Jamf alternatives: which MDM to pick, and how to migrate without wiping your Macs
Ten destinations, one per reason for leaving, plus an eight-step migration plan.
Short answer: Mosyle if your fleet is all Apple and cost is the problem. Iru (formerly Kandji) if you want a premium Apple tool that a small team can actually run. Addigy if you're an MSP juggling client fleets, SimpleMDM if you hate annual contracts. Apple Business if a small office only needs the basics, since it's free in 2026. For mixed Mac and Windows fleets, look at Microsoft Intune (already paid for if you're on Microsoft 365 E3), Hexnode, Scalefusion or Fleet. One thing to know before you sign: Apple's no-wipe migration only works on organization-owned devices running iOS 26, iPadOS 26 or macOS 26, enrolled through Automated Device Enrollment. Your profiles, apps and policies don't travel. You rebuild them on the other side.
Rankings are editorial: a sponsored spot is always labeled on its card, and no affiliate link changes a score.
Why admins leave Jamf, and why some stay
Jamf is still the reference for managing Macs at work. Smart Groups, extension attributes and the Jamf Nation community have no exact equivalent. People leave for other reasons: the invoice, the admin hours, and a fleet that's no longer only Macs. These are the six reasons that come up most in 2026, on macadmin forums and on the vendors' own pages.
Per-device pricing that adds up fast
Jamf for Mac lists at $12.50 per Mac per month and Jamf for Mobile at $5.75 per iPhone or iPad, billed annually with a 25-device minimum. Sixty Macs and forty iPhones come to about $11,760 a year. The same hundred devices on Mosyle Business Premium ($1 per device) cost $1,200. If you run a lean IT budget, that gap is hard to explain to finance.
Renewal surprises
Buyers report receiving a 10% increase at renewal with no advance notice, negotiated down to 5% through a reseller. Others couldn't get a price freeze but did lock a fixed two-year term. Francisco Partners took Jamf private for about $2.2 billion, closing in 2026. No price change tied to the deal has been announced, but plenty of teams use the renewal date to shop around.
A bundle you pay for in full
The Jamf for Mac price bundles Mac management (Jamf Pro) with endpoint protection, vulnerability management, web filtering, identity and zero trust network access. If you already run an EDR and a VPN, you're paying for pieces you don't use. Lighter vendors sell MDM alone and security as an add-on.
It needs a dedicated admin
Across review platforms, the top complaints are UI complexity, the learning curve and the need for scripting. On Jamf Nation, an interim IT director at a 300-person company with two and a half IT staff said he wanted to stop being a full-time Jamf Pro admin on top of his real job. He put the savings from switching at around $1,000 a month.
Your fleet isn't all Apple anymore
Jamf covers macOS, iOS, iPadOS, tvOS, watchOS, visionOS and Android on the mobile side. Not Windows or Linux desktops. Once you mix platforms, you're running two consoles. Boise State moved from Jamf to Intune to simplify device management and tie everything to Entra ID.
Apple now does the basics for free
In 2026 Apple launched Apple Business, replacing Apple Business Manager, Business Essentials and Business Connect, with built-in device management at no cost in more than 200 countries. For a 15-Mac office that pushes Wi-Fi, FileVault and a few apps, a paid third-party MDM gets harder to justify.
You're leaving because… go to…
The right Jamf alternative depends on what's pushing you out and what your fleet looks like. Usually only one card applies. Each one jumps to the full write-up below.
Free up to 30 devices, then $1 per device per month.
You want Jamf-level depth with less admin workIru (ex-Kandji)Built for small IT teams, onboarding and migration included.
You manage Macs for several clientsAddigyMulti-tenant by design, $8.25 per Mac, no multi-year lock-in.
A small office that only needs the basicsApple BusinessFree in 2026, but no direct migration from Jamf.
Your company runs on Microsoft 365Microsoft Intune$8 per user, often already in your license.
Macs, PCs and Android in one placeHexnode or FleetOne console for every OS, public per-device pricing.
Jamf alternatives, tool by tool
For each tool: why move to it, who it's for, where it falls short, how to migrate from Jamf, and what it costs. Prices come from each vendor's official pricing page in 2026, in US dollars, before tax. Scores come from our MDM software ranking when the tool is in it.
