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 
PDQ Deploy & Inventory Action1 vs PDQ Deploy & Inventory: on our data-weighted scoring, Action1 edges ahead (8.8 vs 7.9/10). Action1 starts at $4/endpoint/mo and is best for SMB and MSP teams whose #1 job is patching (free up to 200 endpoints); PDQ Deploy & Inventory starts at Custom quote and is best for windows-only shops that want fast, scriptable on-prem deployment. Choose Action1 for the stronger overall track record; consider PDQ Deploy & Inventory if its pricing model or fit matches your environment better. Side-by-side table below.
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PDQ Deploy & Inventory
7.9/10
MSP Compared score
- Starting price
- Custom quote
- Reviews
- 4.7/5 (~60 G2 reviews)
- Free trial
- 14 days
- Deployment
- On-prem
- Best for
- Windows-only shops that want fast, scriptable on-prem deployment
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 | PDQ Deploy & Inventory |
|---|---|---|
| Editorial | 8.8 | 7.9 |
| User reviews | 9.6 | 9.4 |
| Adoption | 6.6 | 4.7 |
| Affordability | 9.5 | 5.0 |
| Feature breadth | 6.0 | 5.0 |
| Ease of trial | 10.0 | 6.0 |
Action1 vs PDQ Deploy & Inventory: head-to-head
| Action1 | PDQ Deploy & Inventory | |
|---|---|---|
| Starting price | $4/endpoint/mo | Custom quote |
| Pricing model | per endpoint | per machine |
| Free trial / tier | Free tier + 15-day full trial | 14 days |
| Best for | SMB and MSP teams whose #1 job is patching (free up to 200 endpoints) | Windows-only shops that want fast, scriptable on-prem deployment |
| Deployment | Cloud | On-prem |
| G2 rating | 4.8/5 (300) | 4.7/5 (60) |
| Capterra rating | — | — |
| Our score | 8.8 | 7.9 |
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 PDQ Deploy & Inventory if…
You need windows-only shops that want fast, scriptable on-prem deployment.
✓ Pros
- Fast and reliable on Windows
- Huge ready-made package library
- Loved by sysadmins
✕ Cons
- Windows-only
- On-prem (agentless on LAN)
- Pricing not fully public
In depth
Pricing: Action1 vs PDQ Deploy & Inventory
Action1 bills on a per endpoint model from $4/endpoint/mo (free tier available), while PDQ Deploy & Inventory uses a per machine model from Custom quote (14 days trial). 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. PDQ Deploy & Inventory ships 5 (Pre-built application library, Custom package deployment, Inventory + reporting, Scheduling + targeting), deploying On-prem.
Ratings & verdict
Action1 holds 4.8/5 (~300 G2 reviews); PDQ Deploy & Inventory holds 4.7/5 (~60 G2 reviews). On our data-weighted score, Action1 edges ahead (8.8 vs 7.9/10). Pick PDQ Deploy & Inventory instead when windows-only shops that want fast, scriptable on-prem deployment. See Action1 alternatives or PDQ Deploy & Inventory alternatives.
Frequently asked questions
- Action1 vs PDQ Deploy & Inventory: which is better?
- Action1 vs PDQ Deploy & Inventory: on our data-weighted scoring, Action1 edges ahead (8.8 vs 7.9/10). Action1 starts at $4/endpoint/mo and is best for SMB and MSP teams whose #1 job is patching (free up to 200 endpoints); PDQ Deploy & Inventory starts at Custom quote and is best for windows-only shops that want fast, scriptable on-prem deployment.
- Is Action1 cheaper than PDQ Deploy & Inventory?
- Action1 starts at $4/endpoint/mo and PDQ Deploy & Inventory starts at Custom quote (see the pricing rows for models and limits).
Data as of November 1, 2026. Sources: action1.com, pdq.com. Figures are pulled from public vendor and security data and refreshed automatically.