7 ServiceNow Alternatives and Competitors

Clock icon
3
min read time
Calender
July 11, 2024
Share via:

Access full report

Please enter a business email
Thank you!
The 2023 SaaS report has been sent to your email. Check your promotional or spam folder.
Oops! Something went wrong while submitting the form.

ServiceNow is a cloud-based platform with AI-driven tools that help automate workflows and boost efficiency across organizations. It is very popular since it offers overall service desk solutions and IT service management.

However, this popularity comes with many downsides, too. So, companies most often look for alternatives for many reasons.

One of the top reasons is budget constraints, which push them to look for more cost-effective options. Some businesses want more specialized features tailored to their needs.

Another concern that drives the search for alternatives is scalability since growing companies may outpace ServiceNow's capabilities. User-friendly interfaces and better customer support can be deciding factors.

If you are one of these leaders who are looking for the best alternative for ServiceNow, you are at the right place. We will explicitly help you make the best choice for your organization's needs.

TL;DR

  • ServiceNow is a popular cloud-based platform for automating workflows and IT service management. However, it has drawbacks, such as complex setup and high costs for smaller businesses.
  • Organizations often seek alternatives due to budget constraints, scalability issues, and the need for specialized features.
  • Top alternatives to ServiceNow include CloudEagle, BMC Helix, Freshdesk, Jira Service Management, SolarWinds Service Desk, Zendesk, and InvGate, each offering unique features for IT management.
  • CloudEagle stands out for its comprehensive SaaS management, helping businesses optimize software spending and streamline operations.
  • When choosing an alternative, consider your specific needs, budget, and team size, and utilize free trials or demos to test different tools.

What is ServiceNow?

ServiceNow is a cloud-based platform that helps streamline work processes for large organizations.

They focus on IT service and operations management, but their capabilities extend beyond these areas.

You can handle various functions with ServiceNow, including SaaS license management, asset management, risk and compliance management, etc.

Their core value proposition lies in providing a single, unified platform for all these functions. This integration allows you to break down silos between departments to ensure smoother communication and more efficient operations across your entire organization.

One of ServiceNow's key strengths is its intelligent, AI-driven approach to process automation.

The platform learns from your data and user interactions and then continuously improves its performance, offering insights to help you make better decisions.

Main features of ServiceNow

Below are the critical features of ServiceNow:

  • IT service management (ITSM): This feature helps you manage IT services like assets more effectively to ensure quick resolution of tech issues.
  • IT operations management (ITOM): With ITOM, you can oversee and optimize your IT infrastructure (like servers and apps) to keep everything running smoothly.
  • Automation engine: This tool allows you to automate workflows and processes, freeing time for more critical work.
  • Strategic portfolio management (SPM): SPM helps manage your SaaS portfolio to ensure you use resources wisely.
  • HR service delivery: This feature helps streamline HR processes like onboarding and offboarding, making life easier for HR teams and employees.
  • Governance, risk, and compliance (GRC): GRC tools help you manage risks and comply with regulations.

Cons of ServiceNow That Often Make People Look for Alternatives

Even with all its benefits, ServiceNow has some drawbacks that often make people consider alternatives:

  • Complex setup: If you're new to such platforms, you may find ServiceNow challenging to set up and use.
  • Enterprise focus: It's primarily designed for large companies, which might not suit smaller businesses, especially financially.
  • Customer support issues: Due to high demand, you might experience delays in getting help when you need it.
  • Slow performance: Some users report that the platform can sometimes be slow to load.
  • Limited search capabilities: You might struggle to find specific information quickly due to limited search and filtering options.

Top 7 ServiceNow Alternatives and Competitors

Below are the main alternatives and competitors of ServiceNow:

1. CloudEagle

CloudEagle is a SaaS management and procurement platform. It stands out as a top ServiceNow alternative because it offers an all-in-one platform that caters to businesses of all sizes.

