Automox
7.7/10
MSP Compared score
- Starting price
- $3/endpoint/mo
- Reviews
- 4.5/5 (~90 G2 reviews)
- Free trial
- 14 days
- Deployment
- Cloud
- Best for
- Cloud-native cross-OS patch + config automation for lean IT teams
Best Patch Management Software · 2026
Automox vs 
PDQ Deploy & Inventory Automox vs PDQ Deploy & Inventory: on our data-weighted scoring, PDQ Deploy & Inventory edges ahead (7.9 vs 7.7/10). Automox starts at $3/endpoint/mo and is best for cloud-native cross-OS patch + config automation for lean IT teams; PDQ Deploy & Inventory starts at Custom quote and is best for windows-only shops that want fast, scriptable on-prem deployment. Choose PDQ Deploy & Inventory for the stronger overall track record; consider Automox 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.
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 | Automox | PDQ Deploy & Inventory |
|---|---|---|
| Editorial | 7.7 | 7.9 |
| User reviews | 9.0 | 9.4 |
| Adoption | 5.2 | 4.7 |
| Affordability | 7.6 | 5.0 |
| Feature breadth | 5.0 | 5.0 |
| Ease of trial | 6.0 | 6.0 |
Automox vs PDQ Deploy & Inventory: head-to-head
| Automox | PDQ Deploy & Inventory | |
|---|---|---|
| Starting price | $3/endpoint/mo | Custom quote |
| Pricing model | per endpoint | per machine |
| Free trial / tier | 14 days | 14 days |
| Best for | Cloud-native cross-OS patch + config automation for lean IT teams | Windows-only shops that want fast, scriptable on-prem deployment |
| Deployment | Cloud | On-prem |
| G2 rating | 4.5/5 (90) | 4.7/5 (60) |
| Capterra rating | — | — |
| Our score | 7.7 | 7.9 |
Choose Automox if…
You need cloud-native cross-os patch + config automation for lean it teams.
✓ Pros
- True cross-OS parity
- No on-prem infrastructure
- Flexible automation via Worklets
✕ Cons
- No free tier
- Per-endpoint cost adds up
- Reporting depth trails enterprise suites
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
| Aspect | PDQ Deploy & Inventory | Automox |
|---|---|---|
| Model | Per-machine annual license | Per-endpoint/month |
| Starting Price | Quote required | $3/endpoint/mo (Manage tier) |
| Free Trial | 14 days | 14 days |
| Free Tier | No | No |
| Best for Cost | Large Windows-only estates | Small to mid-size multi-OS fleets |
PDQ uses opaque per-machine licensing requiring a sales quote, while Automox publishes transparent per-endpoint pricing starting at $3/month. For a 100-machine Windows environment, PDQ’s total cost is unknowable upfront; Automox scales linearly at $36/machine/year minimum. Automox’s “Secure” tier ($5/endpoint) adds vulnerability remediation.
Features & Deployment
| Feature | PDQ | Automox |
|---|---|---|
| Deployment Model | On-prem (agentless over LAN) | Cloud SaaS |
| OS Support | Windows only | Windows, macOS, Linux |
| App Patching | OS + custom packages | OS + third-party apps |
| Automation | Scheduling + targeting | Worklets (custom scripts) |
| Inventory | Full reporting suite | Basic compliance tracking |
PDQ excels in Windows-native speed and has an enormous pre-built package library—a massive advantage for shops standardized on Windows. Its agentless architecture works over LAN without infrastructure overhead.
Automox is purpose-built for heterogeneous environments. It patches Windows, macOS, and Linux from a single cloud console. Worklets allow flexible post-patch automation (e.g., restart policies, config drift remediation). However, it requires agent deployment and offers thinner historical reporting than PDQ.
Ratings & Verdict
| Metric | PDQ | Automox |
|---|---|---|
| G2 Score | 4.7/5 (60 reviews) | 4.5/5 (90 reviews) |
| Our Score | 7.9/10 | 7.7/10 |
PDQ wins on sysadmin enthusiasm and Windows speed. Reviewers praise its reliability and package ecosystem. Best choice for Windows-only shops where fast, scriptable deployments matter.
Automox wins on cloud simplicity and cross-OS consistency. No on-prem infrastructure means faster time-to-value for distributed teams. Better for organizations mixing Windows, Mac, and Linux.
Verdict: Choose PDQ Deploy if you’re 95%+ Windows and need industrial-grade Windows patch + app deployment speed. Choose Automox if you manage multiple operating systems and want a lightweight cloud-first platform. PDQ offers deeper inventory; Automox offers broader reach with simpler operations.
Frequently asked questions
- Automox vs PDQ Deploy & Inventory: which is better?
- Automox vs PDQ Deploy & Inventory: on our data-weighted scoring, PDQ Deploy & Inventory edges ahead (7.9 vs 7.7/10). Automox starts at $3/endpoint/mo and is best for cloud-native cross-OS patch + config automation for lean IT teams; PDQ Deploy & Inventory starts at Custom quote and is best for windows-only shops that want fast, scriptable on-prem deployment.
- Is Automox cheaper than PDQ Deploy & Inventory?
- Automox starts at $3/endpoint/mo and PDQ Deploy & Inventory starts at Custom quote (see the pricing rows for models and limits).
Data as of September 17, 2026. Sources: automox.com, pdq.com. Figures are pulled from public vendor and security data and refreshed automatically.