IT Groups, These 9 Finest MDM Options Are the Actual Deal

My telephone and I are inseparable. 

Emails, Slack messages, and random safety alerts that I’ll or might not ignore. However whereas I am simply making an attempt to maintain my display screen time underneath management, IT groups have a a lot larger problem: managing each firm machine earlier than issues spiral right into a safety nightmare.

They’re juggling lots of—typically 1000’s—of units, every one a possible compliance danger, information breach, or unauthorized TikTok set up away from catastrophe. With out the greatest cell machine administration (MDM) answer, one thing will slip by way of the cracks.

I teamed up with our IT crew to check 20+ MDM options, deploy insurance policies, implement safety measures, push updates, and remotely lock down misplaced units. Some instruments made the method seamless, whereas others struggled with primary duties.

In the event you’re uninterested in sifting by way of limitless characteristic lists and simply need to know which MDM options are price your time, I’ve acquired you lined. Listed here are the very best MDM platforms I examined—ranked, reviewed, and prepared for real-world use.

9 greatest MDM options I examined and suggest 

Cellular machine administration options are how IT groups preserve firm units from turning right into a safety nightmare. I’ve seen firsthand what occurs when companies do not have a strong MDM system in place—misplaced laptops with delicate information, work telephones loaded with who-knows-what, and staff who “neglect” to replace their software program for years. It is chaos.

MDM software program lets IT groups safe, observe, and handle each work machine from one dashboard. I am speaking about implementing safety insurance policies with out chasing individuals down, pushing updates with out sending 10 reminder emails, and locking or wiping misplaced units earlier than they develop into a legal responsibility.

For me, the largest perk of MDM is that it takes the stress out of machine administration. No extra questioning if firm information is floating round on an previous telephone somebody left in an Uber. No extra IT horror tales about rogue apps or outdated safety insurance policies. Simply full management, much less problem, and a a lot happier IT staff.

The end result? I’ve my closing listing of the very best MDM options that do not simply have nice advertising however truly work. 

My standards for what makes the very best MDM options price it 

Once I got down to discover the very best cell machine administration answer, I made certain every one met particular, real-world standards earlier than making the reduce. Here is what I seemed for:

• Distant administration capabilities: An MDM that solely works nicely when the machine is in hand is not helpful. The most effective platforms permit IT admins to remotely lock, wipe, or observe units—whether or not they’re misplaced, stolen, or simply being utilized in methods they should not be. I prioritized MDMs that provide real-time visibility into machine well being and exercise, plus distant troubleshooting choices like screen-sharing or command-line entry.
• Machine and working system compatibility: Not each firm runs on the identical mixture of units. Some use iOS and macOS, others are locked into Home windows, and many have a bring-your-own-device (BYOD) coverage that throws Android into the combination. An excellent MDM ought to assist all main working techniques (Home windows, macOS, iOS, Android, and even Linux in some circumstances) with full characteristic parity—not a watered-down model, relying on the OS.
• Automation and coverage enforcement: MDM software program ought to scale back handbook work, not add to it. I targeted on platforms that permit IT groups to preconfigure safety insurance policies, automate software program updates, implement app restrictions, and set off alerts for non-compliant units. Instruments with dynamic group-based insurance policies (the place new units mechanically get the best safety settings based mostly on their position) scored increased.
• Safety and compliance management: If an MDM platform would not take safety significantly, it isn’t price contemplating. I seemed for granular safety insurance policies that allow IT groups implement encryption, arrange distant wipe capabilities, and management which apps and community units can entry. Bonus factors for instruments that assist zero belief structure and compliance with frameworks like GDPR, HIPAA, and SOC 2.
• Ease of use and admin expertise: Some MDM options really feel like they had been designed for safety consultants with a decade of IT expertise—and that is an issue. I evaluated how simple it was to deploy insurance policies, handle units, and configure settings with out getting misplaced in difficult menus. A clear, intuitive dashboard and clear reporting instruments made an enormous distinction in usability.
• Integration with current IT stack: MDM software program would not exist in a vacuum. It must work alongside different IT instruments like identification and entry administration (IAM) options, endpoint safety software program, and cloud providers. I prioritized platforms with built-in integrations for Microsoft Entra ID (previously Azure AD), Google Workspace, Okta, and different main safety instruments.
• App and content material administration: Corporations do not simply handle units—in addition they handle the apps and information on them. An excellent MDM ought to permit IT to push and take away apps, implement app utilization insurance policies, and forestall customers from downloading unauthorized software program. I additionally seemed for content material filtering and information loss prevention (DLP) options that assist companies preserve delicate data safe.

