Windows Update and WSUS are free but limited to Microsoft patches. Action1 offers a free plan for up to 200 endpoints that covers both OS and third-party patching. Automox has a 14-day trial. For third-party application patching specifically, most free tools have significant coverage gaps.
7 of 10 products in this category match the free access filter and are highlighted below.
Per-technician · Cloud · Free trial
Atera is a common pick for MSPs primarily through pricing model and PSA consolidation, not feature depth.
Best for: Atera is best for MSPs and internal IT teams where per-technician economics make sense (typically teams managing more than 100 endpoints per technician where per-device alternatives become significant
Usage-based pricing · Cloud · Free trial
NinjaOne is the clearest choice when a team needs cross-OS RMM with fast deployment, strong patch automation, and reliable support without the learning curve of ConnectWise Automate or Kaseya VSA.
Best for: NinjaOne is best for MSPs and internal IT teams that need cross-OS RMM with fast deployment, strong patch automation, and a support organization that holds up under daily use, and whose PSA needs are
Endpoint-based · Cloud · Free trial
Action1 is one of the strongest cloud-native patch management platforms for SMBs and mid-market IT teams that need to close patching gaps fast without deploying on-premises infrastructure.
Best for: Action1 is best for SMB and mid-market IT teams that need cloud-native patch management across Windows, macOS, and Linux without deploying on-premises infrastructure. It is particularly strong for org
Endpoint-based · Cloud · Free trial
Automox is the clearest choice when a team needs cloud-native, cross-OS patch management that deploys in hours rather than weeks and does not require standing up on-premises patch infrastructure.
Best for: Automox is best for internal IT teams and security operations groups managing a distributed, cross-OS workforce that need automated patching without building on-premises patch infrastructure, and whos
Custom quote · Cloud / On-prem · Free trial
ManageEngine Endpoint Central is the strongest option when a team needs on-premises deployment, published pricing, or broad platform coverage that includes MDM for mobile and ChromeOS alongside traditional desktop management.
Best for: ManageEngine Endpoint Central is best for IT teams that need a single platform covering desktops, servers, and mobile devices across Windows, macOS, Linux, iOS, Android, and ChromeOS, particularly whe
Endpoint-based · Cloud · Free trial
PDQ Connect is the clearest choice when a team needs fast, simple cloud-based patching for Windows and macOS endpoints without the overhead of a full RMM platform.
Best for: PDQ Connect is best for internal IT teams managing primarily Windows environments that want cloud-based patching, software deployment, and device inventory without the complexity, cost, or learning cu
Endpoint-based · Cloud · Free trial
Pulseway occupies a specific and defensible position in the RMM market: it is the strongest mobile-first option for IT teams and MSPs that genuinely need to manage infrastructure from a phone or tablet.
Best for: Pulseway is best for MSPs and IT departments where mobile-first management is a genuine operational requirement. On-call technicians who need to respond to alerts and resolve issues from a phone, fiel
The rest of the patch management software category, listed because the free access filter above did not select them. Worth reading when the highlighted options do not fit.
Custom quote · Cloud / On-prem
ConnectWise Automate is the strongest choice when a team needs deep, customizable automation with on-premises deployment and native PSA integration through ConnectWise Manage.
Custom quote · Cloud / On-prem
N-central is the right choice when an MSP or enterprise IT team needs an RMM platform that scales to thousands of endpoints with deep policy-based automation, flexible deployment options, and multi-tenant architecture that handles complex client environments.
Custom quote · On-prem
SolarWinds Patch Manager is the right tool when a team has already invested in WSUS or SCCM, needs third-party application patching on Windows endpoints, and wants to stay inside the Microsoft patching infrastructure rather than migrate to a cloud-native alternative.
WSUS handles Windows OS and Microsoft application patches only, no third-party apps (Chrome, Zoom, Adobe, Java). For Windows-only environments with no third-party patching needs, WSUS is adequate. Most organizations need broader coverage.
Action1 is free for up to 200 endpoints with OS and third-party patching, reporting, and remote access. WSUS is free and unlimited for Windows patches only. PDQ Deploy has a free version for local network deployments.
Free tools typically lack automated scheduling, compliance reporting, rollback capabilities, and third-party application coverage. Unpatched third-party apps (browsers, Java, media players) are a top attack vector: free OS-only patching doesn't address this.
