Best IT Inventory Management Software Shortlist
Here are my top IT inventory management software recommendations for tracking and managing IT assets:
- SolarWinds Server & Application Monitor - Best for IT infrastructure monitoring
- ManageEngine ServiceDesk Plus - Best for asset life cycle management
- Atera - Best for Managed Service Providers (MSP)
- Jira Service Management - Best for managing service requests
- Spiceworks Inventory - Best free asset-tracking option
- Pulseway - Best for remote IT teams
- Asset Panda - Best for customizability
- Freshservice - Best for automating IT processes
- IT Glue - Best for IT asset documentation
- NetSuite - Bes for inventory management
- InvGate Assets - Best for monitoring IT compliance
- ServiceNow IT Asset Management - Best for end-to-end asset lifecycle management
Managing IT inventory is easy enough when you only have a few assets. But things get increasingly complicated as you add hardware like mobile devices, servers, and security systems to your network.
Below, I’ve summarized my top picks for the best IT inventory management software to help you control and secure your IT assets. I’ll explain the value of each solution and provide pricing information to help you choose the right solution.
What Is IT Inventory Management Software?
IT inventory management software comprises solutions that lets you track, manage, and monitor all hardware and software assets across your company. It helps IT teams monitor application performance, manage licenses, and enforce compliance with security policies.
By tracking your IT assets, you can gain insights into their utilization and make informed decisions on which assets to keep (and which to discard). The right IT inventory management software can also help you respond to network issues and reduce downtime.
Overviews of the 12 Best IT Inventory Management Software
Here’s my take on the top IT inventory management software on the market:
1. SolarWinds Server & Application Monitor - Best for IT infrastructure monitoring
SolarWinds Server & Application Monitor is an IT infrastructure monitoring solution that provides end-to-end visibility of all hardware and software assets across your infrastructure.
Why I picked SolarWinds Server & Application Monitor: I chose SolarWinds because it provides full visibility into all hardware and software assets across public and hybrid cloud environments. It can automatically discover assets in your network and collect information like serial numbers, firmware updates, and warranty status.
SolarWinds Server & Application Monitor Standout Features and Integrations:
Features that set SolarWinds apart, in my opinion, include its ability to detect and track configuration changes across your network. This level of visibility helps IT teams identify the root cause of issues and pinpoint the changes that affect application performance. I also like that its asset tool tracks information like vendor contracts, which makes it easy to plan replacements for aging hardware.
Integrations are available natively for over 1,200 applications and systems, including AWS, Microsoft 365, PostgreSQL, Barracuda, Symantec, Apache, and JSON.
Pricing: From $1,813/year
Trial: 30-day free trial
Pros
- Supports over 1,200 applications and vendors out of the box
- Detects and tracks configuration changes
- Comes with configurable inventory reports
Cons
- May be costly to implement for small businesses
- Some features may require additional configuration
2. ManageEngine ServiceDesk Plus - Best for asset life cycle management
ManageEngine ServiceDesk Plus is a help desk management platform that enables IT teams to manage and track support requests. It also features robust IT asset management capabilities.
Why I picked ManageEngine ServiceDesk Plus: I put ManageEngine on this list for its impressive asset lifecycle management features. With the visual workflow builder, you can set condition-based actions like email alerts that trigger as assets move from one state to another. This lets you know when to replace a piece of hardware.
ManageEngine ServiceDesk Plus Standout Features and Integrations:
Features that stood out to me about ManageEngine include its service ticket tracking, which allows you to see how often a particular asset has required support. If multiple assets from the same vendor require extensive repairs, you can replace them with more reliable options and reduce your IT costs.
Integrations include native options with apps from ManageEngine, such as Endpoint Central, ADSelfService Plus, Password Manager Pro, and ZohoSurvey. Other native integrations for third-party platforms include Microsoft Office 365, Atlassian Jira, and Zoho Cliq. You can also connect to other apps and services with REST APIs.
Pricing: From $10/user/month (billed annually)
Trial: 30-day free trial
Pros
- Features reports and real-time dashboards
- Offers a mobile app for iOS and Android
- Offers flexible deployment options
Cons
- Asset management is only available on the enterprise plan
- Steep initial learning curve
3. Atera - Best for Managed Service Providers (MSP)
Atera is an IT management platform that offers MSPs features like remote monitoring, ticketing, and reporting to manage their clients’ IT infrastructure.
Why I picked Atera: I picked Atera because it offers a centralized platform that enables MSPs to provide managed IT services for multiple clients. The network discovery feature discovers all devices connected to your clients’ IT network. With Atera’s remote monitoring tools, you can collaborate with your team and troubleshoot issues before they become major problems.
