Industry

The Best IT Tools in 2025 (We reviewed them so you don't have to)

The Best IT Tools in 2025 (We reviewed them so you don't have to)

Taylor Halliday

Co-Founder, CEO

15 minutes

That moment when you're staring at a spreadsheet comparing dozens of IT tools, trying to figure out which ones will actually solve your problems rather than create new ones. It's not fun.

The truth is, picking the right IT tech stack can make or break your department's effectiveness. With budgets tightening and expectations rising, you need solutions that deliver real value, not just buzzwords and empty promises.

We've spent time researching, testing, and getting the real scoop on the tools that IT leaders are actually using successfully. This isn't about who has the best marketing—it's about what works.

So let's roll. Here's a breakdown of the IT tools worth your consideration this year, from service management to automation, monitoring, and beyond. We'll give you the good, the bad, and the pricing reality for each option.

IT Service Management Tools

IT Service Management (ITSM) tools help organizations efficiently manage their IT services, automate workflows, track incidents, and deliver support to end-users. These platforms are essential for maintaining service quality and ensuring business continuity.

1. ServiceNow

ServiceNow has evolved from a ticketing system to the dominant enterprise ITSM platform, with a massive ecosystem and comprehensive capabilities. Their recent acquisition of Moveworks signals their commitment to AI-powered service management, though their solutions remain primarily targeted at large enterprises with substantial resources.

Pros:

  • Comprehensive enterprise-grade platform with extensive customization

  • Strong workflow automation capabilities

  • Robust integration ecosystem

  • Advanced AI and machine learning features

  • Excellent for large enterprises with complex needs

Cons:

  • Significant implementation complexity and learning curve

  • Higher cost compared to alternatives

  • Requires dedicated admin resources

  • Can be overwhelming for smaller organizations

Pricing:

  • Enterprise pricing starts at approximately $100-150 per user/month

  • Requires annual contract commitments

  • Implementation costs can be substantial

2. Ravenna

Ravenna (that's us) is aiming to disrupt the traditional ITSM market with a Slack-native help-desk approach that meets employees where they already work. Founded by experienced entrepreneurs who recognized the disconnect between modern work habits and legacy ticketing systems, Ravenna combines AI-powered automation with an exceptional user experience that eliminates the friction typical of traditional help desks.

Pros:

  • Modern AI-powered ITSM solution built specifically for Slack

  • Seamless integration with collaboration tools where employees already work

  • Transforms Slack messages into support tickets automatically

  • AI-driven knowledge base that improves with every interaction

  • Exceptional user experience with minimal training required

  • Perfect for modern teams with a Slack-centric workflow

Cons:

  • Primarily focused on Slack integration (though Teams support is available)

  • Newer platform with evolving feature set

  • Best suited for organizations already using Slack extensively

Pricing:

  • Flexible pricing based on organization size

  • Generally more affordable than enterprise alternatives

  • Free trial available without credit card

Ravenna represents a new generation of ITSM tools that prioritize meeting employees where they already work rather than forcing them into separate systems. By deeply integrating with Slack, Ravenna eliminates friction in the support process and leverages AI to continuously improve the knowledge base with every interaction. Learn more about setting up a self-service helpdesk in Slack.

3. Jira Service Management

Built on Atlassian's popular Jira platform, Jira Service Management has become the go-to ITSM solution for development-oriented organizations. Its tight integration with the broader Atlassian ecosystem makes it particularly appealing for companies where IT and development teams work closely together.

Pros:

  • Strong integration with Atlassian ecosystem (Jira, Confluence)

  • Excellent for development-centric organizations

  • Highly customizable workflows

  • Solid self-service portal options

  • Great for agile teams

Cons:

  • Complex setup and configuration

  • User interface can be unintuitive

  • May require consultants for implementation

  • Limited AI capabilities compared to newer solutions

Pricing:

  • Standard: $20 per agent/month

  • Premium: $45 per agent/month

  • Enterprise: Custom pricing

  • Free tier available for up to 3 agents

4. Zendesk

Starting as a customer support platform, Zendesk has expanded into the IT service management space with its intuitive interface and rapid time-to-value. While not as customizable as enterprise alternatives, its approachable design and quick implementation make it popular among organizations prioritizing user experience.

