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 
Datto RMM Action1 vs Datto RMM: 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); Datto RMM starts at Custom quote and is best for established MSPs in the Kaseya/Datto ecosystem. Choose Action1 for the stronger overall track record; consider Datto RMM 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.
Datto RMM
7.7/10
MSP Compared score
- Starting price
- Custom quote
- Reviews
- 4.5/5 (~700 G2 reviews)
- Free trial
- Free trial
- Deployment
- Cloud
- Best for
- Established MSPs in the Kaseya/Datto ecosystem
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 | Datto RMM |
|---|---|---|
| Editorial | 8.8 | 7.7 |
| User reviews | 9.6 | 9.0 |
| Adoption | 6.6 | 7.5 |
| Affordability | 9.5 | 5.0 |
| Feature breadth | 6.0 | 5.0 |
| Ease of trial | 10.0 | 6.0 |
Action1 vs Datto RMM: head-to-head
| Action1 | Datto RMM | |
|---|---|---|
| Starting price | $4/endpoint/mo | Custom quote |
| Pricing model | per endpoint | per device |
| Free trial / tier | Free tier + 15-day full trial | Free trial |
| Best for | SMB and MSP teams whose #1 job is patching (free up to 200 endpoints) | Established MSPs in the Kaseya/Datto ecosystem |
| Deployment | Cloud | Cloud |
| G2 rating | 4.8/5 (300) | 4.5/5 (700) |
| 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 Datto RMM if…
You need established msps in the kaseya/datto ecosystem.
✓ Pros
- Mature and scalable
- Built-in ransomware detection
- Deep Datto/Kaseya integration
✕ Cons
- Quote/contract pricing
- Kaseya licensing complexity
- UI dated in places
In depth
In Depth
Pricing
| Aspect | Action1 | Datto RMM |
|---|---|---|
| Model | Per-endpoint/month | Per-device (quote-based) |
| Free Tier | Yes — 200 endpoints, all features | No |
| Free Trial | 15 days, full access | Yes (details on request) |
| Starting Cost | $4/endpoint/mo (annual billing) | Custom quote |
| Best Price Point | SMBs under 1,000 endpoints | Enterprise MSPs |
Action1’s pricing is straightforward and transparent. The free tier is genuinely unrestricted—no feature gating, no hidden upsells—making it unbeatable for small teams and proof-of-concept deployments. Growth tier adds a support fee on top of per-endpoint costs. Datto RMM requires contacting sales; pricing opacity makes budget forecasting harder, though enterprise customers often negotiate volume discounts.
Features & Deployment
Both run on cloud infrastructure, but serve different angles:
Action1 is laser-focused on patch management with breadth:
- OS + third-party app patching (strong catalog)
- Risk-based CVE/CVSS/CISA KEV prioritization
- Peer-to-peer distribution to reduce bandwidth
- Vulnerability scanning and automated remediation
- Remote access (secondary feature)
Datto RMM is a broader RMM platform with depth:
- Full cloud RMM (monitoring, automation, scripting)
- Ransomware detection (Datto’s differentiator)
- Patch management (less specialized than Action1)
- Network topology visualization
- Native Kaseya ecosystem integration
Verdict on features: Choose Action1 if patching is your primary pain point. Choose Datto RMM if you need end-to-end RMM with ransomware posture.
Ratings
| Platform | G2 Score | Review Count |
|---|---|---|
| Action1 | 4.8 ⭐ | 300 reviews |
| Datto RMM | 4.5 ⭐ | 700 reviews |
Action1 edges ahead on customer satisfaction despite a smaller review base—consistent praise for ease-of-use and the free tier. Datto RMM’s larger sample reflects market maturity; lower score reflects complaints about UI staleness, Kaseya licensing friction, and pricing opacity.
Verdict
Action1 wins for: SMBs, MSPs testing patch workflows, and anyone who wants zero-cost entry. The free tier eliminates buying friction; Growth pricing scales fairly to ~1,000 endpoints.
Datto RMM wins for: Established MSPs already in the Kaseya ecosystem or needing ransomware detection baked in. Maturity and integration depth justify the contract negotiation.
Our Score: Action1 8.8 | Datto RMM 7.7
If you’re choosing between them: Action1 is the more innovative and accessible choice for patch-first teams; Datto RMM is the safer enterprise consolidation play.
Frequently asked questions
- Action1 vs Datto RMM: which is better?
- Action1 vs Datto RMM: 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); Datto RMM starts at Custom quote and is best for established MSPs in the Kaseya/Datto ecosystem.
- Is Action1 cheaper than Datto RMM?
- Action1 starts at $4/endpoint/mo and Datto RMM starts at Custom quote (see the pricing rows for models and limits).
Data as of September 17, 2026. Sources: action1.com, datto.com. Figures are pulled from public vendor and security data and refreshed automatically.