Action1 vs PDQ Deploy & Inventory – A Smarter Patching

Action1 has two significant advantages in its pricing model compared to PDQ Deploy & Inventory. First, the software is free for up to 200 endpoints with no functionality limits and never expires. This makes it perfect for small businesses that can use it forever and for large enterprises and MSPs that can thoroughly test it before purchasing. Second, when scaling beyond 200 endpoints, you benefit from gradually lowering per-endpoint costs. PDQ offers only a 14-day free trial and uses flat pricing starting at $1,650 per admin per year for their standard plan. Without a doubt, Action1 is the better option.

Action1 supports Windows and macOS currently, with Linux support coming soon. PDQ Deploy & Inventory only handles Windows-based endpoints, so if you need cross-platform support, then Action1 is clearly the better choice.

Action1 works perfectly for remote deployment because it’s a cloud-native platform that connects directly through the internet. You don’t need a VPN or complex network setup to manage endpoints outside your office. PDQ, on the other hand, requires your devices to be on the same local network or connected through VPN to work properly. Action1 also automatically patches offline devices when they reconnect, which PDQ cannot do. So, if your company has a remote or hybrid workforce, Action1 gives you far more reliable patch management.

Action1 offers better reporting, dashboards, and analytics compared to PDQ. Action1’s cloud-native platform equips you with 100+ built-in report templates that you can customize according to your needs, plus real-time dashboards that show your patch compliance status instantly. PDQ has basic built-in reports and lets you create custom ones, but you have to build most reports yourself from scratch, which negatively affects your employees’ productivity. PDQ recently added a basic dashboard that shows simple counts, and it only works for devices that are connected to your local network.

Action1 offers more advanced automation and real-time vulnerability assessments compared to PDQ Deploy & Inventory. Action1 monitors your endpoints 24/7 and provides detailed vulnerability data like CVE numbers, CVSS scores, and CISA KEV alerts with automatic risk-based prioritization.

Most importantly, Action1 lets you automatically remediate the identified vulnerabilities with just a few clicks. PDQ Deploy & Inventory doesn’t offer built-in real-time vulnerability monitoring. While PDQ can automate patch deployments, it can’t automatically identify and prioritize vulnerabilities like Action1 does.

Action1 sets up in just 5 minutes and allows you to instantly identify and remediate software vulnerabilities by automatically patching your devices directly from the browser. PDQ Deploy & Inventory, on the other hand, requires complex server setup, local installations, and extensive configuration before it’s set up properly. Action1’s cloud-native architecture ensures fast deployments that reach any of your on-site and remote endpoints without slowdowns.

PDQ struggles with performance issues, database bloat, and network bottlenecks that significantly slow everything down. Action1 deploys updates and patches faster with its P2P distribution technology, while PDQ users constantly complain about frequent crashes and connection timeouts that make simple tasks frustrating.

Action1 offers stronger security certifications than PDQ Deploy & Inventory. Action1 holds SOC 2 Type II, ISO 27001, and TX-RAMP certifications, equipping your organization with enterprise-grade security compliance. PDQ is only certified for SOC 2 Type II and doesn’t offer the higher-tier certifications that many organizations need. Action1 provides you with comprehensive audit trails, multi-factor authentication, single sign-on integration, role-based access controls, TLS 1.2/AES 256 encryption, and global data residency options to help you meet compliance requirements like GDPR, HIPAA, and PCI DSS.

PDQ’s security features are more basic and lack the advanced compliance tools that Action1 includes. If your company needs to operate under strict regulatory standards, you should definitely choose Action1, since it delivers better protection and compliance coverage.

Choose Action1 if you need automated patching across Windows, macOS, and third-party applications, quick setup, cloud-based management, intelligent risk-based deployments, and audit-ready reports. Action1 works well for companies of various sizes with remote employees, multiple offices, or many clients because it doesn’t require VPNs and patches endpoints regardless of their location.

PDQ Deploy & Inventory is a suitable choice for organizations with on-premises networks that rely on Windows-based endpoints.

Action1 offers a free tier for up to 200 endpoints forever with no functional limits, making it ideal for small businesses that can use it indefinitely. MSPs and large enterprises can test it thoroughly before purchasing and benefit from a pricing structure that gets cheaper per endpoint as they scale up. PDQ Deploy & Inventory only offers a 14-day free trial, and then you must pay $1,650 per admin per year to continue using it.