Best Active Directory Management Software in 2026
Updated
In short: ManageEngine ADSelfService Plus is ranked #1 of 21 as of 4 October 2026, ahead of Softerra Adaxes and Blazam. The best-ranked option with a free plan is Blazam. The lowest first paid tier on this page is Netwrix Password Secure at $5/mo.
Managing an Active Directory environment can involve oversight, administration, and routine user tasks. Compare AD auditing and reporting with delegated administration, lifecycle automation, and password self-service to see which responsibilities each product addresses. Deployment options, free-plan availability, and paid-from pricing provide additional points for evaluation. ManageEngine ADSelfService Plus, Softerra Adaxes, and Blazam are among the entries shown, alongside ManageEngine ADAudit Plus and Specops uReset. Consider which work your team needs to delegate or automate, what it needs to review, and how the listed deployment and pricing details fit your organization's requirements.
21 active directory management software ranked on what their makers publish — plans and prices, free tiers, platforms and the facts on their own pages.
4 of the 21 here have a free tier you can use, 0 have open-source code on record, and 0 have full bars: free, open, on most of your devices and documented.
| # | App | Signal | Free tier | Open code | Devices | From | Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | ManageEngine ADSelfService PlusWeb · Windows · Mac · Linux · Android · iPhone | Three bars | — | 6 of 6 | $49.58/mo | 6.7 | |
| 2 | Softerra AdaxesWeb · Windows · Mac · Self-hosted | Three bars | — | 3 of 6 | — | 6.6 | |
| 3 | BlazamWeb · Windows · Linux · Self-hosted · API | Three bars | — | 3 of 6 | Free | 6.5 | |
| 4 | ManageEngine ADAudit PlusWeb · Windows | Two bars | — | 2 of 6 | $49.58/mo | 6.4 | |
| 5 | Specops uResetWeb · Windows · Android · iPhone · Self-hosted · API | Two bars | — | — | 4 of 6 | — | 5.6 |
| 6 | Netwrix Password SecureWeb · Windows · Mac · Linux · Android · iPhone | Two bars | — | — | 6 of 6 | $5/mo | 5.4 |
| 7 | JiJi AD ManagerWeb | One bar | — | — | 1 of 6 | — | 5.3 |
| 8 | Cayosoft AdministratorWeb · Windows · Mac · Android · Self-hosted | Two bars | — | — | 4 of 6 | — | 5.2 |
| 9 | LTB Self Service PasswordWeb | No signal | — | — | 1 of 6 | — | 5.2 |
| 10 | One Identity Active RolesWeb · Windows · Android · iPhone · Self-hosted | Two bars | — | — | 4 of 6 | — | 5.2 |
| 11 | INGOS Active Directory ManagerNo platforms listed | No signal | — | — | 0 of 6 | — | 5.1 |
| 12 | ManageEngine AD360Web · Windows | One bar | — | — | 2 of 6 | — | 5.1 |
| 13 | PWMWeb | No signal | — | — | 1 of 6 | — | 5.1 |
| 14 | SolarWinds Access Rights ManagerWeb · Windows · Self-hosted | One bar | — | — | 2 of 6 | — | 5.0 |
| 15 | Ithicos Directory ManagerWeb · Windows · Self-hosted | No signal | — | — | 2 of 6 | — | 4.9 |
| 16 | ManageEngine ADManager Plus Access CertificationWeb · Windows | One bar | — | — | 2 of 6 | $41.25/mo | 4.9 |
| 17 | Active Directory Change TrackerWindows | No signal | — | — | 1 of 6 | — | 4.8 |
| 18 | AD ReportsWindows | No signal | — | — | 1 of 6 | — | 4.8 |
| 19 | Dovestones AD ReportingWindows | One bar | — | — | 1 of 6 | — | 4.8 |
| 20 | ADreporterWindows | No signal | — | — | 1 of 6 | — | 4.7 |
| 21 | ASN Active Directory ManagerWindows | No signal | — | — | 1 of 6 | — | 4.7 |
Is your app on this list?
Numbered spots on this list can be sponsored. They are labelled, and the editorial order and scores never change for payment.
Questions about this list
Which active directory management software is ranked first on Freedom251?
ManageEngine ADSelfService Plus is ranked #1 of 21 with a score of 6.7. Softerra Adaxes is second and Blazam third.
How many of these have a free plan?
3 of the 21 on this page publish a free plan on their own pricing pages.
Which is the cheapest paid option?
On this page, Netwrix Password Secure has the lowest first paid tier we found: $5/mo.
How is this list ranked?
Ranked free-and-open first: a usable free tier and open-source code, then the platforms it runs on and its documentation. Paid placements never change a rank.