7 Best IT Asset Management Solutions for Small Business (2025) | Rippling

Most small business owners think they can wing it with spreadsheets and good intentions, but your tech assets have a way of multiplying faster than you can track them. 

Without proper IT asset management (ITAM), you're one lost laptop or expired license away from serious headaches and unexpected expenses.

The good news? You don't need enterprise-level complexity or budget-breaking software to get organized. 

After reviewing dozens of solutions, I've found seven that actually work for small businesses — and at the top of my list is Rippling, not just for its device tracking features, but for its revolutionary approach to linking IT asset management with employee lifecycle management. 

But as you'll see, the best choice for your business depends on your specific needs, technical sophistication, and growth trajectory.

Types of IT asset management approaches for SMBs

Before diving into specific tools, let's talk about the three main approaches you'll encounter when shopping for ITAM software.

Lightweight standalone ITAM

These tools are built mainly to keep a digital inventory of assets. They function like organized databases with features such as search and mobile access.

Tools like Asset Panda fall into this category, which usually means tracking what equipment an organization owns and who is using it.

The upside? They're sometimes affordable and easy to learn. The downside? You'll likely need other tools to handle areas like remote device management, software license tracking, or wider IT oversight.

ITAM with help-desk or discovery

These solutions step things up by adding automatic device discovery and remote management features. Instead of manually entering every piece of equipment, they can scan your network and tell you what's connected. 

Some software, like NinjaOne and SolarWinds, include remote monitoring & management (RMM), and help-desk capabilities, in addition to basic inventory management.

This approach works well if you have remote employees or want to reduce manual data entry. The trade-off is usually higher complexity and cost.

Integrated HR/IT asset platform

These platforms go beyond inventory and device management by linking IT assets directly to employee records. Instead of managing equipment as separate items, the system connects devices to the people who use them.

Rippling IT management software is a great example of this category. When a new hire joins, their laptop can be automatically assigned. When they leave, their access is revoked and equipment is flagged for return, reducing the need for manual intervention.

This approach is often best suited for growing businesses where equipment regularly changes hands between employees.

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Quick comparison: Best ITAM solutions at a glance

Methodology: How I chose these tools

I didn't just pick the most popular names or the tools with the biggest marketing budgets. Instead, I focused on what actually matters for small businesses:

• Ease of deployment and use for small teams: If it takes weeks to set up or requires dedicated IT staff to maintain, it's not right for most small businesses.

• Coverage of hardware, software, and mobile assets: Your ITAM tool should handle laptops, phones, tablets, and software licenses.

• Lifecycle support or provisioning workflows: Beyond just tracking, can the tool help with setting up new equipment or handling returns when employees leave?

• Inventory automation: Manual data entry is a time sink. The best tools discover devices automatically or make it easy to add new items with barcode scanning.

Deep dive: My full review of each ITAM solution

1. Rippling - Best overall for integrated device asset management

Why it stands out: Rippling is the only solution that natively connects IT asset management with your HR and employee data in one unified system. The platform covers these main areas, which are all powered by same employee data: 

• Identity & access management software (user provisioning, single sign-on, dynamic MFA)

• Device management software (Apple and Windows mobile device management (MDM), endpoint protection, zero-touch deployment)

• Inventory management software (shipping and retrieval, device store, global warehouses)

Rippling automates the entire user lifecycle from onboarding to offboarding with custom workflows, permission profiles, and policies. When employees join or leave, their device assignments, software licenses, and access permissions automatically update without manual intervention. 

The system includes over 600 integrations and maintains SOC 2 Type II, ISO 27001, and CSA STAR Level 2 compliance certifications.

Pricing: Custom pricing based on employee count and features needed.

Is it right for you? Ideal if you want to eliminate manual asset management work and connect everything to your employee processes. This is the clear choice for growing businesses tired of juggling multiple systems.

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2. NinjaOne - RMM with asset management

Why it stands out: NinjaOne combines IT asset management with RMM capabilities. The platform automatically discovers and manages Windows, macOS, and Linux endpoints, plus VMware and Hyper-V hosts and guests, and SNMP devices like firewalls, switches, and routers.

