MDM Pricing Guide: What Mobile Device Management Actually Costs in 2026

You are comparing MDM vendors and every pricing page either hides the number behind a "Contact Sales" button or quotes a per-device price that tells you nothing about your actual annual spend. This guide fixes that.

We pulled real pricing from 10 MDM vendors, calculated annual costs at 50, 250, and 1,000 devices, and documented the hidden costs — enrollment fees, add-on modules, APNs certificates — that inflate your bill after you sign. Whether you are managing 30 iPads in a school or 5,000 mixed devices across a distributed enterprise, the numbers below will give you an accurate budget before you talk to a single sales rep.

If you already know the category and want to browse vendors directly, start at the MDM software category page at /categories/mdm-software.

MDM pricing comparison: 10 vendors side by side

This is the table that matters. Every vendor below is priced from publicly available data and verified against current pricing pages as of early 2026. Where vendors use different pricing models (per-device vs per-user), we note the model so you can compare accurately.

A few things jump out immediately. Mosyle and Kandji are the cheapest per-device options for Apple-only environments. Miradore and ManageEngine offer genuine free tiers for small fleets. Microsoft Intune looks expensive at $8/user until you realize most mid-market companies already have it bundled in Microsoft 365 E3 or E5 — making the incremental cost zero. For detailed pricing breakdowns on each vendor, visit their pricing pages on ITOpsClub: /software/hexnode/pricing, /software/jamf-pro/pricing, /software/kandji/pricing.

How much does an MDM cost?

MDM software typically costs between $1 and $8 per device per month, with most organizations landing in the $2 to $5 range. At 100 devices, that translates to $1,200 to $9,600 per year depending on the vendor, feature tier, and pricing model.

The actual number depends on four factors: fleet size (volume discounts kick in above 100-250 devices), platform focus (Apple-only MDMs like Mosyle and Kandji tend to be cheaper per-device than cross-platform solutions), feature tier (basic enrollment and policy enforcement costs less than full UEM with app management, content management, and conditional access), and pricing model (per-device vs per-user changes the math significantly when employees carry multiple devices).

The budget-friendly end of the market starts at free. Miradore offers a genuinely free tier with unlimited devices for basic MDM. ManageEngine MDM Plus is free for up to 25 devices. Mosyle offers free MDM for schools. At the premium end, Jamf Pro at the highest tier runs $7.89/device/month — which at 500 devices means $47,340/year. Enterprise UEM platforms like Hexnode UEM ($5.40/device/month) or Scalefusion ($6/device/month) sit in the middle.

MDM pricing models explained

Not all MDM vendors price the same way, and the model matters more than the sticker price. Three models dominate the market, and choosing the wrong one for your situation will cost you.

Per-device pricing

Most MDM vendors charge per managed device per month. Hexnode, Jamf Pro, Kandji, Mosyle, Scalefusion, SimpleMDM, and Miradore all use this model. The advantage is predictability: you know exactly what 200 devices will cost. The disadvantage is that costs scale linearly. If employees carry both a phone and a tablet, you pay for both devices. Per-device pricing favors organizations where most employees have one managed device.

Per-user pricing

Microsoft Intune leads this model at $8/user/month for the standalone plan. Per-user pricing includes management for all of a user's devices — typically up to 5 or 15 devices depending on the vendor. This is the better deal when employees carry multiple devices (phone, tablet, laptop) because you pay once per person regardless of device count. The risk: you overpay if most users only have one device.

Flat-rate and tiered pricing

Some vendors price by device range rather than exact count. ManageEngine MDM Plus charges by bands (25 devices free, 50 devices at $645/year, and so on). AirDroid Business uses annual per-device pricing rather than monthly. These models can be cheaper for small fleets because the per-device cost is baked into a flat annual fee, but they often include step-ups where adding one device bumps you to the next pricing band.

What is the average cost of MDM?

The average cost of MDM software across all vendors and tiers is roughly $3 to $4 per device per month, or $36 to $48 per device per year. For a typical mid-market company managing 250 devices, that puts the annual MDM spend between $9,000 and $12,000.

That average obscures real variation. Apple-only environments using Mosyle ($1-$1.50/device) or Kandji (~$1.60-$3.20/device) will spend well below average. Cross-platform organizations using Hexnode UEM ($5.40/device) or Intune ($8/user) will spend above it. The average is useful for initial budgeting but should not replace a vendor-specific quote once you know your requirements.

What is included at each pricing tier

Most MDM vendors offer three to four tiers. The feature gaps between tiers are where buyers get surprised. Here is what each tier typically includes across the market.

Basic / Starter tier ($1 – $2.50/device/month)

• Device enrollment (manual and basic zero-touch)
• Passcode and encryption policy enforcement
• Remote lock and wipe
• Basic app deployment
• Device inventory and reporting
• Wi-Fi and email profile configuration

Vendors at this tier include Mosyle ($1/device), Kandji's entry plan (~$1.60/device), and Miradore's free tier. This is sufficient for organizations that need basic security enforcement and device tracking without advanced automation or compliance features.

