Capable #7 Overall

IBM MaaS360

IBM's AI-powered UEM with Watson analytics and one of the few platforms managing ChromeOS.

$4–$6/user/month
Organisations managing ChromeOS alongside iOS/Android/Windows, IBM ecosystem customers
iOS Android Windows macOS ChromeOS
3.1 Overall Score
IBM MaaS360 screenshot 1IBM MaaS360 screenshot 2IBM MaaS360 screenshot 3

Key Takeaways

Who It's For

IBM MaaS360 is designed for organisations managing chromeos alongside ios/android/windows, ibm ecosystem customers. IBM's AI-powered UEM with Watson analytics and one of the few platforms managing ChromeOS. The platform offers a 30-day free trial, limited sandbox, so you can evaluate it before committing.

ChromeOS management support differentiates from most competitors
Watson AI Advisor provides analytics-driven recommendations
No Linux device management support

At a Glance

Best For
Organisations managing ChromeOS alongside iOS/Android/Windows, IBM ecosystem customers
Setup Complexity
Moderate
Pricing Range
$4–$6/user/month
Licensing Model
Per-user, tiered (Essentials/Deluxe/Premier)
Top Strength
ChromeOS management support differentiates from most competitors
Trial
30-day free trial, limited sandbox

Buyers Guide

Download the full 2026 comparison spreadsheet with scores, pricing, and feature data for all 10 platforms.

Excel format

Score Breakdown

Scored across 10 categories based on 50 features evaluated per platform.

Avg 3.1 / 5.0
Device Configuration 3.8
Reporting & Visibility 3.7
Enrollment & Provisioning 3.6
App Management 3.2
Compliance & Security 3.0
Identity & Directory 2.8
Remote Actions & Support 2.8
OS Update & Lifecycle 2.5
Targeting & Policy Logic 2.5
Integration & Extensibility 2.8

Pros & Cons

Based on our hands-on evaluation of IBM MaaS360.

Strengths

4
  • ChromeOS management support differentiates from most competitors
  • Watson AI Advisor provides analytics-driven recommendations
  • QRadar SIEM native integration for security-focused organisations
  • Competitive tiered pricing starting at $4/user/month

Limitations

3
  • No Linux device management support
  • More limited webhook and automation capabilities than enterprise leaders
  • Multi-policy capability removed in recent versions (single policy per device)

Feature Breakdown

Individual feature scores across all 10 categories for IBM MaaS360.

Compare features across platforms

Device Configuration

5 features
4.0 Wi-Fi & VPN Profiles

Wi-Fi and VPN profile management for iOS, Android, Windows, and macOS with per-app VPN options.

4.0 Email & Exchange Configuration

Managed email configuration with MaaS360 Mail client containerisation and Exchange ActiveSync.

4.0 Restrictions & Policies

Standard restriction profiles for camera, screenshots, app installations, and OS-specific controls.

3.0 Custom Configuration Payloads

Custom configuration profile upload for Apple devices; Android custom configurations via managed app config.

4.0 Kiosk & Lockdown Mode

Kiosk mode for iOS and Android with single-app lockdown and MaaS360 kiosk browser.

Enrollment & Provisioning

5 features
4.0 Apple ADE (Automated Device Enrollment)

Apple DEP/ADE support through Apple Business Manager with supervised enrollment for iOS and macOS.

4.0 Android Zero-Touch / Samsung KME

Supports Android Zero-Touch Enrollment and Samsung KME for automated device provisioning.

3.0 Windows Autopilot

Windows Autopilot support with basic deployment profiles for cloud-based Windows provisioning.

4.0 Bulk Enrollment & Staging

Bulk enrollment via QR code, email invitation, and Apple Configurator support for staging.

3.0 BYOD / User-Initiated Enrollment

BYOD enrollment with Bring Your Own app and Android Work Profile; containerisation for personal device privacy.

App Management

5 features
3.0 App Store / Play Store Distribution

App catalog with store app deployment; managed Google Play integration for Android Enterprise.

3.0 Enterprise / In-House App Deployment

Enterprise app hosting with IPA and APK deployment; Windows LOB app support via MSI.

3.0 VPP/ABM App Licensing

VPP support through Apple Business Manager with license assignment and basic tracking.

3.0 Managed App Configuration

App configuration via managed app settings; MaaS360 SDK for deeper app-level controls.

3.0 Self-Service App Catalog

MaaS360 App Catalog with limited customisation for end-user self-service app installation.

Compliance & Security

5 features
3.0 Compliance Policies & Rules

Standard compliance policies with Watson-powered compliance insights and automated actions.

3.0 Conditional Access / Zero Trust

Conditional access through compliance-driven policies and gateway integration for corporate resources.

3.0 Encryption Management

Encryption compliance checking and enforcement; limited key escrow compared to leaders.

