The best patch management software installs critical updates on every device fast, covers third-party apps as well as the operating system, and proves it with clear reports: small teams do well with simple cloud patching, while larger estates need risk-based prioritisation. Eleven options follow in no particular order.
Unpatched software is still one of the easiest ways into a business network. Attackers watch for new security fixes, work out what they repair, and go looking for anyone who hasn't installed them yet.
Patch management software automates that race. The eleven tools below are listed alphabetically and in no particular order, from free options for small estates to platforms built for managed service providers. Every description comes from the vendor's own site, read this week. If you're weighing a wider remote management tool, read what to look for in RMM software first.
Patching tools side by side
In the free plan column, Yes means the tool's own site names a free plan, a free version, a free edition or open-source code. Trial only means a time-limited trial. Not stated means the pages I read named neither, even where there's a button inviting you to try it.
| Tool | Type | Good for | Free plan |
|---|---|---|---|
| Action1 | Cloud patch management | Small estates up to a few hundred devices | Yes |
| Automox | Cloud-native patching and automation | Patching remote laptops without a VPN | Not stated |
| BatchPatch | Windows update tool | Admins patching groups of Windows servers | Not stated |
| GFI LanGuard | Patch management and network auditing | Patching plus vulnerability scanning | Trial only |
| ITarian | IT management platform with patching | MSPs wanting RMM, patching and help desk | Not stated |
| Ivanti Neurons for Patch Management | Cloud patch management | Risk-based patching for big estates | Not stated |
| ManageEngine Patch Manager Plus | Patch management software | Cloud or on-premises patching choice | Trial only |
| NinjaOne | Autonomous patch management | MSPs and IT teams already using RMM | Trial only |
| PDQ Deploy | Software deployment and patching | Windows admins deploying software quickly | Trial only |
| SecPod Saner | Vulnerability and exposure management | Finding and fixing flaws together | Trial only |
| Syxsense | Endpoint and vulnerability management | Automating remediation with workflows | Not stated |
Eleven patch management tools worth testing
Action1
Best for: Small organisations that want cloud patching of operating systems and third-party apps, free for the first two hundred endpoints.
Automox
Best for: Teams with remote and hybrid staff that want devices patched from the cloud wherever they are, with automation on top.
BatchPatch
Best for: Windows administrators who want to push updates and reboots to many servers at once from a single, no-nonsense console.
GFI LanGuard
Best for: Admins who want patch management alongside network auditing and vulnerability scanning across Windows, Mac and Linux.
ITarian
Best for: Service providers and IT teams that want automated operating system and third-party patching inside a wider remote management platform.
Ivanti Neurons for Patch Management
Best for: Larger organisations that want cloud-based patching prioritised by risk across a big estate of devices.
ManageEngine Patch Manager Plus
Best for: IT teams that want to choose between cloud and on-premises patching for servers, laptops and workstations from one console.
NinjaOne
Best for: Managed service providers and IT teams that want patching automated across Windows, Mac and Linux inside a wider endpoint platform.
PDQ Deploy
Best for: Windows administrators who want to deploy patches and software to many devices quickly, then set it and forget it.
SecPod Saner
Best for: Security teams that want vulnerability detection and patching joined up in one continuous exposure management tool.
Syxsense
Best for: Mid-sized organisations that want patching, vulnerability scanning and fixes automated across endpoints with drag-and-drop workflows.
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The 14-day rule behind Cyber Essentials
The NCSC's Cyber Essentials requirements say software must be updated, including vulnerability fixes, within 14 days of release where the update fixes vulnerabilities the vendor describes as critical or high risk, or that carry a CVSS v3 base score of 7 or above.
If you hold Cyber Essentials, or a customer asks you to, your patching tool has to help you hit that window and show the evidence. Ask every vendor to demonstrate a report that answers one question: which critical fixes are older than 14 days, and on which devices?
Third-party apps are where gaps hide
Windows and macOS updates get most of the attention, but browsers, PDF readers, video call apps and other third-party software need patching too. Many breaches start with an old version of an everyday app.
Check how many third-party apps each tool covers, and whether it can patch laptops that rarely connect to the office network.
Questions to ask a patching vendor
- Which operating systems and third-party apps do you patch?
- Can you patch remote laptops without a VPN?
- How do you report on critical fixes older than 14 days?
- Can we test patches on a small group first?
- How are reboots handled for people mid-meeting?
- What happens when a patch fails to install?
Signs your patching is falling behind
- Restarts keep getting postponed. Updates sit waiting for weeks.
- Nobody tracks third-party apps. Old browsers and readers linger.
- Remote laptops rarely check in. They miss updates for months.
- Reports take a day to build. You can't prove what's patched.
Do you make patch management software? Tool makers can ask to be considered for a featured place on this list.
My plain advice on choosing patch management software
Start by counting what you have. You can't patch a device you don't know about, so pick a tool that discovers devices and software as well as updating them, then fix the oldest critical gaps first.
After that, automate as much as you safely can, with a small test group for anything that might break. The goal is a boring weekly routine, not a heroic monthly scramble. My notes on building a strong security culture help with the human side, such as people postponing restarts.
Frequently asked questions
What is patch management software?
It's software that finds missing updates on computers and servers, installs them automatically and reports on what's patched and what isn't.
How fast should security patches be installed?
For critical and high-risk fixes, Cyber Essentials sets a window of 14 days from release, and many businesses aim to be quicker.
Do I need to patch third-party apps?
Yes. Browsers, PDF readers and other common apps are frequent targets, so a good tool covers them as well as the operating system.
Can patching be fully automated?
Much of it can. Most teams still test updates on a small group first and keep an eye on failed installs.
Is there free patch management software?
Some tools offer free plans for small numbers of devices. Check the free plan column in the table for each one.
What is the difference between patching and RMM?
Patching is one job. Remote monitoring and management tools usually include patching alongside monitoring, scripting and remote access.
