Esper vs Jamf Now

Esper is a device management system for company-owned hardware such as kiosks, point-of-sale systems, barcode scanners and signage. Esper Deploy lets teams define apps, settings, operating system configuration and security posture, then keep a fleet aligned with that desired state. Esper says its agent can ship in a device image so devices enroll and configure themselves at first boot, typically in under five minutes. Deploy supports Android, iOS/iPadOS/tvOS, Windows and Linux. Esper Foundation is a custom Android OS that Esper says it builds, patches and supports through the device lifecycle. Esper Airwave manages Android firmware updates with staged rollouts and automatic rollback, and can work with any MDM or none. REST APIs support device control and monitoring, including app installation, updates, file transfers and bulk actions. Application distribution includes Android APKs, iOS IPAs, Google Play apps and Apple Business Manager assignments. Plans start at $2 per device/month, and all plans have a 25-device minimum. Esper offers a 30-day trial but no free plan.

Jamf Now is a cloud service for managing Apple devices. Its stated supported operating systems are iOS, iPadOS, macOS, and tvOS, while the platform listing also names Android, iOS, macOS, web, and Windows. The service includes a managed app catalog and kiosk mode. Enrollment methods listed are Open Enrollment, Automated Device Enrollment, Apple Business Manager, and Apple Scho. Jamf Now has a free plan costing free, billed monthly, for three devices. The paid Jamf Now plan costs $4 a month, billed monthly, with no device minimums. Jamf, the maker, was founded in 2002 and is headquartered in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Organizations can therefore start within the three-device allowance or use the monthly plan without a device minimum. Deployment is cloud-based.