The Best IT Automation Software in 2026
We researched IT automation software from official vendor websites, including pricing pages, plan tables, and product documentation. Rankings focus on each product’s core automation job, value for money, and verified features for administration, remediation, configuration, and maintenance.
Our top picks
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Top ranked
Puppet#1 of 739.4/10Puppet combines policy-as-code, drift remediation, patching, and compliance across hybrid infrastructure.
Free plan
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Runner-up
ManageEngine Endpoint Central#2 of 739.3/10A mature platform for patching, endpoint control, mobile management, and remediation.
Free plan · 30-day trial
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Top-ranked free plan
9.0/10A free AWS service for scheduled, desired-state automation across managed infrastructure.
Free plan
Advertiser disclosure: iTechGuides is reader-supported. Vendors can pay for top positions in our rankings and for a place on other products' pages, and we may earn a commission when you click some links. Bought places stand at the number bought; this page and our disclosure say so. Paying vendors may get a fuller, more detailed review from our editors, and that review can change their score. How we rank.
The full ranking 73 tools, best first · page 1 of 2
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Best forInfrastructure configuration and policy-as-code automation
Puppet combines policy-as-code, drift remediation, patching, and compliance across hybrid infrastructure.
- Patch management
9.4/10★★★★★Visit Puppet -
Best forMature endpoint and mobile-device management
A mature platform for patching, endpoint control, mobile management, and remediation.
- Configuration management
- Remediation automation
- Patch management
Free plan · 30-day trial Our ManageEngine Endpoint Central verdict → Visit siteFor vendors Sponsor this spot · #2 · $99/mo →9.3/10★★★★★Visit site -
Best forEnterprise IT workflow orchestration and remediation
Enterprise IT orchestration spanning workflows, provisioning, remediation, and compliance.
9.2/10★★★★★Visit OpenText -
Best forSelf-hosted server automation and compliance
Enterprise server automation for provisioning, patching, configuration, and compliance.
- Patch management
9.1/10★★★★★Visit OpenText -
Best forAWS-centric desired-state automation
A free AWS service for scheduled, desired-state automation across managed infrastructure.
- Patch management
9.0/10★★★★☆Visit AWS -
Best forAzure-based runbook and update automation
A strong fit for Azure teams that need runbooks, patching, and hybrid automation.
- Configuration management
- Remediation automation
- Patch management
8.9/10★★★★☆Visit Microsoft -
Best forEnterprise Linux lifecycle governance
A broad open-source platform for governing mixed Linux environments across enterprise infrastructure.
8.8/10★★★★☆Visit SUSE -
Best forEnterprise workload orchestration with AI monitoring
A broad orchestration suite for complex enterprise workflows, priced for substantial IT operations.
- Remediation automation
8.7/10★★★★☆Visit BMC Control-M -
Best forEnterprise workload scheduling and anomaly detection
A broad orchestration platform for event-driven scheduling, monitoring and anomaly detection.
8.6/10★★★★☆Visit IBM -
Best forGoogle Cloud VM patch and policy automation
A focused Google Cloud service for VM patching, policies, inventory, and compliance.
- Patch management
8.5/10★★★★☆Visit Google Cloud -
Best forMulti-cluster Kubernetes fleet governance
A focused control plane for governing, operating, and observing Kubernetes fleets.
8.4/10★★★★☆Visit Red Hat -
Best forAutomated network infrastructure operations
Deep network automation and control for teams managing complex infrastructure.
- Configuration management
8.2/10★★★★☆Visit Arista -
Best forBare-metal server provisioning teams
A capable choice for physical-server provisioning, but narrower than general IT automation suites.
8.1/10★★★★☆Visit Canonical MAAS -
Best forOpen-source multi-cloud application operations
Juju fits teams managing application lifecycles across mixed cloud and infrastructure environments.
8.0/10★★★★☆Visit Juju -
Best forOracle-centric database operations automation
Deep Oracle database operations coverage for enterprise teams managing complex estates.
