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For most teams, Scalefusion is the strongest starting point: it covers endpoint management, kiosk and BYOD controls, with pricing from $2 per device per month. Miradore is a better value if you can stay within its free limit of 50 devices. Apple-focused teams should compare Addigy and Kandji, while SmartDeploy is a specialized fit for Windows imaging—not a default MDM choice. Check the plan you actually need before switching: Workspace ONE’s entry price may not reflect its UEM tier, and several vendors do not publish a starting price here.
Quick picksThe shortlist
ScalefusionScalefusionBest overall · $2/mo
MiradoreMiradoreBest value · $2.75/mo
AddigyAddigyBest for Apple MSPs · $8.25/mo
Workspace ONE UEMWorkspace ONE UEMBest for mixed fleets · $1.67/mo
SmartDeploySmartDeployBest for Windows imaging · $91.67/mo
KandjiKandjiBest for Apple compliance · Custom
MenderMenderBest for OTA updates · $34/mo
SOTI MobiControlSOTI MobiControlBest for rugged fleets · Custom
01Compared at a glance
| Tool | Score | From | Free plan | Trial |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ScalefusionScalefusion | 7.3 | $2/mo | No | Yes |
| MiradoreMiradore | 7.2 | $2.75/mo | Yes | 14 days |
| AddigyAddigy | 7.2 | $8.25/mo | No | 14 days |
| Workspace ONE UEMWorkspace ONE UEM | 6.3 | $1.67/mo | No | — |
| SmartDeploySmartDeploy | 7.2 | $91.67/mo | No | 15 days |
| KandjiKandji | 6.8 | Custom | No | 14 days |
| MenderMender | 6.4 | $34/mo | Yes | — |
| SOTI MobiControlSOTI MobiControl | 6.0 | Custom | No | 30 days |
02The picks, in detail
- Best overallScalefusionScalefusion
Scalefusion is our best starting point for teams consolidating endpoint management and needing kiosk or BYOD controls. Its listed starting price is $2 per device per month, though the full security stack costs more. Annual billing is a fit only if your team is comfortable committing that way; price the features you need before comparing it with lower entry prices.
What works
- UEM plans start at $2 per device/month
- Manages devices and apps from one console
- Includes OS updates on Business and above
What doesn't
- UEM plans require at least 10 devices
- Plans are billed annually
- Trial duration is not published
- Best valueMiradoreMiradore
Miradore is worth a close look if you manage 50 devices or fewer: its free plan covers up to 50 devices. Paid pricing starts at $2.75, and the published guidance flags annual per-device pricing as a comparison point. That makes it a sensible shortlist option for multi-platform endpoint management, provided its free or paid tier fits your fleet.
What works
- Free plan covers up to 50 devices
- Supports Android, Apple, and Windows endpoints
- Premium annual rate starts at $2.75 per device monthly
What doesn't
- Free plan is capped at 50 devices
- Minimum payment terms apply below 19 devices
- Custom pricing applies above 500 devices
- Best for Apple MSPsAddigyAddigy
Addigy is a strong fit for MSPs managing Apple fleets and teams that need remote Mac support. Its listed starting price is $8.25, but device counts and security add-ons can affect the cost. Check those details before switching, especially if you are comparing it with a quote-based Apple platform or plan to add security tools.
What works
- Apple MDM starts at $8.25 per Mac monthly
- 14-day free trial
- Includes real-time monitoring, inventory and live terminal
What doesn't
- iOS device pricing is not published
- Annual pricing is not published
- Security Suite costs $16 per Mac monthly
- Best for mixed fleetsWorkspace ONE UEMWorkspace ONE UEM
Workspace ONE UEM suits organizations managing mixed endpoint fleets or requiring local sovereign infrastructure. Its listed starting price is $1.67, but the entry plan is not the same as pricing the UEM tier. Shortlist it for broad endpoint control, then request a price for the tier and infrastructure your organization actually needs.
What works
- Endpoint management and security from one platform
- Six listed plan tiers for different management needs
- UEM Essentials listed at $5.25/device/month equivalent
What doesn't
- The $1.67 entry tier is not the full UEM plan
- Listed monthly equivalents require 12-month prepayment
- Standalone month-to-month rates and annual totals are unpublished
- Best for Windows imagingSmartDeploySmartDeploy
SmartDeploy is a specialized choice for Windows fleets with varied PC models, remote imaging needs, or teams managing images and apps. The listed starting price is $91.67. Its strength is deployment and imaging, so it may be expensive if all you need is image capture. Compare it with broader endpoint tools only if those workflows matter to your team.
