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Cisco Meraki Systems Manager (MDM+EMM) vs Microsoft 365 Business comparison

 

Comparison Buyer's Guide

Executive SummaryUpdated on Aug 13, 2024

Review summaries and opinions

We asked business professionals to review the solutions they use. Here are some excerpts of what they said:
 

Categories and Ranking

Cisco Meraki Systems Manage...
Ranking in Mobile Device Management (MDM)
3rd
Average Rating
8.6
Reviews Sentiment
7.8
Number of Reviews
31
Ranking in other categories
Enterprise Mobility Management (EMM) (5th)
Microsoft 365 Business
Ranking in Mobile Device Management (MDM)
2nd
Average Rating
8.4
Reviews Sentiment
7.0
Number of Reviews
245
Ranking in other categories
Content Collaboration Platforms (9th)
 

Mindshare comparison

As of June 2025, in the Mobile Device Management (MDM) category, the mindshare of Cisco Meraki Systems Manager (MDM+EMM) is 6.2%, down from 9.1% compared to the previous year. The mindshare of Microsoft 365 Business is 7.0%, down from 8.9% compared to the previous year. It is calculated based on PeerSpot user engagement data.
Mobile Device Management (MDM)
 

Featured Reviews

GaneshKhutwad - PeerSpot reviewer
A central portal where you can add, stack, configure, and maintain your devices
Nearly 35,000 users are connected to Systems from America because their network is configured to cover worldwide areas. I have approximately 450 devices connected, which can scale based on requirements. For instance, if you have around five hundred to six hundred users in one office, the MR14 and MR24 series are suitable. For environments with a larger number of standard device users, the MR24 series is recommended. Cisco Meraki provides various series to meet your requirements, allowing you to manage your users efficiently. I rate the solution's scalability a nine out of ten.
CharlesBrewer - PeerSpot reviewer
Price and reliability need improvement while general tasks are streamlined
The pricing for Microsoft 365 is too high, and quality-wise, it does not meet high standards. The operating system is outdated and inadequate. Microsoft has very poor security, and Defender is ineffective. In terms of collaboration and file sharing, OneDrive is very clunky and has frequent sync issues. It also crashes a lot and is unreliable.

Quotes from Members

We asked business professionals to review the solutions they use. Here are some excerpts of what they said:
 

Pros

"The most valuable features include remote inventory analysis, security features like geofencing, and software distribution."
"The cloud manager is user-friendly, and I can manage everything from one dashboard."
"We experience no downtime, no breakdowns, all the user readings are exact, and it gives us quick analysis so we can apply security measures."
"The solution is simple."
"The UI is easy to learn."
"It’s helped us manage our endpoints."
"The central management console on the cloud is fast and is the solution's most valuable feature."
"The solution is easy to use and support."
"Microsoft 365 Business has an abundance of features."
"Teams is a valuable feature in addition to the other features 365 provides."
"The platform is well-integrated with all Microsoft products."
"OneDrive feature is great."
"Microsoft products are familiar to most users and intuitive to use."
"The scalability is okay."
"The Exchange Online plan is helpful. It's built into the email, like a security feature or AI that helps to manage email. It has helped my company and clients a lot."
"Microsoft 365 Business is user-friendly, easy to use, compatible with different devices, such as laptops and phones, and helps me get my job done."
 