3.0 Certificate Deployment

Certificate management with SCEP proxy and manual certificate deployment.

3.0 Threat Detection & Response

Watson-powered threat management with MaaS360 Advisor for security insights and recommendations.

OS Update & Lifecycle

5 features
3.0 OS Update Management

OS update policies for iOS scheduling and Android firmware management; Windows updates via WSUS proxy.

2.0 Patch Management

Basic patch awareness; Windows patching limited to OS update scheduling.

2.0 Update Deferral Policies

Basic iOS update deferral; limited Windows update staging capabilities.

3.0 Device Wipe & Retirement

Selective and full wipe with device unenrollment and inventory cleanup.

3.0 Lifecycle & Warranty Reporting

Watson Advisor provides lifecycle insights; device inventory with hardware lifecycle attributes.

Reporting & Visibility

5 features
4.0 Dashboards & Analytics

Watson-powered advisor dashboard with AI-driven insights and fleet health analytics.

4.0 Custom Reports & Queries

Custom report creation with filters and scheduling; limited compared to enterprise leaders.

4.0 Hardware & Software Inventory

Device inventory with hardware specs, installed apps, and Watson-powered app analytics.

3.0 Audit Logging & Activity Trails

Basic audit logging with admin actions and device command history.

3.0 Real-Time Device Status

Device status with last check-in, battery, and location; Watson Advisor adds health insights.

Remote Actions & Support

5 features
3.0 Remote Lock & Wipe

Remote lock and wipe with selective wipe option; basic restart capabilities.

3.0 Remote Screen Sharing

Remote screen sharing via MaaS360 for Android; TeamViewer integration for cross-platform remote support.

2.0 Remote Shell / Terminal Access

Limited remote command capabilities; basic script deployment for macOS.

3.0 Self-Service Portal

MaaS360 end-user portal with device status and limited self-service capabilities.

3.0 Remote File Management

MaaS360 Docs for document distribution and content management on managed devices.

Targeting & Policy Logic

5 features
3.0 Smart Groups & Dynamic Targeting

Device groups with rule-based membership; limited dynamic criteria compared to leaders.

2.0 Tag-Based Policy Assignment

Basic group-based policy assignment; limited tag/label functionality.

3.0 Geofencing & Location Rules

Basic geofencing with location-based compliance rules and boundary alerts.

2.0 Time-Based & Scheduled Policies

Basic scheduling for compliance checks; limited time-based policy options.

2.0 Multi-Policy Layering & Conflict Resolution

Single policy per device in recent versions; limited multi-policy support and layering.

Identity & Directory

5 features
3.0 Microsoft Entra ID Integration

Azure AD integration for user sync and basic conditional access support.

3.0 Okta / Google Workspace Integration

SAML-based SSO with Okta and third-party IDP support; Google Workspace sync.

3.0 On-Premises AD / LDAP

On-premises AD connector for user/group sync with directory-based device assignment.

2.0 Certificate-Based Authentication

Basic certificate-based authentication with SCEP proxy for certificate deployment.

3.0 User-Device Affinity Mapping

User-device affinity with directory-synced user mapping and per-user reporting.

Integration & Extensibility

5 features
3.0 REST API Availability

REST API for device management and reporting; documentation quality varies.

2.0 Webhooks & Event Automation

Limited webhook capabilities; event streaming for select device lifecycle events.

3.0 SIEM & Security Integration

Native QRadar SIEM integration; syslog forwarding for third-party SIEM platforms.

3.0 ITSM / ServiceNow Connectors

ServiceNow integration for CMDB sync; IBM ecosystem ITSM tool connectivity.

3.0 Custom Scripting & Extensibility

Basic script deployment capabilities; limited custom scripting options.

Video Resources

Watch IBM MaaS360 demos, tutorials, and reviews.

IBM MaaS360 Recorded Demo

Demo 20:29

Mobile Device Management with MaaS360 in Minutes

Overview 4:07

Alternatives to Consider

Other platforms to evaluate alongside IBM MaaS360.

Microsoft Intune

Strong Contender
3.9

The Microsoft ecosystem's native MDM, deeply integrated with Entra ID and Microsoft 365.

iOSAndroidWindowsmacOS
Read Review

Hexnode UEM

Strong Contender
3.7

The broadest OS support at the best value, with excellent kiosk capabilities.

iOSAndroidWindowsmacOS +4
Read Review

ManageEngine MDM Plus

Strong Contender
3.8

Affordable multi-platform MDM with strong Active Directory integration and a generous free tier.

iOSAndroidWindowsmacOS +1
Read Review

Ready to decide?

Compare IBM MaaS360 Head-to-Head

See how IBM MaaS360 stacks up against Intune, Hexnode, ManageEngine in a detailed side-by-side comparison.