Best Mobile Device Management (MDM) Software for Small Teams in 2026
Once a team passes a handful of laptops and phones, tracking device security by hand, who has the latest OS update, whose laptop still has full-disk encryption off, which phone was never wiped after an employee left, stops being realistic. Mobile device management software enrolls every company device into one console, enforces security policies automatically, and lets you remotely lock or wipe a lost device before it becomes a breach. This guide compares Microsoft Intune, Jamf Pro, and Hexnode across three different device-management priorities.
Key takeaways
- Microsoft Intune is the natural fit for Microsoft 365 shops Bundled with several Microsoft 365 Business plans, with the deepest Windows and Entra ID integration of the three.
- Jamf Pro is built specifically for Apple fleets Mac, iPhone and iPad management with day-one support for new Apple OS features, at a premium price for that specialization.
- Hexnode covers mixed device fleets at a lower entry cost Cross-platform support (Windows, Mac, iOS, Android, even some IoT) aimed at smaller budgets.
What MDM Software Actually Does
At its core, MDM software gives IT one console to enroll devices, push security policies (screen lock requirements, encryption, minimum OS version), install or remove apps remotely, and, critically, remotely lock or wipe a device that's lost, stolen, or leaving with a departing employee. Modern MDM platforms extend into mobile application management (controlling company data inside apps without touching personal data on a BYOD phone) and compliance reporting for frameworks like SOC 2 or HIPAA.
The three tools compared here split along a real fault line: platform specialization versus platform breadth. Jamf goes deep on Apple only. Intune covers everything but is strongest where Microsoft's own ecosystem (Windows, Entra ID, Microsoft 365) is already central to the business. Hexnode covers the broadest device range at the most accessible price, trading some platform-specific depth for that breadth.
If your team is already on Microsoft 365 Business Premium, basic Intune device management may already be included, worth checking your existing license before paying for a separate MDM platform.
How the Three Compare
|
Best for Microsoft 365 shops
Microsoft Intune
|
Best for Apple-only fleets
Jamf Pro
|
Best budget cross-platform option
Hexnode
|
|
|---|---|---|---|
| Platform coverage | Windows, iOS, Android, macOS (broad) | macOS, iOS, iPadOS, tvOS (Apple only) | Windows, macOS, iOS, Android, some IoT |
| Best fit | Microsoft 365-centric businesses | All-Apple device fleets | Mixed-platform small businesses |
| Bundled availability | – | No | No |
| Remote lock/wipe | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Apple-specific feature support | Adequate | Deepest, day-one OS support | Adequate |
| Pricing model | Per-user, often bundled | Per-device | Per-device, lower published entry rate |
| Check Price | Check Price | Check Price |
Microsoft Intune, Jamf Pro and Hexnode, One by One
Microsoft Intune
Microsoft Intune is Microsoft's cloud-based device and app management platform, tightly integrated with Entra ID (formerly Azure AD) for identity and conditional access, meaning device compliance can directly gate access to company email and files. For a business already standardized on Microsoft 365, that integration is the whole pitch: policies, identity and device compliance all live in one Microsoft admin ecosystem rather than three separate consoles.
Intune is available bundled into certain Microsoft 365 Business and Enterprise plans, and as a standalone subscription otherwise. The honest limitation is that its non-Windows device management, while functional, isn't as deep or fast to update as a platform built specifically around Apple or Android, a business running a majority-Mac team will generally get a better experience from Jamf.
Jamf Pro
Jamf Pro exists to manage Apple devices, full stop, and that focus shows in its feature depth: same-day support for new macOS and iOS features when Apple ships them, deep zero-touch deployment (a new Mac can be shipped straight to an employee and auto-enroll on first boot), and granular control over Apple-specific settings that generic MDM tools handle more shallowly.
The trade-off is obvious and intentional: Jamf doesn't manage Windows or Android devices at all. For an all-Apple company, common in design, creative and some startup environments, that's not a limitation, it's exactly the specialization you want. For a mixed-device office, Jamf would need to run alongside a second MDM tool for non-Apple hardware, which is real added complexity.
Hexnode
Hexnode is a cross-platform MDM tool built with smaller IT budgets in mind, supporting Windows, macOS, iOS, and Android from one console, with published per-device pricing generally lower than Jamf's per-device rate or Intune's standalone per-user rate. It covers the core MDM feature set, remote lock/wipe, policy enforcement, app deployment, kiosk mode for shared devices, reliably, without the platform-specific depth Jamf offers for Apple or the identity integration Intune offers for Microsoft 365 shops.
For a small business with a genuinely mixed device fleet and no existing Microsoft 365 or Apple-only standardization, Hexnode is often the most cost-effective way to get real device management without paying for platform-specific features that team wouldn't fully use anyway.
Who Should Choose Which
Who gets the most from each platform
Intune’s Entra ID integration makes device compliance part of access control, not a separate system.
Jamf’s Apple-only focus delivers deeper, faster-updated device management than generalist tools.
Hexnode covers the core MDM feature set across platforms at a lower published price.
- All three support remote lock/wipe and policy enforcement
- Intune’s bundling can make it effectively free for Microsoft 365 shops
- Jamf’s Apple depth reduces device-management friction for all-Mac teams
- Running Jamf alongside a second tool adds complexity for mixed fleets
- Hexnode trades some platform-specific depth for its lower price
- Intune’s non-Windows management lags Jamf’s Apple-specific feature support
Rounding out your security stack
MDM handles the device layer. Pair it with endpoint security and a password manager for fuller small-business coverage.
How We Evaluated These Platforms
Our evaluation approach
This comparison is based on each vendor’s published documentation and platform-support pages, cross-checked against independent pricing trackers given how often bundled-license terms change.
-
Vendor documentation reviewed
Platform support matrices and admin console feature lists checked directly.
-
Bundling checked
Confirmed which Microsoft 365 plans currently include Intune device management.
-
Scored editorially
Ratings reflect Urivio’s own editorial judgment against the five criteria shown above.
Frequently Asked Questions
Frequently asked questions
Do I need MDM software for a small team?
If your team uses company-owned or company-accessed devices (laptops, phones) to reach business email or files, MDM closes a real gap: the ability to remotely lock or wipe a lost or ex-employee device before it becomes a data exposure.
Can Jamf manage Windows devices?
No. Jamf Pro is built exclusively for Apple devices (macOS, iOS, iPadOS, tvOS). A mixed-platform office would need a second MDM tool alongside Jamf for any Windows or Android devices.
Is Microsoft Intune included with Microsoft 365?
Some Microsoft 365 Business and Enterprise plans bundle Intune device management; others require it as an add-on or standalone subscription. Check your specific plan’s included services before assuming it’s included.
Does MDM software see personal data on an employee's own phone?
On properly configured BYOD enrollment, MDM manages a separate work profile or container for company apps and data, leaving personal apps, photos and messages outside IT’s visibility.
What happens if a managed device is stolen?
An admin can remotely lock the device immediately and, if it doesn’t check back in or recovery isn’t possible, issue a remote wipe to erase company (and on fully-managed devices, all) data before it can be accessed.
Final take
- Intune: strongest for Microsoft 365-centric businesses, sometimes already bundled
- Jamf: deepest Apple-specific management, but Apple-only
- Hexnode: broadest low-cost cross-platform coverage for mixed fleets
The right MDM choice here comes down to what’s already standardized in your business, not which tool has the longest feature list. Microsoft 365 shops get the most value from Intune’s existing integration. All-Apple teams get meaningfully deeper device management from Jamf’s specialization. Mixed-platform small businesses without a strong existing ecosystem tend to get the best cost-to-coverage ratio from Hexnode.
