FileWave

Overview

FileWave is a unified endpoint management platform for organizations responsible for a varied fleet of computers, tablets, phones, and shared devices. Its strongest case is bringing enrollment, software delivery, patching, and compliance reporting together across major operating systems, with a choice of cloud hosting or self-hosting.

That breadth suits education, government, media, corporate, and finance environments, but the free tier is tightly capped and paid pricing is quoted per device with no billing period stated. Small teams may find a more practical starting point in a rival's larger free allowance; FileWave makes most sense where cross-platform administration and deployment control matter more than a generous free tier.

Key features

Enrollment and software delivery

Automated enrollment includes zero-touch deployment and support for Windows Autopilot, Apple ADE/DEP, and Android and ChromeOS enterprise frameworks. That can reduce setup work when provisioning a mixed fleet. Administrators can distribute apps, updates, scripts, and other content through standard installers or Filesets.

Filesets send file-level changes and allow administrators to edit or remove files after deployment. This gives IT teams more control over targeted changes than simply replacing an entire package, though its value will depend on how much they rely on that workflow. Scheduled operating-system and third-party application patching is paired with testing and rollback options for Fileset revisions, useful for organizations that need to manage updates cautiously.

Security, integrations, and reporting

FileWave says communications among clients, servers, and administrators are encrypted; it also offers remote lock and wipe and administrator two-factor authentication. Its security page states that it operates under ISO/IEC 27001 information security management standards. Audit-ready reports cover device, configuration, patch, license, encryption, and compliance information, making the reporting side relevant to organizations with oversight obligations.

Integrations include Grafana, TeamViewer, Apple management services, Microsoft Entra, Android Enterprise, Chrome Management API, ServiceNow, Slack, and Cloudflare, among others. Customer support is available 24/5 by email, phone, or video; the entry-level Community Edition does not include that support service.

Pricing

The Community Edition is free, billed Forever free. It is capped at 15 computers, 15 tablets, and 15 Chrome devices, includes community support, and has no TeamViewer licenses or included support service. It is a useful no-cost evaluation or small-fleet option, but the separate caps mean it is not a broad allowance for growing deployments.

Professional starts at from $12.50 (priced on request), billed Starting from $12.50 / per Device. It covers iOS, macOS, tvOS, Windows, Android, and ChromeOS, includes enhanced customer support, and comes with two TeamViewer licenses.

A separate Community plan starts at from $15 (priced on request), billed Starting from $15 / per Device, and covers up to 15 devices each for mobile, desktop, and Chrome. The plan details do not describe included support or TeamViewer licenses, so it is harder to assess against the free Community Edition; compare those terms directly before choosing it. FileWave also offers a 30-day trial.

Platforms

Supported operating systems include Windows, macOS, iOS, iPadOS, tvOS, Android, and ChromeOS. Endpoint types include desktops, laptops, mobile devices, tablets, Apple TV, and Chromebooks. FileWave also supports Linux, web access, APIs, extensions, and self-hosted deployment.

Who it's for

FileWave is best suited to organizations managing a heterogeneous fleet that need automated enrollment, application and policy management, patch control, and compliance reporting in one platform. Its stated use cases span K–12 and higher education, government, media and publishing, corporate, and finance. Teams that need a larger free device allowance, or that cannot establish the paid plan's billing terms before buying, should compare alternatives.

Pros and cons

Pros

• Automated enrollment spans major enterprise frameworks, a practical fit for organizations provisioning different device types.
• Filesets support file-level updates and post-deployment edits or removals, offering precise control over delivered content.
• Scheduled OS and third-party patching, with testing and rollback options for Fileset revisions, supports more cautious update management.
• Reporting covers patches, licenses, encryption, configurations, devices, and compliance, with remote lock and wipe for device response.

Cons

• The free tier's 15-device caps for each listed category constrain larger or uneven fleets.
• Community Edition has community support only and no TeamViewer licenses, limiting what a cost-free deployment includes.
• The paid Community plan lists smaller category caps but does not describe support or TeamViewer terms, leaving a less clear value proposition.

Alternatives

• Relution is worth considering for a smaller no-cost deployment: its free plan supports up to five devices and can run on shared cloud or on premises, with unlimited duration.
• Miradore is a stronger free-tier candidate for a modest fleet, allowing up to 50 devices after a 14-day trial; its Premium plan is $2.75 a month, billed per device/month.
• SureAsset is a free alternative when asset lifecycle management, hardware and software license tracking, and API access and automation are the priority.
• Ivanti Neurons for Zero Trust Access is another option to consider for zero-trust access needs.
• ManageEngine Endpoint Central may fit buyers comparing endpoint tools with a free edition capped at 25 endpoints and a priced on-premises annual option.
• Matrix42 FastViewer is an alternative for buyers seeking a paid tool priced per concurrent session.
• Trio Kiosk Management is a focused option for kiosk management, with paid per-device plans and a 14-day trial.
• Workspace ONE Boxer is another paid alternative to compare.

Browse more options in Unified Endpoint Management Software, Mobile Device Management Software, Mac Management Software, and Application Deployment Software.

Verdict

Choose FileWave if your organization needs one system for enrolling and managing a mixed device fleet, delivering software, controlling patches, and producing compliance reports, with cloud and self-hosted deployment choices. Look elsewhere if low-cost scale is the priority: its free tier is limited, and Professional's billing period needs clarification before its per-device starting price can be weighed confidently.