Atera Standout Features and Integrations:
Features that I think make Atera a great option for MSPs include its patch management software, which helps you keep your clients’ IT infrastructure up-to-date with the latest security patches. You can automate patch installs and get alerts if updates don’t work.
Integrations include both native and pre-built options that let you extend the platform’s capabilities. Notable integrations include Zomentum, ESET, AnyDesk, Malwarebytes, Bitdefender, IT Glue, Ninite Pro, QuickBooks, and Xero.
Pricing: From $149/user/month (billed annually)
Trial: 30-day free trial
Pros
- Provides extensive learning resources
- Offers iOS and Android apps for on-the-go management
- Comes with automations to streamline IT processes
Cons
- No phone support available
- Network discovery feature is an extra add-on charge
4. Jira Service Management - Best for managing service requests
Jira Service Management is primarily an IT service management (ITSM) platform for tracking service requests and resolving incidents, but you can also use it to manage IT assets.
Why I picked Jira Service Management: I chose Jira Service Management because it gives you full visibility of your assets and allows you to track details like serial numbers for each. It also provides a centralized platform that lets you manage service requests for faster incident response. Automations help your team stay on top of critical events like license renewals.
Jira Service Management Standout Features and Integrations:
Features that I feel are worth highlighting include its object schema map, which allows you to add attributes to individual assets and create references to other assets. I also like that Jira Service Management provides multiple dashboard views that let you track metrics like open changes, incidents raised over time, and mean time to resolution.
Integrations include over 1,000 pre-built apps through the Atlassian Marketplace. Notable platforms you can connect Jira Service Management to include Asana, Microsoft 365, Google Sheets, Miro, Lucidchart, and Figma.
Pricing: From $21/user/month
Trial: Free plan available
Pros
- Helps you manage and resolve incidents in a central platform
- Allows you to set up automation rules for hardware assets
- Offers a clean and user-friendly interface
Cons
- Steep learning curve for users who aren’t familiar with Atlassian tools
- Can be expensive for small organizations
5. Spiceworks Inventory - Best free asset-tracking option
Spiceworks Inventory is a free, cloud-based IT inventory management platform that allows you to track your hardware and software assets in one location.
Why I picked Spiceworks Inventory: I picked Spiceworks Inventory because its platform is completely free; nothing is locked behind a paid plan. You can use it to manage unlimited devices and even get premium support. The only caveat is that Spiceworks Inventory is ad-supported, but I didn’t find these ads intrusive during my testing.
Spiceworks Inventory Standout Features and Integrations:
Features that I think make Spiceworks Inventory worth considering include its Connectivity Dashboard, which lets you monitor the connectivity of your network devices, applications, and websites. This helps you determine whether an issue is with your ISP or internal network. You can also integrate the platform with Spiceworks Help Desk (also free) to manage support requests.
Integrations include native options with other products from Spiceworks, including Spiceworks Help Desk and Spiceworks Remote Support. The platform also integrates natively Intel Endpoint Management Assistant (EMA).
Pricing: Free (ad-supported)
Trial: Free
Pros
- Free and cloud-based
- Offers asset tracking for unlimited devices and users
- Integrates with other IT management tools from Spiceworks
Cons
- Some users report slow performance while scanning
- Not suitable for enterprises with a large IT infrastructure
6. Pulseway - Best for remote IT teams
Pulseway is an IT management platform that allows businesses to remotely manage their IT infrastructure from any location.
Why I picked Pulseway: Pulseway offers all the features you’d expect from IT inventory management software, like device discovery, real-time monitoring, and patch management. But what differentiates Pulseway, in my opinion, is its native remote control feature. It allows IT teams to remotely access any computer and even chat with users in real time, making it a great option for businesses with remote workers.
Pulseway Standout Features and Integrations:
Features that make Pulseway stand out include its powerful automation engine. With the visual workflow editor, you can set up smart triggers and actions to resolve IT issues. I also liked that it comes with an extensive library of built-in scripts that you can use to automate repetitive tasks.
Integrations are available natively with platforms like Autotask, Zendesk, PagerDuty, Webroot, Slack, and IT Glue.
Pricing: From $22/month (20 devices)
Trial: 14-day free trial
Pros
- Offers a network discovery engine that automatically detects all endpoints
- Includes patch management software to keep your devices secure
- Allows you to easily customize alerts based on certain events
Cons
- Has a limited number of third-party integrations
- Reports aren’t as extensive compared to other solutions
7. Asset Panda - Best for customizability
Asset Panda is a robust asset-tracking solution that companies can use to track all types of assets, from physical devices and tools to software licenses and contracts.
Why I picked Asset Panda: Every company has different requirements for managing and tracking assets. I chose Asset Panda because it offers extensive customization options to suit a range of use cases. You can configure the platform to track IT assets, leased equipment, and even vehicles.
