Best IT Automation Software in 2026
Updated
In short: ManageEngine Patch Manager Plus is ranked #1 of 70 as of 7 October 2026, ahead of ManageEngine Mobile Device Manager Plus and CFEngine. The best-ranked option with a free plan is ManageEngine Mobile Device Manager Plus. The lowest first paid tier on this page is ManageEngine Mobile Device Manager Plus at $0.82/mo.
IT teams may use automation to maintain configurations, deploy systems, manage patches, or respond to issues across their environments. Compared on configuration management, deployment model, supported platforms, and included endpoints, these tools offer useful distinctions in scope and fit. Patch management and remediation automation help frame the operational tasks to compare, while free-plan availability and paid-from pricing add cost context. ManageEngine Patch Manager Plus, OPSI, and Rundeck are among the entries, alongside Salt and Canonical MAAS. Consider which parts of your IT work you want to automate, what platforms you run, and whether endpoint coverage and deployment approach align with your needs.
70 IT automation software ranked on what their makers publish — plans and prices, free tiers, platforms and the facts on their own pages.
24 of the 25 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 Patch Manager PlusWeb · Windows · Mac · Linux · Android · iPhone · Self-hosted · API | Three bars | — | 6 of 6 | $20.42/mo | 6.8 | |
| 2 | ManageEngine Mobile Device Manager PlusWeb · Windows · Mac · Android · iPhone · Self-hosted · API | Three bars | — | 5 of 6 | $0.82/mo | 6.7 | |
| 3 | CFEngineWeb · Windows · Mac · Linux · Self-hosted · API | Three bars | — | 4 of 6 | Free | 6.6 | |
| 4 | OPSIWeb · Windows · Mac · Linux · Self-hosted · API | Three bars | — | 4 of 6 | €41.58/mo | 6.6 | |
| 5 | RundeckWeb · Windows · Mac · Linux · Self-hosted · API | Three bars | — | 4 of 6 | Free | 6.6 | |
| 6 | Action1Web · Windows · Mac · Linux | Three bars | — | 4 of 6 | Free | 6.5 | |
| 7 | AWS Systems Manager State ManagerWeb · Windows · Mac · Linux | Three bars | — | 4 of 6 | Free | 6.5 | |
| 8 | ForemanWeb · Linux · Self-hosted · API | Two bars | — | 2 of 6 | Free | 6.5 | |
| 9 | Google Cloud VM ManagerWeb · Windows · Linux · API | Three bars | — | 3 of 6 | Free | 6.5 | |
| 10 | JujuWindows · Mac · Linux · Self-hosted · API | Three bars | — | 3 of 6 | Free | 6.5 | |
| 11 | PatchMonWeb · Windows · Linux · Self-hosted · API | Three bars | — | 3 of 6 | $1/mo | 6.5 | |
| 12 | RudderWeb · Windows · Linux · Self-hosted · API | Three bars | — | 3 of 6 | Free | 6.5 | |
| 13 | SaltWindows · Mac · Linux · Self-hosted · API | Three bars | — | 3 of 6 | Free | 6.5 | |
| 14 | Arista NG FirewallWeb | Two bars | — | 1 of 6 | $22.50/mo | 6.4 | |
| 15 | Canonical LandscapeWeb · Linux · Self-hosted · API | Two bars | — | 2 of 6 | $571.75/mo | 6.4 | |
| 16 | Canonical MAASWeb · Linux · Self-hosted · API | Two bars | — | 2 of 6 | $2.50/mo | 6.4 | |
| 17 | ManageEngine Endpoint CentralWeb | Two bars | — | 1 of 6 | $66.25/mo | 6.4 | |
| 18 | OpenVoxWindows · Mac · Linux · Self-hosted · API | Three bars | — | 3 of 6 | Free | 6.4 | |
