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.
Affiliate disclosure: Some links may be affiliate or partner links. If you sign up through one, we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. This never changes our scores or rankings. Learn more.
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
In Depth
Pricing
| Aspect | Action1 | Atera |
|---|---|---|
| Model | Per-endpoint | Per-technician |
| Free tier | Yes (200 endpoints, all features) | No |
| Free trial | 15 days | 30 days |
| Entry price | $4/endpoint/mo (Growth tier) | $129/tech/mo (Pro tier) |
| Best value | SMBs under 200 devices | MSPs with many devices, few techs |
Action1’s free tier is genuinely unbeatable—200 full-featured endpoints forever changes the math for small IT teams. Once you exceed 200 endpoints, the per-endpoint model becomes predictable at $4/mo but compounds quickly. Atera flips the script: per-technician pricing ($129–$209/mo annually) means you pay once regardless of how many devices that tech touches. For a 5-person shop managing 500 endpoints, Atera wins. For a solo IT admin with 150 machines, Action1’s free plan is unmatched.
Atera’s add-ons (AI Copilot, network discovery) bump the real cost upward; Action1 bundles everything into the per-endpoint fee. Both require annual commitment at their posted rates.
Features & Deployment
Both are cloud-only, but they solve different problems:
Action1 narrows on patching excellence:
- OS + third-party app patching (strong catalog)
- Risk-based prioritization (CVE/CVSS/CISA KEV feeds)
- Peer-to-peer distribution (faster, bandwidth-efficient)
- Vulnerability scanning, remote access, automation
Atera is the all-in-one platform:
- RMM + PSA + helpdesk bundled
- Unlimited devices per technician (no per-endpoint tax)
- Patch management (standard, not specialized)
- Splashtop remote access, AI Copilot add-on, invoicing/billing
Deployment gap: Action1 is Windows-first with limited macOS depth. Atera is broader but less specialized. Choose Action1 if patching is your core mission; choose Atera if you need ticketing, billing, and remote support baked in.
Ratings & Verdict
| Platform | G2 Score | Reviews | Other |
|---|---|---|---|
| Action1 | 4.8 ⭐ | 300 | Our score: 8.8 |
| Atera | 4.6 ⭐ | 800 (G2) + 400 (Capterra) | Our score: 8.2 |
Action1 punches above its weight on G2—fewer reviews but higher sentiment. Atera’s larger sample reflects broader MSP adoption but slightly lower enthusiasm.
Verdict:
- Action1 wins if your team’s primary job is patching Windows machines and you want zero entry friction (the free tier is the best in class).
- Atera wins if you’re a lean MSP needing RMM, PSA, and ticketing in one bill, or managing many devices with a small team.
Action1 is the specialist’s choice; Atera is the generalist’s shortcut.
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 September 17, 2026. Sources: action1.com, atera.com. Figures are pulled from public vendor and security data and refreshed automatically.