Atera vs Microsoft Configuration Manager comparison

Why PeerSpot?

Atera and Microsoft are both solutions in the Patch Management category. Atera is ranked #13 with an average rating of 9.7, while Microsoft is ranked #2 with an average rating of 8.2. Atera holds a 3.1% mindshare in PM, compared to Microsoft’s 6.3% mindshare. Additionally, 93% of Atera users are willing to recommend the solution, compared to 91% of Microsoft users who would recommend it.

Atera

Read 16 Atera reviews

8,934 Views
2,412 Comparison Views

93% willing to recommend

Microsoft Configuration Man...

Read 86 Microsoft Configuration Manager reviews

18,118 Views
5,617 Comparison Views

91% willing to recommend

Atera

Microsoft Configuration Man...

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Executive SummaryUpdated on Feb 22, 2026

Microsoft Configuration Manager and Atera compete in the IT management category, with Microsoft leaning towards enterprise solutions while Atera favors MSPs due to its flexibility. Based on the data, Microsoft Configuration Manager seems more robust for enterprise-scale deployments, but Atera is advantageous for smaller teams needing straightforward solutions.

Features: Microsoft Configuration Manager offers software and OS deployment, patch management, compliance reporting, inventory management, and integration with other Microsoft products. Atera provides RMM capabilities, automation, remote access, and monitoring, valuable for managing IT environments efficiently.

Room for Improvement: Microsoft Configuration Manager is criticized for its complexity and high resource usage, with calls for better integration and support for non-Microsoft products. Users suggest Atera improve mobile device management, streamline network dependency, and add more customization options in automation and interface designs.

Ease of Deployment and Customer Service: Microsoft Configuration Manager requires on-premises deployment and offers tiered support, often escalating issues. Atera supports both on-premises and cloud deployments, with users appreciating its straightforward customer service and extensive online documentation.

Pricing and ROI: Microsoft Configuration Manager is costly, especially at scale, but promises ROI through its extensive features. Atera is preferred for its predictable pricing with unlimited endpoints per technician, providing a cost-effective IT management solution for growing businesses.

To learn more, read our detailed Atera vs. Microsoft Configuration Manager Report (Updated: September 2026).

Buyer's Guide

Atera vs. Microsoft Configuration Manager

September 2026

Download the complete report

Helped 921,148 peers since 2012

Review summaries and opinions

We asked business professionals to review the solutions they use. Here are some excerpts of what they said:

ROI

Sentiment score

6.8

Atera boosts client satisfaction and reduces costs by automating tasks, extending hardware lifespan, and offering integrated features.

Sentiment score

2.9

Microsoft Configuration Manager enhances ROI and productivity with efficient software management, despite challenges in Mac support.

No quotes available

For more quotes and insights, download the Atera report

With Microsoft Configuration Manager, these processes are automated and managed, reducing the time required by roughly 40 to 50 percent.

Narendar S

Senior System Engineer at a tech services company with 10,001+ employees

For more quotes and insights, download the Microsoft Configuration Manager report

Customer Service

Sentiment score

7.8

Atera's customer service is praised for its responsiveness, technical expertise, reliability, and effective multi-factor authentication and updates.

Sentiment score

5.9

Microsoft Configuration Manager support is effective but varies; some prefer premium options or using Microsoft's documentation for solutions.

No quotes available

For more quotes and insights, download the Atera report

Their response time and first-level support quality need improvement.

Jakub J

Systems Architect at a computer software company with 1,001-5,000 employees

For technical support from Microsoft, I would rate them a nine.

JunedBedrekar

Expert at a tech vendor with 10,001+ employees

For more quotes and insights, download the Microsoft Configuration Manager report

Scalability Issues

Sentiment score

7.3

Atera excels in scalability and versatility, managing endpoints efficiently, but users seek enhancements in ticketing and functionality.

Sentiment score

7.7

Microsoft Configuration Manager is scalable, integrates with Intune, but can be costly compared to other solutions, effective for many.

No quotes available

For more quotes and insights, download the Atera report

In our organization, which has grown by adding more endpoints, remote users, and hybrid devices, Microsoft Configuration Manager has managed to handle the increased workload without requiring major changes on our side.

Narendar S

Senior System Engineer at a tech services company with 10,001+ employees

The product is suitable for our size, handling 800 devices.

