With the global rise of digital transformation, most businesses, especially mid-market to large enterprises, have started to rely on their IT landscapes to function correctly. As organizations start using more and more software for their IT operations to drive productivity and improve business processes, the management of IT assets has become critical for simplifying operations and reducing costs.
Companies save an average of 20% on software costs within the first year of adopting a SAM tool. This shows how quickly companies can obtain ROI with SAM implementation.
Why SAM is crucial in 2026
Organizations use only 47% of their SaaS licenses, wasting $21 million annually in unused licenses.
As an IT manager or IT operations lead of an enterprise organization, you must be familiar with the rising challenges of managing software licenses. With the growing number of IT assets your team uses and the rising complexity of a hybrid IT environment (on-premises, cloud, and SaaS), it can become increasingly difficult to keep track of software assets. In fact, it can feel like a full-time, never-ending job in itself.
Gone are the days when an IT manager was only responsible for keeping track of which software his/her organization owned or when software licenses were up for renewal. Now, the IT landscape has changed, and so have the responsibilities for an IT manager.
Being an IT manager entails being accountable for optimizing costs, enhancing compliance (ISO, SOC II), preventing shadow IT, and making data-driven decisions for renewing software licenses.
Now, software asset management (SAM) is all about controlling IT costs, preventing shadow IT, improving compliance, and ensuring that software investments are working for you, not against you. SAM tools are being used as they track software usage, offer workflow automation, and provide security context.
IT managers use SAM tools not just to manage licenses — they use them to manage risk, cost, and strategy.
In this article, we will discuss why SAM is crucial for your organization in 2026 and the top SAM tools you can use to reduce SaaS license waste, optimize your software storage, and save time while managing renewals and compliance.
Evaluating SAM tools: Key features for IT Teams in 2026
When evaluating SAM tools for your IT team, it’s essential to prioritize the features that will enhance your operations in 2026. Here are the key functionalities that modern IT teams must focus on when selecting a SAM solution:
1. Software Discovery & License Inventory
- Feature Focus: Ensure the SAM tool can automatically discover software across on-premise, cloud, and SaaS environments. This includes identifying all software assets in real time and managing them centrally.
- Why It Matters in 2026: As businesses continue to adopt hybrid and multi-cloud environments, the need for accurate and automated discovery has never been more critical. Efficient cataloging of software assets across all environments prevents blind spots and streamlines governance.
2. Usage Analytics & Optimization
- Feature Focus: A top-tier SAM tool should provide detailed usage analytics to track how often each software license is being used, helping to identify underutilized or unused licenses. It should also suggest optimization strategies to reduce unnecessary spending.
- Why It Matters in 2026: With organizations investing heavily in SaaS and cloud-based solutions, understanding software usage is vital to ensure that you’re not overpaying for licenses. It also helps IT teams to optimize software spend and eliminate waste.
3. Renewal Tracking & Vendor Visibility
- Feature Focus: The SAM tool should provide an intuitive renewal tracking system to ensure no software licenses are missed. It should also include vendor relationship insights, enabling IT teams to track contract deadlines and terms to avoid penalties.
- Why It Matters in 2026: Vendor and contract management is a major pain point, and with many software subscriptions on annual cycles, this feature allows you to plan for renewals proactively, preventing budget surprises.
4. License Reclamation & Policy Control
- Feature Focus: A strong SAM tool should provide license reclamation capabilities, allowing organizations to reclaim unused or inactive licenses. Additionally, it should enforce license management policies to prevent overspending.
- Why It Matters in 2026: As remote work and BYOD (Bring Your Own Device) environments continue to evolve, ensuring that unused software licenses are reclaimed helps reduce operational inefficiencies. Clear policy enforcement also protects against compliance issues and overspending.
5. Integrations
- Feature Focus: The SAM solution must integrate seamlessly with other enterprise systems, including HR systems, procurement tools, IT Asset Management (ITAM) systems, Mobile Device Management (MDM), and SSO.
- Why It Matters in 2026: In a modern IT landscape where data must flow freely between tools, integration is a non-negotiable requirement. Smooth integrations help provide comprehensive visibility and a unified view across all assets, software, and user data.
