In-Depth Review: 8 Best MDM Solutions for Small Businesses in 2025
Technological advancements have forced many small businesses to use mobile phones, laptops, and other IoT devices for a flexible work schedule. Without close supervision, these endpoint devices may promote data leakage and security breaches.
Sadly, those upcoming businesses have limited budgets and thus can’t accommodate a large number of IT teams to secure and ensure the smooth operation of the devices. The best MDM for SMB software with a flexible payment plan seems to be a viable option.
The small businesses’ small IT teams then make use of MDM tools plus automation services to boost security, work efficiency, and productivity without incurring extreme overhead costs.
Such a work arrangement positions even two IT employees to manage hundreds of devices.
1Key Considerations for Choosing MDM Software for Small Businesses
Affordable Pricing
Small businesses have limited income yet need mobile device management tools. Therefore, MDM software that has no set minimum device requirements but instead taps on flexible pricing plans (user-based subscription or pay-as-you-go) is ideal.
Specific Features
Some MDM tools may have overwhelming features that small businesses don’t necessarily require. So, identify the small business MDM software with the core features your enterprise craves for example:
1. Remote control and access
2. Basic security requirements (policy enforcement and Kiosk mode)
3. Fundamental app management abilities, for example, forced installation and updates.
Ease of Use
Upcoming enterprises have limited IT resources and skills. Thus, such businesses need MDM solutions that are straightforward to install, and configure and have less implementation time. Further, it should have a user-friendly interface and be manageable by endpoint users with minimal IT knowledge.
Technical Support
Timely customer response and technical support from an MDM developer are critical for every enterprise, especially upcoming businesses that lack a dedicated professional IT team. Often, they hire external technical assistance for speedy and efficient resolution of problems.
How We Selected These Software Options
We wanted the best software that gives practical solutions for small businesses at competitive prices. We therefore collected our data based on the following three approaches:
- Method 1: Opinions of leading software review sites such as G2 and Gartner.
- Method 2: Combing through reliable discussions in small business communities including Reddit ( r/msp) and Spiceworks.
- Method 3: Interviewing different people who have used the software before and thus have earned real experience with the software.
- Method 4: Try the software's free or pro version and evaluate its features, usability, and effectiveness in meeting small business needs.
Using these approaches, we came up with the most recommended MDM software for small businesses. Read on for the top 8 based on features, pricing, and usability.
2Top 8 MDM Solutions for Small Businesses
The best MDM for small businesses gives you efficient app management and boosts the security of your devices and data. Here are our top 8 mobile device management solutions to consider.
MDM Brand | Price | Supported Devices | Deployment | Remote Control and Access | App managemnet | Security | Customer Support |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Airdroid Business | 14 free trial days, Basic plan $12 per device/year | Android and windows | 4.7/5.0 | 4.5/5.0 | 4.5/5.0 | 4.5/5.0 | within 24 hours |
Microsoft Intune | 30 days free trial, $96/user/year | Android, Windows, iOS, ChromeOS, Linux | 4.0/5.0 | 3.5/5.0 | 4.0/5.0 | 4.0/5.0 | 1-3 days |
Miradore | 14 days free tial, $27.6/device/year | Android, Windows, iOS, macOS. | 3.0/5.0 | 4.0/5.0 | 3.0/5.0 | 3.0/5.0 | 1-3 days |
Mosyle | 30 days free trial, $5.52/device/year | macOS and Ios | 4.1/5.0 | 3.5/5.0 | 4.0/5.0 | 4.3/5.0 | 2 dys to 1 week |
Meraki | 14-30 trial days. Enterprice $27.3/device/year | Android, windows, macOS, tvOS, CromeOS and iOS | 4.0/5.0 | 4.0/5.0 | 4.0/5.0 | 3.8/5.0 | within one day |
Ivanti | 45 free trial days, quoted based on number of devices | Windows, Android, iOS, macOS and ChromeOS | 3.0/5.0 | 3.0/5.0 | 2.5/5.0 | 3.0/5.0 | days or even a week |
Hexnode | 14 free trial days, pro plan $25.92/device/year | Android, Windows, iOS, FireOS, Android TV, Apple TV | 4.0/5.0 | 4.0/5.0 | 4.0/5.0 | 4.2/5.0 | within a day |
ScaleFusion | 14 free trial days, Essential plan $24/device/year | Android, Windows, Linux, iOS, macOS | 4.0/5.0 | 4.3/5.0 | 3.8/5.0 | 4.3/5.0 | within a day |
1AirDroid Business
When looking for the best Android MDM for small business, Airdroid stands out from its business in the following core features:
Robust Remote Control and Access
Airdroid uses a device grouping feature to simplify full access to and monitoring of devices in real-time. Also, its robust unassisted remote control and access make troubleshooting unattended devices easy without rerouting.