Pros:

  • User-friendly interface

  • Strong customer support capabilities

  • Extensive marketplace of integrations

  • Reliable performance and uptime

  • Quick implementation

Cons:

  • Less customizable than enterprise alternatives

  • Limited IT-specific workflows out of the box

  • Can get expensive as you add features

  • Reporting capabilities are somewhat limited

Pricing:

  • Team: $49 per agent/month

  • Growth: $79 per agent/month

  • Professional: $99 per agent/month

  • Enterprise: $150 per agent/month

5. Freshservice

Freshservice has carved out a niche as a streamlined, user-friendly ITSM platform that delivers core functionality without unnecessary complexity. Its clean interface and straightforward implementation process make it particularly appealing to mid-market companies looking for a no-nonsense approach to service management.

Pros:

  • Clean, intuitive interface

  • Fast implementation

  • Strong automation capabilities

  • Good value for small/medium businesses

  • Built-in asset management

Cons:

  • Limited customization compared to enterprise solutions

  • Fewer integrations than larger competitors

  • Reporting could be more robust

  • May not scale well for very large enterprises

Pricing:

  • Starter: $29 per agent/month

  • Growth: $59 per agent/month

  • Pro: $109 per agent/month

  • Enterprise: $129 per agent/month

IT Risk Management Tools

Risk management tools help IT leaders identify, assess, and mitigate potential threats to their organization's technology infrastructure, data, and operations so you don't get sued.

1. Isora GRC

Isora GRC has emerged as a leader in the risk management space by focusing on usability without sacrificing compliance capabilities. Their platform strikes a balance between comprehensive risk assessment frameworks and an interface that doesn't require specialized expertise to navigate effectively.

Pros:

  • User-friendly interface

  • Comprehensive risk assessment framework

  • Flexible compliance management

  • Strong data visualization for risk analysis

  • Suitable for organizations of various sizes

Cons:

  • Limited integration capabilities compared to larger platforms

  • Reporting could be more customizable

  • Documentation could be improved

Pricing:

  • Starting around $7,000/year for small businesses

  • Mid-market pricing around $15,000-25,000/year

  • Enterprise pricing available upon request

2. OneTrust

OneTrust dominates the privacy and compliance management landscape with its comprehensive approach to governance, risk, and compliance. Their platform's breadth is unmatched, covering everything from vendor risk management to data privacy, making it the preferred choice for organizations with complex regulatory requirements.

Pros:

  • Comprehensive GRC and privacy management

  • Excellent for organizations with complex compliance needs

  • Robust workflow automation

  • Strong vendor risk management

  • Global regulatory coverage

Cons:

  • Complex implementation

  • Steep learning curve

  • Higher price point than many alternatives

  • Can be overwhelming for smaller organizations

Pricing:

  • Modular pricing based on selected solutions

  • Starting around $15,000/year for smaller implementations

  • Enterprise implementations can exceed $100,000/year

3. ServiceNow GRC

ServiceNow's GRC module extends their platform's workflow capabilities into the risk and compliance domain, creating a unified approach for enterprises already invested in their ecosystem. The seamless integration with other ServiceNow modules creates a compelling case for organizations seeking to consolidate their tech stack.

Pros:

  • Seamless integration with ServiceNow ITSM

  • Strong workflow capabilities

  • Excellent for large enterprises

  • Comprehensive risk visualization

  • Good regulatory compliance coverage

Cons:

  • Requires ServiceNow platform expertise

  • Significant implementation complexity

  • Higher cost than standalone solutions

  • Substantial customization often needed

Pricing:

  • Requires ServiceNow platform license

  • GRC module pricing starts around $50,000/year

  • Implementation costs can be substantial

4. Vanta

Vanta has revolutionized compliance management with its automated, continuous monitoring approach that dramatically reduces the manual effort of security audits. Their platform has become particularly popular among startups and growth-stage companies preparing for SOC 2, ISO 27001, and similar certifications.

