The Real Cost of Switching RMMs and How Level Makes It Easier

Remote Monitoring and Management (RMM) platforms are the backbone of IT operations for Managed Service Providers (MSPs) and internal IT teams. They handle everything from deploying software and tracking issues to managing thousands of endpoints and automating workflows. But switching from one RMM to another is often more complex and costly than it appears.

The “cost of entry” into a new RMM ecosystem goes far beyond just licensing fees. It affects every part of your business, including staff retraining, data migration, downtime, and client impact. Many RMM vendors focus on flashy demos and feature checklists, but successful transitions depend on minimizing friction at every step.

In this analysis, we break down the hidden and overt costs of switching RMMs and explain how Level’s platform is specifically designed to reduce these barriers. The result is a faster, smoother, and less disruptive migration experience that respects your team’s time and keeps your clients happy.

What Does “Cost of Entry” Mean in the RMM World?

When IT leaders talk about the cost of entry for switching RMM platforms, they mean the total investment, both financial and operational, required to make the move. This includes direct expenses like licensing fees, onboarding charges, and overlap in billing cycles. More importantly, it includes indirect costs that often go unnoticed but can have a larger impact:

• Lost productivity during transition
• Longer staff learning curves
• Automation breakdowns and workflow interruptions
• Client dissatisfaction or escalated tickets

In many cases, teams underestimate these indirect costs. To make an informed decision, it’s crucial to consider the full picture.

1. Financial Costs: Transparent Pricing Matters

Many legacy RMMs use complicated pricing structures with per-agent fees, forced bundles, add-ons, and costly onboarding services. This makes budgeting a challenge. You might think you’re paying for software but end up covering hidden training costs or multi-year contracts.

Level approaches pricing differently. We offer flat-rate, transparent pricing without surprises. There are no hidden fees or mandatory bundles, and onboarding is included at no additional cost. Our month-to-month billing eliminates the pressure of paying for two platforms during migration.

This simplicity helps MSPs plan budgets more effectively and reduces the financial risk associated with switching.

2. Time and Labor: Faster Ramp-Up Means Real Savings

Switching RMM platforms always requires time. Even experienced technicians need to learn new interfaces, workflows, and system quirks. Traditional RMMs often slow teams down with cluttered UIs, inconsistent navigation, and fragmented settings.

Level is built for fast adoption. Our intuitive user interface reduces the learning curve, and clear documentation supports technicians every step of the way. We provide pre-built automation templates and streamlined agent deployment that minimizes manual setup.

Real-world data shows that MSPs switching to Level typically onboard their teams in under one week, compared to two to four weeks on legacy platforms. Saving even 30 minutes a day per technician translates into over 250 hours saved annually for a five-person team, time that can be redirected toward client projects and growth.

3. Technical Risk: Smooth Migration Protects Your Business

Data loss, monitoring gaps, and automation errors during migration are common risks that can disrupt service delivery and increase downtime. Poorly managed transitions lead to missed alerts, broken automations, and frustrated clients.

Level’s migration tools focus on minimizing these risks. Our lightweight agent installation and instant policy configurations get systems up and running quickly. We assist teams in safely migrating critical data, including logs, ticket histories, and device configurations, so nothing important is lost.

Consistent alerting and built-in automation checks ensure monitoring stays reliable throughout the switch. This proactive approach helps maintain client trust and operational continuity.

4. Opportunity Cost: Migration Should Not Stall Progress

Every hour spent troubleshooting migration issues or training slows down proactive IT work. MSPs often pause initiatives such as new security deployments, patching, or client onboarding during platform changes.

Level’s migration is designed to be lightweight and unobtrusive. The faster your team is productive, the sooner they can return focus to high-value tasks. By reducing friction, Level helps prevent costly delays and keeps your business moving forward.

5. Change Management: Encouraging Adoption Through Simplicity

Resistance to new tools is a common challenge. When technicians invest months or years mastering a platform, changing systems can feel overwhelming. If the new tool is difficult or unintuitive, adoption suffers, and the benefits of switching never materialize.

Level addresses this with a clean, user-friendly interface and workflows that mirror real technician habits. Practical defaults and consistent UI patterns reduce confusion. This makes it easier for teams to embrace change and maintain productivity from day one.

6. Client Communication: Minimize Disruptions and Maintain Trust

MSPs often worry about how platform changes will affect their clients. Monitoring gaps or new workflows can lead to ticket spikes or calls for explanations.

Because Level prioritizes smooth rollouts and continuous monitoring during migration, most clients notice little or no impact. This quiet transition helps MSPs maintain their service reputation and reduce the burden on support teams.

How Level Compares: Cutting Costs Where It Counts

Legacy RMM vendors like ConnectWise Automate, Kaseya VSA, N-able, and Datto often come with hidden costs such as steep onboarding fees, contract lock-ins, proprietary scripts, or poor data export capabilities. These factors increase the time and complexity of migration, making the switch riskier.

Why MSPs Decide to Switch Despite the Challenges

MSPs rarely change RMM platforms without good reason. But the longer they stay on a legacy system that drags down technician productivity, inflates operational costs, and resists innovation, the more costly it becomes.

Common tipping points include:

• Declining platform performance and unresolved bugs
  
• Unresponsive or tiered vendor support
  
• Rising costs without improved value
  
• Increasing reliance on inefficient workarounds

When long-term usability, transparency, and reliability outweigh the convenience of staying put, MSPs look for alternatives that can keep pace with their business.

Overlooked Costs That Impact RMM Switching Success

Beyond the obvious financial and labor costs, there are hidden challenges that cause pain during migration:

• Internal Management: Resistance from technicians, rewriting standard operating procedures, and fatigue from tool changes
  
  
• Workflow Disruption: Rebuilding alerts and automations, scripting mismatches like PowerShell vs Bash, reconnecting PSA and backup tools
  
  
• Data Loss Risks: Lost notes, reset monitoring baselines, or disconnected audit logs can cause compliance exposure
  
  
• Vendor Support Gaps: Delayed responses, paywalled training, and misaligned roadmaps that fail to meet your evolving needs

Level’s platform is designed with these realities in mind. By offering fast deployment, open APIs, comprehensive documentation, and real human support, we help you avoid these pitfalls.

Final Takeaway: Switching RMMs Doesn’t Have to Be Costly or Painful

The real cost of switching RMM platforms is more than a license fee. It’s the hours lost, workflows disrupted, and stress that weighs on IT teams and clients alike.

Level was built to make switching not only possible but practical. Transparent pricing, free onboarding, fast setup, and consistent automation all combine to deliver a smooth migration experience. Our focus on usability and support means your team can move forward confidently without dragging old baggage.

If you feel stuck with outdated, expensive, or overly complex RMM software, it might be time to rethink what’s holding you back. Level offers a modern, efficient platform that respects your time and scales with your business.