Pulseway vs SmartDeploy

ManageEngine Endpoint Central

Action1

Endpoint Central (formerly Desktop Central) from ManageEngine is an integrated desktop & mobile device management application that enables the centralized management of desktops, servers, laptops, tablets & smartphones.

AI-powered platform that unifies identity, endpoints, and compliance—giving IT teams time and control back.

Action1 reinvents patch management with an infinitely scalable and highly secure platform configurable in 5 minutes that just works.

IT Consultant

The setup was quick, and the mobile app makes it simple to stay on top of things. Plus, their customer support is really helpful. If you’re in IT, Pulseway is a tool you’ll definitely want in your toolbox.

Pulseway's support personnel who conduct quarterly or annual calls, along with their general support, are fantastic and very knowledgeable about the product.

IT Management Software as it should be - For Windows, Linux and Mac systems as well as any application using
the monitoring API. The only IT management platform with a fully comprehensive mobile app.

Access Controls/Permissions

Active Directory Integration

Activity Dashboard

Activity Tracking

Alerts/Escalation

Alerts/Notifications

Anti Virus

Application Management

Approval Process Control

Asset Lifecycle Management

Asset Tracking

Audit Management

Audit Trail

Authentication

Automated Scheduling

Automatic Backup

Automatic Patch Deployment

Automatic Scans

Availability Management

Availability Testing

Backup and Recovery

Baseline Manager

Billing & Invoicing

Capacity Management

Chat/Messaging

Client Portal

Collaboration Tools

Communication Management

Compliance Management

Compliance Tracking

Configurable Workflow

Configuration Management

Continuous Monitoring

Contract/License Management

CPU Monitoring

Credential Management

Customizable Branding

Customizable Dashboard

Customizable Fields

Customizable Reports

Customization

Dashboard

Dashboard Creation

Data Import/Export

Data Migration

Data Storage Management

Data Visualization

Deployment Management

Desktop Virtualization

Device Auto Discovery

Device Management

Diagnostic Tools

Disaster Recovery

Drag & Drop

Email Alerts

Email Monitoring

Endpoint Management

Endpoint Protection

Event Logs

Event Tracking

File Management

File Sharing

File Transfer

For MSPs

Help Desk Management

HIPAA Compliant

Incident Management

Inventory Management

IP Address Monitoring

Issue Auditing

Issue Management

Issue Tracking

IT Asset Management

IT Asset Tracking

IT Reporting

Knowledge Management

License Management

Live Chat

Mail Server Monitoring

Maintenance Management

Maintenance Scheduling

Mobile Access

Mobile Alerts

Mobile Device Management

Mobile Network Troubleshooting

Monitoring

Multi-Channel Communication

Multi-Device Support

Multiple Authentication Methods

Multiple Monitor Access

Multiple User Accounts

Multi-User Collaboration

Network Analysis

Network Monitoring

Network Resource Management

Network Security

Network Wide Management

Password Management

By industry, Pulseway reviewers are most commonly professionals in information technology and services (33%). The most frequent use case for Pulseway cited by reviewers is IT management (59% of reviewers).

Users and use cases

Most users consider Pulseway’s pricing affordable and competitive, and they appreciate the flexible options for small teams. Reviewers indicate that robust features come at a lower cost, though some users report add-ons and scaling can be expensive.

Value for money

Pulseway is an IT management tool offering key features such as patch management and remote access/control, among others.

Pulseway

Windows

Web-based

Linux

Android

iPad

iPhone

NinjaOne

N-central

Atera

Kaseya VSA

N-sight RMM

TeamViewer ONE

ConnectWise Automate

MSP360 Backup

ScreenConnect

LogMeIn Rescue

ConnectWise PSA

Monthly

Annual

3 Years

Recurring bugs and reliability concerns

Senior IT Technician

Another issue, we have a Bitdefender license for all our systems, currently have an issue where Pulseway does not correctly reflect that Bitdefender has been loaded on a system, but BitDefender does show that the system is running Bitdefender(Status:

42% of reviewers feel negative about Pulseway’s bugs and issues. Some users report experiencing problems with update processes, inaccurate status reporting, and occasional system errors that disrupt their workflows. Reviewers indicate that certain functionalities can be unreliable, such as update installations and integration with third-party tools, leading to difficulties in managing devices. They mention frustration with documentation gaps and slow or unhelpful support responses when troubleshooting issues. Users feel that these recurring bugs and reliability concerns can hinder their ability to efficiently maintain and monitor their systems.

Responsive and supportive account management

Communication with the account manager about new developments and putting in feature requests is streamlined and pleasant

Operations Manager

The product does what I expect, and the account managers are eager to help if I have questions.

92% of reviewers feel positive about Pulseway’s account manager support. Reviewers appreciate having dedicated account managers who are proactive, responsive, and attentive to their business needs. They indicate that regular communication and personalized assistance help them resolve issues quickly and stay informed about new developments. Users say account managers provide valuable guidance during setup and ongoing use, making the experience smoother and more tailored. They value the friendly and helpful approach, which fosters trust and ensures they feel supported throughout their engagement with Pulseway.

Comprehensive and evolving feature set

Chief Operations Officer

Its robust feature set covers all my needs without the need for constant oversight, which saves me a lot of time. Plus, the expert support available makes it easy to configure and optimize, ensuring that everything runs smoothly.