The software inventory feature provides live tracking of all software installations across your managed assets and can generate alerts when applications are installed or removed. You can remotely install and uninstall applications at scale, and the platform includes patch management and remote control capabilities for endpoint management.

Pricing: $1.50 per endpoint per month (10,000+ endpoints), scaling up to $3.75 per endpoint per month (50 or fewer endpoints). 

Is it right for you? Good fit if you need both asset tracking and remote device management capabilities, especially with distributed teams.

3. Asset Panda - Mobile-first asset tracking

Why it stands out: Asset Panda focuses on mobile asset tracking with a smartphone app that includes built-in barcode and QR code scanning. The app works offline when you're in areas with poor connectivity, allowing you to perform audits, assign devices, and update asset records directly from your phone.

The platform integrates with 15+ applications, including Slack, Zendesk, Okta, Microsoft Entra ID, and Google Workspace to automatically sync device information. You can configure separate accounts for different departments, locations, or clients, with custom modules for different asset types. The system tracks full asset lifecycl,e including repair history, warranty information, and automatic depreciation calculations.

Pricing: Contact for a custom quote.

Is it right for you? Solid choice if you have equipment that moves around frequently. The mobile-first approach works well for field teams or multi-location businesses.

4. ManageEngine AssetExplorer - Enterprise ITAM platform

Why it stands out: AssetExplorer offers IT asset management with both agent-based and agentless discovery methods. The platform includes a full configuration management database (CMDB) to visualize your digital infrastructure, software license management with compliance tracking, and purpose-built purchase order and contract management systems.

The platform supports barcode, QR code, and RFID scanners for asset tracking, and can auto-allocate, upgrade, or downgrade software licenses. Custom workflows and no-code automations help execute notifications and asset acknowledgements. AssetExplorer offers flexible deployment with both on-premises and cloud options, plus integrations with Microsoft 365, Lansweeper, and Zapier.

Pricing: Cloud version starts at $115/month or $1,245/year for 250 IT assets. On-premises version starts at $955/year for 250 IT assets. 

Is it right for you? Good choice if you need license compliance reporting or have complex enterprise-style requirements.

5. Reftab - Asset tracking with custody verification

Why it stands out: Reftab also offers IT asset management with a mobile approach that includes built-in barcode scanning. The platform's standout feature is custody verification — automatically contacting users to confirm they still have their assigned equipment and that it's in working order.

The tool tracks loan history, sends automated alerts for overdue returns, and handles asset depreciation using straight-line or double-declining balance methods. Integration capabilities include MDM systems like Jamf, Intune, and Kandji, plus SCIM integration with directory services like Microsoft Entra and Okta for automated provisioning.

Pricing: Starts at $62.50 annually for 250 assets, with a free tier for 50 assets. Business plan available for $125 annually for 250 assets.

Is it right for you? Good option if you want straightforward asset tracking with strong mobile capabilities.

6. Freshservice - ITSM with asset management

Why it stands out: Freshservice combines IT service management (help desk functionality) with asset management in one platform. The system includes AI-powered features through "Freddy AI" that can suggest solutions to incidents based on past tickets linked to similar assets.

The platform offers auto-discovery across legacy, cloud, and hybrid environments, plus a 360-degree CMDB with dependency mapping to assess business impact and prevent disruptions. Asset lifecycle management runs from procurement to retirement with automated onboarding, provisioning, and vendor management.

Pricing: Starts at $19/agent/month (Starter), $49/agent/month (Growth), $99/agent/month (Pro), with Enterprise requiring custom pricing. 

Is it right for you? Makes sense if you need both help desk functionality and asset management in one system.

7. Lansweeper - IT asset discovery platform 

Why it stands out: Lansweeper focuses on automated discovery and cataloging of IT assets across diverse environments. The platform can identify and track IT, OT, IoT, and cloud assets to provide visibility into your technology infrastructure.

