# SmartDeploy vs Symantec Ghost Solution Suite Comparison

---
## Frequently Asked Questions

### What is the difference between SymantecGhost Solution Suite vs SmartDeploy?

SmartDeploy stands out over SymantecGhost Solution Suite with higher reviewer satisfaction across all key dimensions, especially in ease of use and support.

| [SymantecGhost Solution Suite](https://www.g2.com/products/symantec-ghost-solution-suite/reviews) | [SmartDeploy](https://www.g2.com/products/smartdeploy/reviews) |
| --- | --- |
| 3.7/5 (15 reviews) | 4.7/5 (152 reviews) |
| — | — |
| 7.3 | 9.1 |
| 7.3 | 9.5 |
| Centralized management console | Ease of use (6 all-time mentions) |



### How do the pricing models of SymantecGhost Solution Suite and SmartDeploy compare?

SmartDeploy is rated as the stronger value by reviewers, with higher satisfaction on price and cost-related dimensions.

- **SymantecGhost Solution Suite:** Reviewers do not cite recent value or pricing sentiment.
- **SmartDeploy:** In recent reviews, many highlight that SmartDeploy saves significant time and effort, justifying its cost, though a few mention the price can feel high for small businesses.



### What are the best alternatives to SymantecGhost Solution Suite and SmartDeploy?

The top three alternatives to SymantecGhost Solution Suite and SmartDeploy are NinjaOne, Macrium Backup & Restore, and ManageEngine Endpoint Central.

| Product | G2 Rating (reviews) | Largest Segment | Pricing Insight | Top Reviewer-Cited Strength |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| [SymantecGhost Solution Suite](https://www.g2.com/products/symantec-ghost-solution-suite/reviews) | 3.7/5 (15 reviews) | — | — | Centralized management console |
| [SmartDeploy](https://www.g2.com/products/smartdeploy/reviews) | 4.7/5 (152 reviews) | — | In recent reviews, many highlight time savings and ease of use | Ease of use (6 all-time mentions) |
| [NinjaOne](https://www.g2.com/products/ninjaone/reviews) | 4.7/5 (5027 reviews) | Mid-Market | — | — |
| [Macrium Backup & Restore](https://www.g2.com/products/macrium-backup-restore/reviews) | 4.7/5 (91 reviews) | Small-Business | — | — |
| [ManageEngine Endpoint Central](https://www.g2.com/products/manageengine-endpoint-central/reviews) | 4.5/5 (1131 reviews) | Mid-Market | — | — |



### Which OS Imaging & Deployment features should I prioritize when comparing SymantecGhost Solution Suite and SmartDeploy?

Buyers should prioritize ease of use, ease of setup, quality of support, automation, and centralized management when comparing SymantecGhost Solution Suite and SmartDeploy.

- **Ease of Use:** SymantecGhost Solution Suite scores 7.7; SmartDeploy scores 9.3 and has 6 all-time reviewer mentions for ease of use.
- **Ease of Setup:** SymantecGhost Solution Suite scores 7.3; SmartDeploy scores 9.1.
- **Quality of Support:** SymantecGhost Solution Suite scores 7.3; SmartDeploy scores 9.5.
- **Automation:** Both products support automation, with SmartDeploy reviewers frequently citing automation and time savings.
- **Centralized Management:** SymantecGhost Solution Suite is noted for its centralized management console; SmartDeploy is cited for centralized management in recent reviews.



### What are the pros and cons of SymantecGhost Solution Suite vs SmartDeploy?

SmartDeploy’s headline strength is ease of use, while SymantecGhost Solution Suite is recognized for its centralized management console.

- **SymantecGhost Solution Suite strengths:** Centralized management console, broad functionality, customizable scripting, and robust deployment options.
- **SymantecGhost Solution Suite trade-offs:** Slower performance in network restores, limited Mac OS support, and occasional slow product updates and technical support.
- **SmartDeploy strengths:** Ease of use (6 all-time mentions), easy deployment (4), intuitive navigation (4), easy installation (3), strong customer support (2), and centralized management (1).
- **SmartDeploy trade-offs:** Licensing issues (2), missing features (2), setup complexity (2), slow performance (2), and higher perceived cost for small businesses (1).



### Is SymantecGhost Solution Suite or SmartDeploy better for small businesses?

SmartDeploy is the better fit for small businesses, with strong reviewer sentiment highlighting ease of use and time savings for smaller teams.

- **SymantecGhost Solution Suite:** No largest segment data available; reviewers note it is easy to deploy and manage but cite some setup and network performance challenges.
- **SmartDeploy:** No largest segment data available; recent reviews from small businesses highlight that SmartDeploy enables less experienced technicians to manage deployments efficiently and saves significant time for small IT teams.



