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ManageEngine Password Manager Pro vs Microsoft Active Directory comparison

 

Comparison Buyer's Guide

Executive SummaryUpdated on Sep 18, 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
2.1
ManageEngine Password Manager Pro improved security, productivity, and cost-efficiency by automating password tasks and centralizing access management.
Sentiment score
4.4
Microsoft Active Directory enhances efficiency and access control, providing value through centralized management despite lacking direct ROI calculation.
The solution is really time-saving since I don't need to create users in each server or system manually, and user access control is streamlined.
Senior Consutant at HCLSoftware
 

Customer Service

Sentiment score
7.0
ManageEngine Password Manager Pro's support is responsive with knowledgeable staff, but PAM cases may experience delays.
Sentiment score
5.5
Microsoft Active Directory support is inconsistent, with varying response quality, reliance on online resources, and better service via premium options.
The support for PAM is not very prompt as it requires logging a case first and responses can take a day or two.
Network Administrator at a media company with 201-500 employees
If you purchase retail, the support will be more difficult because they will assess the priority or rating from the customer.
IT Operations & Security at veris
Support documents are available on the internet in every language.
Owner at a computer software company with 1-10 employees
Sometimes support takes long to engage and resolve, extending over weeks or even months.
Senior Consutant at HCLSoftware
 

Scalability Issues

Sentiment score
6.7
Users report varied experiences with ManageEngine Password Manager Pro's scalability, noting both challenges and effective use in expanding data centers.
Sentiment score
6.2
Microsoft Active Directory is scalable and integrates well, but faces challenges at larger scales, suggesting hybrid solutions.
Microsoft Active Directory scales effectively; I don't foresee any issues with that at all.
Network Security Administrator at a retailer with 51-200 employees
 

Stability Issues

Sentiment score
8.9
Users find ManageEngine Password Manager Pro stable, reliable, easy to recover, and praise its performance and dependability.
Sentiment score
6.4
Microsoft Active Directory is praised for its stability and reliability, with minor issues not significantly affecting performance.
If you meet the installation requirements from Microsoft, it will be very stable.
IT Operations & Security at veris
With multiple domain controllers, stability is ensured.
Senior Consutant at HCLSoftware
I've been working with Microsoft Active Directory for over 3 years, and we've had no problems.
Network Security Administrator at a retailer with 51-200 employees
 

Room For Improvement

ManageEngine Password Manager Pro needs user interface improvements and affordable pricing, catering mainly to tech-savvy users with limited support.
Microsoft Active Directory needs improvements in usability, integration, security updates, synchronization, setup, reporting, support, scalability, and email group sync.
Unlike other Manager products that provide remote assistance or support, for PAM, users have to log a case first and may receive a reply in one or two days.
Network Administrator at a media company with 201-500 employees
Microsoft should work on the support and ability to solve problems more efficiently.
IT Operations & Security at veris
The current Active Directory UI is limited in report generation, necessitating script knowledge to generate various reports.
Senior Consutant at HCLSoftware
There are some features that need improvements in terms of ease of use and frequency of updates.
Information Technology Specialist at stelios@biolandenergy.com
 

Setup Cost

ManageEngine Password Manager Pro is cost-effective for enterprises, with a 25,000 rands fee, compared favorably to competitors.
Microsoft Active Directory pricing varies by region and model; Azure offers cost-effective solutions for large enterprises despite perceived expense.
ManageEngine Password Manager Pro is cheaper than other products, such as BeyondTrust, and is more than 50% cheaper compared to the Boomer solution we used before.
Network Administrator at a media company with 201-500 employees
So it is 200 euros per user.
Owner at Syntlogo GmbH
For the cloud solution in our region, the pricing of Microsoft Active Directory is very high.
Network & Security Section Head/Digital Transformation at City Edge
The pricing, setup cost, and licensing with Microsoft Active Directory is straightforward; you just buy the server and then have to buy the user CALs.
Network Security Administrator at a retailer with 51-200 employees
 

Valuable Features

ManageEngine Password Manager Pro provides secure, user-friendly password management with strong features, direct machine login, and auditing capabilities.
Microsoft Active Directory simplifies management with integration, group policies, and scalable operations across on-premises and cloud environments.
The auditing feature is particularly valuable as it makes privileged account usage auditable.
Network Administrator at a media company with 201-500 employees
To assess the impact of Microsoft Active Directory's centralized domain management on security protocols and access permissions, Microsoft Active Directory itself has constraints with security because when we have a solution such as SSO or Single Sign-On, which makes it easier for users to log in, some parts have security openings.
IT Operations & Security at veris
These Group Policies provide enhancement, helping to reduce administrative overhead and enhance productivity.
Network & Security Section Head/Digital Transformation at City Edge
The features and capabilities of Microsoft Active Directory that I have found the most valuable over the years are that it is a mature technology, it's stable, and it delivers what it promises.
Owner at Syntlogo GmbH
 

