Microsoft System Center Orchestrator vs ServiceNow Orchestration comparison

Microsoft and ServiceNow are both solutions in the Process Automation category. Microsoft is ranked #19 with an average rating of 9.0, while ServiceNow is ranked #12 with an average rating of 8.0. Microsoft holds a 1.1% mindshare in PA, compared to ServiceNow’s 3.7% mindshare. Additionally, 33% of Microsoft users are willing to recommend the solution, compared to 92% of ServiceNow users who would recommend it.

Microsoft System Center Orc...

Read 2 Microsoft System Center Orchestrator reviews

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987 Comparison Views

33% willing to recommend

ServiceNow Orchestration

Read 15 ServiceNow Orchestration reviews

1,896 Views
1,858 Comparison Views

92% willing to recommend

Microsoft System Center Orc...

ServiceNow Orchestration

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Executive SummaryUpdated on Dec 17, 2024

Microsoft System Center Orchestrator and ServiceNow Orchestration compete in the IT service automation category. ServiceNow Orchestration has the upper hand due to its extensive feature set despite higher costs.

Features: Microsoft System Center Orchestrator provides robust integration within Microsoft ecosystems, enabling efficient automation in Windows environments. It excels in cohesive task automation and workflow management. ServiceNow Orchestration, on the other hand, is a cloud-based platform offering broad automation capabilities with extensive application integration, making it appealing for IT and business process automation. Its main advantage is the superior flexibility and wider range of features compared to SCO's integration strengths.

Ease of Deployment and Customer Service: Microsoft System Center Orchestrator may require a complex setup, especially in non-Microsoft environments, but is supported strongly for such deployments. ServiceNow Orchestration's cloud-based deployment simplifies implementation across various IT ecosystems, with excellent service ensuring smooth transitions and operations. The key difference lies in ServiceNow's ease of deployment and versatile support versus SCO's focus on existing infrastructure.

Pricing and ROI: Microsoft System Center Orchestrator generally entails a lower initial setup cost, suited for cost-sensitive organizations due to its competitive pricing aligned with Microsoft licensing. ServiceNow Orchestration, with a higher setup cost, promises a more compelling ROI for businesses needing comprehensive automation tools to boost operational efficiencies. The distinction is between SCO's cost-effectiveness and ServiceNow's higher returns through extensive capabilities.

To learn more, read our detailed Microsoft System Center Orchestrator vs. ServiceNow Orchestration Report (Updated: September 2025).

Buyer's Guide

Microsoft System Center Orchestrator vs. ServiceNow Orchestration

September 2025

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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

Microsoft System Center Orc...

Ranking in Process Automation

19th

Average Rating

7.6

Reviews Sentiment

6.1

Number of Reviews

Ranking in other categories

No ranking in other categories

ServiceNow Orchestration

Ranking in Process Automation

12th

Average Rating

8.0

Reviews Sentiment

6.9

Number of Reviews

Ranking in other categories

No ranking in other categories

Mindshare comparison

As of October 2025, in the Process Automation category, the mindshare of Microsoft System Center Orchestrator is 1.1%, up from 0.9% compared to the previous year. The mindshare of ServiceNow Orchestration is 3.7%, down from 4.5% compared to the previous year. It is calculated based on PeerSpot user engagement data.

Process Automation Market Share Distribution
Product	Market Share (%)
ServiceNow Orchestration	3.7%
Microsoft System Center Orchestrator	1.1%
Other	95.2%

Process Automation

Featured Reviews

Dan Campeanu

Security Engineer at ProVision

Automates tasks and manages multiple servers from a central location

The initial setup was quite complex. It required careful preparation of installation steps, as many tasks were not automated as expected. Special attention was needed to prepare groups, users, and permissions at each step to ensure a smooth setup process. Please do so accurately to avoid having to start over. Challenges encountered during deployment included issues with installation and configuration and difficulties detecting machines and executing tasks as expected. Some solutions were found through trial and error during installation, while others were discovered through recommendations from other users. Despite these challenges, the deployment and rollout of Orchestrator took approximately one and a half months to ensure proper functionality.

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Dinesh Kumar Raghu

Senior Software Engineer at NewRocket

Fastest upgrading technology in the market currently

In each upgrade, ServiceNow is enhancing its product across various areas. They continuously improve different aspects one by one, ensuring that their service evolves with the changing needs. However, frequent upgrades may negatively impact the performance of instances. Therefore, for now, I don't recommend any additional upgrades. The current version fulfills everyone's requirements, and ServiceNow automatically updates annually, keeping pace with industry standards. They've been performing well, so I see no need for further upgrades, especially considering their consistent updates.

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

"Automation is the most valuable feature of the solution."

"It can manage multiple servers and workstations from a single location."

"The solution effectively automates business processes."

"It is a very stable product, highly affordable."

"This is a user-friendly solution where scripts can be made with ease. There are also many integration options, including Microsoft products, which gives the product a competitive edge."

"The data visualization is good."

"Great with IT processes and business processes."

"The iTerm suite is also crucial for visibility and optimization."