Mosyle: Apple MDM at the lowest price
Cheapest for AppleWhy move to Mosyle. It's the biggest price gap in the Apple market. Business FREE covers up to 30 devices. Past that, Business PREMIUM costs $1 per device per month, and the full Fuse bundle (management, security, patching) is $3 per Mac and $1.50 per iPhone or iPad. A 100-Mac fleet drops from about $15,000 a year on Jamf for Mac to $3,600 on Fuse. Mosyle scores 4.0 out of 5 in our ranking.
Who it's for. An all-Apple small or midsize business that wants to enroll, configure and secure Macs, iPhones and iPads without a full-time admin. Apple TV and Apple Watch come included with Mac and iPhone licenses.
Who should skip it. Any fleet with even one Windows PC or Android phone. Mosyle is Apple only.
Where it falls short. Admins coming from Jamf miss its search and the concept of a check-in, the regular call home where Jamf refreshes inventory and runs policies. Paid plans need 30 licenses and annual billing.
How to migrate. Mosyle advertises a trial of up to six months for teams leaving another Apple MDM, plus a credit equal to the first year for companies that migrate, with conditions. Admins also point out that you can enroll a Mac manually without wiping it, which helps for devices outside Apple Business.
- Score
- 4.0 / 5
- Free
- up to 30 devices
- Paid
- $1 per device per month
- Limit
- Apple only
Iru (formerly Kandji): stay premium, admin less
Closest to JamfWhy move to Iru. Kandji rebranded as Iru in 2025 and opened up to Windows and Android at the same time. Its pitch against Jamf hasn't changed: one console and ready-made Blueprints instead of a pile of scripts. On r/macsysadmin the line comes up again and again: simpler to run than Jamf, where the work is split across three portals.
Who it's for. A midsize, mostly Apple company that wants a complete, security-focused tool without dedicating a person to running it.
Who should skip it. A small shop trying to cut costs. Iru doesn't publish per-device pricing and sells annual contracts.
Where it falls short. Pricing is quote-only. The startup offer is the one public number: from $9,000 a year for 25 computers, 25 mobile devices and 25 identities, with seats sold in blocks of 10. Some admins also dislike how policies are grouped once the fleet gets varied, and renewal increases get reported here too.
How to migrate. Onboarding and migration support is included in the contract, and there's a 14-day trial. Ask sales for a written plan mapping your Smart Groups to Blueprints before you sign.
- Price
- quote, from $9,000/yr (startups)
- Trial
- 14 days
- Best for
- midsize Apple fleets
- Limit
- no public per-device price
Addigy: multi-client Mac management
Built for MSPsWhy move to Addigy. Addigy was built for managed service providers running Macs for dozens of small businesses. Each client gets its own space and you switch between them without logging out. Pricing is clear: Apple MDM starts at $8.25 per Mac per month, and the Security Suite at $16.
Who it's for. MSPs and IT teams managing several entities, plus companies that want a Mac-first tool without Jamf's full bundle.
Who should skip it. A fleet that's mostly iPhones and iPads. Mobile devices are an add-on at Addigy, and that price isn't published.
Where it falls short. At $8.25 per Mac, the gap with Jamf for Mac ($12.50 with security included) shrinks quickly once you add the Security Suite. Price your actual need: MDM only, or MDM plus endpoint protection.
How to migrate. The trial runs 14 days with no credit card, and there's no mandatory multi-year contract. Use it to rebuild two or three Jamf profiles and check that they land on a test Mac.
- Price
- from $8.25 per Mac/month
- Trial
- 14 days, no card
- Best for
- MSPs, multi-client
- Limit
- mobile is an add-on
SimpleMDM: Apple MDM with no contract
No contractWhy move to SimpleMDM. It's the opposite of the Jamf model: no 25-device minimum, no contract, monthly billing if you want it. You pay $2.50 per device per month billed annually, or $3 month to month. The Munki integration, the open source tool many Mac admins use to deploy non-App Store software, is included.
Who it's for. A small technical team that knows what it's doing, runs a few dozen Macs and iPads, and wants a clean console with a solid API.
Who should skip it. Teams that want lots of prebuilt settings and hand-holding. The console sticks to the essentials.
Where it falls short. No Windows or Android, and no built-in security layer. You bring your own EDR.
How to migrate. The trial lasts 30 days, the longest on this list. That's enough to move a first group of Macs while Jamf keeps running the rest.
