The Top 10 Mobile Device Management (MDM) Solutions
Discover the best Mobile Device Management (MDM) Solutions with features such as device compatibility, remote management and application analytics.
Written by Caitlin Harris
Technical Review by Laura Iannini
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Cisco Meraki Systems Manager
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Citrix Endpoint Management
Mobile Device Management (MDM) solutions enable IT and security teams to monitor, manage, and secure the mobile devices connected to their corporate network. That includes corporate-issued and personal (BYOD) devices, various device types, and whichever OS those devices are running.
The Challenge: Because so many employees are using mobile devices to work outside the physical office perimeter, mobile endpoints are becoming an increasingly popular target for cybercriminals. So, IT teams need to have just as clear an overview of the health and security status of these devices, as they do over the desktops in the office. But keeping track of mobile devices manually can be a challenge, particularly if your organization’s device fleet is very diverse.
How MDM Works: MDM solutions offer a range of features that make it much easier for IT teams to gain visibility into the status of their mobile devices. These typically include device enrollment, patch management, device configuration policies, application management, and remote troubleshooting.
Not only that, but MDM tools allow you to do all this remotely, enabling you to keep your company’s endpoints updated and secured, without having to enroll or troubleshoot devices in person.
In this article, we’ll highlight:
- The best MDM solutions designed to monitor, manage, and secure mobile devices
- Standout features of each solution
- Who they are best suited for
Rippling is a comprehensive platform that integrates identity and access management with mobile device management. It streamlines workforce, IAM, and device management into a scalable system suitable for organizations of all sizes.
Why We Picked Rippling: We appreciate Rippling’s intuitive interface and its ability to automate device configuration based on company policies, ensuring devices are equipped with the right software, access, and security settings.
Rippling Best Features: Key features include automated device configuration, secure offboarding with remote wipe capabilities, granular and dynamic security policies, real-time user-level reporting, and compatibility with Windows and Apple devices. Rippling integrates HR, finance, and IT services into one platform.
What’s Great:
- Intuitive and user-friendly interface
- Automates device management based on company policies
- Supports secure offboarding processes
- Enables detailed, real-time user-level reporting
- Enforces dynamic security policies effectively
What To Consider:
- May require initial setup time for complex policies
Pricing: For detailed pricing, visit Rippling’s official website.
Best suited for: Rippling is ideal for organizations seeking a frictionless, scalable system to consolidate workforce, IAM, and device management processes. It serves businesses of all sizes effectively.
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NinjaOne is a unified IT operations platform that combines endpoint management, RMM, system backups, IT support, and mobile device management (MDM). It provides a centralized console for managing a wide range of devices, including mobile devices, servers, VMs, and networking equipment.
Why We Picked NinjaOne MDM: We appreciate NinjaOne’s in-depth visibility across all endpoints and its ability to enforce mobile device management and security policies. This comprehensive approach simplifies IT operations and enhances security.
NinjaOne MDM Best Features: Key features include centralized endpoint management, policy enforcement, remote application management, IT support via mobile screenshare, and robust security controls like remote lock, wipe, and geolocation tracking. Compatible with Android, iOS, and iPadOS devices, NinjaOne supports both company-owned and personal devices.
What’s Great:
- Offers visibility and control over all endpoints from a single console
- Enables enforcement of mobile device management and security policies
- Provides remote application management and IT support capabilities
- Includes advanced security features like geolocation tracking and data loss prevention
- Offers free, unlimited training, onboarding, and support
What to Consider:
- Some advanced features might require additional setup
Pricing: For specific pricing details, contact NinjaOne directly.
Who it’s for: NinjaOne MDM is best suited for mid-sized organizations and small-to-mid-market MSPs seeking a comprehensive, user-friendly MDM solution as part of a broader endpoint management or IT operations platform.
JumpCloud Mobile Device Management (MDM) is a cloud-based solution designed for centralized monitoring, management, and security of mobile devices. It offers scalability and a quick deployment process, making it suitable for mid-size to large enterprises.
Why We Picked JumpCloud MDM: We appreciate JumpCloud MDM for its intuitive interface and comprehensive reporting capabilities. It simplifies the distribution of software applications to users across diverse device fleets.
JumpCloud MDM Best Features: Key features include policy configuration and distribution, software deployment, and detailed device health and security reports. It supports Windows, Linux, macOS, and iOS devices. JumpCloud MDM integrates seamlessly with JumpCloud’s broader security suite, enhancing user directory and identity security tools.
What’s Great:
- User-friendly interface simplifies management tasks.
- Detailed reports provide insights into device health and security.
- Efficient software distribution to individual devices or groups.
- Robust policy configuration to restrict unauthorized services.
- Strong integration with JumpCloud’s security ecosystem.
What To Consider:
- May require additional setup for complex policy configurations
Pricing: For detailed pricing, contact JumpCloud directly.
Who it’s for: JumpCloud MDM is best suited for mid-size and larger enterprises with diverse device fleets looking to integrate MDM into a broader identity and device security strategy.
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Cisco Meraki Systems Manager
Cisco Meraki Systems Manager is an endpoint management solution that empowers IT and security teams to monitor, manage, and secure all endpoints and applications across their network. It offers comprehensive control and visibility, ensuring devices remain compliant and secure.
Why We Picked Cisco Meraki Systems Manager: We appreciate its intuitive interface and robust automation capabilities, which simplify endpoint management even for those with limited technical expertise.
Cisco Meraki Systems Manager Best Features: Key features include real-time device health and risk reports, remote troubleshooting tools (device wipe, screenshot, reboot), remote desktop access, and automatic security policy deployment. Customizable policies cover device restrictions, encryption, privacy, Wi-Fi, VPN, and managed app settings. App management features include deny/allow lists, access permissions, and containerization through Android Enterprise integration. Automation extends to app distribution based on OS, security compliance, geolocation, time, and user group. Two-factor authentication is supported via Duo integration. Compatible devices include iOS, macOS, tvOS, Android, Chrome OS, and Windows OS.
What’s Great:
- User-friendly interface simplifies configuration and navigation
- Comprehensive real-time reporting and remote troubleshooting
- Strong automation for policy deployment and app management
- Broad device support across major operating systems
- Native integration with Duo for two-factor authentication
What to Consider:
- May require additional setup for complex policy configurations
Pricing: For detailed pricing, contact Cisco directly.
Who it’s for: Cisco Meraki Systems Manager is best suited for mid-to-large enterprises prioritizing granular policy configuration and strong automation capabilities, especially those already utilizing Cisco for IAM and remote access solutions.
Cisco Meraki Systems Manager
Citrix Endpoint Management
Citrix Endpoint Management (CEM) is a unified platform that enables IT and security teams to manage all devices and applications on their network. It can be deployed standalone or as a service within the Citrix Workspace platform.
Why We Picked Citrix Endpoint Management: We appreciate CEM’s capability to manage all endpoints through a single platform, offering real-time updates and robust support from Citrix’s technical team.
Citrix Endpoint Management Best Features: CEM provides a context-aware interface for end users to access applications and files. Administrators can manage mobile devices, automate software distribution and updates, set role-based access policies, monitor device health and compliance, and enforce security settings like MFA, SSO, and micro-VPN. The platform supports app management via Citrix’s enterprise app store and allows for easy deployment with over-the-air provisioning and self-service enrollment options. Compatible devices include Android, iOS, macOS, and Windows 10/11, supporting both BYOD and corporate-issued devices.
What’s Great:
- Unified management of all endpoints from a single platform
- Real-time updates for immediate action and monitoring
- Strong technical support from Citrix
- User-friendly interface for end users and administrators
- Comprehensive security and compliance enforcement
What to Consider:
- Advanced features may require additional configuration
- Scalability might demand more resources for larger enterprises
Pricing: For detailed pricing, visit the Citrix Endpoint Management website.
Who it’s for: Citrix Endpoint Management is best suited for enterprises needing a unified platform to manage all connected endpoints, especially those with remote or hybrid workforces.
Citrix Endpoint Management
Hexnode
Hexnode is a comprehensive mobile device management (MDM) solution designed to help IT and security teams manage devices across their network. It offers a unified platform to control apps, content, and identities on various devices.
Why We Picked Hexnode: We appreciate Hexnode’s automatic reporting capabilities and the extensive support from the Hexnode team, including product documentation and community forums.
Hexnode Best Features: Key features include platform-agnostic policy configuration, detailed device health and compliance reports, app deployment, and remote troubleshooting options like encryption, remote lock and wipe, automatic lockdown, and screen monitoring. Hexnode also allows for custom app catalogs, app black/white-listing, and secure browsing through Smart Kiosk mode. The platform supports Android, iOS, MacOS, Windows, tvOS, and ForeOS. Integrations include Active Directory, Google Workspace, and Microsoft 365.
What’s Great:
- Automatic and extensive reporting capabilities
- Strong support from Hexnode team, documentation, and community
- Platform-agnostic policy management
- Robust remote troubleshooting options
- Secure browsing and app access with Smart Kiosk mode
What to Consider:
- Some advanced features might need additional configuration
Pricing: For detailed pricing, visit Hexnode’s official website.
