Microsoft Intune vs Jamf Pro (2026): features, security and which one to buy
Microsoft Intune and Jamf Pro compared on what they do, who they suit, their key features, pros and cons, and what each vendor publishes on security, admin and contract terms, with every fact checked on October 24, 2026.
Microsoft Intune or Jamf Pro: the short answer
Choose Microsoft Intune if
- Companies already on Microsoft 365 E3 or E5, where Intune Plan 1 is already included.
- Windows-heavy fleets that want Autopilot and Entra conditional access.
Choose Jamf Pro if
- Mid-size and large Apple-centric fleets with a dedicated Mac admin.
- Schools and enterprises that want same-day Apple OS feature support.
What are Microsoft Intune and Jamf Pro?
Microsoft Intune
Microsoft's cloud endpoint manager for Windows, macOS, iOS, Android, Linux and ChromeOS, sold standalone or bundled in Microsoft 365 E3 and E5. Organizations holding Microsoft 365 E3 or E5 already own Plan 1, so the first check is whether current licensing covers you. Windows Autopilot, Apple automated enrollment and Entra conditional access are supported. Remote Help costs extra, and reviewers find licensing across plans confusing.
Jamf Pro
Apple-focused device management for Mac, iPhone, iPad and Apple TV, sold by Jamf under quote-based pricing. Mid-size and large organizations with a dedicated Mac admin and an Apple-centric fleet are the core audience, and the vendor tracks new Apple OS features quickly. Pricing is by quote, and smaller firms under 25 staff are pointed to Jamf Now. Budget time for the learning curve.
Microsoft Intune vs Jamf Pro: features compared
| Microsoft Intune | Jamf Pro | |
|---|---|---|
| What it is | Microsoft's cloud endpoint manager for Windows, macOS, iOS, Android, Linux and ChromeOS, sold standalone or bundled in Microsoft 365 E3 and E5. | Apple-focused device management for Mac, iPhone, iPad and Apple TV, sold by Jamf under quote-based pricing. |
| Best for | Companies already on Microsoft 365 E3 or E5, where Intune Plan 1 is already included. | Mid-size and large Apple-centric fleets with a dedicated Mac admin. |
| Company size | Any size; strongest fit for Microsoft 365 organizations. | Jamf Now under 25 employees; Jamf for Mac/Mobile for mid-size and enterprise. |
| OS and device coverage | Windows, macOS, iOS/iPadOS, Android (Enterprise and AOSP), Linux (Ubuntu 24.04/26.04, RHEL 9/10), ChromeOS. | MacOS, iOS, iPadOS, visionOS, watchOS, tvOS; Android via Jamf for Mobile. |
| Zero-touch enrollment | Apple automated device enrollment, Android Enterprise, Windows Autopilot, Samsung Knox Mobile Enrollment (per Microsoft docs) | Apple Business Manager / automated enrollment (standard for Jamf; not itemized on pricing page) |
| Security policy and compliance enforcement | Compliance policies and conditional access with Entra ID; app protection policies not supported on ChromeOS. | Endpoint protection and mobile threat defense bundled in plans. |
| App distribution and management | App deployment; Enterprise Application Management add-on ($2.00/user/month) adds a hosted app catalog. | App distribution included in Jamf Now; broader catalog not confirmed by the vendor. |
| Remote lock, wipe and support | Remote Help is a paid add-on ($3.50/user/month); standard remote lock/wipe not confirmed by the vendor. | Not published |
| Identity and Microsoft 365 integration | Native with Microsoft Entra ID; Entra is an implicit dependency. | SAML and OIDC admin SSO; Jamf Connect for identity (separate) |
| Free plan or trial | No | Free trial |
| Starting price | $8.00 per user per month (Intune Plan 1 standalone) | Contact sales |
| G2 rating | 4.5 (NaN reviews) | 4.7 (2,093 reviews) |
Pros and cons
Microsoft Intune
Pros
- Tight fit with Microsoft 365, Entra and conditional access.
- Strong requirements coverage and app protection features.
Cons
- Admin console and licensing can be confusing across plans and add-ons.
