PDQ Inventory Review 2025: Features, Pros, Cons & Best Alternatives
09 September, 2025
IT teams in 2025 are under pressure. Remote work is here to stay, SaaS sprawl is accelerating, and compliance demands are getting stricter. With so much at stake, the tools you choose to track and manage your IT assets can make or break efficiency.
PDQ Inventory has been a trusted solution in the Windows ecosystem. It’s simple, reliable, and does the job well for many teams. At the same time, new platforms like ZenAdmin are stepping in to address the demands of distributed workforces and global operations.
This review looks at PDQ Inventory in detail, outlining its strengths, its limitations, and its relevance for IT teams in 2025.
TL;DR
- What PDQ Inventory is: A Windows-focused, self-hosted IT asset management tool built for on-premise, AD-connected environments. It’s agentless, scans devices on-network/VPN, and integrates tightly with PDQ Deploy for patching and updates.
- Where it’s relevant: Fast setup, detailed system insights (hardware, software, OS), dynamic collections, automated reporting, and strong trust from sysadmins who value scripting and hands-on control. Ideal if your infrastructure is still Windows-heavy and office/VPN-based.
- Where it struggles in 2025: Limited visibility into remote/hybrid devices, reliance on high-level credentials, no role-based access control, on-prem dependency, and a per-admin pricing model that doesn’t scale cost-effectively for larger teams.
- Why alternatives matter: With remote work, SaaS sprawl, and global operations becoming the norm, organizations need continuous endpoint visibility, governance-friendly access, and lifecycle management that extends beyond inventory.
- Where ZenAdmin fits: Remote-first coverage, automated device lifecycle workflows, transparent pricing, global logistics (procurement, shipping, retirement), and AI-driven automation for compliance and IT efficiency.
- Bottom line: PDQ Inventory is still a reliable fit for traditional, Windows-centric IT setups. But for distributed or fast-scaling organizations, modern platforms like ZenAdmin deliver more future-proof value.
What Is PDQ Inventory?
PDQ Inventory is a Windows-focused, self-hosted IT asset management and deployment tool. It’s designed for IT teams that manage on-premise, Windows-heavy environments and need a reliable way to track, organize, and maintain their systems.
Instead of juggling spreadsheets or manually checking machines, PDQ Inventory automatically scans your network to collect detailed data on hardware, software, and system configurations. Since it’s agentless, devices can be scanned as long as they’re on-premises or connected via VPN, making it a practical fit for organizations still rooted in traditional IT setups.
Key Features of PDQ Inventory
Here’s what PDQ Inventory brings to the table:
- Comprehensive system data: Collect in-depth details like CPU, RAM, installed software, OS versions, and more.
- Dynamic and static collections: Organize machines with automatically updating collections or custom-built static groups.
- Custom scanning: Use custom fields and scanners to pull exactly what you need, from registry values to PowerShell outputs.
- Robust reporting: Build, schedule, and distribute reports that highlight the data most relevant to your team.
- Integration with PDQ Deploy: Identify systems needing updates and push patches, apps, or scripts directly through PDQ Deploy.
- Built-in admin tools: Access remote desktop, reboot systems, run diagnostics, or add your own custom tools for daily tasks.
- Active Directory sync: Keep inventories accurate with automatic AD synchronization that reflects domain structures and changes.
Ideal for IT teams running on-premises, Windows-heavy environments that need accurate asset tracking, compliance-ready reporting, and tight integration with patch management through PDQ Deploy.
Why You Might Consider It in 2025
PDQ Inventory continues to hold its ground in 2025, especially for IT teams working in Windows-dominant environments. Its strengths make it a reliable option if your infrastructure still leans heavily on on-prem systems.
- High user trust: PDQ has been around for years and has consistently earned strong reviews on platforms like G2 and Software Advice. This long-standing reputation speaks to its stability and the confidence IT teams place in it when managing core infrastructure.
- Seamless PDQ Deploy integration: One of PDQ Inventory’s biggest strengths is how tightly it integrates with PDQ Deploy. Together, they streamline patching, software distribution, and compliance workflows, making it easier for IT to stay on top of security and operational needs without juggling multiple tools.
- Ease of use: PDQ is known for being quick to set up and intuitive to use. IT teams don’t have to spend weeks configuring or learning the system. It’s designed to deliver immediate value, which is a plus in resource-constrained environments.
- Automation and reporting: By supporting custom scans, dynamic collections, and scheduled compliance reports, PDQ reduces the amount of manual oversight required. This automation not only saves time but also ensures IT leaders have reliable visibility into their assets.
- Optimized for on-prem Windows: At its core, PDQ is built with Active Directory-connected, Windows-heavy networks in mind. In organizations that remain primarily on Windows, it continues to be one of the most effective and straightforward inventory solutions available.
Where PDQ Inventory Falls Short
While PDQ Inventory remains a solid choice for many IT teams, it does come with notable limitations that can affect how well it fits in 2025, especially as more organizations move toward remote and cloud-first environments.
