License & Deployment Mix: 15 tools – 1 OSS, 8 SaaS. (OSS and SaaS counts can overlap when an open-source tool also offers a vendor-hosted edition.)
What Is Patch Management Software?
Patch management software automates the process of identifying, acquiring, testing, deploying, and verifying software updates (patches) across operating systems and third-party applications. It is a specialized discipline focused on keeping endpoints and servers current with security fixes, bug fixes, and feature updates.
Unlike broad endpoint management (MDM/UEM) tools that cover device enrollment, configuration profiles, app distribution, and compliance policies, patch management tools focus specifically on the patch lifecycle:
- OS patching – Windows updates (replacing WSUS), macOS softwareupdate, Linux package updates (apt, yum, dnf, zypper)
- Third-party app patching – keeping browsers, runtimes, productivity apps, and utilities updated across the fleet
- Vulnerability-based patching – prioritizing patches based on CVE severity, CVSS scores, and active exploit intelligence
- Patch testing and staging – deploying patches to test groups before production rollout
- Compliance reporting – proving patch status against frameworks (CIS, NIST, PCI-DSS, HIPAA)
- Rollback – reverting problematic patches when updates cause regressions
- Scheduling and maintenance windows – deploying patches during approved change windows to minimize disruption
- Agent-based vs agentless – agent-based tools install a lightweight daemon on each endpoint; agentless tools use existing protocols (WMI, SSH, WinRM) for remote patching
The information on these pages was researched by a combination of human review and large language models. To suggest an addition or correction, please contact us. Prepared by Rhodium Systems Inc., author of the ResorsIT platform — a unified IT operations management platform for IT teams and MSPs that integrates a curated suite of open-source, commercial, and SaaS applications into a single system with shared identity, single sign-on, access control, and a common audit trail. Use this catalogue only as a starting point for your own research, and review any tool carefully against your own requirements before relying on it. Catalogue data version 2026.197.
Comparison
Feature Matrix – Open Source / Free
| Feature | WSUS | Uyuni | Patch My PC |
|---|---|---|---|
| OS patching | Win | Linux | Via SCCM |
| 3rd-party apps | No | Custom | 900+ |
| Vuln prioritization | No | CVE audit | Via SCCM |
| Patch testing | Groups | Lifecycle | Via SCCM |
| Scheduling | GPO | Yes | Via SCCM |
| Rollback | Limited | Yes | Via SCCM |
| Compliance reports | Basic | OpenSCAP | Via SCCM |
| Agent | Built-in | Salt | SCCM client |
| Multi-tenant | No | Basic | SCCM hierarchy |
Feature Matrix – Cloud / MSP-Focused
| Feature | Automox | NinjaOne | CW Automate |
|---|---|---|---|
| OS patching | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| 3rd-party apps | 400+ | 200+ | 300+ |
| Vuln prioritization | Scanner int. | CVSS | Basic |
| Patch testing | Groups | Workflows | Groups |
| Scheduling | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Rollback | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Compliance reports | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Agent | Lightweight | Combined RMM | Combined RMM |
| Multi-tenant | Yes | MSP-grade | MSP-grade |
| Feature | Datto RMM | Action1 | ME Patch Mgr | Heimdal |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| OS patching | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| 3rd-party apps | 300+ | 350+ | 950+ | 200+ |
| Vuln prioritization | Basic | CVE/CVSS | CVE/CVSS | Threat intel |
| Patch testing | Policies | Groups | Groups | Groups |
| Scheduling | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Rollback | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Compliance reports | Yes | Yes | Pre-built | Yes |
| Agent | Combined RMM | Lightweight | Standalone | Shared sec. |
| Multi-tenant | MSP-grade | Yes | Enterprise | MSP-grade |
Feature Matrix – Enterprise
| Feature | Ivanti | Intune | BigFix | SCCM | Qualys |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| OS patching | Yes | WUfB | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| 3rd-party apps | 400+ | Add-on | Fixlets | Add-on | Security apps |
| Vuln prioritization | RBVM | Defender | CyberFOCUS | Defender | TruRisk |
| Patch testing | Groups | Rings | Baselines | ADR/Collections | Jobs |
| Scheduling | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Rollback | Yes | Limited | Fixlets | Limited | Yes |
| Compliance reports | Pre-built | Defender | Strongest | SSRS | Unified |
| Agent | Agent/less | MDM ext. | 15 MB | ~100 MB | ~5 MB |
| Multi-tenant | Limited | Lighthouse | Limited | No | MSSP |
OS Support Comparison
| Tool | Windows | macOS | Linux | UNIX |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| WSUS | Yes | No | No | No |
| Uyuni | No | No | Yes | No |
| Patch My PC | Yes | Intune | No | No |
| Automox | Yes | Yes | Yes | No |
| NinjaOne | Yes | Yes | Yes | No |
| CW Automate | Yes | Limited | Limited | No |
| Datto RMM | Yes | Limited | Limited | No |
| Action1 | Yes | Yes | Yes | No |
| ME Patch Mgr | Yes | Yes | Yes | No |
| Heimdal | Yes | Yes | Limited | No |
| Ivanti Patch | Yes | Neurons | Neurons | No |
| Intune | Yes | Limited | No* | No |
| BigFix | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| SCCM | Yes | Limited | Limited | No |
| Qualys Patch | Yes | Yes | Yes | No |
* = Intune supports Linux compliance policies but not patch deployment
Best cross-platform: BigFix (includes AIX and Solaris), Automox, Action1, and ManageEngine Patch Manager Plus offer the broadest cross-platform support for modern OS environments.
