Datto RMM vs Tactical RMM (2026): which should you pick?
As of Nov 13, 2026, Datto RMM grades higher than Tactical RMM: 2.0 against 1.8 out of 4.0.
Checked Nov 13, 2026 · graded Nov 13, 2026 by ToolGPA
Datto RMM grades higher on ease of use and platforms. Tactical RMM grades higher on the free plan. They get the same grade on value for money and features.
Price, platforms and features side by side. The table says where each price was read and when.
Datto RMM
Cloud RMM for MSPs and IT departments, with Microsoft 365 tools
Tactical RMM
Source-available RMM with remote control, scripting and patching
Which one is for you
Pick Datto RMM if
- Fits if you run IT for several clients and want policy-based automation
- Works for a team on Microsoft 365 and Intune
Look elsewhere if
- Not for you if you want a published price: you have to request one
- Skip it if you manage many Linux machines and want browser remote control, which covers Windows and macOS
- Watch out: ransomware detection needs its own licence and runs on supported Windows devices
- Watch out: Kaseya also sells Datto RMM inside its Kaseya 365 Endpoint subscription, so the buying route can differ
Pick Tactical RMM if
- Fits if you are an MSP or IT team that can run its own server
- Works for small shops that want to read the source of the tool they run
Look elsewhere if
- Skip it if you can't host and secure a server, since that is on you
- Tight if you stay free, as Mac and Linux agents, signed Windows agents and SSO are paid
- Pricey if you go hosted at scale, with Business at $280 a month
- Watch out: the license is source-available, not open source, and payments are non-refundable once the key is issued
How we grade them
| 2.0GPADatto RMMFair | 1.8GPATactical RMMWeak | |
|---|---|---|
| Value for money | CNo price is published: the pricing page asks you to request pricing and says partners set their own, so there is nothing to grade and it sits at the ordinary C. | CFree only if you host it yourself, which needs a server, so this sits in the middle. Paid starts at $55 a month for up to 199 endpoints and reaches $155 a month. |
| Free plan and trial | DA trial is offered on request through a form, with its length and card rules unstated. No free plan. | CThe core is free to self-host with community support only, but Mac and Linux agents, code signing, reporting and SSO need a paid tier. |
| Features | CMonitoring, patching, policy automation, remote access, Microsoft 365 and Intune management and network discovery. The listing shows gaps: Web Remote is for Windows and macOS, and ransomware detection needs its own licence. | CRemote desktop, shell, scripting, monitoring, patching and inventory. Reporting starts at Essentials and Mac and Linux agents are paid, which are gaps in the free product. |
| Ease of use | CNo store rating on record. You deploy agents and set up policies before it is useful. | DNo rating on record, and you install, update and secure the server yourself. |
| Platforms and integrations | BWeb console with agents for Windows, Mac and Linux, and Microsoft 365, Intune and IT Glue integrations. No phone app is listed. | CWeb console and agents for Windows, Mac and Linux, with no phone app listed. |
| Best for | cloud device management for IT providers | a self-hosted RMM for a small IT shop |
The GPA is the average of the five grades: an A is 4 points, an F is none. The full reasons are on each tool's page: Datto RMM and Tactical RMM. How we grade
Where they differ
- Tactical RMM is self-hostable, according to its own site.
At a glance
| Datto RMM | Tactical RMM | |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing | Free trial | Free plan |
| Starts at | Not published | $55 per month for up to 199 endpoints, self-hosted |
| Free plan | None | Core features are free to self-host; Mac and Linux agents, code-signed Windows agents, reporting and SSO need a paid tier. |
| Free trial | Trial offered on request through a form; terms are not stated. | None listed |
| Web | ||
| macOS | ||
| Windows | ||
| Linux | ||
| Made by | Datto | Amidaware |
| Price read from | Not confirmed | tacticalrmm.com |
| Checked | Nov 13, 2026 | Nov 13, 2026 |
Worth knowing
Datto RMM
- No prices are published; the pricing page asks visitors to request pricing and says partners set their own pricing plans.
- Web Remote is described for supported Windows and macOS devices, so Linux endpoints are managed without browser remote control.
- Ransomware detection needs its own license and runs on supported Windows devices.
- Datto describes itself as a Kaseya company, and Kaseya also sells Datto RMM inside its Kaseya 365 Endpoint subscription.
Tactical RMM
- Mac and Linux agents, code-signed Windows agents and SSO are paid 'sponsorship' features, and reporting starts at the Essentials tier.
