Introduction

In 2025, organizations are losing up to 35% of their SaaS spending due to poor software visibility, unused licenses, shadow IT, and auto-renewals that go unnoticed. Enter Software Asset Management (SAM) tools, the backbone of modern IT governance strategies aiming to curb unnecessary software expenses and ensure license compliance.

This guide explores the Top 10 SAM Tools for Reducing SaaS Waste in 2025, highlighting their pricing models, licensing options, feature comparisons, and integration capabilities. Our analysis is backed by insights from G2, Gartner, Forrester, and top software review platforms.

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What is Software Asset Management?

Software Asset Management (SAM) is a set of business practices and processes focused on efficiently managing and optimizing software licenses, usage, and lifecycle within an organization. It aims to maximize the value of software investments, reduce costs, and ensure compliance with licensing agreements.  

What is the SAM tool?

Software asset management (SAM) tools provide automation to support tasks required to produce and maintain compliance with independent software vendor (ISV) license use rights while improving an organization's ability to identify and optimize software risk and spend proactively.

Top 10 Software Asset Management (SAM) Tools in 2025

1. Snow Commander

Overview:
Snow Commander is a hybrid cloud management platform, Flexera, that was developed to streamline the management of complex hybrid and multi-cloud environments.  

Pricing & Licensing:

• 7-day evaluation license for prospective users

• Customized licensing plan.

Best Use Cases:

• Snow Commander will manage over 1,400 virtual machines (VMs) within their VMware vSphere cluster.

Pros:

• User-Friendly Interface

• Robust Automation

• Comprehensive Reporting

• Strong Support and Documentation

Cons:

• Initial Setup Complexity

• Cost Transparency

• Learning Curve

G2/Gartner Rating:

• G2: 4/5 - 19 Reviews

• Gartner: 3.5/5 - 10 Reviews

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2. Flexera One

Overview:
Flexera One combines SAM, FinOps, and hybrid IT governance in one platform. It helps eliminate waste by aligning entitlements with actual usage, especially across cloud and SaaS apps.

Pricing & Licensing:

• Tiered enterprise plans

• Usage-based pricing available

Best Use Cases:

• SaaS waste reduction and ITAM visibility across cloud environments

Pros:

• Strong SaaS discovery

• License optimization for cloud-heavy orgs

• Granular cost insights

Cons:

• Steep learning curve

• Higher implementation time

G2/Gartner Rating:

• G2: 3.5/5 - 40 Reviews

• Gartner: 4.5/5 - 48 Reviews

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3. Zluri

Overview:
Zluri is a modern SaaS management and SAM tool designed to uncover shadow IT, optimize app usage, and automate renewal tracking.

Pricing & Licensing:

• Custom pricing based on usage

• Tiered plans for SMB to enterprise

Best Use Cases:

• SaaS-first organizations managing 50+ apps

Pros:

• Excellent app discovery & usage analytics

• Workflow automation for deprovisioning

• Easy onboarding & integrations

Cons:

• Regional tools may need custom integrations

• Reporting customization is limited in lower tiers

G2/Gartner Rating:

• G2: 4.5/5 - 169 Reviews

• Gartner: 4.7/5 - 39 Reviews

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4. Torii

Overview:
Torii is built for proactive SaaS governance, helping IT and finance teams identify underused tools and eliminate waste before renewal cycles.

Pricing & Licensing:

• Subscription-based pricing

• Usage-based licensing

Best Use Cases:

• Automating SaaS license cleanup and policy enforcement

Pros:

• No-code workflow automation

• Real-time alerts and license insights

• Great UX

Cons:

• Limited on-prem software visibility

• Pricing may scale with the app count

G2/Gartner Rating:

• G2: 4.5/5 - 274 Reviews

• Gartner: 4.6/5 - 23 Reviews

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5. Snipe-IT

Overview:
Snipe-IT is a free, open-source asset management platform focused on software and hardware tracking, ideal for IT teams on a tight budget.

Pricing & Licensing:

• Free self-hosted

• Paid cloud-hosted plans available

Best Use Cases:

• Small teams needing basic software inventory

Pros:

• Free and open-source

• REST API and mobile-friendly UI

• Good audit trail functionality

Cons:

• No built-in SaaS discovery

• No automation or renewal workflows

G2/Gartner Rating:

• G2: 4.5/5 - 23 Reviews

• Gartner: NA

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6. BetterCloud

Overview:
BetterCloud provides deep SaaS operations capabilities with strong visibility into app usage, user access, and license deprovisioning, all key for SaaS waste reduction.