Pros:

  • Automated continuous compliance monitoring

  • User-friendly interface

  • Excellent for startups and growing companies

  • Strong SOC 2, ISO 27001, HIPAA compliance

  • Good integration with cloud services

Cons:

  • More focused on compliance than comprehensive risk management

  • Limited customization for unique risk scenarios

  • Less suitable for large enterprises with complex needs

Pricing:

  • Startup: $15,000/year

  • Growth: $25,000/year

  • Enterprise: Custom pricing

5. Drata

Drata has quickly gained market share with its automated compliance platform that simplifies the traditionally painful process of security certifications. Their continuous monitoring approach and extensive integration capabilities have made them a favorite for companies prioritizing both security and operational efficiency.

Pros:

  • Continuous automated compliance monitoring

  • Strong SOC 2, ISO, GDPR, HIPAA compliance

  • Good dashboard and visualization

  • Excellent third-party integrations

  • User-friendly interface

Cons:

  • Primarily compliance-focused rather than comprehensive risk management

  • Newer platform with evolving features

  • Some advanced features limited to higher tiers

Pricing:

  • Basic: Starting around $10,000/year

  • Standard: Starting around $20,000/year

  • Enterprise: Custom pricing

IT Automation Tools

IT automation tools help organizations streamline repetitive tasks, reduce human error, improve efficiency, and free up IT staff to focus on more strategic initiatives. Take a look at the list below for top choices:

1. Puppet

Puppet pioneered the infrastructure-as-code movement and remains a powerhouse in configuration management and automation. With over a decade of production deployments across industries, their platform offers mature capabilities for organizations managing complex, heterogeneous environments.

Pros:

  • Mature platform with extensive community support

  • Powerful configuration management

  • Cross-platform support

  • Excellent for large, complex environments

  • Strong compliance automation

Cons:

  • Steep learning curve

  • Requires significant expertise to implement properly

  • Complex setup for advanced scenarios

  • Documentation could be improved

Pricing:

  • Open-source edition available

  • Standard: $120 per node/year

  • Premium: Custom pricing

2. Ansible (RedHat)

Ansible has gained massive adoption by combining powerful automation capabilities with a remarkably gentle learning curve and agentless architecture. Red Hat's acquisition has further strengthened the platform with enterprise support and integration into broader DevOps ecosystems.

Pros:

  • Agentless architecture

  • Relatively easy to learn compared to alternatives

  • Strong community support

  • Excellent for multi-platform environments

  • Good for both configuration management and orchestration

Cons:

  • Performance can be slower than agent-based solutions

  • Enterprise features require paid version

  • Limited reporting in open-source version

  • Scaling requires careful planning

Pricing:

  • Open-source version available

  • Ansible Automation Platform: Starting around $13,500 for 100 nodes/year

  • Enterprise pricing available upon request

3. UiPath

UiPath has established itself as the dominant player in Robotic Process Automation (RPA), extending beyond simple task automation to comprehensive business process transformation. Their visual approach to workflow automation has made previously complex automation accessible to business users without deep technical expertise.

Pros:

  • Leader in Robotic Process Automation (RPA)

  • Intuitive visual workflow builder

  • Strong AI and machine learning capabilities

  • Extensive integration options

  • Comprehensive automation suite

Cons:

  • Can be expensive for enterprise implementations

  • Requires skilled developers for complex scenarios

  • Some performance issues with very complex automations

  • Maintenance overhead can be significant

Pricing:

  • Starter: $1,800 per user/year

  • Pro: $3,600 per user/year

  • Enterprise: Custom pricing

4. Power Automate (Microsoft)

Microsoft's Power Automate (formerly Flow) has become ubiquitous by integrating deeply with the Microsoft 365 ecosystem and democratizing automation for everyday business processes. Its low-code approach and pre-built templates have opened automation capabilities to a much broader audience beyond traditional IT professionals.

Pros:

  • Deep integration with Microsoft ecosystem

  • User-friendly interface for non-technical users

  • Strong AI capabilities through Azure

  • Good balance of simplicity and power

  • Attractive pricing for Microsoft customers

Cons:

  • Best suited for Microsoft-centric environments

  • Limited capabilities outside Microsoft ecosystem

  • Some advanced features require premium connectors

  • Performance can vary with complex workflows

Pricing:

  • Per user plan: $15 per user/month

  • Per flow plan: $500 per flow/month for unlimited users

  • Process Advisor: Additional $200 per user/month

5. Zapier

Zapier transformed the automation landscape by making integration between disparate applications accessible to non-technical users. With support for over 5,000 applications, their platform has become the connective tissue for countless business workflows, especially in small to mid-sized organizations.