MikeNelson2

IT Infrastructure Coordinator at NSW Government

For more quotes and insights, download the Microsoft Configuration Manager report

Stability Issues

Sentiment score

8.1

Atera offers stable, reliable performance with minimal downtime, regular updates, and rare minor issues, enhancing user satisfaction.

Sentiment score

6.5

Microsoft Configuration Manager is highly stable, reliable, and well-rated by users when infrastructure is properly managed and updated.

No quotes available

For more quotes and insights, download the Atera report

There were misconfigurations by our team rather than issues with the product itself.

MikeNelson2

IT Infrastructure Coordinator at NSW Government

For more quotes and insights, download the Microsoft Configuration Manager report

Room For Improvement

Users seek improved access management, enhanced mobility, integration, customization, better controls, and scalability in Atera's platform features.

Enhancements in UI, performance, cloud integration, automation, and non-Windows support could significantly improve Microsoft Configuration Manager.

Some of the more advanced reports are locked behind higher pricing tiers, which feels restrictive.

Ning Chane

IT Manager at Telstra

For more quotes and insights, download the Atera report

A better command line interface for Microsoft Configuration Manager would be an additional feature I would to see in the future to make it closer to a perfect score.

Jakub J

Systems Architect at a computer software company with 1,001-5,000 employees

Overall, Microsoft Configuration Manager is a powerful and reliable platform.

Narendar S

Senior System Engineer at a tech services company with 10,001+ employees

I can suggest that Microsoft Configuration Manager should get the Autopilot feature because Autopilot is the main part of Intune, and nowadays everybody is using Autopilot.

JunedBedrekar

Expert at a tech vendor with 10,001+ employees

For more quotes and insights, download the Microsoft Configuration Manager report

Setup Cost

Atera's per-technician pricing allows unlimited devices, offering cost-effective scalability and predictability, ideal for enterprise users.

Microsoft Configuration Manager offers integrated solutions with flexible pricing, justifying costs through automation and management features, enhancing ROI.

No quotes available

For more quotes and insights, download the Atera report

The cost is reasonable considering the enterprise-level features, but it scales depending on the number of managed devices and the inclusion of Intune for co-management.

Narendar S

Senior System Engineer at a tech services company with 10,001+ employees

The setup cost is considered sufficient.

MikeNelson2

IT Infrastructure Coordinator at NSW Government

The pricing for Microsoft Configuration Manager is okay for me.

JunedBedrekar

Expert at a tech vendor with 10,001+ employees

For more quotes and insights, download the Microsoft Configuration Manager report

Valuable Features

Atera offers powerful RMM, automation, and remote access features, with unlimited endpoints and AI Copilot for efficient IT management.

Microsoft Configuration Manager streamlines deployment and management with automation, integration, inventory, and security, reducing manual effort and ensuring consistency.

Unlimited endpoints for a flat monthly fee per tech is a model that makes sense for us, since we are not paying more every time we add a new endpoint.

Ning Chane

IT Manager at Telstra

Atera's automation capabilities stand out because we can create new users and customers efficiently.

Avi Vaserman

Owner at Sytex Ltd.

For more quotes and insights, download the Atera report

With Microsoft Configuration Manager, these tasks are automated and managed, allowing deployments to complete in hours rather than days.

Narendar S

Senior System Engineer at a tech services company with 10,001+ employees

If I want to get a fetch report for anything, such as hardware-related issues or group policy-related issues, I need to fetch the report by using SCCM's scripting language and remediation part.

JunedBedrekar

Expert at a tech vendor with 10,001+ employees

The most valuable features I find in Microsoft Configuration Manager are mostly patching, deploying software, deploying images, and running custom scripts.

Jakub J

Systems Architect at a computer software company with 1,001-5,000 employees

For more quotes and insights, download the Microsoft Configuration Manager report

Categories and Ranking

Atera

Ranking in Patch Management

13th

Average Rating

9.4

Reviews Sentiment

7.5

Number of Reviews

Ranking in other categories

Help Desk Software (15th), Network Monitoring Software (39th), IT Infrastructure Monitoring (45th), IT Service Management (ITSM) (13th), Remote Monitoring and Management (RMM) (6th), AIOps (24th), Agentic Automation (13th), Autonomous Endpoint Management (5th)

Microsoft Configuration Man...

