10 Best Software Asset Management Tools for 2026
Do you know how many software licences your company owns, uses, or leaves unused?
Managing software across different devices, subscriptions, and contracts can make it hard to track licences, renewals, and costs.
A software asset management tool brings these records together and helps you find unused licences, track software usage, and prepare for audits.
But every company has different software and licence requirements.
In this guide, we compare the 10 best software asset management tools for 2026 to help you understand their features, pros, cons, pricing, and best use cases.
What Is a Software Asset Management Tool?
A software asset management (SAM) tool keeps a record of the software a company buys and uses. It can track applications installed on computers and servers, cloud software, subscriptions, licence agreements, and renewal dates.
The tool collects software and licence data from company devices, cloud services, purchasing systems, and other IT products. It then compares the software being used with the licences the company owns. This can help identify missing licences, unused subscriptions, duplicate applications, and contracts that need attention.
SAM is part of IT asset management (ITAM). While ITAM covers hardware, software, contracts, and other technology assets, SAM focuses on software licences, usage, costs, and licence rules.
How We Evaluated These SAM Tools
Can the tool discover software across devices, servers, cloud systems, and SaaS applications?
Does it provide accurate licence tracking and support the licence types your company uses?
Can it compare purchased licences with software installations and usage?
Does it help identify unused, duplicate, or unauthorized software?
Can it track contracts, costs, owners, and renewal dates?
Does it support major software vendors such as Microsoft, Oracle, IBM, SAP, and Adobe?
Can it maintain records needed for software audits?
Does it integrate with endpoint tools, identity providers, purchasing systems, IT service desks, and cloud platforms?
How easy is the tool to set up, use, and maintain?
How does the pricing work, and what additional costs should buyers consider?
10 Best Software Asset Management Tools (A Quick Comparsion)
The table below gives you a quick comparison of the top software asset management tools, including what each tool is best for, how it is deployed, and its starting price.
Tool | Best for | Deployment | Starting price |
Motadata ServiceOps | IT teams that want SAM, ITSM, assets, and patches together | SaaS or on-premises | Contact Motadata for a quote |
Flexera One ITAM | Large companies with complex software publisher rules | Cloud service with data collection across hybrid IT | Contact Flexera for a quote |
Ivanti Neurons for ITAM | Companies that want software records, contracts, and asset lifecycles in one product | Cloud or on-premises | Contact Ivanti for a quote |
ServiceNow Software Asset Management | Companies already using the ServiceNow platform | SaaS | Custom quote based on managed resources |
USU Software Asset Management | Enterprise licence management and audit preparation | Supports cloud, on-premises, and hybrid software data | Contact USU for a quote |
ManageEngine AssetExplorer | Smaller teams that want clear asset-based pricing | Cloud or on-premises | Free edition; paid on-premises edition starts at $955 per year for 250 IT assets |
Freshservice IT Asset Management | Teams that want software assets connected with a cloud service desk | SaaS | Custom quote for the ITAM Pro plan; Freshservice ITSM plans start at $19 per agent per month |
InvGate Asset Management | Mid-sized and large teams that need ITAM and software licence tracking | Cloud, on-premises, hybrid, or air-gapped | Starter package starts at $1,499 per year for 500 IP devices |
Zluri | Companies that mainly need SaaS discovery and subscription control | SaaS | Contact Zluri for a quote |
CerteroX SAM | Enterprise teams that need detailed publisher licence checks | SaaS or on-premises | Contact Certero for a quote |
10 Best Software Asset Management Tools (A Detailed Look)
Let’s look at each tool in more detail to understand what it offers, where it fits, and what you should consider before choosing it.
1. Motadata ServiceOps
Best for: IT teams that want software assets, service desk work, and patching in one product.
Motadata ServiceOps combines software asset management with IT service management.
You can use it to discover software on company devices, track licences, and keep records of installations, purchases, and contracts. The same platform also lets IT teams manage hardware, tickets, and other IT assets.
Its software asset management supports eleven licence types, including named user, concurrent, enterprise, trial, volume, and subscription licences.
You can record the number of licences you own, assign them to users or devices, track expiry dates, and store the terms attached to each licence.
You can also connect software records with incidents, service requests, problems, changes, and releases.
For example, if an application keeps causing support issues, a technician can open its software record and see the related support history. When you purchase a new licence, you can link the purchase to the software licence record.
