IBM MaaS360 vs IBM MobileFirst comparison

The compared IBM MaaS360 and IBM MobileFirst solutions aren't in the same category. IBM MaaS360 is ranked #12 in EMM , with an average rating of 8.0, and holds a 6.9% mindshare in the category. IBM MobileFirst is ranked #5 in MAP , and holds a 7.9% mindshare. Additionally, 84% of IBM MaaS360 users are willing to recommend the solution, compared to 100% of IBM MobileFirst users who would recommend it.

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Executive Summary

We performed a comparison between IBM MaaS360 and IBM MobileFirst based on real PeerSpot user reviews.

Find out what your peers are saying about Microsoft, Omnissa, ManageEngine and others in Enterprise Mobility Management (EMM).

To learn more, read our detailed Enterprise Mobility Management (EMM) Report (Updated: May 2026).

Buyer's Guide

Enterprise Mobility Management (EMM)

May 2026

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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

Microsoft Intune

Mindshare comparison

Enterprise Mobility Management (EMM) Mindshare Distribution
Product	Mindshare (%)
IBM MaaS360	6.9%
Microsoft Intune	22.7%
Workspace ONE UEM	10.4%
Other	60.0%

Enterprise Mobility Management (EMM)

Mobile App Platforms Mindshare Distribution
Product	Mindshare (%)
IBM MobileFirst	7.9%
Temenos Quantum	8.2%
Axway Appcelerator	7.7%
Other	76.2%

Mobile App Platforms

Featured Reviews

OluwashileAdeniyi

Senior Infrastructure Security Engineer at a outsourcing company with 51-200 employees

Centralized endpoint security has improved and supports hybrid work and BYOD policies

Regarding what I dislike about Microsoft Intune and its downsides, I would say that more Mac controls are needed because we have limited Mac and Linux control. When comparing controls and policies between Windows, Mac, and Linux, Windows has almost everything you can think of, while Mac and Linux have limited types of control. You cannot implement certain things on Mac and Linux that you can on Windows. The limited controls are a major issue. Additionally, if Microsoft could find a way to embed servers into Microsoft Intune, that would be beneficial. Microsoft Intune is not really designed for servers or Windows servers. It is more tailored towards Windows 11 and Windows 10 operating systems. Windows servers are not fully supported. Enterprise organizations usually have both servers and endpoints, which are users' workstations. For servers, most people look for other solutions such as SCCM, which is Configuration Manager. However, SCCM is what Microsoft Intune is trying to replace. Both SCCM and Microsoft Intune belong to Microsoft. Microsoft is trying to transition organizations into Microsoft Intune, the native cloud solution. However, because this update is still in process, servers are not fully compatible with Microsoft Intune and cannot be managed by it. The current policy that has emerged from issues with clients is what they call co-management, which is relatively new, and I do not know if adoption is significant. Many legacy or older customers who have been using these products for decades still have SCCM. When it is time for them to manage their Windows devices, they use what is called cloud attach. Cloud attach is a term whereby your SCCM is connected to your Microsoft Intune. Most people do not know about it, but I have deployed it for several organizations. Cloud attach and co-management work together so that your device is in SCCM, but some policies are pushed from Microsoft Intune. It is like two different solutions working hand in hand. That is what they call co-management. Microsoft Intune does not bring all of your endpoint and security management tools into one place, which is the goal and how it should be. However, as I mentioned, servers are not included. If we talk about end users, Microsoft Intune does bring all your devices together. In a typical enterprise environment, you have end users with workstations, laptops, company-issued phones, and bring your own devices. You can create policies for all of these. However, for the backend, your servers do not have much coverage. Servers are not really covered by Microsoft Intune in that way.

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reviewer2173776

President at a wholesaler/distributor with 11-50 employees

Bulk phone setup has become more efficient while content distribution remains manageable

The main benefit of IBM MaaS360 is phone control and rollout. I acquired it because I was onboarding 15 new people, and it was more efficient to manage 15 phones from a computer than to handle each phone individually. I was able to manage what apps people were downloading with IBM MaaS360, ensuring they had what they needed. I could monitor their downloads and remove applications if necessary.

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Manan Thakkar

Senior Solutions Architect at a tech services company with 201-500 employees

Streamlines development of hybrid applications, and has ability to integrate device-native code

It was a cakewalk for us to develop mobile apps for three different platforms using IBM MobileFirst. Since it was a consumer application built for large-scale events, it was very crucial for us to manage application compatibility with all sort of devices. With MobielFirst, we could actually achieve this with very little trouble. With help of this product, we have been able to develop mobile applications without having complete knowledge of each mobile OS's native programming. App development, delivery, and code management have been very efficient using this product.

