Jamf Pro is Jamf’s device management product for business and higher education. It is the management layer in the Jamf for Mac and Jamf for Mobile plans. Jamf Now is the simpler product for organizations with fewer than 25 employees.[9] All three are subscriptions counted per managed device. Jamf describes its pricing as based on the number of Devices and/or Users, with the fee fixed for the Subscription Term.[2] The quantities are set in the Quote or Order. If they are exceeded, Jamf works with the customer to buy more or reduce use, and may suspend access as a last resort.[1] This article explains how the count is held and checked in the product and how changes during the term are settled. For the agreement, see Jamf licensing.
Editions
| Plan | Platforms | Price and term (jamf.com) |
|---|---|---|
| Jamf for Mac | macOS | $12.50 per macOS device per month, billed annually, 25-device minimum[9] |
| Jamf for Mobile | iOS, iPadOS, visionOS, watchOS, tvOS and Android | $5.75 per mobile device per month, billed annually, 25-device minimum[9] |
| Jamf Now | macOS, iOS, iPadOS and tvOS | Starting at $4 per device per month[9] |
Jamf Pro, Jamf Connect and Jamf Protect power both Jamf for Mac and Jamf for Mobile. Neither plan is available to on-premises customers.[9] The pricing FAQ says the AI Governance capability needs no separate licence in Jamf for Mac. Small and medium-sized businesses may receive the Elevate dashboard free of charge if they qualify.[9] Catalog: Jamf for Mac $12.50 and Jamf for Mobile $5.75 per device per month, billed annually, 25-device minimum; Jamf for Mac and Jamf for Mobile are only for Jamf Cloud customers.
Metrics
The Device metric is defined in the SLASA as a customer device, including iOS, iPadOS, macOS and tvOS devices.[1] Jamf Pro tracks seats by platform. Purchased licences or seats for macOS, iOS and tvOS are shown in Jamf Account and in Jamf Pro under Settings > System.[4] The License information settings show “your allotted seat counts”.[5] The User metric applies where a Quote is user-based. It excludes end users who only use shared devices used by several employees.[1] Catalog: Seat counts per platform are shown in Jamf Pro License information and Jamf Account.
Counting / floors
Per platform, not just in total. A Device Count Exceeded notification means the number of managed devices is above the licensed count, or that the activation code has not been updated.[3] It also appears when a device type is enrolled that the subscription does not include. Jamf’s example is tvOS devices enrolled under iOS-only licences.[3] Spare macOS seats therefore do not cover surplus iPads, and an Apple TV counts even where it was enrolled as an afterthought. Jamf’s suggested fixes are to buy more licences through the account team or to remove devices that are no longer needed.[3] Catalog: Device Count Exceeded notification when enrolled devices or device types exceed the subscription.
Stale records. Unmanaging a computer stops Jamf Pro managing it but leaves its inventory record in place. Jamf’s documentation says that deleting records for unmanaged computers “helps ensure your inventory and license counts are accurate”.[7] The support article suggests a smart group of devices that have not checked in, or not updated inventory, for more than 30 days. Each one should be reviewed before deletion.[3] Catalog: Delete unmanaged computer records to keep licence counts accurate.
Floors. Jamf for Mac and Jamf for Mobile each have a 25-device minimum and are billed annually.[9] No minimum is published for standalone Jamf Pro.
The activation code
The activation code is the entitlement record inside Jamf Pro. Current codes are held in Jamf Account under the customer’s Jamf Pro licences.[5] Jamf calls updating the code “primarily cosmetic”, because it only shows the latest licence count. Codes are applied across all regions by 4:00 a.m. Central Time on the renewal date, and a valid subscription has no service interruption during the changeover.[6] For Jamf Pro 11.9.1 or later hosted in Jamf Cloud, the code is applied automatically on the renewal date. Jamf Pro 11.9.0 or earlier, and on-premise environments, must be updated by hand.[6] An out-of-date code is one cause of a false Device Count Exceeded warning.[3] Catalog: Activation code renews automatically in Jamf Cloud (11.9.1+); manual for on-premise.
True-up and renewal
Jamf will not refund prepaid fees when the number of Devices or Users falls during the Subscription Term, whatever the reason. Its examples are downsizing and the customer being acquired. Reductions are reflected when the customer “trues up” with Jamf at renewal, and fees for future terms may go down. Devices or Users added during the term cost additional fees.[2] The resulting pattern is asymmetric. Growth is paid for during the term, and shrinkage is credited only at renewal. Catalog: No refunds for mid-term reductions; true-up at renewal, pay for additions. See true-up.
The Jamf Pro Summary is the report Jamf names for licence renewal. By default it includes the number of managed and unmanaged computers and managed mobile devices. It can be sent to Jamf automatically or uploaded to Jamf Account.[8] Where the Quote provides for automatic renewal, notice of non-renewal is due at least 60 days before the term ends.[1] Catalog: Jamf Pro Summary reports managed device counts for licence renewal; Auto-renewal where the Quote says so; 60 days notice of non-renewal.
Virtualization & partitioning
Jamf Pro counts managed devices. Whether a device is physical or virtual makes no difference to the count. The SLASA permits one non-production instance of the Software for internal business purposes, which covers a test or staging Jamf Pro server.[1] Devices enrolled in that test instance are still managed Devices. Jamf publishes no exemption for them.
Cloud / BYOL
Jamf Pro runs in Jamf Cloud or on-premise, in both cases for a Subscription Term.[2] The pricing FAQ describes Premium Cloud as a hosting option that lets the customer choose when to upgrade, safelist IPs and customize the URL.[9] The Supported Versions Policy covers Premium Cloud, Premium Cloud Plus and Standard Cloud. Jamf Cloud supports the last three minor Jamf Pro releases. If Jamf cannot coordinate a patch window, it upgrades an out-of-support instance to the current supported version.[14] Standard technical support is included with Hosted Services. For on-premise installations it is usually bought in 12-month increments.[15] Catalog: Jamf Cloud supports the last three minor Jamf Pro releases; lagging instances are upgraded; Standard support included with Hosted Services; on-premise bought in 12-month increments.
Jamf Now billing
Jamf Now bills differently from Jamf Pro. Monthly billing by credit card charges only for the service used. Jamf Now Balance is a prepayment for 12, 24 or 36 months of service.[10] All Jamf Now payments are final. Jamf gives no refunds for monthly billing or Jamf Now Balance.[10] Balance is bought through a Jamf Partner. If more devices are enrolled than the balance covers, the account is suspended at the next billing period. Unused balance is forfeited if the account is permanently deleted.[11] If a payment fails, the account is suspended after seven days of failed attempts. Most device communication pauses, but devices can still be unenrolled, and no late fees are charged.[12] Unenrolling a device removes its MDM profile and reclaims its volume-purchased app licences, and Jamf stops charging for it. Jamf Protect and Jamf Connect packages stay on unmanaged Macs until they are removed by hand.[13] Catalog: Jamf Now payments are final; monthly billing per device in use; Jamf Now Balance: over-enrolment suspends the account; unused balance forfeited on deletion; Jamf Now account suspended seven days after a billing failure; Unenrolling a Jamf Now device stops charges and reclaims app licences.
Out of scope
- Apple volume-purchased app licences that Jamf Pro and Jamf Now distribute. Their counting is governed by Apple.
- Premium Cloud and Premium Cloud Plus pricing, which is not published.
- Jamf School counting, covered in Jamf School device licences.