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Head-to-head · IT Change Management Software

ManageEngine ServiceDesk Plus vs OpenText SMAX

Updated Oct 2026
Both researched from official sources
7 checks side by side

Higher score ManageEngine ServiceDesk Plus #2 in IT Change Management Software 8.7/10 Free plan · 30-day trial Free planFree trial✓ 1 of 6 features Visit ManageEngine

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

ManageEngine ServiceDesk Plus leads on 1 check, OpenText SMAX on 0, and 6 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 scoreManageEngine ServiceDesk Plus · 8.7/10
Free planonly ManageEngine ServiceDesk Plus
Free trialboth
Most featuresOpenText SMAX · 6 of 6

ManageEngine ServiceDesk Plus scores higher on our rubric for it change management software: 8.7 against 8.0 out of 10; our editors rank them #2 and #8.

ManageEngine ServiceDesk Plus offers free plan; OpenText SMAX doesn't.

ManageEngine ServiceDesk Plus is the better fit for IT teams wanting free entry and broad ITSM coverage. OpenText SMAX is the better fit for large IT organizations needing ITIL breadth.

ManageEngine ServiceDesk Plus fits best
IT teams wanting free entry and broad ITSM coverage
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

Show only differences

Feature	ManageEngine ServiceDesk Plus 8.7/10 Visit ↗	OpenText SMAX 8.0/10 Visit ↗
At a glance
Editor score	8.7	8.0
Ranking	#2 in IT Change Management Software	#8 in IT Change Management Software
Best for	IT teams wanting free entry and broad ITSM coverage	Large IT organizations needing ITIL breadth
Pricing model	Free plan + paid	Paid
Starting price	$13/user/mo	—
Free plan	✓ (best)	—
Free trial	30 days	14 days
Free trial length	30 days	14 days
Deployment	Cloud, Self-hosted, Mobile	Cloud, Self-hosted
Platforms	Web, Windows, Linux, macOS, iOS, Android	Web, iOS, Android
Support	Phone, Email	Docs
Integrations	15 integrations	5 integrations
Built for	Small business, Mid-market, Enterprise	Mid-market, Enterprise
Features ManageEngine ServiceDesk Plus 1/6 · OpenText SMAX 6/6
Risk assessment	Not checked yet	✓ (best)
Approval workflows	✓	✓
Change calendar	Not checked yet	✓ (best)
Emergency changes	Not checked yet	✓ (best)
Change audit trail	Not checked yet	✓ (best)
CMDB linking	Not checked yet	✓ (best)
Our review
Pros	Free Standard license for up to five technicians Enterprise combines change management, CMDB, assets, and projects Web, mobile, API, self-hosted, and Microsoft integrations	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	Change and release management is listed only in Enterprise Free Standard is limited to one service desk instance Pricing varies by edition, technicians, assets, deployment, and billing	Pricing requires contact with sales No permanent free plan The broad platform scope may exceed narrower change-management needs
Our verdict	ManageEngine ServiceDesk Plus is an IT service management platform for IT and enterprise service teams. It brings together incident and service request management, a self-service portal, knowledge management, SLA management, asset… 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 →

ManageEngine ServiceDesk PlusIT Change Management Software 8.7Free plan · 30-day trial
O OpenText SMAXIT Change Management Software 8.0Pricing on request · 14-day trial

Compare the top tools in

Strengths and trade-offs

ManageEngine ServiceDesk Plus — where it wins
- Free Standard license for up to five technicians
- Enterprise combines change management, CMDB, assets, and projects
- Web, mobile, API, self-hosted, and Microsoft integrations
Where it doesn't
- Change and release management is listed only in Enterprise
- Free Standard is limited to one service desk instance
- Pricing varies by edition, technicians, assets, deployment, and billing
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

ManageEngine ServiceDesk Plus8.7/10 · Free plan · 30-day trial
A broad ITSM suite with free entry, strong asset coverage, and change management in Enterprise.
Visit ManageEngine Full verdict →
OpenText SMAX8.0/10 · Pricing on request · 14-day trial
A broad ITIL-aligned platform for large organizations managing complex change.
Visit OpenText Full verdict →

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Reviewed by iTechGuides Editors · Editorial team · Updated Oct 2026

Last updated 7 Oct 2026 · How we research and update