Intune vs. AirWatch: 2024 UEM Showdown for Enterprise Mobility
Intune is Microsoft’s cloud-based Unified Endpoint Management (UEM) platform; AirWatch is the original name of VMware Workspace ONE UEM—both manage phones, tablets, laptops, and apps from one console.
IT teams say “AirWatch” out of habit even though it rebranded, while newer admins pick up “Intune” straight from Microsoft 365, causing meetings where everyone nods along without realizing they’re comparing two different UEM generations.
Key Differences
Intune ties natively to Azure AD and Microsoft 365, delivering conditional access and Office app policies in minutes. AirWatch/Workspace ONE offers deeper OEM integrations, rugged-device support, and a broader third-party app catalog, but needs extra servers for full on-prem hybrid.
Which One Should You Choose?
If you run on Microsoft 365 and Windows 11, Intune is faster to deploy. Choose AirWatch when you manage Android rugged scanners, macOS video rigs, or need kiosk modes beyond Windows.
Can Intune manage rugged Android handhelds?
Yes, but AirWatch offers more granular OEM APIs and dedicated profiles for barcode scanners and thermal printers.
Does AirWatch support Azure AD SSO?
Absolutely; it federates via SAML or OIDC, though Intune’s integration is tighter and sets conditional access in a single pane.