- Support rated lower than product features on G2 sub-scores (8.4 of 10)
Jamf Pro
Pros
- Widely seen as the long-standing standard for Apple management.
- Good documentation and community support.
Cons
- Steep learning curve.
- Price can be high, especially for education.
Microsoft Intune vs Jamf Pro pricing
Microsoft Intune starts at $8.00 per user per month (Intune Plan 1 standalone) and Jamf Pro at Contact sales. The pricing bases differ, so compare the full quote for your team rather than the entry price.
| Microsoft Intune | Jamf Pro | |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing model | per user | per device |
| Per seat per month | $8.00 per user per month (Intune Plan 1 standalone) | Not published |
| Billing | Annual only. | Quote. |
| 20 users per year | $480 (Enterprise Application Management (add-on)) | Not published |
| Add-ons | Plan 2 $4.00; Remote Help $3.50; Endpoint Privilege Management $3.00. | Jamf Premium Services for onboarding (price not published); Premium Cloud hosting option. |
Security, admin and contract: Microsoft Intune vs Jamf Pro
What each vendor states publicly about single sign-on, provisioning, audit logs, data location and the contract. A blank is a question for the sales call, not a no.
| Microsoft Intune | Jamf Pro | |
|---|---|---|
| SAML SSO | Via Microsoft Entra ID; plan mapping not confirmed by the vendor. | SAML (all Jamf Pro) and OIDC (Jamf Cloud with Jamf Account); plan mapping not published. |
| SCIM provisioning | Not published | No native SCIM confirmed; third-party Veraproof Scimify on Jamf Marketplace. |
| Data residency | Microsoft EU Data Boundary applies to EU-located tenants per Microsoft documentation; Intune-specific storage details not confirmed by the vendor. | Not confirmed by the vendor. |
| DPA | Not confirmed by the vendor. | Trust center lists legal agreements and Data Privacy Framework certification; DPA availability not confirmed. |
| Contract | Annual billing with auto-renewal per pricing page; Contact Sales for custom agreements. | Not published; 14-day trial available. |
Differences most comparisons miss
Worth knowing about Microsoft Intune
- Plan 1 at $8 per user is already included in M365 E3 and E5, so many buyers pay nothing extra.
- Advanced modules (Remote Help, Analytics, EPM) are separately priced add-ons now but Microsoft says they fold into E3/E5 from July 2026.
- Add-ons all require Plan 1 and an Entra ID tenant.
- Apple support is current-version focused: iOS/iPadOS 18 and macOS 15 listed as fully supported, older versions only 'allowed'.
Worth knowing about Jamf Pro
- Francisco Partners closed a roughly $2.2B take-private of Jamf in late January 2026.
- Jamf for Mac and Jamf for Mobile are available only to Jamf Cloud customers, not on-premises.
- SOC 2 scope differs by hosting provider: Type 2 on AWS, Type 1 on Azure.
- Jamf recommends OIDC SSO via Jamf Account over SAML where supported.
Microsoft Intune vs Jamf Pro: frequently asked questions
Which is better, Microsoft Intune or Jamf Pro?
It depends on the team. Microsoft Intune is the stronger pick for companies already on Microsoft 365 E3 or E5, where Intune Plan 1 is already included, while Jamf Pro suits mid-size and large Apple-centric fleets with a dedicated Mac admin. Compare the feature rows above against your must-haves before you look at price.
Do Microsoft Intune and Jamf Pro support SAML single sign-on?
Microsoft Intune: via Microsoft Entra ID; plan mapping not confirmed by the vendor. Jamf Pro: SAML (all Jamf Pro) and OIDC (Jamf Cloud with Jamf Account); plan mapping not published. Confirm the plan in writing before you compare prices.
Can I try Microsoft Intune and Jamf Pro for free?
Microsoft Intune: no free plan or trial is published. Jamf Pro: free trial.
Sources
Both columns use the same sources: vendor pricing and product pages, documentation, G2 and company records, checked on October 24, 2026. Full source lists are on the Microsoft Intune and Jamf Pro reviews.