OpenText Service Manager vs ManageEngine ServiceDesk Plus

OSOpenText Service Manager9.1Visit ManageEngine ServiceDesk Plus8.7Visit

Higher score OS OpenText Service Manager #1 in IT Change Management Software 9.1/10 Pricing on request ✓ 6 of 6 features Visit OpenText

vs

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 Service Manager fits best

  Enterprises focused on controlled change processes

• ManageEngine ServiceDesk Plus fits best

  IT teams wanting free entry and broad ITSM coverage

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	OSOpenText Service Manager 9.1/10 Visit ↗	ManageEngine ServiceDesk Plus 8.7/10 Visit ↗
At a glance
Editor score	9.1	8.7
Ranking	#1 in IT Change Management Software	#2 in IT Change Management Software
Best for	Enterprises focused on controlled change processes	IT teams wanting free entry and broad ITSM coverage
Pricing model	Paid	Free plan + paid
Starting price	Pricing on request	$13/user/mo
Free plan	—	✓ (best)
Free trial	—	30 days
Deployment	Self-hosted	Cloud, Self-hosted, Mobile
Platforms	Web	Web, Windows, Linux, macOS, iOS, Android
Integrations	1 integrations	15 integrations
Built for	Enterprise	Small business, Mid-market, Enterprise
Features OpenText Service Manager 6/6 · ManageEngine ServiceDesk Plus 1/6
Risk assessment	✓ (best)	Not checked yet
Approval workflows	✓	✓
Change calendar	✓ (best)	Not checked yet
Emergency changes	✓ (best)	Not checked yet
Change audit trail	✓ (best)	Not checked yet
CMDB linking	✓ (best)	Not checked yet
Our review
Pros	Routes standard changes for approval and gives emergency changes a distinct path. Scores change risk and shows calendar collisions before scheduling. Links configuration items to changes for impact analysis and activity history.	Free Standard license for up to five technicians Enterprise combines change management, CMDB, assets, and projects Web, mobile, API, self-hosted, and Microsoft integrations
Cons	Pricing requires a vendor quote rather than a published list price. Self-hosted deployment may be a narrower fit for teams seeking SaaS-only options. Its documented integration is UCMDB, limiting the named ecosystem fit.	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
Our verdict	OpenText Service Manager is an IT service management product with a dedicated Change Management application for organizations that need structured control over service and configuration-item changes. Its workflow covers logging,… Read the review →	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 →

Strengths and trade-offs

• OpenText Service Manager — where it wins

  • Routes standard changes for approval and gives emergency changes a distinct path.
  • Scores change risk and shows calendar collisions before scheduling.
  • Links configuration items to changes for impact analysis and activity history.

  Where it doesn't

  • Pricing requires a vendor quote rather than a published list price.
  • Self-hosted deployment may be a narrower fit for teams seeking SaaS-only options.
  • Its documented integration is UCMDB, limiting the named ecosystem fit.

• 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

• OSOpenText Service Manager9.1/10 · Pricing on request

  A change-focused ITSM tool for enterprises that need approval paths, risk checks, and scheduling visibility.

  Visit OpenTextFull verdict →
• 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 ManageEngineFull verdict →