Shopping around for the best MDM software? You’re in luck!
We’ve examined leading review sites, such as G2 and Capterra, weighed the pros and cons of the top options in the market today, ranked each of them using a unique formula that considers scores from both sites and written this comprehensive guide to help you make the most informed decision for your organization.
What is MDM software?
Mobile device management (MDM) is a security-based technology that enables IT teams to monitor, manage, and control their mobile devices. As its name suggests, the primary goal of MDM is to monitor and manage various types of mobile devices, including smartphones, tablets, and internet-of-things (IoT) devices, in a single platform. It is designed for businesses that follow BYOD policies and want to help employees work more efficiently, regardless of location.
In a nutshell, it helps you manage multiple devices across different operating systems, such as Android, Windows, Mac, and Apple & iOS, from a centralized management system.
Why is mobile device management important?
With 22% of the American workforce estimated to be working remotely by 2025, according to Upwork, it has become all the more important for IT companies to evolve to provide the same, if not better, services to their team members despite geographical differences.
This is why MDM is important: It plays a critical role in any future-proof mobile device management strategy. The ever-evolving business landscape has seen the increasing adoption of mobile devices, especially for work-related tasks. Organizations need a powerful, remote, and mobile solution to secure user access, minimize an endpoint’s attack surface, and reduce the risk of devices being infected by malware or other viruses.
Some other top benefits of MDM include:
- Improved security. Kaspersky’s latest mobile threat study noted a significant upward trend in attacks targeting mobile devices. In 2023 alone, the number of cyber attacks against mobile devices increased by almost 52%—with experts anticipating this trend to grow over the next few years. While MDM should not be your only form of defense from common cyber attacks, it can significantly improve your endpoint protection strategy.
- Enhanced productivity and efficiency. A productivity report published by the McKinsey Global Institute found that working remotely or following a hybrid work model may improve productivity if planned correctly. The right MDM gives your IT team the tools to maximize IT management without requiring team members to report to the office physically.
- Lower cost of ownership. When considering the right MDM for your organization, you should also note how much MDM would cost—and ultimately, how much you could save by using the software. An excellent MDM service ensures all your devices work as they should, which leads to more cost savings.
Key features of MDM solutions
It’s worth noting that every MDM solution is unique. However, every MDM tool should have these core features:
- Configuration management. A good MDM keeps your mobile devices and other IT components in their desired state.
- App management. Your MDM oversees software applications throughout their lifecycle to ensure their peak functionality, from installation to patching. The goal of app management is to maintain the efficiency and effectiveness of software applications.
- Support for multiple devices and operating systems. Your MDM solution should be able to support many devices across different operating systems, such as Android and iOS, in a single dashboard.
- Security capabilities. A great MDM must offer reliable device security strategies, such as remote data wipe and lock and geolocation tracking, among others.
- Remote access. Your MDM should allow your IT team to access your mobile devices remotely.
- Device enrollment. MDM solutions must offer easy device enrollment so that you can conduct large-scale device policy changes at any time.
Finding the right MDM solution
Many of the top MDM software in the market today can be tailored to your unique business environment. Many business leaders are now exploring a unified endpoint management (UEM) solution for their specific needs instead.
A UEM is a holistic platform offering MDM capabilities and other functionalities to simplify and optimize IT management. Using this guide, it may be worthwhile to explore UEM strategies as well, especially if you’re planning on scaling your business soon and need to monitor and manage all types of endpoint devices, not only mobile ones.
Table of Contents
Best mobile device management solutions
1. NinjaOne
2. ManageEngine Mobile Device Manager Plus
3. Kandji
4. Miradore
5. GoTo Resolve
8. Esper
9. Hexnode UEM
10. Prey
10 best MDM software solutions
All G2 & Capterra data as of May 2024.
1. NinjaOne
NinjaOne mobile device management software helps IT organizations reduce cost and complexity by enabling the management of Android and Apple mobile devices alongside Windows, macOS, and Linux devices—as well as servers, virtual machines, and networking devices—all within a single, intuitive console. NinjaOne MDM’s complete inventory tracking, easy provisioning, configuration management, and remote troubleshooting help to ensure users remain as productive as possible while on the go, without sacrificing security.
