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
Best Patch Management Software · 2026
PDQ Deploy & Inventory vs 
Tanium PDQ Deploy & Inventory vs Tanium: on our data-weighted scoring, PDQ Deploy & Inventory edges ahead (7.9 vs 6.9/10). PDQ Deploy & Inventory starts at Custom quote and is best for windows-only shops that want fast, scriptable on-prem deployment; Tanium starts at Custom quote and is best for very large enterprises needing real-time endpoint data at massive scale. Choose PDQ Deploy & Inventory for the stronger overall track record; consider Tanium if its pricing model or fit matches your environment better. Side-by-side table below.
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Tanium
6.9/10
MSP Compared score
- Starting price
- Custom quote
- Reviews
- 4.3/5 (~100 G2 reviews)
- Free trial
- —
- Deployment
- Cloud + on-prem
- Best for
- Very large enterprises needing real-time endpoint data at massive scale
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 | PDQ Deploy & Inventory | Tanium |
|---|---|---|
| Editorial | 7.9 | 6.9 |
| User reviews | 9.4 | 8.6 |
| Adoption | 4.7 | 5.3 |
| Affordability | 5.0 | 5.0 |
| Feature breadth | 5.0 | 4.0 |
| Ease of trial | 6.0 | 3.0 |
PDQ Deploy & Inventory vs Tanium: head-to-head
| PDQ Deploy & Inventory | Tanium | |
|---|---|---|
| Starting price | Custom quote | Custom quote |
| Pricing model | per machine | quote |
| Free trial / tier | 14 days | — |
| Best for | Windows-only shops that want fast, scriptable on-prem deployment | Very large enterprises needing real-time endpoint data at massive scale |
| Deployment | On-prem | Cloud + on-prem |
| G2 rating | 4.7/5 (60) | 4.3/5 (100) |
| Capterra rating | — | — |
| Our score | 7.9 | 6.9 |
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
Choose Tanium if…
You need very large enterprises needing real-time endpoint data at massive scale.
✓ Pros
- Unmatched scale and speed
- Real-time visibility
- Converged endpoint platform
✕ Cons
- Enterprise-only pricing
- Overkill for SMB
- Steep learning curve
In depth
Pricing
| Aspect | PDQ Deploy & Inventory | Tanium |
|---|---|---|
| Model | Per-machine annual | Enterprise quote |
| Free Trial | 14 days | Not listed |
| Transparency | Limited (quote required) | Not public (quote only) |
| Best for Budget | Mid-market Windows shops | Large enterprises only |
Neither vendor publishes transparent pricing. PDQ uses per-machine licensing (annual commitment), while Tanium operates on a full enterprise engagement model—expect six-figure deals. PDQ is the cheaper option for typical Windows environments under 500 machines; Tanium’s cost is prohibitive for smaller organizations.
Features & Deployment
PDQ Deploy & Inventory excels at what it does narrowly: Windows software deployment and asset inventory. Its massive pre-built package library (10,000+) means most common applications deploy without custom scripting. Scheduling, targeting, and reporting are straightforward. However, it’s purely on-premises and agentless only on the LAN—remote/cloud-connected machines need the agent.
Tanium operates at a different scale entirely. Its linear-chain real-time query engine allows you to interrogate thousands of endpoints simultaneously without overwhelming the network. It converges deployment, patch management, asset discovery, and threat hunting into one platform. This is Enterprise IT infrastructure; it’s designed for Fortune 500 shops managing 50,000+ endpoints globally.
The verdict: PDQ is a scalpel for Windows shops. Tanium is a fire hose for mega-enterprises.
Ratings & Verdict
| Metric | PDQ | Tanium |
|---|---|---|
| G2 Score | 4.7/5 (60 reviews) | 4.3/5 (100 reviews) |
| Our Score | 7.9/10 | 6.9/10 |
PDQ’s higher ratings reflect strong satisfaction among its core audience (Windows sysadmins love it). Tanium’s lower score partly reflects the complexity tax—powerful platforms for enterprises often score lower because they’re harder to implement and require deep expertise.
Pick PDQ if: You manage 100–1,000 Windows machines on-prem and need fast, reliable deployment without complexity.
Pick Tanium if: You’re a Fortune 500 company needing real-time endpoint visibility and converged patch/threat/asset management at global scale, and budget is not a concern.
For everyone else, PDQ wins on simplicity and value. Tanium wins on raw capability—if you can afford it.
Frequently asked questions
- PDQ Deploy & Inventory vs Tanium: which is better?
- PDQ Deploy & Inventory vs Tanium: on our data-weighted scoring, PDQ Deploy & Inventory edges ahead (7.9 vs 6.9/10). PDQ Deploy & Inventory starts at Custom quote and is best for windows-only shops that want fast, scriptable on-prem deployment; Tanium starts at Custom quote and is best for very large enterprises needing real-time endpoint data at massive scale.
- Is PDQ Deploy & Inventory cheaper than Tanium?
- PDQ Deploy & Inventory starts at Custom quote and Tanium starts at Custom quote (see the pricing rows for models and limits).
Data as of September 17, 2026. Sources: pdq.com, tanium.com. Figures are pulled from public vendor and security data and refreshed automatically.