Cons

"System's compatibility with Google Chrome could be improved."
"The price could be better."
"The cost of installing this solution can be more expensive depending on who is doing the installation. Cisco is very expensive, and I'd like to see a reduction in cost."
"If Cisco Meraki Systems Manager integrates with other solutions or models, such as ACA's radio solution, on the same equipment or within the same cloud environment, it will offer significant benefits.""
"They need to allocate more energy in terms of their offering to devices that are not Apple devices."
"I would rate my experience with the initial setup a four out of ten, where one is difficult, and ten is easy. It is more difficult."
"Meraki Systems Manager lacks scripting capability compared to Workspace. I've seen the product focused mainly on mobile solutions. They might need more development in endpoints like Windows desktops."
"Sometimes, the integrations are a bit tough."
"It would be nice if we had the option to open a document even if it was created with another application."
"The pricing and licensing format could be improved."
"There are some security issues with the platform, and its security should be improved. We have to re-enter the username and password sometimes, which is quite boring for us. The usability of Outlook can be improved. Currently, it is a little bit limited and old-fashioned. They should think about the concept of dealing with emails in Teams. Teams and Outlook together will make it a complete platform. The Teams application is not user-friendly on mobile phones and should be improved."
"However, people might think it's unstable if it hasn't been set up correctly. If the IT team hasn't configured it right, then you'll have a hard time using the product itself."
"I am responsible for handling the licenses and was not happy with the amount of time spent during the auditing process."
"There are sometimes problems with incompatibility issues with other types of software."
"The solution isn't stable."
"Most Microsoft applications are not the most user-friendly."
 

Pricing and Cost Advice

"It's extremely competitive and very good for a product in this sphere."
"Cisco Meraki Systems Manager is an expensive solution."
"The storage is affordable and the system has some price-related issues. Therefore, keeping the price in mind, I would rate it seven out of ten."
"This product is reasonably priced."
"Meraki MDM is the cheapest solution we have used."
"The price is high for the market."
"My clients find it a bit expensive compared to other systems."
"My customers at times have issues with the price of the solution. It is expensive, but overall it is worth it. The licensing model cost is based on how many devices you require."
"It could be a little less expensive."
"The price is fine."
"There would be licensing costs because Microsoft 365 Business requires a product key and a license to be present in order to use its products."
"There is a licensing cost, but considering the features that it's equipped with, it's not that expensive."
"We have a yearly license, and the price could be better."
"The price could be cheaper. We have a yearly license."
"The solution costs approximately $20 per month per user."
"It is quite expensive."
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Top Industries

By visitors reading reviews
Educational Organization
33%
Computer Software Company
15%
Manufacturing Company
7%
Financial Services Firm
5%
Computer Software Company
13%
Manufacturing Company
11%
Financial Services Firm
10%
Healthcare Company
9%
 

Company Size

By reviewers
Large Enterprise
Midsize Enterprise
Small Business
 

Questions from the Community

What is your experience regarding pricing and costs for Cisco Meraki Systems Manager (MDM+EMM)?
The pricing sits at a mid-level range, around five or six. There are cheaper and more expensive tools available, but the price features parity is good.
What needs improvement with Cisco Meraki Systems Manager (MDM+EMM)?
While the graphical user interface is user-friendly and easy to configure, I see room for improvement in integration with third-party tools. We haven't had any integration issues, but potential lim...
What do you like most about Microsoft 365 Business?
The product's initial setup phase was straightforward.
What is your experience regarding pricing and costs for Microsoft 365 Business?
The solution might be considered pricey for some, however, the comprehensiveness of the suite justifies its cost. It is generally still worth the money and is cost-effective when considering the pr...
What needs improvement with Microsoft 365 Business?
Every year, they are increasing their price significantly. The price has more than doubled now. Once you start using this product, it becomes difficult to switch to alternatives. Microsoft should b...
 

Also Known As

Meraki MDM
Microsoft 365 E3, Microsoft 365 E5, Microsoft 365 F1, MS 365 Business
 

Overview

 

Sample Customers

Hafen Hamburg & Empire Riverside Hotel, Eastview Church, Tourism Holdings, Colegio Sagrada Familia Hijas de Jesús, Tommy Bahama's, Canadian School Mexico, Rosebank College
Urban Agriculture Co., The Detroit Wallpaper Co., TransBlue Facility Management, Garner Food Company
Find out what your peers are saying about Cisco Meraki Systems Manager (MDM+EMM) vs. Microsoft 365 Business and other solutions. Updated: June 2025.
857,585 professionals have used our research since 2012.