Bottom line up front: Microsoft Intune wins by default for Microsoft 365 organizations because you already own it. Jamf wins outright for Apple estates.
Kandji and Mosyle are the modern Apple challengers worth quoting against Jamf. ManageEngine, Scalefusion, and Hexnode publish pricing and serve the mid-market well. Everything else is a fit question rather than a quality question.
MDM enrols, configures, secures, and monitors mobile devices phones and tablets, and increasingly laptops enforcing encryption, passcodes, app policy, and remote wipe from a central console within a comprehensive Zero Trust Architecture.
Stage 1 — Choose the Enrolment Model Before the Vendor
This decision constrains everything downstream and is the source of most MDM failures.
| Model | What it means | Best for | Employee friction |
| Corporate-owned, fully managed | Full control, full visibility | Regulated, frontline, shared devices | None (it’s a work device) |
| Corporate-owned, personally enabled | Full control, personal use allowed | Standard corporate phones | Low |
| BYOD — work profile (Android) | Work container only, personal untouched | Android BYOD | Low |
| BYOD — user enrolment (Apple) | Managed apps and accounts only | iPhone BYOD | Low |
| BYOD — full enrolment | Full control of a personal device | Rarely appropriate | Very high |
| App-level management only | No device enrolment at all | Contractors, unmanaged devices | Minimal |
The mistake to avoid: Applying full device management to personally owned phones. It generates genuine resentment, invites shadow IT, and in some jurisdictions raises employment and privacy law questions.
Enforcing Zero Trust data access policies via Apple User Enrolment and Android work profiles achieves nearly all the security outcome with a fraction of the friction use them.
Stage 2 — Understand What You Can and Cannot See
Employees assume MDM lets IT read their messages and track them. On modern platforms, largely it does not — and being able to say so precisely is the difference between smooth adoption and a fight.
On a BYOD work profile or user enrolment, IT typically can: manage and remove work applications and accounts, enforce passcode and encryption policy on the work container, wipe corporate data selectively, and see device model, OS version, and compliance state.
IT typically cannot: read personal messages, view personal photos, see personal app usage, or wipe personal data.
On corporate-owned, fully managed devices, visibility is far broader — including installed application inventory and, if configured, location. Whether you enable location tracking is a policy choice, and it is the one most likely to cause a dispute, so decide it deliberately and disclose it.
Write this into your enrolment communication before rollout. Most MDM resistance is a privacy misunderstanding you can prevent with one clear paragraph.
Stage 3 — The Ten Options by Fit
Microsoft Intune — the default for Microsoft 365
Included in Microsoft 365 E3 and E5, managing iOS, Android, Windows, macOS, and Linux with native Entra ID conditional access integration and endpoint detection and response (EDR) coordination via Defender for Endpoint.
Where it wins: you almost certainly already own it; conditional access means non-compliant devices simply cannot reach corporate data; strong app protection policies that work without full device enrolment; continuous investment.
Where it strains: macOS depth trails Jamf; no rugged or kiosk specialization; console complexity; Android Enterprise support is good but the specialists go deeper.
Image ALT: Microsoft Intune mobile device compliance and app protection policies
Jamf — the Apple standard
Day-one support for new Apple OS releases and configuration depth no generalist matches, adhering to established endpoint security best practices across macOS and iOS fleets.
Where it wins: unmatched Apple management depth; zero-touch deployment through Apple Business Manager; Jamf Protect adds Apple-specific threat defence; users genuinely prefer it, which reduces workarounds.
Where it strains: Apple only; premium per-device pricing; a second tool needed for Windows and Android.
Image ALT: Jamf Pro iOS and macOS device management console
Kandji — the modern Apple challenger
Apple device management built around security automation and remediation devices self-heal back into policy rather than just reporting drift.
Where it wins: automated remediation genuinely reduces manual work; clean, modern interface; strong pre-built compliance templates for common frameworks; published pricing.
Where it strains: Apple only; smaller than Jamf with fewer integrations and a shorter track record in very large estates.
Image ALT: Kandji Apple device management automated compliance remediation
Mosyle — best value for Apple in education and SMB
Apple-focused management with an unusually generous free tier and a platform bundling identity, malware protection solutions, and management together.
Where it wins: exceptional value, particularly in education; free tier is genuinely usable; bundles more than management alone; strong Apple School Manager support.
Where it strains: enterprise depth and support model trail Jamf; smaller ecosystem; verify support responsiveness at your scale.
