Automox vs KACE Systems Management Appliance (SMA) comparison

Automox and Quest Software are both solutions in the Patch Management category. Automox is ranked #14 with an average rating of 9.0, while Quest Software is ranked #9 with an average rating of 10.0. Automox holds a 2.2% mindshare in PM, compared to Quest Software’s 3.6% mindshare. Additionally, 100% of Automox users are willing to recommend the solution, compared to 95% of Quest Software users who would recommend it.

Automox

Read 20 Automox reviews

2,112 Views
908 Comparison Views

100% willing to recommend

KACE Systems Management App...

Read 39 KACE Systems Management Appliance (SMA) reviews

3,219 Views
1,867 Comparison Views

95% willing to recommend

Automox

KACE Systems Management App...

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Executive SummaryUpdated on Mar 1, 2026

KACE Systems Management Appliance and Automox compete in the IT management software category. Automox appears to have the upper hand due to its cloud-native platform and ease of use across multiple operating systems, offering a modern approach for cloud-based operations.

Features: KACE Systems Management Appliance provides remote management, deployment capabilities, and comprehensive integration with tools like Bomgar and ServiceNow. Automox offers a cloud-native platform with Worklets for task automation, supporting multiple operating systems, and easy user interface.

Room for Improvement: KACE users express concerns about image deployment limitations, interface complexity, and scalability issues. Automox users suggest improvements in multi-client management, handling patch policies, and enhancing notifications.

Ease of Deployment and Customer Service: Deploying KACE can be complex due to its on-premises nature, while Automox provides straightforward deployment through its cloud-native design. KACE offers extensive support with some service inconsistencies, while Automox support is known for its efficiency and streamlined process.

Pricing and ROI: KACE offers competitive pricing for large-scale deployments, showing ROI through time savings. However, initial costs may be high for smaller organizations. Automox is cost-effective with predictable per-device rates, reducing infrastructure needs and proving advantageous for cloud scalability.

To learn more, read our detailed Automox vs. KACE Systems Management Appliance (SMA) Report (Updated: March 2026).

Buyer's Guide

Automox vs. KACE Systems Management Appliance (SMA)

March 2026

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Helped 884,976 peers since 2012

Review summaries and opinions

We asked business professionals to review the solutions they use. Here are some excerpts of what they said:

ROI

Sentiment score

7.3

Automox enhances efficiency in patch management, saving time and resources, improving compliance, and offering better visibility and security.

Sentiment score

7.3

KACE SMA increases efficiency and productivity, offering rapid ROI by streamlining operations and reducing time, costs, and staffing needs.

It is a cloud-based solution, so you do not need on-premises infrastructure, which saves hardware.

Joseph Mbugua

Project Manager at Shell

It has also been a great tool because we are able to reduce both manual labor and operational expenses by automating patching of roughly 200 Windows servers.

Dennis Mascot

Data at Infosys

Offered an additional remote solution, all while saving a lot of time and cost through troubleshooting.

William Pep

Project Engineer at Unilever

For more quotes and insights, download the Automox report

The return on investment is seen in the quick access to information, good inventory management, and efficient systems management.

RicardoGarcia1

Avocat at Star Boxes India Pvt Ltd

For more quotes and insights, download the KACE Systems Management Appliance (SMA) report

Customer Service

Sentiment score

7.6

Automox’s customer service is highly praised for responsiveness, expertise, and efficiency, surpassing larger companies in user satisfaction.

Sentiment score

6.6

KACE SMA support is praised for its expertise and 24/7 availability, with occasional room for flexibility improvement.

They are really good because they don't take five days to get back to me; they respond within 24 hours with really good information.

Robert Araya

Network & Security Administrator at a legal firm with 51-200 employees

They're very knowledgeable and have given us many channels for support, including email, chat, and documentation.

Naqash Ahmed

Senior Data Reporting Analyst at University of Bradford

The customer support has been excellent as the support team is always responsive and proactive.

Michael Fang

Quality Assurance Manager at Unilever

For more quotes and insights, download the Automox report

I would rate the customer support for Quest KACE Systems Management Appliance (SMA) as a 10.

Michael Huffman

Server Administrator III at a university with 1,001-5,000 employees

The customer service is very good, providing quick customer support in Spanish.