What works
- Layered imaging can preserve apps and user data
- More than 1,500 prebuilt driver packs
- Deploy through servers, USB, or cloud storage
What doesn't
- Starts at $1,100 per device annually
- Monthly billing is not listed
- Plan prices vary by quantity and features
- Best for Apple complianceKandjiKandji
Kandji is worth evaluating if your team centers on Apple devices and wants automated compliance evidence or endpoint and identity tools together. No starting price is listed here, so get a detailed quote before comparing its cost with other Apple-focused options. Test whether the combined toolset fits your requirements before switching.
What works
- Manages Apple, Windows and Android devices, per the published product details
- Includes zero-touch deployment for Apple devices
- Offers endpoint threat detection and vulnerability management
What doesn't
- Starting price is not published
- Annual commitment and custom quote make cost comparisons harder
- Some Reddit admins say Blueprint scoping lacks flexibility
- Best for OTA updatesMenderMender
Mender is aimed at teams updating connected device fleets, including products needing OTA or air-gapped updates. A free plan is listed, with pricing from $34; Professional costs $291 monthly and Enterprise pricing is not published. That gap makes careful budgeting important. It is a more specialized fit than a general-purpose device-management choice.
What works
- Free plan includes core over-the-air updates
- Basic starts at $34 per month
- Supports full images and application updates
What doesn't
- Professional costs $291 per month
- Enterprise pricing isn't published
- Annual billing prices aren't published
- Best for rugged fleetsSOTI MobiControlSOTI MobiControl
SOTI MobiControl is built for rugged-device deployments, business-critical mobile operations, and teams managing mobility and IoT. No starting price is listed here, so request a quote rather than assuming it will match lower-priced per-device plans. Shortlist it when those specialized workflows matter, and test the fit before switching.
What works
- Positioned for business-critical mobility and IoT deployments
- Covers both MDM and EMM use cases
- One Reddit commenter praised its rugged-device fit
What doesn't
- Starting price and add-on prices are not published
- Pricing requires a custom quote
- Users report a clunky interface
03How we chose
Our method is to compare published pricing and plan limits, then check product claims against vendor documentation. We weigh whether the information makes it possible to judge device and platform fit, deployment requirements, administration and security needs, and likely costs as an organization grows. Reddit comments count as user sentiment, not verified product evidence. We do not treat missing prices or limits as zero, and we do not infer capabilities from a product’s category. Where the available information does not establish a detail, we call it unpublished rather than guess.
04Match the software to your device estate
Start with an inventory, not a shortlist. List the operating systems, device types and ownership models your organization needs to manage, including any desktops or IoT devices alongside phones and tablets. Then identify which groups need different policies, enrollment steps or levels of control.
For each candidate, use the vendor’s documentation to confirm support for your exact mix. A broad category description is not proof that a product covers every platform or workflow you need. Check how enrollment works, what administrators can manage, and what happens when a device is lost, replaced or leaves the organization. If a requirement is unclear, treat it as an open question for the vendor—not as a feature you can assume is included. A small pilot using representative devices can help expose workflow gaps before a wider rollout.
05Compare the full cost and the switching work
Do not compare vendors on a headline price alone. Check whether published pricing is per user, device or another unit, and look for minimums, plan limits, add-ons and support costs. If the pricing page does not answer those questions, mark the detail as unpublished and ask for a written quote. Estimate costs against your actual device count and expected growth.
Switching also takes staff time. Before choosing, document how devices are enrolled today, which policies must be recreated, and what information or integrations need to move. Ask vendors what migration help is included and what your team must handle; verify the answer in documentation or a proposal. Reddit reports can flag questions worth asking, but an individual account is not a guarantee of your own rollout experience. Compare the same requirements and cost assumptions across every shortlist option.
Questions people ask
What does mobile device management software do?
Mobile device management software helps an organization manage and secure devices across its workforce. The category can include mobile devices, desktops and IoT devices. Which specific platforms, controls and workflows a product supports should be confirmed in that vendor’s documentation.
How should we choose an MDM platform?
Start by listing the device types, operating systems, user groups and administrative requirements you need to cover. Then verify each candidate against vendor documentation, compare published plan limits and pricing, and ask about anything not clearly documented. A pilot can check whether the workflows fit your environment.
How much does MDM software cost?
There is no single price for the category. Compare each vendor’s published pricing and confirm the billing unit, plan limits, minimums and any costs not shown on the pricing page. If a price or limit is not published, request a quote rather than estimating it.
What should we check before switching MDM software?
Map your current enrollment process, device policies, integrations and groups before planning a move. Ask the vendor which migration steps are supported, what your team must do and whether assistance is included. Confirm those details in documentation or a written proposal, then validate the process with representative devices.