BMC Helix Client Management vs KACE Systems Management Appliance (SMA) comparison

BMC and Quest Software are both solutions in the Endpoint Compliance category. BMC is ranked #7 with an average rating of 8.5, while Quest Software is ranked #8 with an average rating of 10.0. BMC holds a 4.1% mindshare in EC, compared to Quest Software’s 5.0% mindshare. Additionally, 100% of BMC users are willing to recommend the solution, compared to 95% of Quest Software users who would recommend it.

BMC Helix Client Management

Read 7 BMC Helix Client Management reviews

983 Views
98 Comparison Views

100% willing to recommend

KACE Systems Management App...

Read 39 KACE Systems Management Appliance (SMA) reviews

2,638 Views
132 Comparison Views

95% willing to recommend

BMC Helix Client Management

KACE Systems Management App...

Comparison Buyer's Guide

Download the report

Executive SummaryUpdated on Sep 1, 2025

KACE Systems Management Appliance and BMC Helix Client Management compete in the comprehensive endpoint management solutions category. KACE appears to have an advantage in patch management and simplicity, while BMC Helix offers broader endpoint support and strong remote control features.

Features: KACE integrates seamlessly with tools like Bomgar and excels in deployment and imaging capabilities, enabling automatic software distribution and efficient asset management. Its robust inventory and patch management provide a consolidated device view. BMC Helix manages diverse endpoint environments well, with powerful remote control and comprehensive SaaS integration appealing to mixed-device settings.

Room for Improvement: KACE needs better scalability for larger networks and improvements in the user interface, reporting features, and automation for patch and driver updates. BMC Helix would benefit from enhanced integration capabilities, a wider set of mobile device management features, and improvements in its discovery tool for complete endpoint visibility.

Ease of Deployment and Customer Service: KACE is often deployed on-premises and in hybrid or cloud environments. Its customer service is highly rated for responsiveness and expertise, with technical support being a significant strength. BMC Helix, typically deployed on-premises, offers satisfactory technical support and solid customer service, though KACE's support is frequently highlighted for proactive assistance.

Pricing and ROI: Both solutions present good value, with KACE noted for reasonable and competitive pricing. KACE users report significant ROI from time saved in endpoint management tasks, making it cost-effective even at higher licensing tiers. BMC Helix is affordable with a modular licensing model, allowing scalability without significant cost increases, contributing to a favorable long-term ROI.

To learn more, read our detailed BMC Helix Client Management vs. KACE Systems Management Appliance (SMA) Report (Updated: July 2025).

Buyer's Guide

BMC Helix Client Management vs. KACE Systems Management Appliance (SMA)

July 2025

Download the complete report

Helped 866,324 peers since 2012

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

BMC Helix Client Management

Ranking in Endpoint Compliance

7th

Average Rating

8.6

Reviews Sentiment

7.4

Number of Reviews

Ranking in other categories

Mobile Device Management (MDM) (8th)

KACE Systems Management App...

Ranking in Endpoint Compliance

8th

Average Rating

8.8

Reviews Sentiment

6.8

Number of Reviews

Ranking in other categories

Client Desktop Management (3rd), Remote Monitoring and Management (RMM) (12th), Patch Management (10th), Unified Endpoint Management (UEM) (9th)

Mindshare comparison

As of September 2025, in the Endpoint Compliance category, the mindshare of BMC Helix Client Management is 4.1%, up from 1.7% compared to the previous year. The mindshare of KACE Systems Management Appliance (SMA) is 5.0%, up from 2.8% compared to the previous year. It is calculated based on PeerSpot user engagement data.

Endpoint Compliance Market Share Distribution
Product	Market Share (%)
BMC Client Management	4.1%
KACE Systems Management Appliance (SMA)	5.0%
Other	90.9%

Endpoint Compliance

Featured Reviews

Cristian Testa

Presales Manager Product Manager - Latin America Region at tdi

A stable solution that allows you to manage IT clients from receipt to retirement

The initial setup is straightforward and easy to use, but you need to understand the different functionalities and modules. The console version and the Hub application are different, and you need some knowledge to make the process easier. Deployment typically takes about two months. You start with the initial setup and then continue with operations. The deployment process is straightforward. The master installation takes about thirty minutes. After that, you deploy different relays to discover the endpoints and create the credentials and sources to install the agents. Once the agent is installed on an endpoint, you can manage it as needed. The first step is always the installation. BMC Client Management can be deployed both on cloud and on-premises. After the COVID-19 pandemic, there was an increased need for remote solutions, so we have customers using both models. In BMC Client Management, I'd rate the initial setup as an eight out of ten.

Read full review

Scott Tweed

Windows Engineer at a tech services company with 5,001-10,000 employees

Low maintenance, reliable, and easy to create packages

I like how when you click on the device, it shows you everything that has changed as well as the software versioning. I am really enjoying the inventory aspect of it. The deployment process for both deploying and creating a package is straightforward. I believe the inventory in KACE is superior to SCCM's. I know with SCCM I could do things like remote console into machines via the agent's remote console, but that is not a feature that is provided in KACE. I know that at least in the Systems Management Appliance, I can't get to it. I'm not sure how distribution works, with distribution points. I'm not sure if KACE has that feature. You could use an SCCM to set up distribution points at remote sites so that they don't have to download patches or software from across the country. If you have a DP or something similar, they could pull it down.

Read full review

Quotes from Members

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

Pros

"It's a scalable solution. We have deployed it for customers using 3000 nodes to those using 300,000 nodes."

"The support from BMC Client Management is very good."

"The most valuable features of the solution are its patching capabilities and the help it offers when it comes to use cases, like prompting for the reboot after a certain period of time."

"One feature I like, that was especially valuable during the pandemic, is remote control. Remote control grants administrators and support personnel access to the laptops and PCs of employees (who might be working from home) in order to fix any issues that come up as and when they come up, even without having to wait for a support request."

"The inventory and patch management tools are very valuable."

"The most valuable features of the solution are patch management and software license management."

"BMC Client Management is a stable solution and one of the best in the market. It allows me to manage all recipe endpoints, including iOS, Android, Linux, Unix, and Windows, all within the same solution."

"You don't have to be an advanced user. Rather, in terms of ease of use, this product is right where it needs to be."

"The software asset management has been a big help, even when it comes to license true-ups. I can use it to find out how many Tivoli we have, and boom, there's the number... And you can actually click on the information about the software and it shows, for example, that these five servers are where it's being reported. If you really want, you can log in to them and validate."

"The solution provides us a single pane of glass with everything that we need for endpoint management of all devices. It definitely has made our endpoint management process much easier."

"Pretty much all of the features are valuable. The inventory is very helpful to be able to keep track of our devices. The deployments make it easy to deploy new software packages or upgrade packages. The help desk is also a great tool for tracking problems and problem tickets."

"The most valuable feature of KACE is the mass package deployment. There are a lot of endpoint management solutions in the market. The way KACE responds is with the installation management feature, which is done in a very intelligent way, as well as scripting. It's wow. It's really wow. On top of that, there is a mass undeployment feature as well."

"The big pros of Quest KACE Systems Management are its simple interface, and simple, direct management. It's very easy to maintain and manage the device, and it's easy to get it up and running. You can have it up and running in an hour..."

"The Systems Deployment Appliance is magical when it comes to automating deployment... Not only can we have multiple images, specific to end-users' uses, but we have a plethora of post-installation tasks to install or configure the system, tasks that can be re-used for each system. You just have one basic base image, and then you use the post-install tasks to customize everything else. It is amazing."

"We use the Systems Deployment appliance. It's our bread and butter. It is every machine that gets imaged here in this building and out through the whole state goes through the SDA. We rely on it completely. There is no manual process of getting a laptop out of a box, plugging it up, turning it on, and waiting for Windows to start. If you were to go to Best Buy and buy a brand new laptop, you spend the next two to three hours just setting it up. We don't do that. We get a laptop, plug it into the network, connect it to the SDA, and within about three clicks, we're done."