The listing under incorporates real person critiques from the very best cell machine administration software program class web page. To be included on this class, an answer should:

• Be suitable with all widespread or company-issued cell units and assist obligatory working techniques and platforms
• Operate by way of/with a number of service suppliers
• Customise in line with firm coverage and/or necessities.
• Combine with the already current IT, administrative, and software techniques
• Allow the distant configuration, locking, wiping, detection, and encryption of units
• Report on machine exercise

*This information was pulled from G2 in 2025. Some critiques might have been edited for readability.  

I went into testing Jamf Professional with one main query: is it actually the gold commonplace for managing Apple units, or is it simply puffed up as a result of there aren’t many Apple-focused MDMs? After spending time deploying and configuring units, I can confidently say it is one of many strongest Apple-focused MDMs on the market—nevertheless it’s not for everybody. 

If your organization lives and breathes Apple, that is hands-down the most effective instruments for machine administration, app distribution, and safety enforcement. 

I began by testing zero-touch deployment, which is the place Jamf Professional actually shines. My IT staff unboxed a couple of brand-new MacBooks, enrolled them in Apple Enterprise Supervisor (ABM), and similar to that, the units mechanically configured themselves, put in safety settings, and deployed the required apps. No handbook setup, no end-user frustration. The complete course of was seamless, and if I had been an IT admin rolling out dozens (or lots of) of units, I might be very proud of how simple this was.

Subsequent, I moved on to app and content material administration, utilizing Jamf’s App Catalog to push software program updates throughout totally different take a look at units. It made putting in and implementing software program variations extremely easy. I additionally examined customized app deployment, and whereas it labored, it wasn’t as intuitive as I might hoped. I needed to dig into the documentation to get it proper, which felt a bit of irritating in comparison with how clean all the pieces else was.

Safety insurance policies had been one other space the place Jamf Professional stood out. We arrange restrictions that blocked USB entry, enforced disk encryption, disabled system desire modifications, and locked down particular apps. All the pieces labored precisely as anticipated. I additionally examined Misplaced Mode on an iPhone, which immediately locked the machine and displayed a message on the display screen. Nevertheless, after we tried a distant wipe, there was a slight delay—it will definitely labored, however in a high-stakes scenario, that wait time may very well be a priority.

However here is the factor—whereas Jamf Professional does a whole lot of issues exceptionally nicely, it isn’t the simplest MDM to work with. I discovered myself clicking by way of approach too many menus to seek out primary options. It is clear this device was designed for knowledgeable IT admins, not informal customers. 

I do love how deeply built-in Jamf Professional is with Apple’s ecosystem, however it could actually take a while to get used to. And whereas we anticipated no Home windows or Android assist, it nonetheless felt like a serious draw back when testing in a mixed-device surroundings. 

What I dislike about Jamf Professional:

• No Home windows or Android assist. If even one particular person in your staff makes use of a non-Apple machine, you may want a second MDM answer. We examined in a mixed-device surroundings, and Jamf Professional fully ignores non-Apple units.
• Deploying customized enterprise apps is difficult. Whereas App Retailer apps had been simple to handle, pushing inside firm apps required extra steps than I anticipated.

What G2 customers dislike about Jamf Professional:

“I want that Jamf Professional would come with a approach to mechanically identify units from inside Jamf. At the moment, it is a very handbook course of because of the limitations of choices inside Jamf on this regard. Would like to see extra choices for naming each IOS and OS units. I additionally want that the Choose All and Deselect ALL buttons within the pre-stage scoping space had been both eliminated or in a position for use when filtering the listing of units with out it nonetheless deciding on or unselecting ALL units. Many customers suppose it would solely choose the gadgets which have been filtered within the listing and are seen, nevertheless it truly nonetheless selects all the listing, disregarding the filter. This causes confusion and errors typically by new customers.”

– Jamf Professional Evaluate, Denise L.