RicardoGarcia1

Avocat at Star Boxes India Pvt Ltd

For more quotes and insights, download the KACE Systems Management Appliance (SMA) report

Scalability Issues

Sentiment score

7.7

Automox is highly scalable and cloud-based, effectively managing numerous devices, despite minor manageability and console load time issues.

Sentiment score

7.2

KACE Systems Management Appliance efficiently supports various organization sizes, excelling in integration, scalability, and comprehensive network management.

It's pretty easy to scale because it's SaaS, and adding more devices doesn't require any extra server or anything similar.

Naqash Ahmed

Senior Data Reporting Analyst at University of Bradford

Automox scalability is excellent because it caters to my organization needs and can handle our organizational needs, ensuring that all our devices are well patched.

Joseph Mbugua

Project Manager at Shell

Automox's scalability is excellent as it has continued to grow with my organization and caters to my organization's needs.

William Pep

Project Engineer at Unilever

For more quotes and insights, download the Automox report

The product is very scalable as it supports 10,000 thousand endpoints with just one appliance.

RicardoGarcia1

Avocat at Star Boxes India Pvt Ltd

We have outgrown the size of one KACE appliance and are now running two.

Michael Huffman

Server Administrator III at a university with 1,001-5,000 employees

For more quotes and insights, download the KACE Systems Management Appliance (SMA) report

Stability Issues

Sentiment score

8.4

Automox is praised for its stability, reliable performance, prompt incident response, and efficient patching, with minimal downtime.

Sentiment score

8.1

KACE Systems Management Appliance is praised for its stability, reliability, and efficient performance, with swift recovery during incidents.

It's not crashing or experiencing any downtime.

Naqash Ahmed

Senior Data Reporting Analyst at University of Bradford

I have not experienced any lagging or downtime

Michael Fang

Quality Assurance Manager at Unilever

I can confirm that Automox is very stable.

Joseph Mbugua

Project Manager at Shell

For more quotes and insights, download the Automox report

No quotes available

For more quotes and insights, download the KACE Systems Management Appliance (SMA) report

Room For Improvement

Automox needs better sync, user access, automation, UI, bandwidth management, notifications, reports, and remote support for Linux/iOS.

KACE Systems Management Appliance struggles with scalability, usability, customization, integration, image deployment, and technical support responsiveness.

Anything that can predict imminent failure of the device would be great.

PaulWalker2

Software Engineer at Unilever Inc.

An alert of a security threat could be another type of notification that tells me something is important.

Naqash Ahmed

Senior Data Reporting Analyst at University of Bradford

The integration is seamless.

Michael Fang

Quality Assurance Manager at Unilever

For more quotes and insights, download the Automox report

Currently, we have to go into each org to deploy applications when we need them all across the university.

Michael Huffman

Server Administrator III at a university with 1,001-5,000 employees

The user interface needs improvement as customers have mentioned they do not like the interface since it is not an SMA-based interface.

RicardoGarcia1

Avocat at Star Boxes India Pvt Ltd

For more quotes and insights, download the KACE Systems Management Appliance (SMA) report

Setup Cost

Automox offers cost-effective per-endpoint pricing, scalability, and comprehensive support with a valuable free trial for evaluation.

KACE Systems Management Appliance offers cost-effective enterprise solutions, although potentially expensive for small businesses, with no additional feature costs.

Cost reduction has been noticeable, ranging from 50% to 40%, especially because we do not have to travel from one place to another to go on site and troubleshoot devices.

Raphael Tiji

Senior Software Engineer at AT&T

Automox's price is very cost-effective and affordable.

Dennis Mascot

Data at Infosys

the price has always been competitive and very cost-effective

William Pep

Project Engineer at Unilever

For more quotes and insights, download the Automox report

The pricing is in the middle range of the market, not too expensive but not the cheapest either.

RicardoGarcia1

Avocat at Star Boxes India Pvt Ltd

My experience with pricing, setup cost, and licensing for Quest KACE Systems Management Appliance (SMA) is that, hands down, it beat all of the others in simplicity and pricing.

