Atera vs OpenText Service Management Automation X (SMAX) comparison

Atera and OpenText are both solutions in the IT Service Management (ITSM) category. Atera is ranked #13 with an average rating of 9.0, while OpenText is ranked #16 with an average rating of 7.3. Atera holds a 2.3% mindshare in ISM, compared to OpenText’s 2.1% mindshare. Additionally, 93% of Atera users are willing to recommend the solution, compared to 83% of OpenText users who would recommend it.

Atera

Read 15 Atera reviews

1,129 Views
727 Comparison Views

93% willing to recommend

OpenText Service Management...

Read 6 OpenText Service Management Automation X (SMAX) reviews

875 Views
410 Comparison Views

83% willing to recommend

Atera

OpenText Service Management...

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Executive SummaryUpdated on Nov 3, 2024

Atera and OpenText Service Management Automation X (SMAX) are two products in the IT service management category. Atera holds an advantage with its cost-effectiveness, while SMAX is preferred for its comprehensive feature set.

Features: Atera provides integrated remote monitoring, IT automation, and network discovery tools, making it suitable for managed service providers and SMBs. SMAX offers enterprise-grade features such as predictive analytics, AI-driven automation, and flexible deployment options, ideal for large enterprises.

Room for Improvement: Atera could enhance its predictive analytics, broaden its AI capabilities, and improve deployment flexibility. SMAX may simplify its interface, streamline setup processes, and provide more tailored SMB options.

Ease of Deployment and Customer Service: Atera's cloud-based deployment is simple and causes minimal disruption, paired with strong customer support. SMAX, despite its complexity, provides flexible cloud and on-premises deployment backed by professional service support.

Pricing and ROI: Atera's straightforward pricing with no setup fees offers significant ROI for SMBs with limited IT budgets. SMAX, with its higher initial costs, is seen as a long-term investment, offering ROI for enterprises leveraging its extensive functionalities.

To learn more, read our detailed Atera vs. OpenText Service Management Automation X (SMAX) Report (Updated: April 2025).

Buyer's Guide

Atera vs. OpenText Service Management Automation X (SMAX)

April 2025

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Review summaries and opinions

We asked business professionals to review the solutions they use. Here are some excerpts of what they said:

Categories and Ranking

Atera

Ranking in IT Service Management (ITSM)

13th

Average Rating

9.2

Reviews Sentiment

8.1

Number of Reviews

Ranking in other categories

Remote Monitoring and Management (RMM) (4th), Patch Management (11th)

OpenText Service Management...

Ranking in IT Service Management (ITSM)

16th

Average Rating

7.6

Reviews Sentiment

7.1

Number of Reviews

Ranking in other categories

No ranking in other categories

Mindshare comparison

As of May 2025, in the IT Service Management (ITSM) category, the mindshare of Atera is 2.3%, down from 2.8% compared to the previous year. The mindshare of OpenText Service Management Automation X (SMAX) is 2.1%, up from 1.2% compared to the previous year. It is calculated based on PeerSpot user engagement data.

IT Service Management (ITSM)

Featured Reviews

James Clowes

IT Manager at Dynamic Bradview Roofing

Having fewer hardware replacements saves us in annual costs

There is a new version of the interface coming out. I have been asking for a new version for a while. While the interface is nice, I guess the developer thinks one way and the user thinks another. So, I think the interface is getting a big overhaul. This is what they have mentioned in their webinars and stuff. It is in beta, but I'm not on the beta program, so I haven't seen it. I can't really complain about the old interface, but now that I have heard there is a new one coming, all I want is the new one. The one thing that could do with improvement is the reporting. This is from someone who worked in an MSP, where I would want to run a report and be able to just present that to a client. Reports are fine for internal use, where they never leave your company. However, if I was an MSP, I would probably want a little bit more information or the ability to customize some of it without having to edit PDFs.

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Mourad Ali

ITSM Consultancy Head at a tech services company with 51-200 employees

Offers topic analytics for incident and problem management

The only challenge with Azure customers is when they have a specific requirement that is not available out of the box and is inflexible to adjust. Sometimes, customers have tough requirements that are not flexible enough to be adjusted, even if SMAX can provide a better alternative. They need this specific feature. This challenge is common with SMAX, BMC, ServiceNow, IBM, or other similar tools. When working with enterprise tools that are not developed in-house, I don't have access to the source code and am limited to the features and capabilities provided by the leading vendors. So, this challenge is common across SMAX, BMC, and ServiceNow. The solution could have more customization flexibility.

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Quotes from Members

We asked business professionals to review the solutions they use. Here are some excerpts of what they said:

Pros

"Atera has helped me to provide more accurate solutions based on a given problem. For example, we base our solutions on event scenarios, like the alerts. We identify that there's a series of problems occurring in a particular area from the information provided by the alerts."

"We value the alerts that come with the product which allow me to reach out to my clients. Overall, Atera generates additional revenue streams for work done on their machines."

"Pricing is definitely my favorite part of it. It is also extremely easy to use."

