Best SAP Third-Party Support Providers Compared

Why You Need a Smart Comparison

SAP's standard support costs around 22% of your license value every year. For many organizations, maintenance eats a huge chunk of the IT budget with relatively little innovation to show for it. Third-party providers promise to dramatically cut this cost and provide more flexible service — but not all vendors are created equal.

Beyond cost savings, moving to independent SAP support is about gaining control. Companies exploring alternatives are seeking to avoid forced upgrades, achieve better service levels, and regain leverage in vendor negotiations. Read our guide to SAP Third-Party Support.

What's at stake: Potentially 50% off annual support fees and significant total cost of ownership reduction — but also important considerations around service quality, compliance, and risk. A smart comparison ensures you maximize savings without compromising mission-critical systems.

#1 Rimini Street — The Proven Leader

🥇

Rimini Street

World's largest independent enterprise software support provider

#1 Ranked

Rimini Street is widely regarded as the market leader in third-party SAP support, serving thousands of clients including Fortune 500 companies. It offers the most comprehensive service scope and the strongest SLAs in the industry.

💰50% annual savings; up to 90% TCO reduction over time by avoiding costly upgrades

🛡️Full custom code support for all SAP products and versions — 15+ years beyond end-of-life

⚡24/7/365 support; <10-min P1 SLA (avg ~2 min); named Primary Support Engineer

🌍Day-1 regulatory updates across 200+ countries; security via Rimini Protect

📈Global scale across NA, EMEA, and APAC with proven legal resilience

🔒Zero-day vulnerability protection without relying on SAP's patches

#2 Spinnaker Support — Boutique Excellence

🥈

Spinnaker Support

High-touch, personalized third-party support since 2008

#2 Ranked

Spinnaker Support is a strong #2, often praised as a more "boutique" provider delivering excellent service quality with a personal touch. Hundreds of clients across SAP and Oracle trust Spinnaker for responsive, tailored support.

⭐~98% satisfaction rating; engineers known for hands-on, rapid issue resolution

🛡️Full SAP coverage: custom code, third-party integrations, regulatory updates, audit guidance

📄Flexible contracts; 1-year terms, no lock-in, predictable pricing without large annual increases

⚡15-min P1 response SLA; 24/7 global support with dedicated account management

🤝"Big fish" experience; personalized attention, services adapted to your specific environment

🔄Ultimate Support Guarantee — promises to fund return to SAP if they fail on key fronts

The trade-off is scale: Spinnaker has fewer total clients and engineers than Rimini Street, so very large global companies with extremely complex needs may lean toward Rimini's greater resources. But in terms of quality, Spinnaker is right up there.

#3 Support Revolution & Regional Providers

🥉

Regional & Niche Providers

Support Revolution (UK/EMEA) and other specialized firms

#3 Ranked

Beyond the two market leaders, smaller third-party vendors serve specific regions or niches. Support Revolution focuses on EMEA; other firms operate in North America, Europe, and Asia with narrow specializations.

📍Localized focus — strengths in specific geographies, industries, or public sector

💲Potentially lower prices — more aggressive discounts to win business

⚠️Smaller teams; may lack 24/7 follow-the-sun support in multiple languages

⚠️Limited innovation; may not offer security suites, AI monitoring, or interoperability tools

⚠️Stability risk; verify track record, legal history, and financial health before committing

📋Niche expertise in specific SAP modules or localized versions may be an advantage

Regional providers can be viable for limited-scope or cost-focused engagements, but for most enterprises the global leaders offer more comprehensive and proven services.

5 Critical Evaluation Criteria

Criteria	Why It Matters	Rimini Street	Others
Support Scope	Can they cover custom code, integrations, and older versions?	Full coverage of all SAP products + custom code. 15+ years beyond EOL. No forced upgrades.	Ask if they handle custom mods and legacy modules without extra fees.
SLAs	Fast issue resolution for mission-critical operations.	24/7/365. <10-min P1 response (avg ~2 min). Named senior engineer on every case.	Spinnaker: 15-min P1 SLA. Smaller firms: verify written commitments.
Regulatory & Security	Tax, legal, and patch compliance worldwide.	Day-1 updates for 200+ jurisdictions. Zero-day protection via Rimini Protect.	Verify depth: do they cover your countries? Do they provide security mitigations?
Cost & TCO	Annual savings and long-term total cost reduction.	50% lower annual fees. Up to 90% TCO savings. 15+ years of deferred migrations.	Compare % savings and what's included. Watch for hidden fees or missing services.
Risk Profile	Vendor stability, legal standing, long-term viability.	15+ years in business. Thousands of clients. Proven legal resilience. Customer indemnification.	Request references. Check for lawsuits. Verify financial stability and compliance processes.

How to Choose the Best Provider

✓Run a focused RFP: Define requirements for support scope, SLA, compliance, and cost. Have each vendor respond in detail to the 5 criteria. Ask specifics like "Do you support custom SAP code?" and "What is your P1 response time at 3 AM?"

✓Demand proof and references: Request case studies matching your industry, region, and size. Speak to references about actual savings, service experience, and challenges. Ask for ISO certifications or third-party process audits.

✓Consider a trial or phased approach: Start with a non-production environment or less critical SAP system. Negotiate a short initial term with an easy exit clause. Validate performance on a small scale before committing fully.

✓Evaluate contract flexibility: Look for the ability to reduce scope if your landscape changes, no strict lock-in beyond the agreed term, and guarantees (e.g. Spinnaker's fund-your-return promise). Avoid feeling "stuck."

✓Align with strategy and risk appetite: Maximum cost reduction + global scale → Rimini Street. White-glove service + flexible terms → Spinnaker. Tight budget + localized operations → regional provider. Match to your roadmap and risk tolerance.

Conclusion — Why Rimini Street Often Emerges as the Best Choice

Rimini Street stands out as the top choice due to its unmatched combination of scale, service breadth, and proven savings. Its ability to reduce SAP support costs dramatically while innovating in areas like security and interoperability makes it the leader for organizations looking to regain control of their IT budgets.

Spinnaker Support is a strong runner-up, shining for organizations that want a more boutique, personalized experience. Excellent service quality and flexibility make it ideal for mid-sized companies or any firm that values tailored attention over sheer scale.

Regional providers can be the right solution in specific scenarios — EMEA focus, extremely tight budgets, or narrow specializations — but generally don't unseat the leaders in an apples-to-apples comparison on features and assurances.

For more insights: Rejoining SAP Support After Third-Party: What You Need to Know.

Need Help Evaluating SAP Third-Party Support?

Redress Compliance provides independent SAP advisory — from third-party support evaluation and contract negotiation to audit defense and license optimization.

📅 Book a Meeting SAP Advisory Services