9 Best PDQ alternatives for IT & patch management in 2026

PDQ (also known as PDQ Deploy & Inventory) is a popular tool for asset and patch management, but users say it has no cross-platform OS support, the interface can be clunky, and the automation could be easier to use. These limitations force many organizations to look for PDQ alternatives.

Plus, alternatives that combine patching with broader endpoint visibility (and Agentic AI) are available, which is better for your overall network security.

In this article, we’ll share the nine best PDQ alternatives. For each alternative, we’ll look at the key features, pricing, and reviews. Before that, let’s have a quick look at what PDQ is and what its limitations and strengths are.

The best PDQ alternatives are:

1. Atera
2. Datto
3. Action1
4. ManageEngine
5. Automox
6. NinjaOne
7. SolarWinds
8. Kaseya
9. GoTo Resolve

The 9 best PDQ alternatives for 2026

Let’s review the best PDQ alternatives.

1. Atera

Atera vs. Scalefusion: Key differences

1. Key features: While PDQ focuses on asset management and software deployment, Atera offers an Agentic AI, all-in-one IT management solution. Atera’s platform includes RMM software, patch management, asset discovery and management, remote access, and ticketing, all powered by our AI agents.

Atera’s all-in-one platform means there’s no need to invest in redundant software, and your endpoint visibility improves as everything is managed from a single platform.

2. Agentic AI: Of Atera and PDQ, only Atera has Agentic AI technology to handle repetitive IT management tasks autonomously. Atera’s two autonomous IT agents, Atera Robin and AI Copilot, help to eliminate up to 40% of your IT workload instantly.

Robin handles your first-tier support by interacting with end-users and proactively resolving issues, while Copilot works alongside technicians, helping them to run health checks, generate and run scripts, summarize tickets, and much more.

Atera was selected as the #1 best AIOps tool by G2, and Capterra selected Atera to its Shortlist of the best AI tools for 2025, among other industry leaders.

3. User interface: PDQ has received criticism for its interface, with users saying it’s outdated. At Atera, our intuitive user interfaces are constantly praised by our users, and onboarding can be done in a matter of minutes. If you face any issues, you can always reach out to our 24/7 live chat support.

Pricing and value for money

Unlike PDQ and most of its alternatives, Atera’s pricing plans allow you to manage unlimited endpoints for a fixed monthly cost.

Here are Atera’s pricing plans laid out:

Atera pricing plans for IT departments:

• Professional: $149 per month, per technician
• Expert: $189 per month, per technician
• Master: $219 per month, per technician
• Enterprise: Custom quotation; contact sales to get pricing

Atera pricing plans for MSPs:

• Pro: $129 per month, per technician
• Growth: $179 per month, per technician
• Power: $209 per month, per technician
• Superpower (Enterprise): Custom quotation; contact sales to get pricing

4. Customer reviews and ratings

Atera’s G2 Rating: 4.6 out of 5 stars (900+ reviews)

What Atera users are saying on G2:

• “Atera does the patching automation really well. The AI feature is extremely helpful even when trying to find an answer to a question about the product,” a G2 user says.

• “The ease of use, the UI, and how it works, as well as the agent that gets installed on each endpoint. It’s a great system that I love using. I love the way patching works as well,” a G2 user says.

Atera’s Capterra Rating: 4.6 out of 5 stars (440+ reviews)

What Atera users are saying on Capterra:

• “Excellent scripting capabilities with their AI assistant. Great community script library. Excellent remote desktop functionality,” a Capterra user says.
  
• “I like the fact that Atera combines real-time monitoring, RMM, network discovery, and IT ticketing tools. It allows me to offer remote support, which resolves issues rapidly,” a Capterra user says.

2. Datto RMM

Datto RMM, one of Datto’s products, is an RMM software commonly used by MSPs. Compared to PDQ, it’s a broader endpoint management solution with RMM, remote control access, patch management, and third-party integrations.

For IT ticketing, Datto needs to be integrated with Datto Autotask PSA. Unlike Atera’s ticketing system (which is included in our standard plans), Datto charges extra for using the ticketing integration.

G2 Rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars (650+ reviews)

Capterra Rating: 4.2 out of 5 stars (30+ reviews)

Datto Pricing:

• To get the pricing, you need to request a trial from Datto’s website.

3. Action1

Action1 is a leading patch management software with automated updates and remediation for OS and third-party apps. It works on Windows and macOS devices and helps you detect missing patches on all of your devices.

While cost-effective, Action1 doesn’t offer full-fledged IT management capabilities. Unlike Atera’s RMM, Action1 is only capable of simple endpoint management.

G2 Rating: 4.9 out of 5.0 (300+ reviews)

Capterra Rating: 4.9 out of 5.0 (140+ reviews)

Action1 Pricing:

• Custom quotation: To get the pricing, contact Action1’s sales team.

4. ManageEngine Endpoint Central

ManageEngine Endpoint Central is an endpoint management solution that helps to deploy patches on Windows, Mac, Linux, and third-party applications. You can also manage software and hardware assets, and their entire lifecycle.

While simple automation is available, there are no AI capabilities to assist with patching. Atera’s patch management tool is accompanied by Autopilot, which automatically installs/updates pre-approved software.

