If you are a one- to five-person MSP who has outgrown a free remote tool and a shared inbox, these two names come up first. Syncro and Atera solve the same problem the same way: one cloud platform that combines RMM with ticketing and billing, priced per technician rather than per device. That shared model makes this a subtler comparison than a per-device versus per-seat choice. The question is not which is cheaper at scale; it is which one fits the way your business invoices, supports Macs, and handles patching. The differences are real, if narrower than their marketing suggests, once you look past the shared RMM-plus-PSA pitch.
At a glance
| Syncro | Atera | |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing model | Per technician (user); has historically included unlimited endpoints | Per technician, tiered plans, unlimited endpoints on MSP plans |
| RMM + PSA in one | Yes | Yes |
| Invoicing & accounting sync | Strong: invoices, contracts, recurring billing, QuickBooks Online and Xero sync | Billing and time tracking; accounting integrations available |
| Remote access | Built-in remote access (Splashtop-based) plus background tools | Own remote access tool plus third-party integrations |
| Agent platforms | Windows-first; macOS supported with narrower features | Windows, macOS, Linux |
| OS patching | Policy-based Windows patching | Policy-based patching |
| Third-party patching | Via a package-manager catalog of common apps | Catalog of common applications |
| Scripting | PowerShell and batch, community script library | PowerShell, shell and a shared script library |
| AI features | Present, lower-key | Heavily emphasized |
| Best fit | Break-fix and MSP shops that invoice heavily from the platform | MSPs that want a polished, quick-to-start all-in-one |
Plan structures change; check both vendors’ pricing pages for the current tier matrix.
Pricing: similar models, different gates
Both charge per technician and neither punishes you for adding endpoints, which suits dense, low-headcount shops. The differences lie in what each tier unlocks. Atera gates some features, such as advanced patching controls, network discovery and certain AI features, behind higher plans; Syncro has shifted its plan structure over time, so confirm exactly what the entry tier includes today. Because both are per seat, the maths from our per-technician vs per-device pricing guide applies equally: the more endpoints each tech covers, the better either one looks.
A practical tip: count every login you will need, not just full-time technicians. Owners, a part-time bookkeeper who raises invoices, and contractors each need a seat on both platforms.
Billing and the business side
This is where Syncro pulls ahead. It grew up as a tool for shops that bill for everything: break-fix labour, recurring contracts, product sales and prepaid blocks of hours. Ticket time flows into invoices, recurring invoices run automatically, and the accounting sync with QuickBooks Online and Xero is mature. If your revenue still includes a lot of hourly and project work, Syncro removes real admin time.
Atera covers ticketing, time tracking and billing reports competently, but it is less of an invoicing engine. Shops that bill a flat monthly fee per user or device, and rarely invoice ad hoc labour, will not feel that gap much.
RMM depth, patching and platforms
Atera is the more rounded RMM. Its macOS and Linux agents cover more of what you need day to day, the interface is quicker to learn, and patch policies are straightforward to set per client. Syncro’s RMM is capable on Windows (policies, monitoring, scripting, patching) but thinner on Macs, which matters if you support design studios or mixed offices.
For patching, both handle the monthly Windows cycle and common third-party apps. Neither offers the depth of ring management and reporting you get from a patch-first tool; if patch compliance reports are a selling point, read Action1 vs NinjaOne and our monthly patching routine.
Remote access
Syncro includes Splashtop-based remote access in its plans, along with background tools (file browser, process list, services, registry) that let you fix many problems without taking over the user’s screen. Atera ships its own remote access tool and integrates with several third-party remote products. Both work; Syncro’s bundled approach means one fewer vendor to manage.
Security and control
Both support MFA for technicians and role-based permissions. Roles in both are adequate for a small team but less granular than enterprise-focused platforms. Whatever you choose, work through securing your RMM: mandatory MFA, separate admin identities, and a weekly look at the audit log.
Where each one frustrates
Syncro: macOS coverage lags Windows, the interface shows its age in places, and plan changes over the years have left some long-time users unsure what their tier includes.
Atera: invoicing is lighter, higher tiers are needed for some features small shops still want, and the strong AI emphasis is not to everyone’s taste.
The verdict
Pick Syncro if you invoice a lot of hourly, project and product work, you want tight QuickBooks Online or Xero sync, the clients you support are mostly Windows offices, and bundled remote access appeals to you.
Pick Atera if you support a meaningful number of Macs or Linux machines, you want a cleaner and faster onboarding experience for new technicians, your revenue is mostly flat monthly agreements, and you value a more rounded RMM over a stronger invoicing engine.
Either way, trial with a real client’s device mix and send a real invoice through the system before you commit; moving agents and billing history later is a painful weekend.
Read more
Full reviews: Syncro and Atera. Compare a per-device alternative in NinjaOne vs Atera, and browse the RMM software category for the wider field. Our evaluation criteria are on the methodology page.