Link copied to clipboard # AWS Management Console vs AWS Systems Manager Comparison - What are their main differences? Share [ Export ](/compare/aws-management-console/aws-systems-manager/export.csv) AWS Management ConsoleAWS Systems Manager[+ Add Product](#) Pricing **AWS Management Console** No pricing available **AWS Systems Manager** No pricing available **Pricing Insights** from reviews Perceived Cost **AWS Management Console** $$$$$ **AWS Systems Manager** $$$$$ Average Discount **AWS Management Console** Not enough reviews yet **AWS Systems Manager** Not enough reviews yet Uncover valuable pricing insights from real user feedback to improve your shopping experience. See it for free Time to Implement **AWS Management Console** 6 months Based on 100 responses **AWS Systems Manager** 6 months Based on 100 responses Return on Investment **AWS Management Console** 6 months Based on 100 responses **AWS Systems Manager** 6 months Based on 100 responses **Pros & Cons** from reviews **AWS Management Console** Centralized Management (1) Cloud Services (1) **AWS Systems Manager** Automation (1) Customer Support (1) Complexity (1) Learning Difficulty (1) Integrations **AWS Management Console** [ ![Product Avatar Image](https://images.g2crowd.com/uploads/product/image/large_detail/large_detail_504423766e296a0eeef13491cb738385/amazon-aws-platform.png "Product Avatar Image") Amazon AWS Platform ](https://www.g2.com/products/amazon-aws-platform/reviews)[ View all ](https://www.g2.com/products/aws-management-console/integrations) **AWS Systems Manager** [ ![Product Avatar Image](https://images.g2crowd.com/uploads/product/image/large_detail/large_detail_cacdec8b8edeace9b3c89e0c2cded695/amazon-ec2.jpg "Product Avatar Image") Amazon EC2 ](https://www.g2.com/products/amazon-ec2/reviews)[ ![Product Avatar Image](https://images.g2crowd.com/uploads/product/image/large_detail/large_detail_504423766e296a0eeef13491cb738385/aws-cloud-development-kit-aws-cdk.png "Product Avatar Image") AWS Cloud Development Kit... ](https://www.g2.com/products/aws-cloud-development-kit-aws-cdk/reviews)[ ![Product Avatar Image](https://images.g2crowd.com/uploads/product/image/large_detail/large_detail_cacdec8b8edeace9b3c89e0c2cded695/aws-aws-cloudformation.jpg "Product Avatar Image") AWS CloudFormation ](https://www.g2.com/products/aws-aws-cloudformation/reviews)[ ![Product Avatar Image](https://images.g2crowd.com/uploads/product/image/large_detail/large_detail_b3390b4cc3d92e87d570895f7358c003/aws-lambda.jpg "Product Avatar Image") AWS Lambda ](https://www.g2.com/products/aws-lambda/reviews)[ View all ](https://www.g2.com/products/aws-systems-manager/integrations) **Ratings** from reviews Meets Requirements **AWS Management Console** **9.1** /10 Based on 39 responses **AWS Systems Manager** **8.8** /10 Based on 23 responses Ease of Use **AWS Management Console** **8.5** /10 Based on 39 responses **AWS Systems Manager** **8.1** /10 Based on 23 responses Ease of Setup **AWS Management Console** **8.8** /10 Based on 18 responses **AWS Systems Manager** **8.6** /10 Based on 13 responses Ease of Admin **AWS Management Console** **8.2** /10 Based on 16 responses **AWS Systems Manager** **8.9** /10 Based on 11 responses Quality of Support **AWS Management Console** **8.2** /10 Based on 36 responses **AWS Systems Manager** **8.4** /10 Based on 22 responses Has the product been a good partner in doing business? **AWS Management Console** **8.5** /10 Based on 17 responses **AWS Systems Manager** **8.8** /10 Based on 10 responses Product Direction (% positive) **AWS Management Console** **8.4** /10 Based on 37 responses **AWS Systems Manager** **7.2** /10 Based on 21 responses **Features** ratings from reviews Enterprise IT Management **8.5** /10 Based on 36 responses **8.9** /10 Based on 19 responses User Insights **Reviewers' Company Size** Small-Business(50 or fewer emp.) 43.5% Mid-Market(51-1000 emp.) 26.1% Enterprise(\> 1000 emp.) 30.4% Small-Business(50 or fewer emp.) 43.5% Mid-Market(51-1000 emp.) 26.1% Enterprise(\> 1000 emp.) 30.4% Small-Business(50 or fewer emp.) 28.0% Mid-Market(51-1000 emp.) 32.0% Enterprise(\> 1000 emp.) 40.0% Small-Business(50 or fewer emp.) 28.0% Mid-Market(51-1000 emp.) 32.0% Enterprise(\> 1000 emp.) 40.0% **Reviewers' Industry** [![AWS Management Console](https://images.g2crowd.com/uploads/product/image/thumb_square/thumb_square_5b5ecb6259c4c0d54368899a457a4e08/aws-management-console.jpg "AWS Management Console")](https://www.g2.com/products/aws-management-console/reviews) AWS Management Console Information Technology and Services 23.9% Marketing and Advertising 8.7% Consulting 6.5% Retail 6.5% Computer Software 6.5% Other 47.8% [![AWS Systems