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 
Automox Action1 vs Automox: on our data-weighted scoring, Action1 edges ahead (8.8 vs 7.7/10). Action1 starts at $4/endpoint/mo and is best for SMB and MSP teams whose #1 job is patching (free up to 200 endpoints); Automox starts at $3/endpoint/mo and is best for cloud-native cross-OS patch + config automation for lean IT teams. Choose Action1 for the stronger overall track record; consider Automox if its pricing model or fit matches your environment better. Side-by-side table below.
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Automox
7.7/10
MSP Compared score
- Starting price
- $3/endpoint/mo
- Reviews
- 4.5/5 (~90 G2 reviews)
- Free trial
- 14 days
- Deployment
- Cloud
- Best for
- Cloud-native cross-OS patch + config automation for lean IT teams
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 | Automox |
|---|---|---|
| Editorial | 8.8 | 7.7 |
| User reviews | 9.6 | 9.0 |
| Adoption | 6.6 | 5.2 |
| Affordability | 9.5 | 7.6 |
| Feature breadth | 6.0 | 5.0 |
| Ease of trial | 10.0 | 6.0 |
Action1 vs Automox: head-to-head
| Action1 | Automox | |
|---|---|---|
| Starting price | $4/endpoint/mo | $3/endpoint/mo |
| Pricing model | per endpoint | per endpoint |
| Free trial / tier | Free tier + 15-day full trial | 14 days |
| Best for | SMB and MSP teams whose #1 job is patching (free up to 200 endpoints) | Cloud-native cross-OS patch + config automation for lean IT teams |
| Deployment | Cloud | Cloud |
| G2 rating | 4.8/5 (300) | 4.5/5 (90) |
| Capterra rating | — | — |
| Our score | 8.8 | 7.7 |
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 Automox if…
You need cloud-native cross-os patch + config automation for lean it teams.
✓ Pros
- True cross-OS parity
- No on-prem infrastructure
- Flexible automation via Worklets
✕ Cons
- No free tier
- Per-endpoint cost adds up
- Reporting depth trails enterprise suites
In depth
In Depth
Pricing
| Aspect | Action1 | Automox |
|---|---|---|
| Model | Per-endpoint | Per-endpoint |
| Free Tier | ✅ Yes (200 endpoints, all features) | ❌ No |
| Trial | 15-day full trial | 14-day trial |
| Starting Price | $4/endpoint/mo (Growth tier) | $3/endpoint/mo (Manage tier) |
| Entry Cost | $0 (legitimately free) | Paid from day one |
Verdict: Action1 wins decisively for budget-conscious teams and SMBs. Its free tier includes all features through 200 endpoints—no artificial limitations. Automox is $1 cheaper per endpoint at scale but requires payment immediately and has no free alternative.
Features & Deployment
Both run on cloud infrastructure with agent-based architecture. Here’s where they diverge:
Action1 strengths:
- Peer-to-peer patch distribution (reduces bandwidth)
- Risk-based prioritization baked in (CVE/CVSS/CISA KEV)
- Remote access bundled
- Strong third-party app catalog
Automox strengths:
- Native macOS and Linux support (Action1 is Windows-first)
- Worklets enable custom automation workflows
- Configuration management beyond patching
- True cross-platform parity
Shared:
- OS + third-party app patching
- Cloud-native, no on-prem servers required
- Vulnerability scanning
Consideration: If you’re Windows-only or primarily patching, Action1’s feature set is sufficient. If your fleet is heterogeneous (Mac/Linux), Automox is the safer pick.
Ratings & Verdict
| Metric | Action1 | Automox |
|---|---|---|
| G2 Score | 4.8/5 (300 reviews) | 4.5/5 (90 reviews) |
| Our Score | 8.8/10 | 7.7/10 |
Action1 is the category leader for SMBs and MSPs. The free tier is genuinely generous, the platform matures well beyond 200 endpoints, and reviewers consistently praise the simplicity + power ratio. Best for teams whose core mandate is patching and vulnerability management.
Automox excels in multi-OS environments where configuration automation matters. It’s leaner on cost-per-endpoint at large scale but demands commitment from the start. Better for DevOps-adjacent IT teams and organizations with mixed Windows/Mac/Linux fleets.
Choose Action1 if: patch-first, Windows-dominant, budget-sensitive.
Choose Automox if: cross-OS required, automation workflows matter, team scales fast.
Frequently asked questions
- Action1 vs Automox: which is better?
- Action1 vs Automox: on our data-weighted scoring, Action1 edges ahead (8.8 vs 7.7/10). Action1 starts at $4/endpoint/mo and is best for SMB and MSP teams whose #1 job is patching (free up to 200 endpoints); Automox starts at $3/endpoint/mo and is best for cloud-native cross-OS patch + config automation for lean IT teams.
- Is Action1 cheaper than Automox?
- Action1 starts at $4/endpoint/mo and Automox starts at $3/endpoint/mo (see the pricing rows for models and limits).
Data as of September 17, 2026. Sources: action1.com, automox.com. Figures are pulled from public vendor and security data and refreshed automatically.