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ConnectWise Automate vs KACE Systems Management Appliance (SMA) comparison

ConnectWise and Quest Software are both solutions in the Remote Monitoring and Management (RMM) category. ConnectWise is ranked #8, while Quest Software is ranked #12 with an average rating of 10.0. ConnectWise holds a 7.2% mindshare in RMM, compared to Quest Software’s 1.6% mindshare. Additionally, 85% of ConnectWise users are willing to recommend the solution, compared to 95% of Quest Software users who would recommend it.
ConnectWise Automate
Read 15 ConnectWise Automate reviews
  • 1,583 Views
  • 1,013 Comparison Views
85% willing to recommend
KACE Systems Management App...
Read 39 KACE Systems Management Appliance (SMA) reviews
  • 2,847 Views
  • 285 Comparison Views
95% willing to recommend
 

Comparison Buyer's Guide

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Executive SummaryUpdated on Nov 23, 2025

ConnectWise Automate and KACE Systems Management Appliance compete in IT automation and management solutions. Data indicates ConnectWise Automate excels in customer support, while KACE SMA is preferred for its impressive feature set.

Features: ConnectWise Automate provides strong remote monitoring, exceptional integrations, and advanced scripting capabilities. KACE SMA stands out with its comprehensive asset management, versatile deployment options, and excellent asset tracking.

Room for Improvement: ConnectWise Automate could improve its deployment efficiency, streamline configurations, and enhance ease of use. KACE SMA may benefit from easier scripting, refined remote access capabilities, and better integration with certain third-party tools.

Ease of Deployment and Customer Service: KACE SMA delivers a straightforward appliance-based deployment with extensive documentation and satisfactory support. ConnectWise Automate offers flexible setups but requires more configuration and support engagement, although it engages customers effectively.

Pricing and ROI: ConnectWise Automate offers competitive setup costs and efficient ROI due to its automation efficiencies. KACE SMA, with a potentially higher initial investment, justifies this through long-term savings from its asset management features, offering a better value in the long term.

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To learn more, read our detailed ConnectWise Automate vs. KACE Systems Management Appliance (SMA) Report (Updated: December 2025).
Buyer's Guide
ConnectWise Automate vs. KACE Systems Management Appliance (SMA)
December 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

ConnectWise Automate
Ranking in Remote Monitoring and Management (RMM)
8th
Average Rating
7.4
Reviews Sentiment
7.2
Number of Reviews
15
Ranking in other categories
No ranking in other categories
KACE Systems Management App...
Ranking in Remote Monitoring and Management (RMM)
12th
Average Rating
8.8
Reviews Sentiment
6.8
Number of Reviews
39
Ranking in other categories
Client Desktop Management (3rd), Endpoint Compliance (7th), Patch Management (9th), Unified Endpoint Management (UEM) (10th)
 

Mindshare comparison

As of January 2026, in the Remote Monitoring and Management (RMM) category, the mindshare of ConnectWise Automate is 7.2%, down from 7.6% compared to the previous year. The mindshare of KACE Systems Management Appliance (SMA) is 1.6%, up from 1.2% compared to the previous year. It is calculated based on PeerSpot user engagement data.
Remote Monitoring and Management (RMM) Market Share Distribution
ProductMarket Share (%)
ConnectWise Automate7.2%
KACE Systems Management Appliance (SMA)1.6%
Other91.2%
Remote Monitoring and Management (RMM)
 

Featured Reviews

Sean Saeb - PeerSpot reviewer
Sean Saeb
Partner and CIO at Caspian IT Group
Responsive, integrates well with other applications, and the technical support is helpful
There is always room for improvement. I haven't had any problems, and they're doing a great job, in my opinion. They're doing quite well. In most cases, when we discover an issue, we report it to their engineers, who then schedule a fix. Normally, when we request something, I can see it happening within three to four months. This is a raw system. Of course, it has some flaws that could be improved. But, it's something that we will have to work with to get to the point where we need this, we request it and they do their best to make it happen. There is a lot of integration with other applications through Automate, and I believe they are working with all of the industry leaders to get the integration going. I am very pleased to be working with them.
Read full review
MH
Michael Huffman
Server Administrator III at a university with 1,001-5,000 employees
Reliability and adaptability enable efficient application deployment and security management
The best features Quest KACE Systems Management Appliance (SMA) offers include the scripting function, which stands out to me because I can find specific needs and deploy the applications based on those needs. There was a time when scripting really saved me time by allowing me to find specific registry entries and modify them to patch security vulnerabilities. Scripting has saved us hundreds of hours over the years when patching these vulnerabilities compared to how we did it before. I really enjoy the security features that are enabled to deploy Microsoft and other vendor patches, which stand out to me as key functionalities.
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

"Maybe they could improve the capability to be multi-tenant."
"This product saves us a lot of time and increases our efficiency."
"The initial setup is easy and the deployment is quick."
"The implementation is nice and easy."
"ConnectWise Automate's interface is pretty easy to use. It's pretty intuitive to get around and navigate it. It does what I need, which is usually connecting to the client and customers systems."
"Remote access and detailed monitoring help us support our equipment."
"It is very scalable."
"It's a very good IT tool for a company that provides IT services. It is very helpful for technicians to work with the tool to see all of the customers in one place and then manage all of the computers in one place."
More ConnectWise Automate pros
"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."
"There is ease of use, and its pricing was a driving factor."
"My company had bought some new machines. We used the tool to do some basic settings to ship every machine the same way and undertake the Windows deployment. We did the scripted installation. The tool helped us deploy custom software for specific departments. We also did Windows updates with the product."
"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."
"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 ability to push an image to a machine, wake that image up, and just blast a new image to a computer without even having to touch it, and then push the software to that machine. This just made things so much more convenient for us and so much more efficient."
"We have our KACE agent deployed on all of our workstations and servers, and it provides us with reports on the hardware and software inventory for those."
"With KACE, we were able to have a simplification of the software deployment management with more granularity and flexibility."
More KACE Systems Management Appliance (SMA) pros
 