Pros:

  • Extremely user-friendly

  • Vast library of app integrations (5,000+)

  • No coding required for basic automations

  • Quick setup for common workflows

  • Great for small to medium businesses

Cons:

  • Limited for complex enterprise scenarios

  • Pricing can escalate with high usage

  • Limited advanced logic capabilities

  • Not designed for infrastructure automation

Pricing:

  • Free: Up to 5 single-step zaps

  • Starter: $19.99/month for 750 tasks

  • Professional: $49/month for 2,000 tasks

  • Team: $69/month for 2,000 tasks

  • Company: $349/month for 50,000 tasks

IT Monitoring Tools

IT monitoring tools provide visibility into system performance, availability, and potential issues across an organization's technology stack. Here's a list of top vendors:

1. Datadog

Datadog has risen to prominence by unifying infrastructure monitoring, application performance, and security in a single, visually impressive platform. Their rapid innovation pace and extensive integration catalog have made them particularly popular among cloud-native and DevOps-focused organizations.

Pros:

  • Comprehensive monitoring across infrastructure, applications, and security

  • Excellent visualization and dashboards

  • Strong machine learning capabilities for anomaly detection

  • Extensive integration ecosystem

  • Unified platform for multiple monitoring needs

Cons:

  • Can become expensive as you scale

  • Complex pricing model

  • Learning curve for advanced features

  • Managing alerts requires careful planning

Pricing:

  • Infrastructure monitoring: Starting at $15 per host/month

  • APM: Starting at $31 per host/month

  • Log management: Starting at $0.10 per GB ingested

  • Various other components priced separately

  • Volume discounts available

2. Dynatrace

Dynatrace differentiates itself through its AI-driven approach to monitoring and root cause analysis, dramatically reducing alert noise. Their platform's ability to automatically discover dependencies and pinpoint the exact source of performance issues has made them a favorite for large, complex application environments.

Pros:

  • Advanced AI-powered monitoring and analytics

  • Excellent automated root cause analysis

  • Strong application performance monitoring

  • Good user experience monitoring

  • Comprehensive infrastructure visibility

Cons:

  • Premium pricing compared to alternatives

  • Complex implementation for large environments

  • Can be resource-intensive

  • Learning curve for maximizing value

Pricing:

  • Full-stack monitoring: Starting around $69 per host/month

  • Digital experience monitoring: Starting around $11 per 10,000 sessions/month

  • Application security: Custom pricing

  • Volume discounts available

3. New Relic

New Relic pioneered application performance monitoring and has evolved into a comprehensive observability platform. Their recent shift to a consumption-based pricing model reflected the industry's move toward more flexible approaches, despite some initial customer resistance.

Pros:

  • All-in-one observability platform

  • User-friendly interface

  • Excellent application performance monitoring

  • Strong real user monitoring

  • Good value compared to some competitors

Cons:

  • Recent pricing model changes caused customer frustration

  • Can get expensive for high data volumes

  • Some features not as advanced as specialized tools

  • Alert management could be improved

Pricing:

  • Based on data ingestion: $0.25 per GB after free tier

  • Free tier: 100GB data/month

  • Pay-per-user options also available

  • Volume discounts for larger implementations

4. SolarWinds

SolarWinds built its reputation on accessible, practical monitoring tools that prioritize quick time-to-value over complexity. Despite the notorious 2020 security breach, their products remain widely deployed due to their comprehensive capabilities at a relatively moderate price point.

Pros:

  • Comprehensive IT monitoring suite

  • Strong network performance monitoring

  • Good database monitoring capabilities

  • Well-established with large customer base

  • Relatively straightforward implementation

Cons:

  • User interface feels dated compared to newer options

  • Separate products for different monitoring needs

  • Security concerns following 2020 breach

  • Reporting could be more intuitive

Pricing:

  • Network Performance Monitor: Starting around $1,600

  • Server & Application Monitor: Starting around $2,900

  • Multiple modules available at different price points

  • Annual maintenance fees apply

5. Prometheus + Grafana

This open-source powerhouse combination has become the de facto standard for monitoring cloud-native environments, especially those running Kubernetes. While requiring more technical expertise than commercial alternatives, the flexibility and cost advantages have made these tools the backbone of monitoring for countless organizations.

