Change management processes are among the most critical undertakings that organizations have to face. Transformation and change are associated with many uncertainties, ranging from internal resistance to unstructured implementation.
The right software, tools, and methods are required to successfully manage this comprehensive, mission-critical process. This article explains which specific solutions and approaches come into question— including the ten best change management software solutions for 2026.
Software for Change Management
There is much that can be reported about change management and the most suitable approaches for it. Many of these are theoretically sound and can also be adapted in practice (in part), but they lack the decisive element: tools and software that ultimately make change processes successful.
One example: The ADKAR model is very well suited to analyzing change processes in phases. It proves to be a good foundation but, on its own, does not yet create added value, as it does not provide support for the concrete implementation of changes.
What is often missing, therefore, is the topic of software support, which is what makes large change processes possible in the first place. This is the focus of this article.
The Different Types of Change Management Software
In principle, a distinction must be made between software that is developed specifically for change management and solutions that—alongside other functionalities—also support change management. What is always important is the structure that the respective software solution provides and the most intuitive possible usability.
Below are the most important software categories that benefit change processes:
Specific Change Management Software
Yes, it exists—specific software developed exclusively for change management processes. It can be used to plan, implement, and monitor changes. This type of software primarily makes sense for long, extensive processes that can sometimes even span years.
IT Service Management Software
Software designed for IT Service Management (ITSM) offers a frequently used approach, as change management—alongside problem management and incident management—is one of the core ITSM processes. Advantages lie above all in an excellent overview of all change activities, automations, and controlled work on IT services and IT infrastructure.
Business Process Management Software
A Business Process Management Suite (BPMS) supports organizations in designing, modeling, automating, executing, and improving business processes. This makes it also highly suitable for changes to business processes.
Collaboration Software
Collaboration software has found its established place, particularly in hybrid or remote-based work. Often, it is simply about smooth communication. For change projects, it is also of interest for planning, organizing, and managing resources. For “simple” project collaboration, some form of collaboration software is almost always used.
Document Management Software
Document management is broadly defined; in the working world, a well-organized document repository proves to be decisive in many areas. Especially in (critical) change processes, countless documents are generated that must be centrally and clearly available. This also includes audit security and compliance.
The 10 Best Software Solutions for Change Management 2026
In general, the following applies: choosing the most suitable software for change management is an individual matter. Every organization, every industry, and every project comes with specific requirements.
Creating a fixed selection is therefore actually impossible. Thus, the overview of the ten best change management software solutions for 2026 is primarily intended to sharpen the view for the solutions on the market that appear to be the most useful and best suited for change management.
#1 OTRS
OTRS is a software solution developed for ITSM, but it also demonstrates its strengths across departments for Enterprise Service Management (ESM). A key point lies in automated, ITIL-compliant processes that can be excellently adapted to individual requirements.
For change management, OTRS covers and consolidates all requirements. Change processes are, for example, traceable and audit-proof at all times. Responsible parties and dependencies can also be automatically integrated into communication, with the Configuration Management Database (CMDB) providing classifications and documentation for all configuration items (CIs). Reminders, due dates, and priorities support the scheduling.
In short: responsible parties always have the status quo in view, while business processes safely guide through the change process. Automations and AI services accelerate workflows and create valuable capacity.
#2 EasyVista Service Manager
EasyVista Service Manager is an integrated solution that is suitable for the structured control of IT changes. The solution offers clear workflows, automated approvals, and complete transparency across all changes. Risks, impacts, and dependencies can be centrally assessed, while dashboards and reports provide information on process status at any time.
Through flexible customization options, defined roles, and SLAs, EasyVista supports controlled, compliant, and efficient change management.
#3 Freshservice
Through integration with other solutions from the California-based manufacturer Freshworks, the AI-powered Freshservice proves to be well suited for integrated automations in ITSM. Advantages include a user-friendly interface, a structured platform, and a centralized system for all change requests including documentation. With the tool, IT professionals, decision-makers, and stakeholders can collaborate on change processes.
#4 Jira Service Management
Jira Service Management is a holistic ITSM solution with which change requests can be comprehensively covered. Users can carry out risk assessments, access dependencies, and view the potential impact of changes. Those who focus primarily on risks may find Jira Service Management interesting.
#5 ManageEngine ServiceDesk Plus
This is also a complete ITSM solution with which IT changes can be visualized using a workflow designer. Changes can likewise be logged and tracked based on incidents and problems, and input and approvals can be obtained—for example from members of a Change Advisory Board (CAB). Users can also configure automated workflows and notifications.
#6 Whatfix
Whatfix is a Digital Adoption Platform (DAP) that supports organizations in making processes such as change management, user onboarding, and the use of enterprise software more efficient. For change management, the software reduces training effort, aims to support employee adoption, and helps prevent errors when using complex systems.
#7 SolarWinds Service Desk
This is a cloud-based, AI-powered ITSM solution that aims to increase productivity, improve the user experience, and enhance IT operations. For change management, the provider promises structured processes to minimize risks and increase stability. Users are expected to be able to plan, implement, and communicate changes seamlessly.
#8 SysAid
The ITSM provider SysAid offers change management modules that support organizations in planning, tracking, and controlling changes. Promised benefits include seamless collaboration between teams, reduced downtime, and a structured approach to implementing changes.
#9 Ivanti Service Manager
Ivanti Service Manager, as a modular ITSM platform, maps various IT processes in a modular way, including change management in accordance with ITIL standards. Ivanti supports the entire lifecycle of changes in IT environments. Ivanti’s change management environment is intended to enable controlled, transparent, and low-risk implementation of changes.