Some benefits of using NinjaOne MDM include
- NinjaOne MDM gives you a complete, accurate, and updated inventory of company-owned and BYOD devices to reduce the potential of device-based risks.
- Create and enforce policies at scale.
- Provision mobile devices with applications to best support user workflows on the go.
- Configure workflows to contribute to a strong, secure, and compliant posture.
- Remotely access and view users’ mobile device screens to understand the issue better.
- Fast time-to-proficiency
The numbers speak for themselves
- #1 in customer support
- Over 20,000 satisfied customers worldwide
- More than 5 million secured endpoints
- Top-rated software in its class across multiple peer-reviewed platforms.
- 95% of all Ninja customers experienced improved IT efficiency with automation
- 70% of users reported reduced vulnerabilities in their environment by up to 75%
What users say
“We’re excited to continue growing with NinjaOne by being able to manage our mobile devices from the same pane of glass we use for our other endpoints. Slimming our IT stack even more just brings additional simplicity and efficiency to our lives, so we can better support our company and staff.”
– Paul Jebe, Vice President of IT, Kinex Medical Company
“Deploying NinjaOne MDM to our Apple mobile devices was so quick and painless. In less than 15 minutes we were connected to our device. Being able to manage, remotely access, and troubleshoot issues on our mobile endpoints in the same pane of glass we manage the rest of our endpoints makes our lives so much easier. Mobile device management with NinjaOne means an increase in visibility and security for our customers.”
– Cary R. Wagner, Owner, Pacific NorthWest Managed I.T. Services
NinjaOne reviews on G2
| Category | NinjaOne Rating |
| Overall | 4.8 out of 5 (1,147) |
| Has the product been a good partner in doing business? | 9.6 |
| Quality of support | 9.4 |
| Ease of Admin | 9.3 |
| Ease of Use | 9.3 |
Number of 2024 G2 Awards: 9
NinjaOne reviews on Capterra
| Category | NinjaOne Rating |
| Overall | 4.8 out of 5 (211) |
| Ease of Use | 4.8 |
| Customer Service | 4.8 |
| Features | 4.5 |
| Value for Money | 4.7 |
| Likelihood to Recommend | 93% |
2. ManageEngine Mobile Device Manager Plus
ManageEngine Mobile Device Manager Plus is a comprehensive MDM solution that helps IT teams manage mobile devices, from smartphones to tablets, and multiple operating systems, such as Android, iOS, iPadOS, tvOS, macOS, Windows, and Chrome OS, in a single platform.
Some of its features include enterprise mobile device management, profile configurations for Wi-Fi and VPN policies, and remote troubleshooting.
ManageEngine Mobile Device Manager reviews on G2
| Category | ManageEngine Mobile Device Manager Plus Rating |
| Overall | 4.5 out of 5 (233) |
| Has the product been a good partner in doing business? | 8.8 |
| Quality of support | 8.6 |
| Ease of Admin | 8.8 |
| Ease of Use | 8.4 |
Number of 2024 G2 Awards: 0
ManageEngine Mobile Device Manager reviews on Capterra
| Category | ManageEngine Mobile Device Manager Rating |
| Overall | 4.6 out of 5 (698) |
| Ease of Use | 4.3 |
| Customer Service | 4.5 |
| Features | 4.5 |
| Value for Money | 4.6 |
| Likelihood to Recommend | 87% |
3. Kandji
Kandji is a popular Apple device management and security platform that enables IT teams to monitor, manage, and secure their entire Apple fleet in a single platform. Its platform utilizes purpose-built tools to automate app and OS updates using zero-touch deployment.
Its features include device management, endpoint detection and response, and remote troubleshooting.
Kandji reviews on G2
| Category | Kandji Rating |
| Overall | 4.7 out of 5 (371) |
| Has the product been a good partner in doing business? | 9.6 |
| Quality of support | 9.6 |
| Ease of Admin | 9.5 |
| Ease of Use | 9.4 |
Number of 2024 G2 Awards: 0
Kandji reviews on Capterra
| Category | Kandji Rating |
| Overall | 4.9 out of 5 (75) |
| Ease of Use | 4.8 |
| Customer Service | 4.8 |
| Features | 4.5 |
| Value for Money | 4.8 |
| Likelihood to Recommend | 93% |
4. Miradore
Miradore is a cloud-based UEM that is also used for its MDM functionality. Its tool helps IT teams manage and control their Android, Apple, and Windows devices in a single, easy-to-use platform.