6. Patch Management
- Feature Focus: The SAM tool should include patch management features, enabling IT teams to track and manage software patches and updates across all devices and systems in the enterprise.
- Why It Matters in 2026: As cyberattacks become increasingly sophisticated, managing vulnerabilities through timely patches is critical. A SAM solution with built-in patch management ensures that security vulnerabilities are addressed promptly, reducing risk.
7. Automation
- Feature Focus: A modern SAM tool should leverage automation to streamline repetitive tasks like license reclamation, software inventory updates, compliance checks, and audit prep.
- Why It Matters in 2026: With IT teams expected to do more with fewer resources, automation is essential for efficiency. Automating key workflows, such as compliance tracking and license optimization, frees up resources for strategic tasks while improving overall accuracy and reliability.
8. Reporting
- Feature Focus: The SAM tool must be able to generate customizable reports for different stakeholders (e.g., finance, procurement, compliance). These reports should cover key metrics like license usage, renewal status, compliance, and spend trends.
- Why It Matters in 2026: Clear, real-time reports are vital for enabling stakeholders to make data-driven decisions. For instance, finance teams need detailed reports on software spending, while compliance teams require visibility into compliance gaps for risk mitigation.
9. Artificial Intelligence & Machine Learning Integration
- Feature Focus: Integrating AI and machine learning into the SAM solution will allow IT teams to predict future software needs, identify anomalies, and recommend optimizations based on historical data.
- Why It Matters in 2026: AI-driven insights will allow IT teams to proactively address software and license issues before they become a significant problem, improving forecasting accuracy and minimizing risks related to over-purchasing or underutilization.
Top 15 SAM tools for 2026 (Ranked by use case & value)
Let’s discuss the top 15 SAM tools for IT managers in 2026.
1. EZO AssetSonar: Best for Mid-Market IT Teams That Need Cost Control and Shadow IT Visibility
Best for:
EZO AssetSonar is ideal for IT teams in mid-sized companies and enterprise organizations that manage both software and hardware assets, especially those with hybrid IT environments (on-premise, cloud-based, and SaaS tools).
Strengths:
- Hybrid SAM + SaaS + HAM coverage: EZO AssetSonar enables tracking of on-prem software, cloud-based apps, and physical hardware assets in one unified system. It’s an excellent solution for teams managing diverse IT ecosystems.
- License entitlement & contract management: Centralized tracking of software licenses, contract renewals, and seat counts simplifies SaaS renewal management and audit prep.
- Usage-based optimization: AssetSonar monitors license usage, identifying underused or unused licenses to help optimize software spend.
- Audit-ready compliance reporting: Simplifies compliance with SOC 2, ISO 27001, and other industry standards by maintaining detailed logs of software usage and hardware assets.
- Integrations: Seamlessly integrates with MDM, IDP, and procurement tools like Jamf, Intune, SCCM, Azure AD, and CDW, ensuring smooth data flow across systems.
- Lifecycle automation: Automates onboarding, offboarding, license reclamation, and provisioning workflows, reducing manual tasks and improving operational efficiency.
- Patch management: To complement software optimization, the platform now includes robust patch management features, ensuring compliance with security patches and updates across both hardware and software assets.
- AI and automation: With AI integration now supporting predictive insights on software usage trends, teams can better anticipate software needs and automate routine tasks, further driving efficiency.
- Enhanced vendor management: As vendor relationships become more complex, EZO AssetSonar now includes deeper vendor performance tracking, helping teams negotiate better contracts and avoid overpaying.
Watch for:
While AssetSonar offers comprehensive integrations, it may be slightly smaller compared to some SaaS-only SAM tools. However, custom workflows and APIs can address most integration gaps. New users may need some time to fully leverage the tool’s capabilities, especially around customization.
Notable:
EZO AssetSonar is built for organizations where IT operations go beyond dealing with just software. It also deals with hardware and physical assets. It offers a hybrid approach, which is useful for IT teams that manage a hybrid environment (on-prem and cloud-based), offering complete IT asset visibility across the entire IT ecosystem.
2. Flexera One: Best for Enterprises Needing Deep ITAM and SAM Integration
Best for:
Flexera One is a SAM tool that is best suited for large enterprises with vast hybrid environments (on-prem + cloud + SaaS). These IT environments often require deep license analytics, vendor insights, and multi-region governance.
