Compare: RMM and patching
ConnectWise Automate alternative: Tenvara
ConnectWise Automate is a long-standing RMM that MSPs pick for granular control and deep automation, and it can run on your own servers or in the cloud. Tenvara gives you monitoring, patching, scripts and remote control with a simpler set-up, in the same app as your service desk, backup and Microsoft 365. Like Automate, you can use it hosted or self-hosted.
The tool today
What ConnectWise Automate does
A long-standing RMM with deep scripting, on-premises or cloud hosting, and ScreenConnect remote access. Made by ConnectWise. This is how the vendor describes it, in our words.
- Monitors and manages endpoints, with customisable monitoring, automation and dataviews.
- Patches Windows with approval policies and pilot groups, and patches third-party apps.
- Runs scripts from a custom library on a schedule, with AI help drafting PowerShell.
- Discovers network devices through a network probe on a Windows agent.
- Uses ScreenConnect for remote access to endpoints.
- Can be hosted on-premises or in the cloud, with agents for Windows, macOS and Linux.
Side by side
Tenvara vs ConnectWise Automate
The RMM and patching jobs that matter most, and how each product handles them.
Agent for Windows, macOS and Linux
Windows, Mac and Linux, features vary by OS
Monitoring, checks and alert thresholds
Customisable monitoring and dataviews
Operating system patching
Windows approval policies and pilot groups
Third-party app updates
Third-party patching included
Script library and scheduling
Custom library and scheduling
Remote control
Through ScreenConnect
Run it on your own servers
On-premises or cloud hosting
Service desk in the same app
ConnectWise PSA, a separate product
Add-on means the vendor sells it as a separate product or paid extra. ConnectWise Automate details come from the vendor's own website, see sources.
The one-app pitch
What else you'd replace
Most MSPs running ConnectWise Automate pay for several other tools beside it. Tenvara does these jobs too, on the same customer record, with one agent and one login.
See every comparisonSwitching
Moving from ConnectWise Automate
A calm move, not a big bang. Run both side by side until your team is happy.
-
1
Set up customers and sites
There is no automatic import from Automate, so add your customers and sites first. Enrolment tokens then tie each device to the right customer.
Customers, sites and contacts -
2
Recreate your monitoring and patch policies
Set checks, thresholds and patch approvals at global, customer and device group level. Device groups can fill themselves from rules, such as every server at a customer.
Policies, checks and thresholds -
3
Deploy the agent alongside
The one-line install command runs from any tool that can run a script, including Automate, so you can roll Tenvara out to a whole customer at once.
Installing the agent -
4
Bring your scripts across
Add your PowerShell, Batch, Bash and Python scripts to the library with parameters. Each is signed, so only what is in your library can run.
The script library -
5
Run both side by side, then switch
Compare alerts and patch results for a few weeks, then remove the Automate agent customer by customer.
ConnectWise Automate pricing
ConnectWise does not publish pricing for Automate; it is by quote.
Tenvara pricing
One subscription, per technician or per endpoint, hosted or self-hosted, with every feature in every plan.
See pricingQuestions
ConnectWise Automate vs Tenvara: FAQ
Yes. Run it with Docker Compose on your own Linux server, or use a hosted instance. The features are the same either way.
PowerShell, Batch, Bash, Zsh and Python scripts can go into the Tenvara library as they are, with parameters. Anything written in another tool's own scripting format needs rewriting as a plain script.
More RMM and patching comparisons
See Tenvara next to ConnectWise Automate.
A 30 minute walkthrough of the real product. Bring your list of what you use today and we'll show you where each part lives in Tenvara, and where it doesn't.
Comparison based on publicly available information as of September 2026. ConnectWise Automate is a trademark of its owner; Tenvara is not affiliated with it. Spotted something out of date? Tell us and we'll correct it.
Sources