When my IT staff and I examined NinjaOne, we anticipated a strong endpoint administration device, however what we discovered was a hybrid MDM-RMM answer that does lots—however not all the time all the pieces you want from a standard MDM. If your organization wants one platform to handle laptops, desktops, and cell units, this may very well be an incredible match. However should you’re in search of a devoted MDM with deep cell safety and app controls, NinjaOne would possibly depart you wanting extra.

We began by enrolling a mixture of Home windows laptops, macOS units, iPhones, and Android telephones, and I am going to admit—it was one of many quickest setups we have examined. Not like some MDMs that require handbook configurations and lengthy setup processes, NinjaOne makes use of an agent-based system, which means as soon as the agent is put in, the machine mechanically enrolls, studies again to the dashboard, and begins being monitored. My IT staff preferred that it was cloud-based, so we did not should take care of difficult infrastructure.

From there, we explored machine monitoring and safety enforcement. On Home windows and macOS, NinjaOne gave us full visibility into system well being, software program variations, and patch standing. We might remotely set up software program, push safety updates, and even entry units for troubleshooting. This was an enormous win for IT assist groups that want distant management capabilities. However as soon as we moved to cell units, issues felt extra restricted.

One among NinjaOne’s greatest strengths is automation. We created a workflow to mechanically replace software program on all take a look at units, implement safety patches, and ship alerts for non-compliant units, and all of it labored seamlessly. Plus, IT groups can write customized scripts to automate particular duties, which is one thing most traditional MDMs do not supply.

However after we shifted our focus to cell machine safety, we hit some limits. Whereas coverage enforcement labored nicely for desktops and laptops, cell units felt like an afterthought. We might implement primary safety insurance policies like passcodes and encryption, however there was no in-depth app administration answer, no conditional entry insurance policies, and no containerization for separating work and private information. That was a letdown.

One other problem? No distant troubleshooting for cell units. On desktops, we might remotely entry and management units to repair issues, however for cell units, our solely choices had been sending instructions or wiping them fully. That is a reasonably large hole for IT groups who want real-time assist instruments for workers utilizing work telephones.

Total, NinjaOne is a superb match for IT groups managing a mixture of desktops and cell units—but when your organization is mobile-first, you would possibly discover it missing.

What I dislike about NinjaOne:

• I did not discover it ultimate for BYOD eventualities. In case your staff convey their very own cell units, NinjaOne might not supply the extent of separation and safety that you simply want.
• Restricted cell machine security measures. Whereas Home windows and macOS administration was top-tier, iOS and Android safety controls weren’t as deep. We might implement passcode insurance policies and push configurations, however distant wipe and Misplaced Mode weren’t as responsive.

What G2 customers dislike about NinjaOne:

“With the limitless quantity of included customers, we had been wanting ahead to implementing distant entry capabilities to a few of our distant customers (entry to PC from a cell machine). Many of those customers could be utilizing their telephones for distant entry. Sadly, cell assist for finish customers hasn’t been correctly carried out but. There are numerous different options that we wished NinjaOne would implement (multi-split window for multi-monitor when isolated into distant PC, for instance), a few of that are on their roadmap, a few of which aren’t.”

– NinjaOne Evaluate, Adon G.

On testing JumpCloud, I shortly realized that this is not simply an MDM answer—it is a full identification, machine, and safety administration platform. In the event you’re solely in search of primary cell machine administration, this would possibly really feel like overkill. However should you want a centralized approach to handle customers, units, and safety insurance policies throughout a number of platforms, JumpCloud is without doubt one of the strongest instruments I ended up testing.

I began with machine onboarding, enrolling a mixture of Home windows, macOS, iOS, and Android units. Not like some MDMs that depend on separate configurations for various platforms, JumpCloud lets us handle all the pieces from a single console. The enrollment course of was clean, and we had been in a position to implement safety insurance policies, deploy functions, and handle customers throughout all units in a single place.

One factor that stood out instantly was JumpCloud’s integration of MDM with identification administration. Most MDMs focus solely on machine management, however JumpCloud ties in person authentication, listing providers, and zero-trust safety fashions. We examined single sign-on (SSO) and multi-factor authentication (MFA) insurance policies, and it was nice to see that the IT people might implement safety guidelines at each the machine and person ranges.