More KACE Systems Management Appliance (SMA) pros

Cons

"The on-premises version of BMC Client Management has powerful remote control functionality and decent compliance features, but these features both rely on the discovery tool in order to gain a complete set of insights about the endpoint's environment. Now, BMC's discovery solution depends on having an agent installed in each endpoint and sometimes the agent doesn't work properly, making it difficult to get an accurate understanding of the environment (including special topologies) even with BMC's discovery tool."

"BMC Client Management supports only iOS devices. It would be good if they would support Android as well."

"In BMC Client Management, I would like to see more features for executing commands remotely. For example, with SAP, there isn't the capability to execute all the commands available in the console. The latest version includes more endpoints, but they do not cover everything the operations team needs. Additionally, I think improving the hierarchy for managing endpoints is crucial. Extending the endpoint capabilities would be highly beneficial."

"BMC Client Management could improve in the area of integration."

"The solution needs to add whitelisting because many customers request it."

"The solution does not offer the functionality of remote access to users."

"It would be good if BMC Client Management can perform vulnerability assessment scanning at the endpoint on its own and mitigate that. Then, we wouldn't have to rely on a third party VA tool. I would like to see this application move to being a web-based one."

"The only pain point I have is with their salespeople. They call too often. They're too aggressive in trying to upsell. We know what we need, and we know if we want to expand. I don't mind quarterly calls from them, but sometimes, it is weekly. They need to get their sales team under control. The main goal of their support people and professional services is to make sure they deliver the service, and they deliver it well, whereas their salespeople are so interested in making a sale that they're wasting my time."

"I would like for there to be improvement when it comes to Microsoft and Windows updates. It has the ability to do it but the control of it is not there like I have in the Windows Server Update Services. The way KACE does it is still very granular. You don't really see the process like it is in the Windows Server Update Services. I think that would be one of the biggest things that I would like to see KACE really put some work into and really make that a big enhancement."

"Sometimes the information is not as real time as it's supposed to be."

"There isn't a lot they need to improve with the solution itself at this point. It is pretty close to providing a single pane of glass for everything that we need for endpoint management specifically on all devices. There is very little that it doesn't provide for us, and for those, we have to go to other methods. There are some of the patching solutions that it doesn't take care of for us. So, we have to do those manually on the devices, and that's really the biggest thing. It doesn't do patching really well for non-Microsoft applications. The major application updates, particularly Windows updates, don't function nearly as well, but, for the vast majority of things, it does just fine. If they could improve in this aspect, that'd be great, but I don't know if they're going to be able to do that."

"I think it should have the ability to have the applications automatically update. It would be really helpful if this would override what the user might choose to do."

"The only hiccups we had were some power issues, where the box was a little under-powered early on."

"The labeling process should be more streamlined. It should be easier to do. It gets confusing at times."

"The solution needs to have the ability to push out managed feature updates from Microsoft in a more seamless way."

More KACE Systems Management Appliance (SMA) cons

Pricing and Cost Advice

"To use BMC Client Management they charge annually per node."

"The solution is low cost."

"BMC Client Management is a very affordable solution. There is one main server license which I believe is around $1,000 per year, and then there is the license for the actual solution. With the solution license, you can opt for a suite license where you get access to all the features and benefits, or alternatively you can buy any of the five main components of the suite license individually."

"BMC Client Management is a high-priced solution, but given its performance and capabilities, I think it offers great value. I don't have the exact number for the yearly licensing costs. I believe there is an additional cost of around two hundred dollars."

"It was a very attractive price. This is a huge feature of this product. If you would "credit score" this product versus others out there on the market, this one has a very attractive price."

"Some of the other solutions were just astronomical in price compared with KACE and didn't necessarily have the ease of use either. So, we chose Quest KACE for its easy-to-use features and cost."

"Its pricing model is good for what it offers. Nobody here gives me a hard time about renewing the contract every year. It might be a little cost prohibitive for a smaller company who has to stand up a virtual environment as well as have virtual environment licensing and the hardware. If you have a smaller environment, it might be cost prohibitive. If you only have a couple of hundred computers, you might be more willing to do those manually. In our environment, the cost savings of having KACE far outweigh the licensing costs. We are okay with its pricing model."

