That’s why at Atera, we’re committed to transparent pricing. We’ll never leave you in the dark, allowing you to budget effectively and make informed decisions about how much your investment is vs. what you are getting for your money. 

Our pay-per-technician pricing structure is like nothing else on the market. Pricing for plans for managed service providers (MSPs) starts at $129 per month per technician. And pricing plans for IT departments start at $149 per month per technician. Better yet, you won’t need to worry about costly upcharges to achieve full functionality. Key integrations like Splashtop and Azure are included at no additional cost. 

Unfortunately, Autotask does not share our commitment to transparency. Nowhere on the Autotask website will you find clear information about pricing… and if you think that sounds like a red flag, you are right. While the exact details of Autotask’s pricing structure are unclear, making it hard to determine if it is a viable option for your unique needs, many reviewers across different platforms (such as TrustRadius) believe that Autotask is expensive for what it provides.

Many verified users on trusted platforms like G2 and Capterra have commented that Atera’s transparent and flexible pricing is one of their favorite elements of our product. Our unique pay-per-technician model is perfect for both start-up and enterprise customers (and everyone in between) as it allows for easy growth and scaling without a pesky upcharge every time you add an endpoint.

Customer Support and Community

When you become an Atera client, you’ll feel our sense of community immediately – all of our users are invited and encouraged to become a part of our online community, which is nicknamed the “Ateraverse.” This online world is a great place to connect with other Atera users, troubleshoot common problems, or simply have a laugh with your fellow IT pros. 

We also have live agents available around the clock so that we can offer you the support you need at any time of day (or night)! Plus, our site is fully stocked with countless online resources that you can read at your leisure. Find recorded webinars, a rich knowledge base, and a veritable treasure trove of blog articles to broaden your know-how and get the support you need… whenever you need it.

Can Autotask meet that standard? We think not. While the product’s website does offer some resources such as blogs and case studies, reviewers like Steven N. on TrustRadius have noted that the knowledge base could use improvements, and customer support response times can be quite slow. 

Security and Compliance

RMM security and compliance are essential features of any IT product – but you wouldn’t know that by looking at Autotask’s website. Although the product’s available integrations with Datto RMM expands its offerings to include security-related features, these options are not native to Autotask and will cost you extra. 

At Atera, we know that IT professionals are tired of constant upcharges and upsells to get a fully functioning product. That’s why we provide an all-in-one solution that is equipped with everything you need for productivity, protection, and so much more. We have top-tier cybersecurity offerings included from the get-go – and security is central to everything we do. 

How do we prioritize security? Our smart logging and reporting capabilities as well as strict adherence to all industry security standards give our customers unmatched peace of mind. You can sleep soundly knowing that your organization is safe from the threat of malevolent actors.

Our real-time monitoring and alerts help your team detect and respond to potential issues before they become major problems. We believe in proactive IT rather than reactive IT – and that means equipping you with the tools to keep your IT ecosystem safe and secure.

We are proud to have earned HIPAA, GDPR, and SOC2 compliances. We have also gained numerous ISO certifications (27001, 27017, 27018, and 27032, to be exact) and have expanded our security-related integration selections so that you can easily use Atera in tandem with your other favorite cybersecurity products. Atera offers native integrations with security products including Cynet, Keeper, ESET, Emsisoft, Webroot, ThreatDown, Bitdefender, and Ironscales. 

Cybersecurity is at the core of our company’s ethos. That is why we have designed our product with your safety in mind. Our world-class patch management, numerous compliance certifications and security accolades, and advanced, responsive features come together to create our one-of-a-kind product. At Atera, your safety is our top priority… and we wouldn’t have it any other way!

User Feedback and Reviews

No matter where you look, Atera has garnered consistently positive reviews. Why? Because customers recognize us as a reliable and affordable provider of robust IT solutions for MSPs and in-house IT departments. With transparent pricing that makes growth and scaling simple, our solutions are a great fit for both start-up and enterprise customers. 

Here’s the thing, we spend all of our time working on and perfecting our incredible product. So of course we’re proud of it. But we don’t want you to just take our word for it. Instead, check out our online reviews that back us up. For instance, take this reviewer’s perspective, which applauds our ease of use, reporting, pricing, and patch management”.

Now, let’s talk about the reviews for Autotask. While some users find it perfectly fits their niche needs, others take issue with its limited capabilities and clunky integrations. This Datto product can be a good fit for companies who use Datto RMM, but do not expect it to mesh well with other programs – even workplace staples like Microsoft Office, as TrustRadius users note. 

Who should you try: Atera or Autotask?

As you explore different options for a PSA tool that will accomplish all of your needs in one fell swoop, you might be considering Atera vs. Autotask. As you’ve likely seen through our article, you will likely discover that Atera offers a much broader range of features, better customer support, and transparent pricing that Autotask simply cannot match. 

However, we encourage you to conduct thorough research before you make a decision. It’s a good idea to reach out to each product’s sales team to receive a demo. At Atera, we make things even easier with a free 30-day trial – no credit card required. Get in touch with us today to experience the Atera difference for yourself.