For cell units, we had been in a position to push safety settings, implement passcodes, and remotely wipe units if wanted. Nevertheless, after we tried app administration, it wasn’t as granular as we would hoped. We might deploy apps to units, however there was no actual software sandboxing or containerization for separating work and private information. That is a downside for BYOD (Carry Your Personal Machine) environments, the place we would need to guarantee company information is totally remoted.

JumpCloud additionally has built-in endpoint compliance instruments, which we examined by implementing disk encryption, monitoring login exercise, and checking for outdated software program. The zero-trust safety strategy was the most effective we have seen—each machine was repeatedly verified earlier than being allowed to entry firm assets.

Cellular machine administration itself labored nicely for primary duties like remotely locking units, monitoring misplaced telephones, and implementing encryption, however I bumped into limitations with deeper cell controls. I could not do issues like geofencing, distant display screen management, or automated remediation actions based mostly on safety violations. 

Additionally, Android and iOS machine enrollments weren’t as clean as I anticipated. The method required further handbook steps, and a few customers reported needing to re-enroll after an OS replace. 

Total, JumpCloud is without doubt one of the most security-focused MDMs we examined, nevertheless it’s greatest fitted to firms that want full identification and machine administration, not simply cell safety.

What I dislike about JumpCloud:

• Machine enrollment had points on Android and iOS. A few of us wanted to re-enroll units after OS updates, and the preliminary setup wasn’t as clean as I anticipated. 
• Linux machine administration was a bit of inconsistent. Fundamental insurance policies like implementing display screen locks labored on some distributions however did not apply correctly on others, which made issues unreliable.

What G2 customers dislike about JumpCloud:

“Cellular administration options for iOS and Android are extra primary and do not supply as a lot management because the instruments obtainable for managing desktop units.”

– JumpCloud Evaluate, Md. S.

Much like Jamf Professional, Kandji can be constructed particularly for Apple units. As a substitute of juggling a number of OS environments, I examined it solely with macOS, iOS, and iPadOS units to see how nicely it handles Apple’s ecosystem. Spoiler: It does this very well, however that focus comes with some trade-offs.

One of many standout options was Kandji’s Automation Engine, significantly the pre-built safety and compliance templates. Whereas different MDMs make you configure safety insurance policies from scratch, Kandji supplies over 150 pre-configured safety controls that mechanically implement compliance with frameworks like CIS benchmarks, SOC 2, ISO 27001, and NIST. 

We enrolled a fleet of macOS units and making use of a CIS benchmark template—it mechanically enabled FileVault encryption, enforced password insurance policies, blocked USB storage, and even set login window configurations with out having to tweak particular person settings.

One other spectacular characteristic was Auto Apps, which permits IT groups to deploy and replace third-party apps with out handbook intervention. I examined this with Zoom, Slack, and Chrome. The software program up to date silently within the background, and I might even set compliance guidelines in order that if a person deleted or downgraded an app, it will mechanically reinstall the most recent model. This was nice for sustaining app consistency throughout a number of units.

Blueprints had been one other distinctive side. As a substitute of making use of insurance policies one after the other, I might create customized configurations for various groups or departments, grouping settings, apps, and compliance guidelines collectively. We created separate Blueprints for advertising, engineering, and HR, every with its personal particular software program and safety settings, and deploying them was seamless.

On the cell facet, iOS and iPadOS machine administration felt strong however not as feature-packed because the Mac facet. I might implement Wi-Fi and VPN configurations, block particular apps, and allow Misplaced Mode, however there was no geofencing or granular per-app VPN like some mobile-first MDMs supply. That stated, ABM integration was seamless, and I might enroll new units by way of zero-touch deployment with out customers needing to do something manually.

Furthermore, since Kandji is an Apple-only MDM, you may want one other answer for non-Apple units. so In case you have a combined machine surroundings, it is a massive limitation.

What I dislike about Kandji:

• Lack of deep real-time monitoring. I might see compliance standing and safety settings, however real-time machine diagnostics had been restricted. Not like some MDMs that present detailed stay system well being studies, I needed to depend on periodic standing updates as a substitute.
• The auto apps characteristic labored nicely for main functions like Zoom and Chrome, however not each third-party app is supported. For area of interest or customized software program, I nonetheless needed to deal with deployment manually.

