TridentStack Control vs PDQ Deploy
PDQ Deploy is a patch and software deployment tool with strong Windows and macOS support and a simple admin experience. PDQ Deploy and Inventory are licensed per administrator at $1,650 per admin per year. PDQ Connect is the cloud product, licensed per device starting at $12 per device per year. PDQ does not support Linux and does not include built-in compliance scoring or CVE-enriched vulnerability data. TridentStack Control covers Windows, Linux, third-party apps, vulnerability detection, and CIS or DISA STIG compliance on one product. The first 200 endpoints are free forever, then five dollars per endpoint per month.
At a glance: TridentStack Control vs PDQ Deploy
| Capability | TridentStack Control | PDQ Deploy |
|---|---|---|
Windows updates | Yes | Yes |
macOS support PDQ Connect supports macOS today. TridentStack Control macOS support is on the 2026 roadmap. | Coming 2026 | Yes |
Linux updates | Yes | No |
Third-party application updates (package manager / catalog) | Yes | Yes |
Custom package authoring (build your own MSI/EXE deployments) PDQ's Package Library and custom-package authoring are core strengths. TridentStack Control's custom installer support is on the 2026 roadmap; today we cover the long tail through package manager integration. | Coming 2026 | Yes |
Vulnerability detection (CVE matching, CVSS) | Yes | No |
Compliance scoring (CIS, DISA STIG) | Yes | No |
Policy management (settings catalog, versioning, enforcement) PDQ Deploy and Inventory focus on software deployment and inventory. Policy management is not part of the product; PDQ teams typically pair it with Group Policy or a separate policy platform. | Yes | No |
MSP multi-tenancy | Yes | Limited |
Cloud-native option | Yes | yes (PDQ Connect) |
On-prem option | No | yes (PDQ Deploy + Inventory) |
Pricing | 200 endpoints free forever, then $5 per endpoint per month | Connect: $12-$28 per device per year (100 device min). Deploy + Inventory: $1,650 per admin per year. |
Where PDQ Deploy is genuinely better
Honest about where the competition wins. If your fleet looks like the cases below, PDQ Deploy is the right answer.
- ·Long track record. Windows admins know and trust the product.
- ·Strong Package Library for common Windows applications.
- ·Custom MSI and EXE package authoring is a core capability today (TridentStack Control's custom installer support is on the 2026 roadmap).
- ·macOS supported today on PDQ Connect (TridentStack Control's macOS support is on the 2026 roadmap).
- ·Both cloud (PDQ Connect) and on-prem (PDQ Deploy + Inventory) deployment options.
- ·Per-admin licensing on the on-prem product can be cost-effective at high device counts.
Where TridentStack Control is genuinely better
The capabilities that don't exist in PDQ Deploy or only exist as separate paid SKUs.
- ·Linux endpoints supported on the same agent (Ubuntu, Debian via apt and dpkg).
- ·CVE-enriched vulnerability detection with CVSS scoring.
- ·Compliance scoring against CIS, DISA STIG, NIST built in.
- ·Built-in policy management with a settings catalog, versioning, rollback, and enforcement verification. PDQ Deploy and Inventory focus on software deployment and inventory; policy is not part of the product, and PDQ teams typically pair the tool with Group Policy or a separate platform for policy enforcement.
- ·Multi-tenant for MSPs at no extra cost.
- ·Per-endpoint pricing scales linearly with the fleet, not with admin headcount or device-count tiers.
- ·Single product covers Windows OS patching, third-party apps, vulnerability detection, and compliance, where PDQ requires Deploy + Inventory + Connect together.
Pricing at your fleet size
Drag the slider to your fleet size. The math is the math.
How to migrate from PDQ Deploy to TridentStack Control
A plain-language sequence. Skip the steps that don't apply to your fleet.
- 1
Inventory your PDQ packages
Export your PDQ Deploy package list. Separate Package Library entries (the easy ones) from custom packages (the harder ones). The library entries map cleanly onto TridentStack's package manager integration today; custom packages are addressed below.
- 2
Install the TridentStack agent on a small group
Pick a small group of endpoints. The agent reports software inventory back on the first heartbeat, which gives you a quick baseline to compare against PDQ Inventory's data.
- 3
Configure third-party app updates via package manager integration
Most PDQ Deploy packages for common Windows apps (browsers, runtimes, vendor tools) have direct equivalents in TridentStack's package manager integration. Configure pinning policies for any apps that need version control.
- 4
Plan for custom packages
Custom MSI or EXE deployments don't have a direct TridentStack equivalent today. Custom installer support is on the 2026 roadmap. If your fleet depends heavily on custom PDQ packages, keep PDQ Deploy running for those workflows in parallel until our custom-installer release lands. The rest of your patching and compliance can move now.
- 5
Add Linux endpoints if applicable
If you have any Linux endpoints PDQ couldn't handle, install the TridentStack Linux agent on those at the same time. This is often a step PDQ customers skipped entirely; with TridentStack it becomes part of the same fleet view.
Frequently asked questions about PDQ Deploy and TridentStack Control
Does TridentStack Control replace PDQ Deploy and PDQ Inventory today?
For Windows OS patching, third-party application updates via package manager integration, software inventory, vulnerability detection, and compliance scoring: yes. For custom MSI/EXE package authoring and macOS deployment, not yet. Both are on the 2026 roadmap. If those capabilities are core to how your team uses PDQ, plan to run PDQ Deploy alongside TridentStack Control until the 2026 features land.
Can I import my PDQ package library?
Not directly. The package definitions are in different formats. PDQ Package Library entries for common Windows apps map onto TridentStack's package manager integration with a one-time configuration. Custom PDQ packages cannot be recreated in TridentStack today; custom installer support is scheduled to ship in 2026.
Does TridentStack Control support on-prem deployment like PDQ Deploy?
Not currently. TridentStack Control is cloud-native; the agent reaches a cloud platform for update metadata and reporting. If you require fully on-prem patch management, PDQ Deploy + Inventory remains a valid choice.
What about PowerShell scripting?
TridentStack Control does not include a general-purpose script execution engine. PDQ's PowerShell capabilities are out of scope for our patch management focus.
What does the math look like for a 50-endpoint shop?
PDQ Connect Basic at $12 per device per year has a 100-device minimum, so a 50-endpoint shop on Connect pays for the minimum 100 devices, around $1,200 per year. PDQ Deploy + Inventory is $1,650 per admin per year. TridentStack Control for 50 endpoints is free, since the first 200 endpoints are free forever. The crossover point at which TridentStack Control starts charging is the 201st endpoint.
Does TridentStack Control handle Linux?
Yes. The Linux agent supports Debian-based distributions (Ubuntu, Debian) with native apt and dpkg integration. PDQ does not handle Linux, so this is the strongest single reason to consolidate onto TridentStack if you have any Linux endpoints in your fleet.
Does TridentStack Control handle macOS?
Not yet. macOS support is on the 2026 roadmap and is scheduled to ship this year. If macOS coverage matters for your fleet today, PDQ Connect supports it natively and is the right answer for that workload until our macOS agent lands.
When are custom packages coming?
Custom MSI/EXE installer support is targeted for 2026, alongside macOS support. We will publish a more specific date once we are inside the development window. In the meantime, the package manager integration covers the long tail of common Windows applications without requiring you to author packages yourself.
See your fleet on TridentStack Control
200 endpoints free forever. Public beta. No sales call required.
Sources used to verify this comparison
All PDQ Deploy pricing, feature, and lifecycle claims on this page were verified against the sources below on 2026-04-30. Vendor pricing and capabilities change; if you spot something out of date, let us know.