Intune manages your devices. Prey finds them.
Keep Intune for policies. Add Prey for always-on location, geofencing, and theft recovery, the visibility your Microsoft stack doesn't give you.
Prey vs Microsoft Intune at a glance
Intune is a device management platform: it enforces policies, deploys apps and checks compliance. Its location features are on demand only and keep no history. Prey adds always-on location tracking, location history (1 month included, up to 1 year with an add-on), geofence alerts and theft recovery evidence on Windows, macOS, Linux, Android and Chromebooks. Most IT teams keep Intune and add Prey for the tracking layer.
Location
Prey updates continuously. Intune locates a device only when an admin runs Locate device, and not on macOS or Linux.
History
Prey keeps 1 month of location history, up to 1 year with an add-on. Intune stores location data for 24 hours, then deletes it.
Theft recovery
Prey generates missing reports with location, photos (opt-in) and screenshots. Intune has no equivalent.
Cost
Prey Tracking starts at $1.30 per device per month, billed annually. Intune Plan 1 is $8 per user per month standalone, or included in Microsoft 365 Business Premium, E3 and E5.
Last updated: November 2026
How Prey and Intune compare
See how Prey and Intune differ on tracking, data security and ease of use. Intune capabilities are based on Microsoft Learn documentation for Locate device, Lost Mode, Remote lock and Wipe (checked November 2026).
Keep a close check on your device fleet’s location
Remote and hybrid teams call for complete monitoring systems to help device admins access their fleets wherever they may go. Get reports and notifications to act when necessary.
| Prey | Intune | |
|---|---|---|
| Device location | Yes. Always-on automatic updates (on-demand location also available) | On demand only. An admin runs Locate device on Windows, supervised iOS/iPadOS and corporate-owned Android. Not available on macOS or Linux |
| Geofences with alerts and actions | Yes. Alerts and automatic actions when a device enters or leaves a zone | No native geofencing alerts |
| Device location history | 1 month included, up to 1 year with an add-on | No history. Location data is kept for 24 hours, then deleted |
| Lost mode | Yes. Windows, macOS, Linux (Ubuntu), Android and Chromebooks | Supervised iOS/iPadOS and ChromeOS only |
| Evidence reports from missing devices | Yes. Location, photos (opt-in) and screenshots every 10 or 20 minutes | No |
Be alert of any possible security breach
When issues happen with one or several devices from your fleet, the incident must be addressed before unauthorized actors can create operational disruptions. You can’t afford to let things go unnoticed, your data must stay safe.
| Prey | Intune | |
|---|---|---|
| Remote alarm | Yes, on all supported systems | Supervised iOS/iPadOS in Lost Mode and corporate-owned Android only |
| Remote device lock | Yes, on all supported systems | Android, iOS/iPadOS and macOS. Not Windows |
| Remote file retrieval | Yes, on all supported systems | No |
| Remote wipe and factory reset | Yes, including full remote factory reset of Windows PCs | Yes. Wipe works on Windows, macOS, iOS/iPadOS, Android and ChromeOS |
| Custom (selective) wipe | Yes. Choose what data to erase | Partial. Retire removes company data and apps |
Why choose Prey over Intune
Prey provides peace of mind by offering comprehensive device security features, ensuring that your data and devices are protected at all times.
| Prey | Intune | |
|---|---|---|
| Installation process, learning curve and the meeting of your expectations | "I like that Prey simply works. Simple little install and then I can see all my devices in the dashboard. None of the long installers with a bunch of questions." | "It is so slow and cumbersome to navigate. It can take hours before you can sometimes get a device to receive the needed change." |
| Tool complexity, usability | "The ease of use and security of this software is excellent." | "Sometimes overwhelmed with the complexity of how many options there are." |
| Business size | Built for small and mid-sized IT teams, and used by organizations of every size | Built for organizations standardized on Microsoft 365. Strongest on Windows |
Verified reviews on G2.com
When Intune alone is enough, and when to add Prey
Intune alone is usually enough if:
- You only need policies, compliance checks and app deployment.
- Your fleet is Windows and supervised iPhones and iPads, and an on-demand location is enough when something goes missing.
Add Prey if:
- You manage macOS, Linux or Chromebooks next to Windows.
- You need to know where devices were, not only where they are right now.
- You want alerts when a device leaves a site, and evidence to support a recovery or an internal investigation.
Can I use Prey in tandem with Intune?
Yes. Prey runs alongside Intune and doesn't replace any Intune policy. Many organizations get Intune with their Microsoft 365 license and keep it for policies and apps. They add Prey for always-on location, geofences, missing reports and remote actions on the devices Intune covers less, like macOS and Linux laptops. Each tool keeps its own agent and dashboard.
Top reasons to go with Prey
(in the voice of our users)
What teams switching from Microsoft Intune tell us
Slow learning curve and time-consuming processes.
Clunky, complex implementation especially for non-Windows devices.
Support is sometimes unhelpful, it has room for improvement.
Pricing can get very expensive, especially for large fleets.
Let's compare user ratings in key categories
Source: G2.com
9.0/10
9.6/10
9.4/10
Learn more about Prey Plans
Tracking, Security and Management all in one.
Active Tracking with a layer of Data & Device Security.
Active Tracking and Location for device fleets.
Frequently asked questions
Prey is a complement more than a replacement. Intune manages policies, apps and compliance. Prey covers what Intune does on demand or not at all: always-on location, location history (1 month included, up to 1 year with an add-on), geofence alerts and theft recovery evidence. Most teams that already pay for Intune add Prey for device tracking and recovery.
Partly. Intune's Locate device action works on demand for Windows, supervised iOS/iPadOS devices in Lost Mode, and corporate-owned Android devices. It doesn't support macOS or Linux, and it only shows where the device is when an admin runs the action. Prey tracks location continuously and can generate missing reports with location, photos and screenshots.
No. Intune collects location only when an admin runs Locate device, stores that data for 24 hours and then deletes it. For offline Android Enterprise dedicated devices it can show a last known location up to seven days old. Prey keeps 1 month of location history on its business plans, and up to 1 year with an add-on.
Yes. Prey installs its own agent and doesn't conflict with Intune policies. Teams typically keep Intune for policies and app deployment and use Prey for tracking, geofences and theft recovery.
Intune's location features don't support macOS or Linux. Prey covers Windows, macOS, Linux (Ubuntu), Android, iOS and Chromebooks from one dashboard.
Prey is priced per device. Prey Tracking starts at $1.30 per device per month, billed annually. Intune Plan 1 costs $8 per user per month as a standalone license and is included in Microsoft 365 Business Premium, E3 and E5. See current plans at preyproject.com/pricing.
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a go?
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