7 Jamf alternatives IT managers are choosing in 2025

The more your business grows, the more devices you have to manage. And in today's world of remote and hybrid work, those devices are increasingly scattered across locations, networks, and platforms.

Keeping them all secure, compliant, and running smoothly is a monumental task—one that can quickly overwhelm IT teams relying on manual processes or outdated tools. That's where mobile device management (MDM) solutions come in, acting as a centralized command center for your entire device fleet.

This allows automating many of the time-consuming tasks of configuring, monitoring, and securing smartphones, tablets, laptops and more. By putting guardrails and visibility around your devices, you can protect sensitive business data from present and future cyber threats.

One popular MDM provider is Jamf. Launched in 2002, Jamf has made a name for itself as a solution for managing Apple devices in the enterprise. But as the MDM market has matured, a crop of competitors have emerged to challenge Jamf's reign.

In this article, we'll take a closer look at what Jamf offers and explore some of the top alternative MDM solutions for IT teams in 2025.  Whether you're looking for more cross-platform flexibility, better reporting and analytics, or just a fresh take on device management, there's an option that's perfectly tailored to your business needs. 

What is Jamf used for? 

Jamf is a software platform that helps IT administrators manage and secure Apple devices, including Mac computers, iPhones, and iPads. It's designed to simplify the deployment, configuration, and ongoing management of these devices at scale.

Through its core product Jamf Pro, the company offers key features and capabilities including:

• Automated device enrollment and provisioning through integration with Apple Business Manager/Apple School Manager
• Centralized inventory management and reporting on all managed devices
• Remote configuration of device settings, restrictions, and security policies
• Silent app installation, patching, and removal
• Separation of work and personal data on BYOD devices
• Support for additional Apple products like Apple TVs

Essentially, Jamf aims to give IT teams the tools they need to manage a large fleet of Apple devices. It's particularly popular in education and other Apple-centric organizations.

Pros and cons of using Jamf for MDM

So what are the main selling points of Jamf, and where does it fall short? Here's a quick rundown of some pros and cons:

Pros of Jamf

• Tight integration with Apple ecosystem: Since Jamf Pro is an Apple-exclusive MDM, it offers some of the most detailed and support for macOS and iOS management features. It stays in lockstep with new Apple releases.
• User-friendly admin console: Jamf Pro provides an intuitive admin interface. Common tasks like deploying apps or running reports are relatively straightforward, even for less technical users.
• Granular device and app control: With Jamf Pro, IT can exercise fine-grained control over multiple aspects of the device experience–from Wi-Fi and VPN settings to app permissions and OS updates. 

Cons of Jamf 

• Apple exclusivity limits flexibility: The flipside of Jamf's Apple-centricity is that it's not a great fit for organizations with a mix of device types. If you have significant Windows, Android, or Chrome OS usage, you'll need a separate tool to manage those platforms.
• Steep learning curve for advanced features: While Jamf's core functionality is fairly approachable, some of the more powerful automation and scripting features can be daunting for lean or generalist IT teams. 
• Cost can add up quickly: Jamf's per-device subscription model can get expensive fast, especially for larger deployments.

When to look for alternatives to Jamf

Despite its popularity and strengths, Jamf isn't the right MDM for every organization. Here are a few of the most common reasons IT managers start shopping around for alternatives:

1. Need for truly cross-platform support

In today's heterogeneous device landscape, Macs and iPhones often live alongside Windows PCs, Android tablets, and other endpoints. Managing them in silos with separate tools adds a lot of cost and complexity. Many organizations prefer an MDM that can handle their full fleet in one place.

2. Frustration with complex workflows 

Some new users find the actual process of getting things done to be cumbersome. Common complaints include intricate tasks, difficulty finding specific settings and confusing language/terminology. For busy admins, minutes wasted on non-intuitive workflows add up. The platform's steep learning curve, while allowing for extensive customization that might benefit larger teams with specialized needs, often translates to longer onboarding times and initial productivity losses.

3. Outgrowing Apple-only management 

Even if your fleet is all-Apple today, that could change as your business scales and diversifies. Switching MDM solutions down the road can be a massive headache, so some organizations opt for a more flexible cross-platform solution from day one. Especially in merger/acquisition scenarios, inheriting new device types is par for the course.

If any of those sound painfully familiar, it may be time to see what else is out there. Let's take a look at some of the most compelling Jamf alternatives on the market.