Asset Panda Standout Features and Integrations:
Features that impressed me about Asset Panda include its user-friendly interface; I found it relatively straightforward to navigate and customize the platform. Asset Panda also made it easy to track configuration changes of each asset and view its full history. These helped me simplify repair requests and schedule preventative maintenance based on usage.
Integrations are available natively with various platforms, including DocuSign, ServiceNow, Zendesk, Google Workspace, Microsoft Azure Active Directory, and ConnectWise.
Pricing: Pricing upon request
Trial: 14-day free trial
Pros
- Offers an intuitive interface
- Mobile apps feature a built-in barcode scanner
- Provides a full maintenance history of your assets
Cons
- Users report slow response times from customer support
- Some features like audits, integrations, and depreciation tracking are paid add-ons
8. Freshservice - Best for automating IT processes
Freshservice is a cloud-based ITSM that allows you to track your IT assets, streamline your processes, and even manage projects with multiple views—all from one location.
Why I picked Freshservice: Beyond offering a configuration management database (CMDB) to track your IT assets, I found that Freshservice excels in its automation capabilities. With Orchestration Center, you can use the visual builder to automate tasks across third-party apps. For example, you can streamline processes like employee onboarding and provision assets based on job titles.
Freshservice Standout Features and Integrations:
Features that I found especially useful about Freshservice include its software asset management tool that helps you rightsize your subscriptions. This helps you eliminate unused licenses and reduce security risks from unauthorized software. Another notable feature is Freshservice’s project management tool, which allows you to manage projects using Gantt charts, Kanban boards, or task lists.
Integrations are available natively for platforms like AWS, Microsoft Teams, Slack, Zoom, Jira, Dropbox, and PagerDuty. Pre-built integrations are also available through the Freshworks Marketplace.
Pricing: From $19/user/month (billed annually)
Trial: 21-day free trial
Pros
- Offers a helpful knowledge base and self-service options
- iOS and Android apps enable on-the-go asset management
- Supports automation to help you streamline IT tasks
Cons
- Steep learning curve when first using the software
- Pricing can be high for some businesses for the higher plans
9. IT Glue - Best for IT asset documentation
IT Glue is an IT documentation platform that enables organizations to create and maintain internal knowledge bases. Users can use it to track assets, organize passwords, and search through files.
Why I picked IT Glue: I’d say that IT Glue deserves a spot on this list because it offers an extensive documentation framework that lets you maintain an internal knowledge base for assets across your infrastructure. Pre-built templates based on industry best practices help standardize IT documentation and facilitate knowledge sharing.
IT Glue Standout Features and Integrations:
Features that stood out to me during my testing with IT Glue include its automatic versioning, which tracks configuration changes across your devices and applications. You can roll back to a previous version in a few clicks if something goes wrong. The platform’s robust search functionality also made it easy to find the documentation I needed.
Integrations are available natively with over 80 platforms like Cisco Meraki, Datto, Microsoft Teams, Slack, Microsoft 365, ServiceNow, Kaseya VSA, and Continuum.
Pricing: From $29/user/month (5 users minimum)
Trial: Free demo available
Pros
- Offers automatic versioning and full audit trails
- Maintains comprehensive and up-to-date documentation
- Achieves SOC 2 compliance for data privacy and security
Cons
- Can be expensive for organizations with limited IT budgets
- Requires some training to fully utilize all features
10. NetSuite - Best for inventory management
NetSuite provides a unified view of your assets. Organizations can also use the software to optimize inventory levels and create sales forecasts.
Why I picked NetSuite: If your company needs to track inventory like physical goods, I highly recommend NetSuite’s inventory management software. It gives you real-time visibility into inventory levels across multiple locations and automatically updates stock counts as customers place orders.
NetSuite Standout Features and Integrations:
Features that caught my eye include its automated inventory management, which uses historical sales data to forecast how much inventory you need to prevent stockouts. You can also set up automations to alert the purchasing manager to place an order if inventory levels reach a certain threshold.
Integrations include pre-built apps that are available through NetSuite Connector. These let you connect NetSuite with a range of third-party services like Adobe Commerce, Shopify, and Amazon Supply Chain.
Pricing: Pricing upon request
Trial: Free demo available
Pros
- Integrates with NetSuite’s enterprise resource planning (ERP) system
- Offers inventory management features
- Provides advanced reporting and analytics capabilities
Cons
- May be complex and costly to implement
- Has a steep initial learning curve
11. InvGate Assets - Best for monitoring IT compliance
InvGate Assets is an IT asset management software that helps organizations manage their assets, optimize utilization, and maintain the security of their devices.
Why I picked InvGate Assets: The reason I picked InvGate Assets is because it excels at monitoring security compliance. It can detect devices running unauthorized software and prevent them from accessing your network. It can also alert you if any IT assets in your inventory have outdated operating systems so that you can install the latest patches.