What G2 customers dislike about Kandji:

“I’d recognize extra complete patch administration for third-party functions. Moreover, the passport sync characteristic with Google may very well be considerably enhanced by incorporating the power to make use of MFA with safety keys. Improved alerting capabilities based mostly on exercise would even be helpful.”

– Kandji Evaluate, Danny H.

TeamViewer is not your typical MDM—it is higher identified for distant entry and troubleshooting, however its TeamViewer Distant Administration suite additionally contains cell machine administration capabilities. 

To check how nicely it stacks up in opposition to devoted MDM options, I targeted on its distant management options, cell safety instruments, and real-time monitoring, utilizing a mixture of Home windows, macOS, iOS, and Android units.

Straight away, the distant assist instruments stood out. Most MDMs allow you to push configurations and insurance policies, however TeamViewer takes it a step additional by permitting real-time distant entry to units, even for cellphones. I examined this by remotely controlling an Android machine and troubleshooting a VPN configuration problem on an iPhone. 

Not like most MDMs that require end-user interplay, TeamViewer lets me see the display screen, navigate settings, and even make real-time modifications with out counting on customers to comply with step-by-step directions. That is ultimate for IT groups coping with much less tech-savvy customers.

One other distinctive characteristic was efficiency monitoring and patch administration. I might see CPU utilization, RAM consumption, disk well being, and community exercise throughout all enrolled units in actual time. If a tool was operating out of storage or exhibiting indicators of overheating, we acquired an alert instantly. The patch administration system allowed me to put in lacking updates remotely, which I examined by rolling out Home windows safety patches to a take a look at group of laptops. This labored nicely on Home windows and macOS, however cell patch administration was restricted—I could not push OS updates to iPhones or Android units like I might with desktops.

For safety, TeamViewer contains cell endpoint safety with malware detection, which is one thing most MDMs do not supply. I put in the safety agent on a number of units, and it efficiently flagged outdated software program and blocked an unauthorized app set up try. Nevertheless, I discovered that malware detection felt extra like a secondary characteristic in comparison with standalone endpoint safety instruments. It is useful however not as in-depth as devoted safety options.

On the draw back, TeamViewer’s MDM capabilities really feel secondary to its distant entry options. I might push insurance policies like Wi-Fi configurations, display screen lock settings, and distant wipe instructions, however I seen a scarcity of superior app administration, geofencing, or Zero Belief safety insurance policies which can be commonplace in additional enterprise-focused MDMs. 

Machine enrollment additionally felt clunky—for cell units, I needed to manually set up the TeamViewer app and grant further permissions, making it much less seamless in comparison with zero-touch deployment choices in different MDMs.

What I dislike about TeamViewer:

• Restricted role-based entry controls for IT groups. Most enterprise MDMs permit detailed role-based permissions, however TeamViewer’saccess settings had been less complicated, making it tougher to phase IT tasks for various departments.
• Cellular machine enrollment was extra handbook than anticipated. As a substitute of a streamlined zero-touch deployment, I needed to manually set up the TeamViewer app on every cell machine and regulate settings, which slowed issues down.

What G2 customers dislike about TeamViewer:

“We have tried to look into their MDM answer nevertheless it appears very pricy and would not supply as many options in comparison with different devoted MDM options.”

– TeamViewer Evaluate, Katherine J.

ManageEngine Endpoint Central gives a full-fledged endpoint administration answer that covers cell units, desktops, servers, and IoT endpoints. Whereas this broad performance is spectacular, it additionally makes the platform extra advanced to navigate than devoted MDMs. To maintain issues targeted, I primarily examined its MDM capabilities alongside its desktop and patch administration options, utilizing a mixture of Home windows, macOS, iOS, Android, and Linux units.

One of many first issues I examined was zero-touch deployment for cell units, and this labored surprisingly nicely. Utilizing ABM, Android Zero-Contact, and Samsung Knox Cellular Enrollment, we enrolled company-owned units seamlessly. Nevertheless, BYOD enrollment wasn’t as clean—I bumped into some inconsistencies the place work profile insurance policies did not apply appropriately on sure Android fashions, requiring handbook fixes.

Geofencing and site monitoring had been sturdy options on paper, permitting me to limit company information entry based mostly on location. However after I examined this throughout a number of units, I discovered that some telephones incorrectly triggered safety alerts regardless of being in an permitted location. That meant IT needed to manually override geofence restrictions, making it extra of a problem than a real safety measure.