Strengths:
- Robust software license optimization: Flexera One can handle complex licensing models, such as Microsoft, Oracle, and SAP, across hybrid deployments, providing detailed insights into software usage.
- Integrated ITAM + SAM ecosystem: This SAM tool unifies hardware and software visibility with normalized data across systems, streamlining asset and license management.
- Advanced cost forecasting & vendor insights: Flexera One provides deep insights into vendor performance and helps procurement teams with license benchmarking, ensuring the best pricing and contract negotiations.
- Cloud and container support: It is able to track software usage in dynamic environments like AWS, Azure, and Kubernetes, providing comprehensive visibility to IT teams across all platforms.
- Audit defense & risk reduction: This SAM tool offers in-depth entitlement tracking, usage data, and compliance alignment, helping reduce the risk of costly audits and penalties.
Watch for:
One downside of Flexera One could be its significant upfront implementation effort. The pricing of this SAM tool can be higher, making it more suitable for organizations that have well-established asset governance programs.
Notable:
Flexera One is well-suited for large-scale organizations that deal with complex, multi-region operations. It is effective with software license optimization and compliance tracking, offering deep visibility into vendor contracts and usage metrics across a broader IT landscape.
3. Snow License Manager: Best for Microsoft-Centric Licensing Optimization
Best for:
IT teams that rely heavily on Microsoft products (Windows, Office 365, Azure) and need deep visibility into on-prem and cloud licensing.
Strengths:
- Deep Microsoft license modeling: Snow License Manager has built-in intelligence for managing complex Microsoft licensing rules (e.g., SaaS, perpetual, hybrid agreements). This ensures compliance and controls costs.
- SaaS + on-prem tracking: This SAM tool can track software from Office 365 to Azure, desktop software, and server applications, providing a holistic view of license usage.
- Compliance enforcement: Using this SAM tool, you can automatically flag over- or under-licensing, unlicensed installs, and missed entitlements and then ensure full compliance with licensing agreements.
- Automated discovery via SCCM and Snow agents: Snow License Manager offers complete visibility across endpoints and usage, ensuring accurate software tracking and reporting.
- Audit support: This SAM tool offers pre-built compliance reports for internal and vendor audits, reducing the risk of non-compliance penalties.
Watch for:
Snow License Manager is best suited for organizations that heavily rely on the use of Microsoft products. This means it may lack depth when it comes to non-Microsoft software and SaaS discovery.
Notable:
Snow License Manager is a powerful tool for IT teams in Microsoft-heavy environments, especially those managing large Active Directory deployments and Microsoft Enterprise Agreements. It is designed to streamline license optimization, making it easier to handle Microsoft’s complex licensing structures.
4. Zluri: Best for SaaS-First Mid-Market Teams
Best for:
Zluri is more suitable for mid-sized IT teams that are focused on SaaS visibility, usage monitoring, and license cost optimization, particularly in organizations with minimal on-prem infrastructure.
Strengths:
- Browser extension for Shadow IT detection: The good thing about Zluri is that it is able to identify unsanctioned SaaS sign-ups by tracking user behavior and login activities.
- 800+ native integrations: This SAM tool can integrate with other popular SaaS tools to analyze usage, track costs, and deprovision licenses.
- Auto-renewal alerts and spend controls: Zluri is able to track contract data, helping IT teams optimize their spend ahead of renewal periods.
- User-level insights: Zluri can monitor application usage across departments and roles, ensuring license counts are optimized based on actual needs.
- Low-lift onboarding: With Zluri, SaaS discovery is agentless and simple to deploy, which reduces the complexity of setup.
Watch for:
Zluri pays exclusive attention to SaaS and does not track on-prem software or hardware assets. However, the downside to using this SAM tool is that its license entitlement management is not as robust as that of some enterprise SAM tools.
Notable:
Zluri is perfect for IT teams that need quick, agentless discovery and optimization of their SaaS stack. It’s ideal for organizations with a cloud-first or remote-first workforce, providing visibility into software usage and spend without the overhead.
5. Torii: Best for Agentless SaaS Discovery
Best for:
If you are a part of an IT team that is looking for quick, agentless discovery of cloud applications and user activity without deploying endpoint software, then Torii is the SAM tool for you!