"We need it, so we have to pay the price. It is what it is. If you need a gallon of milk, then you have to pay the price for it. You don't want to buy the cheap stuff. You want to buy the stuff that is organic and good for your body, which doesn't have all this other junk in it. You want it clean for your body. Quest has done that for our deployment and management systems."

"There are no costs in addition to the standard licensing fees."

"The cost of KACE has been relatively low compared to other systems. Even if those systems have the same cost, they do not do as much of the third-party patching that KACE natively does."

"The pricing and licensing are absolutely fair."

"The pricing is fair."

More KACE Systems Management Appliance (SMA) pricing and cost advice

See which vendors are best for you

Use our free recommendation engine to learn which Endpoint Compliance solutions are best for your needs.

See recommendations

866,324 professionals have used our research since 2012.

Top Industries

By visitors reading reviews

Computer Software Company

22%

Financial Services Firm

15%

Government

12%

Retailer

University

12%

Government

10%

Financial Services Firm

Non Profit

Company Size

By reviewers

Large Enterprise

Midsize Enterprise

Small Business

By reviewers
Company Size	Count
Small Business	7

By reviewers
Company Size	Count
Small Business	8
Midsize Enterprise	20
Large Enterprise	15

Questions from the Community

What do you like most about BMC Client Management?

The most valuable features of the solution are its patching capabilities and the help it offers when it comes to use cases, like prompting for the reboot after a certain period of time.

See all answers

What is your experience regarding pricing and costs for BMC Client Management?

BMC Client Management is a high-priced solution, but given its performance and capabilities, I think it offers great value. I don't have the exact number for the yearly licensing costs. I believe t...

See all answers

What needs improvement with BMC Client Management?

In BMC Client Management, I would like to see more features for executing commands remotely. For example, with SAP, there isn't the capability to execute all the commands available in the console. ...

See all answers

What is your experience regarding pricing and costs for Quest KACE Systems Management?

My experience with pricing, setup cost, and licensing for Quest KACE Systems Management Appliance (SMA) is that, hands down, it beat all of the others in simplicity and pricing.

See all answers

What needs improvement with Quest KACE Systems Management?

I wish Quest KACE Systems Management Appliance (SMA) would have a top-down approach since we use orgs; currently, we have to go into each org to deploy applications when we need them all across the...

See all answers

What is your primary use case for Quest KACE Systems Management?

My main use case for Quest KACE Systems Management Appliance (SMA) is to deploy applications and maintain security, and we use it day-to-day to handle those tasks. With Quest KACE Systems Managemen...

See all answers

Comparisons

Microsoft Configuration Manager vs BMC Helix Client Management

Compared 29% of the time

Microsoft Intune vs BMC Helix Client Management

Compared 28% of the time

ManageEngine Endpoint Central vs BMC Helix Client Management

Compared 12% of the time

NinjaOne vs BMC Helix Client Management

Compared 11% of the time

BigFix vs BMC Helix Client Management

Compared 7% of the time

More BMC Helix Client Management Competitors

Microsoft Configuration Manager vs KACE Systems Management Appliance (SMA)

Compared 30% of the time

Microsoft Intune vs KACE Systems Management Appliance (SMA)

Compared 22% of the time

BigFix vs KACE Systems Management Appliance (SMA)

Compared 8% of the time

Red Hat Ansible Automation Platform vs KACE Systems Management Appliance (SMA)

Compared 7% of the time

NinjaOne vs KACE Systems Management Appliance (SMA)

Compared 6% of the time

More KACE Systems Management Appliance (SMA) Competitors

Product Reports

Buyer's Guide

Mobile Device Management (MDM)

August 2025

Download BMC Helix Client Management product report

Buyer's Guide

KACE Systems Management Appliance (SMA)

August 2025

KACE Systems Management Appliance (SMA) report

Download KACE Systems Management Appliance (SMA) product report

Also Known As

BMC Helix Client Management, Helix Client Management, BMC Fromdistance Mobile Device Management

Dell KACE Systems Management

Overview

BMC Helix Client Management offers comprehensive features for efficient oversight of enterprise technology, enhancing security compliance, and ensuring effective software audits.

