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


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.
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.
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
How Does Your MDM Stack Up?
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Feature Breakdown
Individual feature scores across all 10 categories for Microsoft Intune.
Device Configuration
8 featuresSCEP and PKCS certificate management with CA integration.
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.
Device restrictions and capabilities enforcement across all supported platforms.
Email configuration profiles for Outlook and native clients.
Passcode policies and enforcement with complexity requirements.
Per-app VPN via Intune Tunnel requires separate gateway infrastructure.
Device-wide VPN configuration supported across major platforms.
Wi-Fi profiles supported across platforms. Linux limited to custom compliance scripts.
Enrollment & Provisioning
8 featuresAndroid Zero Touch Enrollment supported through partner enrollment services.
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.
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.
Conditional enrollment with Entra ID integration for access control.
QR code enrollment available across most platforms for manual device registration.
Samsung Knox integration for enhanced security and enrollment on Samsung devices.
BYOD support with Company Portal and conditional enrollment policies.
Windows Autopilot provides best-in-class zero-touch enrollment for Windows devices.
App Management
8 featuresApp restriction and blocklist policies across platforms.
Managed app catalogs with self-service installation across platforms.
App configuration policies for iOS and Android managed apps.
Volume Purchasing Program support for iOS and macOS enterprise licensing.
Google Play for Work integration with managed and unmanaged app deployment.
Mobile Application Management without enrollment via Intune App Protection.
Silent/automatic app installation and updates via Intune.
Win32/LOB application deployment via .intunewin packaging.
Compliance & Security
8 featuresPolling-based compliance (8hr default) with push notifications. Linux limited.
DLP available via Defender for Endpoint on Windows; not native to Intune.
Device encryption enforcement and verification.
Native geofencing not available; requires third-party integration.
Jailbreak/root detection and enforcement across mobile platforms.
Full device wipe capability across enrolled devices.
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.
Defender for Endpoint MTD integration on mobile and Windows platforms.
OS Update & Lifecycle
6 featuresAndroid updates limited to policy recommendations; OEM-dependent implementation.
Windows firmware updates managed through Device Firmware Configuration Interface.
iOS/iPadOS updates via Declarative Device Management with deferral options.
macOS updates via Declarative Device Management with version deferral.
Update deferral available for iOS, Windows, macOS; Android limited by OEM.
Windows Update for Business integration with deferral and ring deployment.
Reporting & Visibility
6 featuresApp deployment and usage analytics via Microsoft 365 reports.
Audit logs for admin actions and policy changes via Intune audit logs.
Compliance status reporting and remediation tracking.
Custom reports via Microsoft Graph API and Power BI integration.
Device inventory and fleet overview dashboards in Intune admin center.
Real-time device status via polling (default 8hr interval).
Remote Actions & Support
6 featuresPowerShell scripts for Windows, shell scripts for macOS; Linux compliance scripts only.
Remote restart capability for Windows and macOS devices.
Remote device lock capability across all supported platforms.
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.
Remote terminal via custom PowerShell/shell scripts on Windows/macOS.
Remote full and selective wipe actions.
Targeting & Policy Logic
5 featuresTargeting by device type, platform, and ownership model.
Dynamic device groups based on device properties and compliance.
Geolocation/network-based targeting not natively available.
Device tagging for fine-grained policy targeting.
Policy assignment to users, device groups, and combinations.
Identity & Directory
6 featuresNative Entra ID integration with best-in-class conditional access.
Native Entra ID Conditional Access with device compliance integration.
Google Workspace integration for ChromeOS via Entra ID; limited MDM.
Third-party IdP via SAML/OIDC for Company Portal authentication.
On-premises AD support via Entra ID hybrid join for Windows/macOS.
SAML and OpenID Connect support for identity federation.
Integration & Extensibility
6 featuresPower Automate integration for workflow automation and orchestration.
No native plugin framework; extensibility via Graph API.
Comprehensive Microsoft Graph API for Intune management.
ServiceNow CMDB connector available for device lifecycle management.
SIEM integration via Azure Log Analytics and Microsoft Sentinel.
Change notifications and webhooks via Microsoft Graph.
Video Resources
Watch Microsoft Intune demos, tutorials, and reviews.
Microsoft Intune Suite - Beyond Endpoint Management in 2024
What is Microsoft Intune?
Microsoft Intune From Zero to Hero
Alternatives to Consider
Other platforms to evaluate alongside Microsoft Intune.
Omnissa Workspace ONE
Enterprise LeaderThe broadest cross-platform UEM with enterprise-grade automation and real-time compliance.
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.
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Compare Microsoft Intune Head-to-Head
See how Microsoft Intune stacks up against Workspace ONE, Hexnode, ManageEngine in a detailed side-by-side comparison.