Alexis Kestler
Software-as-a-service (SaaS) applications have become essential tools for businesses of all sizes. However, managing multiple SaaS solutions can be complex and costly if not optimized effectively. That‘s where SaaS management platforms come in.
SaaS management platforms provide visibility into SaaS usage and spending across your organization. They centralize management of SaaS applications to help control costs, enhance efficiency, and drive greater ROI from your SaaS investments.
In this comprehensive guide, we‘ll explore the top SaaS management platforms to help you reduce expenses and maximize the value of your SaaS apps.
The Growth of SaaS and Need for Management
Before diving into the platforms, let‘s briefly discuss the explosive growth of SaaS adoption:
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The SaaS market is projected to grow over 18% annually, reaching $220 billion by 2026 according to Mordor Intelligence.
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By 2025, over 95% of all software will be available as SaaS according to Gartner.
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The average enterprise uses over 110 SaaS apps according to Blissfully‘s 2022 SaaS Trends report.
With the rapid pace of SaaS adoption, managing all these applications efficiently has become critical for organizations. SaaS management platforms address this need.
What Are SaaS Management Platforms?
SaaS management platforms are cloud-based solutions that help organizations gain control over their SaaS applications. Key capabilities include:
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SaaS Discovery – Identify all sanctioned and unsanctioned SaaS apps used across the business
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Spend Optimization – Consolidate redundant apps, eliminate waste, rightsize licenses to usage
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Usage Monitoring – Track adoption and engagement data to optimize utilization
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Automated Workflows – Streamline processes like user onboarding/offboarding, license changes, etc.
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Renewal Management – Get alerts for upcoming renewals, automate where possible
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Reporting & Analytics – Gain actionable insights into SaaS spend, adoption metrics, and more
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Integrations – Connect with IT systems like SSO, billing, procurement, and service desks
SaaS management delivers increased visibility, improves SaaS ROI, and provides IT and finance leaders greater control over decentralized SaaS spend.
SaaS Management Benefits
Here are some of the most impactful benefits organizations realize by implementing SaaS management solutions:
| Optimize SaaS Spend | Reduce costs by 10-30% by eliminating waste and duplicative apps |
| Improve Visibility | Discover all SaaS apps in use with ongoing monitoring |
| Enhance IT Efficiency | Automate manual processes to allocate more time for strategic initiatives |
| Strengthen Security | Identify and secure unsanctioned apps that create risk |
| Better Vendor Terms | Leverage usage data to negotiate better deals |
Based on my experience, the ability to optimize SaaS spend is the biggest driver for most organizations initially. But enhanced visibility and security also rank very high in importance.
Now let‘s explore the top platforms that deliver these benefits.
Top 12 SaaS Management Platforms
1. Zylo
Zylo is an enterprise-grade SaaS management solution trusted by leading companies like DHL, VMWare, and Nokia.
Key capabilities:
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Discover and catalog all SaaS apps in use across your stack
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Continuously monitor usage and spend data
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Identify opportunities to eliminate, consolidate, or optimize licenses
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Manage renewals, provide recommendations, and benchmark pricing
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Robust reporting and analytics empower data-driven decisions
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Integrates with procurement, finance, HR, ITSM, and SSO systems
Zylo customers reduce SaaS costs by 20% on average while improving visibility and control. Pricing starts at $7 per user/month.
2. Blissfully
Blissfully focuses on actionable SaaS usage data and insights to maximize ROI.
Notable features:
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Automated discovery and monitoring of all SaaS apps
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Asset management with license details, ownership, and metadata
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Usage and spend analytics empower informed decisions
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Predictive recommendations to eliminate waste and reduce costs
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Popular integrations with Slack, Jira, Okta, and more
Blissfully customers typically save 10-25% on SaaS spend. Pricing begins at $3 per user/month.
<bar chart showing % savings from various SaaS management platforms>
3. Appigate
Appigate is a SaaS management platform with advanced discovery capabilities and rich usage analytics.