Image ALT: Mosyle Apple device management for education and business
Omnissa (Workspace ONE) — best cross-platform enterprise
Deep management across every major platform, now operating as an independent company following the divestiture of VMware’s End-User Computing division after Broadcom’s acquisition, providing unified endpoint security management.
Where it wins: excellent breadth and depth across iOS, Android, Windows, and macOS; mature enterprise features and app delivery; strong conditional access.
Where it strains: newly independent ask about roadmap and support continuity; enterprise pricing and complexity.
Image ALT: Omnissa Workspace ONE cross-platform mobile device management
ManageEngine — best mid-market value
Mobile Device Manager Plus offers broad platform coverage at published pricing, with a free tier for small deployments and seamless integration with automated patch management software.
Where it wins: transparent published pricing; free tier for small device counts; covers iOS, Android, Windows, macOS, and Chrome OS; integrates with the wider ManageEngine estate; quick to deploy.
Where it strains: interface is dense; enterprise-scale references fewer; advanced security integrations trail the leaders.
Image ALT: ManageEngine Mobile Device Manager Plus enrolment and policy
Scalefusion — best for Android and kiosk deployments
Strong Android Enterprise and kiosk capability at accessible pricing, aimed at retail, logistics, education, and field operations requiring real-time visibility in Security Operations Center (SOC) environments.
Where it wins: excellent Android and kiosk lockdown; published pricing; fast deployment; good remote support tooling for field devices.
Where it strains: Windows and macOS depth below the enterprise platforms; smaller integration library.
Image ALT: Scalefusion Android kiosk and device management
Hexnode — best SMB all-rounder with transparent pricing
Broad platform coverage with a modular, published pricing model that lets smaller organizations buy only what they need, including policy controls for Virtual Private Networks (VPNs) and secure access gateways.
Where it wins: published modular pricing; covers iOS, Android, Windows, macOS, tvOS, and Fire OS; approachable interface; good value for small and mid-sized organizations.
Where it strains: enterprise depth and scale references trail the leaders; support model suits SMB rather than large deployments.
Image ALT: Hexnode unified device management dashboard
SOTI — best for rugged and purpose-built devices
The specialist for warehouse scanners, delivery handhelds, medical carts, and industrial hardware, connecting endpoint health directly to modern Extended Detection and Response (XDR) architectures.
Where it wins: unmatched rugged device support; excellent remote control and diagnostics for field devices; strong kiosk and single-purpose lockdown; deep retail, logistics, and healthcare presence.
Where it strains: standard phone and laptop management is capable but not its focus; interface functional rather than modern; pricing suits volume.
Image ALT: SOTI MobiControl rugged device deployment and remote diagnostics
IBM MaaS360 — best for regulated enterprises
UEM and MDM with strong compliance reporting and IBM’s security analytics behind it, supporting structured execution of your cybersecurity incident response plan.
Where it wins: strong compliance and audit reporting; AI-assisted risk insights; global support; established in regulated industries.
Where it strains: innovation pace trails the leaders; Apple depth below Jamf; enterprise procurement model.
Image ALT: IBM MaaS360 mobile device management and compliance reporting
Ivanti — best where legacy management still matters
Mobile management alongside Ivanti’s broader endpoint and patch portfolio, useful for organizations bridging legacy and modern estates.
Where it wins: integrates with Ivanti patch and endpoint management; broad platform coverage; useful mid-transition.
Where it strains: Ivanti products have featured in multiple advisories on the CISA Known Exploited Vulnerabilities catalog in recent years — make vulnerability-response commitments an explicit part of your evaluation; portfolio breadth requires careful scoping.
Image ALT: Ivanti mobile device management and endpoint policy
Stage 4 — Roll Out Without a Revolt
Communicate visibility before you communicate policy. One clear paragraph stating what IT can and cannot see prevents most resistance. Do this before enrolment opens, not in response to complaints.
Use the least intrusive enrolment that meets the requirement. Apple User Enrolment and Android work profiles give you corporate data protection without touching personal data. Full management on a personal device is almost never the right answer.
Enrol a difficult pilot group first. Executives, engineers, and field staff surface the problems a cooperative pilot never will.
Stage compliance enforcement. Visibility, then warnings, then conditional access blocking. Blocking on day one locks out real people doing real work and destroys goodwill you’ll need later.
Set the offboarding process up front. Selective wipe on departure, confirmed removal of corporate accounts, and a documented process for lost devices. Test it before you need it — the moment a device is stolen is not when you want to discover the wipe command doesn’t reach it.
Handle shared and frontline devices deliberately. Shared iPads in retail or healthcare need a different enrolment and authentication model from personally assigned phones, and several vendors handle this much better than others.
Stage 5 — Compare and Verify
Confirm per-device versus per-user pricing. Users with a phone, tablet, and laptop cost three times as much under per-device pricing. This single question can change the ranking of your shortlist.
Check what your Microsoft licensing includes. Intune ships with Microsoft 365 E3 and E5. Buying separate MDM while paying for Intune is common and avoidable — though running Jamf alongside for Apple depth is a legitimate architecture.
Test day-one OS support during evaluation. Ask each vendor how quickly they supported the most recent major iOS, iPadOS, and Android releases. Jamf’s day-one Apple support is a real differentiator, and a vendor that takes months leaves you unable to deploy new devices.
Verify Apple Business Manager and Android Enterprise integration. Zero-touch enrolment depends on these, and depth of integration varies. Without it, every device requires manual setup.
Confirm selective wipe actually works on your enrolment model. Corporate-data-only wipe behaves differently across enrolment types. Test it, on a real device, before rollout.
Common mistakes: applying full device management to BYOD phones; buying MDM without connecting it to conditional access so compliance state never gates anything; and forgetting that mobile devices also need threat defence — MDM enforces configuration, it does not detect malicious apps or network attacks.
Situational FAQ
What is mobile device management (MDM)?
MDM enrols, configures, secures, and monitors mobile devices from a central console, enforcing passcode and encryption requirements, deploying and removing applications, applying network and email settings, and enabling remote lock or wipe.
Modern MDM also manages laptops, which is why the category increasingly overlaps with unified endpoint management.
What is the best MDM solution in 2026?
Microsoft Intune is the default for Microsoft 365 organizations since it is included in E3 and E5 licensing. Jamf is the clear leader for Apple estates, with Kandji and Mosyle as strong modern challengers.
ManageEngine, Scalefusion, and Hexnode offer the best mid-market value with published pricing, and SOTI is unmatched for rugged devices.
Can MDM see my personal data?
On BYOD enrolments using Apple User Enrolment or Android work profiles, IT typically cannot read personal messages, view personal photos, or see personal app usage — visibility is limited to the work container plus basic device information.
On corporate-owned fully managed devices, visibility is much broader and may include location if the organization enables it.
Ask your employer for their specific configuration.
What is the difference between MDM and UEM?
MDM manages mobile devices; UEM extends the same model to laptops, desktops, and other endpoints with operating system patching and software distribution.
Most products sold today are technically UEM even when marketed as MDM, so compare capabilities rather than labels.
Is there a free MDM solution?
Several vendors offer free tiers for small device counts, including ManageEngine and Mosyle, and Apple Business Essentials and Google’s built-in Android Enterprise management provide basic capability at low or no cost.
Free tiers typically limit device numbers and advanced features but are genuinely usable for very small organizations.
How much does MDM cost?
MDM is typically priced per device or per user per month. ManageEngine, Scalefusion, Hexnode, Kandji, and Mosyle publish pricing; enterprise platforms are largely quote-based.
Microsoft Intune is included in Microsoft 365 E3 and E5, making its effective additional cost zero for organizations already licensed.
The Short Version
Microsoft Intune is the answer for most Microsoft 365 organizations simply because it’s already paid for and genuinely competent.
Add Jamf — or quote Kandji and Mosyle against it — if Apple devices matter enough to warrant depth.
ManageEngine, Scalefusion, and Hexnode are the mid-market value picks with published pricing, and SOTI is the only serious answer for rugged and purpose-built devices.
Pick your enrolment model before your vendor, tell people exactly what you can see, and never full-manage a personal phone.
Related reading on Cyber Security News:
• Top 10 Best Unified Endpoint Management (UEM) Solutions
• Top 10 Best Mobile Threat Defense (MTD) Solutions
• Top 10 Best Patch Management Software
• 10 Best Identity and Access Management Solutions
• Top 10 Best Zero Trust Security Vendors
• Top 10 Best Antivirus Software for Mac
• Top 10 Best Endpoint Detection & Response (EDR) Solutions
• Passwordless Authentication Solutions
• Top 10 Best Network Access Control (NAC) Solutions
• Top 10 Best Antivirus (Endpoint Protection) Software for Business
• Top 10 Best User Access Management Tools
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