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

My telephone and I are inseparable. 

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

They’re juggling lots of—generally hundreds—of units, each a possible compliance threat, knowledge breach, or unauthorized TikTok set up away from catastrophe. With out the finest cellular machine administration (MDM) resolution, one thing will slip via 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.

For those who’re bored with sifting via countless function lists and simply wish to know which MDM options are value your time, I’ve bought you coated. Listed below are the most effective MDM platforms I examined—ranked, reviewed, and prepared for real-world use.

9 finest MDM options I examined and suggest 

Cell 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 knowledge, work telephones loaded with who-knows-what, and staff who “overlook” 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 imposing safety insurance policies with out chasing folks down, pushing updates with out sending 10 reminder emails, and locking or wiping misplaced units earlier than they grow to be a legal responsibility.

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 No extra questioning if firm knowledge is floating round on an outdated telephone somebody left in an Uber. No extra IT horror tales about rogue apps or outdated safety insurance policies.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

The consequence? I’ve my ultimate record of the most effective MDM options that do not simply have nice advertising however really work. 

My standards for what makes the most effective MDM options value it 

Once I got down to discover the most effective cellular machine administration resolution, I made positive each met particular, real-world standards earlier than making the minimize. Here is what I appeared for:

• Distant administration capabilities: An MDM that solely works properly when the machine is in hand is not helpful. The most effective platforms enable 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.
• Gadget 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 combo. An important MDM ought to assist all main working techniques (Home windows, macOS, iOS, Android, and even Linux in some circumstances) with full function 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 centered on platforms that enable 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 fitting safety settings primarily based on their position) scored greater.
• Safety and compliance management: If an MDM platform does not take safety critically, it is not value contemplating. I appeared 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 a giant distinction in usability.
• Integration with current IT stack: MDM software program does 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 companies. 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: Firms do not simply handle units—in addition they handle the apps and knowledge on them. An excellent MDM ought to enable IT to push and take away apps, implement app utilization insurance policies, and forestall customers from downloading unauthorized software program. I additionally appeared for content material filtering and knowledge loss prevention (DLP) options that assist companies preserve delicate info safe.

The record beneath comprises real consumer evaluations from the most effective cellular machine administration software program class web page. To be included on this class, an answer should:

• Be suitable with all frequent or company-issued cellular units and assist essential working techniques and platforms
• Operate via/with a number of service suppliers
• Customise based on firm coverage and/or necessities.
• Combine with the already current IT, administrative, and utility techniques
• Allow the distant configuration, locking, wiping, detection, and encryption of units
• Report on machine exercise

*This knowledge was pulled from G2 in 2025. Some evaluations 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 overestimated 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—however it’s not for everybody. 

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

I began by testing zero-touch deployment, which is the place Jamf Professional really shines. My IT workforce unboxed a number of brand-new MacBooks, enrolled them in Apple Enterprise Supervisor (ABM), and identical to that, the units mechanically configured themselves, put in safety settings, and deployed the required apps. No handbook setup, no end-user frustration. Your complete course of was seamless, and if I had been an IT admin rolling out dozens (or lots of) of units, I would 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 completely different take a look at units. It made putting in and imposing software program variations extremely easy. I additionally examined customized app deployment, and whereas it labored, it wasn’t as intuitive as I would hoped. I needed to dig into the documentation to get it proper, which felt slightly irritating in comparison with how easy every little thing 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 choice 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, once we tried a distant wipe, there was a slight delay—it will definitely labored, however in a high-stakes state of affairs, that wait time could possibly be a priority.

However here is the factor—whereas Jamf Professional does lots of issues exceptionally properly, it is not the best MDM to work with. I discovered myself clicking via approach too many menus to search out primary options. It is clear this device was designed for skilled IT admins, not informal customers. 

