AgentDS and Agent Manager are both Australian CRM products aimed at migration practices, but their public product pages emphasise different operating models.
Agent Manager presents itself as a platform for agencies that run education and migration work, with dedicated practice modules, a client portal, communications and a broad integrations catalogue. AgentDS is a Sentient CRM built around the migration practice's daily work: clients, applications, recorded deadlines and expiries, appointments, follow-ups, documents, notes, invoices and recorded payments.
Disclosure. AgentDS is our product. We've described Agent Manager the way it describes itself, including its strengths. If something here is wrong or out of date, tell us and we'll correct it.
The short version
Agent Manager is built for Australian migration and education agencies. Its public site emphasises one client record across both practices, digital agreements, client web and mobile access, email/calendar/phone/WhatsApp/SMS communication, Microsoft and Google integrations, accounting connections, workflow tools, reporting and Australian Azure hosting.
AgentDS is built for registered migration agents, migration agencies and immigration law firms. It centres the working day around applications, appointments, expiries, follow-ups, client concerns and fees. The owner's daily brief, recorded-deadline reminder emails and suggested follow-ups are designed to surface what needs attention.
Side by side
| Agent Manager | AgentDS | |
|---|---|---|
| Audience | Migration and education agencies | Registered migration agents, migration agencies and immigration law firms |
| Client and matter records | One client record can span education and migration work | Clients, leads and visa applications connect to tasks, notes, documents, appointments, invoices and recorded payments |
| Migration workflow | Visa management flow, service agreements, Form 956/956A generation, skill assessments, LMT tracking and visa drafting tools | Application stages, recorded deadlines, private notes, reusable tasks and document checklists |
| Expiries and reminders | Configurable notification rules for visa, passport, document, bridging-condition and other dates | Recorded dates appear in the working view, with team reminder emails at 90, 60, 30 and 7 days and on the due date |
| Communications | Outlook or Gmail, calendar, phone, WhatsApp and SMS are promoted as connected channels | Prepared client emails can be sent from the CRM and recorded work stays with the client file |
| Documents | Matter folders, checklists, client uploads and drive integrations | Document records, reusable checklists and private file uploads stored in Sydney and malware-checked before opening |
| Finance | Accounts, invoices, financial reporting, commissions and Xero/MYOB connections | Invoice records, part payments, balances, credit notes and printable invoice copies |
| Import and export | Spreadsheet import/export; its site says it can move client lists, agreements and templates during setup | CSV, Excel, TSV, JSON and supported ZIP imports with field matching and duplicate checks; practice data can be exported as CSV |
| Data location | Agent Manager says primary records and backups are hosted on Microsoft Azure in Australian data centres | Practice records and uploaded files are stored in Sydney, Australia; the security page separately explains sign-in processing |
| Access and security | Role-based access, audit logging, authenticator-app 2FA and daily backups | Individual staff accounts, roles and case-level access, authenticator-app two-step sign-in, malware scanning and daily backups |
| Trial | 14 days; its site says a valid card is required and the customer is not charged until the trial ends | 30 days for the whole team, every feature included, no card needed |
The biggest difference: one platform across education and migration, or a migration-first daily workspace
Agent Manager's clearest differentiator is the way it joins education and migration work. Its module page describes education applications, provider and course work, CoE tracking and institution commissions alongside visa matters on the same client record. For agencies where education placement is a large part of the business, that deserves a close look.
AgentDS starts from the migration-practice day. The dashboard brings together appointments, open applications, visa expiries and overdue work. The owner's daily brief then highlights follow-ups due, unpaid invoices, client concerns and applications with no activity for 14 days.
Applications, deadlines and visa expiries
Agent Manager publishes a broad migration toolkit: visa workflows, Form 956 and 956A generation, skill assessments, LMT tracking, configurable checklists and reminder rules.
AgentDS keeps each visa application around its stages, dates, notes, tasks and document checklist. Recorded visa, passport, document, application and task dates can trigger reminder emails to the owner and responsible person before the due date. Suggested follow-up tasks are reviewed by a person before they are created.