Third-Party App Patching Breadth
| Tool | Catalog Size | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| ME Patch Mgr | 950+ | Largest catalog |
| Patch My PC | 900+ | SCCM/Intune only |
| Automox | 400+ | Growing catalog |
| Ivanti Patch | 400+ | Enterprise focus |
| Action1 | 350+ | Growing rapidly |
| CW Automate | 300+ | Windows focus |
| Datto RMM | 300+ | Windows focus |
| NinjaOne | 200+ | Growing catalog |
| Heimdal | 200+ | Security-critical focus |
| BigFix | Fixlets | Custom authoring |
| Qualys Patch | Security apps | CVE-driven |
| WSUS | 0 | Microsoft only |
| Uyuni | Custom | RPM/DEB channels |
| SCCM | Add-on | Via catalogs |
| Intune | Add-on | Via Patch My PC |
Best third-party catalog: ManageEngine Patch Manager Plus (950+) and Patch My PC (900+) lead in catalog breadth. Patch My PC requires SCCM/Intune infrastructure.
SSO / OIDC Comparison
OIDC is the preferred SSO protocol; the notes below flag which tools integrate with Authentik.
| Tool | OIDC | SAML | LDAP | AD | Authentik Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| WSUS | No | No | No | Win | Windows auth only |
| Uyuni | No | No | Yes | Yes | LDAP via Authentik |
| Patch My PC | N/A | N/A | N/A | SCCM | Inherits SCCM auth |
| Automox | Yes | Yes | No | No | Full OIDC/SAML |
| NinjaOne | No | Yes | No | No | SAML via Authentik |
| CW Automate | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | SAML/LDAP via Authentik |
| Datto RMM | No | Yes | No | No | SAML via Authentik |
| Action1 | Yes | Yes | No | Entra | Full OIDC/SAML |
| ME Patch Mgr | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Full OIDC/SAML/LDAP |
| Heimdal | No | Yes | No | Entra | SAML via Authentik |
| Ivanti Patch | Yes* | Yes | Yes | Yes | Full (Neurons) |
| Intune | Yes* | Yes* | No | Entra | Via Entra ID federation |
| BigFix | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Full OIDC/SAML/LDAP |
| SCCM | No | No | No | AD | AD auth only |
| Qualys Patch | No | Yes | No | No | SAML via Authentik |
* = via Entra ID or cloud platform; not direct
Best SSO support: Automox, Action1, ManageEngine Patch Manager Plus, and BigFix offer the broadest SSO protocol support including OIDC.
Deployment Comparison
| Tool | Type | On-Prem | Cloud | Hybrid |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| WSUS | Server role | Yes | No | No |
| Uyuni | Self-hosted | Yes | No | No |
| Patch My PC | Service | Yes | Intune | Yes |
| Automox | SaaS | No | Yes | No |
| NinjaOne | SaaS | No | Yes | No |
| CW Automate | SaaS/On-Prem | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Datto RMM | SaaS | No | Yes | No |
| Action1 | SaaS | No | Yes | No |
| ME Patch Mgr | SaaS/On-Prem | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Heimdal | SaaS | No | Yes | No |
| Ivanti Patch | On-Prem/Cloud | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Intune | SaaS | No | Yes | Co-mgmt |
| BigFix | On-Prem/Cloud | Yes | Relay | Yes |
| SCCM | On-Prem | Yes | CMG | Yes |
| Qualys Patch | SaaS | No | Yes | Gateway |
Pricing Comparison
| Tool | Model | Approximate Cost |
|---|---|---|
| WSUS | Free | Included with Windows Server |
| Uyuni | Free | Open source (GPL-2.0) |
| Patch My PC | Per-device/yr | ~$3/device/year (enterprise) |
| Automox | Per-device/mo | ~$3/device/month |
| NinjaOne | Per-device/mo | Contact vendor (bundled RMM) |
| CW Automate | Per-device/mo | Contact vendor (bundled RMM) |
| Datto RMM | Per-device/mo | Contact vendor (bundled RMM) |
| Action1 | Per-device/mo | Free (200 ep); ~$2/device/mo |
| ME Patch Mgr | Per-device/yr | From ~$345/yr (50 endpoints) |
| Heimdal | Per-device/mo | Contact vendor |
| Ivanti Patch | Per-device/yr | ~$15–30/device/year |
| Intune | Per-user/mo | Included in M365 E3/E5 |
| BigFix | Per-device/yr | ~$30–60/device/year |
| SCCM | Per-user or server | ~$67/user or $120/server |
| Qualys Patch | Per-asset | Contact vendor (bundled VMDR) |
Licensing Comparison
| Tool | License | Type |
|---|---|---|
| WSUS | Included (Win Svr) | Free |
| Uyuni | GPL-2.0 | Open source |
| Patch My PC | Proprietary | Freemium |
| Automox | Proprietary | SaaS |
| NinjaOne | Proprietary | SaaS |
| CW Automate | Proprietary | SaaS/On-Prem |
| Datto RMM | Proprietary | SaaS |
| Action1 | Proprietary | Freemium SaaS |
| ME Patch Mgr | Proprietary | Freemium |
| Heimdal | Proprietary | SaaS |
| Ivanti Patch | Proprietary | Perpetual/Sub |
| Intune | Proprietary | SaaS (M365) |
| BigFix | Proprietary | Perpetual/Sub |
| SCCM | Proprietary | Perpetual/Sub |
| Qualys Patch | Proprietary | SaaS |
Tools
15 tools.
