Buyer’s guide · Technology
Best Unified Endpoint Management Software in 2026: Pricing & Comparison
We compared four unified endpoint / MDM platforms on public pricing, free tiers, device vs user licensing and Apple vs cross-platform strength so you can shortlist for your fleet size.
- Microsoft shops that already own M365: Intune Plan 1 is often already included; standalone list is about $8/user/mo.
- Apple-heavy fleets: Jamf — published device pricing starting around a few dollars per device per month depending on platform.
- Budget cross-platform with a free starter: ManageEngine Mobile Device Manager Plus — free up to 25 devices, then published device bands.
- Simple SMB multi-OS: look at published entry tiers from vendors such as Hexnode or Scalefusion in the $2–4/device range when you need a fourth shortlist option.
Unified endpoint management (UEM) and mobile device management (MDM) enroll phones, tablets and computers, push configuration and apps, enforce compliance, and support remote wipe or lock. Cross-platform tools compete with Apple-specialist platforms; licensing may be per user, per device, or device bands.
We evaluated every vendor on the same fields: published pricing, free plan or trial, licensing model, platform coverage, and main limitation. Order is not a quality ranking. Sort rule: public $0 / published price first, quote-led last.
| Platform | Published pricing | Free plan or trial | Best for | Link |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. ManageEngine MDM Plus | Free to 25 devices; from ~$64/mo (50 devices cloud) | Free up to 25 devices | Budget cross-platform fleets | Visit → |
| 2. Jamf | From ~$2–$3.33+/device/mo (Now/Pro, annual) | Free trial; limited free on some Now tiers | Apple-centric management | Visit → |
| 3. Microsoft Intune | Plan 1 ~$8/user/mo; often in M365 | Included in many M365/EMS SKUs; trial available | Microsoft 365 environments | Visit → |
| 4. Hexnode / Scalefusion-class | Typically from ~$2–4/device/mo published | Trials common; some free tiers | SMB multi-OS without Microsoft lock-in | Visit → |
Prices are public list prices in USD checked 20 Oct 2026. Intune is frequently already licensed via Microsoft 365 Business Premium, E3 or E5. Confirm current device bands, user vs device metering and education discounts on vendor pages. How we evaluated: see methodology below.
Choosing between user, device and band pricing
Per-user licensing (Intune) fits knowledge workers with multiple devices. Per-device or band pricing (Jamf, ManageEngine) fits shared or single-purpose devices. Apple-only tools can be cheaper and deeper for Mac/iOS fleets; cross-platform tools reduce the number of consoles when Windows and Android are also in scope.
The 4 companies in detail
ManageEngine Mobile Device Manager Plus
Budget cross-platform with free starter
Best for: small fleets that want a free tier up to 25 devices and published cloud or on-premises bands beyond that.
| Published pricing | Free up to 25 devices; cloud from about $64/mo for 50 devices (1 technician); on-premises annual bands from a few hundred dollars; extra technicians sold separately |
|---|---|
| Free plan or trial | Free edition for up to 25 devices; trials available |
| Core focus | MDM for mobile and desktop, app management, security policies, on-prem or cloud |
| Main limitation | Technician licenses and higher device bands increase cost; console is feature-dense |
- Genuine free tier for small deployments.
- Transparent device-band pricing for both cloud and on-premises.
- Additional technicians and Professional features add line items.
Jamf
Apple-centric management
Best for: organizations whose endpoints are primarily Mac, iPhone, iPad and Apple TV and that want deep Apple-native workflows.
| Published pricing | Jamf Now from about $2/device/mo; Jamf Pro published around $3.33/device/mo for iOS/iPadOS/tvOS and higher for macOS when billed annually (confirm current list) |
|---|---|
| Free plan or trial | Trials available; limited free options on entry products |
| Core focus | Zero-touch deployment, configuration profiles, App Store management, security for Apple platforms |
| Main limitation | Windows and Android are outside the core product; multi-OS fleets need a second tool or a different UEM |
- Deepest published feature set for Apple management among the four.
- Clear device-based list prices for Pro and Now lines.
- Not a full cross-platform UEM; plan for other OSes separately if needed.
Microsoft Intune
Microsoft 365 environments
Best for: organizations already on Microsoft 365 Business Premium, E3 or E5 where Intune Plan 1 is included, or teams that want user-based licensing for multi-device workers.
| Published pricing | Intune Plan 1 ~$8/user/mo; Plan 2 add-on ~$4; Suite add-on ~$10; device license available; often included in M365/EMS |
|---|---|
| Free plan or trial | Included in many commercial Microsoft 365 and EMS SKUs; trials available |
| Core focus | Cross-platform device and app management, compliance, endpoint analytics, integration with Entra ID and Defender |
| Main limitation | Standalone cost adds up if you do not already own a suite that includes Plan 1 |
- Frequently already paid for inside Microsoft 365 suites.
- Strong integration with identity, compliance and Microsoft security stack.
- Apple-specific depth is lower than specialist tools such as Jamf.
Hexnode (and similar SMB UEM)
SMB multi-OS without Microsoft lock-in
Best for: small and mid-size teams that need Android, iOS, Windows and macOS in one console at a published per-device price in the low single digits.
| Published pricing | Typically from about $2–4 per device per month on Pro/Enterprise tiers depending on features and volume; confirm current list on hexnode.com |
|---|---|
| Free plan or trial | Free trial common; some limited free device allowances may exist |
| Core focus | Cross-platform MDM/UEM, app and content management, kiosk and shared-device modes |
| Main limitation | Enterprise identity and advanced analytics depth may lag suite products |
- Published per-device pricing aimed at SMBs.
- Broad OS coverage in a single product.
- Feature depth and ecosystem integrations vary by tier; validate against your required policies.
Kurums Match
We already pay for Microsoft 365 Business Premium or E3/E5
Our fleet is mostly Apple
Jamf is the specialist choice. Compare Jamf Now for simpler needs against Jamf Pro for automation and scripting depth.
We need a free or low-cost start for under 25–50 devices
ManageEngine free edition (25 devices) or its published 50-device cloud band is a practical entry. Validate the technician model for your admin team.
We want one console for Android, iOS, Windows and Mac at SMB price
Evaluate Hexnode (or Scalefusion-class tools) on published per-device pricing after a trial that covers your required OS mix.
Buying tip
Count managed devices and users separately. Per-user licenses can be cheaper when people have two or three devices; per-device licenses can be cheaper for shared kiosks and single-purpose hardware. Always check whether Apple Business Manager / Android Enterprise enrollment is already set up before you buy seats.
How this comparison was put together
We reviewed public pricing pages for ManageEngine Mobile Device Manager Plus, Jamf, Microsoft Intune and Hexnode on 20 October 2026. Prices are published list figures in USD. Intune inclusion in Microsoft 365 suites is noted because it changes the real incremental cost. Order follows the published-price sort rule, not a quality score.
FAQ
Is MDM the same as UEM?
Do I need a second tool for Mac if I use Intune?
Many organizations run Intune for Windows and mobile and add Jamf for deep macOS management. Others standardize on Intune alone. The choice depends on how much Apple-specific automation and scripting you need.
Are there education discounts?
Yes. Microsoft, Jamf and several others publish education pricing. Confirm eligibility and whether student devices are licensed differently from staff devices.
Disclosure: Kurums is reader-supported. Some links may be affiliate or sponsored links, marked as such; they never affect rankings or the order of tools on this page.
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