SmartDeploy Reviews & Product Details

SmartDeploy is a Windows imaging and OS deployment solution that helps IT administrators and sysadmins provision, reimage, and manage Windows endpoints across on-premises, remote, and hybrid environments. Designed for IT teams managing fleets of 50 to 10,000 Windows devices, SmartDeploy simplifies the imaging and deployment cycle from image creation and driver management to bare-metal provisioning and user data migration without the complexity of other legacy tools. Common use cases include: OS reimaging after hardware refresh, bare-metal provisioning of new endpoints, image deployment across mixed-hardware environments, user data and settings migration during device replacement, and OS standardization for compliance-sensitive fleets. SmartDeploy supports both agentless and agent-based deployment modes. In agentless environments, deployments are supported through offline media or WDS/PXE boot. With the SmartDeploy client installed, IT teams can deploy Windows images over the network or directly from cloud storage in addition to offline media. Key capabilities: Hardware-independent imaging with automated driver injection: Create a single WIM-based Windows image and deploy it across different hardware models. Driver injection technology automatically matches and delivers the correct driver pack to each target device, drawing from a library of 1,500+ prebuilt, PDQ-maintained driver packs covering all major OEM business-class models. Flexible deployment methods: Deploy Windows images using offline media, local network servers, WDS/PXE boot, or directly from cloud storage (OneDrive, Box, Dropbox, Google Drive, or S3) without requiring a VPN for remote endpoints. Multi-admin web console with distribution points: A locally hosted web console enables multiple IT administrators to access SmartDeploy concurrently from any networked device. Distribution points allow teams to store deployment assets at local offices or in cloud storage and deploy from the nearest available source. Native USMT integration: Built-in support for the User State Migration Tool (USMT) allows admins to capture and restore user data and settings as part of a standard deployment workflow. Quick setup and ease of use: SmartDeploy delivers comparable Windows imaging and OS deployment capabilities with faster setup, lower administrative overhead, and greater deployment flexibility — designed for teams that don't need full-scale enterprise deployment infrastructure. PDQ is a software company founded in 2001 and headquartered in Salt Lake City, Utah. Built by sysadmins for sysadmins, PDQ develops device management and deployment tools for IT teams. SmartDeploy is PDQ's Windows imaging and OS deployment product, used by IT teams across government, education, healthcare, and compliance-sensitive industries where consistent, auditable Windows provisioning is critical.

Product Website

Seller

PDQ.com

Discussions

SmartDeploy Community

Languages Supported

English

Overview by

Heidi Flaig

Value at a Glance

Averages based on real user reviews.

Time to Implement

2 months

View More Pricing Information

SmartDeploy Media

Getting started screen

Computer Management view (with device groups)

Console with Platform Packs download modal

Console with Distribution Points view

Capture Wizard start screen

Media Wizard (select media type screen)

How switching to SmartDeploy simplified DRMP’s transition to remote work

ManageEngine & OS Deployer vs. SmartDeploy

The right tool for the right job. SmartDeploy or Intune/Autopilot

Official Downloads

(5)

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Utah Valley University Case Study

Menasha Joint School District Case Study

Turning Point Case Study

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Verified User in Higher Education

Mid-Market (51-1000 emp.)

10/4/2023

"I enjoy using SmartDeploy"

5/5

What do you like best about SmartDeploy?

The user interfaces and wizards are intuitive. Review collected by and hosted on G2.com.

What do you dislike about SmartDeploy?

Periodically, I have to delete and recreate the license. Review collected by and hosted on G2.com.

Verified User in Education Management

Small-Business (50 or fewer emp.)

3/30/2023

"It's fickle and has failed with every use (twice). Not user friendly."

1.5/5

What do you like best about SmartDeploy?

If it worked consistently it would be nice. Review collected by and hosted on G2.com.

What do you dislike about SmartDeploy?

The Updates completely screw the deployments. It would be nice to have flowchart check lists in addition to videos where vitally important content is rattled off very quickly. Review collected by and hosted on G2.com.

Adam A.

Systems Administrator

Small-Business (50 or fewer emp.)

5/19/2022

"Easy!"

5/5

What do you like best about SmartDeploy?

Easy and full imaging suite. It hits all the checkmarks for imaging software similar to MDT back in the day Review collected by and hosted on G2.com.

What do you dislike about SmartDeploy?

Nothing. The price can seem a little high sometimes, but really it saves so much time and headache with PC setups, it's worth it Review collected by and hosted on G2.com.

Sami R.

Computer Technician

Mid-Market (51-1000 emp.)

5/27/2020

"Amazing service and product that continues to improve"

4.5/5

What do you like best about SmartDeploy?

I love the ability to push out apps and update drivers. Renaming the laptop and desktops is excellent. Cloud feature is fantastic too. I still have to use it, but I had seen a colleague of mine use it when we were remote. Review collected by and hosted on G2.com.

What do you dislike about SmartDeploy?

Sometimes it's a drag when the person doesn't have the right client installed, so I have to push it out or manually put it on with a flash drive. Platform packs are not always the newest and latest. I notice driver and bios updates sometimes still need updating after the image has been pushed to the client. Review collected by and hosted on G2.com.

Recommendations to others considering SmartDeploy:

SamrtDeploy is an easy transition from any current system you are using. Their support is out of this world. If you notice a bug or an outdated driver, the turn around is incredibly fast. Time saving, innovative, and efficient. If is everything and more you can ask for from deployment software. Review collected by and hosted on G2.com.

What problems is SmartDeploy solving and how is that benefiting you?

