ConnectWise CPQ Alternative for MSPs: Why QuoteWerks Deserves a Serious Look

For many Managed Service Providers (MSPs), the quoting tool does not get questioned until it starts slowing the business down.

At first, it is just part of the stack. The PSA is already in place. Sales reps know where to click. Procurement knows where to look. Leadership gets just enough visibility to tolerate the process.

Then the cracks start showing.

Quotes take too long to build. Hardware pricing has to be checked manually. Cloud subscriptions get copied from one system to another. Product availability changes after the quote is sent. Sales, procurement, and service end up working from slightly different versions of what the customer actually approved.

That is when the real question comes up:

Should we stay with ConnectWise CPQ, or should we move to something else?

For a 25-person MSP with seven people involved in sales, this is not a small decision. It affects quoting speed, sales consistency, margin control, procurement efficiency, PSA accuracy, and the customer experience.

The right quoting tool should not just create a better-looking proposal. It should reduce friction from quote creation through approval, ordering, and service delivery.

The Scenario: A ConnectWise PSA MSP Rethinking Quoting

Imagine a growing MSP with around 25 employees.

The company uses ConnectWise PSA as its operational system of record. Opportunities, companies, contacts, tickets, projects, agreements, and service work all live there.

The MSP buys from major distributors like Pax8, Ingram Micro, and TD SYNNEX.

This is not a company selling only simple monthly service bundles. They quote hardware, software, cloud subscriptions, recurring services, implementation labor, warranties, security tools, project work, and renewals.

Because of that complexity, the quoting tool has to do far more than format a document. It needs to help answer operational questions:

• Is this the right product or SKU?
• Is it available?
• Is the cost current?
• Is the margin acceptable?
• Does the quote include the right labor, services, and recurring revenue?
• Can the customer approve it online?
• Can procurement place the order without re-keying data?
• Does ConnectWise PSA reflect what was sold?
• Can the service team clearly see what needs to be delivered?

That is where the evaluation should start.

Not with the prettiest proposal template.

Not with the newest interface.

Not with the lowest monthly subscription price.

The real question is:

Which quoting tool best supports the way an MSP sells, orders, and delivers technology?

Why MSPs Start Looking Beyond ConnectWise CPQ

ConnectWise CPQ can make sense for MSPs that are fully committed to the ConnectWise ecosystem.

If the business already runs on ConnectWise PSA, keeping quoting close to that environment is naturally attractive. It reduces vendor spread and keeps activity near the system of record.

However, staying inside one vendor ecosystem does not automatically mean the quoting workflow is the best fit.

MSPs often start evaluating alternatives when they run into problems like these:

• Quotes take too long to build
• Distributor pricing requires too much manual verification
• Procurement has to rebuild accepted quotes
• Sales and service disagree on what was sold
• Product, labor, and recurring revenue details do not flow cleanly into the PSA
• Teams rely on copied quotes, spreadsheets, or side conversations
• The quoting tool is used because it is already there, not because it works well

These are operational problems, not just software annoyances.

When quoting slows sales, creates procurement rework, or leaves service teams guessing, the tool is no longer just part of the stack. It is limiting the business.

The Distributor Problem: Pricing, Availability, and Procurement

For an MSP buying from Pax8, Ingram Micro, and TD SYNNEX, distributor data is central to quoting accuracy.

A quote built from stale cost data creates risk. If pricing changes, margin can disappear. If stock is unavailable, delivery timelines slip. If procurement has to re-enter everything after approval, errors get introduced at the exact moment the deal should be moving forward.

That is why MSPs need to look beyond basic proposal tools.

The quoting system needs to connect sales, pricing, availability, ordering, and procurement.

For this type of workflow, QuoteWerks’ Product Content Subscription and real-time pricing and availability capabilities become critical. They help sales teams work with supplier data directly inside the quoting process instead of relying on manual lookups and disconnected spreadsheets.

If distributor integrations are part of the core business case, QuoteWerks Pinnacle Edition is the specific edition to compare against.

Which QuoteWerks Edition Is the Right Comparison

If distributor integrations and purchasing workflows matter to the business, QuoteWerks Pinnacle Edition is the version to compare.

