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Managing mobile devices efficiently is crucial for organizations of all sizes. Mobile Device Management (MDM) is a system that enables organizations to securely manage, monitor, and control devices within their network. Despite the term "mobile" in its name, MDM isn’t limited to just cell phones—it covers a wide range of devices including smartphones, tablets, laptops, and even IoT devices. Choosing the right MDM solution involves considering various factors, so to help with this decision, we’ve shortlisted the 10 best open-source mobile device management solutions.
Key Takeaways on Top Mobile Device Management Providers
Don’t have time to read the entire article? No worries. Here is the executive summary of our research on open-source MDM solutions.
FleetDM, Relution, WSO2 EMM, and Miradore are among the best open-source mobile device management solutions. Their open-source versions are robust, scalable, and secure, offering support for a wide range of devices and operating systems.
SOTI MobiControl and ManageEngine are powerful MDM solutions, but they are not open-source. These platforms are designed for large organizations with dedicated teams for MDM implementation and ongoing maintenance, making them less ideal for small to medium-sized businesses.
MicroMDM and Headwind MDM are lightweight, open-source providers, but they come with limitations. MicroMDM is focused on managing Apple devices, while Headwind MDM is specific to Android. Neither is suitable for organizations requiring support for multiple operating systems or device types.
Zentyal and Wazuh are primarily security platforms, with MDM being a secondary part of their broader offerings. They are not dedicated MDM providers.
Best Open-Source MDM Solutions
Open-source Mobile Device Management (MDM) solutions provide cost-effective, customizable ways to handle the deployment, security, and management of mobile devices across your organization. Here’s a list of 10 top open-source (free) mobile device management (MDM) solutions.
1. FleetDM
Overview: FleetDM is the most popular open-source MDM platform tailored for managing mobile devices at scale, offering real-time insights and security enforcement. FleetDM’s lightweight agent, “osquery,” can be deployed across multiple operating systems and devices. It provides deep visibility and control over the entire device fleet on the following systems.
Linux,
macOS,
Windows,
Chromebooks, and
iOS devices (BYOD or corporate owned.)
Features:
It offers extensive device management features like device monitoring, software inventory management, and real-time updates.
Its integration with Pomeriumhelps organizations implement zero-trust network architecture (ZTNA) with ease. While FleetDM provides robust endpoint security, Pomerium offers advanced reverse proxy, continuous verification, and context-aware authentication.
Its scalablearchitecture excels at cross-platform support and easy integration with existing tools, allowing seamless management of both mobile devices and desktops.
Overview: Miradore is also a popular open-source MDM provider that offers basic MDM functionalities for small organizations with its free Community Edition. It covers essential mobile device management needs but is best suited for small-scale deployments.
Features: It offers
device tracking,
remote lock/wipe, and
basic application deployment.
It is suitable for small businesses, schools, and nonprofits managing under 10 devices.
Drawbacks: The free version has limited features and lacks advanced capabilities like real-time monitoring or geofencing.
3. MICRO MD
Overview: MICRO MD is an open-source mobile device management solution specifically designed for managing Apple devices. It is built with a focus on simplicity and scalability, making it ideal for organizations that rely heavily on macOS and iOS devices.
Features: MicroMDM offers features such as device enrollment, configuration management, remote wiping, and application deployment.
It integrates seamlessly with Apple’s Device Enrollment Program (DEP) and Profile Manager, allowing for automated device provisioning and policy enforcement across Apple devices.
It is perfect for organizations with a strong focus on Apple products, such as creative agencies, schools, and businesses where macOS and iOS devices are the primary devices in use.
Drawbacks: As it is dedicated to Apple devices, MicroMDM is not suitable for organizations managing a mix of operating systems. Additionally, familiarity with Apple's MDM framework is required to make the most of its features.
4. Relution
Overview: Relution is a versatile open-source MDM solution built to serve a wide range of digital businesses, including educational institutions, online businesses, NGOs, and healthcare organizations. With support for Apple, Android, and Windows devices, it offers comprehensive cross-platform device management.
Features: Relution provides powerful features like device enrollment, application management, policy enforcement, and security compliance monitoring.
