Small business doesn’t mean small risk. In today’s hybrid and remote work reality, even a 10-person team can face major headaches from lost laptops, stolen phones, or data leaks. That’s where Mobile Device Management (MDM) comes in—not just as a luxury for enterprises, but as a must-have for growing businesses that rely on mobile, distributed teams. MDM solutions are especially critical for growing small businesses and small and medium-sized businesses, providing tailored management and security for their unique needs.
The good news? You don’t need a complex or expensive system to get started. In this guide, we’ll break down the best MDM solutions for small businesses in 2025, focusing on cost, ease of use, security features, and—let’s be honest—whether they’re a pain to manage or not.
Introduction to Mobile Device Management
Think of Mobile Device Management (MDM) as your organization's digital lifeline—the smart solution that brings order to what could otherwise be tech chaos. As your teams increasingly depend on smartphones, tablets, and laptops to get things done, managing these devices effectively isn't just helpful, it's absolutely essential for staying competitive.
An MDM solution becomes your IT team's best friend, offering a single, powerful platform where you can effortlessly deploy apps, roll out security measures, and fine-tune settings across every device in your organization. Here's what makes mobile device management truly transformative: it keeps your company data locked down tight while your people stay productive using whatever devices and apps work best for them. When you streamline device management this way, you're not just reducing security headaches and staying compliant—you're empowering your organization to operate seamlessly, whether your teams are working from the office, home, or anywhere in between.
Understanding SMB's device management needs
SMBs face unique device management challenges: they need practical, affordable solutions. After all, they typically have limited IT resources and budgets. An MDM solution that is affordable, easy to use, and scalable is ideal to ensure devices are secured and operations run smoothly. The right MDM efficiently manages both devices and users, even when IT resources are limited.
Key issues to consider:
- Device management headaches: SMBs struggle to manage multiple devices, maintain security, and monitor lost or stolen assets without the right tools in place.
- Limited budgets: SMBs operate on tighter budgets, so they need solutions that provide value without breaking the bank.
- Lack of IT resources: Many SMBs don’t have internal IT teams, which means MDM solutions need to be easy to set up, manage, and monitor.
- Growing pains: SMBs often experience periods of growth, so their MDM solution should scale easily as the business grows to support new devices without requiring expensive upgrades.
- Feature sets: SMBs typically require basic mobile device management features like security, tracking, and remote monitoring, rather than complex tools typically used in enterprise environments.
What to look for in an MDM without breaking the Bank
A good MDM solution is one that is simple, affordable, and effective. SMBs don’t need (or want) complex, feature-laden solutions that require a team of IT experts to manage. They need devices managed, and data protected, without breaking the bank or diverting resources away from the core business.
A clear set of evaluation criteria will help you find a solution that addresses your basic needs, increases productivity, and protects your business with robust security – all at a budget-friendly price point. Choosing the right MDM solution also depends on your previously planned MDM strategy, as it guides the selection process and ensures the solution aligns with your business goals.
Key considerations when choosing an MDM:
- Security Capabilities: Basic security features like remote wipe, locking, encryption, and the ability to enforce security policies are must-haves to protect data and minimize risk in the event a device is lost or stolen. Comprehensive device control is also essential for enforcing security compliance and managing endpoints.
- Device Tracking: The ability to track device locations in real time is essential for SMBs managing mobile or remote workforces. This feature helps recover lost or stolen devices and ensures compliance with company policies.
- Deployment Method (Cloud, On-Premise, or Hybrid): Cloud-based MDM solutions are easy to deploy and require less maintenance than on-premise options. However, some organizations require more control, so on-premise options are still relevant.
- Platform Support: SMBs typically have a mix of devices and platforms, so the MDM solution should support Windows, macOS, iOS, Android, and other operating systems.
- App Integration: A good MDM solution complements existing productivity software, email, and security systems by integrating with them. MDM solutions streamline app distribution and automate the deployment of required apps to devices, ensuring all necessary software is installed during device provisioning.
- Licensing Options (Per User or Per Device): Per device licensing is ideal for fleets of devices, while per user licensing is better suited for employees with multiple devices.
- Support and Training: Quality customer support is critical for SMBs, many of which don’t have internal IT teams. A user-friendly interface and minimal training needs are also important. Managing user roles is crucial for maintaining security and compliance, allowing for granular control over permissions and access.
- Access Management: Effective access management integrates identity and device security, supporting features like single sign-on and policy enforcement across devices.
- ROI: When evaluating ROI, consider the cost of the MDM solution versus the potential savings from minimizing the risks of lost or stolen devices and reducing work hours spent on onboarding, offboarding, and device management tasks. Automation of these processes can significantly reduce labor costs and improve efficiency.
Best MDM solution for SMB's
The right MDM solution can have a big impact on SMBs, providing device security, streamlined management, and resource optimization. MDM software forms the foundation for effective device management in SMBs, offering comprehensive tools for control and compliance. With so many options available, it’s important to choose a solution that meets your specific needs. Do you prioritize security? Automation? Affordability?
Below, we evaluate top MDM solutions to help you make an informed decision. These solutions help manage enrolled devices, allowing IT teams to perform remote actions such as locking or wiping devices when necessary. They also ensure devices remain secure by managing OS updates and addressing missing updates through robust patch management features.
Prey — Best All-Around MDM for Small Business Security
If you're managing a mixed-OS fleet, remote or field workers, and you need real device tracking (not just a checkbox that says "location enabled"), Prey is the strongest all-around option for most SMBs.
It covers the core security stack — GPS tracking, remote lock and wipe, geofencing, and dark web credential monitoring — in a single dashboard that doesn't require an IT team to operate. Most teams are up and running in under an hour.
Yes, we built it. But the reason we're listing it first isn't bias — it's because the tradeoffs matter, and for the majority of small businesses reading this guide, Prey's feature set lands in the right place: enough security to actually protect you, simple enough that your team won't fight it.
Here's where Prey excels:
- Real-time GPS tracking — precise location with Wi-Fi triangulation. Devices check in instantly, not every 30 minutes like some competitors.
- Full cross-platform support — Windows, macOS, Linux, Android, iOS, Chromebooks. One dashboard for everything.
- Remote wipe and factory reset — including full factory reset of Windows PCs remotely, a capability most SMB-focused MDMs skip.
- Geofencing and automations — set security policies that trigger automatically when a device leaves a defined area.
- Breach Monitoring — alerts your team if corporate credentials appear on the dark web, before those passwords are used against you.
- Theft response toolkit — remote lock, alarm trigger, covert camera capture, and screenshot. When a device goes missing, you have options.
- Human support — 93.3% CSAT. You get a real person, not a ticket number.
Prey’s Full Suite includes location tracking, remote wipe, geofencing, and essentials management capabilities—designed specifically for small-mediums teams who need control without complexity.
Some verified reviews from from G2:
Chloe W.- Content Producer
Small-Business(50 or fewer emp.)
"Gives me peace of mind at an affordable price"
Brian L.- I.T.
ManagerMid-Market(51-1000 emp.)
"Prey works for my company!"
Tim P.- Owner
Small-Business(50 or fewer emp.)
"Set it and forget it device security"
Ninja One
Ninja One combines robust MDM with comprehensive IT management tools. Advanced features like patch management, automation, and integrated backups make it a good fit for businesses with complex IT environments or Managed Service Providers (MSPs).
Ninja One is a great solution for SMBs and MSPs that require advanced IT management features, including patch management, automation, and endpoint security. However, it's steeply priced and complex, making it unsuitable for those with basic needs. It's best for businesses with complex IT environments or those that manage multiple clients.
Some verified reviews from from G2:
Victor K.Owner
Small-Business (50 or fewer emp.)
"A great platform that is getting stronger in capability, and does the basics well"
Adam L. - IT Support Specialist
Mid-Market(51-1000 emp.)
"Transforming, Time Saving, & Thorough!"
Greg M. - Director of Information Technology
Mid-Market(51-1000 emp.)
"A simplified RMM platform with the tools to make managing hundreds of machines easy."
Iru (Kandji)
Iru is a great choice for Apple-only businesses that prioritize zero-touch deployment, compliance automation, and advanced security features. However, it's expensive and offers no support for non-Apple devices, making it best for organizations that are 100% Apple.
Some verified reviews from from G2:
Ron L.- Systems Administrator
Mid-Market(51-1000 emp.)
