ManageEngine Patch Manager Plus vs SolarWinds Patch Manager

ManageEngine Endpoint Central

PDQ Deploy & Inventory

Action1

Endpoint Central (formerly Desktop Central) from ManageEngine is an integrated desktop & mobile device management application that enables the centralized management of desktops, servers, laptops, tablets & smartphones.

Self-hosted, agentless Windows endpoint management for on-prem  environments. Combines real-time device inventory (Active Directory sync, dynamic collections, custom scanners) with automated patching, 500+ pre-built packages, scripting, and compliance reporting.  Per-admin license, unlimited devices

Action1 reinvents patch management with an infinitely scalable and highly secure platform configurable in 5 minutes that just works.

IT Analyst

Amazing product , very happy with the customer services, they are fast to respond and they know what they do.

Patch Manager Plus allows users to automate patching of Windows, Mac, Linux, and over 850 third-party applications offering complete automated patch deployment

Access Controls/Permissions

Activity Dashboard

Activity Tracking

Alerts/Notifications

Anti Virus

Approval Process Control

Audit Management

Automatic Patch Deployment

Automatic Scans

Cloud Application Security

Compliance Management

Customization

Dashboard

Encryption

Monitoring

Network Wide Management

Patch Management

Patch Prioritization

Patch Testing

Policy Management

Remote Access/Control

Reporting/Analytics

Reporting & Statistics

Scheduling

Search/Filter

Security Auditing

Self Service Portal

Status Tracking

Third-Party Integrations

Threat Intelligence

Two-Factor Authentication

User Management

Vulnerability Scanning

By industry, ManageEngine Patch Manager Plus reviewers are most commonly professionals in information technology and services (15%). The most frequent use case cited is patch management (92% of reviewers).

Users and use cases

ManageEngine Patch Manager Plus is a patch management program offering key features such as automatic patch deployment, patch management, automatic scans, alerts/notifications, and vulnerability scanning, among others.

Proprietary

ManageEngine Patch Manager Plus

Web-based

Windows

Android

iPhone

Linux

iPad

Chromebook

SolarWinds Patch Manager

NinjaOne

Automox

Atera

Patch My PC

Kaseya VSA

Professional (On-Premises) 

Enterprise (On-Premises)

Professional(Cloud)

Enterprise (Cloud)

Assistant Manager

It’s a reliable tool for centralised patch management, allowing me to handle both operating system and third-party application updates from a single console

Systems and Network Admin

We have a lot of EMR servers with dependencies on other servers and each time they are rebooted it has to be in a specific order with plenty of time for SQL and other processes to start before rebooting others.

System Administrator

ManageEngine Patch Manager Plus delivers robust patch management across Windows, macOS, and Linux environments with a clean interface and reliable automation.

It covers the essentials well, the interface is mostly intuitive, and the pricing makes it an easy choice. Where it falls short is in restart scheduling and streamlining the patching workflow, though I was able to work around the restart limitations by writing custom scripts to get the behavior I needed.

Desktop Support

It allows me to efficiently patch Windows updates and manage updates for some third-party applications across systems.

ict manager

We make some initial configuration with our partner, then ourselves configured all 100 client and 25 server, setup automatic by install in active directory

Information Security

It supports multiple OS platforms — Windows, macOS, and Linux — which makes it suited to heterogeneous environments with mixed devices.

Sometimes the reporting gives issues saying that a system is not fully patched but when I go into the report it doesn't list missing patches and when I check the server patches are up to date.

IT Cloud Engineer

Provides additional options such as the ability to deploy BIOS and driver updates through the same agent/console to clients.

Another issue that crops up on some of our older Server 2016 servers is that a patch will not fully install and prolongs reboot times.

CloudOperation Engineer

ManageEngine Patch Manager Plus is a robust, enterprise-grade patching solution that delivers strong automation, granular control, and wide OS/app coverage.

What I liked least was that the reporting and analytics dashboards can feel limited compared to some competitors, requiring additional configuration to surface the most actionable insights.

Endpoint Systems Developer

Certain pages have a refresh where others do not, when searching for devices once you refresh it closes the search box, a minor annoyance.

IT Operations Manager

Patch Manager Plus really shines with its extensive app catalog, making it super easy to handle updates for both client and server platforms, including operating systems and various third-party applications.

Dynamic Group creation suits our environment, however it not available to all functions within the console; although lesser favourable options are available but require more admin over head.

For very large or complex environments, the patch catalog (especially for third-party apps) may still miss less-common software — it’s strong for mainstream apps but may not cover all niche tools.

IT Admin

The mac installer also needs an extra file, if I make a PKG with the installer and the file, Intune doesn't recognize it as a signed app and gives failed install messages.

Security consultant

Scalability challenges in large environments – Managing distributed servers across multiple regions sometimes requires extra configuration and monitoring effort.

Systems Engineer

The main drawbacks for me are that the web interface feels overcrowded and shows too many pop-ups, which can be distracting.

Some reviews mention agent-related hiccups or slow UI/response times, especially when managing many endpoints, particularly Linux endpoints.

IT Manager

Some updates are not downloaded automatically and require manual download and upload to the server before distribution. Although the management interface includes a detailed explanation and a download link, it is not clear why the download is not performed automatically.

The update process itself could also be a bit more streamlined, as there are times where applying patches feels like it involves more steps than it should.

Tech Specialist

My overall experience with ManageEngine Patch Manager Plus is strongly positive, driven by its automation capabilities, broad platform support, and comprehensive visibility

It is easy to set up schedules for rebooting, configuring test groups and schedules for test groups and setting up reports.

AGM IT

The platform helped automate patch deployment and reduced manual intervention for routine updates.

One of its biggest strengths is the variety of agent deployment options, so there's a method for just about any scenario.

The automation works very well and I especially like the ability to automate patch testing and approval.  

Managing OS and third-party application patches from a single console improved operational efficiency.

IT Business Analyst

Most time they will succeed on second/third attempts, but every once in a while, I will need to remote into the machine and manually install the updates.

IT Security Administrator

My current issue is that the support for 3rd party repositories for Linux is lacking.

Project Manager

The potential that this tools has to create reboot jobs, update control and reporting of installed pacthes

Deputy Manager

Slow patch scans at scale and occasional console glitches reduce efficiency.

As an Enterprise customer, we are entitled to 4 Health checks a year (if required) one on site and the others remote.

Easy automated patching with broad app coverage and clear, intuitive reporting dashboard are good value for money

Senior Associate Engineer

The product simplifies patch deployment and provides good automation capabilities.

Senior Cyber Security Specialist

What I like the most is the ability to manage patching across all operating systems from a single centralized console.

Network Security Specialist

b. Security and Vulnerability Management - patching is made easy and vulnerabilities are minimized and managed

It offers a very solid patch‑management engine that works reliably without requiring constant attention.

IT Specialist

Patches for the product are released very frequently and they cover every type of operating system.

Third-party application patching is something we plan to implement, and the pricing is very reasonable for what you get.

Patch compliance visibility helped track vulnerable systems more effectively.

It consistently performs well, reduces manual work, and improves patch compliance across the environment.

Managing patches centrally and automating deployments saves a lot of time.

IT Procurement and Contract Manager

The computers don't always show that they have been restarted if the user restarts on their system on their own.

Such as Built in supported patches to resolve the failed patches issues

I installed the demo, deployed the agents and in a matter of a few hours had a fully functioning application and was able to deploy patches that evening.

It is best suited for IT teams that manage distributed environments and need reliable patch compliance without heavy manual intervention.

Assistant Manager – IT

Also, the user interface can feel a bit overwhelming initially, especially in large environments.

Infrastructure Expert

Quite simple to use. And a real improvement in the application of our patches as well as the visibility we have if our servers are up to date.

SYSTEMS ADMINISTRATOR

I really like its ability to handle both OS and third-party application updates, along with detailed reporting for compliance.

Reviewers indicate that ManageEngine Patch Manager Plus’s Patch Management aspect simplifies keeping systems up-to-date and secure. Users report that it provides clear dashboards for tracking patch status, supports patching multiple devices and third-party applications, and eliminates the need for manual updates. They find Patch Management easy to use, efficient for large-scale deployments, and valuable for maintaining compliance and operational continuity. They say it’s the main reason for choosing ManageEngine Patch Manager Plus. Of the 42 ManageEngine Patch Manager Plus users who gave detailed accounts of their use of Patch Management, 100% rated this feature as important or highly important.

Agent Deployment

Reporting

Updates

Cloud and On-Premise

User Interface

Security and Access Control

Configuration

Device Management

Small Business

Freelancers

Large Enterprises

Mid-size Business

Most reviewers indicate that ManageEngine Patch Manager Plus offers strong value for money, highlighting its affordable pricing compared to similar solutions and the generous free tier for smaller environments. They appreciate the balance between cost and functionality, noting that the software includes a wide range of features without significant price increases as organizations scale. Users say the product saves time and is cost-effective, especially when compared to alternatives like SCCM. Some reviewers mention that the only drawback is having to pay for it, but they still find the pricing reasonable and competitive.

ManageEngine

ESET PROTECT MDR

Airtight protection of your IT environment,
with complete cyber risk management and
world-class ESET expertise on call.

AI-powered platform that unifies identity, endpoints, and compliance—giving IT teams time and control back.

ManageEngine Vulnerability Manager Plus

ManageEngine Vulnerability Manager Plus is a prioritization-driven threat and vulnerability management software for enterprises that offers built-in patching.

SolarWinds Patch Manager is a server monitoring software that helps businesses manage the process of patching systems and applications. It provides a centralized platform for managing, deploying, and reporting on patches for Windows and third-party applications.

ManageEngine Patch Manager Plus vs SolarWinds Patch Manager Comparison (2026)

ManageEngine Patch Manager Plus

SolarWinds Patch Manager

Overview

Video & Screenshots

Pricing

User reviews

Key features

Integrations

Alternatives