Strong Contender #4 Overall

Microsoft Intune

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

$8-12/user/month depending on M365 tier and add-ons.
Microsoft-centric enterprises with Windows-heavy fleets
iOS Android Windows macOS Linux ChromeOS
3.9 Overall Score
Microsoft Intune screenshot 1Microsoft Intune screenshot 2Microsoft Intune screenshot 3

Key Takeaways

Who It's For

Microsoft Intune is designed for microsoft-centric enterprises with windows-heavy fleets. The Microsoft ecosystem's native MDM, deeply integrated with Entra ID and Microsoft 365. The platform offers a 30-day free trial, limited sandbox, so you can evaluate it before committing.

Native Entra ID conditional access delivers best-in-class zero-trust policy enforcement
Windows Autopilot provides the smoothest zero-touch deployment for Windows devices
Linux management limited to Ubuntu custom compliance scripts only

At a Glance

Best For
Microsoft-centric enterprises with Windows-heavy fleets
Setup Complexity
Moderate
Pricing Range
$8-12/user/month depending on M365 tier and add-ons.
Licensing Model
Per-user licensing included in M365 E3/E5; Plan 2 +$4/user/mo for advanced features.
Top Strength
Native Entra ID conditional access delivers best-in-class zero-trust policy enforcement
Trial
30-day free trial, limited sandbox

Buyers Guide

Download the full 2026 comparison spreadsheet with scores, pricing, and feature data for all 13 platforms.

Excel format

Score Breakdown

Scored across 10 categories based on 67 features evaluated per platform.

Avg 3.9 / 5.0
App Management 4.4
Reporting & Visibility 4.3
Device Configuration 4.1
Enrollment & Provisioning 4.0
Integration & Extensibility 3.8
OS Update & Lifecycle 3.7
Identity & Directory 3.7
Remote Actions & Support 3.7
Compliance & Security 3.6
Targeting & Policy Logic 3.6

Pros & Cons

Based on our hands-on evaluation of Microsoft Intune.

Strengths

4
  • Native Entra ID conditional access delivers best-in-class zero-trust policy enforcement
  • Windows Autopilot provides the smoothest zero-touch deployment for Windows devices
  • Strong MAM/APP capabilities enable data protection on unmanaged BYOD devices
  • Comprehensive Graph API and Power Automate integration for custom workflows

Limitations

3
  • Linux management limited to Ubuntu custom compliance scripts only
  • No native ChromeOS MDM capabilities (Entra ID device sync only)
  • Polling-based compliance checks (8-hour default) lag behind real-time competitors
Pain Point Challenge

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Feature Breakdown

Individual feature scores across all 10 categories for Microsoft Intune.

Compare features across platforms

Device Configuration

8 features
4.0 Certificate Management (SCEP/PKI)

SCEP and PKCS certificate management with CA integration.

4.0 Custom Configuration Profiles

Deploy custom OMA-URI policies for Windows, Apple mobileconfig profiles for iOS/iPadOS and macOS, and Android OEMConfig payloads. Covers settings not exposed in the standard Intune console UI.

5.0 Device Restrictions

Device restrictions and capabilities enforcement across all supported platforms.

4.0 Email Profile (Exchange/IMAP)

Email configuration profiles for Outlook and native clients.

5.0 Passcode / Password Policy

Passcode policies and enforcement with complexity requirements.

3.0 Per-App VPN

Per-app VPN via Intune Tunnel requires separate gateway infrastructure.

4.0 VPN Profile Configuration

Device-wide VPN configuration supported across major platforms.

4.0 Wi-Fi Profile Configuration

Wi-Fi profiles supported across platforms. Linux limited to custom compliance scripts.

Enrollment & Provisioning

8 features
4.0 Android Zero-Touch Enrollment

Android Zero Touch Enrollment supported through partner enrollment services.

5.0 Apple ADE (Automated Device Enrollment)

Apple Device Enrollment (ADE) for iOS/iPadOS and macOS via Apple Business Manager. Best-in-class enrollment experience with Entra ID integration and conditional access during onboarding.

3.0 Bulk / Staging Enrollment

Apple Configurator 2 enrollment for iOS staging, CSV bulk import for device pre-registration, and Windows Autopilot bulk provisioning. Covers large-scale rollout and seasonal deployment needs.

4.0 Conditional / Identity-Based Enrollment

Conditional enrollment with Entra ID integration for access control.

4.0 Manual / QR Code Enrollment

QR code enrollment available across most platforms for manual device registration.

3.0 Samsung Knox Mobile Enrollment

Samsung Knox integration for enhanced security and enrollment on Samsung devices.

4.0 User-Initiated Enrollment (BYOD)

BYOD support with Company Portal and conditional enrollment policies.

5.0 Windows Autopilot

Windows Autopilot provides best-in-class zero-touch enrollment for Windows devices.

App Management

8 features
4.0 App Blocklisting / Allowlisting

App restriction and blocklist policies across platforms.

4.0 App Catalog / Enterprise App Store

Managed app catalogs with self-service installation across platforms.

4.0 App Configuration (Managed App Config)

App configuration policies for iOS and Android managed apps.

4.0 Apple VPP / ABM App Distribution

Volume Purchasing Program support for iOS and macOS enterprise licensing.

