Are you tired of managing your IT operations with complex, slow, or outdated software?
It feels like you need a training course to log a simple ticket, right?
This complexity isn’t just frustrating; it wastes valuable time your team could be using to serve clients.
If your management tools are confusing, your team is inefficient, and your business growth stalls.
That’s why we did the deep dive.
This ConnectWise review for 2025 cuts through the hype to tell you exactly where it shines and how its new features—like AI and a unified platform—stack up against simpler rivals like Atera.
Continue reading to determine if ConnectWise remains the right, powerful solution for your MSP.
Stop wasting time! MSPs using ConnectWise AI tools report up to 75% less time spent on routine tasks per ticket and an 86% jump in first-time resolution rates. Don’t wait—read our 2025 review to unlock that kind of efficiency!
What is ConnectWise?
ConnectWise is a big software company that makes tools for technology solutions providers (TSPs).
Think of it as a complete toolbox for IT businesses.
They offer a vast range of products, but we will focus on the key ones.
These tools help companies manage all their IT clients and devices.
One key product is ConnectWise Control.
This is their powerful remote access software.
It lets you quickly take control of a client’s computer from far away.
You can provide remote support and resolve issues without needing to travel.
It offers quick remote access and remote control for technicians.
You can also set up unattended access to keep devices patched and running smoothly.
ConnectWise Control is great for troubleshooting and running quick remote meetings.
All of this is done while ensuring your network security remains strong.
Who Created ConnectWise?
ConnectWise was co-founded by two brothers, Arnie Bellini and David Bellini, back in 1982.
They first started as a local computer consulting company.
Arnie had a straightforward goal: to help IT service providers manage their businesses more effectively.
He turned their own successful internal processes into software.
This software grew into the massive, complete business platform we know today.
The vision was always to give IT companies the right tools to grow and succeed.
Top Benefits of ConnectWise
ConnectWise delivers many advantages to help your MSP grow.
When your business relies on efficiency, these benefits can help your IT team stay ahead in the competitive MSP space.
- Unified Management Platform. ConnectWise offers a shared toolbox where all your different ConnectWise products work together seamlessly. This means your team works in one spot, reducing time wasted jumping between separate systems.
- Strong Remote Support. With ConnectWise ScreenConnect, you get a powerful tool for quick access and control over client devices. This lets your technicians solve technical issues faster, improving the end-user experience.
- Deep Automation and Efficiency. ConnectWise automates routine tasks, such as patching and ticket triage. By having the platform handle repetitive work, your technicians are free to focus on more complex project management and strategic tasks.
- Enhanced Cybersecurity Posture. The platform features numerous security measures, including advanced monitoring and threat detection. This helps keep your client data secure and protects their operating systems against modern attacks.
- Scalable for Growth. Whether you manage ten users or thousands, ConnectWise’s modular design lets you add tools as your business needs them. This makes it a great choice for MSPs looking to scale without hitting a software ceiling.
- Centralized Business Data. All your tickets, billing, time entries, and client records are stored in one place. This centralization provides you with better insights and enables you to make smarter business decisions.
- Integrated Project Management. Manage projects from start to finish—from initial scope to final invoicing—within the same tool. This streamlines workflows for large rollouts, network upgrades, and other complex work.
- Vast Integration Ecosystem. ConnectWise works well with hundreds of other IT tools through its marketplace. This flexibility enables you to integrate best-of-breed software for tasks such as backup and security.
Best Features of ConnectWise
ConnectWise offers many strong tools to help your IT business succeed.
These aren’t just basic tools.
They are key features that help your team work more efficiently and keep your customers happy.
The company’s commitment to innovation helps its partners maximize their productivity.
Let’s look at the difference these special tools can make.
1. ConnectWise PSA (Professional Services Automation)
This program is the heart of your business process.
It helps your partner manage everything from ticketing to billing and time tracking.