- Price
- $2.50 per device (annual)
- Monthly
- $3, no contract
- Trial
- 30 days
- Limit
- Apple only
Apple Business: Apple's free MDM
FreeWhy move to Apple Business. In 2026 Apple folded Business Manager, Business Essentials and Business Connect into Apple Business, with full built-in device management at no cost in more than 200 countries. Business Essentials is no longer billed. For a small fleet that needs Wi-Fi, FileVault, accounts and a handful of apps, it's often enough.
Who it's for. A small, all-Apple office with no admin, paying for Jamf Now or Jamf for Mac mostly for zero-touch enrollment and a few settings.
Who should skip it. Fleets that depend on scripts, detailed inventory reports or a rich app catalog. A third-party MDM still earns its keep there.
Where it falls short. This is the trap on this page: Apple doesn't support migrating to or from its built-in management. A Mac leaving Jamf for Apple Business has to be re-enrolled, usually after a wipe.
How to migrate. Follow your hardware refresh cycle. Every new Mac goes straight into Apple Business, older ones stay in Jamf until they're replaced. If your fleet is tiny, Jamf Now's free tier (3 devices) can cover the overlap.
- Price
- free
- Countries
- 200+
- Best for
- small all-Apple offices
- Limit
- no direct migration
Microsoft Intune: one tool if you live in Microsoft 365
Windows and MacWhy move to Intune. Intune is priced per user, not per device: $8 per user per month for Plan 1, and it's already included in Microsoft 365 E3 and E5. Someone with a Mac, an iPhone and an iPad counts once. If you already pay for E3, your MDM is covered. Intune scores 4.4 out of 5 in our ranking, the highest on this page.
Who it's for. Companies that are mostly Windows with Macs and iPhones around the edges, and that want Entra ID conditional access: mail gets blocked on a non-compliant device.
Who should skip it. A Mac-heavy fleet managed in detail. Mac management works, but deploying non-App Store apps means packaging, and the console takes time to learn.
Where it falls short. Advanced Mac settings that Jamf exposes in a click often need custom profiles or scripts in Intune. Budget time for the rebuild.
How to migrate. Boise State, which made the switch, kept users' apps and files and highlighted the Entra ID integration as the payoff. For Macs on macOS 26, check Microsoft's documentation for support of Apple's no-wipe migration before you plan your waves.
- Score
- 4.4 / 5
- Price
- $8 per user (Plan 1)
- Included in
- Microsoft 365 E3 and E5
- Limit
- shallower Mac controls
Hexnode: mixed fleets, public prices
Multi-OSWhy move to Hexnode. Hexnode handles Android, iOS, iPadOS, Windows, macOS, tvOS and visionOS, and it publishes its prices: Pro at $2.20, Enterprise at $3.20, Ultimate at $4.70 per device per month, 10% off with annual billing. It scores 4.3 out of 5 in our ranking.
Who it's for. A business adding PCs and Android tablets to a Mac fleet, or one that locks iPads into kiosk mode for a front desk, store or warehouse.
Who should skip it. Teams expecting Jamf-level Mac depth at the entry price. Pro at $2.20 covers mobile, not computers.
Where it falls short. Read the tiers carefully. Basic computer management starts at Enterprise. What a Mac admin expects (scripts, desktop app deployment, FileVault) arrives at Ultimate, $4.70.
How to migrate. 14-day trial, starting at 15 devices. On its own forum, Hexnode confirms in-place migration for supervised devices on the 26 releases through Apple Business.
- Score
- 4.3 / 5
- Price
- from $2.20 per device
- Full Mac tools
- Ultimate, $4.70
- Limit
- tiers to read closely
Scalefusion: the easiest mixed-fleet option
EasiestWhy move to Scalefusion. It covers Android, iOS, Windows, macOS, Linux and ChromeOS, the widest scope on this page, and admins regularly mention how quickly they got productive with it. Pricing starts at $2 per device per month (Essential, annual billing, 10-device minimum). It scores 4.2 out of 5 in our ranking, level with Jamf.
Who it's for. A company without an MDM specialist, with Chromebooks or Linux machines next to the Macs.
Who should skip it. A Mac-first shop. Scalefusion goes for breadth over Apple depth.
Where it falls short. The entry tier doesn't handle personal devices: BYOD arrives with Growth at $3.50. OS patching and the API wait for Business at $5. Plan on $3.50 to $5 per device for a typical business.
