Pulseway alternatives for running IT operations in 2024

Choosing the right IT management software for an IT team is not an easy task, especially when there are so many options available.

Pulseway has been one of the popular solutions for over a decade, but many IT teams are looking for alternatives for various reasons.

In this article, we have reviewed and listed the 11 best Pulseway alternatives for running your IT operations in 2024 – according to our research and opinion. Before diving into the alternatives, let’s start by looking at Pulseway, its specializations, and why IT teams want to switch away from it.

What is Pulseway?

Pulseway is an RMM software used by IT teams and MSPs to remotely monitor, manage, and control their IT infrastructure from afar.

The company was founded in 2011, and from the start, its goal has been to develop a simple tool for IT professionals and MSPs to manage their systems and processes.

Why look for a Pulseway alternative?

After taking a closer look into Pulseway customer reviews on G2 and Capterra, we found that customers were unhappy with the available cross-platform support, an insufficient desktop experience, and available pricing.

Let’s look into each of these in more detail.

1. Cross-platform support isn’t super reliable, according to customer reviews

Pulseway provides cross-platform support, meaning they have their own agents for Windows, Mac, and Linux. Pulseway customers on G2 mention that the support for Mac and Linux is lacking or second-class at best. This is a deal-breaker for many Mac and Linux users since they can’t rely on good customer service.

2. An inefficient desktop experience

Pulseway has a cloud-based software and a desktop app, but some of the features are split between the two, making it difficult to use, according to users on Capterra. The desktop app is also unavailable for Mac and Linux users, further complicating things.

3. Pricing system and onboarding

Pulseway’s RMM pricing structure is based on pay-per-endpoint/device pricing. As a result, customers will be charged for each new endpoint/device they add, which quickly becomes expensive. All Pulseway customers must also pay an onboarding fee of $149 before they can use the service, something customers complained about on G2.

What are Pulseway’s specializations?

Although these should be standard features in today’s IT software, two specializations Pulseway customers have reported on are ease of use and the available mobile app.

1. Ease of use

According to some customers on Software Advice, setting up Pulseway initially is relatively easy, and the software is also easy to use on a daily basis. When you open the dashboard, you can see all the options available to push software and remotely control different devices.

2. Available mobile app

Pulseway customers on G2 have reported that the mobile app is easy to use and has most of the same features as the Windows version. This is beneficial to those who wish to manage their IT environments from their mobile devices.

The pros and cons of Pulseway

To summarize the two previous sections on Pulseway’s specialties and limitations, see the following bullet points.

The pros:

• Pulseway’s setup process is straightforward, and the software is simple to use on a daily basis.
• Pulseway has a fully-featured mobile app that allows remote monitoring and management via a mobile device.

The cons, according to customers:

• Cross-platform support for Mac and Linux doesn’t match the quality of support Pulseway Windows users receive.
• Pulseway web-based software and desktop app don’t work well together, further complicating things.
• Pulseway’s pay-per-endpoint pricing model gets expensive quickly, and all new Pulseway customers must pay an onboarding fee of $149.

The 11 best Pulseway alternatives for IT teams in 2024

Now let’s look at the 11 best Pulseway alternatives for running your IT operations in 2024, according to our own research and findings.

1. Atera

Atera vs. Pulseway: Key differences

Atera and Pulseway both provide remote monitoring and management (RMM), patch management, IT services automation, help desk and ticket processing, and network monitoring tools for IT teams

Out of the two, Atera is the only one offering AI-powered features that revolutionize the IT industry. Among the AI features is the ability to handle common complaints with an AI help desk, a feature Pulseway can’t offer. Atera’s AI can resolve 50% of tickets to help organizations eliminate Tier-1 support, cut down response and resolution times, and boost operational efficiency by leveraging AI and automation.

Atera and Pulseway both have transparent RMM pricing, unlike most RMM solutions that require custom quotes. Out of the two, Atera is the only one using pay-per-technician pricing. Pulseway uses a pay-per-endpoint pricing structure, which gets expensive as your endpoints increase.

1. Cloud-based RMM

Atera is an entirely cloud-based RMM, so there’s no need to install a dedicated MSP software or solution for IT departments, which also simplifies the learning process.

Pulseway has both cloud-based versions and desktop apps for Windows users. While this might seem great at first, customers have reported that the functions are split between the web interface and the desktop app, adding complexity to using the software.

The Pulseway desktop version is also only available for Windows users, further proving that Pulseway’s features aren’t as strong for Mac and Linux users, an issue that customers complained about.

2. User onboarding and customer service

Atera is known for having an intuitive user onboarding experience, and there are no onboarding fees for customers, whereas Pulseway charges new customers $149 as part of their onboarding process.

Atera’s interface is super intuitive, so you can be up and running in minutes, no specialized training or onboarding fees required! 