ServiceOps also includes IT asset and configuration management, so you can manage hardware and other IT assets alongside software. If you manage complex licence agreements from major software publishers, check whether ServiceOps supports the specific licence rules in your agreements before choosing it.
Pros
- Gives IT teams one place to manage software assets, licences, and related IT service work.
- Automatically discovers software and adds it to the asset inventory.
- Supports 11 software licence types for different licensing models.
- Tracks licence usage, allocations, installations, and compliance.
- Helps identify unused or underused software through software metering.
- Connects software asset data with the CMDB, hardware, and other IT assets.
- Supports both SaaS and on-premises deployment.
Cons
- It may not provide the same depth of publisher-specific licence management as specialist SAM platforms.
- Pricing is not publicly listed, so buyers need to contact Motadata for a quote.
Pricing
Motadata does not publish a fixed price for ServiceOps. The cost depends on the edition, deployment option, and the number of technicians or assets. Buyers need to contact Motadata for a quote.
2. Flexera One IT Asset Management
Best for: Large companies with complex licences across data centres, cloud services, SaaS products, and containers.
Flexera One IT Asset Management helps large companies manage many applications and licences. It gathers purchase, contract, installation, and usage records from computers, servers, cloud services, SaaS applications, and containers. The SAM team can then compare what the company uses with the licences it owns.
This becomes important when a licence depends on processor cores, virtual machines, cloud use, or special terms in a contract. Flexera applies these rules when it checks the company's licence position. It can also help the team prepare for renewals and software audits, while showing licences that are paid for but no longer used.
Flexera is best suited to a company with a dedicated SAM team and costly agreements with large software vendors. A smaller business that only needs an application list and renewal reminders may find it harder to set up than a simpler product.
Pros
- Its detailed licence rules can help the team find problems before an audit starts.
- It can cover software used in the data centre, in the cloud, and through SaaS subscriptions.
- Its licence records give the team useful figures when reviewing contracts and renewals.
Cons
- Setup can take time because the team needs to connect its data sources and check the quality of its purchase and installation records.
- A small company with only a few software vendors may not need this level of detail.
- Flexera does not publish a starting price.
Pricing
Flexera does not publish a fixed price for Flexera One ITAM. Buyers need to request a quote. The price depends on the products selected and the size of the company's software environment.
3. Ivanti Neurons for ITAM
Best for: Companies that want to manage software records, contracts, purchases, and asset lifecycles in one product.
Ivanti Neurons for ITAM keeps hardware and software records together. Its software workspace shows licensable applications, installations, licence entitlements, and related contracts. The IT team can see what software the company owns and which devices have it installed.
The product also keeps records for purchases, vendors, invoices, warranties, and each stage of an asset's life. Ivanti Neurons for Discovery can add current device and software details to the inventory. Companies that need more information about software use and spending can add Ivanti Neurons for Software or Spend Intelligence.
Ivanti may be a good choice for a company that already uses its service management, endpoint, discovery, or patching products. If your main need is detailed licence calculations for a small number of complex software publishers, a specialist SAM product may be a better fit.
Pros
- Technicians can check the software, device, contract, and purchase records connected with an asset.
- Companies can choose a cloud or on-premises version.
- It works well for IT teams that already use other Ivanti products.
Cons
- Some reports about software use and spending require another Ivanti product and licence.
- Companies with complex Oracle, IBM, SAP, or Microsoft agreements should confirm that it supports the licence rules they use.
- Ivanti does not publish a starting price.
Pricing
Ivanti does not publish a fixed price for Neurons for ITAM. Buyers need to request a quote. The final cost depends on the deployment option, licences, and any other Ivanti products included.
4. ServiceNow Software Asset Management
Best for: Large companies that already use ServiceNow for IT service management, operations, procurement, or a CMDB.
ServiceNow Software Asset Management keeps software requests, installations, licences, contracts, and support work on the same platform. This can be useful when a company already uses ServiceNow and wants software records to connect with its service catalogue, CMDB, purchasing process, and change records.
The product can normalize discovered software, compare use with licence rights, and identify licences that may be reclaimed. Publisher packs add licence rules and connections for major vendors. Teams can also review removal candidates and send work through ServiceNow workflows.
ServiceNow can cover a large and complex software estate, but it usually needs careful implementation. A company that only wants a simple software inventory may not need the wider platform.
Pros
- Existing ServiceNow customers can manage software within a platform their IT team already uses.