"Atera saves money. A trip to the customer costs between $20 to $30. Then, you need to charge the customer $20 to $30 for the travel. However, if you are doing this work remotely, then you are not driving. This makes the process easier and saves money for you and the customer. For example, if it is just one machine, then the savings comes out to $50 to $60. If we are talking about a huge client, who has hundreds of machines and is changing their infrastructure, that is a lot of money."

"I would say it's the number one tool for all ITMS."

"Atera's Remote Access feature has been invaluable for our monitoring needs. It allows us to use FlashOps in Azure to control equipment remotely and supervise real-time details like server and computer statuses for our clients. This access is crucial as it enables us to handle network issues and manage server administration efficiently. Regarding automation, Atera's tools have significantly boosted our service efficiency. They streamline tasks like installing tools and provide quick insights into critical issues with our servers. This saves us time and enhances our ability to deliver valuable services, especially for large-scale projects requiring precise and swift actions."

"There are a lot fewer hardware replacements. Once people migrated from old style hard disks over to SSDs, you have things like hard disks filling up faster. So, I run a script to clear out all the waste, e.g., all the temporary files and downloads. A lot of our business runs through a custom web application that we built. This involves people downloading a lot of PDFs and Excel files, and not just having them sitting in folders. With Atera, I can just go through and clean the temporary files out."

"The most valuable features of this solution are automatic batch matching and unattended support access."

More Atera pros

"The tool is very easy to use."

"The most valuable features of Micro Focus Service Management Automation X (SMAX) are that it is user-friendly, easy to configure, and adaptable."

"This is a cordless application that can be used throughout any organization."

"The product provides an interface for the end users to make requests."

"OpenText Service Management Automation X provides valuable features such as topic analytics for incident and problem management. It also includes natural language processing for analyzing technical descriptions. Additionally, it features a virtual chatbot capable of processing natural language to interact effectively with end users. This service enhances customer support and is not subject to the limitations often found in offerings from other vendors."

"It offers a range of tools for sales and configuration. It's like a business process improvement platform, suitable for various lines of business operations."

Cons

"There should be enhancements in network monitoring capabilities beyond just physical devices like computers and servers. It would be beneficial to include better tools for monitoring networking infrastructure such as routers. Additionally, while Atera excels in ticket management, I believe there's room for improvement in user authentication and security features, especially when accessing and managing remote equipment. These updates would contribute to a more robust and secure user experience overall. Atera should include a monitoring tool integrated with Azure or similar cloud platforms. It would be beneficial to have capabilities for monitoring network growth and automatically generating statistics based on system stability and performance metrics. This feature would help us better manage and optimize our equipment and network resources, especially for strategic customer planning and resource allocation."

"There is definitely room for improvement with its automation capabilities."

"The solution is scalable. However, in the past, we did have some issues."

"The one thing that could do with improvement is the reporting. This is from someone who worked in an MSP, where I would want to run a report and be able to just present that to a client."

"They are working on an update, and I would like to see more stuff outside of just computers and servers. Increasingly, we need to be able to monitor and manage network devices. Atera is improving on that already, which is one place that it is currently lacking."

"Customization could be improved."

"It should improve its processes."

"The mobility of Atera is also a feature which needs to be addressed so that it can be used on iPads, iPhones and things of this nature. I would also like to see an agent included on these devices so that I can monitor, maintain and manage them."

More Atera cons

"The tool has negatively impacted our productivity."

"The initial setup of Micro Focus Service Management Automation X (SMAX) is complicated, but once it is set up the configuration is straightforward to adapt to the users' or customers' needs."

"The contract management feature can be improved."

"The product's connectivity with third-party products is an area of concern where improvements are required."

"The solution lacks sufficient documentation."

Pricing and Cost Advice

"In terms of cost, it's not very expensive. I’d rate it around three or four out of ten, considering its value for money."

"The value of the product is perfect, neither cheap nor expensive. I think it is the right rate. It would be awesome if it continued to be the same price because it is a great solution that I like. I like it because I'm not paying per device. I have some customers on monthly contracts and some of them are on break'n fix. If I have a client who is on break'n fix, and they need to pay per agent, then I am losing money. If they were ever to change structures, going to pay-per-device model, then I would need to think about changing to something else."

"One of the biggest issues I face is the need to pay per technician. I've dealt with other platforms that you need to have 250-500 devices. Even though the cost declines as the number of devices a person has increases, they still require you to pay for 250 or 500, respectively. With Atera, the number doesn't matter as you always pay the same amount. I approximate that Atera saves me $100 per week."

"It comes with unlimited devices, so the fixed price cost is taken out of my budget. So, I'm all good."

"Atera's pricing stays fixed and predictable, enabling us to add more customers and unlimited monitored devices. We still have a number of clients who fit a break/fix IT model. This is something where clients are complaining more about having to pay extra month-by-month for technology services. With Atera's model, we don't have to be going out and asking for more from clients each month. Right now, with where we are at in terms of scale, this is very important to us."

"As an internal IT, it's gold right there. It is money in the bank."

"We pay per user. I am the only user. It is $150 per user. If I need to add one, it is not as costly as expanding with other providers."

"With Atera, the more you add, the cheaper the cost of the additional endpoints will be."