Communications
Agent Manager makes communications a large part of its product. Its site lists Outlook or Gmail, calendar, phone, WhatsApp Business and SMS, with conversations kept against the client record.
AgentDS lets the team send prepared messages to clients from the CRM and keeps client work around the same record as the application, tasks, notes and documents. Every AgentDS client email carries an unsubscribe link.
For a practice choosing between the two, write down which channels your team actually uses every day. A long integrations list only matters if it replaces tools and manual filing your team currently depends on.
Documents and file handling
Both products put documents inside the client workflow rather than treating them as a separate folder at the end of the process.
Agent Manager describes document and evidence checklists, automated folder creation, client-portal uploads, digital agreements and Microsoft/Google drive connections.
AgentDS uses document records and reusable checklists. Uploaded files are stored privately in Sydney and checked for malware before anyone can open them.
Invoices and payments
Agent Manager publishes accounting and commission features, including Xero and MYOB connections and financial reporting.
AgentDS keeps invoices and recorded payments with the client, including part payments, balances and credit notes. The owner's daily brief can surface unpaid invoices.
Data location and access controls
Agent Manager says its primary storage and backups are hosted on Microsoft Azure in Australian data centres. It also publishes role-based access controls, audit logging, authenticator-app 2FA and daily backups.
AgentDS stores practice records and uploaded files in Sydney, Australia. Owners control staff access through individual accounts, roles and case assignments, and staff can use authenticator-app two-step sign-in. AgentDS publishes its processors and data locations on its security page.
When comparing any migration CRM, ask where practice data, documents, backups, authentication and connected services are processed. Australian company and Australian data are not the same question.
Trial and switching effort
Agent Manager advertises a 14-day trial and says a valid card is required at sign-up, with no charge until the trial ends if it is cancelled in time. It also says newly registered OMARA agents can receive an extended licence offer; check its current terms directly before relying on it.
AgentDS gives the whole team a 30-day trial with every feature included and no card required. If the practice decides to leave, it can export its data as CSV.
If switching is your main concern, use our buyer's checklist for migration agent software and test the move with a copy of your real export before changing systems.
Which one should you shortlist?
Look closely at Agent Manager if your agency combines education and migration work and you want those practices on one client record, or if native communication and accounting integrations are central to your workflow.
Look closely at AgentDS if your practice wants a migration-focused daily view of deadlines, applications, expiries, follow-ups and fees, with a no-card whole-team trial and an export path you can test before committing.
For either product, run the same two-week test: import a realistic sample, create a client and application, record a deadline, request documents, assign a follow-up, issue an invoice, add another staff member and then export your data. The better CRM is the one your team can run correctly every day.
Frequently asked questions
Is Agent Manager an Australian CRM?
Yes. Agent Manager says it is built in Australia for Australian migration and education agencies, and that its primary records and backups are hosted in Australian Azure data centres.
What is the main difference between AgentDS and Agent Manager?
Agent Manager emphasises one platform across education and migration work, with a broad communications and integrations stack. AgentDS centres the migration practice's daily work around applications, recorded deadlines and expiries, follow-ups, documents and fees.
Does Agent Manager offer a free trial?
Agent Manager says its trial runs for 14 days and requires a valid card at sign-up. Check its current trial terms on agentmanager.com.au before starting.
Does AgentDS require a card for its trial?
No. AgentDS offers a 30-day trial for the whole team with every feature included and no card needed.
Where is practice data stored?
Agent Manager says its primary records and backups are in Australian Microsoft Azure data centres. AgentDS stores practice records and uploaded files in Sydney, Australia. Check each vendor's current security and privacy pages for the complete processing chain.
This comparison is general product information, not migration or legal advice.
Sources checked 5 October 2026:
- Agent Manager homepage
- Agent Manager features
- Agent Manager modules
- AgentDS migration CRM
- AgentDS features
- AgentDS security
- AgentDS plans
Product names are trademarks of their owners. AgentDS is not affiliated with them. Details checked on 5 October 2026; check each vendor's site for current information.