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 tools with free access highlighted below, plus 3 more in this category.
Per-technician · Cloud · Free trial
Atera earns its place on MSP shortlists 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 significan
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 who
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 wh
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, fie
These tools are part of the patch management category but may not match the free tools filter above. Worth reviewing if the primary options don't 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.
