9 Popular Free MSP Software Solutions: In-Depth Reviews

Managing budgets within managed service organizations is often challenging. Effective service delivery requires sophisticated tools to counter persistent security threats and meet client expectations, yet these solutions frequently demand significant licensing fees.

A restricted budget, however, does not have to limit operational capability. A range of no-cost software products can provide the functionality necessary to stay competitive. We've identified nine free solutions. These offerings are not constrained trial versions; most deliver mature features for automation, remote management, and security that can materially enhance day-to-day performance.

Read on to see which solutions made the list and how they can enable your MSP to deliver first-class service, even when money is tight.

1The MSP Industry in 2025, Driven by AI and Automation

As we move forward in 2025, Artificial Intelligence (AI) and automation have moved from buzzwords to cornerstones of MSP strategy. The market for AIOps is expected to grow to over $32.4 billion by 2028. They underpin predictive maintenance, intelligent threat detection, ticket handling, and customer service, reshaping the way providers work.

Current MSPs rely on:

● AI‑Driven Predictive Analytics – Spotting potential system failures and performance bottlenecks before they escalate. AI has been used to predict trends and behaviours with more accuracy than traditional means.
● Automated Workflows – Handling repetitive tasks such as ticket generation, configuration changes, and account maintenance, freeing technicians for higher‑value work.
● Intelligent Security Response – Detecting unusual behaviour quickly and triggering precise, automated incident responses. Since the introduction of AI, phishing attacks have increased by over 1200%. However, the use of AI in cybersecurity has been an invaluable tool in helping to combat attacks.

For start‑ups and small providers on tight budgets, adding these capabilities to day-to-day work, especially with free or open‑source products, can be challenging. This report examines how well today’s no‑cost tools meet the rising demands of AI and automation

2Free MSP Software Comparison Table, Quick Insights

3Software Reviews

Altaro VM Backup

Altaro VM Backup is a highly-regarded virtual machine backup and replication software, specifically designed for efficient and reliable data protection in VMware and Hyper-V environments. Its intuitive user interface and excellent space minimization capabilities help it stand out among backup solutions.

Price Model For free, you can backup two virtual machines per host indefinitely. Advanced features and additional virtual machines can be accessed through paid Standard, Unlimited, and Unlimited Plus perpetual licences, which are sold per host. It also offers a subscription for the Unlimited Plus licence, which is priced per VM and can be purchased for several years.

Key Free Tier Features
● Back up two VMs per host.
● Support for VMware (vSphere) and Microsoft (Hyper‑V).
● Backups to local disks and network shares.
● Restores to original or alternate hosts.

Pros
● Exceptional Ease of Use: Both new and experienced users consistently praise its straightforward interface.
● Efficient Storage Management: Its ability to minimize backup size is highly effective, saving valuable storage space.
● Flexible Restore Options: Provides various recovery methods to suit different disaster recovery scenarios.

Cons
● Customer Support Changes: Some users report a decrease in customer support responsiveness and quality since its acquisition by Hornetsecurity.
● Large VM Backup Performance: For multi-terabyte virtual machines, backup speeds can be slower, potentially requiring additional storage management strategies.

Best For MSPs managing small Hyper-V environments or those needing a reliable, free tool for initial VM backup testing and deployment.

AirDroid Business

AirDroid Business is a Unified Endpoint Management (UEM) platform for Android and Windows fleets, offering remote control, monitoring, kiosk mode, and policy enforcement.

Price Model There is no perpetual free tier; instead, you get a 14-day trial that gives you full access, while registering with business email gives you a 21-day free trial. Post‑trial pricing is per device across Basic, Standard, and Enterprise plans.

Key Free Tier Features (14‑Day Trial)
● Remote control with privacy Black Screen.
● Kiosk mode for app or website lockdown.
● Policy and security management.
● Application Management Suite (AMS).
● Geofencing and live tracking.

Pros
● User-Friendly Interface – Users expressed appreciation for Airdroid’s intuitive and user-friendly interface.
● Comprehensive Device Management: Excels in offering a complete solution for Android and Windows device fleets.
● Cost‑Effective – Cheaper than many complex enterprise suites.

Cons
● Lengthy Deployment Setup – A user mentioned that deploying software on devices can be lengthy.
● No Free‑Forever Plan – Permanent free use is not available.

Best For MSPs needing a comprehensive, cost-effective, and easy-to-use solution for remote management, control, and security of Android and Windows endpoint devices.

Spiceworks

Spiceworks MSP provides a web-based platform designed to streamline IT services through remote inventory management, network scanning, and ticketing. It's ideal for businesses of all sizes looking to improve their IT services on a tight budget.

Price Model The suite is entirely free; revenue comes from ads within the interface.

Key Free Tier Features
● Cloud help desk with email‑to‑ticket.
● IT asset inventory and software audit.
● Simple network monitoring and alerts.
● Integrated community forum and script library.