Manager](https://images.g2crowd.com/uploads/product/hd_favicon/1528476467/aws-systems-manager.svg "AWS Systems Manager")](https://www.g2.com/products/aws-systems-manager/reviews) AWS Systems Manager Computer Software 36.0% Information Technology and Services 28.0% Marketing and Advertising 8.0% Consulting 4.0% Printing 4.0% Other 20.0% Alternatives **AWS Management Console Alternatives** ![Freshservice](https://images.g2crowd.com/uploads/product/hd_favicon/507247d74cdb616544c2f320120749b7/freshservice.svg "Freshservice") [ Freshservice ](/products/freshservice/reviews) ![NinjaOne](https://images.g2crowd.com/uploads/product/hd_favicon/e10c660fadbf952719b697ec98bbed05/ninjaone.svg "NinjaOne") [ NinjaOne ](/products/ninjaone/reviews) ![EV Reach](https://images.g2crowd.com/uploads/product/hd_favicon/66c6b691243382736e759bc1a7adf329/ev-reach.svg "EV Reach") [ EV Reach ](/products/ev-reach/reviews) ![ManageEngine Endpoint Central](https://images.g2crowd.com/uploads/product/hd_favicon/2f2a2afbb752a606964794b3d43d3fda/manageengine-endpoint-central.svg "ManageEngine Endpoint Central") [ ManageEngine Endpoint Central ](/products/manageengine-endpoint-central/reviews) **AWS Systems Manager Alternatives** ![IBM Terraform (formerly HashiCorp Terraform)](https://images.g2crowd.com/uploads/product/hd_favicon/ee3589ca292451de15d3be359e6392cc/ibm-terraform-formerly-hashicorp-terraform.svg "IBM Terraform (formerly HashiCorp Terraform)") [ IBM Terraform (formerly HashiCorp Terraform) ](/products/ibm-terraform-formerly-hashicorp-terraform/reviews) ![ManageEngine Endpoint Central](https://images.g2crowd.com/uploads/product/hd_favicon/2f2a2afbb752a606964794b3d43d3fda/manageengine-endpoint-central.svg "ManageEngine Endpoint Central") [ ManageEngine Endpoint Central ](/products/manageengine-endpoint-central/reviews) ![Red Hat Ansible Automation Platform](https://images.g2crowd.com/uploads/product/image/thumb_square/thumb_square_7b1e34d1cfcc265beee0d9b4290461fa/red-hat-ansible-automation-platform.jpg "Red Hat Ansible Automation Platform") [ Red Hat Ansible Automation... ](/products/red-hat-ansible-automation-platform/reviews) ![NinjaOne](https://images.g2crowd.com/uploads/product/hd_favicon/e10c660fadbf952719b697ec98bbed05/ninjaone.svg "NinjaOne") [ NinjaOne ](/products/ninjaone/reviews) ## AWS Management Console vs AWS Systems Manager FAQs Generated using AI Last updated: August 15, 2026 ### What is the difference between AWS Systems Manager vs AWS Management Console? AWS Systems Manager is focused on centralized automation and management of AWS infrastructure, while AWS Management Console provides a unified interface for accessing and managing all AWS services. | [AWS Systems Manager](https://www.g2.com/products/aws-systems-manager/reviews) | [AWS Management Console](https://www.g2.com/products/aws-management-console/reviews) | | --- | --- | | 4.5/5 (26 reviews) | 4.5/5 (53 reviews) | | Enterprise | Small-Business | | 8.6 | 8.8 | | 8.4 | 8.2 | | Automation | Centralized Management | ### How do the pricing models of AWS Systems Manager and AWS Management Console compare? Reviewers rate AWS Management Console and AWS Systems Manager at parity for value, with both products scoring highly on satisfaction with pricing and cost. - **AWS Systems Manager:** In recent reviews, many highlight its ability to reduce operational costs through automation and centralized management. - **AWS Management Console:** Reviewers appreciate the pay-per-use model and centralized billing, but some note challenges in estimating costs and recommend expert oversight to avoid unexpected charges. ### What are the best alternatives to AWS Systems Manager and AWS Management Console? The top three alternatives to AWS Systems Manager and AWS Management Console are Freshservice, IBM Terraform (formerly HashiCorp Terraform), and ManageEngine Endpoint Central. | Product | G2 Rating (reviews) | Largest Segment | Pricing Insight | Top Reviewer-Cited Strength | | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | | [AWS Systems Manager](https://www.g2.com/products/aws-systems-manager/reviews) | 4.5/5 (26 reviews) | Enterprise | — | Automation | | [AWS Management Console](https://www.g2.com/products/aws-management-console/reviews) | 4.5/5 (53 reviews) | Small-Business | Pay-per-use model, centralized billing | Centralized Management | | [Freshservice](https://www.g2.com/products/freshservice/reviews) | 4.6/5 (1351 reviews) | Mid-Market | — | Service Desk Automation | | [IBM Terraform (formerly HashiCorp Terraform)](https://www.g2.com/products/ibm-terraform-formerly-hashicorp-terraform/reviews) | 4.6/5 (110 reviews) | Mid-Market | — | Infrastructure as Code | | [ManageEngine Endpoint Central](https://www.g2.com/products/manageengine-endpoint-central/reviews) | 