Software Alternatives & Startups

SolarWinds MSP Manager VS Opalstack

Compare SolarWinds MSP Manager VS Opalstack and see what are their differences

SolarWinds MSP Manager

SolarWinds MSP Manager is the easy to use web-based help desk and billing software for IT service businesses.

SolarWinds MSP Manager Landing page
Rating
0 reviews
Opalstack

Managed Hosting for developers, entrepreneurs, and businesses like yours

Opalstack Landing page
Rating
0 reviews
Note: These products don't have any matching categories. If you think this is a mistake, please edit the details of one of the products and suggest appropriate categories.

Base details

Website, pricing, platforms and company facts side by side.

SolarWinds MSP Manager
Opalstack
Website n-able.com opalstack.com
Pricing
Listed in

Features and specs

What each product offers, as listed by its team.

SolarWinds MSP Manager 6 features
Opalstack 5 features
  • Ease of Use
    SolarWinds MSP Manager features an intuitive interface, making it straightforward for users to navigate and manage their tasks efficiently without a steep learning curve.
  • Ticket Management
    The platform offers robust ticket management capabilities, allowing MSPs to track, prioritize, and resolve customer issues effectively.
  • Integration Capabilities
    It integrates seamlessly with other tools and platforms, improving overall workflow and data synchronization across various services.
  • Mobile App
    The mobile application allows technicians to access the system and complete tasks on-the-go, enhancing flexibility and productivity.
  • Reporting Features
    Comprehensive reporting features enable detailed insights into business performance, helping MSPs make data-driven decisions.
  • Customer Management
    Efficient customer management tools help in maintaining and tracking client information, ensuring quality customer service.

Possible disadvantages

  • Limited Customization
    Some users might find the customization options lacking, with limited scope to tailor the platform to specific business needs.
  • Price
    The cost of subscribing to SolarWinds MSP Manager can be prohibitive for smaller MSPs or those with tighter budgets.
  • Performance Issues
    There have been occasional reports of performance issues, such as slow loading times, which can affect productivity.
  • Learning Curve for Advanced Features
    While the basic interface is user-friendly, mastering more advanced features may require a learning period and potentially additional training.
  • Support Quality
    Some users have reported that customer support can be slow to respond and not always helpful in resolving complex issues.
  • Developer-Friendly Hosting
    Opalstack is designed with developers in mind, offering SSH access, Git integration, and support for multiple programming languages and frameworks including Python, Node.js, Ruby, and PHP, giving developers granular control over their hosting environment.
  • Affordable Pricing
    Opalstack offers competitive pricing for shared and managed hosting plans, making it an accessible option for small businesses, freelancers, and individual developers who need robust features without enterprise-level costs.
  • Modern Control Panel
    Opalstack provides a clean, modern, and intuitive web-based dashboard for managing sites, applications, databases, and email accounts, which is a significant improvement over older-style hosting control panels like cPanel.
  • Strong Support for Multiple Applications
    The platform supports a wide variety of application types including WordPress, Django, Flask, Express, static sites, and more, allowing users to host diverse projects on a single account with easy deployment.
  • Reliable Infrastructure and Support
    Opalstack is built by former WebFaction team members, bringing experienced hosting expertise. They offer responsive customer support and a reputation for stable, well-managed server infrastructure with good uptime.

Possible disadvantages

  • Smaller Community and Ecosystem
    Compared to major hosting providers like DigitalOcean, AWS, or even shared hosts like SiteGround, Opalstack has a smaller user base, which means fewer community tutorials, third-party guides, and forum discussions available for troubleshooting.
  • Limited Scalability Options
    Opalstack is primarily a shared hosting provider, which means it may not be the best choice for high-traffic applications or projects that require rapid, on-demand scaling of resources like CPU, RAM, or storage.
  • Not Ideal for Beginners
    While developer-friendly, Opalstack's approach can be intimidating for non-technical users. Setting up applications often requires familiarity with the command line and server configuration, which may not suit those looking for simple one-click solutions.
  • Limited Data Center Locations
    Opalstack offers a relatively small number of data center locations compared to major cloud providers, which may result in higher latency for users targeting audiences in regions not well-served by the available server locations.
  • Fewer Managed Services and Add-ons
    Unlike larger hosting platforms, Opalstack lacks a wide range of managed add-on services such as built-in CDN integration, managed backups with granular restore options, or one-click SSL management that more mainstream providers offer out of the box.

Analysis

An editorial look at what each product does well and who it suits.