Strengths:
- Agentless SaaS discovery: Torii uses integrations with SSO, finance systems, and email metadata to uncover shadow apps and monitor usage.
- Lightweight setup: When you’re using Torri, your onboarding process becomes rapid as there is no need for endpoint agents or device management tools.
- Lifecycle automation: Torii supports license provisioning, deprovisioning, and approval workflows, ensuring seamless management of software access.
- Customizable workflows: This SAM tool automates onboarding/offboarding, spending approvals, and role-based access across departments.
- Centralized app catalog: Torii helps IT and procurement teams standardize and govern approved tools, reducing the risk of shadow IT.
Watch for:
The downside to using Torii is that it lacks visibility into on-prem software or hardware assets, as it only focuses on SaaS tools.
Notable:
Since Torii follows an agentless approach, it becomes ideal for fast-growing, SaaS-heavy organizations. It offers simplicity and quick setup for managing software without the need for complex installations. It is an ideal option for teams that require visibility without adding additional IT expenses.
6. Zylo: Best for Procurement Teams Managing SaaS Spend
Best for:
Zylo is best suited for procurement, finance, and IT teams in large or fast-growing organizations that are looking to centralize SaaS spend data, monitor renewals, and drive cost optimization across business units.
Strengths:
- Spend intelligence and benchmarking: Zylo provides granular views of SaaS expenses by app, team, or category to optimize spend.
- Renewal workflow automation: This SAM tool is great for tracking renewal timelines, contract owners, and triggering actions ahead of expiry, ensuring timely renewals.
- SaaS portfolio rationalization: Zylo is good at identifying overlapping or redundant tools across departments, thus helping to eliminate waste.
- App utilization trends: Zylo monitors login activity to help rightsize license counts and improve efficiency.
- Vendor engagement insights: This SAM solution offers recommendations based on peer benchmarks and contract performance to help guide negotiations.
Watch for:
Zylo has limited visibility into on-prem software and hardware, as it focuses more on SaaS spend management.
Notable:
Zylo is best compatible with organizations where SaaS procurement is decentralized across teams. It allows procurement teams to control renewals, cost reduction, and SaaS portfolio health.
7. ManageEngine AssetExplorer: Best for Blended ITAM and SAM on a Budget
Best for:
ManageEngine is a SAM tool that is best suited for small to mid-sized organizations that operate predominantly on-prem infrastructure and have a tight budget. These organizations usually operate in Windows-based environments.
Strengths:
- Integrated IT asset and software license tracking: ManageEngine integrates with both hardware and software assets, giving a holistic view of the IT infrastructure to the organization.
- SCCM and Active Directory integration for agent-based discovery: Coupled with integrations, this SAM tool enables automatic discovery of IT assets and software licenses, simplifying the tracking process.
- Built-in contract, vendor, and PO management: ManageEngine helps simplify the processes for procurement and vendor management, reducing administrative costs.
- Software metering and usage tracking for on-prem licenses: With ManageEngine deployed in your organization, you can ensure that you aren’t over-licensing or under-licensing. This allows you to better utilize your licenses.
- Cost-effective: ManageEngine is one of the more affordable SAM/ITAM tools on the market, making it ideal for organizations relying on a budget but still requiring effective asset and license management.
Watch for:
While ManageEngine AssetExplorer seems like a good fit for many organizations, it does have a few drawbacks. The solution’s user interface may sometimes feel dated compared to other modern solutions. It also has limited visibility into SaaS software and the latest technologies, as it is mainly focused on on-prem assets. Also, it offers fewer automation and customization features than other, more advanced SAM solutions.
Notable:
Organizations that are primarily focused on Windows environments would find ManageEngine AssetExplorer particularly useful, as they can leverage Active Directory and SCCM. This ITAM tool provides basic but powerful functionality for managing software assets on a tight budget. This makes it ideal for organizations that are beginning to formalize their SAM practices without making a heavy investment in enterprise-level tools.
8. ServiceNow SAM: Best for Enterprises Using the Full ServiceNow Suite
Best for:
ServiceNow SAM is suitable for large organizations that are already using ServiceNow for ITSM or CMDB, especially those that want to extend into license compliance, optimization, and audit defense, without adding another standalone tool.
