ManageEngine Patch Manager Plus

ManageEngine Patch Manager Plus automates patch management, from scanning and assessment through deployment and reporting. It supports patch management for Windows, Mac, and Linux, and the vendor says it can deploy patches for more than 1,100 third-party applications, including Adobe, Java, and WinRAR. Administrators can create test groups, test patches, and set patches for automatic approval before production deployment. Real-time audits and reports show patch compliance and endpoint patch status. The Free edition is listed for up to 20 workstations and five servers, and the trial lasts 30 days without requiring a credit card. Edition differences matter: antivirus definition updates, driver and BIOS updates, and automated patch testing and approval are unavailable in Professional but shown in Enterprise and Free. Enterprise is described as suitable for WAN patching and includes distribution server support for bandwidth optimization. Listed prices include Professional cloud monthly at $34.50 a month and Professional on-premises annual subscription at $245 a year; other cloud annual and on-premises one-time options are also listed.

Patch Manager Plus covers patch workflows across major desktop operating systems and many third-party applications. Compare edition limits carefully, particularly if you need updates and automation unavailable in Professional.

Patch Manager Plus may suit IT teams managing patches across Windows, Mac, and Linux endpoints, including third-party applications. The Free edition is listed for small businesses with up to 20 workstations and five servers.

ManageEngine Patch Manager Plus automates endpoint patch management for organizations that need to scan, assess, deploy, and report on updates across Windows, macOS, and Linux. It suits IT teams responsible for mixed operating systems and third-party apps; the key choice is whether Professional’s lower price is worth giving up several update and automation capabilities.

Overview

The product combines scheduled deployment and reboot controls with patch compliance reporting, so administrators can coordinate updates and check endpoint status in one workflow. It also reaches beyond operating systems: ManageEngine says it can deploy patches for more than 1,100 third-party applications, including Adobe, Java, and WinRAR. That breadth is useful where application updates are part of the same maintenance workload, though edition limits deserve close attention before choosing a plan.

Patch Manager Plus is offered in cloud and on-premises forms. Its on-premises data remains in the customer's environment, with the product database residing in that setup. Security controls include SAML single sign-on, two-factor authentication, role-based access control, HTTPS transport, and AES-256 encryption for sensitive database data.

It sits in the wider fields of Patch Management Software, IT Automation Software, and Application Deployment Software.

Key features

Staged patching and reporting

Administrators can create test groups, test patches, and automatically approve patches for production deployment. That provides a useful staging path for teams seeking more control than immediate broad rollout. Real-time audits and reports cover patch compliance and endpoint patch status, giving administrators a way to review update coverage after deployment.

However, this workflow is not equivalent across editions. Antivirus definition updates, driver and BIOS updates, and automated patch testing and approval are unavailable in Professional, while Enterprise and Free include them. Buyers should verify those distinctions against their update policy rather than assume the paid Professional tier is the fullest feature set.

Integrations and larger deployments

Integrations cover vulnerability detection and remediation, endpoint SLA management, analytics, IT asset visibility, and SIEM audit-log forwarding; API access is also provided. Enterprise is the relevant fit for WAN deployments: it is positioned for patching desktops across WAN and includes distribution server support for bandwidth optimization. Organizations managing remote or bandwidth-constrained sites have a concrete reason to favor Enterprise over Professional.

Pricing

The Free edition costs nothing and is aimed at small businesses, with caps of 20 workstations and 5 servers. It retains antivirus definition updates, driver and BIOS updates, and automated patch testing and approval, making it a substantial option for a small estate, but the endpoint caps constrain its reach.

Cloud plans cover 50 computers and 1 technician. Professional cloud costs $34.50 a month billed monthly, or $345 a year billed annually. Enterprise cloud costs $44.50 a month billed monthly, or $445 a year billed annually. The annual terms cost more upfront; Enterprise adds the WAN-oriented distribution-server support and retains capabilities unavailable in Professional.

On-premises annual subscriptions also cover 50 computers and 1 technician: Professional costs $245 a year billed annually, while Enterprise costs $345 a year billed annually. Perpetual on-premises licenses are $735, paid once for Professional and $1,185, paid once for Enterprise, each for 50 computers and 1 technician. The one-time option avoids an annual subscription term, but carries a higher initial cost; choose Enterprise where its added update capabilities or WAN support matter.

A 30-day free trial requires no credit card. Support is available through an online request form, separate email addresses for on-premises and cloud customers, and telephone numbers.

Platforms

Patch management is supported for Windows, Mac, and Linux. The platform list also includes Android, iOS, API, web, and self-hosted, while the stated operating-system patching coverage is Windows, Mac, and Linux.

Who it's for

Patch Manager Plus is a strong fit for IT teams that want one workflow for operating-system and third-party patching, staged approvals, scheduled deployment, and compliance reporting. Small businesses within the Free edition's workstation and server caps can access several higher-tier capabilities without a paid plan. Teams managing WAN sites or needing those capabilities across a paid deployment should examine Enterprise. Professional is a better fit when its lower cost and core patch workflow suffice; it is not the choice for organizations that require the Professional-excluded update types or automated testing and approval.

Pros and cons

• Broad application coverage: patch deployment for more than 1,100 third-party applications complements Windows, Mac, and Linux patch management.
• Useful staging and oversight: test groups, scheduled deployments, reboot scheduling, and real-time compliance reporting support controlled maintenance.
• Meaningful free tier: the 20-workstation and 5-server limits still leave small businesses access to several capabilities absent from Professional.
• Professional has notable gaps: antivirus definition, driver and BIOS updates, and automated patch testing and approval require a different edition.
• Paid device scope is bounded: the listed paid plans cover 50 computers and 1 technician, so larger teams should confirm their fit before committing.

Alternatives

FileWave is worth comparing for teams seeking a free community edition capped at 15 computers, 15 tablets, and 15 Chrome devices.

Fleet is a candidate for organizations that prioritize public source code and a free version the maker says will always remain free.

Open Computer Orchestration offers a free tier for 20 managed devices and an Enterprise license at €299 a year.

baramundi Management Suite is another option, offered as paid software with a free trial and a hosted SaaS version.

AppPorter is another paid option to consider.

Pushlink may suit Android-focused needs, with a free tier for up to 5 installations.

AppsAnywhere is another paid option to compare.

EMCO Remote Installer may be a fit for Windows-only deployments that fall within its free edition's limits of 5 remote PCs at a time and 5 packages per multi-step deployment.

Verdict

Choose ManageEngine Patch Manager Plus if your team needs broad operating-system and third-party patch coverage, controlled rollout, and compliance reporting, especially when Free fits a small estate or Enterprise features justify the added cost. Look elsewhere if Professional's missing update and approval capabilities are essential but Enterprise is beyond your scope, or if the 50-computer paid-plan allocation does not fit your operation.