Software Asset Management (SAM) manages, optimizes, and ensures compliance of an organization's software assets throughout its lifecycle. It involves tracking software licenses, usage, compliance, and costs to maximize efficiency, security, and cost savings.

Why Do We Need Software Asset Management?

Organizations need SAM for several reasons:

• Cost Optimization: Reducing unnecessary software purchases and avoiding over-licensing.

• Compliance & Audits: Ensuring adherence to software licensing agreements to prevent legal and financial penalties.

• Security & Risk Management: Ability to identify outdated, unpatched, or unauthorized software to mitigate cybersecurity threats.

• Operational Efficiency: Streamlining IT operations by managing software deployment, updates, and renewals.

• Asset Visibility: Gaining clear insights into software usage to make informed IT and budgetary decisions.

Best Practices for Software Asset Management To maximize efficiency and security, organizations should adopt these best practices:

1. Maintain an Accurate Software Inventory

• Regularly audit all software assets across the organization.

• Automated tools are used to track installations and usage.

2. Centralize License Management

• Store software license information in a centralized repository.

• Monitor compliance to avoid licensing violations.

3. Implement Usage Policies & Standardization

• Define clear policies on software acquisition, usage, and disposal.

• Standardize software versions to improve compatibility and security.

4. Automate SAM Processes

• Utilize SAM tools to track and manage software assets efficiently.

• To automate compliance checks, audits, and license renewals.

5. Monitor & Optimize Software Usage

• Identify underutilized software and reclaim unused licenses.

• Shift to cost-effective subscription models if applicable.

6. Ensure Compliance & Prepare for Audits

• Conduct regular internal audits to ensure compliance with licensing agreements.

• Keep detailed records of software purchases, licenses, and usage history.

7. Enhance Security & Patch Management

• Regularly update and patch software to minimize vulnerabilities.

• Remove unauthorized or outdated software that poses security risks.

8. Educate & Train Employees

• Train staff on software policies, compliance requirements, and security risks.

• Promote a culture of accountability in software management.

9. Work with Software Vendors & IT Teams

• Build strong relationships with vendors for better pricing and support.

• Collaborate with IT and procurement teams to align SAM with business objectives.

10. Review & Improve Continuously

• Regularly assess SAM effectiveness and refine policies.

• Use data analytics to drive software procurement and optimization decisions.

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By following these best practices, organizations can enhance cost efficiency, security, and compliance while ensuring effective management of their software assets. Find the guidance on specific SAM tools or implementation strategies.  

‍The Top 13 Software Asset Management (SAM) Tools for 2025

‍Introduction

In today's digital-first environment, managing software assets effectively is crucial for organizations aiming to optimize costs, ensure compliance, and improve operational efficiency. Software Asset Management (SAM) tools are vital in tracking software usage, managing licenses, and providing insights for IT budget planning. This blog highlights the top 13 software asset management tools for 2025, focusing on pricing, licensing options, feature comparison, and integrations to help businesses make informed decisions.  We've evaluated tools based on honest user feedback from G2, Gartner, and other credible sources, alongside key metrics such as market presence, licensing flexibility, integration capabilities, and ease of use.  Criteria for Selection To shortlist the top SAM tools, we considered the following criteria:

• Pricing Models: Subscription-based, freemium, enterprise pricing, etc.

• Licensing Options: Flexible licensing, enterprise agreements, and user-based models.

• Feature Set: Asset discovery, license compliance, reporting, integrations, automation.

• Ease of Use: User-friendly dashboards with intuitive workflows.

• Customer Support: Training resources and support channels are available.

• Reviews & Ratings: Insights from G2, Gartner, Forrester, and customer testimonials.

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The Top 13 Software Asset Management Tools for 2025

1. Flexera One‍

• Overview: A leader in SAM, Flexera One, offers advanced analytics for IT asset optimization.

• Pricing & Licensing: Subscription-based with custom enterprise plans.

• Best Use Cases: Large enterprises with complex IT environments.

• Pros & Cons: Robust features but steep learning curve.

• G2 Rating: 3.7/5 (40 reviews)

• Gartner Rating: 4.4/5 (682 reviews)

• Screenshot:  

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2. ServiceNow Software Asset Management

• Overview: It automates license tracking and compliance with the ServiceNow platform.

• Pricing & Licensing: Enterprise pricing with flexible modules.

• Best Use Cases: Organizations using ServiceNow ITSM.

• Pros & Cons: Provide good integration but high cost.

• G2 Rating: 4.4/5 (67 reviews)

• Gartner Rating: 4.0/5 (98 reviews)

• Screenshot:

 

3. BelManage

• Overview: A robust SAM tool providing comprehensive IT asset tracking and compliance features.

• Pricing & Licensing: Tiered pricing is based on asset volume.

• Best Use Cases: Enterprises with diverse IT environments.

• Pros & Cons: Provides good analytics. It may require extensive setup.

