Try our new research platform with insights from 80,000+ expert users

Cisco Meraki Systems Manager (MDM+EMM) vs Microsoft 365 Business comparison

 

Comparison Buyer's Guide

Executive SummaryUpdated on Aug 13, 2024

Review summaries and opinions

We asked business professionals to review the solutions they use. Here are some excerpts of what they said:
 

Categories and Ranking

Cisco Meraki Systems Manage...
Ranking in Mobile Device Management (MDM)
3rd
Average Rating
8.6
Reviews Sentiment
7.8
Number of Reviews
31
Ranking in other categories
Enterprise Mobility Management (EMM) (6th)
Microsoft 365 Business
Ranking in Mobile Device Management (MDM)
2nd
Average Rating
8.4
Reviews Sentiment
6.8
Number of Reviews
244
Ranking in other categories
Content Collaboration Platforms (8th)
 

Mindshare comparison

As of April 2025, in the Mobile Device Management (MDM) category, the mindshare of Cisco Meraki Systems Manager (MDM+EMM) is 6.5%, down from 11.0% compared to the previous year. The mindshare of Microsoft 365 Business is 7.4%, down from 10.2% compared to the previous year. It is calculated based on PeerSpot user engagement data.
Mobile Device Management (MDM)
 

Featured Reviews

GaneshKhutwad - PeerSpot reviewer
A central portal where you can add, stack, configure, and maintain your devices
Nearly 35,000 users are connected to Systems from America because their network is configured to cover worldwide areas. I have approximately 450 devices connected, which can scale based on requirements. For instance, if you have around five hundred to six hundred users in one office, the MR14 and MR24 series are suitable. For environments with a larger number of standard device users, the MR24 series is recommended. Cisco Meraki provides various series to meet your requirements, allowing you to manage your users efficiently. I rate the solution's scalability a nine out of ten.
Luca Turco - PeerSpot reviewer
Subscription model ensures continuous updates and connectivity across devices
The subscription model of Microsoft 365 Business is beneficial since it provides continuous updates, including functional updates and transformations of the product. This contrasts with older perpetual licenses that rarely received updates. The overall suite is very complete, and being tied to a vendor that improves week by week is of great value. Implemented features like sharing calendars and access to emails on multiple devices enhance basic functionalities that were previously lacking.

Quotes from Members

We asked business professionals to review the solutions they use. Here are some excerpts of what they said:
 

Pros

"The most significant benefit is that the deployment is quick and painless. You don't need a specialized IT department to implement and scale the network. It's easy to maintain, too. It only requires one or two network administrators."
"The product provides a universal dashboard."
"The stability of the solution is very good. It's reliable. We don't have crashes or experience freezing. There aren't bugs or glitches."
"The proprietary standards and modules are the most valuable features."
"It's a very easy solution for the most part, it's very easy to implement and very easy to administer."
"We can reconfigure a client’s setup remotely with minimal effort."
"We experience no downtime, no breakdowns, all the user readings are exact, and it gives us quick analysis so we can apply security measures."
"It's robust, and we like the device availability, ease of purchase, and supplier stock availability."
"The initial setup is very easy."
"The solution has been very stable."
"The solution has pretty good security baked in."
"The initial setup is pretty simple."
"The user interface is good and it is very easy to use."
"Microsoft 365 Business is user-friendly, easy to use, compatible with different devices, such as laptops and phones, and helps me get my job done."
"The good feature with the cloud is that you can access Microsoft Office from anywhere. It's integrated with Outlook, so you can edit a file in Excel, Word, or any other application and just attach it in the mail. It makes the business easier."
"The solution is quite stable. The performance is very good."
 

