ManageEngine Desktop Central MSP [EOL] vs N-able N-central comparison

ManageEngine and N-able are both solutions in the Remote Monitoring and Management (RMM) category. Additionally, 100% of ManageEngine users are willing to recommend the solution, compared to 100% of N-able users who would recommend it.

ManageEngine Desktop Centra...

Read 7 ManageEngine Desktop Central MSP [EOL] reviews

100% willing to recommend

N-able N-central

Read 10 N-able N-central reviews

1,820 Views
1,529 Comparison Views

100% willing to recommend

ManageEngine Desktop Centra...

N-able N-central

Comparison Buyer's Guide

Download the report

Executive Summary

We performed a comparison between ManageEngine Desktop Central MSP [EOL] and N-able N-central based on real PeerSpot user reviews.

Find out what your peers are saying about NinjaOne, Kaseya, datto and others in Remote Monitoring and Management (RMM).

To learn more, read our detailed Remote Monitoring and Management (RMM) Report (Updated: January 2026).

Buyer's Guide

Remote Monitoring and Management (RMM)

January 2026

Download the complete report

Helped 881,733 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:

Categories and Ranking

ManageEngine Desktop Centra...

Average Rating

9.0

Reviews Sentiment

7.3

Number of Reviews

Ranking in other categories

No ranking in other categories

N-able N-central

Average Rating

8.6

Reviews Sentiment

6.2

Number of Reviews

Ranking in other categories

Remote Monitoring and Management (RMM) (4th)

Featured Reviews

Donathon Ong

Head of Infrastructure at a financial services firm with 11-50 employees

Responsive support, a straightforward setup, and great endpoint management

There have been a few bugs. I would hope there would be a direct integration to the various cloud solutions, like Intune. Right now, ManageEngine is a separate solution. It doesn't integrate with Intune, AirWatch, or MobileIron in the cloud. It doesn't have this integration with the respective cloud solutions, and if it could have this kind of integration, it would be better. I wouldn't deploy ManageEngine as a standalone since it works better as a compliment rather than an entire solution.

Read full review

Dimitri V G

Team Manager Fiber & Backhaul Solutions Center & South at Telenet BVBA

Maximizing operational efficiency with comprehensive monitoring and automation capabilities

There are areas in N-able N-central that could be improved. We always started it from the basic purpose of monitoring hardware, where vendors such as HP and Dell try to sell their own services which monitor and provide a dashboard, which is their logic. They want to make their own recurring revenue on that. We notice that SNMP has had a good run and still sometimes is used, but it's becoming an issue to maintain the same capabilities because HP makes it unreliable or even removes certain features that we used to be able to validate redundant array of independent disks. Our service that has been running for 15-20 years suddenly is not working anymore because HP decided in generation 10 plus and above, or generation 10 hardware in servers, storage controllers particularly, they just didn't put the SNMP OIDs anymore. We are now following that market change or business change in hardware monitoring and the future is Redfish, REST API, IPMI type of monitoring with the REST API and Redfish being most common. We have to do the effort ourselves because Enable is not really strategically going there because I assume there's not much money to make to improve that or to convince customers to start with their product. That issue could be better if they would be more prepared for that change and give us customers more tools, preconfigured, pre-available custom services for Redfish, REST API, where we just have to put a few items username, password and address and some dots and commas, but that we don't have to reinvent the wheel, which we are doing at the moment. We are using HP iLO commandlets and REST APIs for Aruba. Dell is making it very hard to monitor their hardware. If it has an iDRAC, I can manage it and monitor it, but if it's something that's less common or due to the portfolio, they have done a good job at not exposing information about health. We would just want to have a red or a green dot that indicates if this device is healthy or not healthy. Since nobody's investing in SNMP because it's a liability in security, they should invest in making a REST API and preferably also do the work on making it easy to pull or push information. That's something that the industry in general and Enable in particular could do a significant job to help us monitor.

Read full review

Quotes from Members

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

Pros

"The endpoint management is great."

"The interface is intuitive, easy to use, and has a low learning curve."

"Easy to manage and it looks good."

"The solution is easy to understand. For example, when you remoting to the user's system, you don't have that option to only log in. On this product, you are connecting to the user's computer, it prompts you for what you want to do. You can select that you want to assist the user. The user on the other side will receive a prompt stating that there is someone trying to connect to your system, they can accept or decline the connection. Overall, the solution is easy to connect to the user's system."