Pros
● Zero Cost – Full functionality without fees.
● Great Ticketing System – Users mentioned that the ticketing system is “hard to beat.”
● Good Support – One user describes it as having a “good community and support.”

Cons
● Lacks Sub Service Desk – According to one user, “Larger IT departments won't be able to route tickets to specific teams.”
● Intrusive Ads – Ads can sometimes be space-hungry.
● Missing Advanced Features – Some advanced features are absent, such as advanced reporting.

Best For Small MSPs or businesses with basic IT inventory and ticketing needs who are comfortable with an ad-supported platform and limited advanced functionalities.

Tactical RMM

Tactical RMM is a self‑hosted, open‑source platform for remote monitoring, patching, and automation across Windows and Linux endpoints. Built with Vue, Django, and Golang, it offers easy integration with MeshCentral for robust remote access.

Price Model Core software is free; however, code‑signed agents (helpful for avoiding antivirus warnings) require sponsorship starting at $660 per year.

Key Free Tier Features
● Remote desktop and shell.
● Automated patch management.
● Scripting in PowerShell, Python, and more.
● Custom alerts and dashboards.
● Complete data control via self‑hosting.

Pros
● Powerful & Fast: Offers strong functionalities that rival some commercial RMM tools, with generally fast performance.
● Highly Customizable: Being open-source, it allows for significant customization to fit specific MSP needs.
● Cross-Platform Support: Monitors and manages Windows, Linux, and macOS devices.

Cons
● Unsigned Free Version: The free plan for Tactical RMM is unsigned, which might require whitelisting by Windows Defender and other antivirus software, potentially causing initial setup hurdles. Code signing costs are high.
● User Interface (UI): Its design could be more aesthetically pleasing and modern for an improved user experience.
● Database & Code Claims: While open-source, some users claim its database isn't fully open for easy forking, and there have been unverified claims of cryptocurrency mining code.

Best For Technically proficient MSPs comfortable with open-source solutions and willing to manage potential setup complexities, seeking a powerful and customizable RMM platform without licensing costs.

Lansweeper

Lansweeper is a comprehensive network, inventory, and asset management tool that provides valuable, actionable insights for the efficient running of your IT services. It helps MSPs gain a clear overview of all connected assets.

Price Model Lansweeper offers a free plan for homes and small networks with up to 100 assets, including a 14-day full-feature trial. Paid plans (Starter from €199/month, Pro from €359/month, billed annually) offer more assets, installations, vulnerability insights, and integrations.

Key Free Tier Features
● Automated Network Discovery: Automatically scans and identifies all devices on your network.
● Comprehensive Asset Inventory: Builds a detailed inventory of all software and hardware assets.
● Basic Reports: Provides automated reports about assets.

Pros
● Detailed Reporting: Its robust reporting tool is vital for daily management, helping identify hardware upgrade needs and system upgrade progress.
● Powerful Asset Tracking: Excellent for managing and monitoring assets in complex networks, facilitating timely identification of potential issues.
● Easy Device Discovery: Automatically discovers a wide range of devices, including security devices, VLANs, and subnets.

Cons
● Price Increases: The software has significantly increased its licensing fees, including scrapping non-profit discounts and increasing renewal fees, which may deter potential users.
● Free Tier Asset Limit: The free plan's 100-asset limit might be restrictive for growing MSPs.

Best For Teams needing rich discovery on small networks or those prepared to fund enterprise licences.

LastPass

LastPass is a widely used password management software that MSPs can leverage to significantly boost security across their endpoint devices and client networks. It eliminates the need to memorize multiple complex passwords, enhancing both security and efficiency.

Price Model LastPass offers a free plan for 1 user, making it an excellent option for individual MSP technicians or for testing purposes. It also provides 14 to 30 days of full-access free trials (depending on the plan). Paid plans include Premium ($3/month for 1 person), Families ($4/month for 6 accounts), Teams ($4/month with 25 security policies), and Business ($7/month with over 100 security policies).

Key Free Tier Features
● Password Saving & Auto-fill: Automatically saves login credentials and auto-fills them across devices.
● Integrated Password Generator: Creates strong, unique passwords for every site.
● Secure Vault: Encrypts and stores all passwords in a secure digital vault.
● Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA): Adds an extra layer of security.

Pros
● Enhanced Security: Generates and stores strong, unique passwords, reducing the risk of weak or reused credentials.
● Convenience: Simplifies login processes and syncs passwords across multiple devices.
● MFA Support: Offers multi-factor authentication for added security.
● User‑Friendly UI – Straightforward even for newcomers.
● Easy to Install – Users mentioned that LastPass is easy to install in the browser.

Cons
● Single‑Device Limitation – Users who want to use LastPass for multiple devices must upgrade.
● 2022 Data Breach: LastPass suffered a significant data breach in 2022, exposing users' password vaults, which has affected its reputation. While user master password strength is a factor, this remains a concern.
● 2FA Setup Not Intuitive

Best For Individuals living on a single device who prioritise interface polish over cross‑device sync.

