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 best features of Cisco Meraki Systems Manager include its simplicity and ease of use. It is straightforward to set up and manage devices compared to other products."
"The proprietary standards and modules are the most valuable features."
"The product provides a universal dashboard."
"It's very easy to just keep adding devices as needed."
"Initial setup was easy."
"The cloud dashboard's analytics data is particularly valuable, giving me insights into user activities and making it easy to track and manage devices."
"The central management console on the cloud is fast and is the solution's most valuable feature."
"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 installation process is very straightforward."
"The solution can scale well. A company can easily expand it."
"Its flexibility is most valuable. It provides flexibility and a dynamic approach. It is not limited by a physical location, and it can be run on different devices from different locations."
"The most valuable feature for us is Microsoft Teams."
"The most valuable feature of this solution, in my opinion, is its simplicity."
"The product is flexible and easy to use."
"The solution has a lot of great useful features for communication."
"The stability and reliability are great."
 

Cons

"In my opinion, the equipment availabilities and competitive pricings could be improved."
"Meraki is limiting our connections."
"The price could be better."
"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."
"The cost of installing this solution can be more expensive depending on who is doing the installation. Cisco is very expensive, and I'd like to see a reduction in cost."
"Meraki Systems Manager lacks scripting capability compared to Workspace. I've seen the product focused mainly on mobile solutions. They might need more development in endpoints like Windows desktops."
"Integration with other tools, such as, ConnectWise Automate."
"They need to allocate more energy in terms of their offering to devices that are not Apple devices."
"The solution could have better integration with other applications."
"Some of the functionalities available in the desktop version are not available on the cloud."
"For the past six months, I have been facing a synchronization issue between the calendar of Microsoft Teams and the calendar of Microsoft Outlook. In Microsoft Teams, I can't see the updated version of some meetings, but Outlook shows the updated version. There is a problem with data synchronization between the calendars of these applications. Both calendars should be synchronized."
"As an example, there isn't a clean transfer to a Google Doc outside of hosting it as a .docx file."
"It should be a bit more user-friendly. It should be less click to get to what you need. this would help people use it more efficiently."
"However, people might think it's unstable if it hasn't been set up correctly. If the IT team hasn't configured it right, then you'll have a hard time using the product itself."
"The management could be a bit better."
"The installation is at a moderate level of difficulty. It could be easier to install."
 

Pricing and Cost Advice

"Meraki MDM is the cheapest solution we have used."
"Cisco Meraki Systems Manager is an expensive solution."
"It's extremely competitive and very good for a product in this sphere."
"My clients find it a bit expensive compared to other systems."
"This product is reasonably priced."
"The price is high for the market."
"The cost of installing this solution can be more expensive depending on who is doing the installation. Cisco is very expensive."
"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."
"As a customer, I would like the licensing fees should be cheaper."
"The solution costs approximately $20 per month per user."
"We have an enterprise license, and we get some price off for that. Its price could be better for companies that are not using it massively."
"The licensing costs are not expensive."
"I think that the price is fair."
"Now you can select different licenses, for example, if somebody doesn't need all of the features, it would cost $8 USD per month and if they didn't need the email application then it would cost $6 USD per month."
"There is a monthly subscription for the use of this solution."
"We are on an annual license for the solution. The solution could be cheaper overall."
report
Use our free recommendation engine to learn which Mobile Device Management (MDM) solutions are best for your needs.
845,406 professionals have used our research since 2012.
 

Top Industries

By visitors reading reviews
Educational Organization
48%
Computer Software Company
12%
Manufacturing Company
5%
Government
4%
Computer Software Company
16%
Financial Services Firm
8%
Healthcare Company
8%
Manufacturing Company
7%
 

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: March 2025.
845,406 professionals have used our research since 2012.