Strengths:
- Tight integration with ServiceNow ITSM, CMDB, and Procurement modules: ServiceNow SAM offers integrations with ServiceNow ITSM, CMDB, and procurement modules. It also leverages the broader ServiceNow ecosystem, offering seamless connections between asset management and service management functions.
- License lifecycle automation: ServiceNow SAM is able to track entitlements, usage, and rights across departments, streamlining license management and ensuring compliance.
- Built-in audit management: This SAM solution helps teams comply with software vendors (Microsoft, Oracle, Adobe) by automating license audits and offering pre-built reports.
- Rule-based reclamation workflows: ServiceNow SAM is able to automate license recovery for unused software, ensuring no licenses are left untracked or unassigned.
- Supports hybrid licensing models: Whether you use SaaS, on-prem, subscription, or perpetual models, ServiceNow SAM can handle them all.
Watch for:
ServiceNow SAM requires organizations to fully buy into the ServiceNow ecosystem. This makes the tool less suitable for organizations that are not already using ServiceNow. The configuration and implementation process can seem complex and resource-intensive. It also has a higher cost of ownership compared to other modular or mid-market SAM tools.
Notable:
ServiceNow SAM is most compatible with large enterprises that are already using the ServiceNow platform. It is fully integrated with ITSM, offering streamlined processes and enterprise-wide visibility into license compliance and procurement. This tool is designed to scale across global teams, offering robust governance and audit-readiness capabilities.
9. Ivanti Neurons for Spend Intelligence: Best for Unified Endpoint and License Control
Best for:
Ivanti Neurons is best suited for mid-sized and large organizations, especially for the IT and security teams that want to link license usage directly to endpoint health, security posture, and automation.
Strengths:
- Combines SAM with Unified Endpoint Management (UEM): Ivanti Neurons links software license tracking with device inventory and risk posture, enabling a more comprehensive approach to asset management.
- License optimization insights: This SAM tool helps identify unused or underutilized software, which helps flag overspending and frees up license budget for the organization.
- Real-time endpoint intelligence: Ivanti Neurons provides real-time data on endpoint health and software compliance, making enforcing security and patching workflows easier.
- Automation-driven workflows: This SAM tool automates license reclamation, deprovisioning, patching, and policy enforcement, reducing manual processes and speeding up IT operations.
- Supports hybrid IT: Ivanti Neuron is able to cover SaaS, on-prem, and virtual environments, offering flexibility across cloud and on-prem assets.
Watch for:
Ivanti Neurons works best and offers great value to organizations when it is used with other Ivanti Neurons modules like UEM, Discovery, and Security. The user interface and reporting features may require additional configuration to meet audit-grade requirements. It is not ideal for organizations that are looking for a SaaS-only SAM solution.
Notable:
Ivanti Neurons for Spend Intelligence is an ideal SAM tool for organizations that want to tie software licensing and endpoint management together. It is perfectly suited for teams that are looking to optimize software spend while enforcing security compliance and device health. The platform’s integration of software asset management with endpoint management offers a more unified approach to IT governance, especially in environments with complex endpoint and software sprawl.
10. Certero: Best for Hybrid Environments with On-Prem and Cloud Licensing
Best for:
Certero is best suited for organizations operating in hybrid environments with both on-prem and cloud-based software and hardware, seeking unified visibility and license optimization.
Strengths:
- Unified hybrid IT asset management: Certero offers a clear, centralized view of all IT assets, regardless of whether they are on-prem, cloud, or hybrid.
- Advanced license optimization: This SAM solution provides powerful analytics for tracking software usage, license consumption, and entitlements to ensure compliance and optimize spend.
- Cloud and on-prem software tracking: Whether it’s software in the cloud, on-prem servers, or physical devices, Certero integrates seamlessly to provide complete asset visibility.
- Cross-platform discovery and reporting: Certero automatically discovers software and hardware assets across multiple platforms and provides detailed, actionable reports.
- Strong compliance support: This SAM tool provides tools to help organizations stay compliant with various vendor licensing models, including perpetual, subscription, and hybrid licenses.
Watch for:
One downside of Certero is that its initial setup may require dedicated resources to integrate across all platforms, especially in complex hybrid environments. There are some features in this SAM tool, like advanced reporting, that may require more configuration or customization to fully meet specific needs.
