Patch Manager Plus may suit IT teams managing patches across Windows, Mac, and Linux endpoints, including third-party applications.
Free plan Free trial From $245 a year AndroidiPhone & iPadWebWindowsMacLinux+2
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Best IT Automation Software 2026
Facts read 29 Sep 2026 – 15 Oct 2026
IT automation software can help manage patches, device configuration, remediation and deployments. This guide is for buyers comparing tools for those jobs across web, desktop, Linux and self-hosted environments.
The standings: top 10
| Name | In a line | Record score | Price from | Try it free | Runs on | Facts read |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 01 ManageEngine Patch Manager Plus | Patch Manager Plus may suit IT teams managing patches across Windows, Mac, and Linux endpoints, including third-party applications. | 6.6 | $245 a year | Free plan | Android, iPhone & iPad, Web, Windows | 14 Oct 2026 |
| 02 ManageEngine Mobile Device Manager Plus | This product is aimed at enterprise IT teams managing corporate-owned and employee-owned devices. | 6.4 | $495 a year | Free plan | Android, iPhone & iPad, Web, Windows | 14 Oct 2026 |
| 03 OPSI | OPSI may suit IT teams managing software, operating systems, and inventory across Windows and Linux environments. | 6.3 | €4.99 a year | Free plan | Web, Windows, Mac, Linux | 14 Oct 2026 |
| 04 PatchMon | Shows patch status for Linux, FreeBSD, and Windows; automated deployment covers Linux and FreeBSD. | 6.1 | $1 a month, billed yearly | Free plan | Web, Windows, Linux, API | 15 Oct 2026 |
| 05 Puppet | Uses policy as code to manage configurations and infrastructure while enforcing the desired state continuously. | 6.1 | Free plan | Free plan | Web, Windows, Mac, Linux | 15 Oct 2026 |
| 06 Rudder | 6.1 | $40 a year | Free plan | Web, Windows, Linux, API | 14 Oct 2026 | |
| 07 CFEngine | CFEngine suits administrators managing configuration, security, or compliance across Linux and Windows systems. | 5.8 | Free plan | Free plan | Web, Windows, Mac, Linux | 14 Oct 2026 |
| 08 Rundeck | 5.8 | $125 a month | Free plan | Web, Windows, Mac, Linux | 15 Oct 2026 | |
| 09 Canonical MAAS | MAAS suits teams managing physical servers for private cloud, server automation, or bare-metal Kubernetes. | 5.7 | $30 a year | Free plan | Web, Linux, API, Self-hosted | 15 Oct 2026 |
| 10 Hexnode UEM | Centralizes endpoint management across operating systems with zero-touch device provisioning. | 5.6 | $2.20 a month | Free trial | Android, iPhone & iPad, Web, Windows | 5 Oct 2026 |
Compare the capabilities you need, supported platforms, deployment model and included endpoints. Check whether a free plan or trial is available, and review paid pricing before choosing.
02
ManageEngine Mobile Device Manager Plus
This product is aimed at enterprise IT teams managing corporate-owned and employee-owned devices.
AndroidiPhone & iPadWeb+4 Record6.4 Visit
03
OPSI
OPSI may suit IT teams managing software, operating systems, and inventory across Windows and Linux environments.
WebWindowsMac+3 Record6.3 Visit
04
PatchMon
Shows patch status for Linux, FreeBSD, and Windows; automated deployment covers Linux and FreeBSD.
WebWindowsLinux+2 Record6.1 Visit
05
Puppet
Uses policy as code to manage configurations and infrastructure while enforcing the desired state continuously.
WebWindowsMac+3 Record6.1 Visit
7
CFEngine
WebWindowsMac+3 Free plan Record5.8 Visit CFEngine suits administrators managing configuration, security, or compliance across Linux and Windows systems.
9
Canonical MAAS
WebLinuxAPI+1 $30 a year Record5.7 Visit MAAS suits teams managing physical servers for private cloud, server automation, or bare-metal Kubernetes.