Pricing & Licensing:

• Quote-based enterprise pricing

• Feature-based licensing tiers

Best Use Cases:

• Lifecycle automation and app governance

Pros:

• Deep integrations with M365, Google Workspace

• Automated offboarding workflows

• Policy engine for license rightsizing

Cons:

• Premium price point

• The learning curve for advanced rules

G2/Gartner Rating:

• G2: 4.5/5 - 458 Reviews

• Gartner: 4.5/5 - 54 Reviews

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7. Asset Panda

Overview:
While known for hardware tracking, Asset Panda offers license-tracking features that support software audits and renewal planning for small to midsize teams.

Pricing & Licensing:

• Per-user pricing

• Volume discounts available

Best Use Cases:

• SMBs tracking contracts and software licenses

Pros:

• Great mobile app

• Customizable asset fields

• Barcode/RFID integrations

Cons:

• Not optimized for large-scale SaaS discovery

• No automatic license usage insights

G2/Gartner Rating:

• G2: 4/5 - 27 Reviews

• Gartner: 4.3/5 - 31 Reviews

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8. ManageEngine AssetExplorer

Overview:
AssetExplorer is a budget-friendly ITAM/SAM solution that tracks software installations, compliance status, and usage.

Pricing & Licensing:

• Node-based pricing

• On-prem and cloud options

Best Use Cases:

• Teams looking for simple license compliance

Pros:

• Easy software audit readiness

• Tight integration with ServiceDesk Plus

• Simple UI

Cons:

• Limited SaaS license discovery

• On-premise-heavy deployment model

G2/Gartner Rating:

• G2: 4.5/5 - 12 Reviews

• Gartner: 4.3/5 - 4 Reviews

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9. Cleanshelf (LeanIX)

Overview:
Cleanshelf, now part of LeanIX, focuses on SaaS cost control, offering real-time license usage data, cost attribution, and renewal planning for finance and IT teams.

Pricing & Licensing:

• Subscription-based

• Custom plans based on app count

Best Use Cases:

• SaaS license cost optimization and budgeting

Pros:

• Finance + IT collaboration interface

• Renewal calendar and alerts

• Spend analytics and benchmarks

Cons:

• Less emphasis on operational IT needs

• Small integrations library compared to SMP leaders

G2/Gartner Rating:

• G2: 4.5/5 - 161 Reviews

• Gartner: 4.6/5 - 329 Reviews

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10. CloudNuro.ai

Overview:
CloudNuro.ai is a SaaS Management and SAM platform that helps reduce SaaS waste through license usage tracking, dormant user detection, and renewal governance. Its insights help IT and finance leaders align with IT Budget Planning 2025 goals.

Pricing & Licensing:

• Tiered plans based on the number of users/apps

• Transparent pricing on request

Best Use Cases:

• SaaS governance for mid-market and enterprise

Pros:

• Deep license analytics

• Policy-based deprovisioning insights

• Supports 100+ integrations

Cons:

• Geared toward SaaS, not hardware

• Not ideal for sub-500 user orgs

G2/Gartner Rating:

• G2: 4.8/5 - 2 Reviews

• Gartner: 4.9/5 - 8 Reviews

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Comparison Table: Top 10 Software Asset Management (SAM) Tools to Reduce SaaS Waste ‍

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FAQ:

What does a software asset management tool do?

Compliance monitoring: SAM tools ensure that software usage aligns with licensing agreements. They provide alerts and reports to indicate any potential compliance issues or overuse of licenses. Vendor contract management: SAM tools help organizations manage vendor contracts, terms, and renewal dates.

Which certification is best for software asset management?

The CSAM certification is highly relevant to the industry as it provides organizations with a standard for evaluating the knowledge and skills of software asset management professionals.

What are the benefits of IT asset management tools?

8 Benefits of IT Asset Management

• Streamlined asset management.

• Improved operational efficiency.

• Visibility into the entire lifecycle of your assets.

• Optimized device and asset utilization.

• Better forecasting and budgeting.

• Enhanced accountability.

• Improved warranty and contract management.

• Increased security and compliance.

What is the lifecycle of software asset management?

Software asset lifecycle (SALC) management is a systematic approach to governing the entire lifecycle of software assets, from procurement and deployment to maintenance and disposal. Also, by effectively managing the SALC, organizations can optimize software use, minimize costs, and ensure legal compliance.

Conclusion

Reducing SaaS waste is no longer optional but a strategic imperative for 2025. These top 10 SAM tools offer the visibility, control, and automation needed to eliminate unused licenses, optimize renewals, and align spending with value.

While traditional tools like Snow Software and Flexera dominate the enterprise space, newer platforms like CloudNuro.ai offer a SaaS-first approach that’s policy-driven, integration-rich, and ideal for hybrid environments.

📣 Want to Cut Your SaaS Waste in Half?

👉 Book a Demo with CloudNuro.ai and get complete visibility into your SaaS stack, dormant licenses, and upcoming renewals, all from one unified dashboard.

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