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Automox vs Microsoft Windows Server Update Services comparison

 

Comparison Buyer's Guide

Executive SummaryUpdated on Sep 16, 2024

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
6.4
Automox enhances efficiency in patch management, saving time and resources, improving compliance, and offering better visibility and security.
Sentiment score
3.2
Windows Server Update Services provides free, efficient patch management, automates updates, centralizes downloads, and reduces crashes and internet usage.
Our team used to spend 10 hours per week just to update these things, and now we're doing it automatically.
Senior Data Reporting Analyst at University of Bradford
We have seen a return on investment with Automox as we have achieved faster patching and vulnerability remediation along with better audit outcomes, and we now have more time for the IT team to work on other projects.
Quality Assurance Manager at Unilever
If they have some bundle options to pay less for more, we will get it and use it.
Senior Oracle DBA at a financial services firm with 11-50 employees
 

Customer Service

Sentiment score
6.2
Automox’s customer service is highly praised for responsiveness, expertise, and efficiency, surpassing larger companies in user satisfaction.
Sentiment score
4.1
Users criticize Microsoft Windows Server Update Services support for slow responses and inconsistency, preferring online resources or premium support.
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.
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.
Senior Data Reporting Analyst at University of Bradford
The customer support has been excellent as the support team is always responsive and proactive.
Quality Assurance Manager at Unilever
Microsoft Update provides one of the worst support experiences among all tech companies that I have experienced.
Lead - Technical Services at Impetus
When you pay for the support, you are guaranteed resolution, and I don't think anybody else does that.
IT Manager at Handi Quilter, Inc.
I explain that I am unhappy because it takes too long for a reaction.
System Administrator at Waternet
 

Scalability Issues

Sentiment score
6.3
Automox is highly scalable and cloud-based, effectively managing numerous devices, despite minor manageability and console load time issues.
Sentiment score
5.2
Windows Server Update Services is scalable and adaptable but may experience performance issues in large, stressed deployments.
It's pretty easy to scale because it's SaaS, and adding more devices doesn't require any extra server or anything similar.
Senior Data Reporting Analyst at University of Bradford
Though there are options to use Microsoft MS SQL, it does not support more than 3,000 clients.
Lead - Technical Services at Impetus
 

Stability Issues

Sentiment score
6.6
Automox is praised for its stability, reliable performance, prompt incident response, and efficient patching, with minimal downtime.
Sentiment score
5.3
Microsoft Windows Server Update Services is stable and reliable, though minor issues may occur with specific updates or large environments.
It's not crashing or experiencing any downtime.
Senior Data Reporting Analyst at University of Bradford
I have not experienced any lagging or downtime
Quality Assurance Manager at Unilever
When we schedule our updates, it works, and that's it—nothing irregular or different than what was expected.
Senior Oracle DBA at a financial services firm with 11-50 employees
 

Room For Improvement

Automox needs better sync, user access, automation, UI, bandwidth management, notifications, reports, and remote support for Linux/iOS.
Windows Server Update Services requires UI enhancements, better integration, stability improvements, and efficient patch management for smoother operation.
An alert of a security threat could be another type of notification that tells me something is important.
Senior Data Reporting Analyst at University of Bradford
The integration is seamless.
Quality Assurance Manager at Unilever
The inventory tool and the entire backend of Microsoft Windows Server Update Services is poorly coded. It's not very reliable, so you can tell when dealing with bad code, and it may work one day but may not work another.
IT Manager at Handi Quilter, Inc.
I would like the updates to be less often and more rarely because they have a high impact on our team.
Senior Oracle DBA at a financial services firm with 11-50 employees
 

Setup Cost

Automox offers cost-effective per-endpoint pricing, scalability, and comprehensive support with a valuable free trial for evaluation.
Microsoft Windows Server Update Services has no licensing fees but can incur costs from storage, cloud deployment, and enterprise agreements.
It's a free service.
Lead - Technical Services at Impetus
It's free.
Network Architect at a construction company with 51-200 employees
 

Valuable Features

Automox offers automated, cloud-native patching with cross-platform compatibility, customizable worklets, and an intuitive dashboard for simplified security management.
Microsoft Windows Server Update Services offers centralized management, automated updates, and reporting, enhancing efficiency without extra licensing fees.
One of the best features I appreciate about Automox is automated patching.
Senior Data Reporting Analyst at University of Bradford
Automox allows me to patch all devices regardless of the operating system.
Quality Assurance Manager at Unilever
The ease of use and efficient reporting contribute significantly to my overall productivity.
Lead - Technical Services at Impetus
The most valuable feature of Microsoft Windows Server Update Services is the update for Microsoft Windows Server.
Senior Oracle DBA at a financial services firm with 11-50 employees
I confirm that they all get downloaded and installed simultaneously, and the new security patches are applied automatically.
System Administrator at Waternet
 