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

What I dislike about Jamf Professional:

• No Home windows or Android assist. If even one individual in your workforce makes use of a non-Apple machine, you will want a second MDM resolution. We examined in a mixed-device setting, 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 strategy to mechanically title units from inside Jamf. Presently, this can be a very handbook course of as a result of 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 record of units with out it nonetheless deciding on or unselecting ALL units. Many customers suppose it’s going to solely choose the gadgets which have been filtered within the record and are seen, however it really nonetheless selects your entire record, disregarding the filter. This causes confusion and errors typically by new customers.”

– Jamf Professional Evaluation, Denise L.

When my IT workforce and I examined NinjaOne, we anticipated a strong endpoint administration device, however what we discovered was a hybrid MDM-RMM resolution that does loads—however not all the time every little thing you want from a conventional MDM. If your organization wants one platform to handle laptops, desktops, and cellular units, this could possibly be a fantastic match. However if you happen to’re searching for a devoted MDM with deep cellular safety and app controls, NinjaOne would possibly go away 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, stories again to the dashboard, and begins being monitored. My IT workforce 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 cellular units, issues felt extra restricted.

Considered one of 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 provide.

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

One other challenge? No distant troubleshooting for cellular units. On desktops, we might remotely entry and management units to repair issues, however for cellular 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 cellular units—but when your organization is mobile-first, you would possibly discover it missing.

What I dislike about NinjaOne:

• I did not discover it ideally suited for BYOD situations. In case your staff convey their very own cellular units, NinjaOne might not provide the extent of separation and safety that you simply want.
• Restricted cellular machine safety features. 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 trying ahead to implementing distant entry capabilities to a few of our distant customers (entry to PC from a cellular machine). Many of those customers could be utilizing their telephones for distant entry. Sadly, cellular assist for finish customers hasn’t been correctly applied 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 Evaluation, Adon G.

On testing JumpCloud, I shortly realized that this is not simply an MDM resolution—it is a full identification, machine, and safety administration platform. For those who’re solely searching for primary cellular machine administration, this would possibly really feel like overkill. However if you happen to want a centralized strategy to handle customers, units, and safety insurance policies throughout a number of platforms, JumpCloud is among 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 every little thing from a single console. The enrollment course of was easy, and we had been in a position to implement safety insurance policies, deploy purposes, 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 consumer authentication, listing companies, 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 of us might implement safety guidelines at each the machine and consumer ranges.

For cellular units, we had been in a position to push safety settings, implement passcodes, and remotely wipe units if wanted. Nevertheless, once we tried app administration, it wasn’t as granular as we might hoped. We might deploy apps to units, however there was no actual utility sandboxing or containerization for separating work and private knowledge. That is a disadvantage for BYOD (Deliver Your Personal Gadget) environments, the place we might wish to guarantee company knowledge is totally remoted.

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

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

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

Total, JumpCloud is among the most security-focused MDMs we examined, however it’s finest suited to corporations that want full identification and machine administration, not simply cellular safety.

What I dislike about JumpCloud:

• Gadget 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 easy as I anticipated. 
• Linux machine administration was slightly inconsistent. Primary insurance policies like imposing display screen locks labored on some distributions however did not apply correctly on others, which made issues unreliable.

What G2 customers dislike about JumpCloud:

“Cell administration options for iOS and Android are extra primary and do not provide as a lot management because the instruments out there for managing desktop units.”

– JumpCloud Evaluation, Md. S.

Just like Jamf Professional, Kandji can also be constructed particularly for Apple units. As a substitute of juggling a number of OS environments, I examined it completely with macOS, iOS, and iPadOS units to see how properly it handles Apple’s ecosystem. Spoiler: It does this rather 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 function 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 consumer deleted or downgraded an app, it might mechanically reinstall the newest model. This was nice for sustaining app consistency throughout a number of units.

Blueprints had been one other distinctive facet. 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 cellular 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 provide. That mentioned, 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 will want one other resolution for non-Apple units. so In case you have a blended machine setting, this can be 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 stories, I needed to depend on periodic standing updates as an alternative.
• The auto apps function labored properly for main purposes 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 might admire extra complete patch administration for third-party purposes. Moreover, the passport sync function with Google could possibly be considerably enhanced by incorporating the flexibility to make use of MFA with safety keys. Improved alerting capabilities primarily based on exercise would even be helpful.”

