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Comparison

DirectoryOps compared

Do you manage Active Directory with ADUC and check its security with a second tool? DirectoryOps brings both together in one Windows console: read, understand, assess and remediate with precision. No server, no agent, no cloud. The overview below compares DirectoryOps with widely used tools. We checked every statement about other products on the vendor's own website and link the source below. Where a vendor publishes nothing, the table says "n/a" or "on request".

The products have different focus areas: ADManager Plus, Cayosoft Administrator and Adaxes are server-based platforms for administration and automation; PingCastle and Purple Knight are security assessment tools; ADUC is Microsoft's console. Choose the tool that fits your task.

Overview

CriterionDirectoryOpsMicrosoft ADUC (RSAT)ManageEngine ADManager PlusCayosoft AdministratorSofterra AdaxesNetwrix PingCastleSemperis Purple Knight
DeploymentWindows application on the admin workstation, no server, no agentPart of Windows (optional feature), Windows Pro or EnterpriseInstalled on Windows, used in the browser, own database (PostgreSQL or MS SQL)web-based platformService on Windows Server, web interface on IIS, AD LDSn/ainstalled software, no elevated rights required
Pricing modelper forest and year, tiered by active user accounts, unlimited adminsincluded in Windowsannual subscription per domain and number of help desk technicianson requestperpetual licence by enabled user accounts, plus annual maintenanceService Providers per assessment and year; Enterprise per identity and yearfree
Entry pricesee price listno extra chargeStandard from USD 595/year (1 domain, 2 technicians); Professional from USD 795/yearon requestUSD 1,600 (up to 100 accounts) plus USD 480 maintenance/yearService Providers from USD 1,000 per assessment/year; Enterprise from USD 30 per identity/yearfree
Free editionCommunity with no time limit, for your own organisation: everything read-only, plain-language delegation, full risk assessment with 130 rules, remediation scripts, ATT&CK/CIS/NIS2 and report without watermarkADUC itselfFree Edition: 100 domain objects, default domain onlyGuardian Protector (monitoring, no time or object limits); "Free Mode" after the trial, scope n/anoneCommunity: free for assessing your own systems, no supportthe whole product is free
Trial30 days of Pro, offline via licence filenot applicable30 days of Professional25 days30 daysn/anot applicable
Risk assessment, AD CS130 rules with TOMORIS Secure Score, AD CS ESC1 to ESC13, Tier 0 control pathsnot includedrisk assessment with risk score and attack path analysis according to the product page; AD CS n/an/an/aHealth Check including certificate template checks, ESC2 explicitly218+ indicators for AD, Entra ID and Okta, including AD CS ESC1, ESC3 to ESC5, ESC7 to ESC9, ESC11, ESC13 to ESC16
Remediation with undoscript per rule with -WhatIf, backup and undo, already in Community; running it from the console in progress (Pro)n/arecovery via Backup and Recovery add-onrollback via separate product Guardian Audit & Restoren/aremediation guidanceremediation guidance; remediation in the DSP product
Delegation, rights per OUper-OU delegation in plain language with origin; roles and OU templates as target/actual preview, applying in progresswizard for delegating control per OUOU-based and extended delegation in ProfessionalRBAC, ABAC, virtual OUs, approvalsrole-based delegation, approval stepsnot the product's purposeindicators for AD delegation
Quiet read (gentle on identity threat detection)yes, "Quiet read" moden/an/an/an/an/an/a
Signed updatesyes, signature and SHA-256 checked before installation, also offlinen/a (distributed via Windows)n/an/an/ayes, signed manifests for automatic updates (from 4.0)n/a
Data leaves the networkno; only update and revocation list downloads, without directory datalocal consoleruns on your own server; otherwise n/an/aruns on your own server; otherwise n/an/ano, the vendor states there is no phone-home capability
German languageyesn/ayes, according to the vendor FAQn/an/an/an/a

Terms: "help desk technician" is ManageEngine's licence unit. "Identity" is quoted from the PingCastle price page; the vendor does not define it there. Competitor prices in original currency, net, excluding taxes.

What DirectoryOps does differently

  • One console instead of two: administer, read delegation and assess risk in the same window, on the same object.
  • No server: nothing on the domain controllers, no service account, no database.
  • Priced per forest: unlimited admins, so good delegation does not cost extra.
  • Licensed offline: signed licence file, no connection to us required. When the subscription ends, the console keeps working as Community.
Try it freeSee pricing

Status and notice

As of: 31 October 2026, based on vendor websites, without guarantee. Prices and features of other vendors may change at any time; the vendor's own website is authoritative. DirectoryOps features marked "(in progress)" are committed but not yet shipped. Found a statement that is no longer correct? Let us know and we will correct it promptly. All trademarks belong to their respective owners.

Sources (retrieved 31 October 2026)

  1. Microsoft, Remote Server Administration Tools: learn.microsoft.com/en-us/troubleshoot/windows-server/system-management-components/remote-server-administration-tools
  2. Microsoft, Delegation of control in AD DS: learn.microsoft.com/windows-server/identity/ad-ds/manage/delegation-control-wizard
  3. ManageEngine, ADManager Plus Pricing Details: www.manageengine.com/products/ad-manager/pricing-details.html
  4. ManageEngine, Licensing ADManager Plus: www.manageengine.com/products/ad-manager/help/getting_started/licensing_admanager_plus.html
  5. ManageEngine, ADManager Plus System Requirements: www.manageengine.com/products/ad-manager/system-requirements.html
  6. ManageEngine, ADManager Plus product page: www.manageengine.com/products/ad-manager/
  7. ManageEngine, ADManager Plus FAQ: www.manageengine.com/products/ad-manager/help/misc/active_directory_manager_faq.html
  8. Cayosoft, Administrator: cayosoft.com/administrator
  9. Cayosoft, Trials and Tools: www.cayosoft.com/trial
  10. Cayosoft, Guardian Protector: www.cayosoft.com/resources/cayosoft-guardian-protector
  11. Cayosoft, Administrator datasheet: www.cayosoft.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/Cayosoft-Administrator-datasheet.pdf
  12. Softerra, Adaxes Licensing and Pricing: www.adaxes.com/purchase.htm
  13. Softerra, Adaxes Installation Guide: www.adaxes.com/help/InstallationGuide/
  14. Softerra, Adaxes product page: www.adaxes.com/
  15. Netwrix, PingCastle Services: www.pingcastle.com/services/
  16. Netwrix, PingCastle Purchase: pingcastle.com/purchase/
  17. Netwrix, PingCastle Comparison: netwrix.com/en/products/pingcastle/pingcastle-comparison/
  18. Netwrix, PingCastle Releases: github.com/netwrix/pingcastle/releases
  19. Semperis, Purple Knight: www.semperis.com/purple-knight/
  20. Semperis, Purple Knight FAQ: www.semperis.com/purple-knight/faq/
  21. Semperis, Purple Knight Security Indicators: www.semperis.com/purple-knight/security-indicators/