Cons

"Their support needs to be better."
"Patching and reporting need improvements, especially reporting. The reporting engine is quite outdated, so you end up having to use your own dashboard."
"They always change the GUI to some dumb-down version of tiles which are more "user-friendly", but slows my team down in the end."
"In Patch Manager, there should be more reportability so that it is easier to see the updates that I have applied to a machine and when the next update will happen. A lot of times, it seems like all the information is kind of thrown all over the place, and you can't really see it all at the same time. There should be a simplified patch data view that allows us to quickly confirm that our various clients are getting patched as they should be."
"They could use some automated alerts particularly when we're talking about an MSP that might shoot over."
"The fixed client for Automate is slow. The web client is not very intuitive."
"Scheduling of automation could be improved and made more simple."
"The menu doesn't always load properly."
More ConnectWise Automate cons
"The K1000 doesn't communicate well with some clients without SMB. There are some issues with getting things to image correctly because they rely on SMB, and SMB is a protocol that is being removed due to security reasons. Organizations are trying to rely less and less on SMB. I know Quest is aware of it. They've talked about having a new version that wouldn't rely on SMB for connection to the clients, but they haven't gotten there yet."
"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."
"There should be a mini toolbox, like the competitors of KACE have, with the small features for KACE administrators. That would make their lives easier. If you are troubleshooting a specific endpoint, remote control is available as is Wake-on-LAN. But if you want to execute some commands, you have to use a third-party tool, the PS tool. If they would integrate those small things, it would make KACE more powerful."
"KACE implemented the possibility of reducing the network speed of the KACE agent. You can set it so that it takes whatever network speed you want or you can set it to 5 Mb, to save network speed. You set it for all the computers, but it would be preferable to separate between VPN connections in our home office and the local area. It would be great to be able to set separate speeds for different VLANs."
"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 university."
"What could be improved is the possibility to use replicas in a secure way outside our network in order to maintain the machines that never connect to our corporate network."
"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 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

"I pay $85 a month per user for a ConnectWise package that contains multiple solutions."
"From what I've overheard, it is pretty comparable to other solutions in terms of price."
"Pricing and licensing are reasonable."
"I believe Automate is available for around $2."
"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."
"Licensing is done on a per device basis, so it's dependent on how many agents you've got installed."
"Their pricing is per end-point device. There is an initial cost for the license for the server, which is pretty low, and then there is a per end-point device license, which is also fairly low. So, the pricing is still reasonable."
"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."
"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."
"The pricing and licensing are absolutely fair."
"We are also saving on the licensing fee, compared to other endpoint management solutions."
"The pricing is fair."
More KACE Systems Management Appliance (SMA) pricing and cost advice
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Top Industries

By visitors reading reviews
Computer Software Company
10%
Performing Arts
10%
Healthcare Company
7%
Outsourcing Company
7%
University
12%
Government
10%
Non Profit
9%
Financial Services Firm
8%
 

Company Size

By reviewers
Large Enterprise
Midsize Enterprise
Small Business
By reviewers
Company SizeCount
Small Business10
Midsize Enterprise3
Large Enterprise1
By reviewers
Company SizeCount
Small Business8
Midsize Enterprise20
Large Enterprise15
 

Questions from the Community

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Earn 20 points
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
 

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Product Reports

Buyer's Guide
ConnectWise Automate
January 2026
ConnectWise Automate reportDownload ConnectWise Automate product report
Buyer's Guide
KACE Systems Management Appliance (SMA)
January 2026
KACE Systems Management Appliance (SMA) reportDownload KACE Systems Management Appliance (SMA) product report
 

Also Known As

LabTech for IT Service Providers, ConnectWise Automate for Corporate IT Departments, ConnectWise Automate for IT Service Providers
Dell KACE Systems Management
 

Overview

ConnectWise Automate is an IT management tool that helps deliver IT services at the speed of business. Our remote monitoring and management (RMM) platform provides powerful automation to discover & manage devices, monitor for problems, and automate action. Deliver streamlined reactive and proactive managed services, stop putting out fires, and start focusing on what matters most. See why over 5,500 partners worldwide chose ConnectWise Automate by visiting ConnectWise.com or calling 877-522-8323.

ConnectWise

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

I-M Technology, Mainstay Technologies, PC Works Plus, Integrity IT, Kerkhoff Technologies Inc., Marathon Consulting, Christenberry Sales Company, EDTS, Secom Technology, Ready to View, ARRC Technology, DaVinci Digital, JNR Networks, Quinn Technology Solutions, PCIT, Liberty Technology, Capital Computers & Networks, Atlanta Technology Force, Doberman Technologies, First Column Enterprises, CisCom Solutions
Waypoint, Mattos Filho, Meetic, Gems Education, Green Clinic HealthSystem, Service King
Buyer's Guide
ConnectWise Automate vs. KACE Systems Management Appliance (SMA)
December 2025
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