"ManageEngine Desktop Central MSP has different features and it uses one agent to execute the features of the application. In this case, the remote control, distribution software, deployment, patch management, and configuration in different systems. ManageEngine Desktop Central MSP has multi-platforms. They have recently implemented new features, such as endpoint security that incorporates vulnerability management and browser security."

"The most valuable feature was the patching system to apply Windows or other programs and the ability to install operating systems in computers using the network. Additionally, it is easy to use."

"The features that I have found most valuable are the threats and patches element of it. We have done quite a lot of testing compared to other vendors with identifying the vulnerabilities. This means a lot more accuracy in terms of the patches and making sure it's all up to date."

"N-able N-central is very scalable."

"It's a very robust product. They're continuing to invest and put new enhancements into the product. They're very open about what their roadmap is, which is very good for us because then as a business, we can plan."

"N-able N-central has numerous good features. The asset tracking capability is powerful, allowing you to track hardware and software on devices connected to your network. The remote control is smooth, securely enabling remote access to servers and routers. It can be integrated with ticketing systems and other tools like CrowdStrike and N-able EDR for comprehensive network monitoring and security. The automation feature is handy, allowing you to schedule tasks, respond to system triggers, and automate problem resolution, such as handling disk space issues automatically."

"The solution's service is good."

"The support is at a good level. So normally, we can always get to a solution when we are stuck with some monitoring problems that we encounter."

"The transition to N-able N-central was very smooth; we were confident that our migration would not affect any operations, and it was easy to migrate our clients into the new solutions."

"The most helpful features of N-able N-central include providing a single pane of glass for many insights in an environment regarding their patching, their assets, their devices in general, and the active issues that they show."

"The most valuable features of N-central are its ease of deployment and ease of use."

More N-able N-central pros

Cons

"Although they say it is an enterprise solution, we don't have 24/seven human support. All we have is only 24/five support available from the vendor."

"I have found ManageEngine Desktop Central MSP has many different network issues. Additionally, they need to incorporate more features, they are lacking add-ons."

"When there is a new user at a store, for example, you have to create it in the ManageEngine Desktop Central MSP AD but the process could be better. They call us with the user's information but if it was possible for them to populate the information when they log the user on IM, and when clicking on ADManager in the system, the information could populate there. We would then only have to add a little more information which would save time."

"The partnership models and subscriptions can be improved, as regional master resellers sometimes hog the space."

"Stability is sometimes negatively affected by updates."

"Since this is an on-premise solution we had to update it a couple of times, and because we needed to use a command line to the server, it was not very easy, at least at that time to update the solution. The cloud version of this solution does not have this problem, but on the premise version, it was fairly cumbersome to apply to the Desktop Central server. This process could be made easier. This was the only issue I found with my colleague."

"Right now, ManageEngine is a separate solution. It doesn't integrate with Intune, AirWatch, or MobileIron in the cloud."

"There is room for improvement in the development of custom monitoring services."

"The industry has moved towards Redfish for out-of-band and in-band monitoring, yet N-able N-central still relies on older protocols like SNMP."

"The solution's overall integration should be improved."

"We have to do the effort ourselves because Enable is not really strategically going there because I assume there's not much money to make to improve that or to convince customers to start with their product."

"It was previously expensive and tedious to manage different licenses."

"N-able N-central could improve the remote access, my technicians have complained about it. They have used other free tools instead to compensate, such as TeamViewer. Additionally, when using remote access on the web, it is lacking reports."

"At this moment, we encounter stability issues with N-able N-central from time to time."

"N-central has limited mobile device management (MDM) support, specifically for Android devices. This limitation affected a deal with a client who had numerous Android devices to manage. It would be beneficial if N-central could expand its MDM support to include Android devices."

More N-able N-central cons

Pricing and Cost Advice

"This product is very cheap compared to others."

"This product has an easy setup, good support, and a good price."

"ManageEngine Desktop Central MSP is a less expensive solution than competitors in Latin America."

"When we sold the solution to one customer, we found out the customer found out that one of their requirements was not being solved because the license only applies to five computers. We all thought at the time the current license that the customer bought covers the 600 computers because of this problem, the license model could be explained better and could be further improved."

"The pricing and licensing are average, almost six out of ten."

"N-able N-central is not an expensive solution."

See which vendors are best for you

Use our free recommendation engine to learn which Remote Monitoring and Management (RMM) solutions are best for your needs.

See recommendations

881,733 professionals have used our research since 2012.

