Intune vs AirWatch – A Full Comparison

If you’re comparing Intune vs AirWatch, you’re probably assessing whether it’s time to move away from VMware’s legacy mobility platform in favor of something that fits better with your Microsoft environment. AirWatch (now called Workspace ONE UEM) was once a leader in mobile device management, but it hasn’t evolved as quickly as the security and compliance requirements facing most organizations today.

Microsoft Intune is a modern, cloud-native endpoint management solution that lets you control devices, apps, and access policies, all directly integrated with Microsoft 365, Entra ID, and Defender for Endpoint. It’s built for hybrid work, supports Zero Trust by design, and removes the need for extra agents or disconnected tools.

At Levacloud, our team works with Intune every day, designing configurations, deploying policies, and migrating clients off platforms like AirWatch. We’ve seen firsthand what works, what breaks, and where Intune really shines in comparison. So if you’re wondering whether Intune has all the functionality you’re used to, and ideally more, this breakdown of Intune vs AirWatch will give you a clear, honest view.

Who This Comparison Helps:

• Teams using AirWatch but already licensed for Microsoft 365
• IT teams struggling with disjointed endpoint security tools
• Organizations planning a Zero Trust rollout

AirWatch was designed in a different era. It served its purpose when mobile device management was the main priority, but over time it’s become harder to maintain, slower to evolve, and more complex to integrate with broader IT and security ecosystems.

Meanwhile, the demands on endpoint management have grown: faster onboarding, BYOD support, secure remote work, and built-in compliance enforcement across multiple platforms.

Here’s what we hear most often from teams making the move:

• Licensing and cost fatigue. AirWatch usually requires a separate license, which often overlaps with what you’re already paying for through Microsoft 365. With Intune included in Business Premium, E3, and E5, you’re likely double-paying for similar functionality.
• Too many consoles, too many vendors. Running AirWatch alongside Microsoft Defender, Entra ID, or Intune for other use cases means bouncing between platforms. Intune brings it all into one pane of glass, with native policy enforcement across Microsoft security tools.
• Lack of modern identity integration. Conditional Access, token protection, and risk-based access policies aren’t native to AirWatch. Intune handles these as part of the broader Microsoft security stack.
• Concerns over VMware’s future. The Broadcom acquisition has triggered a wave of uncertainty. Many teams are proactively looking for alternatives with a more transparent roadmap and deeper cloud-native investments.

If any of that sounds familiar, you’re not alone. We’ve worked with organizations across healthcare, education, and finance that hit these same walls, then made the move to Intune to streamline their stack.

When comparing Intune vs AirWatch, most teams want to know one thing—will Intune give us the same control we had before, and ideally do more without adding complexity?

The short answer is yes. Intune covers all the major capabilities you’d expect from a unified endpoint management platform—and it goes further by integrating directly with the Microsoft tools you’re already using for identity, compliance, and security.

Here’s how they stack up:

This table is what convinces a lot of decision-makers to start mapping out a migration. You’re not losing functionality, you’re consolidating it, with stronger security and a clearer roadmap moving forward.

One of the biggest advantages in the Intune vs AirWatch comparison shows up after deployment, when you’re actually managing devices day-to-day.

With AirWatch, configuration often feels fragmented. You might be bouncing between consoles, dealing with inconsistent experiences across OS types, or manually translating compliance requirements into device policies.

Intune, on the other hand, is designed to work natively with Entra ID, Microsoft Defender, and Microsoft 365. That means policy decisions, compliance actions, and reporting are tightly aligned from the start.

Here’s what the daily experience looks like in Intune:

• Centralized Management Portal
  Everything runs through the Intune admin center. Devices, compliance policies, configuration profiles, apps, conditional access. It’s all in one place.
• Automated Provisioning with Windows Autopilot
  Intune supports zero-touch provisioning for Windows devices using Autopilot. You can ship hardware straight from the OEM to the user, and have it fully configured and enrolled on first boot.
• Built-in Security Baselines
  No need to start from scratch. Intune offers pre-configured baselines for Defender, Edge, and Windows, aligned with Microsoft’s best practices.
• Faster Policy Deployment and Remediation
  Policies deploy faster, changes sync more reliably, and real-time actions like remote wipe or retire actually happen when you trigger them, not 30 minutes later.
• Tighter App and Identity Controls
  You can gate access to apps using Entra Conditional Access, enforce Defender Antivirus status before a user connects to sensitive resources, and ensure that risky users are locked out automatically.
• Better Reporting and Visibility
  With integrated analytics, you get visibility into compliance, patch status, user risk, and device health, all without bolting on a separate analytics platform.

If your current AirWatch configuration is feeling like duct tape and hope, you’re not alone. The shift to Intune simplifies both the tooling and the processes around it, especially if your team is already using Microsoft 365

When weighing Intune vs AirWatch, cost isn’t just about the sticker price. It’s about licensing overlap, operational overhead, and the hidden costs of managing yet another standalone tool.

With Intune, you’re likely already licensed. It’s included in:

• Microsoft 365 Business Premium (ideal for small to mid-sized teams)
• Microsoft 365 E3 and E5
• Enterprise Mobility + Security (EMS) E3 and E5

That means if you’re already using Microsoft for identity, email, collaboration, or security, you’ve probably been paying for Intune all along, and just haven’t turned it on yet.

AirWatch, by contrast, typically requires a separate license or an enterprise bundle that includes other VMware services you may not be using. And unlike Intune, it doesn’t come with Defender for Endpoint, Entra Conditional Access, or Microsoft Purview, so you end up layering multiple tools (and multiple bills) to cover the same ground.