As stated, ServiceNow’s primary targets are large enterprises. However, CloudEagle is suitable for startups, medium-sized companies, and established companies. This versatility makes it an attractive option if you're looking for a more flexible and scalable solution.

CloudEagle’s focus is to help you discover, optimize, govern, and renew SaaS in one platform. Workflows help automate complicated, repetitive tasks, and SaaS buying services are available to assist in negotiation.

Since it caters to businesses of all sizes, you won't outgrow the platform as your company expands. The platform has many features that work together to streamline your software management processes and save you time and money.

Key Features

Application discovery: CloudEagle gives you a clear view of all your SaaS applications in one place. With over 500 integrations, including browser extensions, SSO, HRIS, and finance tools, it provides detailed insights into license usage, spending, and vendor data.

The platform's real-time tracking provides up-to-date information about your SaaS stack. It continuously monitors application usage, allowing you to identify underutilized licenses and optimize your spending.

A shadow IT detection feature also helps identify unsanctioned apps accessed through SSO. It alerts you to potential security risks and lets you control your SaaS stack.

CloudEagle provides granular usage analytics and spend visibility across all departments. This enables you to make informed decisions about your SaaS investments.

License management: You can easily monitor and control software licenses across your organization. This feature helps prevent overspending on unused licenses and ensures compliance with licensing agreements.

CloudEagle's license reclamation workflows help automate identifying and reclaiming underutilized licenses, saving you time and money. Instead of manually tracking usage and deprovisioning users, CloudEagle does the heavy lifting for you.

Image of CloudEagle license management module

You can easily set up auto-deprovisioning rules based on usage thresholds, and the system will automatically flag low-usage applications. This means you'll quickly spot opportunities to reclaim and reassign licenses to active users.

Asset management: Keep tabs on all your SaaS assets, from software license contracts to renewal agreements. This comprehensive oversight helps you make informed decisions about resource allocation and upgrades.

Contract management: CloudEagle helps you stay on top of all your contracts, whether SaaS or vendor contracts, to ensure you never miss an important deadline.

It centralizes all your contracts, eliminating the chaos of scattered documents in emails and shared folders.

Image of CloudEagle's contract management module

The standout feature is its AI-powered metadata extraction, which automatically pulls vital information from your contracts. This means you don't have to spend hours manually inputting data.

With easy-to-use filters, you can quickly find the contracts you need during negotiations or audits. CloudEagle transforms contract management from a tedious task into a streamlined, efficient process.

Spend management: Get a grip on your software expenses with detailed insights into your SaaS spending. This feature helps you identify areas where you can cut costs without sacrificing productivity.

CloudEagle helps optimize costs through contract management, optimizing low-usage apps, eliminating duplicate apps, managing licenses, etc.

The platform also sends timely reminders for upcoming renewals, ensuring you never miss an opportunity to renegotiate or cancel unnecessary subscriptions.

The case of Armory is a good example. As a CloudEagle client, they wanted to save money on high-spend vendors and rightsize their licenses.

Using CloudEagle's usage data and benchmarking insights, they renegotiated with vendors like Salesforce and New Relic, securing significant cost reductions.

The platform's renewal calendar triggered workflows 90 days in advance, giving Armory ample time to prepare for each negotiation.

So, with CloudEagle, you'll reduce costs, eliminate redundant subscriptions, and ensure you're getting the best value from your software agreements.

Renewal management: CloudEagle's renewal management feature keeps you ahead of contract auto-renewals. It sends reminders 30, 60, and 90 days in advance, giving you time to analyze usage, verify contracts, and plan negotiations.

If no action is taken, the system escalates it to various stakeholders until action is taken. It allows you to set auto-triggers and renewal opt-out dates so you can always stay ahead of renewals. You can manage renewals directly through Slack notifications.

Slack integration: CloudEagle's Slack integration helps streamline your SaaS management directly within your team's communication hub.

You can handle procurement, app access requests, and renewals without leaving Slack. Users raise requests, stakeholders receive notifications, and approvals happen instantly.