Read full review

Quotes from Members

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

Pros

"The most valuable feature is the policy CSPs."

"The best features of Microsoft Intune include continuous implementation of new capabilities each year, covering almost everything."

"ROI is very high at the end."

"When comparing these two products, I prefer Intune."

"Microsoft Intune is best for Windows devices and security in Office 365 and Microsoft-related enterprise environments. It's a nice platform for endpoint management."

"Microsoft Intune solutions, especially Microsoft Intune and Microsoft 365, have positively impacted my organization by improving endpoint security, enabling centralized device management, supporting remote work efficiently, reducing manual administrative effort through automation, and enhancing compliance and collaboration across the enterprise environment."

"I can reach devices or computers over the internet. I don't need to worry about the network connectivity between the offices. I can manage any device. That is the most important part."

"When comparing Microsoft Intune to Jamf, Microsoft Intune is superior."

More Microsoft Intune pros

"The most valuable feature is the fact that we can find a lost device or shut the device down and wipe it, which is good for HIPAA."

"One valuable feature is the ability to provide a secure environment. Another is the kiosk mode where MaaS360 can be used over a tablet or mobile device to ensure that a single application is used."

"Every new device was configured manually, it used to require about 20 minutes of engineer attention, now it's about three minutes."

"MaaS can force people to lock their phones. Not everyone likes having a PIN and other security features on their phones, but this sets a requirement that you can't get your emails unless you have a PIN on your phone. That was a good feature, and we were able to easily increase the PIN from four digits to six digits. Overall, it was pretty user-friendly."

"Asset management is the most valuable feature and integral for device inventory."

"Allowed our organization to securely implement BYOD, increasing the employee satisfaction and productivity."

"It can change policies based on geolocation or schedules."

"Maas360 uses distribution groups to deploy apps, which makes it a bit easier than, for example, Intune."

More IBM MaaS360 pros

"One of the most valuable features is that we are using the IBM MobileFirst, which is actually providing a gateway to all the mobile resources either for the employees or for the consumers."

"I like Its capability for developing hybrid applications, with an ability to integrate device-native code as well"

"IBM MobileFirst has one of the most feature-rich admin panels."

"We use it as a secure proxy server for a mobile app using public internet as well as for its mobile app support features."

"With help of this product, we have been able to develop mobile applications without having complete knowledge of each mobile OS's native programming technology, and app development, delivery, and code management have been very efficient using this product."

Cons

"In the next release, I would like a feature to be able to properly lock down the device. For example, if an attacker or somebody steals the phone, you can be sure that the pin cannot be broken."

"Setting up Intune Autopilot can be a little complicated."

"We are facing issues with Apple products. With macOS and iOS, there are some difficulties with the updates because we cannot get full control of Apple products. In the case of Windows, it is fine, but in the case of Apple, we have some difficulties. We cannot control everything through Intune."

"There could be more wizard-driven policy development or creation. Some of the policies can get quite complex. If they have a wizard that assists the administrators in creating the policy, that will be a great job."

"The reporting and troubleshooting experience with Microsoft Intune could be improved because clearer and more detailed error reporting for failed policies or applications installed would make administration much easier, especially when diagnosing policy sync or device compliance issues across large environments."

"Better reporting capabilities, stronger Mac OS management, faster policy synchronization, and easier troubleshooting are needed."

"I have one remark about the application management for the Android version. Often, the Play Store opens and leaves the possibility to download to the user, which is not good."

"We would like to see the ability to use multiple personas on a device, similar to Samsung Knox, included in future updates."

More Microsoft Intune cons

"I would rate IBM MaaS360's stability as seven out of ten, though I don't use it extensively."

"MaaS360 has gone down a few times over the years, and people couldn't get their emails on their phones, so it was problematic, but that didn't happen often."

"The look needs to be updated and it could be simpler to use."

"Its integration with Microsoft Teams could be better."

"Quite good, but could be a little bit quicker."

"User interface is basic and not very intuitive."

"The user interface could definitely use some improvement."

"The main issue we have with the solution is synchronization between the information and between the devices and the portal."

More IBM MaaS360 cons

"I would like to see improved support for native device functions."

"There are issues with push notifications, especially for Windows mobile apps. JSONStore also crashes abruptly at times."

Pricing and Cost Advice

"Intune is inexpensive. It also comes bundled in some Office 365 licenses, so you can choose to purchase it separately or as a package."

"It's bundled with Business Premium and an E3 license, which is beneficial. If you have to pay extra, it's pricey, but with the bundled package, it's acceptable. They recently increased the Business Premium pricing, which we don't appreciate. The price increase and yearly commitment are causing some problems for us."

