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By now, deploying devices remotely has become second nature. But that doesn’t mean IT and MSPs can be any less vigilant about managing and tracking them.
Monitoring device behavior, keeping operating systems and apps up to date, and upholding a robust permission structure are key to modern security and compliance. And without the right mobile device management (MDM) platform in place, achieving and maintaining those standards is challenging.
In fact, many companies have developed their own homegrown MDMs, leveraging open source solutions as a foundation for greater customization and control over their devices. Still, creating, testing, and updating that solution takes valuable IT and MSP time and opens the door to even more potential vulnerabilities.
That’s why many organizations turn to popular Apple MDM tools like Mosyle and Kandji. Below, we’ll review the pros and cons of each system, share why neither solution is equipped to handle mid-market or enterprise needs, and recommend an all-in-one MDM, IAM, and user management platform as an alternative.
Overview of Mosyle Business
Mosyle describes itself as “the only Apple unified platform,” encompassing not only Apple device management but also endpoint security, identity management, and application management. Mosyle supports macOS, iOS, iPadOS, and tvOS. They’ve also recently updated their software to include Apple Watch management as part of iOS17 and watchOS10.
Some unique Mosyle features include:
- Automated full system scans for Mac-specific malware
- Automated web security, privacy, and filtering on Mac devices
- A security configuration library
- Customizable deployment
- Chrome management
Mosyle is also embracing the AI movement, incorporating AI into behavioral detection and macOS scripting for more complex use cases.
However, Mosyle has some downsides. Although it’s been around since 2012, Mosyle has very few reviews on G2 (21), TrustRadius (4), and Capterra (51). Several Mosyle users have also reported:
- It’s “not built for IT novices” and takes time to get used to
- Buggy patches
- Limited support hours
- Challenges with the Mosyle Okta integration
Overview of Kandji
Kandji is a bit newer to the Apple MDM scene, marketing itself as a next-gen Apple device platform, appealing to tech startups and cutting-edge enterprise companies. Kandji is easy to set up, doesn’t require coding knowledge, and has hundreds of pre-built automations.
A few of Kandji’s standout features are:
- An agile, cloud-native architecture
- Straightforward migrations from existing MDMs
- Intuitive UI
- Strong integrations with multiple cloud providers, access management solutions, and other productivity tools
- “Liftoff,” which installs appropriate settings and apps for every user
That said, Kandji’s security features aren’t as comprehensive as Mosyle’s. And, like Mosyle, Kandji can only support Apple devices, meaning admins must seek out other vendors to round out their identity and access management (IAM) needs, like Active Directory, Intune, or Okta. Plus, Kandji isn’t built for multi-tenant environments, making it a risky choice for MSPs managing multiple clients.
Comparison of Mosyle vs. Kandji
To make a more educated MDM decision, consider the chart below, which offers a more detailed look at how Mosyle and Kandji differ:
| Attribute | Mosyle | Kandji |
| Supported OS | macOS, iOS, iPadOS, tvOS | macOS, iOS, iPadOS, tvOS |
| Pricing | All-inclusive Fuse plan: $1.50 per iPhone & iPad, $3 per Mac Business plan (device management and support): $1 per iPhone, iPad, or Mac | Must go through their pricing calculator and talk to sales |
| Ease of Use and Setup | CDN for custom packages Difficult to pick up if you don’t already have ample experience with MDMs | Known for its fast and easy setup Intuitive UI |
| Device Management Capabilities | Automated battery alerts, device locking, and usage options during device deployment BYOD support with Apple’s standard User Enrollment Automated 24/7 monitoring | Best suited for a single orgLibrary of 200+ pre-built automations Customizable maintenance schedule Real-time security and compliance monitoring |
| Security Features | Full disk encryption Encrypted peer-to-peer connection1-click screen view request On-demand setup Mapping for CIS, NIST, SOC 2, and PCI Antivirus exclusively for macOS malware | Basic Apple security features Automatic patch management RBAC doesn’t offer granular control Lacks API logging General logs need to be pushed to storage buckets No management console |
| Integration Options | Google, Microsoft 265, Okta, Ping | Cloudflare, Google, Microsoft, Okta, Secureframe, Slack |
| Support and Customer Service | Tough to get in touch with support Limited help documentation | Text chat, available 24/7 Mixed reviews regarding their efficacy |
| Other Attributes | Supports Apple watches Built-in Chrome management Script catalog and “Mosyle AIScript,” which admins can use to request ready‑to‑use scripts | Better overall G2 rating (4.7 vs. Mosyle’s 4.2)More reviews (311 vs. Mosyle’s 21) |
JumpCloud as an Alternative Solution
Mosyle and Kandji both have their strengths and weaknesses. But where they both fall short is in their MDM scope — they can only support Apple devices. And even then, companies need to rely on other solutions to pick up the security and identity and access management (IAM) slack. With each additional system tacked onto a company’s tech stack, IT and MSP teams lose efficiency, introduce risk, and ultimately, increase total cost of ownership.