Pros:

  • Open-source with no licensing costs

  • Strong community support

  • Excellent for Kubernetes environments

  • Highly customizable

  • Good integration with modern infrastructure

Cons:

  • Requires technical expertise to implement and maintain

  • Limited built-in alerting capabilities

  • Scaling requires careful architecture

  • Limited official support without commercial options

Pricing:

  • Open-source versions: Free

  • Grafana Cloud: Starting at $49/month

  • Grafana Enterprise: Starting around $10,000/year

  • Commercial support available at additional cost

IT Infrastructure Monitoring Tools

Infrastructure monitoring tools focus specifically on tracking the health, performance, and availability of an organization's underlying IT infrastructure components. Take a look at the list we compiled below of top vendors and pricing options:

1. SigNoz

SigNoz has gained traction as an open-source alternative to expensive commercial monitoring tools, with native support for modern observability standards. Their commitment to providing a comprehensive platform without vendor lock-in has resonated with organizations looking to reduce monitoring costs while maintaining capabilities.

Pros:

  • Open-source observability platform

  • Native OpenTelemetry support

  • Good UI/UX for metrics, traces, and logs

  • Self-hosted option for data privacy

  • Cost-effective compared to alternatives

Cons:

  • Newer platform with still-evolving features

  • Smaller community than established alternatives

  • Limited enterprise support options

  • Documentation could be improved

Pricing:

  • Open-source: Free

  • Cloud: Starting at $0.08 per million spans

  • Enterprise: Custom pricing

2. Zabbix

Zabbix has maintained a loyal following for over two decades as a robust, open-source monitoring solution for organizations preferring full control of their monitoring infrastructure. Its extreme flexibility and lack of licensing costs continue to make it attractive, particularly for organizations with specialized monitoring requirements.

Pros:

  • Comprehensive open-source monitoring

  • No license costs

  • Highly customizable

  • Strong community support

  • Good for on-premises environments

Cons:

  • Steep learning curve

  • UI feels dated compared to modern alternatives

  • Complex setup and configuration

  • Scaling requires careful planning

Pricing:

  • Open-source: Free

  • Professional support: Starting around $450/year

  • Enterprise support and services available at additional cost

3. PRTG Network Monitor

PRTG has carved out a niche with its straightforward sensor-based licensing model and comprehensive out-of-the-box monitoring capabilities. Paessler's focus on making infrastructure monitoring accessible without sacrificing depth has earned them a particularly strong position in the mid-market segment.

Pros:

  • All-in-one infrastructure monitoring

  • Simple licensing based on sensors

  • User-friendly interface

  • Good visualization options

  • Comprehensive alerting capabilities

Cons:

  • Windows-only for server installation

  • Limited customization compared to open-source alternatives

  • Can become expensive for large environments

  • Some advanced features lacking compared to competitors

Pricing:

  • Free: Up to 100 sensors

  • 500 sensors: $1,750 one-time

  • 1000 sensors: $3,200 one-time

  • 2500 sensors: $6,500 one-time

  • Larger packages available

  • Annual maintenance fee applies after first year

4. LogicMonitor

LogicMonitor's SaaS-based approach to infrastructure monitoring eliminates the complexity of maintaining monitoring infrastructure while providing enterprise-grade capabilities. Their platform's automated discovery and impressive breadth of monitored technologies have made them popular among managed service providers and enterprises alike.

Pros:

  • SaaS-based with rapid deployment

  • Excellent automated discovery

  • Strong infrastructure monitoring

  • Good alerting and reporting

  • Comprehensive dashboard capabilities

Cons:

  • Higher price point than some alternatives

  • Can be complex to fully customize

  • Some users report alert fatigue without careful tuning

  • API limitations in certain scenarios

Pricing:

  • Starting around $15 per device/month

  • Enterprise pricing based on scale

  • Professional services often recommended for implementation

5. Nagios

Nagios, the grandfather of open-source monitoring, continues to maintain a significant market presence due to its reliability and extensive customization options. While newer tools offer more modern interfaces, Nagios' stability and the massive ecosystem of plugins ensure it remains relevant for specific monitoring needs.