| 19 | StackStormWeb · Linux · Self-hosted · API | Two bars | — | 2 of 6 | Free | 6.4 | |
| 20 | UyuniWeb · Linux · Self-hosted · API | Two bars | — | 2 of 6 | Free | 6.4 | |
| 21 | VMware Workstation ProWindows · Linux · Self-hosted | Two bars | — | 2 of 6 | Free | 6.4 | |
| 22 | CobblerLinux · Self-hosted · API | Two bars | — | 1 of 6 | Free | 6.3 | |
| 23 | GluwareWeb · Self-hosted · API | Two bars | — | 1 of 6 | Free | 6.3 | |
| 24 | CladNo platforms listed | Two bars | — | 0 of 6 | Free | 6.2 | |
| 25 | Heimdal Patch and Asset ManagementWeb · Windows · Mac · Linux | Two bars | — | — | 4 of 6 | — | 5.6 |
Compare all 25 in a table
| # | App | Score | Free plan | From | Free plan | Paid from | Patch management | Configuration management |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | ManageEngine Patch Manager Plus | 6.8 | Free plan | $20.42/mo | Yes | — | — | — |
| 2 | ManageEngine Mobile Device Manager Plus | 6.7 | Free plan | $0.82/mo | Yes | 1.28 /mo | — | — |
| 3 | CFEngine | 6.6 | Free plan | Free | Yes | — | Yes | — |
| 4 | OPSI | 6.6 | Free plan | €41.58/mo | Yes | — | Yes | Yes |
| 5 | Rundeck | 6.6 | Free plan | Free | Yes | — | — | — |
| 6 | Action1 | 6.5 | Free plan | Free | Yes | — | Yes | Yes |
| 7 | AWS Systems Manager State Manager | 6.5 | Free plan | Free | Yes | — | Yes | — |
| 8 | Foreman | 6.5 | Free plan | Free | Yes | — | Yes | Yes |
| 9 | Google Cloud VM Manager | 6.5 | Free plan | Free | Yes | — | Yes | — |
| 10 | Juju | 6.5 | Free plan | Free | — | — | — | — |
| 11 | PatchMon | 6.5 | Free plan | $1/mo | Yes | 1 /mo | Yes | No |
| 12 | Rudder | 6.5 | Free plan | Free | Yes | — | Yes | — |
| 13 | Salt | 6.5 | Free plan | Free | Yes | — | Yes | — |
| 14 | Arista NG Firewall | 6.4 | Free plan | $22.50/mo | No | — | — | Yes |
| 15 | Canonical Landscape | 6.4 | Free plan | $571.75/mo | No | — | — | — |
| 16 | Canonical MAAS | 6.4 | Free plan | $2.50/mo | Yes | — | — | — |
| 17 | ManageEngine Endpoint Central | 6.4 | Free plan | $66.25/mo | Yes | — | Yes | Yes |
| 18 | OpenVox | 6.4 | Free plan | Free | — | — | Yes | — |
| 19 | StackStorm | 6.4 | Free plan | Free | Yes | — | — | — |
| 20 | Uyuni | 6.4 | Free plan | Free | — | — | Yes | — |
| 21 | VMware Workstation Pro | 6.4 | Free plan | Free | — | — | — | Yes |
| 22 | Cobbler | 6.3 | Free plan | Free | Yes | — | — | — |
| 23 | Gluware | 6.3 | Free plan | Free | No | — | — | Yes |
| 24 | Clad | 6.2 | Free plan | Free | Yes | — | — | Yes |
| 25 | Heimdal Patch and Asset Management | 5.6 | No | — | — | — | Yes | Yes |
Is your app on this list?
Numbered spots on this list can be sponsored, and a sponsored row is labelled as paid.
Questions about this list
Which IT automation software is ranked first on Freedom251?
ManageEngine Patch Manager Plus is ranked #1 of 70 with a score of 6.8. ManageEngine Mobile Device Manager Plus is second and CFEngine third.
How many of these have a free plan?
24 of the 25 on this page publish a free plan on their own pricing pages.
Which is the cheapest paid option?
On this page, ManageEngine Mobile Device Manager Plus has the lowest first paid tier we found: $0.82/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.