- Support, purchasing, asset, and licence records can stay connected throughout the software lifecycle.
- It can support large software estates and detailed compliance work.
Cons
- Setup can take time when discovery, entitlement, contract, and CMDB data come from several sources.
- It may cost more than a focused SAM tool for a company that does not use other ServiceNow products.
- The price is not shown publicly.
Pricing
ServiceNow provides a custom quote for Software Asset Management. Licensing uses Subscription Units based on the types and numbers of managed IT resources. Buyers need to confirm the unit ratios, publisher packs, and other modules included in the quote.
5. USU Software Asset Management
Best for: Enterprise teams that need help with complex publisher licences, SaaS costs, and audit preparation.
USU Software Asset Management covers software running on employee devices, servers, virtual systems, cloud services, and SaaS products. It brings installation, entitlement, contract, and usage data together so the team can check licence compliance and find unused software.
USU supports licences from publishers such as Microsoft, Oracle, SAP, IBM, VMware, and Adobe. Its tools calculate licence measures for clients, servers, cloud systems, and mobile use. Teams can also model changes before making them, which can help when a new server design or cloud move could affect licence use.
USU is aimed at companies with a formal SAM program and complex licence agreements. A small team with a limited software list may not need this level of publisher coverage.
Pros
- It covers both traditional software licences and SaaS subscriptions.
- Publisher-specific features can help teams that manage expensive data centre applications.
- It can use software data from cloud, on-premises, and hybrid environments.
Cons
- The product is likely to require more SAM knowledge than a basic asset inventory tool.
- Smaller companies may not need its detailed publisher and audit features.
- USU does not publish a fixed starting price.
Pricing
USU asks buyers to contact its team for a demonstration and quote. The website does not show a fixed licence price for USU Software Asset Management.
6. ManageEngine AssetExplorer
Best for: Small and mid-sized IT teams that want software discovery and licence tracking with public asset-based pricing.
ManageEngine AssetExplorer manages hardware, software, purchases, contracts, and other IT assets. It can scan Windows, macOS, and Linux computers and add the software it finds to the inventory. The team can then decide which applications need to be managed closely.
For each managed application, AssetExplorer can record purchased licences and compare them with installations. It supports several licence types, including named user, concurrent, enterprise, volume, trial, and client access licences. It can also show software that is under-licensed, over-licensed, or compliant.
AssetExplorer is easier to budget for than most enterprise SAM products because ManageEngine publishes prices by asset count. It is a good choice for general software licence tracking. Companies with complex Oracle, IBM, or SAP agreements should still check whether its licence rules cover their needs.
Pros
- The free edition gives a small team a practical way to start tracking software licences.
- Published asset-based pricing makes the first-year licence cost easier to estimate.
- Cloud and on-premises editions are available.
Cons
- It does not offer the same publisher-specific licence depth as an enterprise SAM specialist.
- SaaS subscription discovery is not its main strength.
- Cloud and on-premises editions have different node limits and prices, so buyers need to compare the correct edition.
Pricing
The free edition supports up to 50 nodes in the cloud version and 25 nodes in the on-premises version. The on-premises Professional edition starts at $955 per year for 250 IT assets. Other published annual prices include $1,795 for 500 assets and $2,995 for 1,000 assets. A 30-day trial supports up to 250 nodes.
7. Freshservice IT Asset Management
Best for: Teams that want software asset records connected with a cloud service desk and CMDB.
Freshservice combines IT service management with asset discovery, a CMDB, and software licence management. It can find assets across on-premises, cloud, and hybrid environments. Technicians can then see the related device and software information while they work on a ticket.
The software licence features keep licence and application information together. This can help the team check software use, control costs, and keep records for audits. Freshservice also offers SaaS management features for teams that need more information about cloud applications and subscriptions.
Freshservice suits companies that want a service desk and asset management in one cloud product. A specialist SAM platform may be a better fit for difficult data centre publisher rules.
Pros
- It gives support technicians useful asset information without requiring a separate service desk.
- The cloud service can be quicker to start than a large enterprise SAM project.
- Freshservice publishes its service desk prices, which helps buyers estimate part of the total cost.
Cons
- Software asset management starts with the ITAM Pro plan, which requires a separate quote.
- Asset Units do not always equal a simple device count, so buyers must calculate how their assets will be measured.
