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Boxstarter vs PDQ Deploy: catalog facts
Boxstarter	PDQ Deploy
Free Free and open source, installed through Chocolatey or a zip download.	Paid Commercial software from PDQ; current plans are on the vendor's pricing page.
Windows, Command line	Windows
Survives reboots during long installs Can set up remote machines	Deploys software and scripts to many Windows machines at once Runs on-premises inside your own network
Windows only Requires writing scripts in PowerShell and Chocolatey terms	Windows only Commercial, closed-source software
Downloadable app	Downloadable app
Open source	Closed source
License: Apache-2.0	License not stated
No account needed	Not stated if an account is needed
Not stated if it works offline	Not stated if it works offline
Official website Full listing and sources Checked October 1, 2026	Official website Full listing and sources Checked September 23, 2026

Catalog facts only. Anything “not stated” is unconfirmed. Check full listings for details.