Jamf Pro vs Microsoft Intune for Mac Management: UK Business Guide 2025

Choosing the right Mac management platform is critical for UK organisations in 2025. With explosive growth of Apple devices in creative, professional, and hybrid business environments across London and the UK, Mobile Device Management (MDM) has become central to compliance, performance, and IT innovation.

Executive Summary

Jamf Pro remains the undisputed leader for Apple-centric environments, whilst Microsoft Intune's 2025 upgrades close significant feature gaps for multi-platform and Microsoft-first businesses. The right choice depends on your business profile, technology stack, and whether you prioritise Apple specialism or integration convenience.

Platform Overview: Specialisation vs Versatility

Jamf Pro is engineered exclusively for Apple, offering best-in-class, Apple-native management, automation, zero-touch deployment, and robust patch controls for Mac, iOS, iPadOS, and tvOS.

Microsoft Intune provides cross-platform endpoint management, ideal for organisations managing Windows, Android, Linux, and Mac devices under one unified system.

Platform Comparison At a Glance

Deployment and Enrolment

Zero-Touch Deployment

Jamf Pro delivers industry-leading deployment through native Apple Business Manager and Automated Device Enrolment support, crucial for distributed and hybrid teams in creative sectors.

Microsoft Intune has narrowed the gap with ABM support and Azure AD join, but customisation and robustness still lag behind Jamf for demanding Mac deployments.

Security and Compliance

Both platforms support strong device protection, encryption, and remote actions.

Jamf Pro excels at:

• Mac-centric conditional access
• Advanced scripting capabilities
• Automated compliance checks
• Policy flexibility
• Integration with Microsoft tools (Device Compliance, Defender, Power BI)

Microsoft Intune leads in:

• Unified security across multiple operating systems
• Centralised compliance via Azure Active Directory
• Microsoft Defender integration
• Cross-platform consistency

Limitation: Intune imposes a 200KB script size limit and offers less flexibility for advanced Mac admin requirements.

Application and Patch Management

Why Specialisation Matters

Jamf Pro maintains an MDM-exclusive App Catalogue with over 190 prebuilt Mac patch scripts, providing more coverage than Intune offers even for its own applications.

Microsoft Intune supports automatic Microsoft app updates and basic third-party support, but lacks the comprehensive Mac admin toolbox that Jamf Pro delivers.

UK Use Case

Creative agencies relying on Adobe Creative Suite, Pro Apps, and regularly updated production tools achieve maximum value and automation only with Jamf Pro.

Pricing: Real UK Business Considerations

Jamf Pro

• Per device licensing
• Typically £3.50–£4.00/month/device
• Higher upfront cost but superior value for fleets 70%+ Mac

Microsoft Intune

• Per user licensing
• Often bundled free in Microsoft 365 Business Premium or E3/E5
• Cost-effective for Microsoft-invested organisations with mixed device fleets

UK Market Analysis

Creative Sector and Mac-Heavy Agencies

Jamf Pro dominates in Soho, Fitzrovia, and Shoreditch, managing creative teams' Macs, high-end studios, and design firms demanding granular Mac policy and integration.

Enterprise and Multi-Platform SMEs

Intune offers clear savings and simplicity for businesses with mixed fleets and centralised Microsoft 365 security operations, noted for unified dashboard management despite a steeper learning curve.

Community Verdict

"Nobody is buying Intune over Jamf Pro to manage Macs, unless cost is an overriding concern or they already run Intune for everything else."

This reflects consistent feedback from UK Apple specialists and MSP communities.

Implementation and Support

Jamf Pro enjoys deeper UK Apple specialist support through partners like Sync, Counterpoint, and London Apple consultancies, alongside Apple-authorised engineers and a mature ecosystem catering to creative and director-led agencies.

Microsoft Intune is supported by the vast Microsoft MSP and security partner network, making it practical for organisations with existing Microsoft contracts but less specialised Apple expertise.

Future Platform Evolution

Apple's macOS management protocols, including declarative device management and migration tooling in macOS 26, are adopted quickly in Jamf, whilst Intune follows but closes the gap each year.

Hybrid workflows enable best-in-class automation through Jamf-Intune integration, allowing device compliance checks in Intune whilst managing advanced Mac workflows in Jamf.

Decision Framework

Choose Jamf Pro When:

• Mac fleet dominates, especially in high-value or creative workflows
• Maximum value needed from zero-touch deployment, patch automation, and Apple-native integrations
• IT team includes or is ready to develop Mac admin expertise
• Budget allows for specialist tooling

Choose Microsoft Intune When:

• Organisation's priority is lowest friction, central compliance, and cross-platform management
• Mac devices are a minority and you're already invested in Microsoft 365
• Budget considerations outweigh need for Apple MDM specialism
• Existing Microsoft licensing includes Intune

Hybrid Approach:

Combine both platforms to orchestrate compliance via Intune whilst letting Jamf manage Macs at depth. This approach maximises value from each platform's strengths.

Implementation Checklist

• Assess current device fleet composition (Mac percentage)
• Evaluate existing Microsoft 365 licensing
• Identify critical Mac-specific workflows and applications
• Calculate total cost of ownership for both platforms
• Consult with UK Apple specialists for Mac-heavy environments
• Consider pilot programme with preferred platform
• Plan integration strategy if using hybrid approach
• Establish ongoing compliance and patch management protocols

Conclusion

The Jamf Pro versus Intune decision should be driven by your business model, technology stack, and strategic direction. For creative sector dominance, in-depth Mac automation, and best-in-class UK support, Jamf Pro is unmatched. For cost efficiency and unified management across Windows and Mac in an M365-dominated environment, Intune is rapidly becoming the pragmatic alternative.

Both platforms evolve continuously. Revisit this decision annually and leverage hybrid models where maximum value can be extracted from each platform's unique strengths.

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