Jamf Alternative: Why IT Leaders Are Switching to Hexnode

Hexnode UEM

Hexnode’s architectural strength lies in its broad, multi-OS coverage. It is designed to act as a single pane of glass for diverse environments, supporting traditional knowledge-worker devices alongside specialized frontline endpoints.

Core OS Support:

• Apple Ecosystem (macOS, iOS, iPadOS, tvOS, visionOS): Offers robust support leveraging Apple Business Manager (ABM) for zero-touch deployment and Volume Purchase Program (VPP) app distribution. Hexnode supports visionOS 1.1 and later for documented enrollment, policy, application and security-management capabilities.
• Android: Hexnode supports Android Enterprise work-profile, fully managed and dedicated-device deployments, alongside documented support for legacy Device Admin and AOSP-based devices.
• Windows: Hexnode supports Windows 10 and Windows 11 management, with Windows Autopilot available in the Ultimate and Ultra editions.
• Linux: Supports Ubuntu 22.04 and later, Fedora 39 and later, and Debian 10 and later, with documented scripting, network, account, security and remote-administration capabilities.
• ChromeOS: Supports ChromeOS device management via integration with Google Workspace.

Specialized Device Support:

• Rugged & IoT Devices: Provides documented integrations and device-management configurations for rugged-device vendors including Zebra, Honeywell, Kyocera, Datalogic and Samsung Knox. Supports OEMConfig policies for compatible Android Enterprise devices, allowing administrators to deploy the settings exposed by each participating device manufacturer.
• Smart Screens: Supports Fire OS, Android TV and Apple TV management for dedicated-device use cases such as kiosks, digital signage and shared displays.

Jamf Pro

Jamf Pro is an Apple-focused management platform supporting macOS, iOS, iPadOS, tvOS, visionOS and watchOS. It concentrates its management capabilities on Apple operating systems, while Jamf provides Android management through the separate Manager for Android service.

Core OS Support:

• Apple Ecosystem (macOS, iOS, iPadOS, tvOS, watchOS, visionOS): Jamf Pro supports Apple enrollment, inventory, configuration profiles, applications, scripts, Self Service, compliance and remote-management workflows. It integrates with Apple Business Manager and Apple School Manager for Automated Device Enrollment and volume-purchased content.
• Zero-Day Apple Support: Jamf Pro publishes compatibility requirements for Apple operating systems and generally follows an N-3 support policy for managed computers and mobile devices.
• Apple Workflows: Supports macOS scripts, extension attributes, configurable Self Service experiences, Blueprints and Declarative Device Management workflows.
• watchOS: Jamf Pro can manage an Apple Watch running watchOS 10 or later when it is paired with a supervised iPhone running iOS 17 or later and the required Jamf Cloud services are configured.

Non-Apple OS Limitations:

• Organizations can manage Android devices through Manager for Android, but Windows, Linux and ChromeOS device management requires a different product; Hexnode supports those platforms alongside Apple and Android in one UEM console.

Hexnode UEM

Hexnode offers a broad suite of enrollment options designed to accommodate diverse operating systems, ownership models, and enterprise workflows. Supports Apple Automated Device Enrollment, Android zero-touch enrollment, Samsung Knox Mobile Enrollment, Windows Autopilot and ChromeOS enrollment through Google Workspace.

Enrollment Methods:

• Apple Automated Device Enrollment (ADE): Supports zero-touch onboarding for iOS, iPadOS, macOS, and tvOS devices purchased directly from Apple or participating authorized resellers via Apple Business Manager (ABM) or Apple School Manager (ASM).
• Android Zero-Touch Enrollment (ZTE): Android zero-touch enrollment allows compatible, reseller-registered corporate Android devices to enroll into Hexnode during initial setup.
• Samsung Knox Mobile Enrollment (KME): Integrates with Samsung’s KME portal to ensure bulk enrollment is forced and persistent, even if a device is factory reset.
• Windows Autopilot: Integrates with Microsoft Entra ID to pre-configure and deploy Windows 10 and 11 devices out-of-the-box without manual IT imaging.
• Bulk & Specialized Enrollment: Supports ROM-based enrollment for rugged Android devices with custom firmware, as well as QR code enrollment (embedding Wi-Fi and EULA settings) to rapidly provision dedicated/kiosk devices.
• BYOD & User-Driven: Supports secure self-enrollment via email/SMS invitations, leveraging Apple User Enrollment and Android Enterprise Work Profiles to separate corporate data from personal data.

Jamf Pro

Jamf Pro supports Apple Automated Device Enrollment, user-initiated enrollment, account-driven enrollment and Declarative Device Management for eligible Apple devices.

Enrollment Methods:

Automated Device Enrollment (ADE): Automated Device Enrollment is Jamf Pro’s zero-touch enrollment workflow for eligible organization-owned Apple devices. Jamf Pro integrates with Apple Business Manager and Apple School Manager to configure zero-touch enrollment and prevent removal of the management profile on supported organization-owned devices.

