Tool profile
opsi: cost, fit and limits
opsi is an open-core client management server made by uib GmbH in Germany that installs operating systems, distributes software, manages patches and keeps hardware and software inventory for Windows, Linux and macOS clients. It is free in its core edition.
What to know first
opsi gives away its Community Edition, which includes patch management, for unlimited devices with one worker process. Paid extensions are annual licences per device in euros, with a 100-device minimum on Professional and Enterprise, sold in steps of 50. A test licence for the paid features runs for six weeks. The pages read name no AI feature and no certifications.
opsi at a glance
| Maker | uib GmbH, Germany |
|---|---|
| Free plan | Yes |
| Entry price | Free (Community Edition) |
| API access | No |
| Category | Best AI Patch Management Software in 2026, rank 6 of 11 |
| Website | opsi.org/en/ |
Who opsi is best for
Schools and universities
Education pricing is published, and the free core edition lets a small IT department manage labs without a licence budget.
Teams with a sysadmin
The product is a server you run, so it rewards administrators who prefer to control the deployment instead of renting a console.
European buyers who want a local vendor
uib GmbH lists a Mainz, Germany address, and the website is hosted in Germany, which simplifies vendor conversations for some organizations.
opsi plans and pricing
| Plan | Price | What it includes |
|---|---|---|
| Community Edition | Free | Unlimited devices; automatic software distribution, patch management, OS installation, configuration management and inventory; one worker process. |
| Professional Edu | 4,99 EUR per device per year net (second figure 2,99) | 100-device minimum, professional extensions; the page does not label which figure is for education. Education pricing is what the page lists for this edition. |
| Enterprise Edu | 8,99 EUR per device per year net (second figure 4,99) | 100-device minimum, enterprise extensions, grown in steps of 50 devices. The first of the two listed prices applies to this entry on the page. |
| Enterprise Cloud Edu | 11,99 EUR per device per year net (second figure 7,99) | Starting at 100 devices, with patch management listed as a cloud feature, for teams that do not want to run the server themselves. |
Checked November 2026.
What opsi does
- Patch management in the free tier
- Patch management is listed among the core features of the Community Edition, which is unusual among the tools in this ranking. That is rare among the tools ranked here.
- OS installation
- opsi installs operating systems package-based or image-based, so one server handles deployment and updates across the lifecycle. That lets one server handle both fresh installs and later updates across the machine lifecycle without a second imaging tool.
- Inventory and configuration
- Hardware and software inventory and configuration management are core features, giving admins a view of what needs patching. Admins can see which machines lack updates before they schedule deployments, using the same server for both jobs.
- Cloud edition
- Enterprise Cloud lists patch management as a cloud feature, for teams that prefer not to host the server. That suits teams that do not want to maintain the server hardware or its updates, at a higher yearly price.
- Test licence
- A free test licence on request, advertised as six weeks, unlocks professional and enterprise features for evaluation. Use that window to test the clients you really run, and to size the 100-device minimum honestly.
How opsi handles your data
The pages read describe website data handling only. Server log files on the website are stored for 60 days, the website is hosted by Hetzner and Animate in Germany, and newsletter and licence emails go through Brevo, which states EU data centers. The pages do not say where the product itself is hosted, whether any customer data trains models or what certifications apply, and none are stated. Because the Community Edition runs on your own server, device inventory stays on infrastructure you control, but the vendor's policy was not checked for the cloud edition.
Where opsi falls short in practice
- One worker process. The free edition allows a single worker process, so larger fleets need paid extensions, and Professional and Enterprise start at 100 devices. Size your fleet before choosing.
- You run the server. The server needs a sysadmin to install, update and secure it, a cost that does not appear in the license price. That staff time never appears in the yearly price.
- No named integrations. The vendor page names no third-party product integrations, so linking opsi to ticketing or security tools needs checking with uib. Ask uib before buying anything for a connected stack.
Works with
Alternatives to opsi
opsi: common questions
Is opsi really free?
The Community Edition is free for an unlimited number of devices and includes patch management, software distribution, OS installation and inventory, limited to one worker process. Professional, Enterprise and Cloud extensions are paid annual licences per device, with a 100-device minimum.
How much do paid opsi extensions cost?
Published net prices include Professional Edu at 4,99 EUR, Enterprise Edu at 8,99 EUR and Enterprise Cloud Edu at 11,99 EUR per device per year, with a second lower figure each. The page does not label which is business and which is education. A 3-year contract gets 5% off.
Does opsi use AI?
The pages we read name no AI feature. opsi is a deployment and patching server, so its value lies in automation through packages and policies rather than AI. Buyers who want AI-assisted patching should compare Automox or NinjaOne, whose AI features are only briefly described.
Can opsi manage macOS and Linux?
Yes. The vendor lists Windows, Linux and macOS clients, plus multi-location support as a core feature. The pages do not give version lists or patch catalogs per operating system, so test the clients you actually run during the six-week test licence.
Where is opsi hosted?
The Community Edition runs on a server you operate, so hosting is your choice. The vendor's website is hosted in Germany by Hetzner and Animate, and Brevo handles emails from EU data centers. Hosting terms for the cloud edition were not stated on the pages we read.