More Atera pricing and cost advice

"The cost of the license for SMAX varies depending on the configuration, including the number of seats for users and the customer's specific requirements. It's not a fixed cost and can vary."

"The solution is somewhat cheaper than the competitors."

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Top Industries

By visitors reading reviews

Computer Software Company

10%

Comms Service Provider

10%

Retailer

Educational Organization

Computer Software Company

15%

Financial Services Firm

12%

Manufacturing Company

Government

Company Size

By reviewers

Large Enterprise

Midsize Enterprise

Small Business

No data available

Questions from the Community

What is your experience regarding pricing and costs for Atera?

Pricing is low. It costs around 149 bucks per month.

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What needs improvement with Atera?

It should improve its processes.

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What is your primary use case for Atera?

Atera is integral to our daily operations. We use it for RMM, PSA, our ticket system, and contact with people. We also integrate it with different products.

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What do you like most about Micro Focus Service Management Automation X (SMAX)?

The tool is very easy to use.

See all answers

What is your primary use case for Micro Focus Service Management Automation X (SMAX)?

The solution is used for the end-user portal. It is used for incident management, requests, and other informational purposes.

See all answers

What advice do you have for others considering Micro Focus Service Management Automation X (SMAX)?

The tool is appropriate if we don't have a complicated use case. It is the right tool for simple use cases. It's a lot cheaper than ServiceNow. It is an appropriate tool for a smaller business or m...

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Compared 9% of the time

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Freshservice vs Atera

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ServiceNow vs OpenText Service Management Automation X (SMAX)

Compared 37% of the time

JIRA Service Management vs OpenText Service Management Automation X (SMAX)

Compared 28% of the time

BMC Helix ITSM vs OpenText Service Management Automation X (SMAX)

Compared 23% of the time

ManageEngine ServiceDesk Plus vs OpenText Service Management Automation X (SMAX)

Compared 11% of the time

More OpenText Service Management Automation X (SMAX) Competitors

Product Reports

Buyer's Guide

Atera

May 2025

Download Atera product report

Buyer's Guide

IT Service Management (ITSM)

April 2025

OpenText Service Management Automation X (SMAX) report

Download OpenText Service Management Automation X (SMAX) product report

Also Known As

No data available

OpenText Service Manager, Micro Focus Service Management Automation X (SMAX)

Interactive Demo

Demo not available

Atera

OpenText

Overview

Atera offers a comprehensive solution for MSPs and IT Professionals. The platform provides in one integrated solution: full remote monitoring and management (RMM), PSA, remote access, patch management, billing, reports, and so much more! Atera’s disruptive pricing model also helps managed IT service providers scale their business while providing continued best-in-class service. All plans include unlimited devices, meaning you only pay per technician.Everything you need, in one easy-to-use platform

Thousands of paying users in over 75 countries
Free 30-day trial, no credit card or commitment required
No hidden fees or restrictions, all plans include unlimited devices
Seamless integration with your favorite IT tools including: Splashtop, AnyDesk, TeamViewer, and ScreenConnect

What can Atera do for you?

Improve Efficiency. Atera delivers customers the tool suite for IT management. Everything you need in an all-in-one, easy-to-use platform.
Automation. Set alerts and proactively prevent issues for your clients. Minimize time spent on manual tasks and spend more time on what matters most, serving your customers.
Disruptive Pricing, Unlimited Devices. Per technician-based pricing with unlimited servers and workstations means you can cover it all, at one fixed price.

Atera

OpenText™ SMAX is a SaaS-based solution that delivers a smart approach to IT and enterprise service management with built-in analytics, codeless configurations, and private generative AI chatbots.

OpenText SMAX delivers a smart approach to service management, with full capabilities for IT service management (ITSM), IT asset management (ITAM), and enterprise service management (ESM). Empower users to self-resolve common requests with private generative AI chatbots that offer human-like responses. Give your team what they need—ITIL best-practice templates, codeless configurations, and built-in AI and analytics for automating workflows, improving processes, and solving issues. With SaaS deployment, SMAX eliminates the hassle of installation, maintenance, and upgrade. What’s more, SMAX offers flexible and affordable licensing that adapts to your business needs and saves you money.

SMAX has a flexible and transparent pricing model that lets you change license allocations or add capabilities without costly surprises. Pricing starts at $79 per agent per month for a full range of processes and features that include a service portal, mobile app, AI, analytics, federated CMDB, ITSM, ESM, discovery, and orchestration. Visit the OpenText ITSM SaaS pricing page for details.

OpenText

Sample Customers

MSPs, IT consultants, and IT departments worldwide trust and use Atera.

Zurich Airport, Envirosuite, Norsk Helsenett, Achmea, University of Milan, World Vision, Petroleum Development Oman, Court of Justice of the Federal District and Territories (TJDFT).

Buyer's Guide

Atera vs. OpenText Service Management Automation X (SMAX)

April 2025

Free Report: Atera vs. OpenText Service Management Automation X (SMAX)

Find out what your peers are saying about Atera vs. OpenText Service Management Automation X (SMAX) and other solutions. Updated: April 2025.

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