Top Industries

By visitors reading reviews

No data available

Comms Service Provider

14%

Computer Software Company

10%

Outsourcing Company

Performing Arts

Company Size

By reviewers

Large Enterprise

Midsize Enterprise

Small Business

By reviewers
Company Size	Count
Small Business	5
Large Enterprise	2

By reviewers
Company Size	Count
Small Business	8
Midsize Enterprise	2
Large Enterprise	1

Questions from the Community

Ask a question

Earn 20 points

What needs improvement with N-able N-central?

The MSP part of N-able N-central has evolved over the years. They have been trying to move from professional or network server and desktop licensing to make it more comprehensive. With professional...

See all answers

What is your primary use case for N-able N-central?

We have been dealing with Enable EDR and N-able N-central, which is a management center. It's the NOC solution that we are currently running our asset management on. We are managing tasks in that e...

See all answers

What advice do you have for others considering N-able N-central?

There's a new node for N-able N-central which they have addressed. Our outstanding items include reviewing our pricing and partnership level, which can provide additional benefits when we exceed 10...

See all answers

Comparisons

No data available

Kaseya VSA vs N-able N-central

Compared 24% of the time

NinjaOne vs N-able N-central

Compared 20% of the time

Datto Remote Monitoring and Management vs N-able N-central

Compared 13% of the time

Atera vs N-able N-central

Compared 10% of the time

ManageEngine Endpoint Central vs N-able N-central

Compared 6% of the time

More N-able N-central Competitors

Product Reports

Buyer's Guide

ManageEngine Desktop Central MSP [EOL]

January 2026

ManageEngine Desktop Central MSP [EOL] report

Download ManageEngine Desktop Central MSP [EOL] product report

Buyer's Guide

N-able N-central

January 2026

Download N-able N-central product report

Also Known As

Desktop Central MSP

SolarWinds N-central, SolarWinds MSP N-central

Overview

Desktop Central MSP is an integrated Desktop and Mobile Device Management software that helps managed service providers to efficiently manage their customers' desktops, servers, laptops and mobile devices from a central point. It is suitable for small, medium as well as large MSPs.

ManageEngine

N-able N-central is an all-encompassing IT management platform geared towards efficient network oversight. It offers comprehensive tools for monitoring and automation, which are crucial for managed services providers managing complex network environments.

N-able N-central provides solutions tailored to IT management, offering remote connectivity, asset tracking, and integration with systems like CrowdStrike. Its single-pane interface supports extensive device monitoring, script execution, and automation for task scheduling. The platform emphasizes robust patch management and reliable support, making it suitable for client integration and compliance audits. However, improvements are needed in remote access, application integration, and mobile device support. Users suggest investing in Redfish and REST API monitoring due to unreliable SNMP and an increased focus on AI to enhance maintenance recommendations.

What are the key features of N-able N-central?

Intuitive Remote Connectivity: Facilitates seamless access and management from anywhere.
Asset Tracking: Offers robust tracking of hardware and software assets within a network.
Automation: Streamlines task scheduling and resolution processes.
Patch Management: Ensures systems are updated and secure efficiently.
Integration Support: Seamlessly works with systems like CrowdStrike for enhanced security.

What benefits should users look for in reviews?

Comprehensive Monitoring: Helps manage diverse network environments with ease.
Scalability: Supports expansion in IT management capabilities as businesses grow.
Security Enhancement: Strengthens organizational security through integrated patch management and antivirus capabilities.
Efficient IT Management: Simplifies tasks through automation, reducing manual effort and increasing productivity.

N-able N-central is embraced in industries requiring robust IT management solutions, particularly managed services providers. It's widely used for monitoring systems, remote access, and asset tracking. Industries leverage its automation and integration capabilities to maintain system stability and security, addressing threats without heavy IT infrastructure on clients' premises.

N-able

Sample Customers

South Jersey Techies, DCI, Lumen 21, Provendo, Saga, Gyver, AcroTec

Premier Technology Solutions

Buyer's Guide

Remote Monitoring and Management (RMM)

January 2026

Download Free Report

Find out what your peers are saying about NinjaOne, Kaseya, datto and others in Remote Monitoring and Management (RMM). Updated: January 2026.

DOWNLOAD NOW

881,733 professionals have used our research since 2012.

See our list of best Remote Monitoring and Management (RMM) vendors.

We monitor all Remote Monitoring and Management (RMM) reviews to prevent fraudulent reviews and keep review quality high. We do not post reviews by company employees or direct competitors. We validate each review for authenticity via cross-reference with LinkedIn, and personal follow-up with the reviewer when necessary.