### Which OS Imaging & Deployment platform has better integrations?

SmartDeploy is favored for integrations, with reviewers citing integration with Windows Deployment Services and PDQ Inventory and Deploy.

- **SymantecGhost Solution Suite:** Reviewers mention integration with Bomgar in recent reviews.
- **SmartDeploy:** Recent reviews cite integration with Windows Deployment Services and PDQ Inventory and Deploy.



### How do SymantecGhost Solution Suite and SmartDeploy compare on customer support?

SmartDeploy outperforms SymantecGhost Solution Suite on Quality of Support by a margin of 2.2 points (9.5 vs 7.3).

- **SymantecGhost Solution Suite:** Reviewers describe support as generally helpful but occasionally slow, with some citing strong community support.
- **SmartDeploy:** Reviewers consistently praise SmartDeploy’s customer support, describing it as responsive, knowledgeable, and efficient, with multiple recent reviews highlighting positive support experiences.



### Which is easier to implement, SymantecGhost Solution Suite or SmartDeploy?

SmartDeploy is easier to implement than SymantecGhost Solution Suite, with a 1.8-point advantage in Ease of Setup (9.1 vs 7.3).

- **SymantecGhost Solution Suite:** Reviewers note that setup can be complex, especially for network deployments, but the management console simplifies ongoing administration once configured.
- **SmartDeploy:** Reviewers consistently highlight SmartDeploy’s straightforward setup process, user-friendly interface, and helpful documentation, with many stating that even less experienced technicians can implement it quickly.



### Which product has better Automation?

SmartDeploy is rated higher for Automation, the most frequently mentioned feature across both products’ reviews.

- **SymantecGhost Solution Suite:** Reviewers note robust automation capabilities, including zero-touch imaging and script task automation, with a Meets Requirements score of 7.1.
- **SmartDeploy:** Reviewers frequently cite automation and time savings, with a Meets Requirements score of 9.3 and multiple mentions of rapid, automated deployments and easy task sequencing.



| | SmartDeploy | Symantec Ghost Solution Suite | 
|---|---|---|
| **Star Rating** | 4.7 out of 5 | 3.7 out of 5 | 
| **Total Reviews** | 152 | 15 | 
| **Largest Market Segment** | Mid-Market (71.1% of reviews) | Mid-Market (42.9% of reviews) | 
| **Entry Level Price** | Contact Us Per Year | No pricing available | 

---
## Top Pros & Cons

### SmartDeploy

Pros:
- Ease of Use (6 reviews)
- Easy Deployment (4 reviews)

Cons:
- Licensing Issues (2 reviews)
- Missing Features (2 reviews)

### Symantec Ghost Solution Suite

**Not enough data**

---
## Ratings Comparison
| Rating | SmartDeploy | Symantec Ghost Solution Suite | 
|---|---|---|
  | **Meets Requirements** | 9.3 (114 reviews) | 7.1 (13 reviews) | 
  | **Ease of Use** | 9.3 (115 reviews) | 7.7 (13 reviews) | 
  | **Ease of Setup** | 9.1 (100 reviews) | 7.3 (8 reviews) | 
  | **Ease of Admin** | 9.5 (98 reviews) | 7.5 (8 reviews) | 
  | **Quality of Support** | 9.5 (106 reviews) | 7.3 (13 reviews) | 
  | **Has the product been a good partner in doing business?** | 9.6 (97 reviews) | 7.9 (8 reviews) | 
  | **Product Direction (% positive)** | 9.5 (109 reviews) | 4.6 (13 reviews) | 

---
## Pricing

### SmartDeploy

#### Entry-Level Pricing

Plan: Starter

Price: Contact Us Per Year

Key Features:
- Centralized single-image management 
- Model-specific driver packs (Platform Packs) 
- Flexible offline & on-network deployments 

[Browse all 3 editions](https://www.g2.com/products/smartdeploy/pricing)

#### Free Trial

Yes

### Symantec Ghost Solution Suite

#### Entry-Level Pricing

No pricing available

#### Free Trial

No information available

---
## Features Comparison By Category

### Patch Management

| Product | Score | Reviews |
|---|---|---|
| **SmartDeploy** | N/A | N/A |
| **Symantec Ghost Solution Suite** | N/A | N/A |

#### Additional Functionality

| Feature | SmartDeploy | Symantec Ghost Solution Suite | 
|---|---|---|
| **Alerts/Notifications** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **Patch Prioritization** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **Status Tracking** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **Audit Management** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **Network Wide Management** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **Remote Access/Control** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **Remote Monitoring & Management** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **Vulnerability Scanning** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **Activity Tracking** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **Policy Management** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **Remote Update/Installation** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **IT Asset Tracking** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **Approval Process Control** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **Automatic Patch Deployment** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **Access Controls/Permissions** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **Customization** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **Dashboard** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **Patch Testing** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **Support Ticket Management** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **Automatic Scans** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **Active Directory Integration** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **Compliance Management** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **Application Management** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **API** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **Risk Assessment** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **Scheduling** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **Reporting & Statistics** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **Maintenance Scheduling** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **Generative AI** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **Real-Time Updates** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **Usage Tracking/Analytics** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **AI Copilot** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **Patch Management** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **Third-Party Integrations** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **Server Monitoring** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **Real-Time Reporting** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **Event Logs** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **Service Level Agreement (SLA) Management** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 

