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 
ConnectWise Automate Action1 vs ConnectWise Automate: on our data-weighted scoring, Action1 edges ahead (8.8 vs 6.7/10). Action1 starts at $4/endpoint/mo and is best for SMB and MSP teams whose #1 job is patching (free up to 200 endpoints); ConnectWise Automate starts at Custom quote and is best for larger MSPs wanting deep customization and ConnectWise PSA integration. Choose Action1 for the stronger overall track record; consider ConnectWise Automate if its pricing model or fit matches your environment better. Side-by-side table below.
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ConnectWise Automate
6.7/10
MSP Compared score
- Starting price
- Custom quote
- Reviews
- 3.9/5 (~450 G2 reviews)
- Free trial
- —
- Deployment
- Cloud + on-prem
- Best for
- Larger MSPs wanting deep customization and ConnectWise PSA integration
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 | ConnectWise Automate |
|---|---|---|
| Editorial | 8.8 | 6.7 |
| User reviews | 9.6 | 7.8 |
| Adoption | 6.6 | 7.0 |
| Affordability | 9.5 | 5.0 |
| Feature breadth | 6.0 | 4.0 |
| Ease of trial | 10.0 | 3.0 |
Action1 vs ConnectWise Automate: head-to-head
| Action1 | ConnectWise Automate | |
|---|---|---|
| Starting price | $4/endpoint/mo | Custom quote |
| Pricing model | per endpoint | quote |
| Free trial / tier | Free tier + 15-day full trial | — |
| Best for | SMB and MSP teams whose #1 job is patching (free up to 200 endpoints) | Larger MSPs wanting deep customization and ConnectWise PSA integration |
| Deployment | Cloud | Cloud + on-prem |
| G2 rating | 4.8/5 (300) | 3.9/5 (450) |
| Capterra rating | — | — |
| Our score | 8.8 | 6.7 |
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 ConnectWise Automate if…
You need larger msps wanting deep customization and connectwise psa integration.
✓ Pros
- Extremely customizable
- Powerful at scale
- Tight ConnectWise ecosystem
✕ Cons
- Steep learning curve
- Quote pricing
- Heavier admin overhead
In depth
Pricing
| Aspect | Action1 | ConnectWise Automate |
|---|---|---|
| Model | Per-endpoint | Custom quote |
| Free Tier | Yes (up to 200 endpoints, all features) | No |
| Starting Price | $4/endpoint/mo (annual billing) | Not published |
| Free Trial | 15 days, full access | Not specified |
| Support | Included in Free; paid add-on on Growth tier | Included in quote |
Action1’s pricing is transparent and dramatically more accessible for small deployments. ConnectWise Automate requires a sales conversation, which typically means higher minimums and longer sales cycles.
Features & Deployment
| Capability | Action1 | ConnectWise Automate |
|---|---|---|
| Deployment | Cloud-only | Cloud + on-prem |
| Patch Management | ✓ (OS + 3rd-party apps) | ✓ |
| Vulnerability Scanning | ✓ (CVE/CVSS/CISA KEV risk-based) | — |
| Remote Access | ✓ | — |
| Scriptable RMM | Limited | ✓ (highly extensible) |
| PSA Integration | — | ✓ (native ConnectWise tie-in) |
Action1 shines for patch-centric workflows: it bundles vulnerability scanning, risk prioritization, and peer-to-peer distribution. Its vulnerability intelligence is granular.
ConnectWise Automate is the heavyweight customizer: built for organizations that need to script workflows, deeply integrate with ticketing, and control infrastructure (on-prem option). Patch management is present but not the core story.
Ratings & Sentiment
| Source | Action1 | ConnectWise Automate |
|---|---|---|
| G2 Score | 4.8/5.0 (300 reviews) | 3.9/5.0 (450 reviews) |
| Our Score | 8.8/10 | 6.7/10 |
Action1’s reviews are notably stronger and more recent. ConnectWise Automate’s lower rating reflects friction around complexity, admin overhead, and the opacity of custom pricing—common complaints in its review base.
Verdict
Action1 wins decisively for SMBs and MSPs under 1,000 endpoints. Its free tier removes procurement friction, cloud-native architecture eliminates server maintenance, and its laser focus on patch intelligence is unmatched at this scale. You pay predictably or not at all.
ConnectWise Automate is the right pick only if you’re already deep in the ConnectWise ecosystem, need heavy scripting/customization, or manage 5,000+ endpoints where bespoke pricing makes sense. The learning curve and admin tax are real trade-offs.
For most growing MSPs, Action1 is the faster, cheaper, less risky starting point.
Frequently asked questions
- Action1 vs ConnectWise Automate: which is better?
- Action1 vs ConnectWise Automate: on our data-weighted scoring, Action1 edges ahead (8.8 vs 6.7/10). Action1 starts at $4/endpoint/mo and is best for SMB and MSP teams whose #1 job is patching (free up to 200 endpoints); ConnectWise Automate starts at Custom quote and is best for larger MSPs wanting deep customization and ConnectWise PSA integration.
- Is Action1 cheaper than ConnectWise Automate?
- Action1 starts at $4/endpoint/mo and ConnectWise Automate starts at Custom quote (see the pricing rows for models and limits).
Data as of September 17, 2026. Sources: action1.com, connectwise.com. Figures are pulled from public vendor and security data and refreshed automatically.