Ranking in Patch Management

2nd

Average Rating

8.2

Reviews Sentiment

6.6

Number of Reviews

Ranking in other categories

Software Distribution (2nd), Server Monitoring (5th), Configuration Management (4th)

Mindshare comparison

As of November 2026, in the Patch Management category, the mindshare of Atera is 3.1%, down from 4.2% compared to the previous year. The mindshare of Microsoft Configuration Manager is 6.3%, down from 10.0% compared to the previous year. It is calculated based on PeerSpot user engagement data.

Patch Management Mindshare Distribution
Product	Mindshare (%)
Microsoft Configuration Manager	6.3%
Atera	3.1%
Other	90.6%

Patch Management

Featured Reviews

Ning Chane

IT Manager at Telstra

Remote monitoring has streamlined endpoint management and consistently reduced ticket resolution time

The best features Atera offers include the per-technician pricing, which is honestly one of the biggest things. Unlimited endpoints for a flat monthly fee per tech is a model that makes sense for us, since we are not paying more every time we add a new endpoint. The AI Copilot feature has been a nice addition that helps our techs summarize tickets and suggest fixes faster, which has cut our resolution times noticeably. The AI Copilot feature has specifically helped my team because the automation handles a lot of the routine work, such as patch deployments, maintenance tasks, and monitoring alerts. Atera has positively impacted my organization by transforming how our team operates day-to-day, and the pricing model is hard to beat. The outcomes or metrics showing how Atera has made a positive impact include the 30% reduction in ticket resolution time I mentioned earlier.

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Narendar S

Senior System Engineer at a tech services company with 10,001+ employees

Centralized endpoint control has streamlined deployments and improved security compliance

In my experience, the best features of Microsoft Configuration Manager are software deployments and updates, OSD, hardware and software inventory, compliance and configuration baseline, reporting and monitoring, and integration with Intune hybrid management. These features make endpoint management efficient and scalable. The feature I rely on the most day-to-day is software deployment and patch management. It keeps endpoints updated and secure with minimal manual effort. Inventory and compliance monitoring are also important, but daily deployments are critical. Microsoft Configuration Manager has had a significant positive impact on our organization in several ways: improved efficiency, enhanced security and compliance, standardization, scalability, and visibility reporting. Overall, Microsoft Configuration Manager has helped us save time, reduce risk, improve operational efficiency, and maintain strong control over our endpoints. One of the biggest impacts Microsoft Configuration Manager has had on efficiency is the reduced manual work for software deployment and patching. For example, deploying a new application or security updates to hundreds or thousands of devices previously required several days of manual effort, including running scripts, checking devices individually, and validating installation. With Microsoft Configuration Manager, these tasks are automated and managed, allowing deployments to complete in hours rather than days. We also have automated reporting for deployment success and compliance which saved the IT team significant time that used to be spent gathering and reconciling inventory data from multiple tools.

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Top Industries

By visitors reading reviews

Comms Service Provider

13%

Construction Company

10%

Educational Organization

Outsourcing Company

Financial Services Firm

12%

Outsourcing Company

Government

Manufacturing Company

Company Size

By reviewers

Large Enterprise

Midsize Enterprise

Small Business

By reviewers
Company Size	Count
Small Business	14
Large Enterprise	1

By reviewers
Company Size	Count
Small Business	20
Midsize Enterprise	13
Large Enterprise	69

Questions from the Community

What is your experience regarding pricing and costs for Atera?

The prices have increased over time. After expressing concerns about pricing to account managers, they offered a 30% discount option for annual commitments. The main benefit we see with this produc...

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What needs improvement with Atera?

Reporting is probably the main frustration. Some of the more advanced reports are locked behind higher pricing tiers, which feels restrictive. Atera can be improved in that the remote access can al...

See all answers

What is your primary use case for Atera?

My main use case for Atera is remote monitoring and management across all our endpoints. We have devices spread across multiple sites, so having one platform where we can see everything, push patch...

See all answers

How does Ansible compare to Microsoft Endpoint Configuration Manager (SCCM)?

Microsoft Endpoint Configuration Manager takes knowledge and research to properly configure. The length of time that the set up will take depends on the kind of technical architecture that your org...

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How to choose between ManageEngine Desktop Central and Microsoft Endpoint Configuration Manager (formerly SCCM)?

ManageEngine Desktop Central is very easy to set up, is scalable, stable, and also has very good patch management. What I like most about ManageEngine is that I can log on to every PC very easily a...