It gives your technicians and staff a clear workflow. You can easily configure projects and contracts.
This helps you save money and time by keeping all your client services in one place.
2. Email Security
Email is often the first site of an attack.
ConnectWise offers strong email security to protect your customers.
It utilizes advanced technology to prevent threats like phishing and malware from reaching the user.
This helps keep your client’s sensitive files and data safe from harm.
3. IT Documentation Software & Tools
Good documentation is reliable and crucial for success.
ConnectWise includes tools to keep all your client network passwords, steps, and setup details organized.
This ability enables a new technician to easily join a support session and understand the client’s servers and devices.
4. Comprehensive Data Protection
Losing data is never an option. ConnectWise offers a complete set of backup solutions.
This helps ensure that all important client data is safe and recoverable.
If a disaster happens, you can quickly switch the client back on.
This protection works regardless of whether the data is on a physical device or in the cloud.
5. 70+ AI-Assisted Actions
The new platform uses powerful AI to assist your team.
The system can handle more than 70+ AI-assisted actions.
This lets the AI automatically categorize tickets and suggest solutions.
This helps your technicians focus less on manual tasks and more on solving the root cause of the problem.
6. Endpoint Management
Every single computer or device is an endpoint.
ConnectWise gives you tools to manage all these endpoints, including those running Windows.
This ensures every device is patched, secured, and running right.
It is a key part of your maintenance routine.
7. Vulnerability Management
It is important to stay ahead of hackers.
This feature constantly checks systems for weak spots or vulnerabilities.
It helps your technicians find and fix security gaps before they become a problem.
You can sign off on fixes quickly to keep your client secure.
8. Automated Quote and Proposal Software
Creating quotes can be a time-consuming process.
This tool lets your sales team quickly generate and send professional proposals.
It automatically pulls in pricing and product details.
This speed enables your company to connect with prospects more quickly and secure more business.
9. X360Recover
X360Recover is a highly reliable backup and disaster recovery (BDR) program.
It ensures business continuity for your customers.
If a server fails, you can quickly host their systems from the recovery appliance.
This minimizes downtime and keeps the client in business.
Pricing
Contact For Custom Pricing.
Pros and Cons
Choosing the right platform is hard.
Let’s examine the pros and cons of ConnectWise to help you make an informed decision.
Pros
Cons
Alternatives to ConnectWise
If ConnectWise seems too complex or costly for your business, you have great alternatives.
The right tool should match your team size, budget, and need for AI features.
- Atera: This is an all-in-one RMM and PSA platform. Its unique strength is its per-technician pricing model, which supports an unlimited number of endpoints. This makes it cost-effective for growth. We must focus on its AI features, such as IT Autopilot and AI Copilot.
- NinjaOne: Known for being fast and having a modern, intuitive user interface. It is a cloud-native RMM that excels at patch management and automation. It is often praised for its ease of use.
- ConnectWise: This is a comprehensive solution that offers separate yet deeply integrated RMM and PSA tools. It is highly customizable but often seen as more complex for new users.
- Kaseya Datto: This platform is the result of a merger between two companies. It is a comprehensive solution renowned for its robust RMM, powerful security, and data protection/backup. Kaseya VSA is ideal for complex networks, while Datto RMM has a user-friendly interface.
- SuperOps: This is a unified PSA and RMM platform built with a modern, clean interface. SuperOps offers AI capabilities for ticket management and is known for its transparent per-technician pricing, similar to Atera, but with an endpoint limit (typically 150 per technician) before additional packs are required. It’s a great choice for growth-oriented MSPs seeking a modern, integrated experience.
- SyncroMSP: This tool is also a unified RMM/PSA but is famous for its simple, flat-rate pricing. It is a strong choice for smaller MSPs seeking a straightforward cost structure.
- N-able: This is another major player that offers a scalable and robust RMM and PSA suite. They are known for their advanced monitoring and security features, designed to support enterprise growth and expansion.