Not Essential.

Not Balanced.

Pinnacle.

Essential and Balanced are useful editions depending on the business need. Balanced adds customer-facing quote delivery, e-signatures, quote view tracking, and payment collection through QuoteValet.

But this MSP’s problem is bigger than quote delivery.

The scaling MSP needs live distributor data, IT/MSP distributor content, procurement tracking, online ordering, and a stronger quote-to-fulfillment workflow.

That makes Pinnacle the proper comparison.

QuoteWerks Pinnacle Edition is built for businesses that require advanced automation and integration with procurement and supply chain systems. For MSPs, that means the quoting process can connect more directly to product sourcing, purchasing, fulfillment, and downstream operations.

This is where QuoteWerks separates from tools that only solve the presentation side of quoting.

The ConnectWise PSA Assumption: Native Does Not Always Mean Better

There is a common assumption MSPs make when evaluating ConnectWise CPQ:

Because ConnectWise CPQ is part of the ConnectWise stack, it must have special access to ConnectWise PSA.

That assumption deserves a closer look.

Under the hood, quoting tools that integrate with ConnectWise PSA generally work through the same ConnectWise PSA API framework. ConnectWise CPQ may share the same brand name, but that does not automatically mean it has a special integration advantage that an independent tool cannot access.

The real difference is not whether a quoting tool can technically connect to ConnectWise PSA.

Many can.

The real difference is what the quoting tool does with that connection.

For an MSP, the important questions are practical:

• Does the quote create or update the right opportunity?
• Are companies and contacts matched cleanly?
• Are bundles, configurations, and recurring revenue represented properly?
• Can accepted quotes help create sales orders, agreements, service tickets, projects, purchase orders, or serial tracking records?
• Are proposal PDFs, approvals, and revisions attached where they belong?
• Can procurement move forward without rebuilding the order manually?
• Can service understand what was sold without chasing sales for context?

A “native” label does not automatically mean a superior workflow. It may simply mean the tool is packaged inside the same vendor ecosystem.

For a ConnectWise PSA shop, the goal should be simple:

Send the right data into ConnectWise PSA, at the right time, with the least amount of manual cleanup.

QuoteWerks does not need special access to ConnectWise PSA to be a strong fit. It needs a mature, proven workflow that uses the available API framework effectively and supports the real-world quote-to-order process MSPs depend on.

The API connection is only the starting point.

The workflow is what matters.

The Vendor Consolidation Question

Another factor MSPs should consider is ownership.

The MSP software market has seen ongoing vendor consolidation. Tools that were once independent are increasingly being acquired, bundled, or absorbed into broader platform strategies.

That can create benefits. Larger vendors may bring resources, integrations, and support infrastructure.

But there are trade-offs.

When a quoting tool becomes one piece of a larger PSA, RMM, billing, security, or MSP platform strategy, its roadmap may no longer be driven only by quoting problems. It may also be shaped by the parent company’s packaging, bundling, pricing model, or customer retention goals.

Many MSPs do not want every core system decision to push them deeper into a single vendor ecosystem. They want tools that work well with the systems they already use, while preserving flexibility for the future.

This is where QuoteWerks’ independence matters.

QuoteWerks is a long-standing independent CPQ platform. It is not owned by a PSA vendor, an RMM vendor, or a generic document automation company trying to stretch into quoting and CPQ.

For a ConnectWise PSA shop, QuoteWerks offers a balanced path forward:

• Keep ConnectWise PSA as the operational system of record
• Use QuoteWerks for quoting, CPQ, live distributor integrations, approvals, and procurement workflows
• Maintain flexibility across CRMs, PSAs, accounting tools, distributors, payment options, leasing providers, and fulfillment processes

Vendor consolidation is not automatically bad. Some MSPs prefer a single-vendor platform.

But many MSPs want choice.

They want leverage.

They want a quoting solution that works with their business instead of forcing the business deeper into one vendor’s ecosystem.

QuoteWerks is not trying to be the MSP’s PSA. It is not trying to be the MSP’s RMM. It is not a generic document platform.