– Kandji Evaluation, Danny H.

TeamViewer is not your typical MDM—it is higher recognized for distant entry and troubleshooting, however its TeamViewer Distant Administration suite additionally consists of cellular machine administration capabilities. 

To check how properly it stacks up towards devoted MDM options, I centered on its distant management options, cellular safety instruments, and real-time monitoring, utilizing a mixture of Home windows, macOS, iOS, and Android units.

Instantly, 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 cell phones. I examined this by remotely controlling an Android machine and troubleshooting a VPN configuration challenge 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 ideally suited for IT groups coping with much less tech-savvy customers.

One other distinctive function 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 working out of storage or exhibiting indicators of overheating, we bought 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 properly on Home windows and macOS, however cellular patch administration was restricted—I could not push OS updates to iPhones or Android units like I might with desktops.

For safety, TeamViewer consists of cellular endpoint safety with malware detection, which is one thing most MDMs do not provide. 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 function 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 are commonplace in additional enterprise-focused MDMs. 

Gadget enrollment additionally felt clunky—for cellular 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 enable detailed role-based permissions, however TeamViewer’saccess settings had been easier, making it more durable to phase IT duties for various departments.
• Cell 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 cellular machine and regulate settings, which slowed issues down.

What G2 customers dislike about TeamViewer:

“We have tried to look into their MDM resolution however it appears very pricy and does not provide as many options in comparison with different devoted MDM options.”

– TeamViewer Evaluation, Katherine J.

ManageEngine Endpoint Central gives a full-fledged endpoint administration resolution that covers cellular 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 centered, 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 cellular units, and this labored surprisingly properly. Utilizing ABM, Android Zero-Contact, and Samsung Knox Cell Enrollment, we enrolled company-owned units seamlessly. Nevertheless, BYOD enrollment wasn’t as easy—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 knowledge entry primarily based on location. However once I examined this throughout a number of units, I discovered that some telephones incorrectly triggered safety alerts regardless of being in an accredited location. That meant IT needed to manually override geofence restrictions, making it extra of a trouble than a real safety measure.

One other space the place Endpoint Central did not fairly ship was distant troubleshooting on cellular units. Whereas I might push instructions, lock/wipe units, and deploy apps remotely, I could not totally management iOS units—I used to be restricted to display screen viewing. On Android, distant management was potential however required additional consumer permissions, which slowed down assist circumstances the place fast 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 an alternative 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 house, and community exercise throughout all enrolled endpoints. This was particularly helpful for troubleshooting efficiency points earlier than they escalated. That mentioned, Linux monitoring felt extra restricted than Home windows and macOS—there have been fewer built-in analytics choices, making it more durable to get a real-time view of system well being.

In case your group wants MDM plus full desktop and server administration, it is a fantastic all-in-one device. Nevertheless, if you happen to’re trying strictly for cellular 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.
• Cell 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 additional consumer permissions to take management, which slowed down IT assist.

What G2 customers dislike about ManageEngine Endpoint Central:

“The preliminary setup could be a bit overwhelming as a result of variety of configurations out there, and I really feel like generally the answer is over-engineered with a number of pointless options like having an MDM and a UEM in a single device but additionally sort of separate in a approach that generally the UEM enrollment works however you continue to have to 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 quicker. Additionally, whereas the interface is useful, it could possibly be extra trendy and visually refined.”

– ManageEngine Endpoint Central Evaluation, Abdul-Gafar A.

AirDroid Enterprise is constructed particularly for managing massive fleets of Android units, making it ideally suited 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 job automation. 

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

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

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

A standout function 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 discipline groups, or sync coaching supplies throughout a number of areas. Whereas sending recordsdata labored flawlessly, retrieving recordsdata from distant units generally required consumer 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 function 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 beneath 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 fulfill safety insurance policies, I solely obtained an alert, which means handbook intervention was required.

