Best Active Directory Management Software in 2026
Updated
In short: Softerra Adaxes is ranked #1 of 21 as of 4 October 2026, ahead of ManageEngine ADSelfService Plus and Specops uReset. The best-ranked option with a free plan is ManageEngine ADSelfService Plus. The lowest first paid tier on this page is Netwrix Password Secure at $5/mo.
For teams administering Active Directory, software in this category can address auditing, delegated work, account lifecycle tasks, and password self-service. Compared on AD auditing, delegated administration, deployment, free-plan availability, lifecycle automation, paid-from pricing, password self-service, and reporting, the ranking opens with ManageEngine ADSelfService Plus, Softerra Adaxes, and Blazam. Cayosoft Administrator, ManageEngine ADAudit Plus, and One Identity Active Roles follow among the first entries shown. Consider which tasks your team needs to automate or delegate, and what reporting would help with oversight. Deployment options and the listed pricing details can help you assess operational fit.
21 active directory management software ranked on what their makers publish — plans and prices, free tiers, platforms and the facts on their own pages.
Active Directory Management Software, ranked on how quickly a newcomer can get going. 9 of the 21 on this page can be tried for free.
- 1 Softerra Adaxes
- Free to practise on: yes
- Free trial: yes
- Well documented: yes
- Runs where you work: yes
- 2 ManageEngine ADSelfService PlusPaid from $49.58/mo
- Free to practise on: yes
- Free trial: not on record
- Well documented: yes
- Runs where you work: yes
- 3 Specops uReset
- Free to practise on: not on record
- Free trial: yes
- Well documented: yes
- Runs where you work: yes
- 4 BlazamFree plan
- Free to practise on: yes
- Free trial: not on record
- Well documented: yes
- Runs where you work: yes
- 5 Cayosoft Administrator
- Free to practise on: not on record
- Free trial: yes
- Well documented: yes
- Runs where you work: yes
- 6 ManageEngine ADAudit PlusPaid from $49.58/mo
- Free to practise on: yes
- Free trial: not on record
- Well documented: yes
- Runs where you work: not on record
- 7 One Identity Active Roles
- Free to practise on: not on record
- Free trial: yes
- Well documented: yes
- Runs where you work: yes
- 8 ManageEngine AD360
- Free to practise on: not on record
- Free trial: yes
- Well documented: yes
- Runs where you work: not on record
- 9 SolarWinds Access Rights Manager
- Free to practise on: not on record
- Free trial: yes
- Well documented: yes
- Runs where you work: not on record
- 10 Netwrix Password SecurePaid from $5/mo
- Free to practise on: not on record
- Free trial: not on record
- Well documented: yes
- Runs where you work: yes
- 11 JiJi AD Manager
- Free to practise on: not on record
- Free trial: not on record
- Well documented: yes
- Runs where you work: not on record
- 12 LTB Self Service Password
- Free to practise on: not on record
- Free trial: not on record
- Well documented: not on record
- Runs where you work: not on record
- 13 Dovestones AD Reporting
- Free to practise on: not on record
- Free trial: not on record
- Well documented: yes
- Runs where you work: not on record
- 14 INGOS Active Directory Manager
- Free to practise on: not on record
- Free trial: not on record
- Well documented: not on record
- Runs where you work: not on record
- 15 Ithicos Directory Manager
- Free to practise on: not on record
- Free trial: not on record
- Well documented: not on record
- Runs where you work: not on record
- 16 ManageEngine ADManager Plus Access CertificationPaid from $41.25/mo
- Free to practise on: not on record
- Free trial: not on record
- Well documented: yes
- Runs where you work: not on record
- 17 PWM
- Free to practise on: not on record
- Free trial: not on record
- Well documented: not on record
- Runs where you work: not on record
- 18 AD Reports
- Free to practise on: not on record
- Free trial: not on record
- Well documented: not on record
- Runs where you work: not on record
- 19 Active Directory Change Tracker
- Free to practise on: not on record
- Free trial: not on record
- Well documented: not on record
- Runs where you work: not on record
- 20 ADreporter
- Free to practise on: not on record
- Free trial: not on record
- Well documented: not on record
- Runs where you work: not on record
- 21 ASN Active Directory Manager
- Free to practise on: not on record
- Free trial: not on record
- Well documented: not on record
- Runs where you work: not on record
Is your platform on this list?
Numbered spots on this list can be sponsored. They are labelled, and the editorial order and scores never change for payment.
Questions about this list
Which active directory management software is ranked first on The Geeks Club?
Softerra Adaxes is ranked #1 of 21 with a score of 7.9. ManageEngine ADSelfService Plus is second and Specops uReset third.
How many of these have a free plan?
3 of the 21 on this page publish a free plan on their own pricing pages.
Which is the cheapest paid option?
On this page, Netwrix Password Secure has the lowest first paid tier we found: $5/mo.
How is this list ranked?
Ranked on how quickly a newcomer can get going: documentation depth, a free tier or trial, and the platforms it runs on. Paid placements never change a rank.