How to migrate. The 14-day trial unlocks everything with no card. There's no tool to import a Jamf configuration, so plan to rebuild your profiles.
- Score
- 4.2 / 5
- Price
- from $2 per device (annual)
- Platforms
- six, including Linux
- Limit
- BYOD from $3.50
Fleet: open source device management as code
Open sourceWhy move to Fleet. The code is public, the Free tier costs nothing (no support), and Premium is $7 per host per month. It manages macOS, Windows, Linux, iOS, iPadOS, Android and ChromeOS. The real difference: your configuration lives in version-controlled files, so every change goes through review like code and you always know who changed what.
Who it's for. IT or security teams comfortable with Git who want deep visibility and automated configuration.
Who should skip it. A solo admin who wants to click through a console. The GitOps approach assumes an engineering mindset.
Where it falls short. Free has no support at all. Fleet's managed cloud starts at 700 hosts, so below that you're self-hosting.
How to migrate. Run Fleet next to Jamf first, for inventory and compliance only. Then move MDM over group by group.
- Free
- yes, no support
- Paid
- $7 per host per month
- Best for
- Git-friendly teams
- Limit
- managed cloud from 700 hosts
ManageEngine MDM Plus: free to 25 devices, or on-prem
On-prem optionWhy move to ManageEngine. Two things nobody else here offers. The free edition manages 25 devices with every feature, with no time limit. And you can run it on your own server if your data can't leave the building. In the cloud, Standard costs $645 a year for 50 devices, under $1.10 per device per month. It scores 4.0 out of 5 in our ranking.
Who it's for. Organizations that must self-host their device management, and small teams under 25 devices.
Who should skip it. A Mac admin leaving Jamf for Apple depth. ManageEngine covers Android, iOS, Windows, macOS and ChromeOS, without Jamf's Mac detail.
Where it falls short. One technician is included, and each extra one costs $445 a year in the cloud. The console is dense: give yourself a few days.
How to migrate. Use the 30-day trial, with no device cap, to move a full pilot group before you buy.
- Score
- 4.0 / 5
- Free
- up to 25 devices
- Paid
- $645/yr for 50 (cloud)
- Limit
- $445 per extra technician
The 10 alternatives side by side
Our default picks: Mosyle for an all-Apple fleet that wants to spend less, Iru to keep a premium tool that's easier to run, Intune if you already pay for Microsoft 365 E3. For scale, take 50 Macs and 50 iPhones over a year. Jamf for Mac plus Jamf for Mobile: about $10,950. Mosyle Business Premium: $1,200. Hexnode Ultimate: $5,640 (monthly billing). SimpleMDM on annual billing: $3,000. Intune Plan 1 for 50 employees with a Mac and an iPhone each: $4,800, or nothing extra if it's in your license. One row per tool: what it manages on the left, entry price and migration path on the right.
| What it manages | Entry price and migration | |
|---|---|---|
| JamfWhere you start | Apple (Mac, iPhone, iPad, Apple TV, Watch, Vision Pro) and Android | $12.50 per Mac, $5.75 per mobile, 25 minimum; Jamf Now from $4 (under 25 employees) |
| MosyleCheapest | Apple only | Free up to 30 devices, then $1; long trial and migration credit |
| IruClosest to Jamf | Apple, Windows and Android | Quote, from $9,000/yr (startups); migration support included |
| AddigyMulti-client | Mac, Apple mobile as add-on | From $8.25 per Mac; 14-day trial, no card |
| SimpleMDMNo contract | Apple only | $2.50 per device annual, $3 monthly; 30-day trial |
| Apple BusinessFree | Apple only, core features | Free; no direct migration from another MDM |
| Microsoft IntuneMicrosoft 365 | Windows, macOS, iOS, Android, Linux | $8 per user (Plan 1); included in M365 E3 and E5 |
| HexnodeMixed fleets | Android, Apple, Windows, tvOS, visionOS | From $2.20 per device; full Mac tools at $4.70 |
| ScalefusionEasiest | Android, Apple, Windows, Linux, ChromeOS | From $2 per device, annual, 10 minimum |
| FleetOpen source | Mac, Windows, Linux, iOS, Android, ChromeOS | Free without support, Premium $7 per host |
| ManageEngine MDM PlusOn-prem | Android, Apple, Windows, ChromeOS | Free up to 25 devices; $645/yr for 50 in the cloud |
Entry prices before tax, as published in US dollars by each vendor in 2026, subject to change. Always price your real fleet size.