Notable:
Certero shines in hybrid IT environments where companies must manage cloud and on-prem software. Its unified asset management and license optimization platform offers IT teams the flexibility they need to manage a mix of IT infrastructure. If your organization has a combination of cloud-based and on-prem resources and you need visibility and optimization across both, Certero is an excellent option.
11. Lansweeper: Best for Automated Discovery and Unified IT Inventory
Best for:
Lansweeper is ideal for IT teams that want comprehensive automated discovery and inventory across hardware and software assets. Its strength lies in creating a unified visibility layer, a “single source of truth”, for all connected technology in an organization.
Strengths:
- Agentless discovery & real‑time inventory: Lansweeper scans networks and endpoints without needing intrusive agents, which helps teams quickly catalog devices and installed software across environments.
- Strong compliance visibility: The platform helps teams track software usage and compliance status, reducing risk from unlicensed software or outdated installations.
- Cost‑effective solution: Compared to traditional enterprise SAM tools, Lansweeper is often more budget‑friendly, especially for mid‑sized teams and even offers plans for smaller environments.
- Broad integrations & ecosystem support: It integrates with major platforms (like Microsoft environments) to enrich inventory data and provide context across systems.
Watch for:
- Limited deep SAM capabilities: While excellent at discovery and inventory, Lansweeper’s native license optimization and advanced SAM workflows aren’t as extensive as pure SAM platforms.
- Reporting requires tech knowledge: Custom reporting often needs SQL or deeper technical familiarity.
Notable:
Lansweeper’s strength is rapid asset visibility and compliance baseline creation, making it a practical choice for teams that need quick, accurate inventory with minimal setup.
12. Freshservice: Best for Unified ITSM and SAM
Best for:
Freshservice is best suited for IT teams looking to combine service management with asset and software tracking seamlessly. It’s especially effective in environments where ITSM processes and asset workflows overlap.
Strengths:
- Integrated ITSM + SAM: Freshservice doesn’t just track software licenses; it ties them into incident, change, and lifecycle workflows, giving a broader operational context.
- Cloud‑native & intuitive UI: The SaaS‑based, web/mobile interface is easier for teams to adopt compared to many on‑prem enterprise solutions.
- Automated discovery & CMDB linkage: Freshservice builds a CMDB with relationships and dependencies that strengthen asset context for software compliance and usage reporting.
Strong user satisfaction: With consistently high ratings (e.g., ~4.5/5 on review sites), users often cite its ease of use and integration flexibility.
Watch for:
- Asset depth varies by plan: Advanced SAM capabilities may require higher‑tier plans or plugins.
- Complex enterprise scenarios: Extremely large or heavily customized environments might need more specialized SAM tools for deep license optimization.
Notable:
Freshservice shines when service workflows and asset governance must work together, especially for teams already leveraging ITSM frameworks.
13. InvGate Asset Management: Best for Unified Asset Tracking and Automation
Best for:
InvGate Asset Management is great for organizations that want a unified ITAM platform with strong tracking, automation, and integration capabilities across hardware, virtual, and cloud assets.
Strengths:
- Unified inventory across environments: Automatically discovers and tracks assets (physical, virtual, cloud) and centralizes data for full visibility.
- Integrated SAM insights: It includes basic license tracking and usage visibility, helping teams stay compliant and track renewals.
- Strong integrations: Works with Microsoft environments, Intune, Active Directory, and ITSM tools to connect asset data across systems.
- Ease of implementation: Users report a relatively fast setup with a clean interface and straightforward workflows.
Watch for:
- Learning curve & customization limits: Some teams report limits around deep customization and advanced SAM enterprise workflows relative to larger SAM suites.
Pricing for smaller teams: Pricing structures can be a constraint for smaller organizations without mid‑market needs.
Notable:
InvGate is a solid choice when broad asset lifecycle, CMDB, and automation workflows are needed alongside software license insights. Check EZO AssetSonar vs NinjaOne ITAM vs InvGate ITAM comparison here to understand which mid-market ITAM platform delivers the most complete visibility & control.