Mid tier ($2.50 – $5/device/month)

• Everything in Basic, plus:
• Zero-touch enrollment via Apple Business Manager, Android Enterprise, Windows Autopilot
• App management with allow/block lists
• Kiosk mode and single-app lockdown
• Geofencing and location tracking
• Content management and file distribution
• BYOD work profile separation
• Compliance checks and automated remediation

This is where most buyers land. Hexnode Standard ($2.20/device), Scalefusion mid-tier (~$4/device), and Jamf Pro's base tier ($3.67/device) fall here. The jump from Basic to Mid is significant — zero-touch enrollment alone justifies the upgrade for any fleet above 50 devices.

Premium / UEM tier ($5 – $8+/device/month)

• Everything in Mid, plus:
• Conditional access and identity integration (Azure AD, Okta)
• Advanced compliance reporting for SOC 2, HIPAA, PCI-DSS
• Endpoint detection and threat management
• Patch management (OS and third-party)
• Custom scripting and workflow automation
• API access and SIEM integration
• Dedicated support and SLAs

Hexnode UEM ($5.40/device), Jamf Pro's higher tier ($7.89/device), and Intune ($8/user) sit here. This tier is necessary when compliance frameworks drive your requirements or when you need the MDM to integrate deeply with identity providers and security tools. For organizations already on Microsoft 365 E3 or E5, Intune at this tier comes at no additional cost.

Hidden costs most buyers miss

The per-device price on the vendor's website is the starting point, not the final number. These are the hidden costs that inflate MDM budgets by 15-30% after signing.

Enrollment and deployment fees

Some vendors charge one-time setup fees ranging from $500 to $5,000 for initial configuration, enrollment template setup, and policy design. Enterprise vendors like Jamf and Hexnode may include professional services in the quote that are technically optional but practically necessary if you lack in-house MDM expertise. Ask explicitly whether onboarding is included in the quoted price.

Add-on modules

Features that look like they should be standard are often add-ons. Remote view/remote control (as opposed to remote wipe) is an add-on in several MDM platforms. Threat defense, VPN configuration, and content management modules frequently carry separate per-device charges. Jamf Protect (endpoint security) is a separate product from Jamf Pro. Hexnode charges differently for its Access add-on. Map every feature you need to the vendor's pricing before signing.

Apple Push Notification service (APNs) certificates

Managing iOS and macOS devices requires an APNs certificate from Apple. The certificate itself is free, but it expires annually and must be renewed — with the same Apple ID that created it. If the person who set up the certificate leaves the company and you cannot access that Apple ID, you have to re-enroll every device. This is not a dollar cost, but the operational cost of a botched APNs renewal is enormous. Document the Apple ID, store the credentials in your password manager, and set calendar reminders 30 days before expiry.

Apple Business Manager and Android Enterprise setup

Zero-touch enrollment requires Apple Business Manager (ABM) or Android Enterprise accounts. Both are free, but setting them up takes time, and purchasing devices through the right channel (ABM requires devices bought through authorized resellers or Apple directly) is a requirement many buyers discover after they have already bought devices from Amazon. Budget time, not money, for this — but know that skipping it means manual enrollment for every device.

Contract length and auto-renewal

Annual contracts get you 15-25% savings versus monthly billing, but most MDM vendors auto-renew with 30-60 day cancellation windows. Miss the window and you are locked in for another year. Some enterprise contracts include annual price escalators of 3-7%. Read the renewal terms before you sign the first contract.

Cost modeling: MDM at 50, 250, and 1,000 devices

Per-device pricing tells you the unit cost but not the budget number. Here is what MDM actually costs at three common fleet sizes, using real vendor pricing. These estimates assume annual billing, mid-tier features, and no add-on modules.

50 devices: small team or pilot deployment

At 50 devices, the free options from Miradore and ManageEngine are genuinely viable. Mosyle is the cheapest paid option for Apple environments. Intune is the most expensive unless it is already bundled in your Microsoft licensing.

250 devices: mid-market deployment

At 250 devices, vendor choice matters significantly. The gap between Mosyle ($3,000/year) and Jamf Pro ($23,670/year at the top tier) is over $20,000 annually. That said, Jamf Pro's premium buys you deeper Apple management, stronger compliance reporting, and enterprise support. The right vendor depends on whether those features justify a 7x price difference for your specific use case.

1,000 devices: enterprise deployment

At enterprise scale, negotiation matters. Vendors like Jamf, Hexnode, and Kandji routinely discount 20-40% on annual contracts above 500 devices. Intune's list price of $96,000 for 1,000 users is misleading because almost every organization at this size has Microsoft 365 E3 or E5 — making Intune effectively free. Always check your existing Microsoft licensing before quoting Intune separately.

How much does SimpleMDM cost?