Its features include endpoint device security, data encryption, device configurations, and automated endpoint task functions.
Miradore reviews on G2
| Category | Miradore Rating |
| Overall | 4.6 out of 5 (99) |
| Has the product been a good partner in doing business? | 9.4 |
| Quality of support | 9.3 |
| Ease of Admin | 9.0 |
| Ease of Use | 9.1 |
Number of 2024 G2 Awards: 8
Miradore reviews on Capterra
| Category | Miradore Rating |
| Overall | 4.4 out of 5 (148) |
| Ease of Use | 4.3 |
| Customer Service | 4.4 |
| Features | 4.1 |
| Value for Money | 4.5 |
| Likelihood to Recommend | 82% |
5. GoTo Resolve
GoTo Resolve is an all-in-one IT management suite with MDM software. Its platform allows your IT team to manage devices from any location in one reliable platform. GoTo Resolve MDM protects iOS, Android, macOS, and Windows mobile devices, tablets, and workstations.
Its features include real-time device inventory, continuous monitoring, remote blocking and removing apps from any device, and end-to-end device lifecycle management.
GoTo Resolve reviews on G2
| Category | GoTo Resolve Rating |
| Overall | 4.4 out of 5 (412) |
| Has the product been a good partner in doing business? | 8.8 |
| Quality of support | 8.7 |
| Ease of Admin | 8.9 |
| Ease of Use | 9.0 |
Number of 2024 G2 Awards: 9
GoTo Resolve reviews on Capterra
| Category | GoTo Resolve Rating |
| Overall | 4.5 out of 5 (197) |
| Ease of Use | 4.5 |
| Customer Service | 4.1 |
| Features | 4.3 |
| Value for Money | 4.3 |
| Likelihood to Recommend | 85% |
6. IBM Security MaaS360
IBM Security MaaS360 is a UEM that offers MDM tools to manage apps, data, and devices running on iOS, iPadOS, macOS, Android, Windows, and ChromeOS from one console. It is designed to support remote workforces and help them become more efficient.
Some of its features include enterprise-grade threat defense, integration with several business applications, and automated patch management.
Read a more in-depth analysis of IBM Security MaaS360 alternatives.
IBM Security MaaS360 reviews on G2
| Category | IBM Security MaaS360 Rating |
| Overall | 4.1 out of 5 (152) |
| Has the product been a good partner in doing business? | 7.9 |
| Quality of support | 7.8 |
| Ease of Admin | 7.8 |
| Ease of Use | 7.9 |
Number of 2024 G2 Awards: 7
IBM Security MaaS360 reviews on Capterra
| Category | IBM Security MaaS360 Rating |
| Overall | 4.2 out of 5 (26) |
| Ease of Use | 3.9 |
| Customer Service | 3.9 |
| Features | 4.3 |
| Value for Money | 4.0 |
| Likelihood to Recommend | 67% |
7. Sophos Mobile
Sophos Mobile is a unified endpoint management solution used by IT departments to manage and secure their Android devices, iPhones and iPads, Chromebooks, Macs, and Windows computers. It markets itself as a complete solution for BYOD environments.
Its features include real-time monitoring, device inventory, and asset management, detailed reporting, and extended detection and response.
Sophos Mobile reviews on G2
| Category | Sophos Mobile Rating |
| Overall | 4.3 out of 5 (23) |
| Has the product been a good partner in doing business? | 8.3 |
| Quality of support | 8.8 |
| Ease of Admin | 9.7 |
| Ease of Use | 9.0 |
Number of 2024 G2 Awards: 0
Sophos Mobile reviews on Capterra
| Category | Sophos Mobile Rating |
| Overall | 4.7 out of 5 (16) |
| Ease of Use | 4.7 |
| Customer Service | 4.5 |
| Features | 4.5 |
| Value for Money | 4.7 |
| Likelihood to Recommend | 89% |
8. Esper
Esper is a complete MDM that helps you deploy, monitor, patch, and troubleshoot your Android, iOS, or a mixed fleet of both devices from a single pane of glass. Esper uses a streamlined approach to device management, providing several configuration tools so that users can easily monitor and control their mobile devices.