It is focused on quoting, CPQ, pricing control, distributor integration, proposal delivery, acceptance, and procurement.

For a growing MSP, that independence can be a strategic advantage.

Competitor Landscape: Where Each Tool Fits

When MSPs evaluate alternatives to ConnectWise CPQ, several names consistently come up.

Each tool has a place. The issue is fit.

ConnectWise CPQ

ConnectWise CPQ is the natural starting point for MSPs already using ConnectWise PSA.

There is comfort in keeping quoting close to the PSA. Opportunities, contacts, products, and handoffs already live in that world.

But MSPs should be careful not to confuse ecosystem proximity with superior workflow.

ConnectWise CPQ may be a reasonable fit for MSPs that want quoting to remain inside the ConnectWise ecosystem. But it should not win simply because it carries the same vendor name as the PSA.

The operational test is more important:

Which quoting tool gives the MSP the cleanest path from quote to approval to procurement to ConnectWise PSA?

For MSPs that need distributor integrations, quote control, procurement workflows, and flexibility outside a single vendor stack, QuoteWerks deserves a serious look.

Quoter

Quoter is a MSP quoting platform focused on simplifying quote creation.

For MSPs that prioritize a clean, cloud-based quoting experience and straightforward interface, it can be a strong option.

The question for a growing 25-person MSP is whether the tool can keep up as workflows become more operational.

As a business scales, quoting is no longer just about generating a proposal. It is about managing margins, approvals, purchasing, procurement, and downstream handoffs.

Quoter can be a good fit when the primary goal is making quote creation easier.

QuoteWerks is the better fit when quoting needs to become a controlled, connected operational process.

Zomentum

Zomentum is built for MSPs looking for a sales-centric experience.

It can be attractive for teams that want proposal presentation, pipeline tracking, and sales assessments in one place.

However, for MSPs with heavy hardware, licensing, distributor, or procurement requirements, the concern is whether the platform provides enough workflow control and integration depth.

Zomentum can appeal when the sales motion around the quote is the main bottleneck.

QuoteWerks is the stronger choice when the quote itself requires deep distributor data accuracy, revision control, and procurement workflow.

Kaseya Quote Manager

Kaseya Quote Manager (KQM) can make sense for MSPs already deeply embedded in the Kaseya ecosystem.

For an MSP running ConnectWise PSA, however, the evaluation changes.

The issue is not just whether the tool can create a quote. The issue is whether it fits the rest of the business without forcing another ecosystem commitment.

There is also an important distributor-data question to ask.

For MSPs quoting hardware, vendor inventory can change hour by hour. A nightly catalog or inventory import may be useful for general product visibility, but it can create risk when sales reps need current pricing and availability at the moment they are building the quote.

If the quoting tool is not checking real-time vendor data, the sales team may quote products that are unavailable, rely on outdated cost information, or send proposals with margins that changed before the customer even approves them.

That matters for MSPs sourcing from distributors like Ingram Micro, TD SYNNEX, and Pax8.

QuoteWerks gives ConnectWise PSA shops flexibility because it is not tied to one PSA, one RMM vendor, or one platform roadmap. More importantly, it is built around the quoting and procurement workflow itself: helping MSPs work with current product data, protect margins, and move accepted quotes toward purchasing without unnecessary rework.

PandaDoc

PandaDoc is a strong document and proposal platform.

It can be useful for polished proposals, document workflows, and e-signature.

But there is a major difference between a document tool and a specialized MSP quoting system.

For an IT provider, quoting relies on structured pricing databases, margin control, supplier integrations, product sourcing, PSA data mapping, and quote-to-order execution.

PandaDoc helps send documents.

QuoteWerks helps run the entire Quote-to-Cash Process, not just quoting.

The Real Cost of Switching Quoting Tools

A CEO or CFO will rarely approve a software change just because the sales team wants a newer interface.

The business case has to be grounded in operational impact.

Switching tools has costs:

• Subscription fees
• Implementation time
• Staff training
• Catalog cleanup
• Workflow design
• PSA mapping
• Change management

But the hidden cost of staying with an inefficient tool can be higher.