### Vulnerability Management

| Product | Score | Reviews |
|---|---|---|
| **SmartDeploy** | N/A | N/A |
| **Symantec Ghost Solution Suite** | N/A | N/A |

#### Additional Functionality

| Feature | SmartDeploy | Symantec Ghost Solution Suite | 
|---|---|---|
| **Search/Filter** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **Risk Management** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **Generative AI** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **Alerts/Notifications** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **Compliance Management** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **Third-Party Integrations** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **Certificate Assessment** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **API** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **Incident Management** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **Automated Containment** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **Real-Time Data** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **Vulnerability Scanning** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **Monitoring** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **Policy Management** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **Asset Discovery** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **Penetration Testing** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **Runtime Container Security** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **Activity Dashboard** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **Security Auditing** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **Issue Tracking** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **Threat Intelligence** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **Patch Management** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **Endpoint Management** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **Collaboration Tools** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **Vulnerability Management** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **Goal Setting/Tracking** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **Vulnerability Assessment** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **Asset Tagging** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **Assessment Management** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **Access Controls/Permissions** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **AI Copilot** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **Vulnerability/Threat Prioritization** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **Vulnerability Protection** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **Risk Assessment** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **Reporting/Analytics** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **SQL Injections** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 

### OS Imaging & Deployment

| Product | Score | Reviews |
|---|---|---|
| **SmartDeploy** | 8.9/10 | 98 |
| **Symantec Ghost Solution Suite** | N/A | N/A |

#### Administration

| Feature | SmartDeploy | Symantec Ghost Solution Suite | 
|---|---|---|
| **Compression** | 8.5 (85 reviews) | Not enough data | 
| **Automation** | 8.9 (87 reviews) | Not enough data | 
| **Web Interface** | 8.0 (69 reviews) | Not enough data | 
| **Administration Console** | 8.9 (90 reviews) | Not enough data | 

#### Deployment

| Feature | SmartDeploy | Symantec Ghost Solution Suite | 
|---|---|---|
| **Device Variety** | 9.2 (86 reviews) | Not enough data | 
| **OS Variety** | 9.0 (81 reviews) | Not enough data | 
| **Deployment Methods** | 9.4 (91 reviews) | Not enough data | 

#### Imaging

| Feature | SmartDeploy | Symantec Ghost Solution Suite | 
|---|---|---|
| **Remote Imaging** | 8.7 (66 reviews) | Not enough data | 
| **Offline imaging** | 9.3 (76 reviews) | Not enough data | 
| **Online imaging** | 9.1 (72 reviews) | Not enough data | 

### Endpoint Management

| Product | Score | Reviews |
|---|---|---|
| **SmartDeploy** | 7.2/10 | 6 |
| **Symantec Ghost Solution Suite** | N/A | N/A |

#### Generative AI

| Feature | SmartDeploy | Symantec Ghost Solution Suite | 
|---|---|---|
| **AI Text Summarization** | 7.2 (6 reviews) | Not enough data | 

### Endpoint Protection

| Product | Score | Reviews |
|---|---|---|
| **SmartDeploy** | N/A | N/A |
| **Symantec Ghost Solution Suite** | N/A | N/A |

#### System Control

| Feature | SmartDeploy | Symantec Ghost Solution Suite | 
|---|---|---|
| **Device Control** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **Web Control** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **Application Control** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **Asset Management** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **System Isolation** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 

#### Vulnerability Prevention

| Feature | SmartDeploy | Symantec Ghost Solution Suite | 
|---|---|---|
| **Endpoint Intelligence** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **Firewall** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **Malware Detection** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 

#### Security Management

| Feature | SmartDeploy | Symantec Ghost Solution Suite | 
|---|---|---|
| **Incident Reports** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **Security Validation** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **Compliance ** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 

---
## Categories
**Shared Categories (1):** [OS Imaging & Deployment Software](https://www.g2.com/categories/os-imaging-deployment)

**Unique to SmartDeploy (2):** [Patch Management Software](https://www.g2.com/categories/patch-management), [Endpoint Management Software](https://www.g2.com/categories/endpoint-management)