10
Hexnode UEM
AndroidiPhone & iPadWeb+3 $2.20 a month Record5.6 Visit Centralizes endpoint management across operating systems with zero-touch device provisioning.
11
Canonical Landscape
WebLinuxAPI+1 $6,861 a year Record5.4 Visit Landscape is aimed at system administrators, security teams, IT managers, and compliance officers managing Ubuntu deployments.
12
ActiveBatch
AndroidiPhone & iPadWeb+5 $10,000 one-time Record5.3 Visit ActiveBatch suits IT and business teams coordinating scheduled or event-triggered processes across on-premises and cloud environments.
13
Chef Infra
WindowsMacLinux+2 $59 a year Record5.3 Visit Chef Infra defines infrastructure settings and policies as code for ongoing consistency.
14
Google Cloud VM Manager
WebWindowsLinux+1 Free plan Record5.3 Visit VM Manager suits teams maintaining Windows or Linux VM fleets on Compute Engine that need patching, inventory, or software configuration policies.
15
Rundeck
WebWindowsMac+3 Free plan Record5.2 Visit Rundeck schedules routine operations by linking automation with system commands and APIs.
16
Azure Automation
WebWindowsLinux+2 Free plan Record5.1 Visit Azure Automation runs recurring IT tasks and runbooks across Azure, on-premises systems, and other clouds.
18
Syxsense Manage
AndroidiPhone & iPadWeb+3 — Record5.0 Visit Syxsense describes the platform for compliance-driven enterprises, government organizations, managed service providers and security providers managing endpoint fleets.
19
Uyuni
WebLinuxAPI+1 Free plan Record5.0 Visit Uyuni suits administrators managing multiple Linux machines across on-premises or cloud environments.
20
baramundi Management Suite
AndroidiPhone & iPadWeb+4 — Record4.9 Visit Unified endpoint management suite for patching, inventory, deployment, configuration, and IT automation.
21
KACE Systems Management Appliance
AndroidiPhone & iPadWeb+5 — Record4.9 Visit Systems management appliance for managing and patching endpoints across major operating systems.
22
Juju
WindowsMacLinux+2 Free plan Record4.8 Visit Juju suits teams managing application lifecycles across cloud, Kubernetes, virtual-machine, or bare-metal infrastructure.
24
Salt
WindowsMacLinux+2 Free plan Record4.8 Visit Salt suits teams that need to configure and orchestrate systems across remote infrastructure.
25
VisualCron
WebWindowsAPI+1 $3,299 a year Record4.8 Visit VisualCron suits organizations seeking self-hosted, event-driven automation across Windows environments and other platforms.
Before you choose
Match the tool to the work
The comparison covers patch management, configuration management and remediation automation. Start with the tasks you need to automate, then check which tools publish support for them.
Deployment model and included endpoints also matter. Compare those details with how you plan to run the software and the devices or systems you need to manage.
Check platform support
Platform support varies across web, Linux, API, self-hosted, Windows and macOS options. Confirm that a tool supports the platforms your environment requires before comparing other details.
Review plans and trials
A free plan and a free trial are different ways to evaluate a product. Check the plan terms and trial period, where listed, and whether the paid price fits your budget.
Pricing examples in this category include monthly and annual prices, as well as pricing on request. Verify the pricing model that applies to your needs.
Consider open-source options
Open-source status can be a relevant distinction when you are comparing tools. Check the product's licensing terms to understand what access and use allow.
Questions
What should I compare in IT automation software?
Compare patch and configuration management, remediation automation, deployment model, included endpoints, supported platforms, pricing and whether a free plan or trial is available.
Can I try IT automation software for free?
Some products offer a free plan, while others offer a free trial. Check the terms and duration for the product you are considering.
Which platforms should I check for support?
Compare support for web, Linux, API, self-hosted, Windows and macOS against the platforms your environment requires.
Does a free plan mean the product is open source?
No. A free plan and open-source status are separate details. Review the product's plan and licensing terms.
How is IT automation software priced?
Pricing can be listed as a starting price, a free plan with paid options, or pricing on request. Confirm the applicable terms with the maker.
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