Its features include complete endpoint visibility, hardware support, and security updates.
Esper reviews on G2
| Category | Esper Rating |
| Overall | 4.5 out of 5 (199) |
| Has the product been a good partner in doing business? | 9.2 |
| Quality of support | 9.0 |
| Ease of Admin | 9.0 |
| Ease of Use | 9.0 |
Number of 2024 G2 Awards: 0
Esper reviews on Capterra
| Category | Esper Rating |
| Overall | 4.6 out of 5 (47) |
| Ease of Use | 4.6 |
| Customer Service | 4.3 |
| Features | 4.5 |
| Value for Money | 4.5 |
| Likelihood to Recommend | 88% |
9. Hexnode UEM
Hexnode UEM is a well-known UEM solution that helps IT businesses of all sizes manage their endpoints from a centralized console. It also offers MDM support for Android, Windows, iOS, macOS, FireOS, and Apple TVs.
Some features specific to its MDM tool include audit and compliance reporting, remote security management, app and content distribution, configurations deployment, device inventory, and health monitoring.
Read a more in-depth analysis of Hexnode alternatives.
Hexnode UEM reviews on G2
| Category | Hexnode UEM Rating |
| Overall | 4.6 out of 5 (189) |
| Has the product been a good partner in doing business? | 9.2 |
| Quality of support | 9.3 |
| Ease of Admin | 9.1 |
| Ease of Use | 9.0 |
Number of 2024 G2 Awards: 0
Hexnode UEM reviews on Capterra
| Category | Hexnode UEM Rating |
| Overall | 4.7 out of 5 (114) |
| Ease of Use | 4.6 |
| Customer Service | 4.8 |
| Features | 4.5 |
| Value for Money | 4.5 |
| Likelihood to Recommend | 90% |
10. Prey
Prey is a cross-platform device tracking and securing tool that offers mobile device tracking and management. Its software helps IT teams and individuals manage and control all their devices in a single platform.
Its features include advanced tracking, reactive security, and endpoint management.
Prey reviews on G2
| Category | Prey Rating |
| Overall | 4.6 out of 5 (42) |
| Has the product been a good partner in doing business? | 9.6 |
| Quality of support | 9.6 |
| Ease of Admin | 9.3 |
| Ease of Use | 9.0 |
Number of 2024 G2 Awards: 0
Prey reviews on Capterra
| Category | Prey Rating |
| Overall | 5.0 out of 5 (14) |
| Ease of Use | 4.7 |
| Customer Service | 4.8 |
| Features | 4.8 |
| Value for Money | 4.9 |
| Likelihood to Recommend | 95% |
Comparison of best MDM software (G2)
| Category | NinjaOne | ManageEngine Mobile Device Manager Plus | Kandji | Miradore | GoTo Resolve | IBM Security MaaS360 | Sophos Mobile | Esper | Hexnode UEM | Prey |
| Overall | 4.8 out of 5 (1,147) | 4.5 out of 5 (233) | 4.7 out of 5 (371) | 4.6 out of 5 (99) | 4.4 out of 5 (412) | 4.1 out of 5 (152) | 4.3 out of 5 (23) | 4.5 out of 5 (199) | 4.6 out of 5 (189) | 4.6 out of 5 (42) |
| Has the product been a good partner in doing business? | 9.6 | 8.8 | 9.6 | 9.4 | 8.8 | 7.9 | 8.3 | 9.2 | 9.2 | 9.6 |
| Quality of support | 9.4 | 8.6 | 9.6 | 9.3 | 8.7 | 7.8 | 8.8 | 9.0 | 9.3 | 9.6 |
| Ease of Admin | 9.3 | 8.8 | 9.5 | 9.0 | 8.9 | 7.8 | 9.7 | 9.0 | 9.1 | 9.3 |
| Ease of Use | 9.3 | 8.4 | 9.4 | 9.1 | 9.0 | 7.9 | 9.0 | 9.0 | 9.0 | 9.0 |
| Number of G2 awards | 9 | 0 | 0 | 8 | 9 | 7 | 9 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Comparison of best MDM software (Capterra)
| Category | NinjaOne | ManageEngine Mobile Device Manager Plus | Kandji | Miradore | GoTo Resolve | IBM Security MaaS360 | Sophos Mobile | Esper | Hexnode UEM | Prey |
