Softerra Adaxes vs ManageEngine ADAudit Plus

Softerra Adaxes8.7Visit ManageEngine ADAudit Plus7.9Visit

Higher score Softerra Adaxes #4 in Active Directory Management Software 8.7/10 30-day trial Free trial✓ 5 of 5 features Visit Adaxes

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

• Softerra Adaxes fits best

  Policy-driven AD and Entra automation

• ManageEngine ADAudit Plus fits best

  AD auditing and compliance monitoring

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.

Side by side

Feature	Softerra Adaxes 8.7/10 Visit ↗	ManageEngine ADAudit Plus 7.9/10 Visit ↗
At a glance
Editor score	8.7	7.9
Ranking	#4 in Active Directory Management Software	#7 in Active Directory Management Software
Best for	Policy-driven AD and Entra automation	AD auditing and compliance monitoring
Pricing model	Paid	Free plan + paid
Starting price	—	$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, macOS	Web, Windows
Support	Email, Live chat, Docs	Email, Live chat, Phone, Tickets, Community, Docs
Integrations	7 integrations	9 integrations
Built for	Small business, Mid-market, Enterprise	Small business, Mid-market, Enterprise
Features Softerra Adaxes 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 identity lifecycles, approvals, scheduled tasks, and directory rules Unifies Active Directory, Entra ID, Exchange, and Microsoft 365 management Includes delegated administration, reporting, 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	No free plan is available Uses package-based account tiers rather than per-user monthly billing Deployment is on premises, which may not suit cloud-only teams	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	Softerra Adaxes is an Active Directory and Microsoft Entra ID management platform for organizations managing on-premises, hybrid, or cloud directory configurations. It is aimed at teams that need role-based delegated 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

• Softerra Adaxes — where it wins

  • Automates identity lifecycles, approvals, scheduled tasks, and directory rules
  • Unifies Active Directory, Entra ID, Exchange, and Microsoft 365 management
  • Includes delegated administration, reporting, and password self-service

  Where it doesn't

  • No free plan is available
  • Uses package-based account tiers rather than per-user monthly billing
  • Deployment is on premises, which may not suit cloud-only teams

• 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.

• Softerra Adaxes8.7/10 · 30-day trial

  Policy-driven automation for delegated administration across AD, Entra ID, and Microsoft 365.

  Visit AdaxesFull 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 →