Then there’s the admin side:

• Fewer consoles to manage
• Less onboarding time for new team members
• No extra training or certification to learn a third-party tool

The math adds up quickly. By the time you’ve rolled Intune into your existing Microsoft licensing and offloaded a legacy tool like AirWatch, you’re not just saving on licenses but time, training, and complexity too.

If security and compliance are priorities, and they should be, this is where the Intune vs AirWatch decision becomes a no-brainer.

AirWatch was originally designed as a mobile device management tool. Over time, it added features to support broader UEM needs, but it still depends on integrations or external systems for identity, threat protection, and compliance reporting.

Intune, on the other hand, was built to work as part of a much larger security ecosystem from day one.

Here’s how that plays out in real environments:

• Native Zero Trust Enforcement
  Intune works seamlessly with Entra Conditional Access, device compliance policies, and token protection to block access based on real-time device and user risk.
• Defender for Endpoint Integration
  You get endpoint detection and response (EDR), attack surface reduction rules, and live response tools, tied directly into Intune. No agents to install, no extra configuration steps.
• Regulatory Compliance & Audit Readiness
  With Microsoft Purview, you can apply DLP policies, classify sensitive data, and map controls to common frameworks like HIPAA, NIST, or GDPR—all from the same administrative ecosystem.
• Secure Score & Recommendations
  Microsoft Secure Score gives you an up-to-date picture of your current posture and prioritized steps to improve it—across devices, identities, and apps.
• Policy Enforcement You Can Actually Trust
  When a device falls out of compliance, Intune can take immediate action: isolate it, remove access, or trigger automated remediation through Defender.

If you’re using AirWatch and trying to bolt on these security capabilities through third-party tools, you’re not just creating a maintenance burden, you’re also introducing more risk through integration gaps.

Making the switch from AirWatch to Intune doesn’t have to be disruptive—but it does require a clear plan.

Most of the friction we see during migrations comes from mismatched terminology or assumptions about how policies map across platforms. The good news? Intune covers nearly every use case AirWatch does—and often handles it with fewer moving parts. You just need to know how to translate it.

Here’s how we recommend approaching the migration:

• Inventory and Audit First
  Export your current AirWatch configurations—device types, compliance policies, profiles, app assignments, and user groups. This gives you a clear baseline to work from.
• Group Policies and Scope Tags
  Use Intune scope tags and Azure AD groups to recreate segmentation and delegated administration. This is especially useful if you’re managing multiple departments or business units.
• Map Policies to Microsoft-native Equivalents
  Many AirWatch policies have 1:1 matches in Intune (e.g., passcode enforcement, encryption requirements). Others—like VPN profiles or SCEP certificates—may require rethinking the architecture using native Microsoft alternatives.
• Pilot in Parallel
  Run a controlled pilot using Autopilot or Company Portal enrollment. Use test devices across Windows, iOS, and Android to validate policies and user experience.
• Communicate and Train
  End-user onboarding with Intune is generally simpler, but expectations matter. Train your IT team, document the new workflows, and prepare end-user guides.
• Use Defender and Conditional Access from Day One
  Don’t wait to layer on security—make it part of the initial rollout. You’ll reduce risk and demonstrate value immediately.

We’ve helped teams make this move with minimal disruption—and in many cases, the migration becomes an opportunity to clean up years of outdated policy sprawl.

Making the switch from AirWatch to Intune doesn’t have to be disruptive—but it does require a clear plan.

Most of the friction we see during migrations comes from mismatched terminology or assumptions about how policies map across platforms. The good news? Intune covers nearly every use case AirWatch does—and often handles it with fewer moving parts. You just need to know how to translate it.

If you’re still weighing Intune vs AirWatch, here’s the reality: Intune delivers everything you need for secure, scalable endpoint management—without the licensing headaches, fragmented toolsets, or uncertain product roadmap.

By switching to Intune, you’re not just replacing an MDM platform. You’re consolidating your entire device management and security stack into a single, Microsoft-native ecosystem:

• Endpoint security and compliance in one place
• Seamless integration with Microsoft 365, Entra ID, and Defender
• Lower total cost of ownership
• Better visibility, faster deployment, and easier day-to-day management

And chances are, you’re already licensed to use it.

If you’re ready to reduce complexity and finally take full advantage of the Microsoft tools you’re paying for, now’s the time to move.

Is Microsoft Intune a full replacement for AirWatch?

Yes. Intune now supports full device lifecycle management across Windows, macOS, iOS, Android, and even Linux (via Entra integration). It handles everything from enrollment and compliance to app deployment, patching, and remote actions—often with fewer moving parts than AirWatch.

What licensing do I need for Intune?

Intune is included with Microsoft 365 Business Premium, E3, and E5, as well as with EMS E3/E5. If you’re already using any of those plans, you likely already have full access to Intune and just need to configure it.

How does Intune compare to AirWatch for macOS and iOS management?

Intune fully supports macOS and iOS MDM features—including Apple VPP, configuration profiles, supervised mode, and app deployment via Company Portal. While AirWatch traditionally had an edge here, recent Intune updates have closed the gap.

What about managing Android devices?

Intune supports Android Enterprise, fully managed devices, dedicated (kiosk) mode, and personally-owned with work profile. If you’re using Android in any corporate context, Intune can meet the same management standards AirWatch supports.

Can Intune enforce Conditional Access and device compliance like AirWatch?

Yes—and it does it natively. Because Intune is built into the Microsoft ecosystem, you can enforce Conditional Access policies based on real-time compliance data from Intune, Defender for Endpoint, and Entra ID.

Is the migration from AirWatch to Intune complicated?

Not if you have a clear plan. The biggest challenge is mapping existing policies and enrollment workflows. We recommend running a parallel pilot, auditing current config, and using Microsoft-native features wherever possible. We can help with that →