Action1
8.8/10
MSP Compared score
- Starting price
- $4/endpoint/mo
- Reviews
- 4.8/5 (~300 G2 reviews)
- Free trial
- Free tier + 15-day full trial
- Deployment
- Cloud
- Best for
- SMB and MSP teams whose #1 job is patching (free up to 200 endpoints)
Best Patch Management Software · 2026
Action1 vs 
Atera Action1 vs Atera: on our data-weighted scoring, Action1 edges ahead (8.8 vs 8.2/10). Action1 starts at $4/endpoint/mo and is best for SMB and MSP teams whose #1 job is patching (free up to 200 endpoints); Atera starts at $129/tech/mo and is best for lean MSPs and IT teams wanting all-in-one RMM+PSA at a flat per-tech price. Choose Action1 for the stronger overall track record; consider Atera if its pricing model or fit matches your environment better. Side-by-side table below.
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Atera
8.2/10
MSP Compared score
- Starting price
- $129/tech/mo
- Reviews
- 4.6/5 (~800 G2 reviews)
- Free trial
- 30 days
- Deployment
- Cloud
- Best for
- Lean MSPs and IT teams wanting all-in-one RMM+PSA at a flat per-tech price
Strengths at a glance
Six criteria, each scored 0–10 on the same scale from real review data, public pricing and feature coverage. See our methodology →
| Criterion | Action1 | Atera |
|---|---|---|
| Editorial | 8.8 | 8.2 |
| User reviews | 9.6 | 9.2 |
| Adoption | 6.6 | 7.7 |
| Affordability | 9.5 | 1.2 |
| Feature breadth | 6.0 | 6.0 |
| Ease of trial | 10.0 | 6.0 |
Action1 vs Atera: head-to-head
| Action1 | Atera | |
|---|---|---|
| Starting price | $4/endpoint/mo | $129/tech/mo |
| Pricing model | per endpoint | per technician |
| Free trial / tier | Free tier + 15-day full trial | 30 days |
| Best for | SMB and MSP teams whose #1 job is patching (free up to 200 endpoints) | Lean MSPs and IT teams wanting all-in-one RMM+PSA at a flat per-tech price |
| Deployment | Cloud | Cloud |
| G2 rating | 4.8/5 (300) | 4.6/5 (800) |
| Capterra rating | — | 4.6/5 (400) |
| Our score | 8.8 | 8.2 |
Choose Action1 if…
You need smb and msp teams whose #1 job is patching (free up to 200 endpoints).
✓ Pros
- Genuinely free up to 200 endpoints with no feature gating
- Cloud-native — no on-prem servers
- Strong third-party app catalog
✕ Cons
- Windows-first (limited macOS depth)
- Support is a separate paid add-on on Growth
- Scales by endpoint count
Choose Atera if…
You need lean msps and it teams wanting all-in-one rmm+psa at a flat per-tech price.
✓ Pros
- Per-technician pricing = predictable cost
- Unlimited endpoints
- All-in-one for small MSPs
✕ Cons
- Per-tech model pricey for few-tech/many-device shops
- Add-ons (Copilot
- network discovery) cost extra
- Less depth than enterprise RMM
In depth
Pricing: Action1 vs Atera
Action1 bills on a per endpoint model from $4/endpoint/mo (free tier available), while Atera uses a per technician model from $129/tech/mo (30 days trial). Because the models differ, the cheaper option flips depending on your fleet size — model both at your seat/endpoint count.
Features & deployment
Action1 ships 6 headline capabilities (OS + third-party app patching, Risk-based prioritization (CVE/CVSS/CISA KEV), Peer-to-peer patch distribution, Vulnerability scanning) and deploys Cloud. Atera ships 6 (RMM + PSA + helpdesk, Unlimited devices per technician, Patch management, Remote access (Splashtop)), deploying Cloud.
Ratings & verdict
Action1 holds 4.8/5 (~300 G2 reviews); Atera holds 4.6/5 (~800 G2 reviews). On our data-weighted score, Action1 edges ahead (8.8 vs 8.2/10). Pick Atera instead when lean msps and it teams wanting all-in-one rmm+psa at a flat per-tech price. See Action1 alternatives or Atera alternatives.
Frequently asked questions
- Action1 vs Atera: which is better?
- Action1 vs Atera: on our data-weighted scoring, Action1 edges ahead (8.8 vs 8.2/10). Action1 starts at $4/endpoint/mo and is best for SMB and MSP teams whose #1 job is patching (free up to 200 endpoints); Atera starts at $129/tech/mo and is best for lean MSPs and IT teams wanting all-in-one RMM+PSA at a flat per-tech price.
- Is Action1 cheaper than Atera?
- Action1 starts at $4/endpoint/mo and Atera starts at $129/tech/mo (see the pricing rows for models and limits).
Data as of November 1, 2026. Sources: action1.com, atera.com. Figures are pulled from public vendor and security data and refreshed automatically.