Device Enrollment (Corporate-Owned):

• Profile-Driven: Users navigate to a specific Jamf enrollment URL to download and install the management profile.
• Account-Driven Device Enrollment: Account-Driven Device Enrollment allows eligible users to begin enrollment from Settings by signing in with a Managed Apple Account associated with the organization’s enrollment domain.

User Enrollment (BYOD):

• Designed specifically for personally owned devices to ensure end-user privacy.
• Cryptographically separates personal data from institutional data using a managed APFS volume.
• Supported via Profile-Driven or the modern Account-Driven User Enrollment flow on iOS/iPadOS 15+ and Apple visionOS 1.1+.

Apple Configurator: Supports tethered (USB-based) provisioning for iOS and tvOS devices that were not purchased directly through Apple channels, allowing them to be manually added to ABM.

Hexnode UEM

Hexnode’s security architecture is built to unify compliance and data protection across multiple operating systems using zero-trust principles and OS-native controls.

Certifications & Infrastructure:

• Maintains ISO/IEC 27001:2022 certification and a SOC 2 Type 2 attestation covering applicable security, availability and confidentiality trust-services criteria.
• Uses TLS-protected network communications and supports OS-native encryption management, including FileVault for macOS and BitLocker for Windows.

Core Security Features:

• Data Loss Prevention (DLP): Hexnode can apply platform-specific restrictions to managed data transfers and device interfaces such as copy and paste, USB, Bluetooth and tethering where the operating system exposes those controls.
• Encryption Management: Enforces and escrows recovery keys for native full-disk encryption tools, including BitLocker for Windows and FileVault for macOS.
• Device Compliance & Telemetry: Compliance rules can evaluate conditions such as jailbreak or root status, OS version and encryption state and mark devices non-compliant when configured requirements are not met.
• Conditional Access: Integrates with Microsoft Entra ID and Okta to use device-management and compliance information in supported access-control workflows. When the corresponding identity-provider policies are configured, non-compliant device status from Hexnode can be used to restrict access to protected corporate resources.
• Incident Remediation: Incidents workflow supports incident triage, assignment, remediation tracking, verdicts and verification through Action History.

Jamf Pro

Jamf Pro provides Apple device-management and compliance controls, while Jamf Protect adds endpoint telemetry, threat prevention and security monitoring for supported devices.

Certifications & Frameworks:

• Compliance benchmarks are built on the macOS Security Compliance Project framework maintained by NIST.
• Provides compliance-benchmark templates based on supported security frameworks, including CIS and NIST configurations for managed Macs.

Core Security Features:

• Jamf Protect (macOS Endpoint Security): Provides endpoint telemetry, security analytics and threat-prevention capabilities and is included in Jamf’s current Jamf for Mac bundle.
• Automated Compliance Remediation: Jamf Pro compliance benchmarks can be configured in Monitor Only or Monitor and Enforce mode to evaluate and remediate selected macOS security rules.
• Secure Content Distribution: Supports file-share and cloud distribution points for distributing packages and in-house applications to managed devices.
• Identity & Access Control: Jamf Connect supports cloud-identity authentication, local-account creation, password synchronization and supported MFA workflows at the macOS login window, while Zero Trust Network Access is configured and managed through Jamf Security Cloud and deployed with Jamf Trust.

Hexnode UEM

Hexnode provides integrations that connect its multi-platform UEM console with supported identity, service-management, security and compliance services.

Identity & Directory Services:

• Microsoft Entra ID (formerly Azure AD): Microsoft Entra ID integration supports directory and enrollment workflows and enables device-compliance information to be used in configured Conditional Access policies.
• Google Workspace: Facilitates simplified user and device enrollment, alongside native ChromeOS device management.
• Okta: Support directory, authentication, enrollment and device-trust workflows for documented device and identity configurations.
• Active Directory (AD): Integrates with Microsoft Active Directory for directory synchronization, AD-based enrollment and policy assignment to synchronized users and groups.

ITSM & Productivity Tools:

• Helpdesk Integration: Hexnode integrates with Freshservice and Zendesk to make supported device information and endpoint-management workflows available within service-desk operations.
• Co-Management: Provides a Microsoft Configuration Manager integration for supported Windows device-information and co-management workflows.

Security & Compliance Ecosystem:

• Compliance Automation: Hexnode integrates with Drata and Vanta to share supported endpoint-management and compliance information with those compliance-automation platforms.
• Mobile Threat Defense (MTD): Check Point Harmony Mobile integration brings supported threat information from managed iOS and Android devices into the Hexnode UEM console.
• OEM-Level Security: Provides documented integrations for Samsung Knox and LG GATE that extend available enrollment, configuration and device-policy controls on compatible hardware.

Developer & Custom Integrations:

• Hexnode API: Hexnode provides an authenticated RESTful JSON API for supported device, user, group, application, action and reporting workflows.

Jamf Pro

Jamf integrates its Apple management and security products with supported identity, ITSM, security, cloud-access and automation services. They offer marketplace integrations and APIs that connect supported Apple device-management and security data with third-party enterprise services.