• G2 Rating: NA

• Gartner Rating: 4.3/5 (25 reviews) ‍
• Screenshot

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4. ManageEngine AssetExplorer

• Overview: Affordable IT asset management with basic SAM features.

• Pricing & Licensing: Freemium is available and has affordable paid plans.

• Best Use Cases: Small to medium businesses.

• Pros & Cons: Cost-effective. Limited advanced features.

• G2 Rating: 4.2/5 (230 reviews)

• Gartner Rating: 4.4/5 (1118 reviews)
• Screenshot

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5. Ivanti Neurons for ITAM

• Overview: AI-powered asset management with predictive insights.

• Pricing & Licensing: Subscription pricing with add-ons.

• Best Use Cases: Mid to large enterprises.

• Pros & Cons: Gives automation. Pricey for small firms.

• G2 Rating: 3.9/5 (187 reviews)

• Gartner Rating: 4.3/5 (299 reviews)

• Screenshot:

 

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6. Certero for Enterprise SAM

• Overview: Unified platform for managing software and cloud assets.

• Pricing & Licensing: Custom enterprise pricing.

• Best Use Cases: Enterprises with multi-cloud environments.

• Pros & Cons: Comprehensive features, requires training.

• G2 Rating: 4.3/5 (10 reviews)

• Gartner Rating: 4.8/5 (169 reviews)

• Screenshot:

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7. Asset Panda

• Overview: Mobile-friendly asset tracking tool.

• Pricing & Licensing: Subscription with per-user pricing.

• Best Use Cases: Field-based asset management.

• Pros & Cons: User-friendly. Limited enterprise features.

• G2 Rating: 3.9/5 (27 reviews)

• Gartner Rating: 4.3/5 (31 reviews)

• Screenshot:

8. Sassafras (AllSight)

• Overview: Advanced IT asset management platform focusing on compliance and lifecycle management.

• Pricing & Licensing: Flexible subscription models.

• Best Use Cases: Mid-sized to large organizations.

• Pros & Cons: It has comprehensive features. It may have a steep learning curve.

• G2 Rating: 4.7/5 (19 reviews)

• Gartner Rating: 5/5 (1 review)

• Screenshot:

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9. BMC Helix Discovery

• Overview: Advanced discovery and dependency mapping tool.

• Pricing & Licensing: Subscription with enterprise options.

• Best Use Cases: For Complex IT infrastructures.

• Pros & Cons: It provides a robust discovery feature. It requires expertise.

• G2 Rating: 4.3/5 (63 reviews)

• Gartner Rating: 4.7/5 (17 reviews)

• Screenshot:

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10. Easyvista EV Service Manager

• Overview: A flexible SAM tool offering automation and comprehensive reporting.

• Pricing & Licensing: Subscription-based with enterprise plans.

• Best Use Cases: Businesses needing scalable asset management.

• Pros & Cons: Strong reporting capabilities, may need customization.

• G2 Rating: 3.8/5 (87 reviews)

• Gartner Rating: 5/5 (1 reviews)

• Screenshot:

11. CloudNuro.ai

• Overview: SaaS management platform for deep insights into software usage, license optimization, and compliance.

• Pricing & Licensing: Provides usage-based custom pricing.

• Best Use Cases: For Enterprises managing SaaS applications.

• Pros & Cons: Powerful analytics. Specialized for SaaS.

• G2 Rating: 4.8/5 (2 reviews)

• Gartner Rating: 4.8/5 (5 reviews)

• Screenshot:‍

12. Torii

• Overview: SaaS management platform with a focus on cost optimization.

• Pricing & Licensing: Per-user pricing.

• Best Use Cases: SaaS-heavy organizations.

• Pros & Cons: Strong SaaS insights. Limited on-prem support.

• G2 Rating: 4.6/5 (164 reviews)

• Gartner Rating: 4.7/5 (39 reviews)

• Screenshot:

13. Torii

• Overview: The SaaS management platform is designed to optimize software spending and usage.

• Pricing & Licensing: provides saas portfolio-based custom pricing.

• Best Use Cases: For Organizations managing large SaaS ecosystems.

• Pros & Cons: Excellent SaaS visibility. Limited for on-prem software.

• G2 Rating: 4.5/5 (273 reviews)

• Gartner Rating: 5/5 (1 reviews)

• Screenshot:

Comparison Table of The Top 13 Software Asset Management Tools

 

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Conclusion

Choosing the right software asset management software depends on your organization's size, IT complexity, and budget. Whether you're looking for freeware in IT asset management software or enterprise-grade solutions, this list covers a range of options to suit your needs. For organizations focusing on SaaS license optimization, ‍

CloudNuro.ai offers unparalleled insights, helping you manage costs, improve security, and streamline operations. Recognized by Gartner and InfoTech, CloudNuro is your go-to solution for SaaS management.

‍Book a Demo with CloudNuro.ai to discover how we can help you optimize your software assets today!  

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