Migrating off Jamf in eight steps
Order matters. Each step protects something: endpoint security, your users' workday, and your ability to roll back if a group of Macs misbehaves.
Inventory what Jamf actually does
PrepareExport your configuration profiles, policies, Smart Groups, scripts and extension attributes. List deployed apps, Apps and Books licenses, integrations (directory, EDR, VPN, Jamf Connect for login) and your contract renewal date.
Why bother? Nothing moves on its own. Apple says it plainly: during a migration, the new MDM has to apply similar configurations. A spreadsheet with one row per item and its equivalent in the new tool becomes your cutover checklist.
- Output
- a list of everything Jamf pushes
- Risk if rushed
- a missed security setting
Check OS versions and device ownership
PrepareApple's no-wipe migration only applies to devices on iOS 26, iPadOS 26 or macOS 26 or later, owned by your organization and enrolled through Automated Device Enrollment in Apple Business. Shared iPad is excluded, and so are devices added with Apple Configurator more than 30 days ago.
Sort your fleet into three buckets: eligible, update first, and not eligible (older hardware, personal devices). Only the last bucket needs a wipe or a manual re-enrollment.
- Requirement
- 26 releases plus ADE
- Excluded
- Shared iPad
Rebuild profiles and policies in the new tool
BuildRecreate every profile: Wi-Fi, VPN, restrictions, FileVault, software updates, accounts. Swap your Jamf policies for the destination's equivalent (Blueprints in Iru, profiles and scripts in Mosyle, config files in Fleet).
Use the move to clean house. Long-lived Jamf instances carry scripts nobody remembers writing. A script that no longer does anything shouldn't be ported.
- Duration
- the longest step
- Tip
- delete before you rewrite
Replace Jamf Protect and Jamf Connect
BuildIf you paid for Jamf for Mac, you may have been using endpoint protection, web filtering and identity-based login without thinking about it. Those stop when you leave. Choose replacements before cutover: an EDR for business and, if needed, a business VPN.
A Mac that changes MDM and sits unprotected for two days is a real exposure. Deploy the new security agent before you pull the old one.
- Risk
- unprotected endpoints
- Order
- new agent first
Run a pilot group
TestPick ten to twenty devices across profiles: a developer's Mac, a sales laptop, a few iPhones. In Apple Business, assign them to the new MDM server and set a short deadline.
Then go down your checklist: profiles delivered, apps installed, encryption on, inventory reporting. Ask pilot users to note anything that changed for them.
- Size
- 10 to 20 devices
- Duration
- until every profile works
Set the right deadline in Apple Business
LaunchApple lets you set a deadline between 1 and 90 days. If you use volume-purchased apps, it can't go past 30 days. Before the deadline, users see a notification and can start the move themselves. At the deadline, it's enforced.
Our take: 14 days for an office fleet, with an internal note explaining what to expect. Too short and you strand someone on the road. Too long and you pay for two tools longer than needed.
- Deadline
- 1 to 90 days
- With volume apps
- 30 days max
Move the fleet in waves
LaunchGo team by team, never the whole fleet on one day. Watch for devices that haven't moved by the deadline: usually a Mac powered off in a drawer or a broken iPhone.
For ineligible devices, book a wipe and re-enrollment slot with each user after a backup. Jamf also documents its own options for moving to another MDM, which help with edge cases.
- Pace
- one team at a time
- Watch
- devices that didn't move
Shut Jamf down cleanly
CloseExport the inventory and history you need for audits. Confirm nothing checks in to Jamf anymore, then remove the Jamf server from Apple Business so a wiped device can't re-enroll there by mistake.
Work out your contract end date on day one. Jamf bills annually: starting the project three months before renewal saves you a full year for a handful of stragglers.
- Remove
- Jamf server in Apple Business
- Best start
- three months before renewal
Is your tool missing from this page? Email us: hello@hackceleration.com
What breaks a Jamf migration
The same mistakes show up on Jamf Nation and macadmin forums again and again. None of them is deeply technical. They're oversights, and each one costs more than the time it would have taken to avoid it.
Assuming nothing needs a wipe
Apple's migration covers only company-owned devices on the 26 releases, enrolled through ADE. Five-year-old Macs, Shared iPads or personal phones mean some wipes. Count them before you promise leadership an invisible switch.