Michael Huffman

Server Administrator III at a university with 1,001-5,000 employees

For more quotes and insights, download the KACE Systems Management Appliance (SMA) report

Valuable Features

Automox offers automated, cloud-native patching with cross-platform compatibility, customizable worklets, and an intuitive dashboard for simplified security management.

KACE SMA offers integrated, centralized IT management for efficient software deployment, asset management, and security with customizable inventories.

One of the best features I appreciate about Automox is automated patching.

Naqash Ahmed

Senior Data Reporting Analyst at University of Bradford

Automox allows me to patch all devices regardless of the operating system.

Michael Fang

Quality Assurance Manager at Unilever

It has also improved our security posture since automated patching has allowed vulnerabilities to be patched automatically.

Dennis Mascot

Data at Infosys

For more quotes and insights, download the Automox report

Scripting has saved us hundreds of hours over the years when patching these vulnerabilities compared to how we did it before.

Michael Huffman

Server Administrator III at a university with 1,001-5,000 employees

The most valuable features include simplicity, which makes systems management easier and faster, especially for device management.

RicardoGarcia1

Avocat at Star Boxes India Pvt Ltd

For more quotes and insights, download the KACE Systems Management Appliance (SMA) report

Categories and Ranking

Automox

Ranking in Patch Management

14th

Average Rating

9.0

Reviews Sentiment

7.4

Number of Reviews

Ranking in other categories

Vulnerability Management (36th), Endpoint Protection Platform (EPP) (36th), Enterprise Mobility Management (EMM) (13th)

KACE Systems Management App...

Ranking in Patch Management

9th

Average Rating

8.8

Reviews Sentiment

6.8

Number of Reviews

Ranking in other categories

Client Desktop Management (3rd), Endpoint Compliance (7th), Remote Monitoring and Management (RMM) (12th), Unified Endpoint Management (UEM) (10th)

Mindshare comparison

As of March 2026, in the Patch Management category, the mindshare of Automox is 2.2%, down from 3.8% compared to the previous year. The mindshare of KACE Systems Management Appliance (SMA) is 3.6%, down from 5.4% compared to the previous year. It is calculated based on PeerSpot user engagement data.

Patch Management Mindshare Distribution
Product	Mindshare (%)
KACE Systems Management Appliance (SMA)	3.6%
Automox	2.2%
Other	94.2%

Patch Management

Featured Reviews

Raphael Tiji

Senior Software Engineer at AT&T

Unified patching and remote access have strengthened security and reduced support overhead

Automox has significant potential and we truly appreciate its features and capabilities. However, we have encountered several performance issues, particularly with the remote access tool. We believe that with some improvement, it could replace other tools that we currently use. Exclusion for updates should be improved in Automox. Integration with Tenable vulnerability management should be improved, as it should be included. I do not have any other improvements needed for Automox that I have not mentioned yet, perhaps only small or wish-list features.

Read full review

Michael Huffman

Server Administrator III at a university with 1,001-5,000 employees

Reliability and adaptability enable efficient application deployment and security management

The best features Quest KACE Systems Management Appliance (SMA) offers include the scripting function, which stands out to me because I can find specific needs and deploy the applications based on those needs. There was a time when scripting really saved me time by allowing me to find specific registry entries and modify them to patch security vulnerabilities. Scripting has saved us hundreds of hours over the years when patching these vulnerabilities compared to how we did it before. I really enjoy the security features that are enabled to deploy Microsoft and other vendor patches, which stand out to me as key functionalities.

Read full review

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884,976 professionals have used our research since 2012.

Top Industries

By visitors reading reviews

Government

Manufacturing Company

Computer Software Company

Financial Services Firm

University

12%

Non Profit

10%

Government

Financial Services Firm

Company Size

By reviewers

Large Enterprise

Midsize Enterprise

Small Business

By reviewers
Company Size	Count
Small Business	7
Midsize Enterprise	3
Large Enterprise	10

By reviewers
Company Size	Count
Small Business	8
Midsize Enterprise	20
Large Enterprise	16

Questions from the Community

What needs improvement with Automox?

Automox needs some improvement, particularly in that remote support for Linux is lacking. Additionally, remote support for iOS could be better. The integration is seamless.

See all answers

What is your primary use case for Automox?

Our main use case for Automox is that we as a company need to be Cyber Security Plus compliant, and therefore we need to ensure that our devices are patched regularly. Having over 1,000 devices, ma...