"Provisioning of new systems is among the most impactful features for automating complex workflows with ServiceNow Orchestration."

"Orchestration is commonly utilized by major corporations. The process of linking methods in ServiceNow, known as the RTS chain to parent methods, is executed seamlessly and efficiently. It's quite impressive and significant in its impact."

More ServiceNow Orchestration pros

Cons

"The product's management aspect needs enhancement."

"I find the Orchestrator UI to be problematic."

"There should be connectors to cover at least the top industry applications, and they should be easier to configure in a plug-and-play fashion."

"ServiceNow Orchestration needs to improve multiple aspects in which their event monitoring system is one. The solution lacks event monitoring systems which makes them non-competitive. They need to include improvements in a similar manner that they did in Sweden."

"The third-party integrations are challenging when the tools are not from ServiceNow partners. This presents issues when integrating solutions from other vendors."

"The flow rate for releases and updates is very, very slow and does not meet customers' objectives for scalability."

"It is a highly complex platform to work on."

"Efficiency of some features could be improved."

"Frequent upgrades may negatively impact the performance of instances. Therefore, for now, I don't recommend any additional upgrades."

"We cannot perform GUI automation using the tool."

More ServiceNow Orchestration cons

Pricing and Cost Advice

"We obtained a license that bundled Windows Server with System Center at no additional cost."

"I give the cost of the solution a five out of ten."

"The cost of the solution is based on the number of plugins, conductors and integrations used and is charged annually. The licensing cause has been increasing gradually which makes it difficult to access. Initially offer free features but over the time the charges rise which make it an expensive solution with limited features. Along with that, the integration issues persist and require additional middle where and internet connectivity for effective usage."

"It is not very expensive."

"Pricing is custom to every customer."

"The solution is costly and orchestrations are very expensive."

"In terms of price, this solution is at the higher end of what you'll find."

"This is an expensive product, but it is the best in the market considering the features and lack of competitors."

"It is quite expensive because we've had some customers come back and say it's quite pricey because in order for them to go ahead with Orchestration, they must have already been paying for Discovery, service mapping, and a few other things."

"ServiceNow doesn't give a clear cost indication. They have different contracts with different organizations and it's all about negotiation, so you don't know how they are doing at the cost level."

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Top Industries

By visitors reading reviews

Financial Services Firm

17%

Manufacturing Company

10%

Government

Insurance Company

Financial Services Firm

21%

Computer Software Company

10%

Manufacturing Company

Insurance Company

Company Size

By reviewers

Large Enterprise

Midsize Enterprise

Small Business

No data available

By reviewers
Company Size	Count
Small Business	3
Midsize Enterprise	4
Large Enterprise	8

Questions from the Community

What do you like most about Microsoft System Center Orchestrator?

It can manage multiple servers and workstations from a single location.

See all answers

What is your experience regarding pricing and costs for Microsoft System Center Orchestrator?

The platform was almost free of cost for us. We obtained a license that bundled Windows Server with System Center at no additional cost.

See all answers

What needs improvement with Microsoft System Center Orchestrator?

The product's management aspect needs enhancement. It affects the visibility of powerful scripts that were previously accessible. Furthermore, the focus is shifting towards cloud-based features, sp...

See all answers

What do you like most about ServiceNow Orchestration?

The interface of the solution is very user friendly and it is easily accessible via a simple URL. This makes it easier to complete the UI based tasks but using other features require expertise in l...

See all answers

What is your experience regarding pricing and costs for ServiceNow Orchestration?

The cost of ServiceNow Orchestration is considered medium; it is expensive but powerful. I would rate the pricing experience as a six out of ten.

See all answers

What needs improvement with ServiceNow Orchestration?

The third-party integrations are challenging when the tools are not from ServiceNow ( /products/servicenow-reviews ) partners. This presents issues when integrating solutions from other vendors.

See all answers

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Compared 6% of the time

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Product Reports

Buyer's Guide

Process Automation

August 2025

Microsoft System Center Orchestrator report

Download Microsoft System Center Orchestrator product report

Buyer's Guide

ServiceNow Orchestration

September 2025

Download ServiceNow Orchestration product report

Also Known As

MS System Center Orchestrator

No data available

Overview

As an IT administrator, you probably perform a lot of tasks and procedures to keep your computing environment healthy. You may have automated individual tasks, but typically, not the whole process. With System Center - Orchestrator you tie disparate tasks and procedures together using a graphical user interface Runbook Designer to create reliable, flexible, and efficient end-to-end solutions in your IT environment.

Microsoft

ServiceNow is the fastest-growing enterprise cloud software company in the world above $1 billion (2018 revenue was $2.6 billion, up 36% year over year). We deliver digital workflows that create great experiences and unlock productivity to approximately 5,400 enterprise customers worldwide, including almost 75% of the Fortune 500.

ServiceNow

Sample Customers

Information Not Available

experian, BEACHBODY, HealthPartners, Banosoft

Buyer's Guide

Microsoft System Center Orchestrator vs. ServiceNow Orchestration

September 2025

Free Report: Microsoft System Center Orchestrator vs. ServiceNow Orchestration

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