If problems arise during the onboarding, customers can always contact Atera’s 24/7 customer support. Plus, we have a wide range of resources, including tutorials, a knowledge base, and an active IT community.

Pulseway provides the same service but at an additional cost. They also don’t offer 24/7 customer support, making getting help quickly difficult when something goes wrong.

3. Pricing structure

Where Atera stands out is the pay-per-technician model for IT departments and pricing plans for MSP, which allows customers to add as many endpoints/devices as they want without growing their bottom line.

Pulseway charges pay-per-endpoint/device, which can become expensive for companies with many endpoints or devices.

One Capterra user who chose Atera over Pulseway mentioned this:

“The per-user price point was good and makes Atera much better value than Pulseway that charges per device. The free month gives you a good opportunity to evaluate it and shows that this product is a good value.”

Because of how expensive Pulseway pricing can get, some small business owners also mentioned they couldn’t afford to add specific devices to Pulseway, making their security more vulnerable.

Pulseway offers a 14-day free trial for its customers, whereas Atera has a 30-day free trial.

Atera’s G2 Rating: 4.6 out of 5 stars (400+ reviews)

Pulseway’s G2 Rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars (57 reviews)

What Atera users are saying on G2:

• Atera users on G2 appreciate the available pay-per-technician pricing, which is cost-effective for businesses with a small number of technicians and a large number of endpoints. Most RMM pricing plans are based on pay-per-endpoint, but Atera charges a fixed price, no matter how many endpoints/devices you have.

Capterra Rating: 4.6 out of 5 stars (300+ reviews)

What Atera users are saying on Capterra:

• Atera enables users to manage all IT organization needs within one platform with one subscription. One Capterra reviewer mentioned that they tested almost all the available PSA/RMM combos, and Atera’s cost compared to the other RMM solutions is exceptionally low.

Atera Pricing:

For IT departments: 

• Professional: $149 per month, per technician
• Expert: $189 per month, per technician
• Master: $219 per month, per technician
• Enterprise: Custom quotation, contact sales to get the pricing

For MSPs:

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

Get started with Atera on a 30-day free trial with no credit card required.

2. Syncro

Syncro is a remote monitoring and management (RMM) platform and PSA platform that helps businesses automate and streamline their IT operations. Due to its simple features, it is aimed especially at small businesses that don’t have highly complex processes.

Similarly to Atera, Syncro also offers a pay-per-technician pricing model. Although Syncro has its advantages, enterprises and mid-sized businesses looking for scalable IT management solutions will quickly find that Syncro may not keep up with the growth.

G2 Rating: 4.5 out of 5.0 (120+ reviews)

Pulseway’s G2 Rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars (57 reviews)

Syncro’s Capterra Rating: 4.7 out of 5.0 (70+ reviews)

Syncro Pricing:

• Basic: $139 per month, per user

3. Domotz

Domotz provides MSPs and IT professionals with the ability to monitor networks and IT infrastructure from a single, unified platform. Looking into customer reviews of Domotz, we see that the platform is mainly known for its ease of use. Those with little or no experience with RMM platforms will likely have no problem using it.

As a downside, customers complain that Domotz is expensive to use. The main reason is Domotz’s pay-per-site pricing model, which is expensive for companies with multiple sites. If this describes your situation, you may want to consider alternatives like Atera, that have the pay-per-technician model.

G2 Rating: 4.8 out of 5.0 (80+ reviews)

Capterra Rating: 5.0 out of 5.0 (85+ reviews)

Domotz Pricing:

• Pro: $35 per month, per site
• Enterprise: Starting at $1,000 per month

4. ConnectWise Automate

ConnectWise Automate helps IT teams automate manual processes and as a result, enhance their effectiveness. It provides RMM tools for discovering and managing multiple devices, monitoring IT issues, and automating their responses.

It can handle complex processes and is a scalable solution for larger teams. However, many ConnectWise Automate users mention that the number of functionalities is almost too much, making the software complex, hard to use, and navigate around. If this is your situation, look for another ConnectWise alternative.

G2 Rating: 4.1 out of 5.0 (120+ reviews)

Capterra Rating: 4.1 out of 5.0 (125+ reviews)

ConnectWise Automate Pricing:

• Custom quotation: To know ConnectWise Automate pricing, you need to request a quotation from their team

5. GoTo Resolve

GoTo Resolve is another RMM solution that is suitable for small and midsize businesses. The software allows IT professionals to remotely monitor and manage their network infrastructure, endpoints, and devices. It also monitors the real-time health and performance of servers and other network components.

Small businesses looking for an easy-to-use Pulseway alternative may find GoTo Resolve a suitable solution. GoTo Resolve is most likely not powerful enough for growing IT teams that require a robust RMM solution with a ticketing system, reporting, and patch management capabilities.