See all answers

What is your experience regarding pricing and costs for SCCM?

The setup cost is considered sufficient. It is not significant enough for us to consider a change at the moment.

See all answers

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Product Reports

Buyer's Guide

Atera

November 2026

Download Atera product report

Buyer's Guide

Microsoft Configuration Manager

October 2026

Download Microsoft Configuration Manager product report

Also Known As

No data available

Microsoft Endpoint Configuration Manager, System Center Configuration Manager (SCCM ), Microsoft SMS

Overview

Atera provides advanced tools for remote monitoring, automation, and ticketing, offering an intuitive design and competitive pricing that supports managed service providers with monitoring, alerts, and system management.

Atera stands out with its automation, remote access, and smooth integration capabilities like PowerShell commands, TeamViewer, and Splashtop. Its monitoring and alert systems allow IT professionals to preemptively address issues, enhancing productivity with features such as a robust ticketing system, patch management, and scripting tools. Cross-platform compatibility and collaboration tools streamline IT operations. Despite its strengths, Atera requires enhancements in identity access management, chat features, mobile device management, third-party integrations, customizable reports, and more detailed role management for technicians. A renewed interface and improved network and cloud service monitoring are desired. Users also look for seamless management across diverse platforms, particularly under connectivity issues.

What are Atera's key features?

Automation: Streamlines processes with powerful automation capabilities.
Remote Access: Facilitates easy access to client machines for issue resolution.
Intuitive Interface: User-friendly design enhances efficiency.
Integration: Seamless TeamViewer and Splashtop integration.
Monitoring: Effective monitoring and alert systems preempt issues.
Ticketing System: Boosts productivity with efficient workflow management.
Patch Management: Ensures systems are always up-to-date.
Scripting: Powerful tools for automation and task execution.

What benefits and ROI should users consider?

Efficiency: Automation and scripting enhance task management.
Cost-effective: Combines robust features with competitive pricing.
Scalability: Cross-platform compatibility supports business growth.
Productivity: Monitoring and alerts optimize resource allocation.

Atera is widely used by managed service providers and IT support companies to enhance efficiency in industries such as manufacturing and construction. It provides remote monitoring, automation, and comprehensive IT management, ensuring seamless integration with different products and systems for broad site coverage. Businesses leverage Atera's RMM, PSA, ticketing, and IT automation features to improve operational efficiency and responsiveness.

Atera

Microsoft Configuration Manager offers efficient software deployment, OS updates, and inventory management. Integration with Intune enhances mobile device oversight and complements its powerful reporting and automation features, reducing manual tasks and improving scalability and control.

Microsoft Configuration Manager enables enterprises to manage patches, apps, and operating systems across devices through centralized and remote controls. It supports hybrid environments, automating tasks for productivity and security. While it manages large deployments robustly, improvements in third-party integration, interface usability, and cloud capabilities are needed. Expansion in Linux and mobile device management is important, along with enhanced reporting and automation ease. Faster deployment and responsive technical support are key considerations.

What are the standout features of Microsoft Configuration Manager?

Software Deployment: Streamlines distribution of applications and operating systems.
Patch Management: Ensures systems remain up-to-date with the latest security patches.
Integration with Intune: Facilitates comprehensive mobile device management.
Centralized Control: Provides remote management for widespread device oversight.
Comprehensive Reporting: Supplies detailed insights into IT environments.
Automation Capabilities: Reduces manual workload through task automation.

What benefits should users look for in reviews?

Ease of Configuration: Simplifies setup and operation.
Scalability: Adapts to growth and scale in large enterprises.
Seamless Integration: Works well with other Microsoft platforms.
Operational Efficiency: Increases effectiveness by automating routine tasks.

Technology companies use Microsoft Configuration Manager in sectors like healthcare, finance, and education for deploying essential applications and ensuring device compliance. These industries benefit from its ability to enforce security protocols and manage updates, contributing to robust operational infrastructure.

Microsoft

Sample Customers

MSPs, IT consultants, and IT departments worldwide trust and use Atera.

Bank Alfalah Ltd., Wªrth Handelsges.m.b.H, Dimension Data, Japan Business Systems, St. Lucie County Public Schools, MISC Berhad

Buyer's Guide

Atera vs. Microsoft Configuration Manager

September 2026

Free Report: Atera vs. Microsoft Configuration Manager

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