# The best Cisco Meraki MDM alternative

The best Cisco Meraki MDM alternative — with *free migration* support.

Systems Manager has hit End-of-Sale. ManageEngine MDM Plus offers a practical replacement that keeps migration risk low, makes financial sense, and doesn't break the fleet.

- 30-day free trial  
- No credit card required  
- SaaS or on-premises  

## Cisco Meraki MDM sunset timeline

Cisco’s public retirement schedule for Systems Manager — and the realistic window IT teams have left to migrate without rushing.

1. ### Feb 7, 2024
   **Descent**  
   Retired “Legacy” and “Free 100” licensing tier

2. ### Dec 3, 2025
   **Announcement**  
   Cisco discontinuation notice

3. ### Jun 3, 2026
   **End of Sale**  
   No new licenses after this

4. ### Jun 3, 2029
   **End of Life**  
   Security & support coverage ends.

## Four reasons to look for a Cisco Meraki alternative *now*

The four forces every IT director we’ve spoken to since the announcement has named

### 01 Urgency — The timeline is now a security risk

Meraki Systems Manager has been in *maintenance mode* with zero feature upgrades since 2024. Once it hits EOL, every unmanaged endpoint is a CVE waiting to happen — and you’ll be without support when **iOS 27** ships in September 2026 or **Android 17** in July 2026. A calm migration is cheaper, safer, and easier to defend than one done under pressure.

### 02 Cost — The core focus was never MDM

Meraki SM worked well as part of a network-led stack — convenient if you already bought MX/MR, but expensive once you counted devices. Most teams we migrate were paying **$4—6 per device per month** effectively, with separate Cisco licensing for Umbrella, AnyConnect, and Duo to do what one MDM should. **ManageEngine MDM Plus starts at $1.28 per device per month.**

### 03 Functionality — Workflows you’ve already worked around

SM didn't ship a real kiosk mode for shared devices. Geofencing was basic. Content distribution required workarounds. You've built scripts and Make.com automations to fill those gaps, and every one of those is technical debt.

### 04 Migration risk — Re-enrolling devices without disruption

The biggest fear is not buying a new MDM. It is re-enrolling devices with minimal disruption to the users. ManageEngine supports you with free, guided migration. Move in controlled waves, validate policies, and reduce unmanaged device time.

## Seven things to actually *demand* from your Cisco Meraki MDM replacement

### 1. Cross-platform — without footnotes

Native iOS, iPadOS, Android, Windows, macOS, ChromeOS, and tvOS — not “supported via partner integration.”

### 2. Advanced features in the base SKU

Geofencing, kiosk, certificates, content distribution, conditional access — not paywalled into “Enterprise Plus Premium.”

### 3. Cloud and self-hosted options

Regulated teams in finance, healthcare, defence and government need more than SaaS. Look for both deployment modes, same console.

### 4. Genuine zero-touch enrollment

DEP, Android Enterprise zero-touch, Knox Mobile Enrollment, Windows Autopilot, Apple Configurator — all five, not three.

### 5. Clear BYOD separation

Android Work Profile, iOS User Enrollment, selective wipe, and corporate-data containment standard — not as a paid module.

### 6. Transparent pricing

Public pricing helps IT and finance decide without weeks of procurement friction. Anyone hiding pricing is doing it for a reason.

### 7. A roadmap they’ll actually show you

Endpoint management should be a core business, not a side bundle. If they won’t share a 12-month roadmap under NDA, they probably don’t have one.

## Why MDM Plus is a realistic Meraki SM replacement

We're not going to pretend other vendors are bad products. They have honest strengths. But for a team migrating off Meraki SM with a mixed fleet, a deadline, and a budget to defend, ManageEngine MDM Plus is built for you.

### Not a side project or a part of a bundle

**14 yrs** of building deep MDM and UEM.

### Pricing you can defend

**$1.28 / device / month**

Bootstrapped and private since 2012, so pricing stays affordable.

### Human support

**2 hrs** median first response  
24×5 included. Dedicated TAM from 750 devices up.

### Certified Android expertise

![Android Enterprise Recommended — Gold partner](https://www.manageengine.com/sites/meweb/images/br/mobile-device-management/images/android-enterprise-gold-partner-badge.png)

![Validated by Samsung Knox](https://www.manageengine.com/sites/meweb/images/mobile-device-management/images/knox.svg)

Early access and deep OEM controls.