Here are some common concerns raised by users:
1. Remote device blind spots
PDQ Inventory lacks an agent, which means it can only track devices on the corporate network or connected via VPN. For organizations with remote or hybrid employees, this creates major visibility gaps, leaving IT teams blind to machines that rarely connect back.
2. Security and credentials
The platform relies heavily on administrator credentials to scan and deploy. Many teams resort to domain-level accounts for full functionality, which introduces unnecessary risk. If compromised, these accounts could allow lateral movement across the entire network and raise compliance concerns.
3. No role-based access control (RBAC)
PDQ doesn’t offer granular permissions, so every admin essentially has full control. In larger teams, this lack of separation can lead to governance issues and make it harder to enforce proper checks and balances.
4. On-prem dependency
The tool is designed for Windows-heavy, AD-connected infrastructures and doesn’t adapt well to cloud-first or SaaS-driven setups. As organizations diversify their environments, PDQ’s on-prem focus can become a roadblock.
5. Pricing scalability
Licensing is sold per admin, which works well for smaller teams but quickly inflates costs as more administrators need access. For larger IT departments, this pricing model makes scaling the tool expensive.
Because of these limitations, many businesses are now turning to modern platforms like ZenAdmin, which are built with today’s remote, cloud-first, and globally distributed environments in mind.
Where ZenAdmin Bridges the Gap
Here’s how ZenAdmin addresses the challenges that traditional tools like PDQ Inventory struggle with:
1. Remote-first visibility
ZenAdmin is designed for distributed workforces, giving IT managers full visibility into devices anywhere, whether on office networks, home Wi-Fi, or across regions. Unlike agentless tools that rely on VPN or AD, ZenAdmin tracks and manages endpoints continuously, keeping remote workforces fully covered.
2. Automated lifecycle management
From the moment a device is procured to when it’s eventually retired, ZenAdmin manages the entire lifecycle. That includes provisioning, patching, and policy enforcement during active use, as well as secure wiping and decommissioning during offboarding without IT having to manually touch each step.
3. Transparent pricing:
Instead of per-admin licensing fees that grow with team size, ZenAdmin offers predictable pricing models. This makes it easier for IT and finance leaders to budget, scale, and expand without worrying about hidden costs or rising license counts.
4. Global logistics & compliance:
ZenAdmin goes beyond software to cover the physical side of IT operations. It manages device shipping, replacements, and worldwide retirements ide, all while ensuring audit-ready workflows that meet security and regulatory standards.
5. AI-powered automation:
ZenAdmin uses automation to reduce IT overhead in critical workflows like onboarding, offboarding, and access reviews. AI-driven checks ensure employees get the right tools at the right time while freeing IT teams from repetitive manual tasks.
Verdict: What Should Use PDQ Inventory in 2025?
| Feature | PDQ Inventory | ZenAdmin |
|---|---|---|
| Best network type | On-prem, AD/Windows | Remote-first, hybrid, cloud |
| Visibility for remote devices | Limited (VPN required) | Full, continuous coverage |
| RBAC & governance | Minimal | Granular roles + audits |
| Pricing model | Per-admin licensing | Predictable/usage pricing |
| Logistics (shipping/retire) | None | Built-in global logistics |
| Patch integration | PDQ Deploy tight integration | Integrated or third-party friendly |
PDQ is best for
PDQ Inventory continues to be a solid choice for IT teams managing Windows-heavy, AD-connected, on-prem environments. Its strength lies in giving administrators reliable visibility and control over machines that rarely leave the network.
It’s also a great fit for sysadmins who enjoy the flexibility of scripting and prefer hands-on control. With its integration into PDQ Deploy, it delivers a powerful toolkit for patching, reporting, and maintaining compliance in traditional infrastructures.
ZenAdmin is best for
ZenAdmin shines in organizations with remote-first or globally distributed teams. It was built for the realities of hybrid work, offering device visibility and management that extends beyond VPNs or local domains.
It’s equally valuable for companies that want IT operations to include logistics, handling procurement, shipping, compliance, and secure device retirement worldwide. These capabilities make it more than just an inventory tool.
For fast-growing startups and scaling enterprises, ZenAdmin offers predictable, transparent pricing without the per-admin licensing model. This helps businesses scale IT operations without unexpected cost jumps as the team expands.
Conclusion
PDQ Inventory remains a dependable choice for traditional, Windows-heavy IT environments in 2025. Its simplicity, reliability, and integration with PDQ Deploy make it a strong fit for teams rooted in on-premise, AD-connected infrastructures.
However, as more organizations shift to remote and hybrid models, PDQ alone may leave critical gaps in visibility, compliance, and scalability.
That’s where modern platforms like ZenAdmin come in.
By extending beyond inventory into global IT logistics, compliance-ready workflows, and AI-driven automation, ZenAdmin helps businesses operate with the agility of today’s workforce demands.