One other space the place Endpoint Central did not fairly ship was distant troubleshooting on cell units. Whereas I might push instructions, lock/wipe units, and deploy apps remotely, I could not absolutely management iOS units—I used to be restricted to display screen viewing. On Android, distant management was potential however required further person permissions, which slowed down assist circumstances the place rapid motion was wanted.

From a safety standpoint, the platform permits for strong enforcement of encryption, passcode insurance policies, and app administration, however compliance automation was missing. If a tool turned non-compliant (for instance, if encryption was disabled), Endpoint Central solely despatched an alert—it did not mechanically take motion to implement insurance policies. This meant that IT needed to manually remediate safety violations as a substitute of letting the system deal with them.

The machine well being monitoring instruments had been additionally a pleasant contact. I might observe CPU utilization, reminiscence consumption, disk area, and community exercise throughout all enrolled endpoints. This was particularly helpful for troubleshooting efficiency points earlier than they escalated. That stated, Linux monitoring felt extra restricted than Home windows and macOS—there have been fewer built-in analytics choices, making it tougher to get a real-time view of system well being.

In case your group wants MDM plus full desktop and server administration, it is an incredible all-in-one device. Nevertheless, should you’re wanting strictly for cell machine administration, the platform would possibly really feel too advanced.

What I dislike about ManageEngine Endpoint Central:

• Compliance enforcement required an excessive amount of handbook work. As a substitute of mechanically remediating safety violations, Endpoint Central solely despatched alerts, which means IT needed to step in to repair points manually.
• Cellular troubleshooting instruments had been weaker than desktop assist. For iOS, I might solely view the display screen, not management it, and for Android, I wanted further person permissions to take management, which slowed down IT assist.

What G2 customers dislike about ManageEngine Endpoint Central:

“The preliminary setup generally is a bit overwhelming because of the variety of configurations obtainable, and I really feel like typically the answer is over-engineered with a couple of pointless options like having an MDM and a UEM in a single device but additionally sort of separate in a approach that typically the UEM enrollment works however you continue to must do a separate MDM enrollment to make use of the total capabilities of ManageEngine. A extra guided onboarding course of or built-in tutorials would assist customers get began sooner. Additionally, whereas the interface is useful, it may very well be extra fashionable and visually refined.”

– ManageEngine Endpoint Central Evaluate, Abdul-Gafar A.

AirDroid Enterprise is constructed particularly for managing giant fleets of Android units, making it ultimate for industries that depend on kiosks, level of sale (POS) techniques, digital signage, and distant workforces. Not like most MDMs that concentrate on compliance enforcement and safety insurance policies, AirDroid excels at bulk deployment, distant file administration, and activity automation. 

I examined it on a mixture of Android tablets, rugged units, and company-owned smartphones to see how nicely it dealt with mass provisioning and operational administration.

One of many first issues I seen was how nicely bulk enrollment labored on Samsung units utilizing Knox Cellular Enrollment. It utilized settings immediately, making setup extremely quick. Nevertheless, non-Samsung Android units required extra handbook steps, comparable to putting in the AirDroid Enterprise app earlier than enrollment, which slowed issues down. 

The shortage of a common zero-touch deployment methodology meant that for firms managing a various Android fleet, the onboarding course of wasn’t as clean as it’s with some enterprise-grade MDMs.

A standout characteristic was the distant file administration system, which let me push, retrieve, and sync recordsdata throughout a number of units in actual time. This was particularly helpful for companies needing to replace digital signage, distribute paperwork to subject groups, or sync coaching supplies throughout a number of places. Whereas sending recordsdata labored flawlessly, retrieving recordsdata from distant units typically required person approval, limiting its automation potential.

The majority operations device was one other spotlight. I might remotely clear cache, uninstall apps, reboot units, and even schedule system updates throughout all managed units. This characteristic was particularly helpful for IT groups overseeing self-service kiosks or customer-facing Android units, decreasing the necessity for on-site upkeep. 

Nevertheless, whereas I might schedule primary duties, the workflow automation system lacked superior conditional logic. For instance, I could not arrange a rule that mechanically disabled background apps when battery life dropped under 20%.