Categories and Ranking

ManageEngine Password Manag...
Ranking in Single Sign-On (SSO)
17th
Average Rating
7.6
Reviews Sentiment
6.4
Number of Reviews
6
Ranking in other categories
Enterprise Password Managers (14th)
Microsoft Active Directory
Ranking in Single Sign-On (SSO)
9th
Average Rating
8.6
Reviews Sentiment
6.3
Number of Reviews
47
Ranking in other categories
Active Directory Management (2nd)
 

Mindshare comparison

As of January 2026, in the Single Sign-On (SSO) category, the mindshare of ManageEngine Password Manager Pro is 1.8%, up from 0.9% compared to the previous year. The mindshare of Microsoft Active Directory is 3.1%, up from 2.8% compared to the previous year. It is calculated based on PeerSpot user engagement data.
Single Sign-On (SSO) Market Share Distribution
ProductMarket Share (%)
Microsoft Active Directory3.1%
ManageEngine Password Manager Pro1.8%
Other95.1%
Single Sign-On (SSO)
 

Featured Reviews

reviewer1271400 - PeerSpot reviewer
Network Administrator at a media company with 201-500 employees
Auditing enhances privileged account security with a fast deployment
The support for the PAM product is not very prompt. Unlike other Manager products that provide remote assistance or support, for PAM, users have to log a case first and may receive a reply in one or two days. This process is slower compared to other products from the same manufacturer.
Eko Kurniawan - PeerSpot reviewer
IT Operations & Security at veris
Has simplified credential management and improved secure access control across departments
The features I find most useful in Microsoft Active Directory are especially for the Single Sign-On. This is very useful for users, particularly if they have plenty of applications, such as tablet applications. When they log in to their computer, the application will automatically log in with their credentials. They don't need to remember another user and password to log in to the application because it's already maintained with Microsoft Active Directory using Single Sign-On. To assess the impact of Microsoft Active Directory's centralized domain management on security protocols and access permissions, Microsoft Active Directory itself has constraints with security because when we have a solution such as SSO or Single Sign-On, which makes it easier for users to log in, some parts have security openings. When their computer is compromised with a threat, malware, or other cyber threats, it becomes easier to enter the application without login permission.
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881,082 professionals have used our research since 2012.
 

Top Industries

By visitors reading reviews
Government
16%
Computer Software Company
11%
Manufacturing Company
10%
Financial Services Firm
4%
Computer Software Company
11%
Manufacturing Company
11%
Financial Services Firm
11%
Healthcare Company
6%
 

Company Size

By reviewers
Large Enterprise
Midsize Enterprise
Small Business
By reviewers
Company SizeCount
Small Business3
Midsize Enterprise4
Large Enterprise1
By reviewers
Company SizeCount
Small Business20
Midsize Enterprise7
Large Enterprise20
 

Questions from the Community

What needs improvement with ManageEngine Password Manager Pro?
The support for the PAM product is not very prompt. Unlike other Manager products that provide remote assistance or support, for PAM, users have to log a case first and may receive a reply in one o...
What is your primary use case for ManageEngine Password Manager Pro?
We use ManageEngine Password Manager Pro to control privileged accounts. It is specifically meant to randomize passwords for privileged and service accounts. Additionally, we use the auditing featu...
What advice do you have for others considering ManageEngine Password Manager Pro?
Please keep my name anonymous because I have a code of conduct with the company. Without proper approval, I cannot disclose my identity. I'd rate the solution eight out of ten.
What do you like most about Microsoft Active Directory?
The solution is easy to install and has good reliability.
What needs improvement with Microsoft Active Directory?
The best way to protect this is to use Microsoft Defender. For Microsoft support for Microsoft Active Directory, I would rate it as eight. If I give it 10, it would be too perfect. Eight is fair. M...
What is your primary use case for Microsoft Active Directory?
My main use cases for Microsoft Active Directory are to manage user access and credentials.
 

Also Known As

Password Manager Pro
No data available
 

Overview

 

Sample Customers

Australian Catholic University
Information Not Available
Find out what your peers are saying about ManageEngine Password Manager Pro vs. Microsoft Active Directory and other solutions. Updated: December 2025.
881,082 professionals have used our research since 2012.