It also supports centralized management of devices and apps, making it easier to maintain control over a diverse fleet of devices, whether they are used in the classroom, the office, or in the field.
It is ideal for organizations that need to manage a mix of devices while ensuring compliance and security across all platforms.
Drawbacks: While Relution is feature-rich, organizations with very specific MDM needs may require more specialized solutions. Additionally, it may be more complex to set up compared to lightweight, single-platform MDM tools.
Overview: Headwind MDM is an open-source Android MDM solution focused on delivering comprehensive Android management capabilities. It provides full device lockdown and app distribution options.
Features: Supports remote application deployment, device lockdown, and policy management. It is best for organizations that primarily manage Android devices.
Drawbacks: Only supports Android, limiting its use in organizations with mixed OS environments.
6. WSO2 Enterprise Mobility Manager
Overview: WSO2 EMM is part of the larger WSO2 open-source platform, providing enterprise-level mobility management capabilities. It excels in managing devices within organizations that also need integrated identity management solutions.
Features: It offers device and app management, policy enforcement, device tracking, and user authentication.
Ideal for organizations already invested in the WSO2 ecosystem and needing MDM alongside broader identity and API management.
Drawbacks: The platform can be complex to set up and maintain, making it best suited for larger organizations with dedicated IT teams.
7. ManageEngine MDM
Overview: ManageEngine Mobile Device Manager Plus is a comprehensive MDM solution designed to manage, secure, and monitor mobile devices across diverse platforms, including Android, iOS, macOS, Windows, and Chrome OS. Part of the larger ManageEngine IT management suite, this solution is tailored for enterprises looking for an all-encompassing tool to manage both corporate and BYOD devices efficiently.
Features: ManageEngine MDM provides extensive features such as device enrollment, policy enforcement, remote device wipe/lock, app management, and content management.
It also offers security features like device encryption, password enforcement, and real-time location tracking.
Additionally, ManageEngine supports automated compliance checks, remote troubleshooting, and conditional access policies to ensure that only secure devices have access to corporate resources.
Its integration with other ManageEngine tools makes it highly scalable for organizations looking for comprehensive IT management alongside MDM.
Drawbacks: ManageEngine is not an open-source platform, but offers a one-month free trial. While it is highly versatile and feature-rich, its broad functionality may be overwhelming for small to medium organizations with simpler needs. It requires proper configuration and management, potentially necessitating a dedicated IT team to fully leverage its capabilities.
Overview: SOTI MobiControl is a comprehensive mobile device management (MDM) solution that provides advanced features for managing, securing, and tracking devices across a wide variety of platforms.
The platform provides seamless integration with SOTI XSight, enabling advanced analytics and troubleshooting capabilities for faster issue resolution.
It supports Android, iOS, macOS, Windows, and Linux.
SOTI MobiControl excels in industries like logistics, healthcare, retail, and field services, where managing and securing large fleets of mobile devices is critical.
Drawbacks: Just like ManageEngine, SOTI MobiControl is also not open source but offers a one-month free trial. The complexity of the platform may also require a dedicated IT team for setup and ongoing management.
9. Zentyal
Overview: Zentyal is more of an all-in-one IT management platform that includes MDM functionalities as part of its larger server management suite.
Features: Zentyal provides features like mobile device synchronization, policy enforcement, and basic management for email, calendars, and contacts across devices.
It integrates well with Microsoft Active Directory, making it a good fit for organizations with hybrid environments.
It is best for organizations already leveraging Zentyal for server infrastructure and IT management.
Drawbacks: Lacks the comprehensive device management tools you’d find in dedicated MDM solutions like FleetDM.
10. Wazuh
Overview: Wazuh is more of a security platform with extended capabilities for mobile device management. It focuses on threat detection and compliance enforcement, making it a good choice for organizations with high-security needs.
Features: It includes monitoring, threat detection, incident response, and device security management. It is ideal for companies that prioritize device security alongside traditional MDM functionalities.
Drawbacks: It lacks traditional MDM features like app distribution and policy enforcement, focusing more on security and monitoring.
