ManageEngine M365 Manager Plus vs AvePoint Elements

ManageEngine M365 Manager Plus9.2Visit AEAvePoint Elements9.0Visit

Higher score ManageEngine M365 Manager Plus #1 in Microsoft 365 Management Tools 9.2/10 Free plan · paid from $345/user · 30-day trial Free plan✓ 4 of 4 features Visit ManageEngine

vs

AE AvePoint Elements #2 in Microsoft 365 Management Tools 9.0/10 Pricing on request ✓ 4 of 4 features Visit AvePoint

• ManageEngine M365 Manager Plus fits best

  Teams wanting affordable, self-hosted M365 administration

• AvePoint Elements fits best

  MSPs managing multiple Microsoft 365 tenants

Advertiser disclosure: iTechGuides is reader-supported. We may earn a commission when you click some links. How we rank.

Side by side

Feature	ManageEngine M365 Manager Plus 9.2/10 Visit ↗	AEAvePoint Elements 9.0/10 Visit ↗
At a glance
Editor score	9.2	9.0
Ranking	#1 in Microsoft 365 Management Tools	#2 in Microsoft 365 Management Tools
Best for	Teams wanting affordable, self-hosted M365 administration	MSPs managing multiple Microsoft 365 tenants
Pricing model	Free plan + paid	Paid
Starting price	Not published	Not published
Free plan	✓ (best)	Not published
Free trial	—	—
Deployment	Self-hosted	Cloud
Platforms	Windows, Web	Web
Support	Email, Phone, Live chat, Community, Docs	Email, Phone, Tickets, Docs, Live chat · 24/7
Integrations	5 integrations	2 integrations
Built for	Small business, Mid-market, Enterprise	Small business, Mid-market
Features ManageEngine M365 Manager Plus 4/4 · AvePoint Elements 4/4
Multi-tenant management	✓	✓
License management	✓	✓
Change automation	✓	✓
Audit and reporting	✓	✓
Specs
Managed services	Microsoft Entra ID, Exchange Online, Microsoft Teams, SharePoint Online, OneDrive for Business	Baseline Management; User & Device Management; Workspace Management; License Optimization; Risk & Change Management; Marketplace Integration
Deployment	Self_hosted	Cloud
Our review
Pros	Bulk administration for users, mailboxes, groups, licenses, and Teams Schedules recurring or event-driven tasks and Microsoft 365 reports Auditing, alerts, monitoring, and scoped task delegation across tenants	Applies security baselines and policies across customer tenants Combines device compliance, workspace governance, and drift monitoring Tracks unused licenses and supports distributor billing integration
Cons	Requires self-hosted deployment on Windows Standard lacks Professional features such as auditing and automation Exchange Online backup and restore is an optional add-on	Pricing requires contacting sales Designed around MSPs managing multiple customer tenants ConnectWise Manage is the only other named integration
Our verdict	ManageEngine M365 Manager Plus gives IT teams a centralized way to administer Microsoft 365 through a Windows installation and browser interface. It is aimed at organizations that need bulk changes, reporting, and delegated administration… Read the review →	AvePoint Elements is a cloud platform for managed service providers that oversee Microsoft 365 environments for multiple customers. It brings tenant governance, user and device management, workspace controls, license optimization, and risk… Read the review →

Strengths and trade-offs

• ManageEngine M365 Manager Plus — where it wins

  • Bulk administration for users, mailboxes, groups, licenses, and Teams
  • Schedules recurring or event-driven tasks and Microsoft 365 reports
  • Auditing, alerts, monitoring, and scoped task delegation across tenants

  Where it doesn't

  • Requires self-hosted deployment on Windows
  • Standard lacks Professional features such as auditing and automation
  • Exchange Online backup and restore is an optional add-on

• AvePoint Elements — where it wins

  • Applies security baselines and policies across customer tenants
  • Combines device compliance, workspace governance, and drift monitoring
  • Tracks unused licenses and supports distributor billing integration

  Where it doesn't

  • Pricing requires contacting sales
  • Designed around MSPs managing multiple customer tenants
  • ConnectWise Manage is the only other named integration

• ManageEngine M365 Manager Plus9.2/10 · Free plan · paid from $345/user · 30-day trial

  Self-hosted M365 administration with bulk controls, scheduled tasks, and a free edition.

  Visit ManageEngineFull verdict →
• AEAvePoint Elements9.0/10 · Pricing on request

  Centralizes tenant, device, workspace, security, and license controls for MSPs.

  Visit AvePointFull verdict →