You can create private Slack channels for each request or renewal, fostering collaboration and quick decision-making.

Procurement workflows: Procurement workflows help streamline your purchasing process. You can create custom no-code workflows for various needs, from purchase requests to contract signatures.

The platform integrates with Slack for quick approvals and offers customizable request forms. Best of all, it keeps all stakeholders informed automatically, eliminating endless follow-up emails and ensuring transparency throughout the procurement process.

Here's Eric Silver, AVP, Head of Procurement at RingCentral shares his success story of how CloudEagle helped them acheive 3x ROI.

Pros

  • Plans for startups and enterprises: Unlike ServiceNow, which mainly caters to large organizations, CloudEagle offers plans suitable for businesses of all sizes. This means you can start with CloudEagle as a small company and stick with it as you grow.
  • Ease of use: CloudEagle's user-friendly interface simplifies SaaS management. Thanks to its intuitive dashboard, automated workflows, and easy-to-use features, you'll navigate the platform effortlessly. Straightforward learning curve.
  • Extensive SaaS application catalog: CloudEagle has a vast SaaS applications catalog. This database makes it easier for you to discover, compare, and manage software options for your business needs.

Pricing

  • Starter - $2000/month
  • Growth - $3000/month
  • Enterprise - $4000/month

Rating

G2: 4.7/5

2. BMC Helix

Image of BMC Helix

BMC Helix has a robust suite of cloud-based tools to manage IT services across various platforms and devices. This alternative shines since it provides smart, efficient, and cost-effective solutions for businesses of all sizes.

With BMC Helix, you'll experience streamlined IT operations through cognitive automation, which means the system learns and improves over time.

Key Features

  • Asset management: Keep track of all your IT assets effortlessly.
  • IT service management (ITSM): Streamline your IT processes for better efficiency.
  • SLA management: Easily monitor and meet your service level agreements.

Pros

  • It has a cognitive automation feature to help transform user experience.
  • There is centralized management across multi-cloud environments.
  • Collaboration tools to help resolve issues quickly.

Pricing

Tailored pricing.

Rating

G2: 3.7/5

3. Freshdesk

Freshdesk dashboard image

Freshdesk is a user-friendly alternative to ServiceNow that offers cloud-based customer support software that streamlines your help desk operations.

This platform empowers you with the tools you need to handle customer queries more efficiently through smart automation.

With Freshdesk, you'll enjoy a simpler interface than ServiceNow while still getting great features.

The mobile app allows you to manage support on the go, and robust security measures keep your data safe.

Key Features

  • SLA management: Easily track and meet your service level agreements.
  • Onboarding and offboarding: Smoothly manage employee transitions.
  • AI chatbots: Automate responses to common queries.

Pros

  • It is easy to use.
  • Has a mobile app.
  • It is secure.

Pricing

  • Free - $0
  • Growth - $15
  • Pro - $49
  • Enterprise - $79

Rating

G2: 4.4/5

4. Jira Service Management

Image of Jira dashboard

Jira Service Management offers comprehensive tools to handle different IT processes. This platform excels in managing incidents, requests, changes, problems, releases, and knowledge all in one place.

With Jira, you'll enjoy better visibility of your IT assets and smoother change processes. Moreover, you can quickly update inventory statuses, making it easier to track assets.

Key Features

  • Asset management: Track and manage all your IT assets efficiently.
  • Change management: Handle onboarding, offboarding, provisioning, and de-provisioning seamlessly.
  • Configuration management: Keep your IT configurations organized and up-to-date.
  • SLA metrics management: Monitor and meet your service level agreements quickly.

Pros:

  • It keeps track of all of your inventory.
  • It is easy to update the status of items in inventory.

Pricing

  • Free - $0
  • Standard - $17.65
  • Premium - $44.27
  • Enterprise - Tailored

Rating

G2: 4.2/5

5. SolarWinds Service Desk

Solarwinds dashboard image

SolarWinds Service Desk is another cloud-based platform that leverages AI to boost your IT service management.