#10 Monday Service
Monday Service is an Enterprise Service Management (ESM) platform that provides IT and service teams with central tools to uniformly manage workflows, tickets, projects, and change processes. It is intended to support transparent and automated change management in order to maintain service stability and simplify collaboration between different departments.
Important Interdependencies
Software that can be effectively used for change management is connected with many other areas. Below is a quick overview of some important relationships and interdependencies.
Project and Task Management
Project management, for example, often plays an important role, as significant changes logically always lead to projects or were part of a specific project from the outset. For example, kick-off meetings mark the beginning of the implementation phase of projects, which in many cases involve changes.
Task management follows seamlessly, focusing—whether on a project or process basis—on the tasks to be completed along with their status. Especially in important change projects, it is crucial to organize the countless associated tasks excellently and to let them run within a structured framework.
Incident Management and Problem Management
Change management is also closely linked to incident management and problem management. Incidents such as IT disruptions or overarching problems are often what lead to change processes.
A typical example: a long-used IT system repeatedly experiences outages and frustrates users, and even software updates cannot deliver the desired effect. Eventually, a completely new system is required as a change, since existing data protection regulations can no longer be complied with using the current system.
In addition, change projects themselves—as part of the transition and the disruption of familiar procedures—can in some cases lead to problems and disruptions, even though this should be avoided as much as possible. Thus, changes are also linked in this way to the resolution of incidents and problems.
Configuration Management
In the practical implementation of IT changes, configuration management also plays an important role, as having an overview of all affected IT assets and their connections or dependencies is essential. A Configuration Management Database (CMDB) therefore proves to be extremely valuable for change management.
This makes it clear which parts of the IT infrastructure will be affected by the respective changes, enabling measures to be controlled with regard to all IT assets so that outages, interruptions, and disruptions do not occur.
In the context of these interdependencies, it becomes clear that for change management—at least for changes to the IT infrastructure—an ITSM solution that satisfactorily covers all areas is extremely beneficial.
FAQ
Below are answers to some frequently asked questions (FAQ) related to change management software.
#1 What is change management software important for?
Change management software helps ensure that change processes—whether to IT infrastructure or in other areas—take place within a controlled framework and are carried out efficiently, securely, and without unintended negative consequences.
The respective software solutions provide a good overview, create a platform for goal-oriented collaboration, facilitate communication among professionals, decision-makers, and stakeholders, and ensure documentation, traceability, and transparency.
#2 Which change management software is best suited for mid-sized companies?
This question certainly cannot be answered in general terms, as much depends on individual, internal organizational requirements. However, mid-sized companies are often price-sensitive and can focus less on highly specialized areas than large enterprises and corporations.
Therefore, comprehensive solutions with fair pricing packages prove to be sensible. Consequently, the focus is less on specialized change management solutions and more on ITSM solutions that cover change management as a core area. This includes, among other things, a conscious approach to the IT budget as well as a smart approach such as determining the individual ITSM maturity level, on the basis of which the requirements for the “right” software solution can be perfectly identified.
Tip: In our report “The State of SMB IT for 2026,” you can learn—based on original survey data—how small and mid-sized businesses position themselves with regard to ITSM maturity, tools, AI, and automations.
#3 Where can change management software be tested for free?
Testing change management software for free is readily possible, as providers generally offer a free demo. Interested parties thus get in contact with an expert, can state their requirements, goals, and wishes, and do not incur any obligations.
#4 Where can change management software with GDPR-compliant data processing be purchased?
When selecting software, compliance with the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) plays an outstanding role alongside other compliance and security aspects. Anyone wishing to host or license software with a view to GDPR should value European hosting options or EU data centers. To also clarify security specifics, native-language support in the customer’s own language is important.
With US data centers or US companies, on the other hand, the CLOUD Act (Clarifying Lawful Overseas Use of Data Act), which allows US authorities access to stored data, could become a problem.
From the list of providers, one should select those that meet the criteria mentioned here.
#5 How do cloud-based and on-premises solutions for change management software differ?
Cloud and on-premises solutions differ due to hosting: “On premises” means that the customer hosts the software locally (on premises) in their own data center, while with cloud options the provider takes over hosting.
Manufacturers often offer both options, with the cloud increasingly becoming the standard. However, particularly when it comes to special, individual security standards, customers prefer on-premises solutions, while others prefer to entrust the effort for updates and security patches to the provider through a cloud option.
Conclusion
Change management tools and software: they do not necessarily belong to an organization’s standard repertoire, but they are immensely important for successfully implementing larger change projects in particular. They find their place in the context of ITSM, process and project management, as well as collaboration and document management.
For organizations, the challenge lies in selecting the exactly right software and tools. For very large change projects, specific change management software is suitable. However, typical ITSM solutions are more commonly used for change management, especially for changes that primarily affect IT infrastructure.
Since areas such as incident management, problem management, configuration management, as well as project and task management are connected to change management, many logically interrelated disciplines can thus be combined at once.
A software solution that enables change management as part of a comprehensive package of functionalities and features proves to be efficient and cost-optimized. As a rule, a return on investment (ROI) is achieved particularly quickly, especially with many integrations as well as well-designed automations and intelligent use of artificial intelligence (AI).
Finally, two brief tips:
- If it concerns IT change management, it is advisable to conduct an ITSM maturity assessment before selecting software.
- For important decisions regarding change management—including the selection of the software solution—it makes sense to rely on a Change Advisory Board (CAB) consisting of IT professionals, decision-makers, consultants, and stakeholders.