InvGate Assets Standout Features and Integrations:
Features that I feel are worth mentioning about InvGate Assets include software metering that provides detailed insights into software usage. This visibility can inform decisions around renewals for software licenses and reduce costs. I also like that InvGate Assets includes remote desktop capabilities to facilitate software distribution and incident management.
Integrations are available natively for platforms like InvGate Service Desk, Windows Remote Desktop (RDP), TeamViewer, Microsoft Azure Active Directory, and Google Workspace. InvGate also offers an API service catalog that lets you connect its platform to more applications.
Pricing: Pricing upon request
Trial: 30-day free trial
Pros
- Helps you monitor asset compliance and reduce security risks
- Offers remote desktop capabilities to troubleshoot issues
- Allows you to monitor the entire lifecycle of each asset
Cons
- Interface feels outdated
- Some users report issues with charts
12. ServiceNow IT Asset Management - Best for end-to-end asset lifecycle management
ServiceNow IT Asset Management is a comprehensive IT asset management that lets you manage each stage of the asset lifecycle, from acquisition to disposal.
Why I picked ServiceNow IT Asset Management: Managing the lifecycle of an asset can help companies get the most out of their investments. But manually tracking each stage becomes impossible as you add more assets. I put ServiceNow IT Asset Management on this list for its powerful workflows that can automate the entire asset lifecycle, including approval management, equipment provisioning, and disposal order creation.
ServiceNow IT Asset Management Standout Features and Integrations:
Features that I liked about ServiceNow IT Asset Management include its automated workflows for onboarding and offboarding employees. Examples include provisioning assets for new hires and revoking software licenses for departing staff. These workflows can help companies streamline their HR processes.
Integrations are available natively with third-party services like Microsoft Azure Active Directory, IBM BigFix, Jamf Pro, Okta, and OpenLM.
Pricing: Pricing upon request
Trial: Free demo available
Pros
- Automates asset onboarding and offboarding process
- Offers excellent customer support
- Lets you set up automated workflows
Cons
- May be complex and challenging to set up
- Some users report occasional performance hiccups
Other IT Inventory Management Software Options
Still didn’t find what you’re looking for? Here are even more IT inventory management software options that I think are worth checking out:
- NinjaOne - Best for endpoint monitoring
- xAssets - Best for performance and scalability
- Snipe-IT - Best for customer support
- Auvik - Best for network monitoring and troubleshooting
- Lansweeper - Best for real-time asset visibility
- EMCO Network Inventory - Best for small businesses
- Open-AudIT - Best open-source inventory management option
- Total Network Inventory - Best for software and license audits
- SysAid - Best for mobile device management (MDD)
- Ivanti Neurons - Best for managing software spend
- Kibo - Best for inventory and order routing
Selection Criteria for IT Inventory Management Software
Want to know how I shortlisted the best IT inventory management software? Here are the selection criteria that I followed:
Core Functionality
Here are the core functionalities of IT inventory management software that I looked for when creating my list:
- Allows you to automatically discover assets across your infrastructure
- Enables you to map out relationships between each asset
- Allows you to manage and respond to service requests
- Alerts you when software licenses are about to expire
- Provides you with visibility into software usage and spending
Key Features
I prioritized tools with the following features:
- CMBD: This one’s a no-brainer. The purpose of a CMDB is to store key information about your hardware and software assets, like serial numbers.
- Incident management: Users will undoubtedly require support, so I looked for platforms with features for tracking and resolving incidents.
- Remote desktop: This feature enables technicians to install updates and troubleshoot issues even if they don’t have physical access to a computer.
- No-code automations: Automations help reduce repetitive tasks and free IT teams to focus on more important work.
- Reports: Companies need software with advanced reporting capabilities to make informed decisions about their assets.
Usability
There’s often an initial learning curve when adopting new software, but that doesn’t mean users should have to spend days studying the platform to get value out of it. I picked solutions that made tracking IT assets and checking their status easy.
People Also Ask
Here are some answers to frequently asked questions about IT inventory management software:
What is an asset inventory checklist?
What are the different types of IT assets?
Why is inventory tracking important in cyber security?
Next Steps
An estimated 76% of IT teams say their company’s use of endpoint devices has increased since the global pandemic. As networks grow increasingly complex, IT inventory management software is more important than ever.
These tools can help you operate more efficiently, helping harden your security posture to better prevent attackers from exploiting vulnerabilities in your network devices. They can help you securely onboard new devices, identify outdated and vulnerable devices to offboard, and provide a “single source of truth” for your assets to better enforce compliance with security policies.
Use this list of the best IT inventory management software to help you find the right solution to protect and manage your unique network. And subscribe to The CTO Club newsletter for more insights from industry experts.