95% of reviewers feel positive about Pulseway’s features. Reviewers appreciate the platform’s extensive and regularly updated feature set, which they say covers a wide range of monitoring and automation needs. They indicate that frequent additions and improvements make their workflows more efficient and help them stay current with industry demands. Users mention that the integration of various modules and ease of use save them significant time, while the constant development ensures the product remains relevant. They value that Pulseway listens to user feedback and continues to enhance core functionalities important for their daily operations.

Help Desk Manager

We use all three of these systems daily, and the RMM mobile application helps us keep tabs on the systems when we are not in the office.

IT Specialist

The mobile app is for me its standout feature, allowing me to monitor and manage systems administratively from anywhere with just a few taps – super convenient for on-the-go tasks!

It comprehensive set of features, combined with their automation tools, enables each of my technicians to manage hundreds of devices instead dozens.

IT technician

My favourite thing is that I can control the servers from my phone and in case of any problem I am informed right away and I can sort everything out before the client even notices that there is a problem.

IT Manager

I can diagnose problems on the fly with Pulseway, I can remedy problems using Pulseway, and I have a number of Automations setup with help with my daily tasks.

Infra Service Delivery Manager

The platform offers comprehensive remote monitoring and management (RMM) tools, providing real-time insights into system performance, allowing for proactive issue resolution.

Pulseway has given us a really big boost to visibility and issues on our network as well as the power to control both Windows and 3rd party software issues.

IT Sysadmin

we can have control more granular on software updates, automate several tasks and also help end user fix their own problems without an external intervention.

Systems Administrator

This is a great product and has given me the ability to manage all of our IT infrastructure with a small number of staff members and still take care of everything we need to get done.

Director of Operations

The integration with Slack allows notifications to easily be sent to groups of people highlighting to us potential issues before they become more severe and cause downtime.

In fact this is the last change where the Pulseway app from the Microsoft store, so it stopped having some basic features like the ability to restart servers, install updates etc...

Systems Manager

The automation capabilities streamline updates and reduce manual intervention, making it a vital tool for keeping systems secure and compliant.

Senior Technician

Some key touches can be added a bit quicker I think especially based on request for changes, some are flagged as urgent and confirmed by multiple users, however the change never seems to be implemented, either due to lack of functionality or the urgency is undervalued.

Programmeur Jouabilité

Pulseway gave me a lot of control remotely, and being able to act on servers directly from the app was extremely helpful.

Data Manager and Software Developer

Automated scripts support distributing custom software components to any of our 10 robotic data collection systems.  

Currently, Pulseway only allows full screening of one remote session on the default monitor, which feels quite limiting.

Every time we tried to trade services, Pulseway only allowed it if it meant a higher monthly cost for us.

Pulseway allows us to easily manage our IT systems whether they are out on deployment or based in our office.

Software Developer

Automation rules take over a lot of the repetitive maintenance so I can stop firefighting.

IT Admin

Remote Control: The remote control feature is not as robust or seamless as some other tools designed specifically for remote desktop management.

I’m not as intuitive with setting up custom automation scripts, I often have to dedicate several attempts to get it right.

Integrated anti-virus Bitdefender need to be fully manageable in pulseway instead of logon to Bitdefender GravityZone itself.

IT Administrator

It helps me verify users information, I can remote into systems, I can patch systems.

The system runs reliably in the background, allowing businesses to focus on their core operations without the need for constant supervision.

The ability to remote into multiple devices and full screen each one across different monitors is also something I miss dearly.

However, not including graphical remote desktop control for Linux systems is a huge missed opportunity that I hope the Pulseway RMM team will remedy.  

From my calls with my Pulseway manager and the various webinars explaining different integrations and features, I'm happy to see that the Pulseway team continues to innovate and improve the platform.

Director

A little costly, be good if some modules could be removed, ie many server related modules are not needed with the growing use of cloud apps.

it's has a lot of functions (patch update management, software deploy, third party patch, anti-virus deployment ) and easy to navigate.

Designed to operate seamlessly once configured, it provides an impressive "set it and forget it" approach to managing IT infrastructure.

It integration with other tools makes Pulseway my 1 stop shop for all my MSP requirements.

The UI and mobile support are fantastic. When I first started, I had trouble getting quotes from other RMMs because of my low user count.

Being entirely cloud-based there's a bit of a limit to the usefulness of it as an internal diagnostic tool. Although it's capable of a huge amount it's no help when the internet goes out for example.

IT Manager CISO

Additionally, the marketing team appears disconnected from the client database, leading to emails promoting products that I have already subscribed to.

Managing servers and desktops remotely allows me to deliver an excellent end-user experience from our IT team.

I'm so pleased with Pulseway, I have begun overhauling my software stack to include additional products from the Pulseway family (eg I've migrated from Veeam/Backup Exec to Unitrends Appliances.

This remote monitoring and management (RMM) solution stands out as a highly robust and efficient tool for IT professionals.

Pulseway vs SmartDeploy Comparison (2026)

Pulseway

SmartDeploy

Overview

Video & Screenshots

Pricing

User reviews

Key features

Integrations

Alternatives