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 
Heimdal Action1 vs Heimdal: on our data-weighted scoring, Action1 edges ahead (8.8 vs 7.5/10). Action1 starts at $4/endpoint/mo and is best for SMB and MSP teams whose #1 job is patching (free up to 200 endpoints); Heimdal starts at Custom quote and is best for MSPs wanting patching bundled with a broader security suite. Choose Action1 for the stronger overall track record; consider Heimdal if its pricing model or fit matches your environment better. Side-by-side table below.
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Heimdal
7.5/10
MSP Compared score
- Starting price
- Custom quote
- Reviews
- 4.6/5 (~200 G2 reviews)
- Free trial
- Free trial
- Deployment
- Cloud
- Best for
- MSPs wanting patching bundled with a broader security suite
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 | Heimdal |
|---|---|---|
| Editorial | 8.8 | 7.5 |
| User reviews | 9.6 | 9.2 |
| Adoption | 6.6 | 6.1 |
| Affordability | 9.5 | 5.0 |
| Feature breadth | 6.0 | 4.0 |
| Ease of trial | 10.0 | 6.0 |
Action1 vs Heimdal: head-to-head
| Action1 | Heimdal | |
|---|---|---|
| Starting price | $4/endpoint/mo | Custom quote |
| Pricing model | per endpoint | per endpoint |
| 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) | MSPs wanting patching bundled with a broader security suite |
| Deployment | Cloud | Cloud |
| G2 rating | 4.8/5 (300) | 4.6/5 (200) |
| Capterra rating | — | — |
| Our score | 8.8 | 7.5 |
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 Heimdal if…
You need msps wanting patching bundled with a broader security suite.
✓ Pros
- Unified security + patch platform
- Strong MSP program
- Modular
✕ Cons
- Quote-based pricing
- Best value only when bundled
- Newer EDR
In depth
In Depth
Pricing
| Aspect | Action1 | Heimdal |
|---|---|---|
| Model | Per-endpoint/month | Per-endpoint/month (custom) |
| Free Tier | Yes — up to 200 endpoints, all features | No |
| Free Trial | 15 days, full access | Yes (details on request) |
| Starting Price | $4/endpoint/mo (Growth tier) | Custom quote only |
| Best Value | Under 1,000 endpoints | 100+ endpoints bundled with security suite |
Action1’s pricing is radically simpler and more transparent. The free tier is genuinely unrestricted—no nag screens, no feature throttling—making it a no-brainer for labs, small shops, and pilots. Once you exceed 200 endpoints, Growth pricing at $4/endpoint lands you in the mid-market sweet spot, though support requires an additional fee.
Heimdal refuses published pricing, which typically signals premium positioning but hampers comparison shopping. The bundled security angle (DNS, EDR, PAM) could justify opaque pricing if you’re already buying a platform, but if patching is your primary need, you’ll likely overpay.
Features & Deployment
Both run cloud-native, eliminating on-prem infrastructure headaches.
Action1 excels at patch-centric workflows:
- OS + third-party app patching with a broad application catalog
- Risk-based prioritization (CVE/CVSS/CISA KEV) for triage
- Peer-to-peer distribution cuts bandwidth costs
- Vulnerability scanning, remote access, and automated remediation
Heimdal spreads effort across a security platform:
- Patching is one module among many (DNS security, EDR/XDR, PAM)
- Better for teams wanting a unified console
- Modular licensing—pay only for what you use
Verdict: Action1 is deeper on patching; Heimdal is broader on security. If your org already uses EDR or DNS filtering elsewhere, Action1 is cleaner. If you’re consolidating tooling, Heimdal’s bundling appeals—but you’ll need a quote to know the real cost.
Ratings & Community Trust
| Platform | G2 Score | Review Count |
|---|---|---|
| Action1 | 4.8 ⭐ | 300 reviews |
| Heimdal | 4.6 ⭐ | 200 reviews |
Action1’s 4.8 reflects strong customer satisfaction among patch management practitioners. Heimdal’s 4.6 is solid but lags, possibly because reviews conflate disparate modules (patching, DNS, EDR) under one rating.
Our internal scores: Action1 8.8 | Heimdal 7.5
Verdict
Action1 wins for teams whose primary mission is patching. The free tier removes friction for pilots and MSPs managing small client bases. Its Windows-centric depth and transparent pricing make it the easier choice for budget-conscious shops. Limitation: macOS coverage is shallow.
Heimdal suits MSPs already committed to a security platform or those needing EDR + patching in one console. The modular approach is smart, but the lack of public pricing and best-value bundling create friction. You’ll need a sales conversation before committing.
Pick Action1 if you patch first, secure second. Pick Heimdal if you secure first and want patching included.
Frequently asked questions
- Action1 vs Heimdal: which is better?
- Action1 vs Heimdal: on our data-weighted scoring, Action1 edges ahead (8.8 vs 7.5/10). Action1 starts at $4/endpoint/mo and is best for SMB and MSP teams whose #1 job is patching (free up to 200 endpoints); Heimdal starts at Custom quote and is best for MSPs wanting patching bundled with a broader security suite.
- Is Action1 cheaper than Heimdal?
- Action1 starts at $4/endpoint/mo and Heimdal starts at Custom quote (see the pricing rows for models and limits).
Data as of September 17, 2026. Sources: action1.com, heimdalsecurity.com. Figures are pulled from public vendor and security data and refreshed automatically.