7 best alternatives to Jamf for device management 

This is by no means an exhaustive list, but these are some of the most feature-rich and well-regarded MDM solutions that work in place of Jamf:

1. Rippling 

Rippling's MDM software takes a unique approach by combining it with core IT and HR functions like single sign-on (SSO), identity management, and employee onboarding. The idea is that you can't manage devices in a vacuum—you need the full context of who the user is, what their role is, and what they need access to.

By integrating your device fleet with your core employee directory, Rippling can automate a lot of the manual busywork of assigning and tracking devices. Provisioning a new laptop for an employee is as simple as clicking their name, choosing a device type, and hitting go. Rippling handles the rest based on their role and department.

This unified approach is a big timesaver and accuracy booster, especially for mid-market organizations where IT and HR responsibilities often blur together. Rippling's device management also includes some powerful security features like two-factor authentication enforcement, automatic OS updates, and granular policy controls.

Pros

• Automates device assignments and returns by syncing with HR events
• Supports Mac, Windows, and Chrome OS devices
• Helps customize onboarding/offboarding steps with an intuitive workflow builder
• Combines SSO, MFA and MDM for seamless end-user experience

2. JumpCloud 

JumpCloud is an identity and access management (IAM) platform that integrates MDM into a broader suite of tools for access control, identity management, and endpoint security. It works across Mac, Windows, Linux, iOS, and Android devices.

With JumpCloud, admins can create granular user access policies and customize device configurations. The platform offers flexible policy creation and customization options, allowing admins to tailor the device experience.

Pros

• Offers flexible policy engine and scripting for custom device rules
• Includes security controls, including MFA and conditional access
• Combines MDM and identity management for holistic access control

3. Hexnode 

Hexnode is a unified endpoint management (UEM) solution that supports a wide range of devices, including Windows, macOS, Android, iOS, tvOS, and Fire OS. 

It offers comprehensive management capabilities for mobile devices, laptops, tablets, desktops, wearables, and IoT devices from a central console. From that console, IT can manage the entire lifecycle of any device—enrolling, configuring, deploying apps, pushing updates, and wiping upon exit. 

Pros

• Supports a wide range of device types, including IoT and specialized devices
• Offers granular kiosk mode and remote control options
• Provides an intuitive rule-based automation engine

4. ManageEngine Mobile Device Manager Plus

ManageEngine offers a MDM solution designed to balance employee productivity with corporate security needs. It supports a wide range of devices including smartphones, tablets, laptops, desktops, TVs, and rugged devices across multiple operating systems (Android, iOS, iPadOS, tvOS, macOS, Windows, and Chrome OS).

The platform provides complete lifecycle management with features like automated enrollment, profile configuration, app distribution, and security policy enforcement. ManageEngine emphasizes both security and usability with capabilities like kiosk mode, containerization for BYOD scenarios, and remote troubleshooting tools.

Pros

• Security features including encryption, geofencing, and remote commands
• Flexible deployment options (cloud or on-premises) 
• Strong integration capabilities with other IT management systems

5. NinjaOne

NinjaOne is primarily a remote monitoring and management (RMM) platform that includes MDM capabilities as part of its broader endpoint management suite. While its MDM features are less specialized than Jamf's Apple-focused solutions, the platform brings together mobile device administration with broader IT management, offering features from remote app control and policy enforcement to security settings and device tracking.

Managing devices happens through a straightforward interface that emphasizes automation. IT teams can set up zero-touch enrollment, configure device restrictions, and deploy applications at scale while monitoring compliance across their mobile fleet.

Pros

• Single platform for all endpoint types including mobile
• Automated device enrollment and configuration
• Built-in remote support capabilities

6. Kandji 

Kandji is a close competitor to Jamf in the Apple-only MDM space. The Apple device management solution combines enterprise security with extensive automation, handling everything from zero-touch deployment to compliance enforcement across Mac, iPhone, iPad, and Apple TV devices.

The system emphasizes automation through features like "Auto Apps" for software management and "Assignment Maps" for visual policy configuration. Their "Liftoff" feature transforms new Macs into enterprise-ready devices without manual IT intervention, while over 200 pre-built security controls and one-click CIS compliance templates help maintain security standards.

Pros

• Purpose-built automation for Apple device lifecycle
• Extensive library of pre-packaged security controls
• Zero-touch deployment with automated configuration

7. IBM MaaS360 

IBM MaaS360 serves as an enterprise UEM platform, combining mobile device control with AI-powered security features. Beyond standard MDM capabilities, it includes identity management, MFA, and real-time analytics for comprehensive device oversight.

