A technical comparison of Mobile Device Management (MDM) solutions like Jamf and Mosyle versus app-based phone-free solutions like LockedIn — covering enrollment requirements, privacy implications, cost, effectiveness, and best use cases for each.
IT directors often ask: "Can't we just use our existing MDM to enforce a phone-free policy?" It's a reasonable question. MDM platforms like Jamf, Mosyle, and Google Workspace are powerful tools. But using MDM for a phone-free campus is like using a sledgehammer to hang a picture frame. Here's why — and when each approach makes sense.
What MDM Can and Can't Do
MDM (Mobile Device Management) platforms are designed to manage organization-owned devices. They can restrict apps, enforce settings, push configurations, and remotely wipe devices. They're excellent for school-owned iPads and Chromebooks.
The problem: phone-free policies apply to student-owned personal devices. And that changes everything.
MDM vs App-Based: Key Differences
Factor
MDM (Jamf, Mosyle, etc.)
App-Based (LockedIn)
Device enrollment
Required (MDM profile)
Not required
Works on personal (BYOD) phones
Difficult — parents resist
Yes — no MDM profile needed
Data access
Broad (can see apps, location, usage)
Minimal (lock state + campus presence only)
Privacy concerns
Significant for personal devices
Minimal — no personal data accessed
IT overhead
High — requires IT management
Low — managed by school admin
Cost
$3-12/device/month
Contact for pricing
Geofencing
Varies by platform
Built-in, automatic
Circumvention detection
Not designed for this
Catches all common bypasses
The Privacy Problem with MDM on Personal Devices
This is the dealbreaker for most schools. MDM enrollment on a personal phone gives the school administrative control that goes far beyond what a phone-free policy requires. Parents rightfully ask: "Why does the school need to manage my child's personal phone?"
LockedIn takes a fundamentally different approach. It operates within the OS application sandbox — no MDM enrollment, no device ownership, no access to personal data. It only monitors two things: is the device locked, and is the student on campus during school hours.
When MDM Makes Sense
MDM is the right choice when you're managing school-owned devices — iPads, Chromebooks, classroom tablets. If your school provides devices to students, MDM is essential for configuration management, app deployment, and content filtering.
When App-Based Solutions Make Sense
App-based solutions like LockedIn are the right choice when you need to enforce a phone-free policy on student-owned personal devices. No enrollment friction, no privacy concerns, no IT management overhead.
Many schools use both: MDM for school-owned devices, and LockedIn for the phone-free campus policy on personal devices. Contact LockedIn to discuss how the two can work together in your environment.