Suggestions appear as you type. Use the up and down arrows to choose one and Enter to open it.

This page's audience our own tag's counts — open to see them
–Visits
–Page views
–Clicks to vendors
–Time on page
–Reading now
Clicks to vendors, by tool
  • –
Top countries
  • –
Devices
  • –

– · visits, page views and clicks counted by our own tag, which counts more than our checked analytics; every figure rounded down · how we count

Head-to-head · IT Change Management Software

Giva ChangeManager vs OpenText SMAX

  • Updated Oct 2026
  • Both researched from official sources
  • 7 checks side by side
Higher score Giva ChangeManager #5 in IT Change Management Software 8.3/10 30-day trial Free trial✓ 6 of 6 features Visit Giva
OpenText SMAX #8 in IT Change Management Software 8.0/10 Pricing on request · 14-day trial Free trial✓ 6 of 6 features Visit OpenText

Giva ChangeManager leads on 0 checks, OpenText SMAX on 0, and 7 are even. Who comes out ahead on the 7 yes/no, price and count checks where we have data for both products. The editor score weighs everything else too.

Our verdict

  • Highest scoreGiva ChangeManager · 8.3/10
  • Free trialboth

Giva ChangeManager scores higher on our rubric for it change management software: 8.3 against 8.0 out of 10; our editors rank them #5 and #8.

Giva ChangeManager is the better fit for dedicated ITIL change teams with CAB processes. OpenText SMAX is the better fit for large IT organizations needing ITIL breadth.

  • Giva ChangeManager fits best

    Dedicated ITIL change teams with CAB processes

  • OpenText SMAX fits best

    Large IT organizations needing ITIL breadth

Advertiser disclosure: iTechGuides is reader-supported. Vendors can pay for top positions in our rankings and for a place on other products' pages, and we may earn a commission when you click some links. Bought places stand at the number bought; this page and our disclosure say so. Paying vendors may get a fuller, more detailed review from our editors, and that review can change their score. How we rank.

Side by side

Feature Giva ChangeManager 8.3/10 Visit ↗ OpenText SMAX 8.0/10 Visit ↗
At a glance
Editor score 8.3 8.0
Ranking #5 in IT Change Management Software #8 in IT Change Management Software
Best for Dedicated ITIL change teams with CAB processes Large IT organizations needing ITIL breadth
Pricing model Paid Paid
Starting price $76/user/mo —
Free plan — —
Free trial 30 days 14 days
Free trial length 30 days · no card needed 14 days
Deployment Cloud Cloud, Self-hosted
Platforms Web Web, iOS, Android
Support Phone, Docs · 24/7 Docs
Integrations 8 integrations 5 integrations
Built for Small business, Mid-market, Enterprise Mid-market, Enterprise
Features Giva ChangeManager 6/6 · OpenText SMAX 6/6
Risk assessment ✓ ✓
Approval workflows ✓ ✓
Change calendar ✓ ✓
Emergency changes ✓ ✓
Change audit trail ✓ ✓
CMDB linking ✓ ✓
Our review
Pros
  • Configurable RFCs, approval workflows, risk assessment, and emergency escalation
  • Daily, weekly, and monthly calendars with permanent audit trails
  • Links changes to hardware, software, and CMDB-related assets
  • ITIL-aligned change, release, approval, and emergency-change workflows
  • Native CMDB with configuration-item detection and impact visibility
  • Web, mobile, API, SaaS, public-cloud, and self-hosted deployment options
Cons
  • No perpetual free plan; the offer is a 30-day trial
  • Professional starts at $76 per agent monthly with annual billing
  • Available through a web browser rather than native desktop or mobile apps
  • Pricing requires contact with sales
  • No permanent free plan
  • The broad platform scope may exceed narrower change-management needs
Our verdict

Giva ChangeManager is a cloud-based IT change management application for teams that need controlled Request for Change (RFC) processes. It centralizes configurable ITIL-aligned forms, approvals, risk assessment, scheduling, notifications,…

Read the review →

OpenText SMAX, now presented as OpenText Service Management, is an IT service management platform for organizations coordinating IT services, assets, configuration items, and broader enterprise services. Its coverage includes ITIL-aligned…

Read the review →
  1. Giva ChangeManagerIT Change Management Software 8.330-day trial
  2. OpenText SMAXIT Change Management Software 8.0Pricing on request · 14-day trial

Strengths and trade-offs

  • Giva ChangeManager — where it wins

    • Configurable RFCs, approval workflows, risk assessment, and emergency escalation
    • Daily, weekly, and monthly calendars with permanent audit trails
    • Links changes to hardware, software, and CMDB-related assets

    Where it doesn't

    • No perpetual free plan; the offer is a 30-day trial
    • Professional starts at $76 per agent monthly with annual billing
    • Available through a web browser rather than native desktop or mobile apps

  • OpenText SMAX — where it wins

    • ITIL-aligned change, release, approval, and emergency-change workflows
    • Native CMDB with configuration-item detection and impact visibility
    • Web, mobile, API, SaaS, public-cloud, and self-hosted deployment options

    Where it doesn't

    • Pricing requires contact with sales
    • No permanent free plan
    • The broad platform scope may exceed narrower change-management needs
  • Giva ChangeManager8.3/10 · 30-day trial

    A focused change-control system for RFCs, CAB approvals, calendars, and audit trails.

    Visit GivaFull verdict →
  • OpenText SMAX8.0/10 · Pricing on request · 14-day trial

    A broad ITIL-aligned platform for large organizations managing complex change.

    Visit OpenTextFull verdict →

More comparisons

All IT change management software comparisons → · Full ranking →

Reviewed by iTechGuides Editors · Editorial team · Updated Oct 2026

Last updated · How we research and update