SimpleMDM costs $2.50 per device per month with all features included on every plan. There are no tiers, no feature gates, and no add-on modules. For 100 Apple devices, that is $3,000/year. SimpleMDM also offers volume discounts for larger fleets — contact them directly for quotes above 1,000 devices.

SimpleMDM is Apple-only (macOS, iOS, iPadOS, tvOS) and positions itself as the straightforward alternative to Jamf Pro. The flat pricing model is refreshing in a category full of confusing tier structures. The trade-off is fewer advanced features: SimpleMDM does not match Jamf Pro's depth in compliance reporting, identity integrations, or endpoint security. For organizations that need basic-to-mid-level Apple device management without enterprise complexity, it is one of the best values in the market.

Free MDM options that actually work

Several MDM platforms offer free tiers that are genuinely usable, not just trial limitations marketed as "free." If you are managing a small fleet or running a proof-of-concept, these are worth evaluating before committing budget.

• Miradore Free — unlimited devices, basic MDM features including enrollment, policy enforcement, remote wipe, and device inventory. The free tier lacks kiosk mode, app management, and advanced reporting, but covers the fundamentals
• ManageEngine MDM Plus — free for up to 25 devices with one technician. Includes both cloud and on-premises deployment options. Sufficient for a small office or a pilot before scaling to a paid plan
• Mosyle Fuse — free MDM for K-12 schools. Includes Apple device management, app deployment, and basic security policies. Schools specifically should start here before evaluating paid alternatives
• Google Endpoint Management — basic MDM included in Google Workspace Business and Enterprise plans. Covers Android and iOS with passcode enforcement, remote wipe, and app management. Limited compared to dedicated MDM tools but sufficient for organizations already on Google Workspace

The honest assessment: free MDM works for small fleets (under 50 devices) with basic security requirements. Once you need zero-touch enrollment, kiosk mode, conditional access, or compliance reporting, you will outgrow the free tier. Plan to budget for a paid plan once your fleet exceeds 50-100 devices or your compliance requirements tighten.

What does MDM stand for?

MDM stands for Mobile Device Management. It refers to software platforms that let IT teams enroll, configure, secure, and enforce policies on mobile devices — smartphones, tablets, and increasingly laptops — using the native management APIs built into iOS, Android, macOS, and Windows.

The term has evolved since its early days. Originally, MDM meant managing just phones and tablets. Today, most MDM platforms also manage laptops and desktops through the same enrollment and policy framework. When vendors add features like app management, content management, and identity integration on top of basic MDM, the category expands into Enterprise Mobility Management (EMM) or Unified Endpoint Management (UEM). For pricing purposes, MDM, EMM, and UEM products all appear in the same comparison — the naming difference reflects feature scope, not a fundamentally different product type.

Budget guidance by organization size

Here is a realistic budgeting framework based on the pricing data above. These ranges assume mid-tier features, annual billing, and no existing bundled licenses.

Small business (25-100 devices)

Budget $0 to $6,500/year. Start with a free tier (Miradore or ManageEngine) if you need basic enrollment and remote wipe. Move to Mosyle ($1/device) or Hexnode Standard ($2.20/device) when you need zero-touch enrollment or kiosk mode. At this size, avoid enterprise-priced vendors like Jamf Pro unless you have Apple-specific compliance requirements that cheaper tools cannot meet.

Mid-market (100-500 devices)

Budget $5,000 to $25,000/year. This is the sweet spot for vendors like Hexnode, Kandji, Scalefusion, and SimpleMDM. Request enterprise quotes — most vendors offer meaningful discounts at 250+ devices. If you are on Microsoft 365 E3/E5, check whether Intune covers your requirements before paying for a separate MDM. Intune bundled with your existing licensing could save you $10,000+/year.

Enterprise (500+ devices)

Budget $15,000 to $60,000/year at list prices, but expect to negotiate 20-40% off. At this scale, the vendor selection depends less on per-device cost and more on integration capabilities (identity providers, SIEM, compliance frameworks), support quality, and long-term roadmap. Jamf Pro is the default for Apple-heavy enterprises despite its premium pricing. Hexnode UEM and Scalefusion offer cross-platform management at lower cost. Run a 30-60 day pilot with your top two choices before committing to an annual contract.

How to reduce your MDM spend

• Audit existing licenses first — Microsoft 365 E3/E5 includes Intune, and Google Workspace includes basic endpoint management. You may already own MDM
• Choose annual billing over monthly — savings range from 15-25% across most vendors
• Match the pricing model to your environment — per-user pricing is cheaper when employees carry 2-3 devices; per-device pricing is cheaper when most users have one device
• Start with a lower tier and upgrade only when you hit a specific feature gap — do not buy the premium tier for compliance features you will not use for 12 months
• Negotiate at renewal — MDM vendors have retention budgets. Ask for a discount before auto-renewal, especially if you can show competitive quotes
• Use free tiers for non-critical device groups — shared devices, conference room tablets, and digital signage may not need paid-tier features
• Consolidate vendors — running two MDM tools for different device types costs more than one cross-platform solution in licensing and admin overhead

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