When needed, the voice chat feature and API integration save time and make troubleshooting of remote equipment faster and more efficient. Few employees therefore maintain a fine grip over the control of vast devices thereby cutting down operation costs.
Policy Management
Growing businesses should boost the security across their devices and the data contained therein. Airdroid’s customizable policies such as password configuration, blocklist/allowlist, device limitation ability, VPN configuration, and factory reset protection prove invaluable.
Remote Camera
Airdroid MDM software gives you control of the device’s inbuilt camera to enjoy a virtual view and tour of the surroundings. Such a provision becomes useful in viewing the device’s status and troubleshooting.
App Configuration
Before deploying Google Play apps, this MDM allows you to configure the app’s permission and settings to reflect your business’s needs.
Usability: Airdroid has an extremely user-friendly interface and features (ranked #1 by G2)
User Review
"I can attest to Airdroid’s solid android management capabilities and flexible pricing plan that suits even small businesses. Further, its core features such as remote control and access, app deployment, and policy features relate to the MDM needs of many small businesses."
"At a glance, I like its simple and attractive layout. You don’t have to possess professional IT skills to deploy and navigate Airdroid MDM."
2Microsoft Intune
It's a cloud-based MDM tool provided by Microsoft for managing Windows, Android, and iOS devices. Microsoft Intune stands out for its seamless blending with Windows Autopilot, Azure Active Directory, and Microsoft 365. Its comprehensive security policies and robust management bundle on EMS (if you can afford the pay) are remarkable. Sadly, it registers poor performances on device location and tracking capability. Also, Microsoft Intune gives little to no room for customizing its dashboard.
Usability: Unless you have prior experience, it has a steep learning curve.
User Review
"Unfortunately, Intune doesn’t register splendid performance with iOS devices the way it does with Windows. Further, it gives basic functionalities. For example, to tap on its autopilot deployment, I must have an Apple business account and link it to the Apple business manager."
"Some users claim without leaving the Intune portal, you can link apps for easy deployment from the Google Play Store in 15 minutes even without a D and B number. Unless you get the MDM tool as part of a Microsoft 365 license, Intune is expensive to purchase."
3Miradore
Miradore is a device management software for managing a fleet of iOS, Android, and Windows devices. Its major features include:
The software also registers good performance with bulk enrolment of devices, remote wiping, and tracking of devices. But to enjoy its advanced features, IT engineers must first wipe-clean the devices before linking them to the MDM tool.
Its free plan gives you very basic functionalities. For instance, it won’t allow you to customize the home screen to suit shared devices or see the UEM tool option.
Usability: Not very user-friendly.
User Review
"Sadly, making bulk device updates is very slow and cumbersome. If for some reason you wish to delete a batch of apps at once, it's not possible and you have to do it one by one. That feels very cumbersome when you have lots of apps to erase."
"Miradore needs improvement in its technical support for customers. It has no detailed documented guidelines for a newbie deploying or navigating its features. And you’ll rarely get a knowledgeable support team for Linux and ChromeOS devices."
4Mosyle
Mosyle is a dedicated cloud-based MDM software for Apple products. It gives you a web-based admin console that allows you to work from anywhere without installing a VPN or an admin app. The software has customized plans for schools, organizations, and managed service providers.
The Apple tool claims great performance on managing online security, market apps, and parch. But its free plan has bare features, for instance, it won’t support bulk deployment of devices. If you can enroll at least 30 devices, you’ll enjoy its premium support and moderate pricing of $1/device/month or $0.46/device/month, depending on the package.
Usability: Some users find it challenging to learn to navigate the platform.
