IBM MaaS360
IBM's AI-powered UEM with Watson analytics and one of the few platforms managing ChromeOS.


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.
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.
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.
Device Configuration
5 featuresWi-Fi and VPN profile management for iOS, Android, Windows, and macOS with per-app VPN options.
Managed email configuration with MaaS360 Mail client containerisation and Exchange ActiveSync.
Standard restriction profiles for camera, screenshots, app installations, and OS-specific controls.
Custom configuration profile upload for Apple devices; Android custom configurations via managed app config.
Kiosk mode for iOS and Android with single-app lockdown and MaaS360 kiosk browser.
Enrollment & Provisioning
5 featuresApple DEP/ADE support through Apple Business Manager with supervised enrollment for iOS and macOS.
Supports Android Zero-Touch Enrollment and Samsung KME for automated device provisioning.
Windows Autopilot support with basic deployment profiles for cloud-based Windows provisioning.
Bulk enrollment via QR code, email invitation, and Apple Configurator support for staging.
BYOD enrollment with Bring Your Own app and Android Work Profile; containerisation for personal device privacy.
App Management
5 featuresApp catalog with store app deployment; managed Google Play integration for Android Enterprise.
Enterprise app hosting with IPA and APK deployment; Windows LOB app support via MSI.
VPP support through Apple Business Manager with license assignment and basic tracking.
App configuration via managed app settings; MaaS360 SDK for deeper app-level controls.
MaaS360 App Catalog with limited customisation for end-user self-service app installation.
Compliance & Security
5 featuresStandard compliance policies with Watson-powered compliance insights and automated actions.
Conditional access through compliance-driven policies and gateway integration for corporate resources.
Encryption compliance checking and enforcement; limited key escrow compared to leaders.
Certificate management with SCEP proxy and manual certificate deployment.
Watson-powered threat management with MaaS360 Advisor for security insights and recommendations.
OS Update & Lifecycle
5 featuresOS update policies for iOS scheduling and Android firmware management; Windows updates via WSUS proxy.
Basic patch awareness; Windows patching limited to OS update scheduling.
Basic iOS update deferral; limited Windows update staging capabilities.
Selective and full wipe with device unenrollment and inventory cleanup.
Watson Advisor provides lifecycle insights; device inventory with hardware lifecycle attributes.
Reporting & Visibility
5 featuresWatson-powered advisor dashboard with AI-driven insights and fleet health analytics.
Custom report creation with filters and scheduling; limited compared to enterprise leaders.
Device inventory with hardware specs, installed apps, and Watson-powered app analytics.
Basic audit logging with admin actions and device command history.
Device status with last check-in, battery, and location; Watson Advisor adds health insights.
Remote Actions & Support
5 featuresRemote lock and wipe with selective wipe option; basic restart capabilities.
Remote screen sharing via MaaS360 for Android; TeamViewer integration for cross-platform remote support.
Limited remote command capabilities; basic script deployment for macOS.
MaaS360 end-user portal with device status and limited self-service capabilities.
MaaS360 Docs for document distribution and content management on managed devices.
Targeting & Policy Logic
5 featuresDevice groups with rule-based membership; limited dynamic criteria compared to leaders.
Basic group-based policy assignment; limited tag/label functionality.
Basic geofencing with location-based compliance rules and boundary alerts.
Basic scheduling for compliance checks; limited time-based policy options.
Single policy per device in recent versions; limited multi-policy support and layering.
Identity & Directory
5 featuresAzure AD integration for user sync and basic conditional access support.
SAML-based SSO with Okta and third-party IDP support; Google Workspace sync.
On-premises AD connector for user/group sync with directory-based device assignment.
Basic certificate-based authentication with SCEP proxy for certificate deployment.
User-device affinity with directory-synced user mapping and per-user reporting.
Integration & Extensibility
5 featuresREST API for device management and reporting; documentation quality varies.
Limited webhook capabilities; event streaming for select device lifecycle events.
Native QRadar SIEM integration; syslog forwarding for third-party SIEM platforms.
ServiceNow integration for CMDB sync; IBM ecosystem ITSM tool connectivity.
Basic script deployment capabilities; limited custom scripting options.
Video Resources
Watch IBM MaaS360 demos, tutorials, and reviews.
IBM MaaS360 Recorded Demo
Mobile Device Management with MaaS360 in Minutes
Alternatives to Consider
Other platforms to evaluate alongside IBM MaaS360.
Microsoft Intune
Strong ContenderThe Microsoft ecosystem's native MDM, deeply integrated with Entra ID and Microsoft 365.
Hexnode UEM
Strong ContenderThe broadest OS support at the best value, with excellent kiosk capabilities.
ManageEngine MDM Plus
Strong ContenderAffordable multi-platform MDM with strong Active Directory integration and a generous free tier.
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.