"The pricing for Microsoft Intune is reasonable. Our clients are satisfied."

"I am satisfied with the pricing."

"The pricing is competitive, but it is not cheap."

"If you ask the accountant or the finance department, they'll tell you that it is way too expensive, but when I look at the cost and compare it with the value you actually get, it's more than fair."

"There is a cost benefit of using Microsoft Intune because of the packaging with other Microsoft products."

"The pricing is inherently reasonable, as Microsoft leverages market insights to maintain the total cost of ownership at around ninety to ninety-five percent of what would be incurred in an on-premise scenario."

More Microsoft Intune pricing and cost advice

"The solution is expensive."

"IBM products are expensive compared to the tools offered by its competitors. IBM MaaS360 is an expensive tool."

"IBM MaaS360 is cheaper compared to other alternatives. Others are at least three to six times costlier."

"The solution is cost-effective."

"The licensing structure is broken down into levels, each with different functionalities available. Depending on your license, there may be additional fees for extra features."

"MaaS360 is priced at a balance. It is not as expensive as AirWatch or Jamf and is not a cheap solution like a few of the local products."

"I rate IBM MaaS360’s pricing a six out of ten."

"Fees are monthly and it's approximately $8 per user."

More IBM MaaS360 pricing and cost advice

"Cost depends upon various factors. Size of the overall application and product usage matter a lot. For an enterprise-grade application, this certainly comes out as an economical solution. However, for small-scale applications, it can turn out to be on the higher side."

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Top Industries

By visitors reading reviews

Financial Services Firm

10%

Manufacturing Company

Computer Software Company

Government

Manufacturing Company

11%

Computer Software Company

10%

Government

University

No data available

Company Size

By reviewers

Large Enterprise

Midsize Enterprise

Small Business

By reviewers
Company Size	Count
Small Business	186
Midsize Enterprise	62
Large Enterprise	184

By reviewers
Company Size	Count
Small Business	20
Midsize Enterprise	7
Large Enterprise	12

No data available

Questions from the Community

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Microsoft Intune vs IBM MaaS360 - which to choose?

Our organization researched both Microsoft Intune and IBM MaaS360 when considering the type of endpoint security tool...

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What is your experience regarding pricing and costs for IBM MaaS360?

The pricing and licensing experience with IBM MaaS360 was satisfactory and not expensive.

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What needs improvement with IBM MaaS360?

We have some challenges. If we look at the challenges we face in the market, there are a few products like Sophos, wh...

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Comparisons

Jamf Pro vs Microsoft Intune

Compared 10% of the time

Workspace ONE UEM vs Microsoft Intune

Compared 6% of the time

Microsoft Entra ID vs Microsoft Intune

Compared 4% of the time

ManageEngine Endpoint Central vs Microsoft Intune

Compared 4% of the time

Samsung Knox vs Microsoft Intune

Compared 2% of the time

More Microsoft Intune Competitors

Workspace ONE UEM vs IBM MaaS360

Compared 10% of the time

Jamf Pro vs IBM MaaS360

Compared 5% of the time

Samsung Knox vs IBM MaaS360

Compared 3% of the time

BlackBerry Enterprise Mobility Suite vs IBM MaaS360

Compared 3% of the time

ManageEngine Endpoint Central vs IBM MaaS360

Compared 3% of the time

More IBM MaaS360 Competitors

Axway Appcelerator vs IBM MobileFirst

Compared 10% of the time

Temenos Quantum vs IBM MobileFirst

Compared 9% of the time

Xamarin Platform vs IBM MobileFirst

Compared 9% of the time

OutSystems vs IBM MobileFirst

Compared 6% of the time

Salesforce Platform vs IBM MobileFirst

Compared 6% of the time

More IBM MobileFirst Competitors

Product Reports

Buyer's Guide

Microsoft Intune

May 2026

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Buyer's Guide

IBM MaaS360

May 2026

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Buyer's Guide

Mobile App Platforms

May 2026

Download IBM MobileFirst product report

Also Known As

Intune, MS Intune, Microsoft Endpoint Manager

Fiberlink MaaS360, MaaS360

MobileFirst, Worklight

Overview

Microsoft Intune is a cloud-based service designed for device management, security, and compliance. It supports automation and facilitates endpoint management for Windows, iOS, and Android devices, ensuring data protection and efficient policy enforcement.

Microsoft Intune offers seamless integration with tools like Windows Autopilot to automate device setup and deployment. Integrated with Azure Active Directory, it enhances policy management while providing robust reporting and analytics tools for compliance tracking. Despite its intuitive interface aimed at simplifying navigation and device security management, there are challenges such as compatibility issues with Linux and Mac, limited policy support for Android, and demands for better third-party integration. It's widely used for both corporate-owned devices and BYOD scenarios in dynamic IT environments.