Safety and compliance instruments had been current however not as deep as these present in enterprise-focused MDMs. The system allowed for app whitelisting, machine encryption enforcement, and distant lock/wipe capabilities, however there have been no automated remediation instruments for non-compliant units. If a tool failed to satisfy safety insurance policies, I solely obtained an alert, which means handbook intervention was required.

I believe AirDroid Enterprise is a superb choice for Android-heavy companies that prioritize machine upkeep, content material administration, and distant management over strict safety insurance policies. In the event you want a device to mass deploy, replace, and keep Android units effectively, it delivers. But when safety, compliance enforcement, and deep analytics are your priorities, you might want a extra enterprise-focused MDM answer.

What I dislike about AirDroid Enterprise:

• No assist for iOS, Home windows, or macOS. It is strictly Android-only, which suggests it isn’t a great match for firms with mixed-device environments.
• File retrieval from distant units wasn’t all the time dependable. Whereas pushing recordsdata labored nicely for me, pulling recordsdata required further permissions, making automated file sync much less sensible.

What G2 customers dislike about AirDroid Enterprise:

“AirDroid Enterprise is primarily tailor-made for dealing with Android units, which means that it will not be probably the most appropriate selection for companies using totally different working techniques. Though the platform proposes a number of pricing schemes, the bills could also be comparatively costly for small-scale firms or these with a restricted finances. Regardless of having a user-friendly interface, the platform nonetheless requires some quantity of studying and coaching to make the very best use of all its options.”

– AirDroid Enterprise Evaluate, Carl T.

Admin by Google is designed to be a light-weight, easy-to-use MDM answer, making it an incredible choice for small and mid-sized companies (SMBs) that want machine administration with out enterprise complexity. 

Not like many MDMs that attempt to pack in patch administration, identification controls, and deep compliance automation, Admin focuses on simple machine provisioning, app administration, and safety enforcement. I examined it with Home windows, macOS, iOS, and Android units to see if it actually delivered a hassle-free expertise.

The very first thing I seen was how fast and easy the enrollment course of was. I might onboard units utilizing QR codes, e mail invites, or bulk CSV uploads, and ABM and Android Zero-Contact had been supported. The method was clean, nevertheless it lacked deep customization choices—for instance, some MDMs assist you to preconfigure units with actual settings earlier than they even boot up, however with Admin, a couple of handbook steps had been nonetheless required after enrollment.

One limitation I discovered was the shortage of multi-tiered position assignments for IT admins. Most enterprise MDMs permit granular entry controls, which means IT groups can set permissions for various directors, like proscribing junior IT workers to machine monitoring solely. Admin did not have that degree of depth—I might create admin and person roles, however there wasn’t a approach to fine-tune entry for various groups.

App deployment was simple and dependable. I might set up, replace, or take away private and non-private apps throughout units remotely, and Admin supported silent app installations on Android Enterprise and supervised iOS units, which means customers did not must approve installations.

One standout characteristic was app grouping, which allowed me to assign totally different app collections based mostly on person roles. I arrange customized app bundles for various groups, like advertising, gross sales, and finance, and deploying them was seamless. Nevertheless, Admin lacked an built-in enterprise app retailer, so if your small business depends on customized, in-house functions, you may must deal with distribution manually or depend on exterior app internet hosting.

Admin gives machine compliance insurance policies, permitting IT groups to implement safety settings like password complexity, encryption, and distant wipe capabilities. I might additionally block unauthorized apps and implement VPN configurations, which labored nicely throughout testing. Nevertheless, the shortage of automated compliance remediation meant that if a tool turned non-compliant, it solely generated an alert as a substitute of auto-fixing the difficulty.

A singular characteristic I appreciated was machine utilization analytics. Not like some MDMs that focus purely on safety, Admin supplies insights into how units are used, monitoring app utilization, display screen time, and community exercise. That is useful for companies that want visibility into machine productiveness and potential safety dangers.

That stated, real-time monitoring was restricted. Whereas I might view compliance standing and historic utilization traits, there have been no deep forensic instruments for investigating safety incidents intimately. For instance, if a tool confirmed suspicious exercise, I might lock or wipe it, however I could not drill down into stay system logs or see behavioral anomalies like some superior MDMs permit.

