Netwrix Directory Manager vs ManageEngine ADAudit Plus

Netwrix Directory Manager8.9Visit ManageEngine ADAudit Plus7.9Visit

Higher score Netwrix Directory Manager #3 in Active Directory Management Software 8.9/10 Pricing on request · 30-day trial Free trial✓ 5 of 5 features Visit Netwrix

vs

ManageEngine ADAudit Plus #7 in Active Directory Management Software 7.9/10 Free plan · 30-day trial Free planFree trial✓ 0 of 5 features Visit ManageEngine

• Netwrix Directory Manager fits best

  Automated multi-directory administration

• ManageEngine ADAudit Plus fits best

  AD auditing and compliance monitoring

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Side by side

Feature	Netwrix Directory Manager 8.9/10 Visit ↗	ManageEngine ADAudit Plus 7.9/10 Visit ↗
At a glance
Editor score	8.9	7.9
Ranking	#3 in Active Directory Management Software	#7 in Active Directory Management Software
Best for	Automated multi-directory administration	AD auditing and compliance monitoring
Pricing model	Paid	Free plan + paid
Starting price	Pricing on request · 30-day trial	$595/yr
Free plan	—	✓ (best)
Free trial	30 days	30 days
Free trial length	30 days	30 days
Deployment	Self-hosted	Self-hosted
Platforms	Web, Windows	Web, Windows
Support	Phone, Tickets, Community, Docs	Email, Live chat, Phone, Tickets, Community, Docs
Integrations	11 integrations	9 integrations
Built for	Mid-market, Enterprise	Small business, Mid-market, Enterprise
Features Netwrix Directory Manager 5/5 · ManageEngine ADAudit Plus 0/5
Delegated administration	✓ (best)	Not checked yet
AD auditing	✓ (best)	Not checked yet
Lifecycle automation	✓ (best)	Not checked yet
Reporting	✓ (best)	Not checked yet
Password self-service	✓ (best)	Not checked yet
Specs
Deployment	On_premises	On_premises
Our review
Pros	Automates provisioning, deprovisioning and group lifecycle tasks Connects AD, Entra ID, Google Workspace, LDAP and SCIM Combines delegated workflows, auditing and password self-service	200+ preconfigured reports cover AD, files, and compliance needs. Real-time alerts track critical Active Directory and file changes. SIEM and ITSM integrations support established operational workflows.
Cons	Pricing is quote-based rather than published by plan Deployment is on-premises There is no free product plan	It is primarily an auditing product, not a full administration suite. File integrity monitoring is an add-on for Windows servers and workstations. Some real-time file-server collection requires a client-side agent.
Our verdict	Netwrix Directory Manager manages users, groups, entitlements and passwords across Active Directory, Microsoft Entra ID and other connected directories. It is designed for IT and identity teams that need to automate routine administration… Read the review →	ManageEngine ADAudit Plus is an on-premises auditing and monitoring platform for organizations managing Active Directory, Microsoft Entra ID, Windows servers, workstations, file servers, and supported NAS devices. It tracks directory,… Read the review →

Strengths and trade-offs

• Netwrix Directory Manager — where it wins

  • Automates provisioning, deprovisioning and group lifecycle tasks
  • Connects AD, Entra ID, Google Workspace, LDAP and SCIM
  • Combines delegated workflows, auditing and password self-service

  Where it doesn't

  • Pricing is quote-based rather than published by plan
  • Deployment is on-premises
  • There is no free product plan

• ManageEngine ADAudit Plus — where it wins

  • 200+ preconfigured reports cover AD, files, and compliance needs.
  • Real-time alerts track critical Active Directory and file changes.
  • SIEM and ITSM integrations support established operational workflows.

  Where it doesn't

  • It is primarily an auditing product, not a full administration suite.
  • File integrity monitoring is an add-on for Windows servers and workstations.
  • Some real-time file-server collection requires a client-side agent.

• Netwrix Directory Manager8.9/10 · Pricing on request · 30-day trial

  A broad directory administration suite for teams managing identities across connected systems.

  Visit NetwrixFull verdict →
• ManageEngine ADAudit Plus7.9/10 · Free plan · 30-day trial

  A broad AD auditing platform with strong compliance coverage and a free plan.

  Visit ManageEngineFull verdict →