Ask your team:

• How many hours are wasted each month manually checking product costs?
• How often does procurement re-key accepted quotes?
• How often do product availability issues cause delays?
• How often do vague scopes create service delivery problems?
• How much administrative time is spent cleaning up the PSA after a deal is won?

If the current quoting process introduces recurring friction at every stage, the status quo is not free.

It is just harder to see on a software invoice.

Why Staying with ConnectWise CPQ May Still Make Sense

Some MSPs should stay with ConnectWise CPQ.

If your team is deeply embedded in the ConnectWise workflow, quoting volume is manageable, distributor complexity is low, and the current process is not creating meaningful friction, a migration may not be worth the disruption.

There is value in tool consolidation.

There is value in avoiding change management.

There is value in keeping quoting close to the PSA if the current process works.

The problem arises when “we are already using it” becomes the only reason for staying.

That is not strategy.

That is inertia.

You should stay with ConnectWise CPQ if it actively protects margins, reduces handoffs, and keeps your PSA clean.

You should look elsewhere if it slows down sales velocity, limits distributor visibility, or forces procurement into manual workarounds.

What the Pilot Should Look Like: Bring the Ugly Quote

When evaluating QuoteWerks or any competitor, do not rely on a polished demo quote.

Standard, single-line quotes look good in every piece of software.

Instead, bring your ugly quote.

Use the real-world scenario that exposes the weaknesses in your process. For example:

• A firewall refresh with hardware, stacked licensing, vendor support, shipping, implementation labor, and optional services
• A Microsoft 365 project involving Pax8 subscriptions, migration labor, user training, and ongoing recurring support
• A hardware deployment sourced across Ingram Micro and TD SYNNEX, where real-time stock and fluctuating costs create margin risk

Ask each vendor to walk through the full workflow.

Evaluate:

• Quote build time
• Live pricing accuracy
• Product lookup quality
• Margin visibility
• Approval handling
• Revision tracking
• Customer acceptance
• Procurement handoff
• PSA sync
• Purchase order creation
• Manual re-entry required

The winner should not be the tool with the slickest slide deck.

It should be the tool that removes the most real-world friction.

Recommendation

For a 25-person MSP using ConnectWise PSA and sourcing through Pax8, Ingram Micro, and TD SYNNEX, QuoteWerks deserves to be the leading alternative to ConnectWise CPQ.

The reason is not just price.

The reason is fit.

QuoteWerks is built for MSPs that need more than basic quote delivery. It supports the distributor, procurement, and fulfillment workflows that matter when quotes include real products, real costs, real availability, and real handoffs after approval.

It also gives the MSP a more independent path.

The business can keep ConnectWise PSA as the operational system of record without being forced to keep quoting inside the ConnectWise ecosystem. It can improve quoting without moving deeper into a consolidated vendor stack. It can connect quoting to distributors, procurement, payments, approvals, and downstream workflows while preserving flexibility.

That matters.

ConnectWise CPQ may still be reasonable for MSPs that want everything to stay inside the ConnectWise ecosystem.

Quoter may be a good choice for MSPs that want simpler cloud quoting.

Zomentum may fit teams that want a broader MSP sales experience.

Kaseya Quote Manager may fit MSPs already standardized on the Kaseya ecosystem.

PandaDoc may work when the need is mostly document generation and e-signature.

But for an MSP whose core pain is quoting accurately across distributors, protecting margin, staying flexible, and moving from quote to order without duplicate entry, QuoteWerks is the tool to test seriously.

Final Thought

Changing quoting software is not a cosmetic decision.

It is an operational decision.

The wrong tool puts a polished face on a messy internal workflow.

The right tool makes quoting faster, cleaner, and more accountable.

If your MSP uses ConnectWise PSA, buys through Pax8, Ingram Micro, and TD SYNNEX, and struggles with quoting speed, distributor accuracy, or procurement handoff, it may be time to look beyond ConnectWise CPQ.

Start with the real problem.

Bring the ugly quote.

Then see which tool handles the full workflow from quote to approval to purchase order to delivery.

That is where QuoteWerks makes the strongest case.