User Review
"The Apple MDM software doesn’t provide a satisfactory blend with MSPs. Further, its admin console lacks useful functionalities, for instance, filtering ability when searching for devices. If you erroneously spell a device or click a wrong link, you can’t go back one step. You have to start all over again (no bookmarking ability)."
"And the many times I have tried effecting its OS upgrade, it often fails and forces me to erase and then install the Mosyle major updates. However, I admire its easy deployment and extra features such as in-built malware scanning and admin-on-demand capabilities."
5Meraki
Meraki is an easy-to-deploy and manage MDM tool that cloud-based MDM tool that keeps all its diagnostic and configuration information in the cloud. The software registers fairly good performance in access points, switches, racking devices, and security around firewalls. The premium software best suits established business that heavily relies on MDM software on a day-to-day basis. Its customer support is responsive.
Usability: It's very easy to deploy, use, and manage.
User Review
"I’m not impressed by the mandatory monthly maintenance license cost and its overall expensive price. In case of an internet outage, I can’t access the stored data like diagnostic information, which is very annoying. Further, it provides very limited features and hardly leaves room for future scaling."
6Ivanti
Ivanti is a cloud-based MDM tool for managing endpoints on Android, Windows, iOS, Chrome OS, and macOS across diverse devices. The software promises good performance on device configuration, app, and security management. Further, it integrates Apple Business Manager and Google Zero Touch to help in the onboarding process. However, Ivanti’s customer care response and swiftness in resolving the issues are very wanting. Further, its documentation in deployment and management is very sparse.
Usability: The software has a steep learning curve and is complex to set up.
User Review
"I have never succeeded with an automated patching using Ivanti. Surprisingly, when we effect the updates manually, it rarely fails. Also deploying the software, and customizing it for smooth integration and automation requires the dedication of a professional. Its clunky interface is highly confusing to navigate. And when I compare it with other leading MDM tools, Ivanti is very costly."
7Hexnode
Hexnode is a unified endpoint management tool for mobile phones, laptops, iPads, and other IoT devices. It’s compatible with, iOS, Android, Windows, tvOS, MacOS, and FireOS devices. Besides being easy to scale, Hexnode is feature-rich, for example, it supports installing/blocking apps, remote troubleshooting devices, and configuring network restrictions and security-related policies.
Usability: Simple and average to use.
User Review
"Hexnode has an affordable price plan. Although its support team is responsive, their skills in resolving complex problems are very wanting."
"Often the team relies heavily on the diagnostic information you have provided and then takes a lot of time scrutinizing it to resolve the issue. From my experience, Hexnode is slow in making updates and at times takes even hours. Still, others claim its pricing is ridiculous- the premium price package caters to Windows updates only! And to enjoy its BitLocker feature you have to pay an additional monthly fee of $5.4 for every device! Using Hexnode with iOS devices is possible though very cumbersome compared to Android devices."
8Scalefusion
Scalefusion is a feature-rich MDM tool for securing and managing Windows, macOS, Android, iOS, Linux, and ChromeOS devices. It’s compatible with laptops, smartphones, tablets, rugged devices, digital signages and POS devices. Scalefusion’s promising features include:
- Identity and access management
- Bulk enrolment and deployment
- Reliable patch management
- Offline Active Directory integration capability
Although it has an essential growth plan targeting small businesses, the plans offer basic features such as device enrolment, elementary security settings, and management abilities. Its real sweet spot is in the enterprise and business plan which is out of the reach for small business’ budget.
Usability: Easy-to-use dashboard.
User Review
"Once you learn how to navigate its panel, it becomes easy to use, but its complex design requires elaborate time to learn. How I wish the platform would have included a how-to video to help with the process instead of reaching out for customer support for every query. For instance, setting up user-based profiles across several OS and enrolment configurations is highly challenging. However, I do admire their responsive and knowledgeable customer support service."
So, Do You Have the Best MDM for Small Business?
Employing many IT officers in your small business will increase overhead costs and eat into your profits. Why not have a few (even two) IT personnel and equip them with the right MDM for SMB to manage your smart mobile devices?
Are you worried about a small budget? We have MDM software with a flexible and affordable payment plan (pay as you use), such as Airdroid business. It's easy to deploy, learn, and use (you don't need IT gurus).
Looks interesting? Sign up and test its full potential for free for the first 14 days!
Leave a Reply.