- It is not as focused on complex enterprise publisher rules as Flexera, ServiceNow, USU, or CerteroX.
Pricing
Freshservice ITSM starts with the Starter plan at $19 per agent per month when billed annually. The Growth plan costs $49, the Pro plan costs $99, and the Enterprise plan requires a quote. Freshservice IT Asset Management has Growth, Pro, and Enterprise plans, but their prices are not shown publicly. Software asset management is included in the ITAM Pro plan. Buyers need to contact Freshworks for the ITAM price and add it to the cost of the required Freshservice plan.
8. InvGate Asset Management
Best for: Mid-sized and large teams that need software licence tracking as part of a wider IT asset management product.
InvGate Asset Management discovers devices and the software installed on them. It can keep licence values, assignments, expiry dates, contracts, and vendor details with the related asset records. Dashboards and reminders help the team review renewals and software costs before a contract expires.
The product supports the full asset lifecycle, from purchase to retirement. It can also connect software and contract records with InvGate Service Management when both products are used. Deployment choices include cloud, on-premises, hybrid, and air-gapped environments.
InvGate works well for teams that need practical ITAM with software licence control. Companies that need detailed licence calculations for several large publishers should compare its coverage with a specialist SAM product.
Pros
- The product covers software, hardware, contracts, vendors, and asset lifecycles in one inventory.
- Its deployment choices suit companies with strict data or network rules.
- Public starting prices are available for smaller deployments.
Cons
- It is a wider ITAM product, not a specialist tool for the most complex publisher licence rules.
- The number of reporting assets can increase as the company adds computers, servers, and cloud resources.
- Buyers should confirm which features and deployment choices are included in the selected package.
Pricing
InvGate Asset Management uses active assets for licensing. The Starter package costs $1,499 per year and includes 500 IP devices. The Professional package starts at $2,500 per year for 500 IP devices. Each IP device also includes an allowance for two non-IP assets. Larger and more complex environments require a custom quote.
9. Zluri
Best for: Companies that want to find SaaS applications, control subscriptions, and remove unused cloud licences.
Zluri focuses on SaaS rather than traditional software installed in a data centre. It finds cloud applications through direct connections, identity systems, financial data, and other sources. The team can see who uses each app, what it costs, and when its contract will renew.
Usage information helps the team find inactive accounts, duplicate products, and licences that can be downgraded or removed. Zluri can also keep contracts and renewal details in one place and send reminders before an agreement ends.
Zluri is relevant when most software is delivered through a browser. It is not the right choice for a company that needs to calculate licences for Oracle databases, IBM products, or other installed data centre software.
Pros
- It gives the team a better view of cloud applications that may not appear in a normal device scan.
- Usage and spending information can support SaaS renewal decisions.
- It can help find subscriptions purchased outside the usual IT process.
Cons
- It does not replace a full SAM tool for installed software and complex publisher licences.
- The value depends on the connections available for the SaaS products and data sources a company uses.
- Zluri does not publish a fixed starting price.
Pricing
Zluri does not list a fixed price for its SaaS Management product. Buyers need to request a demonstration and quote. The final cost depends on the company and the products included.
10. CerteroX SAM
Best for: Enterprise teams that need a current licence position for major software publishers and a choice of cloud or on-premises deployment.
CerteroX SAM compares software deployments and usage with the licences a company owns. It uses this information to maintain an effective licence position, which shows whether the company has enough licences and where it may be paying for more than it uses.
Certero provides dedicated licence engines for publishers such as Microsoft, Adobe, Oracle, IBM, SAP, and Salesforce. The product can also use metering information to show whether installed software is being used. This can help a team prepare for an audit or review a costly agreement before renewal.
CerteroX SAM covers installed software. CerteroX SaaS Management is a separate product for cloud subscriptions and user accounts. Companies that need both should confirm that both products are included in the proposal.
Pros
- Publisher-specific rules can give enterprise SAM teams more useful answers than a basic licence inventory.
- The platform supports both SaaS and on-premises deployment choices.
- Certero offers separate tools for installed software, SaaS, ITAM, cloud costs, and data centre licences.
Cons
- Companies need to select the right CerteroX products because SAM and SaaS Management are separate.
- The publisher detail may be more than a small company needs.
- Certero does not publish a fixed starting price.
Pricing
Certero does not show a fixed price for CerteroX SAM. Buyers need to contact the company for a quote based on the publishers, products, deployment model, and size of the software estate.