This platform helps you resolve issues faster and increase productivity right from the start. It's built on ITIL principles to give you a complete toolkit for managing incidents, problems, releases, and changes.

Key Features

  • Risk compliance: Stay on top of regulatory requirements easily.
  • Asset management: Track and manage all your IT assets efficiently.
  • Service level management: Monitor and meet your service commitments.

Pros

  • The platform integrates well with existing tools, and will help ease work.
  • Tracking asset warranty is simple.

Pricing

Tailored pricing.

Rating

G2: 4.4/5

6. Zendesk

Image of Zendesk dashboard

Zendesk offers a comprehensive customer service solution that grows with your business, making it a great ServiceNow alternative.

This all-in-one platform provides everything you need to manage customer interactions effectively.

With Zendesk, you'll be able to streamline your customer service operations better. The email integration allows you to manage queries directly from your inbox.

It also has omnichannel support to ensure your customers receive consistent help, whether they reach out via chat, phone, or social media.

Key Features

  • Ticketing system: Organize and track customer issues efficiently.
  • Self-service knowledge base: It is built to find answers on its own.
  • Analytics and dashboards: Gain insights to improve your service quality.

Pros

  • Integration with email.
  • Omnichannel experience.

Pricing

  • Team - $55
  • Growth - $89
  • Professional - $115
  • Enterprise - Tailored

Rating

G2: 4.3/5

7. InvGate

Invgate dashboard

InvGate is a modern alternative to ServiceNow, tailored for IT support teams of all sizes. This platform’s focus is on streamlining business processes and ensuring compliance with industry standards.

With InvGate, you'll enhance the capabilities of your IT support while ensuring compliance. The platform helps you manage risks, improve operations, and optimize resource usage, boosting your IT department's efficiency.

Key Features

  • Asset monitoring: Keep track of all your IT assets effortlessly.
  • ITIL: Align your IT services with best practices.
  • CMDB: Manage your configuration items effectively.
  • SLAs: Meet and exceed service level agreements.

Pros

  • Better risk management.
  • Improve governance and operations.
  • Monitor IT security compliance.
  • Optimize license usage: Avoid overspending on software licenses

Pricing

  • Starter - $17
  • Pro - $40
  • Enterprise - Tailored.

Rating

G2: 4.7/5

Conclusion

The best seven alternatives to ServiceNow are CloudEagle, BMC Helix, Freshdesk, Jira Service Management, SolarWinds Service Desk, Zendesk, and InvGate.

Each platform has unique features to streamline your IT, finance, and procurement processes.

If you want to choose a suitable alternative, consider your specific needs, budget, and team size. Look for solutions that offer scalability, ease of use, and robust features aligned with your goals.

Among these options, CloudEagle stands out for its comprehensive SaaS management and cost-saving capabilities.

Ready to optimize your software spending and streamline operations? Book a demo with CloudEagle today. Experience how it can transform your SaaS management and drive efficiency across your organization.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. How do I choose a ServiceNow alternative?

Focus on what your organization needs, your budget, and team size. Compare options based on features, scalability, and ease of use. Take advantage of free trials or demos to test tools firsthand before deciding.

2. How do ITSM tools improve the efficiency of an organization?

ITSM tools boost efficiency by automating tasks, streamlining workflows, and centralizing IT service management. They help track issues, manage assets, and ensure SLA compliance. These tools also provide insights for data-driven decision-making.

3. Can ITSM tools integrate with other business applications?

Yes, most modern ITSM tools integrate with various business applications. This enables seamless data flow between systems, enhancing productivity.

Common integrations include CRM software, project management tools, and communication platforms. Check specific integration options for compatibility.

Written by
Joel Platini
Content Writer and Marketer, CloudEagle
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Donec pellentesque scelerisque arcu sit amet hendrerit. Sed maximus, augue accumsan hendrerit euismod.

Discover how much you can save on SaaS

Calculate SaaS savings and start optimizing today!