Buyer’s guide Β· Technology
Best Patch Management Software in 2026: Pricing & Comparison
We compared four patch management platforms on published pricing, free or trial options, OS and third-party coverage and deployment model so IT teams can shortlist faster.
- Cloud OS patching on a budget: Automox Patch OS β $1/endpoint/month annual for Windows, macOS and Linux OS updates.
- Free start for small fleets: ManageEngine Patch Manager Plus β free up to 20 workstations and 5 servers; paid cloud from $34.50/month for 50 computers.
- Third-party and automation needs: Automox Automate tiers or ManageEngine Enterprise β quote or higher published bands.
Patch management software automates the discovery, testing and deployment of operating-system and application updates so endpoints stay current and less exposed.
We evaluated every vendor on the same fields: published pricing, free plan or trial, core focus and main limitation. The order is not a quality ranking. Sort rule: public $0 / published price first, quote-led last.
Compared at a glance
| Platform | Published pricing | Best for | Link |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. ManageEngine Patch Manager Plus | Free up to 20 workstations + 5 servers; Cloud Professional $34.50/mo for 50 computers | SMBs wanting a free start and clear computer-band pricing | Visit β |
| 2. Automox | Patch OS $1/endpoint/month annual; Automate tiers custom | Cloud-native OS patching without on-prem servers | Visit β |
| 3. PDQ Deploy | Published annual per-admin or package pricing; confirm current site | Windows-centric teams already using PDQ inventory | Visit β |
| 4. Tanium Patch | Quote-based enterprise | Large fleets needing real-time visibility and patching | Visit β |
Prices are public list prices in USD checked 12 October 2026 where published; quote-led vendors have no list price. Confirm on the vendorβs pricing page. How we evaluated: see methodology below.
The 4 companies in detail
ManageEngine Patch Manager Plus
Best for free start and clear bands
Best for: Small and mid-size IT teams that want a free tier and transparent pricing by computer count.
| Attribute | ManageEngine Patch Manager Plus |
|---|---|
| Published pricing | Free up to 20 workstations and 5 servers; Cloud Professional $34.50/month (50 computers, 1 technician); higher bands and on-prem listed |
| Free plan or trial | Free edition; paid trials available |
| Core focus | Windows, Mac, Linux patching, third-party apps, reports, on-prem or cloud |
| Main limitation | Free tier is small; Enterprise features and WAN optimization sit on higher editions |
- Genuine free edition for very small environments.
- Clear published bands for both cloud and on-premises.
- Scaling past free or basic bands requires paid licenses per computer range.
Automox
Best for simple cloud OS patching
Best for: Teams that want agent-based OS patching across Windows, macOS and Linux without managing local patch infrastructure.
| Attribute | Automox |
|---|---|
| Published pricing | Patch OS $1/endpoint/month with annual commitment; Automate Essentials and Enterprise custom |
| Free plan or trial | Trial available; no permanent free plan |
| Core focus | Cloud patching, third-party titles on higher tiers, automation policies |
| Main limitation | Full third-party and advanced automation require quote-based Automate tiers |
- Lowest published per-endpoint OS rate in the set.
- No on-prem server or VPN required for remote devices.
- Only OS patching is list-priced; broader features are custom.
PDQ Deploy
Best for Windows-centric shops
Best for: Windows-focused IT teams that already use or prefer PDQ inventory and package deployment.
| Attribute | PDQ Deploy |
|---|---|
| Published pricing | Annual licensing published on PDQ site (typically per admin or package); confirm current rates |
| Free plan or trial | Trial available |
| Core focus | Package deployment and patching for Windows environments |
| Main limitation | Primarily Windows; multi-OS coverage is more limited than cloud multi-OS tools |
- Strong Windows package and deployment workflow.
- Pairs naturally with PDQ Inventory.
- Less suitable if macOS or Linux fleets are significant.
Tanium Patch
Best for large real-time fleets
Best for: Large enterprises that need real-time endpoint visibility and patching at scale.
| Attribute | Tanium Patch |
|---|---|
| Published pricing | Quote-based; no public list price |
| Free plan or trial | Demo and proof-of-concept via sales |
| Core focus | Real-time data, patching, vulnerability and configuration management |
| Main limitation | Enterprise sales cycle and custom pricing; overkill for small fleets |
- Designed for large, distributed environments.
- Combines visibility and action in one platform.
- No published pricing; requires sales engagement.
I have fewer than 20 machinesWant a free start
I only need OS patching in the cloudSimple per-endpoint rate
Automox Patch OS lists $1/endpoint/month on annual commitment.
My environment is almost entirely WindowsPackage-based deployment
PDQ Deploy is built for Windows package and patch workflows.
I manage thousands of endpointsReal-time visibility required
Tanium is positioned for large-scale real-time operations.
Buying tip
Count endpoints carefully and ask whether third-party application patching is included or an upgrade. Free or low-entry tiers often cover only OS updates or small fleets; production use almost always moves to paid bands.
Is there a free patch management tool for small businesses?
Does the $1 Automox rate include third-party apps?
No. Patch OS covers operating-system patching. Third-party titles and advanced automation are on the quote-based Automate tiers.
Can I run these tools without on-premises servers?
Automox is cloud-native. ManageEngine offers both cloud and on-premises. PDQ and Tanium deployments vary; confirm current architecture on the vendor site.
How often do patch prices change?
List prices and computer bands change. Always re-check the vendor pricing page on the day you buy and note the effective date for renewals.
Last updated 12 October 2026. Prices checked 12 October 2026. Kurums is an independent publisher. We may earn a commission if you click certain links and buy; that does not affect our research or conclusions. See How we make money.
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