| Overall | 4.8 out of 5 (211) | 4.6 out of 5 (698) | 4.9 out of 5 (75) | 4.4 out of 5 (148) | 4.5 out of 5 (197) | 4.2 out of 5 (26) | 4.7 out of 5 (16) | 4.6 out of 5 (47) | 4.7 out of 5 (114) | 5.0 out of 5 (14) |
| Ease of Use | 4.8 | 4.3 | 4.8 | 4.3 | 4.5 | 3.9 | 4.7 | 4.6 | 4.6 | 4.7 |
| Customer Service | 4.8 | 4.5 | 4.8 | 4.4 | 4.1 | 3.9 | 4.5 | 4.3 | 4.8 | 4.8 |
| Features | 4.5 | 4.5 | 4.5 | 4.1 | 4.3 | 4.3 | 4.5 | 4.5 | 4.5 | 4.8 |
| Value for Money | 4.7 | 4.6 | 4.8 | 4.5 | 4.3 | 4.0 | 4.7 | 4.5 | 4.5 | 4.9 |
| Likelihood to Recommend | 93% | 87% | 93% | 82% | 85% | 67% | 89% | 88% | 90% | 95% |
Final scores and summaries of MDM software
| Vendor | Final Score | Summary |
| NinjaOne | 4.216 | NinjaOne MDM helps IT organizations reduce cost and complexity by enabling the management of Android and Apple mobile devices alongside their Windows, macOS, Linux, VMs, and SNMP devices—all within a single platform. |
| GoTo Resolve | 2.674 | GoTo Resolve is an all-in-one solution that empowers IT teams to simplify and streamline their operations, including supporting their MDM needs. |
| ManageEngine Mobile Device Manager Plus | 2.430 | ManageEngine Mobile Device Manager Plus is a reliable and versatile tool that helps IT teams gain better control over their mobile devices. |
| Miradore | 1.856 | Miradore is a good option for smaller businesses with a limited IT budget. It offers decent support for Windows mobile devices. |
| IBM Security MaaS360 | 1.574 | MaaS360 is a comprehensive solution better suited for more experienced IT teams due to its steep learning curve and relative priciness. |
| Kandji | 1.492 | Kandji is a simple and intuitive tool for Apple mobile devices. Having said that, it is not recommended for organizations that need to manage devices with other operating systems. |
| Hexnode UEM | 1.187 | Hexnode UEM is used by mid-market organizations that track and manage many devices across different operating systems. |
| Esper | 1.060 | Esper is a simple MDM suitable for smaller IT enterprises that do not need a lot of out-of-the-box features. Its platform can be used by any industry. |
| Prey | 0.712 | Prey is helpful for recovering lost and stolen equipment and reacting to security threats in your mobile device. However, it could improve its features to be more proactive. |
| Sophos Mobile | 0.640 | Sophos Mobile is a good UEM for smaller businesses. Many G2 users say they use Sophos because it is easy to use. |
NinjaOne’s MDM software has no forced commitments and no hidden fees. If you’re ready, request a free quote, sign up for a 14-day free trial, or watch a demo.
Our rankings formula
To derive the final score for each vendor, we employed a weighted formula that considers various metrics. Here’s how it breaks down:
Final Score = w1 * G2 Overall Star Rating + w2 * Capterra Overall Star Rating + w3 * G2 Total Number of Reviews (Scaled) + w4 * Capterra Total Number of Reviews (Scaled) + w5 * G2 Total Number of Awards
Where:
W1 = .25 * G2 score
W2 = .25 * Capterra score
W3 = .2 * Number of G2 reviews
W4 = .2 * Number of Capterra reviews
W5 = .1 * Number of G2 awards
Finding the best mobile device management system
As hybrid work becomes the new normal, it is now increasingly vital that you equip your IT team with robust solutions that can easily monitor, manage, and secure your mobile devices. There are many MDM solutions in the market today, each with its own advantages and challenges. Still, experts agree that you should select the MDM tool that best meets your needs and helps you achieve your organizational goals.
