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 
ManageEngine Endpoint Central Action1 vs ManageEngine Endpoint Central: on our data-weighted scoring, Action1 edges ahead (8.8 vs 8.0/10). Action1 starts at $4/endpoint/mo and is best for SMB and MSP teams whose #1 job is patching (free up to 200 endpoints); ManageEngine Endpoint Central starts at Free tier available and is best for teams wanting unified endpoint management + patching in one console. Choose Action1 for the stronger overall track record; consider ManageEngine Endpoint Central if its pricing model or fit matches your environment better. Side-by-side table below.
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ManageEngine Endpoint Central
8.0/10
MSP Compared score
- Starting price
- Free tier available
- Reviews
- 4.4/5 (~350 G2 reviews)
- Free trial
- Free tier + 30 days
- Deployment
- Cloud + on-prem
- Best for
- Teams wanting unified endpoint management + patching in one console
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 | ManageEngine Endpoint Central |
|---|---|---|
| Editorial | 8.8 | 8.0 |
| User reviews | 9.6 | 8.8 |
| Adoption | 6.6 | 6.7 |
| Affordability | 9.5 | 9.5 |
| Feature breadth | 6.0 | 5.0 |
| Ease of trial | 10.0 | 10.0 |
Action1 vs ManageEngine Endpoint Central: head-to-head
| Action1 | ManageEngine Endpoint Central | |
|---|---|---|
| Starting price | $4/endpoint/mo | Free tier available |
| Pricing model | per endpoint | per endpoint |
| Free trial / tier | Free tier + 15-day full trial | Free tier + 30 days |
| Best for | SMB and MSP teams whose #1 job is patching (free up to 200 endpoints) | Teams wanting unified endpoint management + patching in one console |
| Deployment | Cloud | Cloud + on-prem |
| G2 rating | 4.8/5 (300) | 4.4/5 (350) |
| Capterra rating | — | — |
| Our score | 8.8 | 8.0 |
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 ManageEngine Endpoint Central if…
You need teams wanting unified endpoint management + patching in one console.
✓ Pros
- Free up to 25 endpoints
- One console for UEM + patch
- Broad OS + mobile coverage
✕ Cons
- Editions/add-ons get complex
- Quote-based pricing
- Heavier than patch-only tools
In depth
Pricing: Action1 vs ManageEngine Endpoint Central
Action1 bills on a per endpoint model from $4/endpoint/mo (free tier available), while ManageEngine Endpoint Central uses a per endpoint model from Free tier available (free tier available). Because the models differ, the cheaper option flips depending on your fleet size — model both at your seat/endpoint count.
Features & deployment
Action1 ships 6 headline capabilities (OS + third-party app patching, Risk-based prioritization (CVE/CVSS/CISA KEV), Peer-to-peer patch distribution, Vulnerability scanning) and deploys Cloud. ManageEngine Endpoint Central ships 5 (Patch + software deployment, MDM/UEM for mobile, Remote control, OS imaging), deploying Cloud + on-prem.
Ratings & verdict
Action1 holds 4.8/5 (~300 G2 reviews); ManageEngine Endpoint Central holds 4.4/5 (~350 G2 reviews). On our data-weighted score, Action1 edges ahead (8.8 vs 8.0/10). Pick ManageEngine Endpoint Central instead when teams wanting unified endpoint management + patching in one console. See Action1 alternatives or ManageEngine Endpoint Central alternatives.
Frequently asked questions
- Action1 vs ManageEngine Endpoint Central: which is better?
- Action1 vs ManageEngine Endpoint Central: on our data-weighted scoring, Action1 edges ahead (8.8 vs 8.0/10). Action1 starts at $4/endpoint/mo and is best for SMB and MSP teams whose #1 job is patching (free up to 200 endpoints); ManageEngine Endpoint Central starts at Free tier available and is best for teams wanting unified endpoint management + patching in one console.
- Is Action1 cheaper than ManageEngine Endpoint Central?
- Action1 starts at $4/endpoint/mo and ManageEngine Endpoint Central starts at Free tier available (see the pricing rows for models and limits).
Data as of November 1, 2026. Sources: action1.com, manageengine.com. Figures are pulled from public vendor and security data and refreshed automatically.