See all answers

What advice do you have for others considering Automox?

Automox is a modern, simple-to-use, and powerful tool that works well for all sizes of organizations that have a mix of remote, hybrid, and endpoints. Automated patching is a key strength of Automo...

See all answers

What is your experience regarding pricing and costs for Quest KACE Systems Management?

My experience with pricing, setup cost, and licensing for Quest KACE Systems Management Appliance (SMA) is that, hands down, it beat all of the others in simplicity and pricing.

See all answers

What needs improvement with Quest KACE Systems Management?

I wish Quest KACE Systems Management Appliance (SMA) would have a top-down approach since we use orgs; currently, we have to go into each org to deploy applications when we need them all across the...

See all answers

What is your primary use case for Quest KACE Systems Management?

My main use case for Quest KACE Systems Management Appliance (SMA) is to deploy applications and maintain security, and we use it day-to-day to handle those tasks. With Quest KACE Systems Managemen...

See all answers

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Compared 5% of the time

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Product Reports

Buyer's Guide

Automox

March 2026

Download Automox product report

Buyer's Guide

KACE Systems Management Appliance (SMA)

March 2026

KACE Systems Management Appliance (SMA) report

Download KACE Systems Management Appliance (SMA) product report

Also Known As

No data available

Dell KACE Systems Management

Overview

Facing growing threats and a rapidly expanding attack surface, understaffed and alert-fatigued organizations need more efficient ways to eliminate their exposure to vulnerabilities. Automox is a modern cyber hygiene platform that closes the aperture of attack by more than 80% with just half the effort of traditional solutions.

Cloud-based and globally available, Automox enforces OS & third-party patch management, security configurations, and custom scripting across Windows, Mac, and Linux from a single intuitive console. IT and SecOps can quickly gain control and share visibility of on-prem, remote and virtual endpoints without the need to deploy costly infrastructure.

Automox dramatically reduces corporate risk while raising operational efficiency to deliver best-in-class security outcomes, faster and with fewer resources.

Automox

KACE Systems Management Appliance offers integration capabilities, efficient image deployment, and comprehensive asset management. It supports centralized management across diverse devices and locations, simplifying IT processes and enhancing security.

KACE Systems Management Appliance provides single-pane visibility for endpoint management, mass software deployment, automated patch management, robust scripting, and detailed inventory tracking. It streamlines IT management and improves cyber-security compliance through remote software updates and centralized IT request handling. Despite struggles with scalability and the need for interface improvements, it enables efficient device imaging, script automation, and network management through detailed reporting. Organizations find it effective for software deployment, asset management, and endpoint monitoring, serving thousands of IoT devices and desktops.

What are the key features of KACE Systems Management Appliance?

Integration capabilities: Seamlessly connects with existing IT systems.
Efficient image deployment: Facilitates quick and effective distribution of system images.
Comprehensive asset management: Provides detailed tracking and management of IT assets.
User-friendly helpdesk: Simplifies handling IT requests and issues.
Automated patch management: Ensures devices are up-to-date with security patches.
Robust scripting: Allows for automation of complex IT tasks.
Detailed inventory tracking: Maintains accurate records of all IT assets.

What benefits should users expect from KACE Systems Management Appliance?

Simplified IT processes: Centralized management enhances operational efficiency.
Improved security: Streamlines cyber-security compliance through automated updates.
Flexibility in customizations: Adapts to specific IT environment needs.
Increased productivity: Efficient ticketing and reporting ease organizational operations.
Remote software updates: Ensures all devices are current, reducing security risks.

In healthcare, KACE Systems Management Appliance is used for maintaining device compliance and security standards. Educational institutions benefit from its capabilities to manage large numbers of endpoints across campuses. In finance, it aids in strict compliance requirements through automated patch management and detailed reporting. Retail sectors leverage its asset management features to streamline operations across numerous locations.

Quest Software

Sample Customers

Information Not Available

Waypoint, Mattos Filho, Meetic, Gems Education, Green Clinic HealthSystem, Service King

Buyer's Guide

Automox vs. KACE Systems Management Appliance (SMA)

March 2026

Free Report: Automox vs. KACE Systems Management Appliance (SMA)

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