MacOS usage is surging across the board. According to Statista, Apple-based desktops now account for approximately 6% of the global PC market, with significant year-over-year growth. In the U.S., macOS devices have penetrated around 23% of enterprises with 1,000 or more employees, while Apple smartphones represent roughly half the installed base. iPads remain the most widely adopted tablets in business environments, holding 35.8% of the market share as of Q2 2024, according to an IDC report.
The rising enterprise presence of Apple devices makes it crucial to choose the right platform to secure and manage macOS devices. Jamf and Kandji are two of the prominent players in this space. But which is best? Jamf, with its long-standing reputation in Apple device management, continues to set the standard.
Kandji is an effective Apple mobile device management (MDM) platform for small businesses of 5 to 100 employees. It provides enough functionality for businesses of this size without overwhelming them with features they don’t need. In most cases, these companies will deploy MDM first and then look to add basic security features. Kandji fits the bill by adding several useful security features for small businesses. But, management and security are two sides of the same coin. They must now go hand in hand to ensure users are allowed to be productive and creative, and organizations are confident that devices are safe and protected.
For enterprises with 300 or more employees, Jamf provides a higher degree of management and security sophistication. Its endpoint management and macOS security tools are fully integrated and provide the compliance and customization capabilities that large enterprises demand. Further, Jamf has extensive experience in the educational sector and is the recommended choice for schools and higher education when 100 or more devices are in operation.
Here’s a side-by-side comparison of the two platforms.
Jamf vs. Kandji
| Feature | Jamf | Kandji |
|---|---|---|
| Target Audience | Enterprises of more than 300 employees, educational institutions | Small to medium-sized businesses (SMBs) of up 100 employees. |
| Security | Advanced threat detection and customizable security workflows | Basic security features and workflows |
| Integration | Complete integration of security and endpoint management | MDM and EDR tools are partially integrated |
| Customization | Highly customizable to address the needs of complex environments | Some customization features: more focused on automation and simplicity |
| Scalability | Can manage tens of thousands of users across multiple locations | Best suited for small-scale deployments |
| Compliance Tools | Robust tools for enforcing regulatory compliance and reporting. (e.g., GDPR, HIPAA) | Basic compliance and reporting features |
| Device Security Coverage | Desktops, laptops, tablets, smartphones, VR/AR headsets | Desktop security only |
| Cost | As Kandji doesn’t offer enterprise-class security or compliance, Jamf Business and Enterprise pricing can’t be compared with Kandji | Pricing per device and small business deployments are comparable between Jamf and Kandji for basic functionality of up to 100 devices. |
Threat Detection and Customization
Jamf has established a strong presence in the macOS security market, offering a suite of enterprise-grade security features. These include advanced threat detection and customizable security workflows, such as tamper protection for the Jamf Protect agent, web traffic monitoring, phishing prevention tools, and analytics that help identify malicious files and anomalous behavior. Its zero trust model ensures that users authenticate their identity each time they access critical systems and that device and application health is assessed each time a request is made. Should a check fail, access to the resource remains blocked while the device is automatically remediated. Only when device and credential health checks are passed is access to the protected resource granted. Importantly, Jamf provides comprehensive coverage across Apple devices, including desktops, laptops, smartphones, and tablets.
Kandji, a newer player in the macOS security space, offers Endpoint Detection and Response (EDR) capable of detecting known malware that affects Mac desktops. Integrated with Apple’s Endpoint Security Framework, Kandji can terminate processes, scan files in real-time, quarantine threats, and enforce custom allow/block lists. While it is user-friendly and well-suited for SMBs with simpler security needs, it offers fewer customization options compared to Jamf. Kandji lacks certain enterprise-level features such as tamper protection, advanced web traffic filtering, and phishing prevention, and it currently supports only Mac , not iPads, or iPhones.
Integrated Apple Device Management and Security
Jamf offers an integrated platform that combines security and endpoint management for all Apple devices, allowing IT teams to monitor, manage, and secure their enterprise environment from a single interface. With customizable workflows and policies, businesses can tailor security and management protocols to meet their specific needs, a critical factor when scaling across thousands of devices.
Kandji provides a reliable mobile device management (MDM) platform that includes added security features. However, its level of integration is not as deep as Jamf’s, which may present challenges for larger enterprises. For small to medium-sized businesses (SMBs), Kandji may be simpler to use, particularly for organizations with limited IT and security staff. Its automation capabilities offer a “set-and-forget” approach, though customization options are more limited.
Compliance and Risk Management
Kandji offers basic compliance features that may help growing SMBs address initial regulatory and reporting needs. However, it does not deliver the comprehensive compliance and risk management controls required by industries with stringent regulatory demands.
For businesses handling sensitive data or operating in highly regulated industries, Jamf provides compliance controls aligned with GDPR, HIPAA, PCI-DSS, SOC 2, CIS, CMMC, mSCP and NIST, among others. Automated audits can be conducted against security benchmarks, dynamic risk assessments can identify areas of non-compliance or elevated risk within the organization and policies can be leveraged to enforce compliance.
Conclusion: Jamf vs. Kandji
Kandji is a MDM platform with straightforward security features that can be easy to implement, making it an option for SMBs, particularly those with fewer than 100 employees. Its automation and simplicity may appeal to companies without dedicated IT resources.
For larger enterprises, Jamf’s more advanced management, security, and customization capabilities make it a better option. Organizations with more than 300 users, or those experiencing high growth, will benefit from Jamf’s scalability and expanded feature set. Additionally, for securing iPhones, iPads, Apple Watches, Vision Pros and Macs, Jamf provides the comprehensive protection that many enterprises and educational institutions require.
You Be the Judge
Jamf Sales teams are authorized to offer up to 12 months of Jamf Pro at no cost with the purchase of at least a year-long paid contract and discounted migration services. If you have a pre-paid solution with a Jamf competitor, talk to your Jamf representative about how we can help your transition to Jamf.