What are the key features of Microsoft Intune?

Windows Autopilot: Automates device setup for rapid deployment.
Azure Active Directory Integration: Enhances user policy management.
Reporting and Analytics: Improves compliance visibility.
Mobile Application Management: Ensures app security without compromising personal data.
Cloud-Based Management: Allows management from any location.

What benefits and ROI can users expect?

Time Efficiency: Automation reduces time in policy enforcement and configuration updates.
Enhanced Security: Ensures data protection across corporate-owned and BYOD devices.
Improved Compliance: Advanced reporting tools enhance compliance visibility.
Flexible Management: Cloud-based nature supports management from any location.

In industries such as finance and healthcare, Microsoft Intune is implemented to ensure data protection and compliance with regulatory standards. Manufacturing sectors utilize Intune for managing a distributed workforce across global locations, while educational institutions employ it to secure and manage devices in learning environments supporting both students and faculty.

Microsoft

IBM MaaS360 enhances mobile device management with tracking, security, app deployment, policy management, and integration with Apple DEP and Android Enterprise. It supports remote control, cost efficiency, and is user-friendly, suitable for both corporate and BYOD environments.

MaaS360 offers a comprehensive suite for managing and securing mobile devices. With features like encryption, passcode enforcement, and containerization, it ensures data security and compliance. MaaS360 simplifies app deployment via distribution groups and integrates seamlessly with Apple and Android systems. Its focus on kiosk mode, application security, and automated provisioning make it a strategic choice for companies prioritizing a robust endpoint management strategy. Though it offers extensive options, improvements in notifications, user management, and Microsoft integration are needed.

What are the most important features of IBM MaaS360?

Device Tracking: Enables efficient tracking and management of devices across an enterprise.
Security Features: Provides encryption, passcode enforcement, and containerization for data security.
App Deployment: Facilitates app installation through distribution groups and platform integrations.
Policy Management: Allows organizations to implement and enforce security policies efficiently.
Remote Control: Offers options for remote access and management of devices.

What benefits should users look for in reviews of IBM MaaS360?

Cost Efficiency: Reduces setup costs and offers scalable solutions.
Compliance Support: Helps maintain regulatory compliance with detailed management options.
User-Friendly Interface: Simplifies management and operation through intuitive design.
Scalability: Supports growing organizations with extensive device deployment capabilities.

IBM MaaS360 finds applications in industries needing robust mobile device management and security. Enterprises deploy it widely to ensure compliance and safeguard corporate data, providing application control, data leak prevention, and secure email management. It is used for configuring policies for field staff and enabling efficient device enrollment, significantly cutting initial setup costs.

IBM

IBM MobileFirst is a comprehensive development platform for building and managing mobile applications. It provides an integrated environment that facilitates quick deployment and streamlined processes for enterprises seeking robust mobile solutions.

IBM MobileFirst offers a scalable framework to develop, test, and deploy applications efficiently. It enhances application life cycle management through its secure environment and advanced integration capabilities. Organizations use IBM MobileFirst to create responsive applications that suit modern business demands, emphasizing seamless development processes and enhanced collaboration between development teams. The platform's adaptability to various business requirements makes it a preferred choice for companies aiming to expand their mobile strategies.

What are the key features of IBM MobileFirst?

App Development: Offers tools for rapid development of cross-platform mobile applications.
Data Integration: Provides integration capabilities with backend systems, ensuring data consistency.
Security: Delivers robust security features for data protection and privacy.
Analytics: Provides insights into app performance and user behavior for informed decision-making.

What benefits and ROI can users find in reviews?

Efficiency: Enhances development speed, reducing time-to-market.
Cost Savings: Streamlines processes, potentially lowering development costs.
Scalability: Supports growth and adapts to increased app usage.
Enhanced Collaboration: Facilitates cooperative workflows among teams.

In industries such as finance, healthcare, and retail, IBM MobileFirst implementation focuses on secure transactions, patient data management, and personalized customer experiences. It enables organizations to craft tailored applications that address sector-specific challenges, ensuring that mobile solutions are not only functional but also competitive.

IBM

Sample Customers

Mitchells and Buzzers, Callaway

Bancroft, Garuda Indonesia

UniCredit Business Integrated Solutions, Gruppo Unipol, Raymond James Financial, Toshiba GCS, CST, ABK-Systeme GmbH, BNP Paribas

Buyer's Guide

Enterprise Mobility Management (EMM)

May 2026

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