Top 6 Electric.AI competitors & alternatives in 2025

Published

Apr 24, 2025

Managing IT for a growing business can feel like trying to herd cats. Between onboarding new employees, keeping devices secure, supporting users with tech issues, and managing a growing stack of software, IT teams often find themselves overwhelmed with demands from all directions. That's why many companies turn to comprehensive IT management solutions to streamline their operations. 

Electric.AI is one of these platforms that can help businesses tackle their technology challenges, but is it the right fit for your team? While it offers some compelling features, many organizations find themselves looking for alternatives that better suit their specific needs, budget constraints, or growth plans. 

In this piece, we'll take a closer look at Electric.AI and its top competitors to help you make informed decisions about which platform best supports your team's unique requirements.

What is Electric.AI?

Electric.AI is an IT management platform designed specifically for small and medium-sized businesses that combines technology with human support. The software focuses on automating routine IT tasks while providing access to IT specialists for more complex issues. 

Key features include:

  • AI-powered IT assistance through Gigawatt, their IT assistant
  • Device management for Windows and Mac 
  • Security policy implementation and monitoring with integrated cybersecurity solutions
  • HR integration for employee onboarding and offboarding automation
  • Application provisioning and management
  • Hardware procurement and lifecycle management

Pros and cons of Electric.AI

Before exploring alternatives, it's worth understanding what Electric.AI does well and where it might fall short for certain organizations.

Pros of Electric.AI

Device management capabilities 

Electric.AI's MDM capabilities allow for remote management of company devices across macOS and Windows platforms, with features like remote lock/wipe capabilities and security policy implementation.

Streamlined employee lifecycle management

The platform connects IT processes with employee status changes, helping coordinate technology provisioning during hiring and ensuring proper access removal during departures, which can reduce security risks.

Hardware procurement and lifecycle management

Electric.AI provides a hardware store with brand-agnostic device options and manages the entire lifecycle from purchase through warehousing, shipping, and eventually device returns or reassignments.

Drawbacks of Electric.AI

Tiered support complexity

The multi-level support system introduces potential delays in resolving IT issues as customers must first interact with a Level 1 agent who then determines if escalation is necessary. This triage process might feel bureaucratic and frustrating for users seeking immediate and direct resolution to their technical challenges.

Implementation challenges

Some users on G2 report that setup requires more time and resources than initially expected, with some mentioning configuration difficulties when integrating with existing systems.

Workflow efficiency considerations

Organizations should evaluate how Electric.AI's processes align with their specific operational needs. Some teams may find that the platform's approach to automation requires more ongoing attention and management than initially expected, potentially affecting IT resource allocation.

Reasons to consider alternatives to Electric.AI

While Electric.AI works well for many businesses, there are several common reasons why organizations look for alternatives:

1. High cost of ownership

Electric.AI's pricing model, which typically charges a fixed fee per employee per month, can become expensive as your team grows. For businesses with many employees but relatively straightforward IT needs, this cost structure might not deliver sufficient value. Many alternatives offer more flexible pricing options, including tiered models that can be more cost-effective at scale.

2. Limited scalability options

Some organizations find that Electric's standardized approach works well up to a certain size, but becomes limiting as they grow more complex. Companies expanding internationally, adopting specialized workflows, or operating in highly regulated industries may need solutions with more advanced customization and governance capabilities.

3. Support structure considerations

Electric.AI utilizes a multi-tiered support model delivered primarily through chat platforms with a team of about 100 IT specialists. For most routine issues, this structure works, but some organizations might need to evaluate whether this approach meets their expectations for all types of IT challenges.

Top 6 Electric.AI competitors and alternatives

If you're considering alternatives to Electric.AI, these six platforms offer compelling features that might better match your organization's specific needs:

1. Rippling

Rippling takes a fundamentally different approach to IT management by unifying it with HR, payroll, and other workforce operations. This integrated platform allows you to manage employees and their technology from a single system.

Key features

  • Automated employee onboarding and offboarding across all systems and devices
  • Unified identity management that connects HR changes to IT access
  • Comprehensive device management for Windows, Mac, iOS, and Android
  • App management with over 600 pre-built integrations
  • Security policy enforcement based on employee attributes like role, department, or location
  • Inventory management with hardware procurement and lifecycle tracking

Rippling is best for organizations that want to eliminate silos between HR and IT, creating automated workflows that connect employee changes to device and access management. 

2. NinjaOne

NinjaOne is a cloud-based remote monitoring and management (RMM) platform designed for internal IT teams and managed service providers.

Key features

  • Endpoint monitoring and management
  • Automated patch management 
  • Remote access and control capabilities
  • Backup management integration

3. Atera

Atera is an IT management platform that combines remote monitoring and management with professional services automation (PSA) in a single solution.