The platform emphasizes flexibility in deployment models, supporting both corporate-owned and BYOD programs through features like over-the-air enrollment and zero-touch configuration. For Apple devices, it integrates with Apple Business Manager, while Android devices can utilize zero-touch enrollment. What sets MaaS360 apart is its integration with IBM's Watson AI for security analytics and threat detection, making it particularly appealing to larger enterprises with complex security requirements.

Pros

• Unified management across all major mobile platforms
• AI-powered security insights and threat detection
• Streamlined device enrollment and onboarding

5 features a device management tool should have

No matter which vendor you go with, make sure the solution checks these fundamental boxes:

1. Centralized device control

It sounds basic, but you'd be surprised how many tools fall short here. A robust device management solution should act as your single pane of glass for monitoring and managing all enrolled devices. This means granular group-based policy management, one-click configuration changes, and real-time visibility into device health.

2. Seamless enrollment experience

No one enjoys manually configuring new devices, installing apps, and wrestling with account setup. Your MDM should make enrollment as close to zero-touch as possible for both IT and end users. Lean into automation wherever you can—think silent app push, preset security policies, and integration with your identity provider for seamless login.

3. Proactive security and compliance

This is the bread and butter of an enterprise MDM solution. Look for the ability to enforce device-level encryption, restrict risky apps and network connections, remotely lock/wipe misplaced devices, and continuously monitor for suspicious activity. Bonus points for automated compliance reporting mapped to frameworks like HIPAA or SOC.

4. Cross-platform app management

Especially in a BYOD world, your users need a consistent way to discover and install work apps across all their devices. Your MDM should support a robust self-service app catalog with granular role-based access controls, automated app updates and patch management, and integration with your volume purchase programs.

5. Actionable device insights

Finally, look for an MDM that delivers real-time device telemetry and actionable dashboards, not just static inventory reports. We're talking device health metrics (e.g. battery life, CPU usage), application analytics (e.g. versions installed, last used), and cellular data consumption trends. Armed with these insights, you can proactively optimize your device fleet for productivity and cost savings.

Streamline device management with Rippling

If you're looking for a cross-OS MDM solution (Apple, Windows, iOS, iPad) that fuses best-in-class device management with deep identity/access control and robust workflow automation, Rippling is the one of the best out there.

By joining forces with your HR system, Rippling's MDM can dynamically deploy devices and apps based on an employee's role, department, and location and automatically revoke them when offboarding. No more playing device whack-a-mole as people join, move, or leave the company.

All the heavy lifting of device configuration, from encrypting hard drives to installing VPNs to enabling remote lock, happens silently in the background the second a device is enrolled. Fine-grained policies let you control everything from USB access to password requirements.

But Rippling goes beyond basic MDM with smart features like:

• Automatic reclamation of software licenses from disabled devices
• Intelligent role-based app provisioning and deprovisioning
• Workflow automations to route device requests, approvals and returns
• Unified device and user auditing for ironclad compliance
• Centralized visibility of device health, utilization and security posture

Whether you have 50 or 5,000 devices, Rippling makes it incredibly easy to manage your entire fleet at scale while keeping your most sensitive business data on lockdown. It's all the power of enterprise MDM, without the complexity.

Jamf competitors & alternatives FAQs

Who are the competitors of Jamf?

Some of Jamf's top competitors in the Apple MDM space include Kandji, Addigy, and Mosyle. For cross-platform MDM, major alternatives include Rippling, ManageEngine Mobile Device Manager Plus, Microsoft Intune, and JumpCloud.

Is Kandji better than Jamf?

The choice between Kandji and Jamf depends on your organization's specific requirements. Kandji offers a streamlined approach with pre-built Blueprints for device configuration, while Jamf provides extensive customization options through Smart Groups and Extension Attributes.

Is there a free version of Jamf?

Jamf does not offer a free version of its software. It does have a limited 14-day free trial, but you'll need to purchase a subscription to continue using the product. Paid plans start at $3.75 per device per month.

What is the difference between Jamf and NinjaOne?

The main difference is that Jamf specializes in managing Apple devices (Mac, iOS, iPad OS, tvOS), while NinjaOne supports a broader range of platforms including Windows, Mac and Linux. NinjaOne also doubles as an RMM solution with robust patch management, remote access and IT documentation features.

This blog is based on information available to Rippling as of March 11, 2025.

Disclaimer: Rippling and its affiliates do not provide tax, accounting, or legal advice. This material has been prepared for informational purposes only, and is not intended to provide or be relied on for tax, accounting, or legal advice. You should consult your own tax, accounting, and legal advisors before engaging in any related activities or transactions.