Forgetting what Jamf for Mac bundled
Jamf for Mac includes protection, filtering and identity. A project that only replaces MDM finds out on cutover day that endpoints lost their EDR or that single sign-on at login is gone.
Aiming at Apple Business for a managed fleet
Apple's free built-in management doesn't accept migrations from another MDM. For an existing fleet that means re-enrolling. It works for new hardware, or for a small office willing to redo Macs one at a time.
Porting every script
Older Jamf instances collect dozens of scripts. Many are dead, others are replaced by a native setting in the new tool. Triage before you rewrite and you'll save days.
Signing without reading the contract
Jamf, Iru and Mosyle bill annually. Check the renewal date, license minimums (25 at Jamf, 30 at Mosyle) and the price increase clause. Buyers have secured a fixed two-year price simply by asking.
Setting a deadline that's too short
A one-day deadline forces the move on devices nobody is watching. Someone traveling ends up without corporate Wi-Fi or VPN. Give it one to two weeks and send a clear heads-up.
- Profiles, policies, scripts and Smart Groups inventoried
- Devices sorted: eligible, update first, not eligible
- Profiles and policies rebuilt in the new tool
- EDR and network access replaced before cutover
- Pilot group of 10 to 20 devices signed off
- Deadline set in Apple Business (30 days max with volume apps)
- Internal heads-up sent to users
- Team-by-team cutover, stragglers tracked
- Jamf inventory exported for audits
- Jamf server removed from Apple Business before the contract ends
Jamf alternatives: common questions
Is there a free alternative to Jamf?
Yes, several. Apple Business is free in 2026 and covers the basics for a small Apple fleet. Mosyle Business FREE handles up to 30 Apple devices, ManageEngine MDM Plus 25 devices on any OS, Miradore 50 devices with a lighter feature set. Jamf Now itself stays free for 3 devices. Our MDM software ranking compares them all.
Can I switch MDM without wiping my Macs?
Yes, starting with Apple's 26 releases, if three conditions hold: the device runs macOS 26, iOS 26 or iPadOS 26 or later, it belongs to your organization, and it was enrolled through Automated Device Enrollment in Apple Business. You set a deadline of 1 to 90 days. On older versions you still reassign the server and wipe.
Can Intune replace Jamf?
Yes for mixed fleets, less so for Mac-heavy ones. Intune manages Macs, but advanced settings need more custom profiles and non-App Store apps need packaging. Its edge is cost: $8 per user, or already paid inside Microsoft 365 E3. Plenty of companies keep Jamf for Macs and Intune for Windows, wired together for conditional access.
Is Kandji still around?
Yes, under a new name. Kandji became Iru in 2025, and its old pricing URL now redirects to iru.com. The product kept its Apple console and added Windows and Android. Kandji vs Jamf comparisons still apply to Iru.
How much does Jamf cost in 2026?
Jamf for Mac is $12.50 per Mac per month and Jamf for Mobile $5.75 per mobile device, billed annually with a 25-device minimum. Jamf Now starts at $4 per device for organizations under 25 employees. Education pricing is quote-only. There's a 14-day free trial.
Does the Francisco Partners acquisition change anything?
Nothing visible yet. The firm took Jamf private for about $2.2 billion and the company left the stock market in 2026. No price change tied to the deal has been announced. It's a good reason to reread your contract before renewal, not a reason to rush out.
What's the best Jamf alternative for a Mac and Windows fleet?
Intune if you already live in Microsoft 365. Hexnode or Scalefusion for public per-device pricing. Fleet if your team wants to manage configuration as code. Iru has handled Windows since 2025 but is still Apple-first. To track the hardware itself, look at IT asset management software.
How long does a Jamf migration take?
No reliable source gives a standard duration: it depends on how many profiles and scripts you have to rebuild, and how much of your fleet qualifies for no-wipe migration. Rebuilding settings in the new tool is the longest step, before a single device moves. After that, the deadline you set in Apple Business (1 to 90 days) paces the cutover. A small fleet of recent Macs moves much faster than an older one with shared iPads.
Do user apps and data stay on the device during migration?
With Apple's no-wipe migration, yes. The device changes servers without a reset and user data stays put. Managed apps are taken over by the new MDM if it deploys them in turn. Back up your pilot devices anyway before you start.
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