---
## Reviewer Demographics

### By Company Size

| Segment | SmartDeploy | Symantec Ghost Solution Suite | 
|---|---|---|
| **Small-Business** | 11.3% | 14.3% | 
| **Mid-Market** | 71.1% | 42.9% | 
| **Enterprise** | 17.6% | 42.9% | 

### By Industry

#### SmartDeploy

- **Education Management:** 10.6%
- **Information Technology and Services:** 7.0%
- **Primary/Secondary Education:** 7.0%
- **Higher Education:** 7.0%
- **Hospital & Health Care:** 6.3%
- **Financial Services:** 4.2%
- **Government Administration:** 4.2%
- **Computer & Network Security:** 3.5%
- **Non-Profit Organization Management:** 3.5%
- **Oil & Energy:** 2.8%
- **Other:** 43.7%

#### Symantec Ghost Solution Suite

- **Research:** 14.3%
- **Logistics and Supply Chain:** 14.3%
- **Information Technology and Services:** 14.3%
- **Higher Education:** 14.3%
- **Education Management:** 14.3%
- **Telecommunications:** 7.1%
- **Import and Export:** 7.1%
- **Cosmetics:** 7.1%
- **Automotive:** 7.1%

---
## Alternatives

### Alternatives to SmartDeploy

- [NinjaOne](https://www.g2.com/products/ninjaone/reviews) — 4.7/5 stars (5037 reviews)
- [ManageEngine Endpoint Central](https://www.g2.com/products/manageengine-endpoint-central/reviews) — 4.5/5 stars (1142 reviews)
- [KACE Unified Endpoint Manager](https://www.g2.com/products/kace-unified-endpoint-manager/reviews) — 4.1/5 stars (95 reviews)
- [Remote Monitoring and Management](https://www.g2.com/products/remote-monitoring-and-management/reviews) — 4.6/5 stars (1268 reviews)
- [Macrium Backup & Restore](https://www.g2.com/products/macrium-backup-restore/reviews) — 4.7/5 stars (93 reviews)
- [Acronis Cyber Protect](https://www.g2.com/products/acronis-acronis-cyber-protect/reviews) — 4.3/5 stars (743 reviews)
- [Datto RMM](https://www.g2.com/products/datto-rmm/reviews) — 4.5/5 stars (800 reviews)
- [Automox](https://www.g2.com/products/automox/reviews) — 4.5/5 stars (324 reviews)
- [CrowdStrike Falcon Endpoint Protection Platform](https://www.g2.com/products/crowdstrike-falcon-endpoint-protection-platform/reviews) — 4.7/5 stars (579 reviews)
- [ESET PROTECT](https://www.g2.com/products/eset-protect/reviews) — 4.6/5 stars (1001 reviews)

### Alternatives to Symantec Ghost Solution Suite

- [Macrium Backup & Restore](https://www.g2.com/products/macrium-backup-restore/reviews) — 4.7/5 stars (93 reviews)
- [Clonezilla](https://www.g2.com/products/clonezilla/reviews) — 4.3/5 stars (15 reviews)
- [KACE Unified Endpoint Manager](https://www.g2.com/products/kace-unified-endpoint-manager/reviews) — 4.1/5 stars (95 reviews)
- [Ivanti Autonomous Endpoint Management](https://www.g2.com/products/ivanti-autonomous-endpoint-management/reviews) — 4.3/5 stars (407 reviews)
- [Acronis Snap Deploy](https://www.g2.com/products/acronis-snap-deploy/reviews) — 4.7/5 stars (5 reviews)
- [ManageEngine OS Deployer](https://www.g2.com/products/manageengine-os-deployer/reviews) — 4.2/5 stars (6 reviews)
- [CloneDeploy](https://www.g2.com/products/clonedeploy/reviews) — 3.8/5 stars (3 reviews)
- [PARAGON Deployment Manager](https://www.g2.com/products/paragon-deployment-manager/reviews) — 0.0/5 stars (0 reviews)
- [DeployStudio](https://www.g2.com/products/deploystudio/reviews) — 3.9/5 stars (11 reviews)
- [smartImager](https://www.g2.com/products/smartimager/reviews) — 4.0/5 stars (1 reviews)

---
## Top Discussions

### SmartDeploy

- Title: [I have troubles with trying to use the capture images from machines so I keep a backup image of some machines.](https://www.g2.com/discussions/37341-i-have-troubles-with-trying-to-use-the-capture-images-from-machines-so-i-keep-a-backup-image-of-some-machines) — 1 comment, 1 upvote
  > **Top comment:** "All you need is to create 1 image in a VM client, then copy that image for each type of image or software use. IE: Engineering, Office365 users, etc. Then..."

### Symantec Ghost Solution Suite

No discussions available for this product.

---
**Source:** [G2.com](https://www.g2.com) | [Comparison Page](https://www.g2.com/compare/smartdeploy-vs-symantec-ghost-solution-suite)