SolarWinds MSP Manager
Opalstack

Overall verdict

  • Overall, SolarWinds MSP Manager is considered a good choice for managed service providers looking for a comprehensive service management solution. It offers valuable features that help MSPs improve service delivery and customer satisfaction while optimizing their internal processes.

Why this product is good

  • SolarWinds MSP Manager, now part of N-able, is a cloud-based service management software focused on helping managed service providers (MSPs) deliver efficient and effective services to their clients. It is designed to streamline operations with features like trouble ticketing, customer management, billing, and reporting. The platform is appreciated for its user-friendly interface, integration capabilities, and mobile access, which enable technicians to work efficiently, both onsite and remotely.

Recommended for

  • Small to medium-sized managed service providers in need of a cloud-based management solution
  • MSPs looking to improve their service efficiency with integrated billing and ticketing systems
  • Service providers seeking a customizable and scalable platform with mobile access for field technicians

Overall verdict

  • Opalstack is a solid choice for developers and tech-savvy users seeking an affordable, flexible control panel hosting solution with good performance and transparent pricing, though it may require more technical know-how than mainstream cPanel hosts.

Why this product is good

  • Uses a custom lightweight control panel that's fast and efficient compared to resource-heavy alternatives like cPanel
  • Offers straightforward, transparent pricing without hidden fees or aggressive upselling
  • Provides SSD storage and solid server performance for the price point
  • Supports multiple app types including Python, Node.js, and various frameworks beyond typical PHP hosting
  • Founded by the original creators of WebFaction, bringing significant hosting industry experience
  • Good for running multiple websites/apps under one account with granular resource control
  • Responsive customer support with a knowledgeable team
  • No long-term contracts required, allowing flexibility

Recommended for

  • Developers who need support for Python, Node.js, or other non-PHP applications
  • Users comfortable with a more technical, non-cPanel control panel interface
  • Small businesses or freelancers hosting multiple websites who want granular control
  • Former WebFaction users looking for a similar service after its shutdown
  • Budget-conscious users who want VPS-like flexibility without full server management
  • Users who prioritize transparent pricing over bundled marketing extras

Videos

Walkthroughs and reviews on video.

SolarWinds MSP Manager 1 video + Add
Opalstack 0 videos + Add

SolarWinds MSP Manager

No Opalstack videos yet. You could help us improve this page by suggesting one.

Category popularity

How often each product is chosen within a category, 0–100% relative to the other.

Score bands 0–20 21–40 41–50 51–60 61–100
SolarWinds MSP Manager
Opalstack
100% 100%
0% 0%
0% 0%
100% 100%
100% 100%
0% 0%
0% 0%
100% 100%

User comments

Share your experience with using SolarWinds MSP Manager and Opalstack. For example, how are they different and which one is better?

Log in or Post with

Alternatives to SolarWinds MSP Manager and Opalstack

When comparing SolarWinds MSP Manager and Opalstack, you can also consider the following products.

  • Atera

    Atera is reinventing the world of IT by harnessing AI to power our all-in-one Remote Monitoring and Management (RMM), Helpdesk, Ticketing, and automations platform—streamlining organizational IT management at scale with our proprietary Action AI™.

    Compare Atera to SolarWinds MSP Manager or Opalstack:

  • Freshdesk

    Freshdesk is a cloud-based customer support software that lets you support customers through traditional channels like phone and email, social channels like Facebook and Twitter, and your own branded community

    Compare Freshdesk to SolarWinds MSP Manager or Opalstack:

  • NinjaOne

    NinjaOne (Formerly NinjaRMM) provides remote monitoring and management software that combines powerful functionality with a fast, modern UI. Easily remediate IT issues, automate common tasks, and support end-users with powerful IT management tools.

    Compare NinjaOne to SolarWinds MSP Manager or Opalstack:

  • Kaseya VSA

    Kaseya VSA is a software used in remote monitoring, information technology management, cloud-based and network security resolution that gives functionalities and tools to IT enterprises and Managed Service Providers (MSP) to enable systems to become…

    Compare Kaseya VSA to SolarWinds MSP Manager or Opalstack:

  • ServiceNow

    ServiceNow automates and manages global enterprise service relationships. Create a single system of record for enterprise services, automate manual tasks, consolidate legacy ITIL systems.

    Compare ServiceNow to SolarWinds MSP Manager or Opalstack:

  • Zendesk

    Zendesk is a beautiful, lightweight help-desk solution.

    Compare Zendesk to SolarWinds MSP Manager or Opalstack: