IT Operations
Best MDM Software: How to Choose
The main mobile device management platforms compared — platform depth, Android enrolment modes, pricing model, and the questions that actually separate them.
Every MDM vendor lists the same operating system logos. What separates them is how deep the control actually goes on each one, and whether the enrolment mode you can realistically use unlocks the features you are paying for.
How to compare
What actually differentiates MDM platforms
MDM platforms differentiate on eight things — and almost none of them appear on a pricing page. Before reading any vendor review, including the ones below, fix these criteria in order of importance for your estate, because a platform that wins on five of them and fails on the one you depend on is still the wrong platform. If you are new to the category, what MDM is and how it works covers the fundamentals first.
On cost: mainstream MDM pricing clusters around ₹85–670 (USD 1–8) per device per month depending on tier and volume. The bigger variable is rarely the headline rate — it is whether patching, remote access and reporting are inside that rate or sold as separate modules.
- Per-OS depth — ask exactly which policies are enforced on each OS you run, not which logos are supported
- Android enrolment mode — Device Owner unlocks silent app install, kiosk mode and strong restrictions; a personally-enrolled device unlocks far less. This single point decides most Android outcomes.
- Apple programmes — Apple Business Manager and supervised enrolment change what is possible on macOS and iOS
- Patching — included, or a separate module with separate pricing?
- Remote access — built in, or a third-party tool you also pay for?
- Multi-tenancy — essential for MSPs; retro-fitting client isolation is painful
- Pricing model — per device or per user, and what happens as you grow
- Audit trail — you will need it for ISO 27001, SOC 2 or DPDP evidence
The options
The best MDM software, platform by platform
Seven platforms cover the realistic shortlist for most teams: Microsoft Intune, Jamf, Scalefusion, Hexnode, ManageEngine MDM, Miradore and Infronest. Each entry below states what the product is genuinely good at, where it is limited, who it fits, and how it charges — the four things a feature grid never tells you.
Microsoft Intune
Strengths. Intune is the default choice for Microsoft-centric organisations, and on Windows it is the reference point every other vendor is measured against: full policy and configuration management, BitLocker, Windows Autopilot zero-touch provisioning, and conditional access tied directly into Entra ID so an out-of-compliance device can be blocked from Microsoft 365 automatically. Coverage extends to macOS, iOS/iPadOS, Android and (more recently, with a narrower feature set) Linux. Microsoft's Intune documentation is unusually complete, and the third-party knowledge base is the largest in the category.
Limits. Depth outside Windows falls away faster than the marketing suggests — macOS and Linux management are serviceable rather than deep, and policy sync delays are a recurring operational complaint. Intune is also genuinely complex: small teams without a dedicated endpoint administrator often struggle to use more than a fraction of it.
Who it fits and pricing model. Organisations already paying for Microsoft 365 with a mostly-Windows fleet. Licensing is per user, and several Microsoft 365 enterprise and business bundles already include Intune — check what your existing licence covers before pricing anything else. Standalone plans exist; published price varies — check vendor.
Jamf
Strengths. Jamf is the strongest Apple-focused MDM: the deepest macOS policy control available, mature iOS/iPadOS management, tight integration with Apple Business Manager for zero-touch enrolment, and a strong track record of supporting new Apple OS releases quickly. If your estate is Apple and your compliance posture depends on enforcing settings Apple only exposes through supervised management, Jamf is the safe answer.
Limits. It is Apple-only. There is no Windows, Linux or Android story, so any mixed estate needs a second management product and the reconciliation work that comes with running two consoles and two inventories.
Who it fits and pricing model. Apple-only or Apple-dominant organisations — design studios, media companies, startups standardised on MacBooks. Per-device subscription pricing across several product tiers; published price varies — check vendor.
Scalefusion
Strengths. Scalefusion is an India-based platform whose stand-out capability is Android Device Owner management: silent app installation, single- and multi-app kiosk modes, and strong lockdown for company-owned devices. That makes it a frequent shortlist entry for field-force, logistics, retail and frontline deployments where the fleet is rugged Android hardware rather than laptops. It also manages iOS, Windows and macOS, and local pricing and support are a practical advantage for Indian buyers.
Limits. Desktop management depth on Windows and macOS is lighter than the Android side, and lighter than Intune or Jamf on their home platforms. Evaluate it as an Android-first product that also covers desktops, not the reverse.
Who it fits and pricing model. Frontline, kiosk and field Android fleets, especially in India. Per-device tiered subscriptions; published price varies — check vendor. If you are comparing it against Infronest specifically, our Scalefusion comparison sets the two side by side.
Hexnode
Strengths. Hexnode offers some of the broadest OS coverage in the mid-market — Android, iOS, Windows, macOS, plus tvOS and Fire OS for signage and shared-screen use cases — behind a console that teams consistently find easier to learn than Intune. Kiosk and single-purpose device support is strong, and it handles mixed BYOD and company-owned fleets without forcing one enrolment model.
Limits. Advanced capabilities concentrate in the higher tiers, so compare the tier you would actually buy rather than the headline entry price. Per-OS depth is respectable everywhere but leading nowhere: an Apple-only shop gets more from Jamf, a Microsoft shop from Intune.
Who it fits and pricing model. Mid-market teams with genuinely mixed fleets who value time-to-value over maximum depth on any single OS. Per-device tiered subscriptions; published price varies — check vendor.
ManageEngine MDM
Strengths. ManageEngine's MDM (Mobile Device Manager Plus) manages Android, iOS, Windows, macOS and Chrome OS, and carries two advantages the cloud-native rivals cannot match: a genuine on-premises deployment option for organisations that cannot put device management in someone else's cloud, and integration with the wider ManageEngine suite (service desk, patching, AD management) that many Indian enterprises already run.
Limits. The product makes most sense inside the ManageEngine ecosystem; as a standalone MDM its console and workflow feel utilitarian next to newer rivals, and you take on the suite's patching and upgrade cadence if you self-host.
Who it fits and pricing model. Teams already invested in ManageEngine tooling, and organisations with a hard on-premises requirement. Per-device licensing with cloud and on-premises editions; published price varies — check vendor.
Miradore
Strengths. Miradore is the simplest credible entry point in this list: quick setup, a clean console, coverage of Android, iOS, Windows and macOS, and a free tier that lets a small team get a real inventory and basic policies in place without a procurement cycle. For a company enrolling its first fifty devices, that low floor matters more than any advanced feature.
Limits. It is intentionally light. Advanced policy control, automation and reporting run well behind the platforms above, and growing fleets tend to migrate off it once compliance requirements harden — factor the future migration into the low starting cost.
Who it fits and pricing model. Small teams standing up their first MDM, or organisations that need basic inventory and policy without enterprise complexity. Free tier plus per-device paid plans; published price varies — check vendor.
Infronest
Disclosure: Infronest is our own product. We include it because it genuinely competes in this category; evaluate it with the same criteria as every other tool.
Strengths. Infronest manages Windows, macOS, Linux and Android — with real Linux management (inventory, patching, scripting, policy) rather than a checkbox, and Android Device Owner support for kiosk and frontline fleets. The structural difference is that device management lives in the same tenant-isolated workspace as server monitoring, IT assets, helpdesk, patch management and VAPT, so a device, its owner, its tickets and its vulnerabilities are one record instead of five consoles. Every action lands in a full audit trail, and MSPs get genuine per-client tenant isolation rather than a filtered view.
Limits. There is no iOS/iPadOS management today — if iPhone control is a hard requirement, you need an Apple-capable MDM alongside it or instead of it. Infronest is also a younger product than Intune or Jamf, with a smaller third-party ecosystem.
Who it fits and pricing model. Mixed Windows/Linux/Android estates, MSPs, and teams whose real problem is tool sprawl rather than one missing MDM feature. Flat per-user pricing, published openly on the pricing page, with a 14-day free trial.
At a glance
MDM software comparison table
The table below condenses the entries above to the four decisions that shortlist a platform: what it manages, who it is for, and how it charges.
MDM platforms compared on OS coverage, fit and pricing model
| Platform | OS coverage | Best for | Pricing model |
|---|---|---|---|
| Microsoft Intune | Windows, macOS, iOS/iPadOS, Android, Linux (limited) | Microsoft 365-centric organisations | Per user; bundled with several Microsoft 365 plans |
| Jamf | macOS, iOS, iPadOS, tvOS (Apple only) | Apple-only organisations | Per device subscription |
| Scalefusion | Android, iOS, Windows, macOS | Frontline, kiosk and field Android fleets | Per device tiers |
| Hexnode | Android, iOS, Windows, macOS, tvOS, Fire OS | Mid-market mixed fleets | Per device tiers |
| ManageEngine MDM | Android, iOS, Windows, macOS, Chrome OS | ManageEngine-suite and on-premises shops | Per device; cloud or on-premises |
| Miradore | Android, iOS, Windows, macOS | Small teams starting out | Free tier + per device |
| Infronest | Windows, macOS, Linux, Android (no iOS/iPadOS today) | Mixed estates consolidating IT tools | Flat per user |
Read this before buying
Questions vendors do not volunteer
Every platform above will pass a demo. The questions that separate them are the ones the demo script avoids — ask each of these in writing and keep the answers for the contract stage.
- 'Supports Linux' — does that mean full policy enforcement, or inventory and scripts only?
- 'Supports Android' — under which enrolment mode, and what breaks on personally-owned devices?
- 'Includes patching' — OS only, or third-party applications too? See what patch management involves for why the difference matters.
- 'Remote access included' — attended only, or unattended for servers as well?
- 'Unlimited devices' — check whether reporting, retention or API calls are what is actually metered.
- Ask for the audit-log export format before you sign; that is what your auditor will ask for.
Which MDM fits which team
Match the platform to the estate, not the review score. The pairings below resolve most shortlists, and our MDM best practices checklist covers what to do in the first ninety days after you pick one.
- Microsoft-centric office, mostly Windows — Intune
- Apple-only design or media company — Jamf
- Frontline, kiosk or field Android fleet — Scalefusion or another Device-Owner-strong platform
- Small team enrolling its first devices — Miradore, upgrading later if compliance hardens
- On-premises requirement or existing ManageEngine suite — ManageEngine MDM
- Mixed OS estate that also needs monitoring, tickets and patching — a unified IT platform such as Infronest rather than a standalone MDM
- MSP managing many clients — prioritise genuine multi-tenancy and per-client reporting above feature lists
Infronest
Conclusion
Infronest manages Windows, macOS, Linux and Android devices in the same tenant-isolated workspace as server monitoring, IT assets, helpdesk, patch management and VAPT. For teams whose real problem is tool sprawl rather than one missing MDM feature, that consolidation is usually the bigger win.
Start a 14-day free trial at infronest.com — no credit card required.
Frequently Asked Questions
- Which MDM software is best?
- It depends on your estate. Intune suits Microsoft-centric Windows environments, Jamf is the strongest Apple-only choice, and Device-Owner-focused platforms such as Scalefusion suit Android frontline fleets. If your estate is mixed and you also need monitoring, patching and helpdesk, a unified IT platform such as Infronest usually beats a standalone MDM.
- How much does MDM software cost in India?
- Mainstream MDM platforms typically cost ₹85–670 (USD 1–8) per device per month, depending on features and volume. Watch for patching, remote access and advanced reporting being sold as separate modules — they often double the effective price. Bundling matters too: some Microsoft 365 plans already include Intune.
- Is Intune included with Microsoft 365?
- Several Microsoft 365 enterprise and business bundles include Intune, so check what your existing licence already covers before buying a separate MDM. If your fleet is mostly Windows and you already pay for Microsoft 365, price the Intune you may already own first.
- Which MDM is best for Android devices?
- The platform matters less than the enrolment mode: Android Device Owner enrolment is what unlocks silent app installation, kiosk mode and strong restrictions, and it must be set at initial device setup. Scalefusion and Infronest are both strong Device Owner options; whichever you choose, plan enrolment before handing devices to staff.
- What is the best free MDM software?
- Miradore's free tier is the most practical way to get a real inventory and basic policies at zero cost, and it is enough for a small fleet's first MDM. Free tiers are deliberately light, though — once you need enforced encryption, patching SLAs and audit evidence, expect to move to a paid tier or platform.
- What is the difference between MDM and UEM?
- UEM (Unified Endpoint Management) is the broader term for one console managing every endpoint type — mobile, desktop, server — under a single policy model. Most modern 'MDM' products, including every platform in this guide, are effectively UEM. What is MDM covers the distinction in full.
- Does Infronest MDM support iOS?
- No. Infronest manages Windows, macOS, Linux and Android today, and does not manage iOS or iPadOS. If iPhone management is a hard requirement, run an Apple-capable MDM such as Jamf or Intune for that slice of the fleet — we would rather say so plainly than sell you a checkbox.