Pros:

  • Highly respected open-source monitoring

  • Extremely customizable

  • Large plugin ecosystem

  • Strong community support

  • Good for specific monitoring needs

Cons:

  • Dated user interface

  • Complex configuration

  • Steep learning curve

  • Limited visualizations without add-ons

Pricing:

  • Nagios Core: Free and open-source

  • Nagios XI: Starting at $2,195 for 100 nodes

  • Nagios Log Server: Starting at $2,995 for 5 instances

  • Enterprise pricing available for larger implementations

IT Asset Management Tools

IT asset management tools help organizations track, manage, and optimize their hardware, software, and digital assets throughout their lifecycle.

1. Atomicwork

Atomicwork represents the new generation of asset management tools built with modern user experience principles at their core. Their fresh approach focuses on automation and integration with broader IT service management processes, making them increasingly popular among forward-thinking organizations.

Pros:

  • Modern interface with excellent UX

  • Strong automation capabilities

  • Good integration with IT service management

  • Comprehensive asset lifecycle management

  • Suitable for organizations of various sizes

Cons:

  • Newer platform with evolving features

  • Limited market presence compared to established players

  • Some advanced features still in development

  • Limited integration with specialized tools

Pricing:

  • Starting around $4 per asset/month

  • Volume discounts available

  • Custom enterprise pricing

2. IBM Maximo

IBM Maximo stands as the industry heavyweight in enterprise asset management, particularly for organizations managing physical assets in regulated industries. Their platform's depth of functionality and robust compliance capabilities come at the cost of implementation complexity, but deliver unmatched capabilities for complex asset environments.

Pros:

  • Enterprise-grade asset management

  • Strong for managing physical and complex assets

  • Excellent for regulatory compliance

  • Comprehensive reporting and analytics

  • Deep integration capabilities

Cons:

  • Complex implementation requiring specialized expertise

  • Significant learning curve

  • Higher total cost of ownership

  • Overkill for smaller organizations

Pricing:

  • On-premises: Starting around $15,000 plus implementation

  • SaaS: Starting around $150 per user/month

  • Enterprise pricing based on scale and modules

3. Snipe-IT

Snipe-IT has gained a devoted following as an open-source alternative that delivers solid asset tracking capabilities without licensing costs. Its straightforward approach and active community make it particularly appealing for budget-conscious organizations with basic asset management needs.

Pros:

  • Open-source with no licensing costs

  • User-friendly interface

  • Good basic asset tracking

  • Active community support

  • Self-hosted for data control

Cons:

  • Limited advanced features compared to commercial solutions

  • Requires technical expertise to implement and maintain

  • Limited automated discovery capabilities

  • Reporting not as robust as premium alternatives

Pricing:

  • Open-source: Free

  • Hosted: Starting at $299/month

  • Enterprise hosting: Starting at $599/month

4. Asset Panda

Asset Panda's highly configurable platform allows organizations to track virtually any asset type without requiring developer expertise. Their flexibility and mobile-first approach have made them especially popular for managing diverse asset portfolios beyond traditional IT hardware.

Pros:

  • Highly configurable without coding

  • User-friendly mobile app

  • Flexible workflow automation

  • Good for tracking both IT and non-IT assets

  • Barcode/RFID scanning support

Cons:

  • Limited advanced IT-specific features

  • Integration capabilities could be stronger

  • Reporting requires some expertise to master

  • UI can feel dated in some areas

Pricing:

  • Starting around $1,500/year for smaller implementations

  • Pricing scales based on number of assets

  • Custom enterprise pricing available

5. ManageEngine AssetExplorer

ManageEngine has built AssetExplorer to address the core needs of IT asset management without unnecessary complexity or cost. Their practical approach and integration with other ManageEngine products have made them a common choice for organizations already using their other IT management solutions.