Categories and Ranking

Automox
Ranking in Patch Management
14th
Average Rating
9.0
Reviews Sentiment
7.1
Number of Reviews
13
Ranking in other categories
Vulnerability Management (36th), Endpoint Protection Platform (EPP) (36th), Enterprise Mobility Management (EMM) (13th)
Microsoft Windows Server Up...
Ranking in Patch Management
3rd
Average Rating
7.8
Reviews Sentiment
5.9
Number of Reviews
53
Ranking in other categories
No ranking in other categories
 

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 Microsoft Windows Server Update Services is 4.5%, down from 6.6% compared to the previous year. It is calculated based on PeerSpot user engagement data.
Patch Management Mindshare Distribution
ProductMindshare (%)
Microsoft Windows Server Update Services4.5%
Automox2.2%
Other93.3%
Patch Management
 

Featured Reviews

Naqash Ahmed - PeerSpot reviewer
Senior Data Reporting Analyst at University of Bradford
Automation has saved time and improves secure, centralized patching across all our devices
While Automox has very good features, I think there's still room for improvement. I want the custom reports to be even more detailed, specifically where I can add more details. It would be nice to have more filters in reports based on location and department more easily. Secondly, the notifications could be more customizable. Many times notifications come, but we don't have control over which notification is urgent and which is not. For example, if there's an alert of a critical update or pending approval, it can help me focus better. An alert of a security threat could be another type of notification that tells me something is important. Customized notifications would be much better. I would say the user interface could be improved as well. Some parts of the dashboard are a bit hard to understand. If they could be improved to be more intuitive, for example, if it could be easy to navigate between devices and reports, that would be great. I would say if Automox could also provide automation templates, that would help. I know there are templates, but I want more templates. Having ready-made worklets for common tasks can save a lot of time. Lastly, it should also support the interface for mobile screens.
NN
IT Manager at Handi Quilter, Inc.
Experience with update service shows need for reliability, but support excels
I wouldn't say any of the update services have great features. The only real advantage I have for having Microsoft Windows Server Update Services is if I know or have been informed of a bad update that's causing software conflicts, I can stop it. But I do not depend on Microsoft Windows Server Update Services to keep my machines updated because the failure rates are too high. I have other tools for reporting and inventory capabilities. The inventory tool and the entire backend of Microsoft Windows Server Update Services is poorly coded. It's not very reliable, so you can tell when dealing with bad code, and it may work one day but may not work another. So I had to stop using it because I need something that's reliable, therefore I use other tools for that information. In a pinch, you can use Microsoft Windows Server Update Services tools, but for the most part, they're not reliable enough. I don't believe I've seen any improvement on bandwidth optimization or deployment speed from Microsoft Windows Server Update Services. In fact, the only real improvement comes directly from Microsoft because they stagger the updates. So that helps, but having Microsoft Windows Server Update Services on-premise does not provide any real benefit. Its pricing is just all-inclusive. I don't think about it that way. If somebody tried to sell me Microsoft Windows Server Update Services, I would probably reject it. It's a tool that we have, so we use it, but if I were to pay extra for it, I would say it's not worth it. Some of the main differences between Microsoft Windows Server Update Services and the other tools are that WSUS's backend is based on IIS, which is not a very reliable host method. You're going to have problems getting Microsoft Windows Server Update Services to run when you have a large organization. The speed of it is quite painfully slow, so there's not a lot you can do to get Microsoft Windows Server Update Services to work under stress. The other tools just work. I can tell you what services are running on each of my machines and can stop or restart services. I can inventory the software they have on them with multiple tools, so I know what software is on our machines. I don't have to rely on a tool that works when it wants to and requires so much maintenance to keep it going. Microsoft Windows Server Update Services is only to green check updates that I know are fine, but obviously, it could save me in a pinch if something went wrong.
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Top Industries

By visitors reading reviews
Government
9%
Computer Software Company
8%
Financial Services Firm
8%
Manufacturing Company
8%
Government
9%
Financial Services Firm
9%
Computer Software Company
8%
Manufacturing Company
8%
 

Company Size

By reviewers
Large Enterprise
Midsize Enterprise
Small Business
By reviewers
Company SizeCount
Small Business7
Midsize Enterprise3
Large Enterprise3
By reviewers
Company SizeCount
Small Business23
Midsize Enterprise6
Large Enterprise24
 

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.
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...
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...
What is your experience regarding pricing and costs for Microsoft Windows Server Update Services?
I don't know all details about pricing for Microsoft Windows Server Update Services, so I can't answer this question.
What needs improvement with Microsoft Windows Server Update Services?
I think nothing could be improved or enhanced in Microsoft Windows Server Update Services because it is doing precisely what it has to do. I do not see any minor enhancements or limitations to be o...
 

Also Known As

No data available
Windows Server Update Services, Microsoft WSUS, WSUS, Microsoft Software Update Services, Software Update Services, Microsoft SUS, SUS, MS Windows Server Update Services
 

Overview

Find out what your peers are saying about Automox vs. Microsoft Windows Server Update Services and other solutions. Updated: March 2026.
884,656 professionals have used our research since 2012.