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ConnectWise RMM vs KACE Systems Management Appliance (SMA) comparison

 

Comparison Buyer's Guide

Executive SummaryUpdated on Aug 19, 2025

Review summaries and opinions

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

ROI

Sentiment score
7.3
ConnectWise RMM enhances efficiency and IT management by automating tasks, reducing downtime, and enabling easy software deployment and remote access.
Sentiment score
7.3
KACE SMA increases efficiency and productivity, offering rapid ROI by streamlining operations and reducing time, costs, and staffing needs.
It saves probably more than 50% of the time that would have been required, likely around 75%.
The return on investment is seen in the quick access to information, good inventory management, and efficient systems management.
 

Customer Service

Sentiment score
8.3
ConnectWise RMM's support is praised for its 24/7 availability and expertise, though some experience remote communication issues.
Sentiment score
6.6
KACE SMA support is praised for its expertise and 24/7 availability, with occasional room for flexibility improvement.
I rate their support and customer service with ConnectWise as good, as their support team is quick to answer chat requests.
I would rate the customer support for Quest KACE Systems Management Appliance (SMA) as a 10.
The customer service is very good, providing quick customer support in Spanish.
 

Scalability Issues

Sentiment score
8.2
ConnectWise RMM offers scalable SaaS solutions, efficiently managing diverse environments and thousands of endpoints for flexible client requirements.
Sentiment score
7.2
KACE Systems Management Appliance efficiently supports various organization sizes, excelling in integration, scalability, and comprehensive network management.
We have outgrown the size of one KACE appliance and are now running two.
The product is very scalable as it supports 10,000 thousand endpoints with just one appliance.
 

Stability Issues

Sentiment score
9.1
ConnectWise RMM is highly praised for stability, with reliable agents and minimal maintenance, often rated ten out of ten.
Sentiment score
8.1
KACE Systems Management Appliance is praised for its stability, reliability, and efficient performance, with swift recovery during incidents.
 

Room For Improvement

ConnectWise RMM needs better automation, customizable dashboards, and improved query flexibility, with reasonable pricing but room for enhancement.
KACE Systems Management Appliance struggles with scalability, usability, customization, integration, image deployment, and technical support responsiveness.
The pricing for ConnectWise RMM is reasonable.
Currently, we have to go into each org to deploy applications when we need them all across the university.
The user interface needs improvement as customers have mentioned they do not like the interface since it is not an SMA-based interface.
 

Setup Cost

ConnectWise RMM provides flexible pricing, with costs starting at $2.50 per endpoint, including valuable NOC and help desk services.
KACE Systems Management Appliance offers cost-effective enterprise solutions, although potentially expensive for small businesses, with no additional feature costs.
The pricing is in the middle range of the market, not too expensive but not the cheapest either.
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.
 

Valuable Features

ConnectWise RMM enhances efficiency with robust patch management, remote access, automation, and intuitive integration for comprehensive network visibility.
KACE SMA offers integrated, centralized IT management for efficient software deployment, asset management, and security with customizable inventories.
The ability to do deployments through ConnectWise RMM's scripting features allows us to deploy new software or monitor the status of antivirus or system protection software, presenting another measurable benefit for us regarding ROI.
Scripting has saved us hundreds of hours over the years when patching these vulnerabilities compared to how we did it before.
The most valuable features include simplicity, which makes systems management easier and faster, especially for device management.
 

Categories and Ranking

ConnectWise RMM
Ranking in Remote Monitoring and Management (RMM)
8th
Average Rating
8.0
Reviews Sentiment
8.2
Number of Reviews
6
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 (8th), Patch Management (10th), Unified Endpoint Management (UEM) (8th)
 

Mindshare comparison

As of August 2025, in the Remote Monitoring and Management (RMM) category, the mindshare of ConnectWise RMM is 7.5%, up from 4.7% compared to the previous year. The mindshare of KACE Systems Management Appliance (SMA) is 0.9%, down from 1.0% compared to the previous year. It is calculated based on PeerSpot user engagement data.
Remote Monitoring and Management (RMM)
 

Featured Reviews

JonMcWilliams - PeerSpot reviewer
An agent-based solution that monitors and manages various networks but lacks support
Once you've established the client in the RMM tool, you create the site. Setting up the site can be a bit onerous because of the recent changes, which we need to learn. However, once it's set up, deploying the agent is extremely simple and straightforward. It's as easy as using a URL that people can visit, which will automatically determine the environment and download the necessary components. The initial setup can be somewhat challenging. If it's a new site, it'll probably take me about an hour to set it up. It's a matter of getting familiar with the process. As far as deploying the agents to the individual endpoints is concerned, that's literally minutes. Customers can do that themselves. A few of us can do set up the initial site. Anyone can handle the agents deployment. In our case, it's quite doable even by sending the URL to the customer.
Scott Tweed - PeerSpot reviewer
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.
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Top Industries

By visitors reading reviews
Performing Arts
13%
Computer Software Company
11%
Comms Service Provider
10%
Educational Organization
9%
University
12%
Government
10%
Financial Services Firm
9%
Computer Software Company
9%
 

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 Continuum Command?
There are different subscriptions available for ConnectWise RMM that you can choose from. Essentially, our endpoint costs around two dollars and fifty cents per endpoint per month. If we opt for a ...
What needs improvement with Continuum Command?
The pricing for ConnectWise RMM is reasonable, and I feel that we're getting good value for the dollars that we're spending even though I don't have anything to compare it against.
What is your primary use case for Continuum Command?
As an MSP, we utilize ConnectWise RMM for the management of our client environment.
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.
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...
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...
 

Also Known As

Continuum Command, Continuum RMM
Dell KACE Systems Management
 

Overview

 

Sample Customers

Frontier Business Products, Itek Systems Management, ZLan, Karpel, MySherpa, Arvig, CCSI, Leap Managed IT, eProsper, Pensar, Gordon Flesch, LeadingEdge, NSI, Server Sentry, Computer Consultants, Keystone IT Consulting, Ekaru, Epic Technologies, Rouse Consulting, Empower Information Systems, Computer Solutions Group, The Critical Update, Voice Smart Networks, CMIT Solutions, Preferred Communication Systems, G2 Tech Group, Pulse Business Solutions, Greystone Technology Group, Clare Computer Solutions, Evolve IT Australia
Waypoint, Mattos Filho, Meetic, Gems Education, Green Clinic HealthSystem, Service King
Find out what your peers are saying about ConnectWise RMM vs. KACE Systems Management Appliance (SMA) and other solutions. Updated: July 2025.
865,484 professionals have used our research since 2012.