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Head-to-head · IT Help Desk Software

SolarWinds Service Desk vs KIX

  • Updated Oct 2026
  • Both researched from official sources
  • 8 checks side by side
Higher score SolarWinds Service Desk #3 in IT Help Desk Software 9.1/10 30-day trial Free trial✓ 7 of 7 features Visit SolarWinds
KIX #28 in IT Help Desk Software 6.4/10 Free plan · 30-day trial Free planFree trial✓ 7 of 7 features Visit KIX

SolarWinds Service Desk leads on 0 checks, KIX on 1, and 7 are even. Who comes out ahead on the 8 yes/no, price and count checks where we have data for both products. The editor score weighs everything else too.

Our verdict

  • Highest scoreSolarWinds Service Desk · 9.1/10
  • Free planonly KIX
  • Free trialboth

SolarWinds Service Desk scores higher on our rubric for it help desk software: 9.1 against 6.4 out of 10; our editors rank them #3 and #28.

KIX offers free plan; SolarWinds Service Desk doesn't.

SolarWinds Service Desk is the better fit for enterprise ITSM with CMDB depth. KIX is the better fit for mobile-enabled open-source ITSM.

  • SolarWinds Service Desk fits best

    Enterprise ITSM with CMDB depth

  • KIX fits best

    Mobile-enabled open-source ITSM

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 SolarWinds Service Desk 9.1/10 Visit ↗ KIX 6.4/10 Visit ↗
At a glance
Editor score 9.1 6.4
Ranking #3 in IT Help Desk Software #28 in IT Help Desk Software
Best for Enterprise ITSM with CMDB depth Mobile-enabled open-source ITSM
Pricing model Paid Free plan + paid
Starting price $39/seat/mo —
Free plan — ✓ (best)
Free trial 30 days 30 days
Free trial length 30 days 30 days
Deployment Cloud, Mobile Cloud, Self-hosted, Mobile
Platforms Web, iOS, Android Web, iOS, Android
Support Email, Live chat, Phone, Community · 24/7 Phone, Docs
Compliance SOC 2, ISO 27001, GDPR, HIPAA, PCI DSS, 2FA ISO 27001
Integrations 200+ integrations 8 integrations
Built for Small business, Mid-market, Enterprise Small business, Mid-market, Enterprise
Features SolarWinds Service Desk 7/7 · KIX 7/7
SLA management ✓ ✓
Knowledge base ✓ ✓
Employee portal ✓ ✓
Asset management ✓ ✓
Single sign-on ✓ ✓
Approval workflows ✓ ✓
Mobile apps ✓ ✓
Our review
Pros
  • 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.
  • Free on-premises edition for evaluating core service-management workflows
  • CMDB, catalogs, SLAs, approvals, reporting and knowledge management in one platform
  • Offline iOS and Android field-service ticket and work-order processing
Cons
  • 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.
  • KIX Start has limited functionality and no support or maintenance
  • KIX Pro Business starts at €33 per agent per month
  • Enterprise pricing and higher service levels require a pricing request
Our verdict

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 →

KIX is an open-source service management platform for IT departments, service desks, enterprise service management teams and technical customer support organizations. It combines ticket management with searchable communication history,…

Read the review →
  1. SolarWinds Service DeskIT Help Desk Software 9.130-day trial
  2. KIXIT Help Desk Software 6.4Free plan · 30-day trial

Strengths and trade-offs

  • 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.

  • KIX — where it wins

    • Free on-premises edition for evaluating core service-management workflows
    • CMDB, catalogs, SLAs, approvals, reporting and knowledge management in one platform
    • Offline iOS and Android field-service ticket and work-order processing

    Where it doesn't

    • KIX Start has limited functionality and no support or maintenance
    • KIX Pro Business starts at €33 per agent per month
    • Enterprise pricing and higher service levels require a pricing request
  • 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 →
  • KIX6.4/10 · Free plan · 30-day trial

    A broad open-source ITSM platform with mobile field service and flexible deployment options.

    Visit KIXFull verdict →

More comparisons

All IT help desk software comparisons → · Full ranking →

Reviewed by iTechGuides Editors · Editorial team · Updated Oct 2026

Last updated · How we research and update