Key features

  • AI-powered helpdesk functionality
  • Patch management capabilities across Windows, Mac, and Linux
  • Network discovery and security scanning features
  • Multiple remote access options

4. Zluri

Zluri takes a SaaS-focused approach to IT management, with particular emphasis on discovering, managing, and optimizing cloud applications across the organization.

Key features

  • SaaS discovery and management
  • Application usage analytics and optimization
  • Automated user onboarding and offboarding 
  • Vendor management and contract tracking

5. Kandji

Kandji is a modern Apple device management platform designed specifically for organizations that primarily use Mac, iPad, iPhone, and Apple TV devices.

Key features

  • Zero-touch deployment for Apple devices
  • Advanced security controls and compliance templates
  • Self-service portal for end users
  • Integration with Apple Business Manager

6. IBM Maas360

MaaS360 is IBM's unified endpoint management solution, offering enterprise-grade security and management capabilities for organizations with complex compliance requirements.

Key features

  • Granular policy management
  • AI-driven security analytics
  • Identity-based access controls
  • Containerization for BYOD environments

How to choose the right alternative to Electric.ai

Selecting the optimal IT management solution requires careful consideration of your organization's specific needs and priorities. Here are the key factors to evaluate:

Centralized device management

Look for a solution that can manage all the device types in your environment from a single console. Consider whether you need specialized capabilities for particular operating systems (like Apple devices) or whether a more general-purpose platform will suffice. The best solutions offer granular policy controls while making management simple and consistent across different device types.

Comprehensive reporting and analytics

Effective IT management requires visibility. Evaluate each platform's reporting capabilities to ensure you'll have access to the metrics and insights that matter most to your organization. Look for customizable dashboards, automated report generation, and the ability to track trends over time for resource planning and optimization.

Integrated help desk support

Consider how the platform handles employee IT issues. Some solutions provide integrated ticketing systems with automation capabilities, while others focus on self-service options or integration with third-party helpdesk tools. The right approach depends on your support team structure and how you prefer to manage employee requests.

Seamless onboarding process

Employee onboarding and offboarding are often the most time-consuming aspects of IT management. Evaluate how each platform handles these processes, with particular attention to automation capabilities. The best solutions connect HR events directly to IT actions, automatically provisioning or deprovisioning accounts and devices when employment status changes.

Compatibility across platforms

Ensure the solution works well with your existing technology stack. Look beyond basic compatibility to consider the depth of integration with your critical systems. Solutions with pre-built integrations and robust APIs will be easier to incorporate into your environment and more likely to deliver the automation benefits you're seeking.

Streamline Your IT Management with Rippling

Comparing Electric.AI alternatives, Rippling stands out for its unique approach that unifies IT management with workforce operations. Unlike traditional IT management platforms that operate in isolation, Rippling connects your people data with your IT systems to create powerful automation opportunities.

With Rippling, when an employee joins your company, changes roles, or leaves, their device setup, application access, and security policies automatically update accordingly—no manual intervention required. This integration eliminates the silos between HR and IT that often lead to security risks, operational inefficiencies, and poor employee experiences.

Rippling's IT management capabilities include:

  • Unified identity and access management that automatically provisions and deprovisions accounts across all your systems
  • Comprehensive device management with zero-touch deployment, security policy enforcement, and inventory tracking
  • App management for over 600 popular business applications with role-based access control
  • Security policy automation based on employee attributes like department, location, or role
  • Inventory management with automated procurement, retrieval, and secure storage options

For organizations seeking an alternative to Electric.AI that delivers both powerful IT management capabilities and unprecedented automation through HR integration, Rippling provides a modern solution that scales with your business.

FAQs about Electric.AI competitors

What are the main alternatives to Electric.AI for small businesses?

Popular alternatives include Rippling, Atera, and NinjaOne. Each offers different pricing models and feature sets tailored to various business needs.

How do most IT management solutions handle onboarding and implementation?

Implementation processes vary significantly between platforms. Some offer guided onboarding with dedicated specialists, while others provide self-service resources. Ask about average implementation timelines, training requirements, and whether professional services are included or add-on costs.

What security features are important in IT management platforms?

Look for multi-factor authentication, role-based access controls, data encryption, compliance certifications, and security monitoring capabilities. The platform should help enforce your security policies rather than creating additional vulnerabilities.

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

Disclaimer: Rippling and its affiliates do not provide tax, accounting, or legal advice. This material has been prepared for informational purposes only, and is not intended to provide or be relied on for tax, accounting, or legal advice. You should consult your own tax, accounting, and legal advisors before engaging in any related activities or transactions.

last edited: April 24, 2025

Author

The Rippling Team

Global HR, IT, and Finance know-how directly from the Rippling team.