14. Oomnitza: Best for Enterprise‑Scale Lifecycle and Workflow Automation
Best for:
Oomnitza excels for enterprises needing comprehensive lifecycle management and automation that connects software assets, hardware, SaaS, cloud, and business workflows into one platform.
Strengths:
- Centralized “single source of truth”: It unifies disparate asset data into a consolidated, actionable inventory across device, SaaS, and cloud assets.
- Low‑code automation engine: Teams can automate complex processes (audit prep, onboarding/offboarding, license reclamation) without heavy scripting.
- Extensive integrations: With thousands of connectors, it pulls data from existing IT and business systems to ensure accuracy and minimize duplication.
- Enterprise focus: Built for complex hybrid environments with deep lifecycle and policy automation support.
Watch for:
- Implementation & cost: The platform’s broad capabilities mean higher investment and longer ramp‑up periods compared to simpler SAM tools.
- UI and performance perceptions: Some users note that advanced configuration and large datasets can feel complex and require strong technical support.
Notable:
Oomnitza is ideal for organizations that need technology asset automation at scale, especially where asset and workflow automation must align with security, compliance, and finance systems.
15. SolarWinds Service Desk: Best for ITSM‑Integrated Asset and License Tracking
Best for:
SolarWinds Service Desk is a great choice for teams seeking strong ITSM capabilities paired with core asset and software tracking within one platform.
Strengths:
- Integrated ITSM + asset management: Built on ITIL best practices, it ties software asset tracking into incident, change, and service workflows.
- Automated discovery & lifecycle tracking: Tracks hardware, software, contracts, and warranties from deployment through retirement.
- User‑friendly interface: Praised for intuitive dashboards and easy adoption relative to complex enterprise SAM tools.
- Strong analytics & reporting: Offers configurable analytics and integrations (e.g., Slack, Teams, Power BI) for cross‑team insights.
Watch for:
- Not a pure SAM powerhouse: While robust, SolarWinds’ license optimization and entitlement tracking may not be as advanced as dedicated SAM suites.
Pricing tiers matter: Advanced SAM features typically sit in higher pricing tiers, which can be a planning factor.
Notable:
SolarWinds is especially strong for IT teams looking for an integrated service desk and asset visibility without the complexity of standalone enterprise SAM solutions.
Software asset management (SAM) solutions comparison table
Here’s a comparison table for the 15 Best Software Asset Management (SAM) Tools for IT Teams in 2026, highlighting key features, use cases, and strengths of each tool:
| Tool | Best For | Primary Coverage | Key Strengths | Watch For |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| EZO AssetSonar | Mid-market & enterprise IT teams needing cost control & Shadow IT visibility | SaaS, on-prem software, hardware (HAM + SAM) | Usage-based license optimization, strong integrations (MDM, IDP, procurement), lifecycle automation, audit readiness | Slight learning curve for advanced customization |
| Flexera One | Large enterprises with complex licensing | Enterprise SAM + ITAM | Deep license analytics (Microsoft, Oracle, SAP), vendor intelligence, cloud & container support | High cost and implementation effort |
| Snow License Manager | Microsoft-centric environments | Microsoft SAM (on-prem + cloud) | Strong Microsoft license modeling, compliance enforcement, audit reporting | Limited depth outside Microsoft ecosystem |
| Zluri | SaaS-first mid-market teams | SaaS only | Shadow IT detection, agentless discovery, renewal alerts | No hardware or on-prem coverage |
| Torii | Fast-growing SaaS organizations | SaaS only | Agentless discovery, lifecycle workflows, app catalog | No on-prem or hardware visibility |
| Zylo | Procurement & finance-led SaaS governance | SaaS spend & renewals | Spend intelligence, renewal workflows, vendor benchmarking | Limited ITAM and technical depth |
| ManageEngine AssetExplorer | Budget-conscious SMBs | On-prem ITAM + basic SAM | Cost-effective, AD & SCCM integration, contract tracking | Dated UI, weak SaaS visibility |
| ServiceNow SAM | Enterprises already on ServiceNow | Enterprise SAM (within ServiceNow) | Deep ITSM/CMDB integration, audit defense, automation | High cost, complex setup, ecosystem lock-in |
| Ivanti Neurons | Endpoint-centric IT & security teams | SAM + UEM | License + endpoint health correlation, automation | Best value only with broader Ivanti stack |
| Certero | Hybrid IT environments | SaaS + on-prem + hardware | Strong compliance, cross-platform discovery, license optimization | Setup complexity in large environments |
| Lansweeper | Rapid discovery & inventory | Hardware + software inventory | Agentless discovery, strong visibility, affordable | Limited deep SAM & license optimization |
| Freshservice | Teams combining ITSM + SAM | ITSM-centric SAM | Intuitive UI, CMDB context, strong adoption | Advanced SAM features need higher plans |
| InvGate Asset Management | Unified ITAM with automation | ITAM + basic SAM | Clean UI, fast implementation, strong integrations | Limited enterprise-grade SAM depth |
| Oomnitza | Enterprise lifecycle automation | Enterprise ITAM + SAM | Low-code automation, massive integration ecosystem | High cost, longer ramp-up |
| SolarWinds Service Desk | ITSM-led asset tracking | ITSM + asset tracking | User-friendly, ITIL workflows, analytics | Not a pure SAM powerhouse |
This table compares the top SAM tools based on their key features, helping IT managers quickly identify the best solution for their organization’s needs. The pricing tiers and integrations also give a clearer view of which tool best aligns with your IT infrastructure and budget.