The platform provides detailed asset intelligence with data and tracks assets throughout their lifecycle from procurement to retirement. Lansweeper includes integrations with tools like ServiceNow, Atlassian, and HaloITSM for workflow automation.

Pricing: Free tier for 100 assets, Starter from $219/month (2,000 assets), Pro from $399/month (2,000 assets with extra features).

Is it right for you? Works well if you need automated discovery across diverse IT environments and want to integrate with existing ITSM tools.

Here's a streamlined comparison focusing on key differentiators:

Which ITAM tool best fits your small business?

Based on extensive research and review of each platform:

• Choose Rippling if: You want IT asset management natively connected to employee data, with fully automated provisioning and deprovisioning.

• Choose NinjaOne if: You need both asset management and remote monitoring/management capabilities for Windows, macOS, and Linux endpoints.

• Choose Asset Panda if: You need mobile asset tracking with barcode scanning and multi-tenant configuration for different departments or clients.

• Choose ManageEngine if: You need license management, CMDB functionality, and both agent-based and agentless discovery methods.

• Choose Freshservice if: You want IT service management (help desk) combined with asset management and auto-discovery capabilities.

• Choose Reftab if: You want asset tracking with custody verification features and MDM integrations, with a free tier available.

• Choose Lansweeper if: You need automated discovery across diverse IT environments (IT, OT, IoT, cloud) with ITSM tool integrations.

Why Rippling is a top choice for IT asset management solution for small business

While other tools treat IT assets as isolated inventory items, Rippling IT management software solves the fundamental problem that keeps small business owners up at night: your people and your technology living in completely separate systems.

Here's what makes Rippling different from every other tool on this list:

• Three integrated platforms powered by one employee database: Identity & access management, device management, and inventory management all pull from the same employee data. No manual reconciliation, no data mismatches, no forgotten equipment.

• True zero-touch workflows throughout the entire employee lifecycle: When someone gets hired, their role determines their laptop specs, software licenses, and access permissions automatically. When they get promoted, their new permissions activate instantly. When they leave, everything gets locked down and flagged for return without you lifting a finger.

• Policy automation that actually scales: Create custom workflows based on hundreds of employee and device attributes (department, location, employment status, device encryption, manager approval levels). Set the rules once, and Rippling enforces them automatically across your entire organization as you grow.

• Enterprise-grade security without enterprise complexity: SOC 2 Type II, ISO 27001, and CSA STAR Level 2 compliance built in. 

• 600+ integrations that actually work together: Because everything runs on the same employee data, integrations don't break when someone changes roles or departments. Your SCIM, SAML, and custom integrations stay in sync automatically.

The bottom line? Rippling eliminates the manual busywork that forces small businesses to hire dedicated IT admin staff just to keep track of who has what. Instead of managing assets, you're growing your business.

FAQs on IT asset management for small businesses

What is the best asset management software for small businesses?

For small businesses that want IT asset management deeply tied to their people operations, Rippling is one of the most seamless options. It automatically tracks company-issued devices, software licenses, and app access across the entire employee lifecycle from onboarding to offboarding without requiring separate tools.

However, keep in mind Rippling’s ITAM capabilities are primarily focused on people-linked asset management (e.g., who has which laptop or app seat), rather than full-scale hardware lifecycle tracking or advanced procurement workflows.

Do small teams need ITAM or can they use spreadsheets?

Spreadsheets work when you have just a few devices, but they quickly become unmanageable as you grow. ITAM software prevents lost equipment, ensures license compliance, and saves time during employee transitions. The investment typically pays for itself by preventing just one lost laptop or compliance issue.

Can ITAM tools automate license compliance?

Several platforms offer license management features. ManageEngine AssetExplorer provides license tracking with auto-allocation capabilities, while Rippling automates license provisioning based on employee roles and status. The specific capabilities vary by platform.

What features matter most in IT asset management?

For small businesses, prioritize: automated device discovery, mobile access for updates, employee-asset assignment tracking, license management, and integration with your existing tools. Avoid over-complex features you won't actually use.

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This blog is based on information available to Rippling as of September 23, 2025.