- ManageEngine: offers a suite of products, with Endpoint Central being a popular choice. It focuses on unified endpoint management, which includes patch management and automated deployment.
- Pulseway: This RMM is famous for its mobile-first design. It allows professionals to manage and monitor client endpoints directly from their phones with great ease.
- Microsoft Intune: This solution is part of the Microsoft ecosystem. It focuses on mobile device and application management, especially for companies heavily invested in Microsoft 365.
- Freshservice: This is more of an IT Service Management (ITSM) solution. It is known for its modern helpdesk and ticket management functions.
- Lansweeper: This tool specializes in IT Asset Discovery and Inventory. It is not a full RMM/PSA but offers deep insight into all network devices.
- Jamf Pro: This tool is specifically designed for managing Apple devices (macOS, iOS). It is the top choice for MSPs focused on the Apple ecosystem.
Personal Experience with ConnectWise
Our own team used ConnectWise to handle thousands of client devices.
We achieved great results when the platform was set up correctly.
It was a lot of work to learn, but the integrated tools helped us streamline our entire business.
We stopped wasting time in separate apps.
Here is what ConnectWise helped our team do better:
- PSA Workflow: We used ConnectWise PSA to automate ticket routing. New tickets were instantly assigned to the right technicians. This made our entire process much more efficiently.
- Centralized Control: Using ConnectWise Control, our technicians gained access to client devices quickly. We can provide quick support and resolve technical issues promptly.
- Proactive Maintenance: ConnectWise Automate handled repetitive maintenance. It automatically ran patches on hundreds of servers. This helped us prevent problems before the customer noticed them.
- Security and Data: The comprehensive data protection ensured client data was secure. We could quickly switch to a backup if anything went wrong.
- Time Tracking: Every minute spent by a user was logged to a ticket. This helped the company bill accurately and maximize our productivity.
- Quick Insights: We configured custom dashboards to focus on our key performance metrics. This gave our managers the clear data needed for success.
Final Thoughts
ConnectWise is a powerful, deep platform built for scaling MSPs.
Its strengths lie in the robust features—like the unified PSA and RMM—and its extensive compatibility with other tools.
However, the system is complex, the learning curve is steep, and the pricing is not transparent.
If your team is large and you need deep customization to handle specific enterprise workflows, ConnectWise is a major contender.
For smaller teams that value simplicity, a flat rate, and instant AI features like Atera’s IT Autopilot, simpler alternatives might be better.
Choose based on your actual size and need for complexity.
Ready to compare ConnectWise with the top alternatives?
Click here to download our full 2025 comparison checklist and make the right software choice today!
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the main difference between ConnectWise and Atera?
Atera offers a unified RMM and PSA with transparent, flat per-technician pricing and strong out-of-the-box AI tools. ConnectWise is modular, built for deep customization, and uses complex quote-based pricing, better suiting large, established MSPs.
Is ConnectWise hard to set up and learn?
Yes, users commonly report a steep learning curve. The platform offers extensive customization but requires a significant amount of time for initial setup and ongoing administration. This complexity means a larger initial investment of time is needed for success.
How does ConnectWise handle the cost of its products?
ConnectWise uses a non-transparent, quote-based model. You pay separately for each major module (PSA, RMM, Security). The final price is negotiated based on your company’s size, the modules needed, and the contract length, as there are no public list prices.
What is ConnectWise’s biggest advantage over its competitors?
Its biggest advantage is customization and scale. ConnectWise offers in-depth configuration and a comprehensive feature set for managing complex workflows. It boasts excellent third-party compatibility and a long history, making it an ideal choice for large enterprise environments.
Does ConnectWise have strong AI or automation features?
Yes, ConnectWise has strong automation through scripting and policy engines. It is currently integrating new AI features into its platform. These tools help automate ticket triage and tasks; however, many rivals, such as Atera, offer similar AI accessibility.
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