How to choose the right SAM tool
Choosing the right Software Asset Management (SAM) tool starts with understanding your organization’s size, IT maturity, and software complexity. Not every SAM solution is built for the same purpose; some focus purely on SaaS discovery, while others support full license governance across software, hardware, cloud, and compliance workflows.
While the SAM tools covered above represent some of the best options available in 2026, the guide below will help you narrow down the right fit based on your organization’s needs.
For small teams and early-stage IT environments
If you’re part of a small organization or lean IT team, ease of deployment and affordability should be top priorities.
- Zluri: A good fit for SaaS-heavy teams looking for visibility into subscriptions and basic usage insights.
- ManageEngine AssetExplorer: Suitable for SMBs with Windows-centric environments that need combined hardware and software tracking.
- Lansweeper: Ideal for teams that primarily need automated discovery and inventory to establish a baseline of software visibility.
These tools are generally easier to roll out and cost-effective, but they may lack advanced license optimization, audit defense, or automation capabilities required as organizations scale.
For growing mid-market organizations
Mid-market IT teams often face the most pressure: rapid SaaS growth, increasing audit risk, tighter budgets, and lean staffing. SAM tools in this category must go beyond visibility and support optimization, automation, and integration.
- Zylo: A strong choice for organizations focused on SaaS spend optimization and procurement alignment.
- Torii: Useful for SaaS operations teams that prioritize agentless discovery and SaaS workflows.
These tools help reduce SaaS waste, manage renewals, and integrate with finance, HR, and identity systems—making them a better fit for scaling organizations.
For enterprises and highly complex IT environments
Large enterprises typically operate across multi-cloud, hybrid, and global environments, requiring deep license intelligence, compliance reporting, and automation at scale.
- EZO AssetSonar: Well-suited for enterprises, managing both software and hardware across hybrid environments, with strong cost control, Shadow IT visibility, and lifecycle automation.
- Flexera One: Designed for enterprises with complex licensing models (e.g., Microsoft, Oracle, SAP) and mature ITAM programs.
- ServiceNow SAM: Best for organizations already standardized on the ServiceNow ecosystem and CMDB.
- Ivanti Neurons for Spend Intelligence: A strong fit for enterprises combining endpoint management with license and spend intelligence.
- Oomnitza: Ideal for organizations that require advanced lifecycle automation and deep integrations across IT and business systems.
These platforms typically involve higher cost and longer implementation cycles but provide unmatched depth in governance, compliance, and automation.
A final word of advice
Regardless of company size, the right SAM tool should:
- Align with your current IT maturity
- Support the integrations you already rely on (MDM, SSO, HR, procurement, ITSM)
- Scale as your software environment grows more complex
- Help you move from reactive tracking to proactive optimization
If you’re looking for a SAM solution that balances cost control, Shadow IT visibility, automation, and hybrid asset management, EZO AssetSonar is designed specifically for modern mid-market IT teams.
Sign up for a free trial of EZO AssetSonar and take control of your software visibility, renewals, and spend—before they take control of your budget.