Cons

"Because Cisco has improved a lot and is competing with other technologies that are innovative and brand new to the market, the only improvements they have to make are to keep up with the current competition and remain competitive with other solutions."
"I would rate my experience with the initial setup a four out of ten, where one is difficult, and ten is easy. It is more difficult."
"Meraki is limiting our connections."
"Integration with other tools, such as, ConnectWise Automate."
"The price of the solution could be reduced."
"There are problems with the connection on the client side, and the app that was deployed could be better."
"They could include bandwidth-based policies."
"Sometimes, the integrations are a bit tough."
"The installation should be supportive of and able to integrate with Linux."
"The initial setup is slightly complex."
"Its price could be better for companies that are not using it massively."
"Some menu options are not as logical as you would think, and it can take time to figure out how to go about it."
"Flow and Form components can be improved individually, but it would be nice to see the product take the next step and operate as a unit rather than separate modules."
"The licensing price could be better."
"The platform's pricing needs improvement."
"They should simplify breakout rooms a bit. Breakout rooms are probably the most important factor. They have done some work on breakout rooms, but they probably have to do a bit more to make them simpler."
 

Pricing and Cost Advice

"It's extremely competitive and very good for a product in this sphere."
"My customers at times have issues with the price of the solution. It is expensive, but overall it is worth it. The licensing model cost is based on how many devices you require."
"The price is high for the market."
"The storage is affordable and the system has some price-related issues. Therefore, keeping the price in mind, I would rate it seven out of ten."
"Meraki MDM is the cheapest solution we have used."
"The cost of installing this solution can be more expensive depending on who is doing the installation. Cisco is very expensive."
"My clients find it a bit expensive compared to other systems."
"Cisco Meraki Systems Manager is an expensive solution."
"The price of this solution is expensive and the price could be reduced. The licensing cost is very high because we are using an E5 license for Microsoft."
"If you go with Microsoft, they will give you 80 GB in advance and all those kinds of features. They will also keep asking you to go from E1 to E2, E2 to E3, and now E5. Their prices are high, but as long as the organization is happy to pay and your emails are working seamlessly, it shouldn't be an issue."
"Compared to buying a license, it is much cheaper and a good buy."
"Microsoft 365 Business could be cheaper."
"There is a license for this solution and it is priced based on the users using it."
"Licensing fees are paid on a yearly basis."
"Its cost is fine because I have a lot of devices in my account."
"Microsoft 365 Business could be cheaper."
report
Use our free recommendation engine to learn which Mobile Device Management (MDM) solutions are best for your needs.
849,190 professionals have used our research since 2012.
 

Top Industries

By visitors reading reviews
Educational Organization
45%
Computer Software Company
12%
Manufacturing Company
5%
Government
4%
Computer Software Company
16%
Financial Services Firm
10%
Healthcare Company
8%
Government
8%
 

Company Size

By reviewers
Large Enterprise
Midsize Enterprise
Small Business
 

Questions from the Community

What is your experience regarding pricing and costs for Cisco Meraki Systems Manager (MDM+EMM)?
The pricing sits at a mid-level range, around five or six. There are cheaper and more expensive tools available, but the price features parity is good.
What needs improvement with Cisco Meraki Systems Manager (MDM+EMM)?
While the graphical user interface is user-friendly and easy to configure, I see room for improvement in integration with third-party tools. We haven't had any integration issues, but potential lim...
What do you like most about Microsoft 365 Business?
The product's initial setup phase was straightforward.
What is your experience regarding pricing and costs for Microsoft 365 Business?
The solution might be considered pricey for some, however, the comprehensiveness of the suite justifies its cost. It is generally still worth the money and is cost-effective when considering the pr...
What needs improvement with Microsoft 365 Business?
Price is an area for improvement, as spending less money would always be preferable. However, the comprehensive nature of the solution justifies the cost.
 

Also Known As

Meraki MDM
Microsoft 365 E3, Microsoft 365 E5, Microsoft 365 F1, MS 365 Business
 

Overview

 

Sample Customers

Hafen Hamburg & Empire Riverside Hotel, Eastview Church, Tourism Holdings, Colegio Sagrada Familia Hijas de Jesús, Tommy Bahama's, Canadian School Mexico, Rosebank College
Urban Agriculture Co., The Detroit Wallpaper Co., TransBlue Facility Management, Garner Food Company
Find out what your peers are saying about Cisco Meraki Systems Manager (MDM+EMM) vs. Microsoft 365 Business and other solutions. Updated: April 2025.
849,190 professionals have used our research since 2012.