JumpCloud MDM is the all-encompassing tool modern organizations need to meet their security and compliance requirements, protecting Windows, Linux, Android, iPhone, and Mac devices — whether they are corporate-owned or personal. As its name indicates, JumpCloud is a fully cloud-based system that covers MDM, IAM, and user management, even for MSPs managing multiple client instances.
From a single console, JumpCloud users can:
- Support directory integrations through LDAP and implement SSO through SAML 2.0
- Enable multi-factor authentication
- Implement SSO
- Provide password protection
- Administer role-based access controls
Comparison: Mosyle vs. Kandji vs. JumpCloud
Unlike Mosyle and Kandji, JumpCloud offers end-to-end MDM for Apple, Windows, and Linux devices — and so much more.
Use this chart to see how JumpCloud outshines two of the most popular MDM solutions on the market:
| Attribute | JumpCloud | Mosyle | Kandji |
| Supported OS | macOS, Windows, Linux, iOS, iPadOS, tvOS, and Android | macOS, iOS, iPadOS, tvOS | macOS, iOS, iPadOS, tvOS |
| Pricing | MDM only for $9/user per month. Platform: $19/user per month. MSP-specific pricing via partner program. | All-inclusive Fuse plan: $1.50 per iPhone & iPad, $3 per Mac Business plan (device management and support): $1 per iPhone, iPad, or Mac | Must go through their pricing calculator and talk to sales |
| Ease of Use | No-code Step-by-step device configuration onboarding flow Pre-built workflows for adding both corporate-owned and BYOD devices | CDN for custom packages Difficult to pick up if you don’t already have ample experience with MDMs | Known for its fast and easy setup Intuitive UI |
| Device Management Capabilities | Supports corporate-owned and personal Windows, Linux, Apple, and Android devices Zero-touch enrollment Personalized device setup experience Centralized console where admins can push commands, policies, and secure configurations | Automated battery alerts, device locking, and usage options during device deployment BYOD support with Apple’s standard User Enrollment Automated 24/7 monitoring | Best suited for a single org Library of 200+ pre-built automations Customizable maintenance schedule Real-time security and compliance monitoring |
| Security Features | Automated patch management Designated “work profiles” for BYOD SSH key management Secure and manage GDP, AWS, and Azure cloud server resources Meets ISO-27001 requirements PowerShell for complicated security use cases | Full disk encryption Encrypted peer-to-peer connection 1-click screen view request On-demand setup Mapping for CIS, NIST, SOC 2, and PCI Antivirus exclusively for macOS malware | Basic Apple security features Automatic patch management RBAC doesn’t offer granular control Lacks API logging General logs need to be pushed to storage buckets No management console |
| Integration Options | Integration archive with dozens of DevOps, infrastructure, cloud directory, and security partners | Google, Microsoft 265, Okta, Ping | Cloudflare, Google, Microsoft, Okta, Secureframe, Slack |
| Support and Customer Service | “Persistently responsive” “An IT admin’s best friend” Can reach support via the Admin Portal, chat, or phone | Tough to get in touch with support Limited help documentation | Text chat, available 24/7 Mixed reviews regarding their efficacy |
| IAM Capabilities | MFA Password management SSO and SAML/SCIM-based user provisioning RADIUS authentication for VPN and Wi-Fi Network trust Directory reports and dashboards | N/A | N/A |
Addressing Common Concerns and Issues
Mosyle and Kandji may be sufficient for smaller, Apple-exclusive companies. But for mid-market and enterprise companies with fleets of Windows, Linux, and Android devices, they become just another point solution for IT and MSPs to manage.
JumpCloud’s unified solution brings together best-in-class MDM and premium IAM to get employees up and running quickly while keeping your company safe. With JumpCloud MDM, users are onboarded and offboarded in minutes with zero-touch enrollment specially configured to their profiles.
In contrast to Mosyle, JumpCloud is no-code required, and admins can push commands, enforce policies, and monitor devices from a flexible, centralized console. JumpCloud can follow open protocols like SAML, LDAP, RADIUS, and SCIM and enable IT admins and MSPs to control cloud servers, networks, and SSH keys. And JumpCloud’s customizable workflows rival those of Kandji, automating patch management and other rote tasks so IT and MSP teams can focus on more strategic tasks.
Choose an All-in-One Solution
MDM solutions are a critical piece of any organization’s tech stack, so it’s important to choose one that best suits your needs and your team’s abilities. As you do your research, considering your team’s bandwidth, your company or clients’ current device fleet, and your security and compliance requirements can help you land on the appropriate solution.
And if you’re looking for a way to boost productivity while decreasing total cost of ownership, look no further than JumpCloud. JumpCloud is built to streamline the backend work of mobile devices, identity, access, and user management, enabling IT admins and MSPs to simplify device onboarding, enhance security, and provide frictionless user access from anywhere.
Join MSPs like 96Firm, consulting firms like AO Partners, and tech companies like Datactics — experience the magic of an all-in-one solution like JumpCloud. Sign up for a free trial today.