7.9/10★★★★☆Visit Oracle -
Best forOn-premises patching with service-desk features
A broad endpoint management platform for on-premises patching and IT service workflows.
7.8/10★★★★☆Visit Quest Software -
Best forPatch management for mixed desktop fleets
A focused patch platform with broad OS and third-party coverage, plus cloud and on-premises options.
7.7/10★★★★☆Visit ManageEngine -
Best forLegacy multiplatform IT management suites
A broad multiplatform suite for centralized endpoint, server, patch, and compliance management.
7.6/10★★★★☆Visit Broadcom -
Best forRisk-prioritized endpoint patch remediation
Risk-prioritized patch remediation across Windows, macOS, Linux, and third-party applications.
7.5/10★★★★☆Visit Ivanti -
Best forHPE infrastructure provisioning and compliance
A strong fit for automating and governing HPE infrastructure at scale.
- Configuration management
- Remediation automation
- Patch management
7.4/10★★★★☆Visit HPE OneView -
Best forGoverned runbook automation with paid support
A governed runbook automation platform with open-source access and paid support options.
7.3/10★★★★☆Visit Rundeck -
Best forEnterprise UEM with broad endpoint coverage
Broad endpoint coverage for enterprise teams that need centralized UEM control.
7.3/10★★★★☆Visit Ivanti -
Best forMobile and desktop endpoint administration
A broad endpoint administration suite for organizations managing mobile and desktop fleets.
7.2/10★★★★☆Visit Citrix -
Best forAffordable mobile and device management
Affordable UEM for enrolling, securing, distributing, and managing mobile and desktop devices.
7.1/10★★★★☆Visit ManageEngine -
Best forHybrid job scheduling with patch workflows
A broad workload automation platform for hybrid scheduling, orchestration and patch workflows.
- Remediation automation
7.0/10★★★★☆Visit Redwood -
Best forGoverned enterprise workflow automation
A governed platform for enterprise workflows, compliance, remediation and infrastructure orchestration.
- Configuration management
- Remediation automation
6.9/10★★★☆☆Visit Itential -
Best forEnterprise cloud and workload provisioning
A self-hosted control plane for provisioning, governance, lifecycle automation, and cloud cost management.
6.8/10★★★☆☆Visit HPE Morpheus -
Best forPaid infrastructure-as-code governance
A capable paid option for governing infrastructure as code across mixed operating systems.
6.6/10★★★☆☆Visit Chef Infra -
Best forCloud-based Windows and macOS endpoint deployment
A cloud endpoint platform for inventory, deployment, patching, and vulnerability remediation.
- Remediation automation
- Patch management
6.5/10★★★☆☆Visit PDQ Connect -
Best forEnterprise endpoint security and patch operations
A broad endpoint operations platform for patching, compliance, deployment, and remediation.
- Configuration management
- Remediation automation
- Patch management
6.4/10★★★☆☆Visit HCL BigFix -
Best forCross-platform endpoint automation on a free plan
Cross-platform endpoint automation with a free plan for the first 200 endpoints.
- Configuration management
- Remediation automation
- Patch management
6.3/10★★★☆☆Visit Action1 -
Best forMature autonomous policy enforcement
A mature, agent-based choice for autonomous policy enforcement and drift correction.
- Patch management
6.2/10★★★☆☆Visit CFEngine -
Best forNetwork mapping and runbook automation
A specialized platform for mapping, governing, validating, and automating enterprise networks.
- Configuration management
6.1/10★★★☆☆Visit NetBrain -
Best forEnterprise job scheduling and recovery
Deep cross-platform scheduling and recovery for complex enterprise workloads.
6.0/10★★★☆☆Visit JAMS Scheduler -
Best forOpen-source infrastructure orchestration
A self-hosted framework for remote execution, configuration, provisioning, and orchestration.
- Patch management
5.9/10★★★☆☆Visit Salt -
Best forEnterprise UEM across diverse endpoints
A broad UEM platform for managing diverse endpoints, applications, policies, and automation.