With capabilities like patch management, software license administration, and remote control, BMC Helix Client Management is vital for remote troubleshooting and maintaining compliance during software audits. Users value the ability to manage diverse operating systems, leveraging inventory management, software deployment, and endpoint management. However, there is a need for improved Linux patching support, better integration, and expanded remote access functionality. Offering its vulnerability assessment scanning and enhanced endpoint management would be beneficial. A more robust discovery tool is required for better compliance and insights, suggesting a transition to a web-based platform.

What are the standout features of BMC Helix Client Management?

Patch Management: Ensures timely and efficient application of software patches.
Software License Administration: Helps manage and optimize software licensing compliance.
Remote Control: Facilitates efficient remote troubleshooting for various devices.
Inventory Management: Provides detailed hardware and software inventory tracking.
Comprehensive Endpoint Management: Supports diverse operating systems for streamlined management.

What benefits and ROI can be expected from BMC Helix Client Management?

Enhanced Operational Efficiency: Automates desktop management and streamlines patching processes.
Cost Optimization: Identifies and eliminates redundant licenses to reduce costs.
Security Compliance: Facilitates management of security measures across devices.
Regulatory Compliance: Assists in meeting industry standards and software licensing requirements.

BMC Helix Client Management is instrumental across industries for deploying software, ensuring compliance, and managing security remotely. Organizations use it for software compliance, automating desktop processes, and detailed inventory management, significantly contributing to efficiency and compliance with licensing standards.

BMC

KACE Systems Management Appliance offers integration capabilities, efficient image deployment, and comprehensive asset management. It supports centralized management across diverse devices and locations, simplifying IT processes and enhancing security.

KACE Systems Management Appliance provides single-pane visibility for endpoint management, mass software deployment, automated patch management, robust scripting, and detailed inventory tracking. It streamlines IT management and improves cyber-security compliance through remote software updates and centralized IT request handling. Despite struggles with scalability and the need for interface improvements, it enables efficient device imaging, script automation, and network management through detailed reporting. Organizations find it effective for software deployment, asset management, and endpoint monitoring, serving thousands of IoT devices and desktops.

What are the key features of KACE Systems Management Appliance?

Integration capabilities: Seamlessly connects with existing IT systems.
Efficient image deployment: Facilitates quick and effective distribution of system images.
Comprehensive asset management: Provides detailed tracking and management of IT assets.
User-friendly helpdesk: Simplifies handling IT requests and issues.
Automated patch management: Ensures devices are up-to-date with security patches.
Robust scripting: Allows for automation of complex IT tasks.
Detailed inventory tracking: Maintains accurate records of all IT assets.

What benefits should users expect from KACE Systems Management Appliance?

Simplified IT processes: Centralized management enhances operational efficiency.
Improved security: Streamlines cyber-security compliance through automated updates.
Flexibility in customizations: Adapts to specific IT environment needs.
Increased productivity: Efficient ticketing and reporting ease organizational operations.
Remote software updates: Ensures all devices are current, reducing security risks.

In healthcare, KACE Systems Management Appliance is used for maintaining device compliance and security standards. Educational institutions benefit from its capabilities to manage large numbers of endpoints across campuses. In finance, it aids in strict compliance requirements through automated patch management and detailed reporting. Retail sectors leverage its asset management features to streamline operations across numerous locations.

Quest Software

Sample Customers

Charter Manufacturing

Waypoint, Mattos Filho, Meetic, Gems Education, Green Clinic HealthSystem, Service King

Buyer's Guide

BMC Helix Client Management vs. KACE Systems Management Appliance (SMA)

July 2025

Free Report: BMC Helix Client Management vs. KACE Systems Management Appliance (SMA)

Find out what your peers are saying about BMC Helix Client Management vs. KACE Systems Management Appliance (SMA) and other solutions. Updated: July 2025.

DOWNLOAD NOW

866,324 professionals have used our research since 2012.

See our BMC Helix Client Management vs. KACE Systems Management Appliance (SMA) report.

See our list of best Endpoint Compliance vendors.

We monitor all Endpoint Compliance reviews to prevent fraudulent reviews and keep review quality high. We do not post reviews by company employees or direct competitors. We validate each review for authenticity via cross-reference with LinkedIn, and personal follow-up with the reviewer when necessary.