Snipe‑IT

Snipe‑IT is a free, open‑source IT asset management (ITAM) system that tracks hardware, software, and consumables throughout their lifecycle.

Price Model Self‑host for free, or opt for paid cloud hosting if you prefer hands‑off management.

Key Free Tier Features
● Asset Accounting: Simple and clear tracking of all IT assets.
● Location & Ownership Tracking: Easily know who has which asset and where it's located.
● Email Notifications: Built-in email alerts for asset check-in/out, upcoming audits, etc.
● License Management: Track software licenses efficiently.
● Check-in/Check-out Functionality: Streamline the process of assigning and reassigning assets.
● Audit Logs & History: Maintain a detailed history of all asset changes.
● Role-Based Access Control: Define user roles and permissions for asset management.

Pros
● Automation Potential: Combining Snipe-IT with PowerShell scripts and SCCM can significantly automate device and data management, reducing manual errors and boosting productivity.
● High Flexibility & Customization: Its field customization and data integration via APIs provide great flexibility, allowing tailoring to specific organizational needs.
● Comprehensive Tracking: Excellent for maintaining a clear overview of who has which asset, where it is, and its lifecycle status.

Cons
● Learning Curve for Newbies: While flexible, configuring it efficiently requires a significant learning curve for those unfamiliar with the platform.
● Manual Bulk Import: Importing hundreds or thousands of assets often requires manual operation, which can be tedious and time-consuming.

Best For IT teams comfortable self‑hosting who need deep, adaptable asset tracking and scripting hooks.

osTicket

osTicket is a popular open-source support ticket software designed to streamline your customer support and help desk operations. It efficiently integrates queries from various platforms, including emails, web forms, and phone calls, into a centralized system.

Price Model osTicket offers a free open-source plan, allowing full access to its ticketing functionalities for self-hosting. Cloud-hosted plans are available for those who prefer managed services, starting at $12/agent/month, and Virtual Appliance options are available with custom quotes.

Key Free Tier Features
● Unified Ticket Interface: Consolidates queries from multiple channels into one system.
● Customizable Data Collection: Tailor data fields for ticket creation to your specific needs.
● Personalized Ticket Queues & Filtering: Organize incoming tickets and help topics with custom columns and queues.
● Agent Collision Avoidance: Prevent multiple agents from working on the same ticket simultaneously.
● Automated Ticket Responses: Set up automatic replies to common queries.

Pros
● Highly Flexible & Customizable: Easy to tailor to specific organizational needs, such as automatically converting emails into support tickets, saving time.
● Stable & Simple: Users generally find osTicket to be a reliable and straightforward ticketing tool.
● Cost-Effective: As an open-source solution, it provides powerful features without licensing costs, ideal for budget-conscious MSPs.

Cons
● Update Lag: osTicket has experienced significant delays in providing new updates, with its long-awaited 2.0 version yet to be launched, leading to concerns about future development.
● Lack of Official Communication: Officials haven't provided clear explanations for the delays, which can be frustrating for users.

Best For MSPs looking for a robust, flexible, and free open-source ticketing system to manage client support requests, particularly those comfortable with self-hosting and managing updates.

ZeroTier

ZeroTier is a powerful software-defined networking (SDN) tool that enables you to create a secure, global virtual private network (VPN), remotely connecting your devices as if they were on a single LAN. This allows for easy and secure management of distributed IT infrastructures.

Price Model ZeroTier offers a free basic plan that supports 1 administrator, 3 networks, and up to 10 devices. This is perfect for small teams or testing. Paid plans include Essential ($5/month + $2/device for small/medium companies), Premium ($250/month for 125 devices, unlimited networks), and Enterprise (custom quote for custom routes, self-hosted options, and 1-year audit logs).

Key Free Tier Features
● Global Private Network Creation: Establish a secure, virtual network connecting devices worldwide.
● Peer-to-Peer Connectivity: Direct connections between devices for low latency.
● Encrypted Communications: All traffic within your ZeroTier network is encrypted.
● Automatic Network Configuration: Simplifies network setup and management.

Pros
● No Additional Hardware Needed: Can run on various platforms, including RouterOS, minimizing configuration and hardware costs.
● User-Friendly Layout: The overall interface is straightforward, making it easy to set up and manage virtual networks.
● RouterOS 7 Support: Convenient for routers behind CGNAT, enabling secure and stable connections across diverse geographic regions.
● Self-Hosting Option: Reduces configuration costs and offers more control for enterprise plans.

Cons
● Connection Stability Issues: Some users have reported occasional stability and reliability issues, including connection drops and failures.

Best For MSPs managing distributed client sites, remote workforces, or IoT devices, needing a free and flexible solution to create secure, interconnected virtual networks without complex VPN setups.