"Kandji has been easy to use to maintain all our Apple devices"
Felix T. - Senior IT Support Specialist II
Enterprise(> 1000 emp.)
"Kandji is the most valuable MDM I've used so far"
Andy K. - Senior Director, Infrastructure
Mid-Market(51-1000 emp.)
"Best Mac MDM solution"
Miradore
Miradore is a simple, affordable MDM solution that's a great fit for SMBs with basic management needs. Its user-friendly interface, strong mobile device management features, and flexible deployment options make it a good choice for businesses with limited IT staff.
Miradore is a versatile, budget-friendly solution that offers decent basic MDM features. It's a good choice for resource-constrained SMBs that need simple device management. However, it falls short with limited advanced features and customization options. It's best for budget-minded SMBs with mixed device environments and basic management needs.
Some verified reviews from from G2:
James T. Developer
Small-Business(50 or fewer emp.)
"Simple to understand MDM solution"
Hexnode
Hexnode is a robust, feature-rich MDM solution offering strong security, compliance management, and kiosk capabilities. It’s well-suited for businesses that prioritize advanced security controls and need versatile features to manage devices across different environments, including retail and compliance-heavy industries.
With its robust security controls, compliance tools, and kiosk management, this MDM is a great choice for businesses in regulated industries or retail operations. However, its complexity and higher cost for full features may deter smaller organizations. Best suited for businesses needing advanced security across mixed-device environments.
Some verified reviews from from G2:
Serhii R. - CTO
Small-Business(50 or fewer emp.)
"Very good product for all companies size"
Chris G. - Buyer / Plant & Transport Manager
Mid-Market(51-1000 emp.)
"Excellent control and easy to use"
Michael K. IT Admin
Small-Business(50 or fewer emp.)
"A straightforward mdm solution."
Top MDM solutions for small businesses: 2026 comparison
When it comes to price and features, Prey and Miradore offer the best value for your money. While they are not the most feature-rich options, they still provide an impressive array of essential tools. NinjaOne, Kandji, and Hexnode are the most expensive options, but their high price tags are warranted due to their specialized feature sets. Unlike large enterprises, which often have extensive IT departments and resources to manage complex device fleets, SMBs benefit from solutions that are simplified and efficient. If core features are your top priority, Prey is a great choice. Its interface is incredibly intuitive, and it’s one of the few options that offers full cross-platform support. Its device location tracking is incredibly accurate (see our reviews). If you’re looking for a solution that checks all the essential boxes, Prey is a great choice.
If automation and remote management are more your speed, NinjaOne and Kandji are great options. Both offer excellent workflow automation tools that allow you to streamline many IT tasks and reduce the need for hands on, manual setup or management. This is especially helpful if you have a large team and want to give them more freedom to focus on other tasks. Hexnode is also a great choice if you’re looking for a solution that can be managed entirely in the cloud. Its web app is incredibly intuitive and easy to navigate, and in retail environments, MDM solutions like Hexnode can directly improve the customer experience by ensuring devices are always secure, up-to-date, and ready to support seamless shopping and service interactions.
Prey vs. Miradore: which budget-friendly MDM actually protects your devices?
After going through the full list, two options consistently rise to the top for most small businesses: Prey and Miradore.
Both are affordable, easy to deploy, and cover the core MDM features an SMB actually needs — which makes the choice look straightforward on paper. However they solve different problems — and for most businesses managing remote or mobile devices, the differences matter.
Both are built for different realities. Miradore is designed for fleets that stay in one place. Prey is designed for the ones that don't. That distinction doesn't show up in a feature checklist — it shows up on the Tuesday something goes wrong.
A laptop doesn't come back after an offboarding. A device gets left at an airport café. A phone disappears at a conference. With Miradore, you get a last-known network location — and a lot of waiting. With Prey, you trigger a real-time GPS trace, lock the device, capture a photo from the front camera of whoever's holding it, and execute a full factory reset if recovery fails — all from the same dashboard.
One IT consultant used that exact sequence twice with the same client. A former employee who claimed he'd returned a company laptop was geolocated to his home address, with timestamped photos of him using it. The device came back within the hour.
That's what the table is actually describing: not features, but what happens when something goes wrong.
If your entire fleet sits in one office and your team is fully on-site, Miradore's free plan is a legitimate starting point. But the moment anyone on your team works remotely, travels, or operates in the field — Prey is the stronger call.
How small businesses use Prey to simplify device security
Prey was built with resource-strapped IT teams in mind—whether that's a team of five or one multitasking sysadmin. Here's how small businesses are putting it to work:
- Remote onboarding & offboarding: Assign, wipe, and reassign devices securely—without flying someone in.
- Field and remote worker protection: Use GPS tracking and geofencing to monitor devices out in the field.
- Credential breach alerts: Prey's Breach Monitoring alerts you if staff credentials are leaked on the dark web.
- Fleet visibility without MDM overload: Simple labels and filters to tag devices by user, role, or location.
Prey also offers tailored pricing plans for small teams, so you won't be paying enterprise rates for a compact fleet.
Which MDM is right for your small business?
No single MDM fits every situation. Choosing the right solution depends on your unique needs and limitations. As we've discussed, SMBs struggle with limited resources, scalability, and technical expertise. When evaluating solutions, consider deployment ease, security features, and affordable licensing to ensure the solution meets your business needs.
Here's a direct guide based on the most common SMB profiles:
You have fewer than 100 devices and a remote or hybrid team → Prey Cross-platform support, real GPS tracking, and a security toolkit that works when devices are in the wild. Simple to deploy, no IT team required.
You're Apple-only and want deep automation → Kandji (Iru) Best-in-class Apple management. Worth the price if your entire fleet is macOS and iOS.
You need RMM + MDM in one tool, and you're an MSP → NinjaOne More complex and more expensive, but the right fit if patch management, remote desktop, and multi-client management are core to your workflow.
You have a compliance-heavy environment with kiosk needs → Hexnode Granular policy controls and strong kiosk mode. Overkill for most SMBs, but right for retail and regulated industries.
You have under 25 devices and truly basic needs → Miradore free tier If you're not managing remote workers and don't need location tracking, Miradore's free plan is a reasonable starting point. You'll likely outgrow it.
Our honest take: For most small businesses — especially those with any remote or field component — Prey covers the security stack you actually need without the complexity you don't. Device tracking, data protection, and breach monitoring in one tool, at a price that makes sense for a growing team—curious about how Prey can meet your needs? Book a guided demo with one of our team - we'll be happy to help!.
Frequently asked questions
Is Prey a good MDM for small businesses?
Yes — Prey is designed specifically for teams that need real device security without a dedicated IT department. It supports Windows, macOS, Linux, iOS, and Android from one dashboard, includes GPS tracking, remote wipe, and Breach Monitoring, and is priced for SMB budgets. Most teams are fully set up in under an hour.
How does Prey compare to Miradore for small businesses?
Both are affordable and easy to use, but they cover different ground. Miradore offers a free tier for basic device management. Prey adds real-time GPS tracking, Linux support, geofencing automations, remote Windows factory reset, and dark web credential monitoring — features that matter when devices leave the office. If your team is remote or mobile, Prey is the stronger choice.
What's the best MDM for a team with fewer than 50 devices?
Prey is well-suited for small fleets — it doesn't charge enterprise rates for small teams, and the setup is fast enough that you won't need a dedicated IT resource to manage it. The 14-day trial (extendable to 30) lets you test it against your actual device fleet before committing.
Does Prey work on Windows, Mac, Android, and iOS?
Yes. Prey supports Windows, macOS, Linux/Ubuntu, Android, iOS, and Chromebooks — all managed from a single web dashboard. This makes it one of the few SMB-focused MDMs with true cross-platform coverage, including Linux.
What's the difference between Prey and Microsoft Intune for small businesses?
Intune is powerful but complex — it's designed for enterprises already inside the Microsoft ecosystem, and GPS tracking is one of its weakest features. Prey is faster to deploy, easier to manage, and delivers precise real-time location tracking that Intune can't match. Many SMBs use both: Intune for policy management within Microsoft 365, and Prey for device tracking and theft response.
What happens if a company device is stolen?
With Prey, you can remotely lock the device, trigger an alarm, capture a photo from the front camera, take a screenshot, and track its location in real time — all from the dashboard. If recovery isn't possible, you can remotely wipe the device or execute a full factory reset to protect your data.
