ManageEngine ServiceDesk Plus vs SolarWinds Service Desk

ManageEngine ServiceDesk Plus9.3Visit SolarWinds Service Desk9.1Visit

Higher score ManageEngine ServiceDesk Plus #1 in IT Help Desk Software 9.3/10 Free plan · 30-day trial Free planFree trial✓ 7 of 7 features Visit site

vs

SolarWinds Service Desk #3 in IT Help Desk Software 9.1/10 30-day trial Free trial✓ 7 of 7 features Visit SolarWinds

• ManageEngine ServiceDesk Plus fits best

  Broad ITSM with strong value

• SolarWinds Service Desk fits best

  Enterprise ITSM with CMDB depth

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Side by side

Feature	ManageEngine ServiceDesk Plus 9.3/10 Visit ↗	SolarWinds Service Desk 9.1/10 Visit ↗
At a glance
Editor score	9.3	9.1
Ranking	#1 in IT Help Desk Software	#3 in IT Help Desk Software
Best for	Broad ITSM with strong value	Enterprise ITSM with CMDB depth
Pricing model	Free plan + paid	Paid
Starting price	$13/user/mo (best)	$39/seat/mo
Free plan	✓ (best)	—
Free trial	30 days	30 days
Free trial length	30 days	30 days
Deployment	Cloud, Self-hosted, Mobile	Cloud, Mobile
Platforms	Web, Windows, Linux, macOS, iOS, Android	Web, iOS, Android
Support	Phone, Email	Email, Live chat, Phone, Community · 24/7
Compliance	SSO/SAML	SOC 2, ISO 27001, GDPR, HIPAA, PCI DSS, 2FA
Integrations	15 integrations	200+ integrations
Built for	Small business, Mid-market, Enterprise	Small business, Mid-market, Enterprise
Features ManageEngine ServiceDesk Plus 7/7 · SolarWinds Service Desk 7/7
SLA management	✓	✓
Knowledge base	✓	✓
Employee portal	✓	✓
Asset management	✓	✓
Single sign-on	✓	✓
Approval workflows	✓	✓
Mobile apps	✓	✓
Our review
Pros	Free Standard license for five technicians Asset management, CMDB, workflows, and automation span higher tiers Web, mobile, API, and self-hosted deployment options	Visual CMDB and dependency mapping connect assets with incidents. Incident, SLA, change, asset, and service-catalog workflows cover core ITSM. Web, mobile, API, and integrations support distributed service operations.
Cons	Asset management starts with the Professional plan CMDB and project management require the Enterprise plan Pricing varies by edition, technician count, assets, and deployment model	Listed pricing starts at $39 per technician per month with annual billing. There is no free plan for ongoing use. AI incident features are limited to the Premier plan.
Our verdict	ManageEngine ServiceDesk Plus is an IT service management platform for IT and enterprise service teams. It combines incident and service request management with a self-service portal, knowledge base, SLA management, reporting, service… Read the review →	SolarWinds Service Desk is a cloud-based IT service management platform for IT teams and organizations supporting employees. It combines incident, problem, change, and release management with a service catalog, employee self-service… Read the review →

Strengths and trade-offs

• ManageEngine ServiceDesk Plus — where it wins

  • Free Standard license for five technicians
  • Asset management, CMDB, workflows, and automation span higher tiers
  • Web, mobile, API, and self-hosted deployment options

  Where it doesn't

  • Asset management starts with the Professional plan
  • CMDB and project management require the Enterprise plan
  • Pricing varies by edition, technician count, assets, and deployment model

• SolarWinds Service Desk — where it wins

  • Visual CMDB and dependency mapping connect assets with incidents.
  • Incident, SLA, change, asset, and service-catalog workflows cover core ITSM.
  • Web, mobile, API, and integrations support distributed service operations.

  Where it doesn't

  • Listed pricing starts at $39 per technician per month with annual billing.
  • There is no free plan for ongoing use.
  • AI incident features are limited to the Premier plan.

• ManageEngine ServiceDesk Plus9.3/10 · Free plan · 30-day trial

  A broad ITSM suite with a free plan, asset management, CMDB, automation, and AI.

  Visit siteFull verdict →
• SolarWinds Service Desk9.1/10 · 30-day trial

  A mature ITSM suite for teams that need CMDB, asset, SLA, and change-management depth.

  Visit SolarWindsFull verdict →