Key features:
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Discovers sanctioned and shadow IT SaaS apps across digital ecosystems
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Integrates with firewalls, proxies, endpoint agents for comprehensive visibility
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Usage analytics provide granular insights into adoption trends
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Workflow automation for user onboarding/offboarding
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Optimization recommendations based on usage and licensing data
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Built-in SSO connectivity for improved security
Appigate starts at $1 per user/month and offers a free trial.
4. AvePoint
AvePoint is a governance platform that helps manage and optimize Office 365 licenses.
Notable capabilities:
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Automates user lifecycle management in Office 365 and other SaaS apps
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Usage analytics to rightsize and reclaim inactive licenses
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Granular content ownership mapping and integration with Azure AD
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Migrate inactive users to less expensive license plans
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Workflow creation for access reviews and attestations
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Over 20 policy templates aligned to common governance needs
AvePoint is $5 per user/month. Expanded capabilities start at $8 per user/month.
5. Flexera One
Flexera One optimizes SaaS spend through rich data analysis and automation.
Key features include:
- Cloud integrations provide continuous discovery of sanctioned and unsanctioned apps
- Integrates with 60+ SaaS apps for usage and spend data
- Consolidation recommendations to eliminate duplicate capabilities
- Automate SaaS order management, provisioning, and renewals
- Usage analytics empower informed license optimization
- Intuitive dashboards and reporting across the SaaS ecosystem
Flexera One has a unique pricing model starting at $20K for up to 100 users.
6. Apptio
Apptio provides powerful cost governance across cloud and SaaS environments.
Notable capabilities:
- Automated discovery of sanctioned and shadow IT SaaS apps
- Granular cost allocation and chargeback capabilities
- Projected cost analysis for planning and budgeting
- Usage analytics to rightsize licenses and eliminate waste
- Workflow automation for offboarding and access changes
- Extensive API integrations with cloud cost management tools
Apptio starts at $0.16 per user hour. Volume discounts available.
7. Zluri
Zluri optimizes end-to-end management of your SaaS applications.
Key features:
- Discovers all SaaS apps in use with ongoing monitoring
- Usage analytics to eliminate redundant apps and rightsize licenses
- Workflow automation for user onboarding/offboarding
- Integration with identity and access management systems
- Renewals management and license optimization
- Procurement tools to streamline new SaaS purchasing
Zluri offers a free forever plan for up to 10 users. Paid plans start at $3 per user/month. Volume pricing available.
8. SaaS Optics
SaaS Optics provides easy-to-use SaaS management with data integrations.
Notable capabilities:
- Automated discovery of sanctioned and unsanctioned apps
- Integrates with Azure AD, Okta, and OneLogin for user data
- Usage analytics to inform licensing and renewal decisions
- Workflow automation for offboarding departed employees
- Renewal management with market pricing benchmarks
- Unlimited users and integrations on all plans
SaaS Optics pricing starts at $1,250/month for up to 250 employees. Enterprise pricing available.
9. SIPLO
SIPLO is a SaaS management platform focused on discovering shadow IT apps.
Key features:
- Identifies unsanctioned apps via deep packet inspection
- Agentless deployment without endpoint software required
- App risk scoring based on multiple security criteria
- Usage analytics for discovered apps
- API integrations with SIEM, firewalls, and other security tools
- Automated policy enforcement and remediation actions
SIPLO starts at $1 per user/month for SMBs. Enterprise pricing available.
10. BetterCloud
BetterCloud offers robust SaaS management capabilities for Google Workspace and Microsoft 365.
Notable features:
- Automates user lifecycle management workflows
- Usage analytics to eliminate inactive users and wasted licenses
- SSO integration provides single dashboard for management
- Configuration and permission monitoring enhances security
- Discovery of sanctioned and unsanctioned apps
- Perpetual access to audit logs and historical data
BetterCloud pricing starts at $3 per user/month. Discounts at annual billing.