### Truly cross-platform

- iOS  
- iPadOS  
- Android  
- Windows  
- macOS  
- ChromeOS  
- tvOS  
- Rugged  

## ManageEngine vs Meraki vs Intune vs Ivanti

### Pricing & licensing

| Feature | ManageEngine MDM Plus | Cisco Meraki SM | Microsoft Intune | Ivanti Neurons |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Commitment to MDM | **Core focus** | Network bundle | E3 / E5 bundle | Mobile-only SKU within Neurons family |
| Starting price (per device / month) | **$1.28** | $2.25 (No transparent public pricing) | $8 standalone (Part of E3/E5 license — $36 / user) | $4 (No transparent public pricing) |
| Free tier | Up to **25 devices, free forever** |  |  |  |
| Advanced features in base SKU | Yes | Basic | Requires Plan 2 or Suite | Modular pricing per capability |

### Platform coverage

| Feature | ManageEngine MDM Plus | Cisco Meraki SM | Microsoft Intune | Ivanti Neurons |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| iOS / iPadOS | Native | Supported | Native | Native |
| tvOS / Apple TV | Native | Limited | Basic profile delivery | Limited |
| Android (Knox, rugged, AOSP) | **Native**, including enterprise workflows | Limited | Via partner | Full |
| Windows / macOS + patching | Native + 3rd-party patch | No 3rd-party patch | Requires SCCM / Intune Suite | Requires upgrade to Neurons for UEM |
| ChromeOS | Native | Limited | Via Cloud Identity partnership | Not native |

### Deployment & migration

| Feature | ManageEngine MDM Plus | Cisco Meraki SM | Microsoft Intune | Ivanti Neurons |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| SaaS + on-premises option | **Both** | SaaS only | SaaS only | SaaS only |
| Meraki SM migration toolkit | Available |  |  |  |
| Zero-touch enrollment (all 5) | DEP · ZTE · Knox · Autopilot · Configurator | DEP, Autopilot | All 5 | All 5 |

### Workflows & use cases

| Feature | ManageEngine MDM Plus | Cisco Meraki SM | Microsoft Intune | Ivanti Neurons |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kiosk & multi-app kiosk | **Built-in** | Limited single-app | iOS single-app | Available |
| Geofencing & location compliance | **Built-in** | Basic | Via Conditional Access | Available |
| Content distribution & doc mgmt | Built-in container | Basic file push | Via SharePoint | Available |
| BYOD controls | Work profile + user enrollment | Limited | Available | Available |
| Open REST API + webhooks + SCIM | All three, documented | REST API; webhooks limited | Microsoft Graph + webhooks | All three |
| 24×5 migration engineer included | Yes |  |  |  |

MDM Plus delivers 20.4% more feature coverage than Cisco Meraki MDM.

[See the full comparison](https://sheet.zohopublic.in/sheet/published/9w9q5f1d52191e0844b40923a0afef0ecde32)

## Affordable MDM Solution: Cost comparison

Modelled on a typical 500-device fleet: 60% Android, 25% iOS, 10% Windows, 5% macOS.

- **ManageEngine MDM Plus** — $23K (3 years · $1.28 per device / month)  
- **Cisco Meraki Systems Manager** — $41K (3 years · $2.25 per device / month)  
- **Microsoft Intune Plan 1 — Standalone** — $144K (3 years · $8 per user / month)  
- **Ivanti Neurons for MDM** — $72K (3 years · $4 per device / month)  

**3× lower than Ivanti for the same 500-device fleet**

Free Migration · Annual, Monthly and Perpetual Billing.

## Choose the right ManageEngine path

### Mobile Device Manager Plus

![Mobile Device Manager Plus](https://www.manageengine.com/ems/images/logo/mdm-logo-linear-black.svg)

*Pure MDM*

**Purpose-built for mobile fleets.** Deploys fast, stays lean, works neatly alongside other endpoints tools you're already running.

- ![](https://www.manageengine.com/malware-protection/images/mpp-green-tick-icon.svg) Profile management  
- ![](https://www.manageengine.com/malware-protection/images/mpp-green-tick-icon.svg) App management  
- ![](https://www.manageengine.com/malware-protection/images/mpp-green-tick-icon.svg) Kiosk mode  
- ![](https://www.manageengine.com/malware-protection/images/mpp-green-tick-icon.svg) Remote troubleshoot  
- ![](https://www.manageengine.com/malware-protection/images/mpp-green-tick-icon.svg) Content management  
- ![](https://www.manageengine.com/malware-protection/images/mpp-green-tick-icon.svg) Email management  

[Try MDM Plus](https://www.manageengine.com/mobile-device-management/free-trial.html?seo-meraki)

### Endpoint Central

![Endpoint Central](https://www.manageengine.com/ems/images/logo/ec-logo-linear-black.svg)

*UEM · EPP · EDR*

**One console for every OS and device type.** Replaces 12+ tools. Brings IT, SOC and Compliance teams under one platform.

