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
In Depth
Pricing
| Aspect | Action1 | ManageEngine Endpoint Central |
|---|---|---|
| Model | Per-endpoint | Per-endpoint |
| Free Tier | 200 endpoints, all features | 25 endpoints |
| Free Trial | 15 days full | 30 days |
| Paid Entry | $4/endpoint/mo (annual, 201–1,000) | ~$795/yr for 50 endpoints (estimated) |
| Large Scale | Custom quote (1,000+) | Custom quote |
Winner: Action1 — A 200-endpoint free tier with zero feature gates is substantially more generous than 25 endpoints. Paid pricing is also transparent at $4/endpoint/mo, whereas ManageEngine requires a quote even for modest scale.
Features & Deployment
Action1 is purpose-built for patch management:
- OS + third-party app patching with CVE/CVSS/CISA KEV risk ranking
- Peer-to-peer distribution (bandwidth efficiency)
- Vulnerability scanning and automated remediation
- Remote access
- Cloud-only, no infrastructure to manage
ManageEngine Endpoint Central is a broader endpoint management suite:
- Patch + software deployment
- Full UEM/MDM including mobile
- OS imaging and remote control
- Endpoint security add-ons
- Cloud or on-premises deployment
Verdict: Choose Action1 if patching is your primary need and you want simplicity. Choose ManageEngine if you need unified management across Windows, Mac, Linux, and mobile devices in a single console—but expect more complexity and licensing layers.
Ratings & Reputation
| Platform | Action1 | ManageEngine EC |
|---|---|---|
| G2 Score | 4.8/5 (300 reviews) | 4.4/5 (350 reviews) |
| Our Score | 8.8/10 | 8.0/10 |
Action1 edges out ManageEngine in both independent reviews and our assessment, likely due to clarity of purpose and user-friendly pricing.
Verdict
Action1 is the better choice for SMBs and MSPs focused on patch management. Its free tier is genuinely unrestricted, pricing is transparent, and reviewers consistently praise the lack of feature gating. It’s a specialist tool that does one thing exceptionally well.
ManageEngine Endpoint Central makes sense if you already use or plan to adopt Zoho’s broader ecosystem, need mobile management, or prefer a single pane of glass for endpoint visibility—but be prepared for more complex licensing and a steeper learning curve.
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 September 17, 2026. Sources: action1.com, manageengine.com. Figures are pulled from public vendor and security data and refreshed automatically.