G2 Rating: 4.4 out of 5.0 (880+ reviews)

Capterra Rating: 4.6 out of 5.0 (970+ reviews)

ManageEngine Endpoint Central Pricing:

• Professional: Starts at $104 for 50 endpoints
• Enterprise: Starts at $124 for 50 endpoints
• UEM: Starts at $139 for 50 endpoints
• Security: Starts at $205 for 50 endpoints

5. Automox

Similar to PDQ, Automox is designed mainly for managing patches across Windows, macOS, and Linux endpoints. Automox helps to automate patching and remediation, and follow the process through reports.

For features like RMM and ticketing, Automox falls short. For broader endpoint management, all-in-one alternatives like Atera are a better choice.

G2 Rating: 4.4 out of 5.0 stars (200+ reviews)

Capterra Rating: 4.7 out of 5.0 stars (140+ reviews)

Automox Pricing:

• Patch OS: $1 per endpoint per month for patch management
• Automate Essentials: Pricing is based on a custom quotation; please contact Automox for details
• Automate Enterprise: Based on a custom quotation

6. NinjaOne

NinjaOne is an endpoint management solution with RMM, patch management, ticketing, asset management, and remote control. With it, you can deploy patches across Windows, macOS, Linux, and third-party applications.

NinjaOne’s pricing is based on a per-device basis. For organizations wanting to scale without increasing the cost when adding new endpoints, Atera may be a better option.

G2 Rating: 4.7 out of 5.0 (1,700+ reviews)

Capterra Rating: 4.8 out of 5.0 (200+ reviews)

NinjaOne Pricing:

• NinjaOne’s pricing is based on a custom quotation. Get in touch with their sales team to get the pricing.

7. SolarWinds Patch Manager

SolarWinds Patch Manager is one of the best Windows patch management software built to automate patches to servers and workstations.

SolarWinds offers an AI assistant for its observability tool, but not for the Patch Manager. Atera’s Agentic AI not only helps with patch management but also works within Atera’s ticketing system and remote access tools.

G2 Rating: 4.0 out of 5.0 stars (50+ reviews)

Capterra Rating: 4.3 out of 5.0 stars (10+ reviews)

SolarWinds Patch Manager Pricing:

• Custom pricing: Pricing starts at $1,851. To find out the exact pricing, contact the SolarWinds sales team.

8. Kaseya VSA

Kaseya VSA is an RMM software with capabilities like asset management to get a view of your hardware and software, remote access for troubleshooting, and patch management for Windows and Mac.

Kaseya VSA competes in the all-in-one IT management category with its features. Unlike Atera, Kaseya VSA has no Agentic AI technology available for more autonomous IT management.

G2 Rating: 4.0 out of 5.0 (300+ reviews)

Capterra Rating: 4.1 out of 5.0 (200+ reviews)

Kaseya VSA Pricing:

• Kaseya doesn’t make its pricing plans public. To get it, contact their sales team.

9. GoTo Resolve

GoTo Resolve is an IT management solution that makes it easy to track and manage your hardware and software assets. You can deploy patches automatically, receive alerts for potential issues, and remotely access devices.

AI is available, although it doesn’t expand to Agentic AI capabilities capable of performing tasks on behalf of users. Atera’s Robin can handle 80% of your first-tier support fully autonomously, on behalf of a technician.

G2 rating: 4.4 out of 5.0 (430+ reviews)

Capterra rating: 4.4 out of 5.0 (200+ reviews)

GoTo Resolve Pricing:

• Remote Access and Support: $44/month for 100 devices, billed annually
• Standard Endpoint Management: $57/month for 25 devices, billed annually
• Premium Endpoint Management: $63/month for 25 devices, billed annually

What is PDQ?

PDQ helps organizations collect key hardware and software information on their devices and automate the installation of software and updates. Essentially, its two key features are IT asset management and patch management.

What are PDQ’s limitations?

We scoured G2, Capterra, and Reddit to see what actual users say are the limitations of PDQ. 

This is what users reported:

1. No cross-platform support

PDQ supports Windows and Mac, but there’s no support for Linux, which arguably leaves a gap for organizations with diverse environments (something that’s increasingly common).

This is what one PDQ user on G2 shared:

Plus, even though it’s stated that there’s support for Mac, some users say it doesn’t exist/doesn’t work well enough:

According to Ponemon, 60% of data breaches come from unpatched software, so it’s critical that all your Windows, Mac, and Linux systems are up-to-date.

2. Automation could be simpler and more flexible

Although PDQ offers standard patch management automation (e.g., patch scheduling), some users wish it were simpler to use.

For example, one PDQ user simply said, “Scripting/automation could be a little simpler to build and test.”

Plus, no Agentic AI development has been made, which a few PDQ alternatives have already implemented.

3. Clunky user interface

Some PDQ users say, “The interface is from 1995,” and needs an upgrade.

Another G2 user said PDQ’s loading screen may take minutes to load and even then may fail to launch. And when it does open, it’s not very smooth.

What are the strengths of PDQ?

Let’s also look at the strengths users reported of PDQ.

1. Software deployment

One of PDQ’s capabilities is batch updates of software for devices, which users often appreciate. One G2 user said, “I have many ways to deploy software for the 150 Windows computers I manage.”

2. Simple automation capabilities

While no Agentic AI is available, simple automation features like patch deployment are available. One user on G2 said, “I have been able to automate a great number of tasks.”

PDQ pros and cons: Takeaways

Let’s conclude the two previous sections into the pros and cons of PDQ.

The pros of PDQ, according to user reviews:

• Users can batch update their Windows devices
• Patch scheduling and other automations are available

The cons of PDQ, according to user reviews:

• No support for Linux devices
• Automations could be easier to set up and more flexible
• The user interface is clunky and would need a revamp