#### UEM

- ![](https://www.manageengine.com/malware-protection/images/mpp-green-tick-icon.svg) **MDM**  
- ![](https://www.manageengine.com/malware-protection/images/mpp-green-tick-icon.svg) Patch management  
- ![](https://www.manageengine.com/malware-protection/images/mpp-green-tick-icon.svg) OS deployment  
- ![](https://www.manageengine.com/malware-protection/images/mpp-green-tick-icon.svg) DEX  

#### EPP

- ![](https://www.manageengine.com/malware-protection/images/mpp-green-tick-icon.svg) Vulnerability management  
- ![](https://www.manageengine.com/malware-protection/images/mpp-green-tick-icon.svg) Browser security  
- ![](https://www.manageengine.com/malware-protection/images/mpp-green-tick-icon.svg) Data Protection  
- ![](https://www.manageengine.com/malware-protection/images/mpp-green-tick-icon.svg) Application Control  

#### EDR

- ![](https://www.manageengine.com/malware-protection/images/mpp-green-tick-icon.svg) AI-Powered EDR  
- ![](https://www.manageengine.com/malware-protection/images/mpp-green-tick-icon.svg) Next-Gen Antivirus  
- ![](https://www.manageengine.com/malware-protection/images/mpp-green-tick-icon.svg) Anti-Ransomware  
- ![](https://www.manageengine.com/malware-protection/images/mpp-green-tick-icon.svg) TTPs Incident Forensics  

[Try Endpoint Central](https://www.manageengine.com/products/desktop-central/free-trial.html?seo-meraki)

## Free, fully assisted, lose-less migration

Our dedicated engineer owns your migration with you.

1. **Audit + policy export**  
   Export policies, apps, groups, and enrollment settings from Meraki SM. You review it before proceeding.

2. **Set up MDM Plus alongside**  
   Configure SSO, Apple, Android, and Windows enrollment in parallel.

3. **Re-enroll a pilot group**  
   Test one device from each OS and user type before the full move. Anything weird gets fixed here.

4. **Re-enroll by site / OS / shift**  
   Move devices by site, OS, or shift with minimal user disruption. Median device unmanaged time if applicable: 5 minutes.

5. **Decommission + handover**  
   Confirm enrollment, retire Meraki SM, and share final reports.

## Frequently asked questions

### When exactly does Cisco Meraki Systems Manager hit end-of-life?

End-of-Sale: July 9, 2025 — no new SM licenses since that date.  
End-of-Support: July 9, 2026 — after that, no security patches, no OS-compatibility updates (iOS 19+, Android 16+), and no support tickets. Cisco published the official EOL bulletin in April 2025. If you’re reading this in 2026, your effective window to migrate without rushing is roughly Q1.

### Is ManageEngine MDM Plus actually cheaper than Meraki SM?

Yes — typically 40—60% lower 3-year TCO for a comparable feature set. List price starts at $1.28 per device per month on annual billing. The bigger savings come from features Meraki SM either lacked or required separate licensing for: kiosk, geofencing, patch management, content distribution — all included in the base.

### Will I lose existing device configurations during migration?

No. The migration toolkit exports Meraki SM policies, profiles, app catalogs, and group structures into a mapping spreadsheet reviewed before any device is touched. Configurations are re-applied on re-enrollment. The most common adjustment is iOS user-enrollment vs supervised — and that’s exactly what the pilot week catches.

### What about devices that aren’t on Meraki today — desktops, BYOD, ChromeOS?

MDM Plus is a unified endpoint platform: Windows 10/11, macOS, ChromeOS, tvOS, iOS, iPadOS, Android (including Knox + zero-touch), rugged Android (Zebra, Honeywell) — all native, one console. Most teams migrating off Meraki use this moment to consolidate other endpoint tools too.

### What is the best Cisco Meraki Systems Manager alternative in 2026?

ManageEngine MDM Plus is one of the strongest alternatives for organisations that need full device management, flexible deployment, and enterprise-grade support. It delivers advanced management for Windows, macOS, iOS, Android, ChromeOS, rugged devices, and kiosks from a single console — and it’s especially popular in healthcare, government, manufacturing, education, and financial services where compliance or infrastructure constraints matter.

### How is ManageEngine different from Intune, Hexnode, Scalefusion, and Ivanti?

Intune looks lucrative if you’re a Microsoft 365 E5 shop already — pricing is basically zero at that point, but the Mac/ChromeOS workflow is thin and patch automation is a separate product. Hexnode is a good alternative but with a smaller engineering team. Scalefusion is strong on kiosk and rugged Android but lighter on Mac/Windows depth. Ivanti Neurons is enterprise-grade and that shows in pricing. ManageEngine wins on the combination of cross-platform depth, advanced features in the base, transparent pricing, on-prem option, and migration tooling — particularly for mixed fleets.

### Can MDM Plus be self-hosted for data residency, compliance, or air-gapped environments?

Yes. MDM Plus is available as both SaaS and fully on-premises deployment — same product, same console, on your infrastructure. That’s a major reason organisations in defence, financial services, healthcare, and government choose it. Most alternatives are SaaS-only.

### How is ManageEngine MDM Plus customer support?

24×5 phone, email, and chat support are included. Premium tiers offer 24×7 support and a dedicated Technical Account Manager (TAM). Engineering escalation is a single hop, not a tier-2/tier-3 maze. SLA details are available on request.

### How can I start using ManageEngine MDM Plus?

Two ways: start a free 30-day trial on the highest plan, no credit card required, or book a 30-minute session with a migration expert to walk through your specific fleet and timeline.