- Self-hosting means you install, update and secure the server yourself; the free tier includes community support only.
- Hosted plans have lower endpoint ceilings than self-hosted ones and cost more at higher tiers (Business is $280 a month hosted).
- The vendor calls the project source-available under its own Tactical RMM License, not open source, and payments become non-refundable once the license key is issued.
Key features
Datto RMM
- Monitoring and alerting
- Watches availability, performance, services and processes on endpoints and network devices, and can raise tickets, fire webhooks or run responses.
- Patch management
- Automates Windows patching through policies, handles macOS and Linux updates with reusable components, and updates supported third-party apps.
- Policy-based automation
- More than 500 pre-built components install apps, run scripts and monitor conditions, deployed as quick or scheduled jobs.
- Web Remote
- Browser-based remote control for supported Windows and macOS devices, with chat and PowerShell where supported.
- Microsoft 365 and Intune
- Manages Microsoft 365 users (password resets, sign-in blocks, onboarding) and supported Intune-enrolled devices from the same console.
- Network discovery
- Discovers devices across site subnets, draws topology maps and monitors network devices through SNMP and ping.
Tactical RMM
- Remote desktop and shell
- Remote desktop control that the docs call TeamViewer-like, through MeshCentral, plus a real-time remote shell and a remote file browser.
- Scripting and automation
- Run PowerShell, Python, Bash, batch, nushell and deno scripts remotely or on a schedule, with automation policies for patching and deployment.
- Monitoring and alerting
- Automated checks for CPU, disk, memory, services, scripts and event logs, with email, SMS and webhook alerts.
- Patching and inventory
- Windows patch management, software installs through Chocolatey, and software and hardware inventory for each endpoint.
- Reporting
- Customizable reports in HTML, PDF and CSV plus a live dashboard; the sponsor page ties reporting to Tier 2 and above.
Plans
Datto RMM
Pricing could not be confirmed. See datto.com.
Tactical RMM
Free (self-hosted)$0
Source-available core with unsigned Windows agents, remote control, shell, scripting, patching and alerts; community support only.
Starter$55
per month for up to 199 endpoints, self-hosted
Adds Mac and Linux agents, code signing and SSO; 48-hour email support SLA. Hosted: $65 a month for up to 100 endpoints.
Essentials$80
per month for 200 to 399 endpoints, self-hosted
Adds reporting (HTML, PDF, CSV, live dashboard); 48-hour support SLA. Hosted: $80 a month for 101 to 250 endpoints.
Professional$105
per month for 400 to 599 endpoints, self-hosted
72-hour email support SLA. Hosted: $150 a month for 251 to 600 endpoints with a 36-hour SLA.
Business$155
per month, self-hosted; custom endpoint counts
For larger fleets, with a 48-hour SLA; the docs suggest it for under 1,000 agents. Hosted: $280 a month.
Ways to pay less
Datto RMM
No public discounts listed.
Tactical RMM
- Annual discount
Yearly billing saves $60 at Starter
Self-hosted Starter is $600 a year against $55 a month ($660); the page shows a saving at each tier for paying yearly.
- Nonprofit
Free tier upgrade for nonprofits
Nonprofits get a complimentary tier upgrade with each self-hosted subscription on proof of status; it does not apply to hosted plans.
Common questions
Which is cheaper, Datto RMM or Tactical RMM?
As of Nov 13, 2026, Datto RMM has no price we could confirm, and Tactical RMM starts at $55 per month for up to 199 endpoints, self-hosted.
Which has a free plan, Datto RMM or Tactical RMM?
As of Nov 13, 2026, only Tactical RMM has a free plan. Datto RMM does not, though it has a free trial.
More comparisons
How this page was made
- The verdict at the top follows a fixed rule. When both tools are in the same category and either is in our top three for it, the verdict follows that ranking: the higher-placed tool is our pick. The top three weigh who each tool suits as well as its grades, so a pick can go against the GPA. Otherwise the page does not pick one and says which grades higher: the higher GPA first; on a tie, the one with a free plan, then the one that starts cheaper in dollars a month, counted the same way for both; if they are still level, what the choice depends on.
- The grades are our own, from each tool’s review or report card. The GPA is their average.
- Prices, plans and platforms come from each tool’s listing. The table above says where each price was read and when.
- The differences and the answers to the questions are worked out from those listings.