OpenText Service Manager vs SolarWinds Service Desk

OSOpenText Service Manager9.1Visit SolarWinds Service Desk8.1Visit

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

SolarWinds Service Desk #7 in IT Change Management Software 8.1/10 30-day trial Free trial✓ 1 of 6 features Visit SolarWinds

• OpenText Service Manager fits best

  Enterprises focused on controlled change processes

• SolarWinds Service Desk fits best

  Mid-sized teams wanting feature-rich paid ITSM

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Side by side

Feature	OSOpenText Service Manager 9.1/10 Visit ↗	SolarWinds Service Desk 8.1/10 Visit ↗
At a glance
Editor score	9.1	8.1
Ranking	#1 in IT Change Management Software	#7 in IT Change Management Software
Best for	Enterprises focused on controlled change processes	Mid-sized teams wanting feature-rich paid ITSM
Pricing model	Paid	Paid
Starting price	Pricing on request	$39/seat/mo
Free plan	—	—
Free trial	—	30 days
Deployment	Self-hosted	Cloud, Mobile
Platforms	Web	Web, iOS, Android
Integrations	1 integrations	200+ integrations
Built for	Enterprise	Small business, Mid-market, Enterprise
Features OpenText Service Manager 6/6 · SolarWinds Service Desk 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.	Structured change processes with approvals, templates, and workflows CMDB, asset management, SLAs, self-service, and knowledge tools Web, mobile, API access, and integrations with major business systems
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.	No free plan; the trial lasts 30 days Pricing starts at $39 per technician monthly with annual billing AI and advanced automation capabilities require higher-tier plans
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 →	SolarWinds Service Desk is a cloud-based IT service management platform for IT teams supporting employees and managing operational change. Its scope extends beyond change control into incident, problem, and release management, service… 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.

• SolarWinds Service Desk — where it wins

  • Structured change processes with approvals, templates, and workflows
  • CMDB, asset management, SLAs, self-service, and knowledge tools
  • Web, mobile, API access, and integrations with major business systems

  Where it doesn't

  • No free plan; the trial lasts 30 days
  • Pricing starts at $39 per technician monthly with annual billing
  • AI and advanced automation capabilities require higher-tier plans

• 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 →
• SolarWinds Service Desk8.1/10 · 30-day trial

  A broad ITSM suite for teams that need governed change management and service operations.

  Visit SolarWindsFull verdict →