Identity & Access Management:

• Microsoft Entra ID: Jamf Pro sends management and compliance status through Microsoft Intune’s Partner Compliance Connector to Microsoft Entra ID, where it can be evaluated by configured Conditional Access policies.
• Okta & Google Identity: Jamf Connect supports Microsoft Entra ID, Okta, Google and other compatible identity providers for macOS login, local-account creation, password synchronization and supported MFA workflows.

ITSM & Workflow Automation:

• ServiceNow: Offers ITSM integration via the officially supported Service Graph Connector for Jamf. This feeds highly detailed Mac and iOS hardware, software, and security data directly into the ServiceNow CMDB for asset tracking and incident management.
• SwiftConnect: Integrates with physical access control systems to enable employee badge provisioning via Apple Wallet.

Security & Threat Defense:

• SIEM & SOAR: Provides documented data integrations for services including Splunk and Microsoft Sentinel, allowing supported telemetry and security events to be forwarded for analysis and response workflows.
• AWS Verified Access: Jamf Device Identity integrates with AWS Verified Access so device identity and posture can be evaluated when users on managed Macs access protected AWS-hosted resources.

Developer & Custom Integrations:

• Jamf APIs: Jamf Pro provides the Jamf Pro API and Classic API for supported integrations and administrative automation, although organizations should migrate workflows away from deprecated Classic API endpoints.

Hexnode UEM

Hexnode publishes per-device UEM pricing across Pro, Enterprise and Ultimate editions, with Ultra pricing available on request. Organizations can select a Hexnode edition based on the required capabilities and apply its per-device price to the number of managed endpoints.

Licensing Details:

• Licensing Model: Organizations pay per actively managed device. The price remains consistent whether you are enrolling a Windows laptop, an iPad, or a rugged Android scanner.
• Billing Options: Offers the flexibility of both monthly and annual billing cycles.
• Minimums: Hexnode UEM subscriptions start at 15 devices.
• Support Fees: Provides free email, phone and chat support.
• Trial: Provides a fully functional 14-day free trial of its highest tier (Ultra license) so IT teams can test all advanced features before committing.

Jamf Pro

Jamf offers a tiered pricing structure that scales based on the specific type of Apple device and the size of the business. They currently publishes separate Jamf for Mac and Jamf for Mobile bundles with different per-device prices and supported operating systems.

Licensing Details:

• Licensing Model: Jamf for Mac is priced for macOS devices, while Jamf for Mobile covers iOS, iPadOS, visionOS, watchOS, tvOS and Android devices. Jamf’s current Jamf for Mac and Jamf for Mobile bundles combine Jamf Pro, Jamf Connect and Jamf Protect.
• Billing Options: Plans are typically billed annually.
• Minimums: Jamf for Mac and Jamf for Mobile each list a 25-device minimum, while Hexnode UEM starts at 15 devices.
• Support & Cloud Add-ons: Jamf for Mac and Jamf for Mobile include standard chat, email and phone support, while Premium Support and Premium Services are available separately.
• Trial: Offers a free trial available upon request and consultation.

Hexnode UEM

Hexnode provides free email, phone and chat support for product assistance. It places a strong emphasis on self-service resources and partner enablement.

Support Channels:

• Availability: Hexnode support is available through email, phone, live chat and its ticketing system; organizations requiring contractual coverage hours should confirm them with Hexnode.
• Direct Access: Support is reachable via email, live chat on the Hexnode website, and a direct ticketing system.
• Phone Support: Provides dedicated toll-free numbers across major regions, including the US, UK, Australia, New Zealand, Switzerland, and India.
• AI Assistance: Hexnode Genie can answer product questions using Hexnode help content and assist with error interpretation, scripting and remediation recommendations.

Self-Service & Community:

• Knowledge Base: Help Center provides platform-specific enrollment, configuration, application, security, update and troubleshooting guidance.
• Training: Offers Hexnode Academy, providing free training modules and certifications for administrators and partners.
• Developer Resources: Provides developer documentation for its authenticated RESTful JSON API.
• Community Forum: Operates Hexnode Connect, a dedicated community space for peer-to-peer discussions, troubleshooting, custom script sharing, and feature ideation.

Jamf Pro

Jamf provides standard chat, email and phone support with its current business bundles and offers Premium Support and Premium Services separately.

Support Channels:

• Availability: Provides support across AMER, EMEIA, and APAC regions.
• Tiered Support: Standard chat, email and phone support is included with Jamf’s published Mac and mobile bundles, while Premium Support and Premium Services provide additional service options.
• Support Portal: Acts as the central hub for logging tickets, reviewing documentation, and accessing product-specific help.
• Feature Requests: Allows administrators to submit and vote on feature ideas directly to Jamf’s product team through the portal.

Self-Service & Community:

• Jamf Nation: Jamf Nation is a community resource where administrators can discuss Jamf products and Apple-management workflows.
• Knowledge Base: Contains hundreds of detailed technical articles broken down across their specific product lines (Jamf Pro, Jamf Connect, Jamf Protect, and Jamf School).
• Training & Certifications: Jamf offers formal training and certification paths that include Jamf 100, 200, 300 and 400-level learning options.