Who it’s for: Hexnode is ideal for enterprises managing numerous BYOD devices and healthcare organizations requiring robust MDM solutions.
Hexnode
IBM Security MaaS360 with Watson
MaaS360 with Watson is IBM’s AI-driven endpoint management solution. It is designed to help IT teams manage and secure endpoints across various operating systems, including Android, iOS, and Windows.
Why We Picked MaaS360 with Watson: We appreciate the comprehensive device inventory and the AI-driven analytics provided by Watson Advisor. These features enable efficient monitoring and incident resolution across networks.
MaaS360 with Watson Best Features: Key features include device and application inventory, security controls like SSO and app-level tunneling, mobile threat management, and AI-driven insights via Watson Advisor. The solution supports Android, iOS, iPadOS, ChromeOS, Windows, MacOS, IoT, and rugged devices, ensuring broad compatibility.
What’s Great:
- Creates a detailed inventory of devices, apps, and corporate data.
- Offers robust security controls for corporate and BYOD devices.
- Detects and remediates malicious apps with mobile threat management.
- Uses AI to provide actionable insights into mobile device risks.
- Provides 24/7 support via chat, phone, and email.
What To Consider:
- Complex setups may require additional customization
- This is an enterprise focussed solution
Pricing: Flexible per-user pricing is available; contact IBM directly for specific details.
Best suited for: MaaS360 with Watson is ideal for enterprises seeking a scalable endpoint management solution with AI-driven insights and robust security features.
IBM Security MaaS360 with Watson
ManageEngine Mobile Device Manager Plus
MobileDeviceManagerPlus is ManageEngine’s MDM solution that offers comprehensive device, app, and security management, including containerization for a wide range of device types.
Why We Picked MobileDeviceManagerPlus: We appreciate its intuitive interface and robust remote control capabilities for troubleshooting, which enhance IT management efficiency.
MobileDeviceManagerPlus Best Features: Key features include device enrollment and authentication, policy configuration for peripheral settings, device sharing, and security. It supports role-based access controls, single sign-on, data encryption, VPN, and restricts third-party backups. App management allows distribution, profile setup for work/personal app separation, and Kiosk Mode for running only authorized apps. Reporting is facilitated by a drag-and-drop creator, with automated scheduling in PDF, CSV, and XLS formats. Remote troubleshooting includes chat, screen viewing, scanning, restart, wipe, shutdown, and full unattended access. Compatible with Android, Windows, ChromeOS, iOS, iPadOS, MacOS, tvOS, IoT, and other devices.
What’s great:
- Intuitive interface enhances user experience
- Robust remote control for effective troubleshooting
- Comprehensive policy configuration and security features
- Versatile app management including Kiosk Mode
- Supports a wide range of devices
What to consider:
- Complex setups may require significant customization
- Free version limited to 25 devices
Pricing: MobileDeviceManagerPlus offers a free version for up to 25 devices. For enterprise pricing, visit the ManageEngine website.
Who it’s for: MobileDeviceManagerPlus is ideal for enterprises needing extensive device management and small businesses utilizing the free version for up to 25 devices.
ManageEngine Mobile Device Manager Plus
Miradore
Miradore is an MDM platform tailored for SMBs, offering a user-friendly interface for managing and securing both personal and corporate devices. It provides robust app management and essential security features, making it a suitable choice for businesses looking to streamline their mobile device management.
Why We Picked Miradore: We appreciate Miradore’s quick deployment and flexible pricing, which cater to the budgets of small to mid-sized businesses. Its ease of management once deployed is another key feature we value.
Miradore MDM Best Features: Miradore offers app management with block and allow lists, remote app deployment and removal, and Kiosk Mode for separating personal and work apps. Security features include data encryption, screen lock enforcement, passcode requirements, and the ability to restrict device features. For iOS devices, Lost Mode locks lost or stolen devices until they are returned. The management console provides a quick overview of devices, real-time analytics on device and OS usage, and customizable reporting. Miradore supports Android, iOS, macOS, and Windows.
What’s Great:
- Quick and easy deployment
- Flexible pricing plans
- Robust app management functionality
- Comprehensive device analytics and reporting
- Supports multiple operating systems
What to Consider:
- Some users might find advanced features require additional configuration
Pricing: For detailed pricing, visit Miradore’s website directly.
Who it’s for: Miradore is ideal for SMBs seeking efficient app management and device security, as well as MSPs looking for a multi-platform MDM solution.
Miradore
Scalefusion
Scalefusion is a versatile mobile device and endpoint management (MDM/UEM) tool designed for ease of use without compromising on security. It offers a range of features tailored to manage smartphones, tablets, laptops, and rugged devices across multiple operating systems.
Why We Picked Scalefusion: We appreciate Scalefusion’s quick deployment and intuitive interface, which simplifies device management. Its robust security features, including role-based access and data sharing restrictions, ensure comprehensive endpoint protection.
Scalefusion Best Features: Scalefusion supports device configuration via email, Android Zero-touch, Apple DEP, Google Workspace, and Microsoft 365. Security features include password policy configuration, Wi-Fi settings, website block/allow lists, factory reset protection, and screen capture blocking. Management capabilities allow for remote screen mirroring, app management, and report generation on device health and security incidents. Compatible with Android, iOS, macOS, Windows, and Linux.
What’s Great:
- Quick and easy deployment with an intuitive interface
- Flexible customization to meet specific business needs
- Strong security features including role-based access control
- Comprehensive remote management and reporting capabilities
- Supports a wide range of devices and operating systems
What To Consider:
- May require additional setup for advanced security configurations
Pricing: For detailed pricing, visit Scalefusion directly.
Best Suited For: Scalefusion is ideal for businesses of all sizes seeking a flexible and secure MDM/UEM solution. It is particularly beneficial for schools managing student and staff iPads due to its integration with Apple School Manager.
Scalefusion
Other Endpoint Management Services
We researched lots of mobile device management solutions while we were making this guide. Here are a few other tools that are worth your consideration:
Enables you to securely manage devices, apps, and user access to organization resources.
Creates a complete inventory of your mobile devices and enables you to create profiles and enforce security policies.
The Best MDM Solutions: Shortlist FAQs
Why should you trust this Shortlist?
This article was written by the Caitlin Harris, Deputy Head of Content at Expert Insights, who has been covering cybersecurity, including endpoint management, for over 5 years. This article has been technically reviewed by our technical researcher, Laura Iannini, who has experience with a variety of cybersecurity platforms and conducts thorough product tests to ensure that Expert Insights’ reviews are definitive and insightful.
Research for this guide included:
- Conducting first-hand technical reviews and testing of several dozen leading endpoint management and security providers.
- Interviewing executives in the MDM space, as well as the wider endpoint management and security industries, for first-hand insight into the challenges and strengths of different solutions.
- Researching and demoing endpoint management and security solutions in several categories over several years.
- Speaking to several organizations of all sizes about their endpoint management challenges and the features that are most useful to them.
- Reading third-party and customer reviews from multiple outlets, including paid industry reports.
This guide is updated at least every 3 months to review the vendors included and ensure that the features listed are up to date.
Who is this Shortlist for?
We recommend that organizations with a high percentage of remote/hybrid workers, or which don’t have a physical office with permanent workstations, consider an MDM solutions. This list has, therefore, been written with a broad audience in mind.
How was the Shortlist picked?
When considering MDM vendors, we evaluated many MDM solutions based on the following criterion:
Features: Based on conversations with vendors, end customers, and our own testing, we selected the following key features:
- Compatibility with popular device types (e.g. cell phone and tablet) and operating systems (e.g., Android and iOS), to make device enrollment easy, with admins able to automate patching and updates on each device.
- Remote monitoring and troubleshooting capabilities such as remote screen viewing, device wiping, data encryption, and device locking or the lockdown of certain services when not in use, allowing you to better maintain security.
- Reporting and analytics dashboards that deliver reports on device usage, device compliance, whether operating systems and software are up to date, and whether a device has unauthorized apps installed. Having a centralized platform makes this process much easier.
- Application management capabilities such as custom app store functionality, the ability to remotely distribute software and updates to certain users or user groups, or the ability to isolate personal and workplace apps.
- Additional security features such as an in-built VPN or Zero Trust Network Access (ZTNA), multi-factor authentication or two-factor authentication, role-based access, and integrations with existing endpoint security tools such as antivirus software and firewalls.
Market perception: We reviewed each vendor included on the Shortlist to ensure they are reliable, trusted providers in the market. We reviewed their documentation, third-party analyst reports, and—where possible—we have interviewed executives directly.
Customer usage: We use market share as a metric when comparing vendors and aim to represent both high market share vendors and challenger brands with innovative capabilities. We have spoken to end customers and reviewed customer case studies, testimonials, and end user reviews.
