Security management. To defend against malware and other threats, organizations should select an MDM tool with strong cybersecurity features. IT can use MDM to add and update mobile security policies and software such as antivirus.
Finding a suitable MDM provider can be difficult as more tools become available. Many that have popped up in the past year or so don't have the maturity or scope of some tried-and-true options that have been around for much longer. Still, some relatively new tools have potential and deserve consideration as well.
The following list was chosen based on industry research into MDM tools compatible with Windows, Android and Apple ecosystems. The author based the analysis on a G2 overview of products and user reviews, as well as surveys from Gartner and other lists of MDM products. This list is not ranked and instead appears in alphabetical order.
For user-friendly Android management, Google Workspace is one option to consider. It includes the Google Admin console and a range of endpoint management feature sets. Reviews pointed out integration, scalability and customer support as the platform's strengths, with many noting its device enrollment and provisioning features. Overall, users judge Google Workspace highly in terms of UX but give it low marks in implementation for Windows and macOS. Another common criticism is that administrators must dig through many layers to find some settings.
Google offers several pricing plans, most of which are part of the Frontline, Business, Enterprise or Essentials editions. The Business editions cater to small to medium-sized organizations, while all have a 300-user limit. The business tier consists of the following plans:
Organizations looking for a mature, well-known management tool might opt for Hexnode, a historically popular product. Hexnode received positive reviews for its provisioning and enrollment options, as well as customer support features such as remote assist. The platform also stands out for its strong reporting functionality and admins can group devices and users to apply policies. However, some reviewers said that it's expensive for the features available and doesn't handle Windows or Apple devices very well.
Hexnode doesn't provide specific price ranges for its different plans -- Express, Pro, Enterprise, Ultimate and Ultra. It does offer a 14-day free trial for any plan. For more pricing information, IT managers should request a quote from the vendor.
Two popular MDM vendors focus strictly on Apple products: Jamf and Kandji. This focus is helpful because it enables admins to use Apple's native security features.
Jamf Pro is the enterprise-level MDM platform in Jamf's software suite. It has very good customer ratings for support and client management, but reviewers said it was difficult to learn, with a poor user interface and a high learning curve. Well-reviewed features include the ability to deploy apps and configuration changes to large groups of devices with a single click and perform test enrollments. This enables quick response to security patches.
With Jamf's business pricing model, Jamf Pro costs $3.75 per device per month for iOS, iPadOS, tvOS and watchOS devices, and $7.89 per device per month for macOS devices. With the education pricing model, the costs are $9 per device per year and $18 per device per year, respectively. Jamf Pro's website states that device minimums do apply, but it doesn't provide a specific number.
For more features, customers can bundle Jamf Pro with other Jamf products under the Business or Enterprise plans. Jamf Business costs $14.34 per user per month and has a 25-user minimum. Jamf Enterprise requires a quote and has a 25-user or 50-device minimum.
Smaller organizations can also consider Jamf Now, the entry-level counterpart to Jamf Pro with fewer advanced tools and integrations. This costs $4 per device per month and has no user minimum.
Apple administrators can also consider Kandji for MDM. Reviews indicate that this product has a high rate of user satisfaction. In particular, users liked the simple single pane of glass for management and effective integration with third-party products. Ease of use is another advantage of Kandji, and this is one area where it outperforms Jamf Pro.
One of the complaints reviewers had about Kandji was its pricing model, with high costs for laptops under management compared to mobile devices. However, organizations must request a quote from the vendor for pricing information. Kandji does offer a 14-day free trial.
For another historically mature and popular product, ManageEngine Endpoint Central has been a leader in the MDM market. This product performs well in terms of scalability, customer support and ease of use, and it has excellent patch management functionality. The remote assist tool is also simple and effective, which helps admins easily resolve support incidents. ManageEngine performed more poorly in terms of analytics and complex initial setup.
ManageEngine Endpoint Central offers a Free edition for up to 25 endpoints, and the pricing for the other editions varies based on the number of devices under management and other factors. For a starting price, these plans cover up to 50 devices:
Admins can also consider ManageEngine Mobile Device Manager Plus, the vendor's standalone MDM product. While this option is similarly reliable and user-friendly, it's only suitable for managing mobile devices. Like Endpoint Central, Mobile Device Manager Plus offers a Free edition and a 30-day free trial. Paid plans include the following:
While relatively unknown a few years ago, NinjaOne is now one of the most well-reviewed products in the MDM market. Users said NinjaOne delivered excellent scalability, usability, device provisioning and deployment, customer support and reporting. Other popular features include the platform's remote support tool and high visibility to all endpoints, which enables a smooth, reliable patch management function.
NinjaOne provides a monthly payment plan on a per-device basis, in addition to a 14-day free trial. Further pricing information is only available via a quote from the vendor's website.
Another newcomer to the MDM market is Scalefusion. This platform is especially good for integration into existing and third-party systems. Reviewers rated it well for usability, security management, analytics and app management. Many also highlighted its ease of use for deployment, device enrollment and policy enforcement, as the interface makes it possible to manage many devices from a single point of view.
There are some drawbacks in terms of pricing. Initial setup can be costly, and there are no monthly payment options; an annual payment is required upfront. Still, Scalefusion's fees are significantly lower than many competitors. A 14-day free trial is also available. Customers can choose from the following pricing plans: