Ratings
ConnectWise Automate
N-able N-central
Overall
4.8
Meets Requirements
9.2
905 responses
Ease of Use
9.3
912 responses
Ease of Setup
9.4
804 responses
Ease of Admin
9.5
80 responses
Quality of Support
9.4
876 responses
Ease of Doing Business with
9.6
808 responses
Product Direction (% positive)
Based on G2 Winter 2026
Competitors
ConnectWise Automate
Product Summary
ConnectWise Automate, previously known as LabTech, is a remote monitoring and management (RMM) platform that simplifies and automates managing, maintaining, and troubleshooting endpoints. Its scripting function allows managed service providers (MSPs) and IT teams to automate routine processes and workflows and customize the platform to meet their needs.
Use Cases
- Remote endpoint management:
From a single view, users can monitor device status and manage endpoints, solving performance or security issues without disruptive downtime - Patch and software management:
Deploy applications and install updates using the solution ensure that devices are configured, optimized, and secure. - Automation:
Cut down on routine IT workloads by automating repeatable tasks.
Shortcomings
- Difficult implementation:
Initial implementation of ConnectWise Automate is complex, costly, and time-consuming, and users often need consultants to help implement and use the solution. - Complex interface:
Technicians can take a long time to fully understand how to utilize the platform’s features and settings. - Lack of support for non-Windows devices:
The solution is built more for Windows devices with less patching, actions, and data for other OS.
N-able N-central
Product Summary
N-central is an RMM platform available in both on-premises and hosted deployment models. N-central has been in the market for years and carries the feature breadth you’d expect from a mature platform, along with the complexity that often comes with it.
Use Cases
- RMM: N-central provides remote monitoring and management for endpoint devices, with alert-based monitoring and scripted automation for routine IT tasks.
- Patch Management: N-central supports patching for Windows, MacOS, and Linux devices.
- IT Automation: N-central is used to automate repetitive tasks through their automation manager with a variety of options for scripting, scheduling, and triggering.
Shortcomings
- Inconsistent patch management: Users on G2 describe patching results as ‘hit or miss’, a problem that goes beyond inconvenience. For MSPs, a missed patch on a client endpoint isn’t a minor gap; it’s an exposure event. Patching features available on Windows weren’t always available on Mac or Linux, leaving cross-platform environments with uneven coverage.
- Longer time to value: Across G2, Capterra, and Gartner Peer Insights, users consistently flag the learning curve as a real barrier. Not just for new hires, but for experienced teams. When a platform requires significant ramp time before it’s useful, you’re paying for capability you can’t yet use.
- Documentation and Knowledge Base: Integrations with documentation platforms exist, but there is no built-in support for documentation, leaving information scattered across portals, and poorly linked with devices, users, and organizations.
NinjaOne
Why your peers choose us over ConnectWise Automate and N-able N-central
For enterprise IT organizations managing complex, distributed environments, NinjaOne delivers where others fall short. Recognized as a Leader in the 2026 Gartner® Magic Quadrant™ for Endpoint Management Tools, NinjaOne is purpose-built to meet the demands of large-scale operations, combining deep visibility, governance-grade control, and the industry’s highest customer satisfaction scores.Enterprise teams choose NinjaOne for its ability to scale without compromise. Whether managing thousands of endpoints across global locations or enforcing consistent security and compliance policies across heterogeneous infrastructure, NinjaOne provides the reliability and operational consistency that enterprise environments require. Unlike many competing solutions that carry steep learning curves and high system resource overhead, NinjaOne delivers enterprise-grade power without the implementation burden.
NinjaOne’s integration ecosystem is built for enterprise breadth, offering pre-built compatibility with leading security and ITSM platforms, enabling organizations to consolidate their toolset rather than work around it. Advanced, role-based reporting and audit-ready dashboards give IT leadership the real-time intelligence needed to drive strategic decisions and demonstrate compliance. For enterprises seeking a proven, scalable endpoint management platform backed by best-in-class support, NinjaOne is the clear choice.
What they're saying
Watch a Demo of the #1 IT Management Software on G2