What Features Should You Look for in a SAM Tool?
Not every company needs the same SAM features. Start with the software and licences your team manages, then check whether the tool covers these areas:
Software discovery: Find applications across computers, servers, virtual machines, cloud systems, and SaaS platforms.
Licence management: Record licence types, quantities, purchases, agreements, assignments, and renewal dates.
Licence compliance: Compare purchased licences with installed or assigned software to identify missing or unused licences.
Software usage: Track application usage to find software that is installed but rarely or never used.
Contracts and renewals: Track software costs, contract owners, renewal dates, and upcoming renewals.
Publisher support: Check whether the tool supports the licence rules and models used by vendors such as Microsoft, Oracle, IBM, SAP, and Adobe.
Audit history: Keep records of purchases, installations, licence assignments, removals, and other changes for software audits.
Integrations: Connect the tool with endpoint systems, identity providers, purchasing systems, IT service desks, and cloud platforms to keep software data up to date.
How to Choose the Right Software Asset Management Tool
The right SAM tool should fit your software environment, licence requirements, and budget. Use the following points to compare your options and see whether a tool can handle your day-to-day software management needs.
Start with your most expensive software: List the publishers and applications that take up the largest part of your software budget.
Check publisher and licence support: Make sure the tool supports the licence types and rules used by vendors such as Microsoft, Oracle, IBM, and SAP.
Map your software environment: Identify where your software runs, including laptops, servers, virtual machines, containers, cloud services, and SaaS applications.
Check data collection: Make sure the tool can collect reliable software and usage data from your existing IT environment.
Test a real licence position: Ask the vendor to use one of your important publishers and show how the tool calculates your licence position.
Review licence calculations: Check how the tool matches software installations and usage with the licences your company owns.
Calculate the total cost: Include licences, discovery, SaaS management, publisher packs, implementation, training, and support.
Understand the pricing model: Check whether pricing is based on users, devices, assets, managed resources, or another measure.
Check contract management: Make sure you can track software costs, contract owners, licence quantities, and renewal dates.
Review unused licences: Check whether the tool can identify inactive or unused licences before a renewal.
Test the renewal process: Use sample contracts and real software data to see how the tool helps your team prepare for upcoming renewals.
Conclusion
Choosing the right software asset management tool can help your IT team keep software, licences, contracts, and related records under control.
Motadata ServiceOps brings these functions together with IT service management, asset management, and patching.
ServiceOps can discover software on managed devices, track licence details, and connect software records with incidents, requests, problems, changes, and releases. It also offers SaaS and on-premises deployment options.
If you want to manage software assets alongside your IT service and asset management work, Motadata ServiceOps is worth considering.
FAQs
What does a software asset management tool do?
A software asset management tool shows what software a company owns and uses. It can find installed applications, keep licence and contract records, track renewal dates, and compare software use with the licences the company has bought.
Is software asset management the same as IT asset management?
No. Software asset management focuses on applications, licences, subscriptions, usage, and software costs. IT asset management covers a wider range of technology, including computers, servers, network devices, software, contracts, and the full life of each asset.
Which software asset management tool is best for a small IT team?
ManageEngine AssetExplorer is a practical option for a small team because it has a free edition and published asset-based pricing. Freshservice may suit a team that also needs a cloud service desk. Motadata ServiceOps may suit a company that wants software assets, IT support, patches, and an on-premises option in one product.
How much does software asset management software cost?
The price depends on how the vendor counts the software estate. ManageEngine AssetExplorer starts at $955 per year for 250 IT assets in its paid on-premises edition. InvGate Asset Management starts at $1,499 per year for 500 IP devices. Freshservice and many enterprise SAM vendors require a quote for the software asset management plan.
How can a company tell whether it needs a specialist SAM tool?
A specialist SAM tool is usually needed when the company manages expensive or complex licences from publishers such as Oracle, IBM, SAP, or Microsoft. A simpler ITAM product may be enough when the main need is software discovery, licence counts, contract records, and renewal reminders.
Author
Ramya Shah
Technical Writer
Ramya Shah is a technical content writer with a computer engineering background and roots in automotive journalism. He covers IT Service Management, observability, IT operations, and AI-driven automation. An early adopter of AI-assisted writing workflows, he turns complex IT processes into clear, engaging content optimized for search and answer engines (AEO), lifting content output and organic visibility.