Pros:

  • Strong IT asset lifecycle management

  • Good software license management

  • Reasonable pricing compared to enterprise solutions

  • Solid integration with other ManageEngine products

  • Comprehensive reporting

Cons:

  • User interface less modern than some competitors

  • Mobile capabilities could be improved

  • Complex setup for advanced scenarios

  • Limited customization without professional services

Pricing:

  • Professional: $995 for 250 assets

  • Enterprise: $1,195 for 250 assets

  • Additional assets priced at tiered rates

  • Annual maintenance fees apply

IT Management Tools

IT management tools provide broader capabilities for managing IT operations, including service desk, asset management, change management, and more in a unified platform. Here's a list of options you can consider in no particular order.

1. SolarWinds Service Desk

SolarWinds Service Desk combines practical IT service management with asset management in a unified platform targeted at mid-market organizations. Their pragmatic approach focuses on delivering core functionality without the implementation complexity of enterprise platforms.

Pros:

  • Unified IT operations management

  • Strong ticketing system

  • Good asset discovery and management

  • Reasonable pricing for mid-market

  • Mature platform with regular updates

Cons:

  • User interface less modern than newer alternatives

  • Limited customization without significant effort

  • Integration with non-SolarWinds products can be challenging

  • Security concerns following 2020 breach

Pricing:

  • Team: $19 per agent/month

  • Business: $39 per agent/month

  • Professional: $69 per agent/month

  • Enterprise: $89 per agent/month

2. ManageEngine ServiceDesk Plus

ManageEngine ServiceDesk Plus has built a substantial customer base by offering comprehensive IT management capabilities at a significantly lower price point than enterprise alternatives. Their platform continues to evolve with additional functionality while maintaining its appeal to budget-conscious organizations.

Pros:

  • Comprehensive IT management suite

  • Good value for small/medium businesses

  • Strong asset management capabilities

  • Active directory integration

  • Flexible deployment options

Cons:

  • Interface feels dated compared to modern alternatives

  • Complex setup for advanced features

  • Reporting could be more intuitive

  • Mobile experience needs improvement

Pricing:

  • Standard: $995 for 5 technicians

  • Professional: $1,195 for 5 technicians

  • Enterprise: $2,395 for 5 technicians

  • MSP editions also available

  • Annual maintenance fees apply

3. BMC Helix

BMC Helix represents the culmination of BMC's decades of experience in IT management, reimagined for the cloud era. Their platform delivers enterprise-grade capabilities with increasing AI integration, maintaining BMC's strong position in large, complex IT environments.

Pros:

  • Enterprise-grade IT management

  • Advanced AI capabilities

  • Excellent for large complex environments

  • Strong ITIL alignment

  • Comprehensive service management

Cons:

  • Significant implementation complexity

  • Higher cost than mid-market alternatives

  • Steep learning curve

  • Requires dedicated resources to maintain

Pricing:

  • Modular pricing based on components

  • Starting around $50-75 per user/month

  • Enterprise implementations can reach $100,000+

  • Implementation services often required

4. Ivanti Neurons

Ivanti has unified their portfolio under the Neurons platform, incorporating AI capabilities across IT management, security, and UX capabilities. Their strength in endpoint management and security makes them particularly relevant for organizations prioritizing these aspects of IT operations.

Pros:

  • AI-powered IT management

  • Strong security capabilities

  • Good UX/UI design

  • Comprehensive endpoint management

  • Flexible deployment options

Cons:

  • Complex licensing model

  • Some modules feel less integrated than others

  • Mixed customer reviews on support quality

  • Higher cost than some alternatives

Pricing:

  • Modular pricing based on selected components

  • Starting around $20-30 per device/year

  • Enterprise pricing requires consultation

IT Project Management Tools

Project management tools help IT teams plan, execute, track, and deliver technology initiatives on time and within budget. Here's a top list of options you can consider:

1. Jira

Atlassian's Jira has become the de facto standard for IT project management, particularly in agile development environments. Its unmatched customization capabilities and integration with development tools have made it essential infrastructure for countless technology teams.