I feel AirDroid Enterprise is a superb possibility for Android-heavy companies that prioritize machine upkeep, content material administration, and distant management over strict safety insurance policies. For those who 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 could want a extra enterprise-focused MDM resolution.

What I dislike about AirDroid Enterprise:

• No assist for iOS, Home windows, or macOS. It is strictly Android-only, which suggests it is not match for corporations with mixed-device environments.
• File retrieval from distant units wasn’t all the time dependable. Whereas pushing recordsdata labored properly 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 alternative for companies using completely different working techniques. Though the platform proposes a number of pricing schemes, the bills could also be comparatively costly for small-scale corporations or these with a restricted price range. Regardless of having a user-friendly interface, the platform nonetheless requires some quantity of studying and coaching to make the most effective use of all its options.”

– AirDroid Enterprise Evaluation, Carl T.

Admin by Google is designed to be a light-weight, easy-to-use MDM resolution, making it a fantastic possibility 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 really 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 easy, however it lacked deep customization choices—for instance, some MDMs assist you to preconfigure units with precise settings earlier than they even boot up, however with Admin, a number of handbook steps had been nonetheless required after enrollment.

One limitation I discovered was the dearth of multi-tiered position assignments for IT admins. Most enterprise MDMs enable granular entry controls, which means IT groups can set permissions for various directors, like limiting junior IT employees to machine monitoring solely. Admin did not have that stage of depth—I might create admin and consumer roles, however there wasn’t a strategy 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 have to approve installations.

One standout function was app grouping, which allowed me to assign completely different app collections primarily based on consumer 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 enterprise depends on customized, in-house purposes, you will have to 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 properly throughout testing. Nevertheless, the dearth of automated compliance remediation meant that if a tool turned non-compliant, it solely generated an alert as an alternative of auto-fixing the difficulty.

A singular function 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 mentioned, real-time monitoring was restricted. Whereas I might view compliance standing and historic utilization tendencies, 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 enable.

What I dislike about Admin:

• Not as scalable for big 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 consumer roles, however there was no strategy to fine-tune permissions for various IT workforce members.

What G2 customers dislike about Admin:

“There are some options that may be slightly bit hidden, however as soon as you start to make use of it, you’ll be taught shortly. Essentially the most tough job as admin is to maintain up with what’s new and coming to the suite on each replace. There are some blogs, however they aren’t all the time simple to search out. I might advise you to first attempt to run all around the options and pay attention to what you are able to do with GSuite after which examine what might be helpful in your group so you possibly can afterward simply deploy these options.”

– Admin Evaluation, David R.

Trio is a cloud-first MDM designed for companies that want cellular, desktop, and IoT machine administration in a single platform. Whereas some MDMs focus primarily on cellular machine safety, Trio positions itself as a full unified endpoint administration (UEM) resolution, 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 sorts 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 cellular and desktop units, Trio permits unified coverage enforcement, which means I might set one safety commonplace throughout all endpoints.

This labored properly for primary insurance policies like password enforcement, encryption, and VPN configurations, however sure superior settings weren’t out there throughout all platforms. For instance, I might totally 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 imposing compliance, I might arrange automated workflows that might set off sure actions primarily based on machine standing. For instance, I created a rule that mechanically locked a tool if it was inactive for 30 days. This labored properly, 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, generally failed because 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 more durable.

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

One other function 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 really in actual time—there was a 2-3 minute delay within the knowledge refresh price, which is not ideally suited 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 totally supported throughout platforms. For instance, USB port restrictions labored on Home windows however weren’t totally 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 sophisticated to work with as properly. That is particularly important relating to setting insurance policies and configurations.”

– Trio Evaluation, Mahsa M.

If your enterprise wants tighter management over company apps, get cellular utility administration (MAM) options to guard firm knowledge, implement entry insurance policies, and keep safe with out invading privateness.