5.8/10★★★☆☆Visit Workspace ONE -
Best forLow-cost cloud endpoint patch automation
Low-cost cloud patch automation for Windows, macOS, and Linux endpoints.
- Configuration management
- Remediation automation
- Patch management
5.7/10★★★☆☆Visit Automox -
Best forHybrid workload and infrastructure orchestration
A broad orchestration platform for coordinating enterprise workloads across hybrid infrastructure.
- Remediation automation
5.6/10★★★☆☆Visit Stonebranch -
Best forOpen-source SUSE-oriented systems automation
A broad Linux automation platform for teams that prefer self-hosted, Salt-based control.
- Patch management
5.4/10★★★☆☆Visit Uyuni -
Best forEnterprise schedule execution and SLA tracking
A broad enterprise scheduler with strong SLA controls and custom-quote pricing.
5.3/10★★★☆☆Try Tidal Automation -
Best forVMware-centric infrastructure self-service
A deep automation layer for VMware Cloud Foundation, with contact-sales pricing and a narrow ecosystem focus.
- Configuration management
5.2/10★★★☆☆Visit VMware -
Best forOpen-source provisioning and Linux fleet management
A self-hosted control plane for provisioning and managing Linux infrastructure.
- Configuration management
- Remediation automation
- Patch management
5.2/10★★★☆☆Visit Foreman -
Best forUbuntu fleet update and compliance automation
A focused Ubuntu fleet manager combining patching, compliance, monitoring, and remote administration.
5.1/10★★★☆☆Visit Canonical -
Best forWindows patching with WSUS and SCCM
A Windows-focused patch manager for teams extending WSUS and SCCM.
5.0/10★★☆☆☆Visit SolarWinds -
Best forOpen-source event-driven remediation workflows
A focused, open-source choice for event-driven remediation and operational workflows.
- Remediation automation
4.9/10★★☆☆☆Visit StackStorm -
Best forComplex application and mainframe deployments
A governed deployment platform for complex application and mainframe delivery.
4.7/10★★☆☆☆Visit Broadcom -
Best forPolicy compliance and configuration governance
A self-hosted platform for enforcing configuration, compliance, and security policies.
- Patch management
4.7/10★★☆☆☆Visit Rudder -
Best forEnterprises automating availability for critical services
Policy-driven resource automation for clustered and heterogeneous IT environments.
- Configuration management
- Remediation automation
4.6/10★★☆☆☆Contact IBM -
Best forUnified endpoint management for mixed estates
A broad endpoint console for IT teams managing mixed device and operating-system estates.
4.5/10★★☆☆☆Visit Matrix42 -
Best forIdentity and SaaS workflow automation
A strong fit for identity workflows, but not infrastructure configuration automation.
- Remediation automation
4.4/10★★☆☆☆Visit Okta
No tools match those filters.
Compare at a glance
Head-to-head All 25 comparisons →
- Puppet vs ManageEngine Endpoint Central
- Puppet vs OpenText Automation Center
- Puppet vs Azure Automation
- Puppet vs SUSE Multi-Linux Manager (formerly SUSE Manager)
- Puppet vs BMC Control-M
- ManageEngine Endpoint Central vs OpenText Automation Center
- ManageEngine Endpoint Central vs OpenText Server Automation
- ManageEngine Endpoint Central vs AWS Systems Manager State Manager
- ManageEngine Endpoint Central vs Azure Automation
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How we rank IT automation software
Every tool on this page was researched by iTechGuides Editors from its official website — pricing pages, plan tables and product documentation. We rank on how well each one does this category's core job, what the free or entry plan includes, and where it falls short. Where we have enough verified facts, the score out of 10 is a rubric — job fit, value and how much we could verify — shown with its breakdown on every tool's page; a tool we have not verified enough to score yet shows its rank without a number. Scores are re-checked when a product changes its plans. Read the full editorial policy, or submit a tool we missed.
Reviewed by iTechGuides Editors · Editorial team · Updated Oct 2026
Last updated · How we research and update