Pros:

  • Industry standard for IT/development projects

  • Highly customizable workflows

  • Excellent for agile methodologies

  • Strong integration with development tools

  • Comprehensive reporting

Cons:

  • Complex configuration for optimal use

  • Can be overwhelming for non-technical users

  • Performance can degrade with large instances

  • UI complexity requires training

Pricing:

  • Free: Up to 10 users

  • Standard: $7.75 per user/month

  • Premium: $15.25 per user/month

  • Enterprise: Custom pricing

2. Asana

Asana has disrupted traditional project management with its intuitive interface and flexible approach to work organization. Their focus on visual clarity and cross-functional collaboration has made them increasingly popular even for technical projects, particularly in organizations prioritizing ease of use.

Pros:

  • Clean, intuitive interface

  • Excellent for cross-functional collaboration

  • Strong visualization options

  • Good balance of simplicity and power

  • Flexible work views (list, board, timeline)

Cons:

  • Limited IT-specific templates and workflows

  • Less suitable for complex technical projects

  • Reporting less robust than specialized tools

  • Can become expensive at scale

Pricing:

  • Basic: Free

  • Premium: $10.99 per user/month

  • Business: $24.99 per user/month

  • Enterprise: Custom pricing

3. Monday.com

Monday.com has rapidly gained market share with its visually striking interface and highly adaptable work management platform. Their approach emphasizes flexibility and visual organization, making complex project data more accessible and actionable for teams of all types.

Pros:

  • Visually appealing and intuitive

  • Highly customizable for various workflows

  • Strong collaboration features

  • Good automation capabilities

  • Excellent dashboards and visualizations

Cons:

  • Less specialized for IT projects

  • Can be expensive at scale

  • Some advanced features require higher tiers

  • Learning curve for complex implementations

Pricing:

  • Basic: $8 per user/month

  • Standard: $10 per user/month

  • Pro: $16 per user/month

  • Enterprise: Custom pricing

4. ClickUp

ClickUp is a comprehensive work management platform that combines project management with docs, goals, and chat in a unified experience. Their aggressive feature development and competitive pricing have made them increasingly popular among teams seeking an all-in-one solution.

Pros:

  • Comprehensive feature set

  • Strong customization options

  • Good value compared to alternatives

  • Multiple view options (list, board, Gantt)

  • Built-in time tracking

Cons:

  • Interface can feel cluttered

  • Learning curve for full utilization

  • Mobile app less robust than desktop

  • Some performance issues with large projects

Pricing:

  • Free: Basic features

  • Unlimited: $5 per user/month

  • Business: $12 per user/month

  • Enterprise: Custom pricing

5. Smartsheet

Smartsheet has transformed the familiar spreadsheet interface into a powerful project management platform that bridges the gap between casual and professional project managers. Their approach resonates particularly well with organizations transitioning from spreadsheet-based project tracking to more structured methods.

Pros:

  • Spreadsheet-like familiarity for easy adoption

  • Strong for managing complex projects

  • Good automation capabilities

  • Excellent reporting and dashboarding

  • Scalable for enterprise needs

Cons:

  • Less intuitive for users without spreadsheet experience

  • Limited free tier

  • Can be expensive at scale

  • Some advanced features limited to higher tiers

Pricing:

  • Pro: $7 per user/month

  • Business: $25 per user/month

  • Enterprise: Custom pricing

Wrapping up

Here's the thing about picking IT tools—there's no perfect one-size-fits-all solution.

What works best is taking a pragmatic approach. Figure out which capabilities are truly critical for your specific environment, which nice-to-haves you can compromise on, and where your team's skills and preferences lie.

Don't get dazzled by feature lists. A tool with fewer features that your team actually uses is infinitely more valuable than a comprehensive platform that sits half-implemented because nobody can figure it out.

For many organizations, mixing newer tools like Ravenna for specific high-impact areas with established solutions for others has delivered the best results. The modern, AI-driven platforms are changing the game for tasks like IT support through Slack, while traditional tools still excel in areas like complex infrastructure monitoring.

Whatever you choose, remember that implementation and adoption are the final boss. The best tool poorly implemented will fail every time.

Ready to revolutionize

your help desk?

Ready to revolutionize

your help desk?

Ravenna Software, Inc., 2025

Ravenna Software, Inc., 2025

Ravenna Software, Inc., 2025

Ravenna Software, Inc., 2025