4.0 Managed Google Play Integration

Google Play for Work integration with managed and unmanaged app deployment.

5.0 Mobile Application Management (MAM)

Mobile Application Management without enrollment via Intune App Protection.

5.0 Silent App Installation

Silent/automatic app installation and updates via Intune.

5.0 Win32 / LOB App Deployment

Win32/LOB application deployment via .intunewin packaging.

Compliance & Security

8 features
4.0 Compliance Policy Engine

Polling-based compliance (8hr default) with push notifications. Linux limited.

1.0 Data Loss Prevention (DLP)

DLP available via Defender for Endpoint on Windows; not native to Intune.

5.0 Encryption Enforcement

Device encryption enforcement and verification.

0.0 Geofencing Compliance

Native geofencing not available; requires third-party integration.

4.0 Jailbreak / Root Detection

Jailbreak/root detection and enforcement across mobile platforms.

5.0 Remote Wipe (Full Device)

Full device wipe capability across enrolled devices.

5.0 Selective / Corporate Wipe

Retire action removes corporate data, managed apps, and MDM enrollment across iOS, Android, Windows, and macOS while preserving personal content. Core capability for BYOD offboarding and compliance remediation.

5.0 Threat Defense Integration (MTD/EDR)

Defender for Endpoint MTD integration on mobile and Windows platforms.

OS Update & Lifecycle

6 features
2.0 Android OS Update Control

Android updates limited to policy recommendations; OEM-dependent implementation.

3.0 Firmware / Driver Updates

Windows firmware updates managed through Device Firmware Configuration Interface.

4.0 iOS/iPadOS Update Management

iOS/iPadOS updates via Declarative Device Management with deferral options.

4.0 macOS Update Management

macOS updates via Declarative Device Management with version deferral.

4.0 Update Deferral & Scheduling

Update deferral available for iOS, Windows, macOS; Android limited by OEM.

5.0 Windows Update Management

Windows Update for Business integration with deferral and ring deployment.

Reporting & Visibility

6 features
4.0 App Usage Analytics

App deployment and usage analytics via Microsoft 365 reports.

5.0 Audit Logging

Audit logs for admin actions and policy changes via Intune audit logs.

5.0 Compliance Reporting

Compliance status reporting and remediation tracking.

4.0 Custom Report Builder

Custom reports via Microsoft Graph API and Power BI integration.

5.0 Device Inventory Dashboard

Device inventory and fleet overview dashboards in Intune admin center.

3.0 Real-Time Device Status

Real-time device status via polling (default 8hr interval).

Remote Actions & Support

6 features
3.0 Custom Script Execution

PowerShell scripts for Windows, shell scripts for macOS; Linux compliance scripts only.

4.0 Remote Device Restart

Remote restart capability for Windows and macOS devices.

5.0 Remote Lock

Remote device lock capability across all supported platforms.

3.0 Remote Screen View / Share

Remote Help provides screen sharing and remote control for Windows and macOS. Android support available but constrained to dedicated device modes and select OEMs (Samsung, Zebra). Requires Intune Plan 2 or standalone add-on license.

2.0 Remote Terminal / Shell

Remote terminal via custom PowerShell/shell scripts on Windows/macOS.

5.0 Remote Wipe (Action)

Remote full and selective wipe actions.

Targeting & Policy Logic

5 features
5.0 Device-Type Assignment

Targeting by device type, platform, and ownership model.

4.0 Dynamic / Smart Groups

Dynamic device groups based on device properties and compliance.

0.0 Geo / Network-Based Targeting

Geolocation/network-based targeting not natively available.

4.0 Tag-Based Targeting

Device tagging for fine-grained policy targeting.

5.0 User-Based Assignment

Policy assignment to users, device groups, and combinations.

Identity & Directory

6 features
5.0 Azure AD / Entra ID Integration

Native Entra ID integration with best-in-class conditional access.

5.0 Conditional Access Policies

Native Entra ID Conditional Access with device compliance integration.

2.0 Google Workspace Directory

Google Workspace integration for ChromeOS via Entra ID; limited MDM.

3.0 Okta / Third-Party IdP

Third-party IdP via SAML/OIDC for Company Portal authentication.

4.0 On-Premises Active Directory

On-premises AD support via Entra ID hybrid join for Windows/macOS.

3.0 SAML / OIDC SSO

SAML and OpenID Connect support for identity federation.

Integration & Extensibility

6 features
4.0 Automation Workflows

Power Automate integration for workflow automation and orchestration.

1.0 Custom Connector / Plugin Framework

No native plugin framework; extensibility via Graph API.

5.0 REST API

Comprehensive Microsoft Graph API for Intune management.

4.0 ServiceNow / ITSM Integration

ServiceNow CMDB connector available for device lifecycle management.

5.0 SIEM Integration

SIEM integration via Azure Log Analytics and Microsoft Sentinel.

4.0 Webhooks / Event Notifications

Change notifications and webhooks via Microsoft Graph.

Video Resources

Watch Microsoft Intune demos, tutorials, and reviews.

Microsoft Intune Suite - Beyond Endpoint Management in 2024

Overview 8:15

What is Microsoft Intune?

Overview 2:37

Microsoft Intune From Zero to Hero

Tutorial 39:05

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ManageEngine MDM Plus

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