4.5/5 (1131 reviews) | Mid-Market | — | Endpoint Management | ### Which Enterprise IT Management features should I prioritize when comparing AWS Systems Manager and AWS Management Console? Buyers should prioritize automation, centralized management, ease of setup, security, and integration capabilities when comparing AWS Systems Manager and AWS Management Console. - **Automation:** AWS Systems Manager is cited for automation in 1 all-time mention; AWS Management Console does not have automation as a top-cited strength. - **Centralized Management:** AWS Management Console is cited for centralized management in 1 all-time mention; AWS Systems Manager is not cited for this area. - **Ease of Setup:** AWS Systems Manager scores 8.6; AWS Management Console scores 8.8. - **Security:** Both products have security cited as a strength in 1 all-time mention each. - **Integrations:** AWS Systems Manager and AWS Management Console each have integrations cited as a strength in 1 all-time mention. ### What are the pros and cons of AWS Systems Manager vs AWS Management Console? AWS Systems Manager's headline strength is automation, while AWS Management Console's is centralized management. - **AWS Systems Manager strengths:** Automation (1 all-time mention), patch management (1), security (1), ease of use (1), easy integrations (1), implementation ease (1). - **AWS Systems Manager trade-offs:** Complexity (1), learning difficulty (1). - **AWS Management Console strengths:** Centralized management (1), cloud services access (1), customization (1), ease of use (1), integrations (1), pricing (1), security (1), user interface (1). - **AWS Management Console trade-offs:** In recent reviews, some note the console can be overwhelming due to the breadth of services and inconsistent UI patterns across services. ### Is AWS Systems Manager or AWS Management Console better for small businesses? AWS Management Console is the better fit for small businesses, as its largest reviewer segment is Small-Business and reviewers highlight its ease of use and centralized access. - **AWS Systems Manager:** Largest segment is Enterprise; reviewers note its automation and centralized management benefits, but also mention a steeper learning curve for newcomers. - **AWS Management Console:** Largest segment is Small-Business; reviewers consistently praise its user-friendly interface and accessibility for small teams managing AWS resources. ### Which Enterprise IT Management platform has better integrations? Reviewers cite parity between AWS Systems Manager and AWS Management Console for integrations, with both products mentioned for integration capabilities in recent reviews. - **AWS Systems Manager:** Integrations cited in recent reviews, including with Lambda, ECS, EC2, and CloudFormation. - **AWS Management Console:** Integrations cited in recent reviews, with centralized access to a wide range of AWS services and features. ### How do AWS Systems Manager and AWS Management Console compare on customer support? AWS Systems Manager and AWS Management Console are rated at near-parity for Quality of Support, with scores of 8.4 and 8.2 respectively, below the materiality threshold. - **AWS Systems Manager:** Reviewers highlight responsive support, extensive documentation, and community resources. - **AWS Management Console:** Reviewers note reliable support, helpful onboarding resources, and accessible guides, with some mentioning occasional delays in response times. ### Which is easier to implement, AWS Systems Manager or AWS Management Console? AWS Management Console and AWS Systems Manager are rated at near-parity for Ease of Setup, with scores of 8.8 and 8.6 respectively, below the materiality threshold. - **AWS Systems Manager:** Reviewers describe setup as straightforward but note that configuring private endpoints and IAM roles can be complex for new users. - **AWS Management Console:** Reviewers consistently praise its easy onboarding, intuitive interface, and quick access to AWS services, with some mentioning that the breadth of features can be initially overwhelming. ## AWS Management Console vs AWS Systems Manager When assessing the two solutions, reviewers found AWS Management Console easier to use and set up. However, AWS Systems Manager is easier to administer. Reviewers also preferred doing business with AWS Systems Manager overall. - Reviewers felt that AWS Management Console meets the needs of their business better than AWS Systems Manager. - When comparing quality of ongoing product support, reviewers felt that AWS Systems Manager is the preferred option. - For feature updates and roadmaps, our reviewers preferred the direction of AWS Management Console over AWS Systems Manager.