Product heritage: Finally, we have looked at where a product has come from in the market, including when companies were founded, their leadership team, their mission statements, and their successes. We have also considered product updates and how regularly new features are added. We have ensured all vendors are credible leaders with a solution we would be happy to use ourselves.
Based on our experience in the endpoint management and broader cybersecurity market, we have also considered several other factors, such as the benefit of consolidating multiple features into a single platform, the quality of the admin interface, the customer support on offer, and other use cases to help you find the right MDM solution.
This list is designed to be a selection of the best MDM providers. Many leading solutions have not been included in this list, with no criticism intended.
FAQs
Everything You Need To Know About Mobile Device Management (FAQs)
Device management is the process of monitoring, managing, and securing the mobile devices connected to your company’s network, including both personal and corporate-issued devices.
Device management solutions give you a unified view of all the mobile devices within your company’s network. Usually, you have to install the Mobile Device Management agent on all mobile devices—the best MDM solutions offer an option for remote users to install this agent themselves. Once the agent is installed, the MDM solution can monitor the device’s health and security posture.
With an MDM solution, you can also define policies for device configuration, manage the applications installed on a device, and remotely troubleshoot any issues that a user is having with their device—all from a single, centralized management console.
Mobile devices are a lucrative target for cybercriminals and can also be an easy target when not properly secured.
- Without multi-factor authentication, an attacker could steal their victim’s phone and sign into their corporate accounts.
- Without strong endpoint protection, such as antivirus and antimalware software, an attacker could install malware on a user’s device undetected.
- Without a secure remote access solution, such as a VPNor zero trust network access (ZTNA), an attacker could tap into a user’s unsecured Wi-Fi connection and spy on all their connections to the company network.
Mobile Device Management solutions give you comprehensive visibility of all the mobile devices connected to the company network and enable you to remotely manage and secure those devices, to protect them from these types of threat.
Mobile Device Management also allows you to monitor device health such as checking for updates. This not only helps prevent the exploitation of software and operating system vulnerabilities but also ensures that each device is running optimally, which boosts productivity. After all, nobody wants to wait for 10 minutes after they’ve turned on their tablet just to be able to load up their inbox.
All Mobile Device Management software solutions offer slightly different feature sets to meet specific use cases, but there are some features that you should look out for in any Mobile Device Management solution. These are:
- Device compatibility: Your Mobile Device Management software solution must be compatible with all the device types in your business and offer patching and updates for all the operating systems those devices are running.
- Remote monitoring and troubleshooting: You should be able to remotely troubleshoot user devices via a centralized management console, without having to visit users in person.
- Application management: You should be able to define which applications can be installed on user devices, as well as update those apps. This could be via an app store experience, remote software distribution, or a containerized “work mode” that keeps personal and work apps separate.
- Reporting and analytics: You should be able to generate and export reports into device posture including usage, compliance, patch status, and the presence of unauthorized apps.
There are three main types of endpoint management solution on the market: Mobile Device Management (MDM), Enterprise Mobility Management (EMM), and Unified Endpoint Management (UEM). While they do overlap somewhat in terms of functionality, there are some key differences you should know about before you decide which one to invest in.
- MDM solutions enable you to monitor, manage, and configure policies for all the mobile devices connected to your network. However, MDM software doesn’t allow you to manage on-prem devices, such as desktops. This means MDM is best suited to organizations with a high percentage of remote workers, or which don’t have a physical office with permanent workstations.
- EMM solutions use containers to secure the apps and data on a mobile device, enabling employees to switch easily between work and personal activities on one device. This is useful for businesses with lots of BYOD devices. However, while EMM was designed as an evolution of MDM, most modernMDM solutions also offer this app management functionality.
- UEM solutions enable you teams to monitor, manage, and secure all of the devices connected to your corporate network—both mobile and on-site—via one interface. Because of this, UEM is a strong solution for businesses using a combination of mobile devices, desktop PCs, and IoT devices.
Written By
Caitlin Harris is Deputy Head of Content at Expert Insights. Caitlin is an experienced writer and journalist, with years of experience producing award-winning technical training materials and journalistic content. Caitlin holds a First Class BA in English Literature and German, and provides our content team with strategic editorial guidance as well as carrying out detailed research to create articles that are accurate, engaging and relevant. Caitlin co-hosts the Expert Insights Podcast, where she interviews world-leading B2B tech experts.
Technical Review
Laura Iannini is an Information Security Engineer. She holds a Bachelor’s degree in Cybersecurity from the University of West Florida. Laura has experience with a variety of cybersecurity platforms and leads technical reviews of leading solutions. She conducts thorough product tests to ensure that Expert Insights’ reviews are definitive and insightful.