Action1
Action1 is a cloud-native patch management and endpoint management platform that has gained rapid market adoption due to its generous free tier (200 endpoints) and modern, intuitive interface.
License: Proprietary (proprietary) · Kind: web · Deploy: saas · SSO: OIDC, SAML
Automox
Automox is a cloud-native IT operations platform that pioneered the shift from on-premise patch management (WSUS, SCCM) to a fully cloud-hosted model.
License: Proprietary (proprietary) · Kind: web · Deploy: saas · SSO: OIDC, SAML
ConnectWise Automate Patch Management
ConnectWise Automate (formerly LabTech) is a comprehensive RMM platform with built-in patch management capabilities.
License: Proprietary (proprietary) · Kind: web · Deploy: saas · SSO: SAML
Datto RMM Patch Management
Datto RMM is a cloud-native RMM platform with integrated patch management, widely used by MSPs for endpoint management.
License: Proprietary (proprietary) · Kind: web · Deploy: saas · SSO: SAML
HCL BigFix
HCL BigFix is an enterprise endpoint management platform with extremely powerful patch management capabilities.
License: Proprietary (proprietary) · Kind: web · Deploy: saas, native · SSO: none
Heimdal Patch & Asset Management
Heimdal Patch & Asset Management is a cloud-based patch management solution that is part of Heimdal’s broader cybersecurity platform.
License: Proprietary (proprietary) · Kind: web · Deploy: saas · SSO: SAML
Ivanti Patch for Endpoints
Ivanti Patch for Endpoints (formerly Shavlik Patch, then Ivanti Security Controls) is an enterprise-grade patch management solution with deep roots in Windows patching.
License: Proprietary (proprietary) · Kind: web · Deploy: saas, native · SSO: none
ManageEngine Patch Manager Plus
ManageEngine Patch Manager Plus is a comprehensive patch management solution that supports Windows, macOS, and Linux patching along with third-party application updates.
License: Proprietary (proprietary) · Kind: web · Deploy: saas, native · SSO: none
Microsoft Intune Patch Management
Microsoft Intune is a cloud-based unified endpoint management (UEM) platform that includes patch management capabilities as part of its broader device management feature set.
License: Proprietary (proprietary) · Kind: web · Deploy: saas · SSO: OIDC, SAML
NinjaOne Patch Management
NinjaOne is a unified IT management platform that includes comprehensive patch management as a core feature of its RMM (Remote Monitoring and Management) solution.
License: Proprietary (proprietary) · Kind: web · Deploy: saas · SSO: SAML
Patch My PC
Patch My PC is a third-party patch management solution that specializes in extending Microsoft SCCM (MECM) and Intune with comprehensive third-party application patching.
License: Proprietary (proprietary) · Kind: web · Deploy: saas, native · SSO: none
Qualys Patch Management
Qualys Patch Management is a cloud-based patching solution that is uniquely positioned in the market as a vulnerability-driven patch management tool.
License: Proprietary (proprietary) · Kind: web · Deploy: saas · SSO: SAML
SCCM / Microsoft Endpoint Configuration Manager
Microsoft Endpoint Configuration Manager (MECM), still widely known as SCCM (System Center Configuration Manager), is Microsoft’s on-premise endpoint management platform.
License: Proprietary (proprietary) · Kind: web · Deploy: saas, native · SSO: none
Uyuni
Uyuni is an open-source systems management solution that evolved from Spacewalk, the upstream project for Red Hat Satellite.
License: GPL-2.0-only (OSS) · Kind: web · Deploy: saas, native · SSO: none
WSUS (Windows Server Update Services)
Windows Server Update Services (WSUS) is Microsoft’s on-premise patch management solution for Windows environments.
License: Proprietary (proprietary) · Kind: web · Deploy: saas, native · SSO: none