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

Capterra Rating: 4.5 out of 5.0 (190+ reviews)

GoTo Resolve Pricing:

• Free: Free to use, up to 3 technicians
• Standard: Starting at $57 per month, billed annually
• Premium: Custom pricing, visit their website to contact their sales team

6. NinjaOne

NinjaOne is an IT management platform that combines device management, patch management, and remote access into one platform. Users looking for a customizable RMM software may find NinjaOne a good alternative to Pulseway.

One downside of NinjaOne is that it doesn’t have PSA built-in. This is something that Pulseway (as well as Atera) offers in its software. If integrated PSA is essential to you, as it is for most IT teams, look for another NinjaOne alternative.

G2 Rating: 4.8 out of 5.0 (1,000+ reviews)

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

NinjaOne Pricing:

• Pricing based on custom quotation. To learn more, visit their website.

7. Kaseya VSA

Kaseya VSA provides IT teams with the ability to automate tasks and workflows, manage devices remotely, and protect endpoints with threat detection and automated patch management. Similarly to Pulseway, Kaseya VSA customers report ease of use, regardless of their previous RMM experience.

Kaseya VSA has a similar downside to Pulseway, which is the onboarding process. Customers on G2 mention that the onboarding fees are high, and onboarding trainers aren’t always genuinely interested in helping you.

G2 Rating: 4.0 out of 5.0 (250+ reviews)

Capterra Rating: 4.1 out of 5.0 (200+ reviews)

Kaseya VSA Pricing:

• Custom pricing system in place. Visit their website to learn more.

8. Naverisk

Naverisk is an all-in-one IT and service desk solution that provides remote monitoring and management, patch management, and automation tools for IT professionals. Unlike Pulseway, Naverisk is an entirely web-based RMM solution.

Customers say Naverisk’s ticketing system is its main drawback. Many G2 users say it is difficult to locate old tickets that teams worked on previously and that searching for specific tickets is clunky.

G2 Rating: 4.7 out of 5.0 stars (60+ reviews)

Capterra Rating: 4.8 out of 5.0 stars (90+ reviews)

Naverisk Pricing:

• Based on custom quote. Prices start at $110 per month.

9. Jira Service Management

Jira Service Management provides IT service management capabilities, which help dev and operations teams respond to incidents and requests more quickly. One drawback to Pulseway was its steep pricing structure. In comparison, Jira Service Management is quite affordable, and there is even a free version that allows really basic IT service management.

However, Jira Service Management does not offer the advanced RMM capabilities, patch management, and PSA tools most IT teams need.

G2 Rating: 4.2 out of 5.0 (760+ reviews)

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

Jira Service Management Pricing:

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

10. Freshservice

Freshservice is a cloud-based service desk and IT service management solution designed for companies of all sizes. Freshservice belongs to the Freshworks product family and it integrates well with other Freshworks products.

Freshservice is similar to Jira Service Management in a way that it covers the basic ITSM needs for IT teams. If you’re looking for a Pulseway alternative that can manage IT issues and assets and provide basic IT automation that reduces your workload, Freshservice may be a good option. However, it doesn’t provide the RMM capabilities most IT teams are looking for.

G2 Rating: 4.6 out of 5.0 stars (1,000+ reviews)

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

Freshservice Pricing:

• ITSM plans start at $115 per month, per technician

11. ManageEngine Endpoint Central

ManageEngine Endpoint Central enables users to manage desktops, laptops, servers, mobile devices, and tablets from one central location. The software helps technicians to automate their desktop management tasks with various capabilities.

Since it’s almost exclusively focused on remote management, it is effective for that purpose compared to Pulseway. As a drawback, customers have complained that the software is not very user-friendly. If ease of use is a priority for you, consider another alternative, like Atera.

G2 Rating: 4.4 out of 5.0 (600+ reviews)

Capterra Rating: 5.0 out of 5.0 (750+ reviews)

ManageEngine Endpoint Central Pricing:

• Professional: Starting at $104 per month, per technician
• Enterprise: Starting at $124 per month, per technician
• UEM: Starting at $139 per month, per technician
• Security: Starting at $205 per month, per technician

Find the right Pulseway alternative for your needs 

Now that we have reviewed the top Pulseway alternatives, you should have a better grasp of what the top alternatives are.

At the end of the day, you have to decide what is best for you.

If you’re looking for an IT management platform with powerful RMM capabilities, automated patch management, help desk and ticket processing, and industry-leading AI features, you can rely on Atera.

If you want to experience Atera better as a platform, don’t forget to take advantage of our 30-day free trial. If you have questions specific to your organization’s operations, contact our sales team for more information about how we can help streamline your IT processes.