Updating our clients is a snap now. Creating and deploying images has never been quicker. All the goodies you can do within the answer file like renaming, joining the domain, and setting wifi passwords are lovely. The application pack feature is incredible! That saves a lot of time. In computer management, the Last Logged On User has been such a database clean-up dream. We have been Smart Deploy customers for years now, and they never cease to impress with each update. Review collected by and hosted on G2.com.

Stephen T.

Systems Engineer

12/17/2021

"Excellent!"

5/5

What do you like best about SmartDeploy?

I like that you can image computers remotely through cloud storage. I also like that you guys provide all of the driver packs so that users don't have to track them down. Review collected by and hosted on G2.com.

What do you dislike about SmartDeploy?

Consider scripting the creation of your driver packs via PowerShell. You could identify which drivers are actually being used and not already natively provided by Windows. After doing this you could then place them in neat little folders based off of the class type. Next, you could compress all of these relevant folders into a .cab file for archiving. The company I work for already built a script for this. We'd be happy to sale it to you guys! ;) Review collected by and hosted on G2.com.

Verified User in Education Management

Enterprise (> 1000 emp.)

2/19/2020

"SmartDeploy"

5/5

What do you like best about SmartDeploy?

The ease of imaging now. I love not having to create images for every single model we have. Review collected by and hosted on G2.com.

What do you dislike about SmartDeploy?

The instructions are a little vague and trying to tell someone to read them for training doesn't work well. Review collected by and hosted on G2.com.

Clay S.

Audio Engineer

Small-Business (50 or fewer emp.)

9/8/2021

"Great for imaging!"

5/5

What do you like best about SmartDeploy?

Being able to create offline imaging media is my favorite Smart Deploy Feauture. Review collected by and hosted on G2.com.

What do you dislike about SmartDeploy?

When I upgraded from V2 to V3, My instance became un-usable. I called support, and they had me back up and working in under an hour. Review collected by and hosted on G2.com.

Dave L.

IT Lead | Business Applications and Desktop Support

Mid-Market (51-1000 emp.)

2/9/2021

"SmartDeploy: Easy Imaging Solution"

5/5

What do you like best about SmartDeploy?

It makes the imaging process very easy, intuitive, and the automation reduces setup time greatly. Their support has also been great and quick to respond, as well as being active in their forum community. Review collected by and hosted on G2.com.

What do you dislike about SmartDeploy?

The app packs are still not super reliable, it may also be how Smartdeploy communicates across the network...especially with so many remote workers currently. The computer management doesn't always pick up all the computers so we can't rely on it for pushing software or updates. Definitely has potential though, especially when it works as planned! Review collected by and hosted on G2.com.

Recommendations to others considering SmartDeploy:

If you are looking for a simple and cost effective imaging process, SmartDeploy is the way to go. If you need more reliable software deployment and endpoint management, try out the demo first and really put it to the test in your environment - It hasn't been great for us so far, but I could see it being very useful for others. Review collected by and hosted on G2.com.

What problems is SmartDeploy solving and how is that benefiting you?

It greatly reduces imaging time from start to finish. For a small business, it's priced right for what it does without needing enterprise grade tools. Review collected by and hosted on G2.com.

Thomas B.

Consultant

Mid-Market (51-1000 emp.)

2/8/2021

"Been using SD since 2010 has saved 100's of hours of deploying OS from Windows 7 to Windows 10."

5/5

What do you like best about SmartDeploy?

I love the single usb deployment option - boot it and grab a coffee, come back and it is at the login screen. Review collected by and hosted on G2.com.

What do you dislike about SmartDeploy?

The capture process is taking a long time since the image needs to be split. If a single image could be created and copied to a usb, when I update my image I could just copy over rather than having to recreate the entire usb deployment Review collected by and hosted on G2.com.

Recommendations to others considering SmartDeploy:

Give it a go, you will like it. Review collected by and hosted on G2.com.

What problems is SmartDeploy solving and how is that benefiting you?

Simple deployment of company images.

I am interested in drop ship deployment. I need to send a computer to a user and have them boot to the SD store and image it with a remote tool enabled like LogMeIn or other - can SD have a remote access and on monitor tool for post deployment assistance.

Also need to lean how to do computer systems refresh when someone gets a new computer - something like ForensIT does with migrating profiles.

I first started using SD in 2010 while working at CITech Solutions and recommended to my current employment when I came onboard 2 years ago. Review collected by and hosted on G2.com.

Chris C.

IT Coordinator

Mid-Market (51-1000 emp.)

2/5/2021

"Insanely quick and easy way to deploy workstations."

4.5/5

What do you like best about SmartDeploy?

The simplicity is what I liked best about SmartDeploy. I've been using it for 5+ years and it has saved me hours of work when deploying to new machines. Plus their pre-built Platform Packs makes deploying to different types of machines so simple. The nice thing is if you noticed their Platform Pack is out of date you just run a quick WMI script and upload it to them. A few days later there's an updated version of the Platform Pack to download.

Also, you now have the ability to deploy images/platform packs/etc via a cloud source for machines remote. Review collected by and hosted on G2.com.

What do you dislike about SmartDeploy?

Nothing so far. They keep adding new features that have been extremely beneficial to enhancing the product. Review collected by and hosted on G2.com.

What problems is SmartDeploy solving and how is that benefiting you?

The biggest problem is manually deploying machines. All I have to do is update my base Windows VM if any changes are needed and then grab those changes via SmartDeploy. So when a new machine comes in it has the latest updates or changes that were needed.

I've saved so much time using this product rather than go through and delete all the bloatware on a new machine. Manually update all the drivers, etc. Review collected by and hosted on G2.com.