What I dislike about Admin:

• Not as scalable for giant enterprises. Admin is well-suited for small to mid-sized companies, however lacks the depth of role-based entry controls and compliance automation that bigger organizations want.
• No multi-tiered position assignments for IT admins. I might create primary admin and person roles, however there was no approach to fine-tune permissions for various IT staff members.

What G2 customers dislike about Admin:

“There are some options that may be a bit of bit hidden, however as soon as you start to make use of it, you’ll study shortly. Probably the most troublesome activity as admin is to maintain up with what’s new and coming to the suite on each replace. There are some blogs, however they don’t seem to be all the time simple to seek out. I’d advise you to first attempt to run everywhere in the options and be aware of what you are able to do with GSuite after which verify what could be helpful to your group so you may in a while simply deploy these options.”

– Admin Evaluate, David R.

Trio is a cloud-first MDM designed for companies that want cell, desktop, and IoT machine administration in a single platform. Whereas some MDMs focus primarily on cell machine safety, Trio positions itself as a full unified endpoint administration (UEM) answer, which means it covers Home windows, macOS, Linux, iOS, Android, and even IoT units. I examined it throughout all these platforms, specializing in its cross-device coverage enforcement, automation instruments, and distant troubleshooting capabilities.

One of many greatest promoting factors of Trio is its capacity to handle a number of machine varieties from a single dashboard. I enrolled Home windows laptops, MacBooks, Linux workstations, iPhones, Android units, and even an IoT-connected scanner. Not like some MDMs that require separate insurance policies for cell and desktop units, Trio permits unified coverage enforcement, which means I might set one safety commonplace throughout all endpoints.

This labored nicely for primary insurance policies like password enforcement, encryption, and VPN configurations, however sure superior settings weren’t obtainable throughout all platforms. For instance, I might absolutely configure Home windows and macOS safety insurance policies, however on Linux, some safety settings—like disabling USB ports—weren’t supported out of the field. Equally, IoT machine administration was restricted, with fewer management choices in comparison with conventional computer systems and telephones.

Trio’s coverage automation was one other spotlight. As a substitute of manually pushing safety updates or implementing compliance, I might arrange automated workflows that may set off sure actions based mostly on machine standing. For instance, I created a rule that mechanically locked a tool if it was inactive for 30 days. This labored nicely, however the setup course of was not beginner-friendly—I needed to manually outline workflow steps utilizing a script-like logic, which took some trial and error.

The compliance monitoring dashboard was helpful, because it allowed me to see which units had been falling out of compliance in actual time. Nevertheless, automated remediation was inconsistent—some insurance policies, like re-enabling encryption if it was disabled, labored as anticipated, however others, like forcing a lacking safety patch to put in, typically failed as a result of device-specific points. Not like extra mature MDMs, Trio did not all the time present detailed logs explaining why a coverage failed, which made troubleshooting tougher.

One of many distinctive options of Trio is its built-in distant troubleshooting instruments. I might provoke distant periods for desktops and cell units instantly from the admin panel, which was helpful for IT assist. Nevertheless, the extent of management different by machine sort—for Home windows and macOS, I might absolutely management the machine, however on iOS, I used to be restricted to display screen viewing, and on Android, I wanted person permission for full management.

One other characteristic I examined was real-time efficiency monitoring, which confirmed CPU utilization, reminiscence consumption, and community exercise throughout units. This was helpful for diagnosing points earlier than they turned main issues, however I seen that updates weren’t actually in actual time—there was a 2-3 minute delay within the information refresh fee, which is not ultimate for quick troubleshooting.

What I dislike about Trio:

• The automation setup wasn’t beginner-friendly. I needed to manually outline workflow guidelines utilizing script-like logic, which required trial and error to get proper.
• Some safety settings weren’t absolutely supported throughout platforms. For instance, USB port restrictions labored on Home windows however weren’t absolutely enforceable on Linux, and IoT machine administration lacked deep configuration choices.

What G2 customers dislike about Trio:

“Whereas Trio gives so many helpful options, it may be a bit overwhelming and complicated to work with as nicely. That is particularly vital in terms of setting insurance policies and configurations.”

– Trio Evaluate, Mahsa M.

If your small business wants tighter management over company apps, get cell software administration (MAM) options to guard firm information, implement entry insurance policies, and keep safe with out invading privateness.