Overview

Organizations can run FileWave in the cloud or install it on their own servers, a useful choice for teams with different hosting requirements. Automated enrollment supports zero-touch deployment as well as Windows Autopilot, Apple ADE/DEP, and Android and ChromeOS enterprise frameworks. That breadth can simplify provisioning across a mixed fleet, though teams managing only one platform may not need such a broad system.

Founded in 1992 and headquartered in Wil, Switzerland, FileWave serves use cases across K–12 and higher education, government, media and publishing, corporate, and finance organizations. Its supported systems include Windows, macOS, iOS, iPadOS, tvOS, Android, and ChromeOS.

Key features

Enrollment and software delivery

Administrators can distribute apps, updates, scripts, and content through standard installers or Filesets. FileWave’s patented Fileset Technology transfers file-level changes and allows files to be edited or removed after deployment. That makes it useful when IT teams need finer control over deployed content than a basic installer workflow provides.

Patching and security

Scheduled operating-system and third-party application patching helps teams keep devices current. Fileset revisions also have testing and rollback options, giving administrators a way to manage deployment changes with a recovery path.

FileWave says communications among clients, servers, and administrators are encrypted; it also provides remote lock and wipe and administrator two-factor authentication. The company operates under ISO/IEC 27001 information security management standards. Audit-ready reports cover device, configuration, patch, license, encryption, and compliance information, which can help organizations keep fleet records together.

Integrations and support

Integrations include Grafana, TeamViewer, Apple management services, Microsoft Entra, Android Enterprise, Chrome Management API, ServiceNow, Slack, and Cloudflare. Customer support is available 24/5 by email, call, or video. Professional includes enhanced customer support, while the free Community Edition relies on community support and includes no support service.

Pricing

The Community Edition is 0.00 USD per free, billed Forever free. It covers up to 15 computers, 15 tablets, and 15 Chrome devices, with community support, no included support service, and no TeamViewer licenses. That is a useful no-cost option for a small, eligible fleet, but the separate device caps and lack of included service limit its appeal for organizations that need broader coverage or direct assistance.

It supports iOS, macOS, tvOS, Windows, Android, and ChromeOS, and includes enhanced customer support and 2 TeamViewer licenses. The starting price is the clearest paid entry point, but per-device cost can add up as fleets grow.

Community is 15.00 USD per contact, billed Starting from $15 / per Device. It covers up to 15 devices each for mobile, desktop, and Chrome. The published starting price is higher than Professional’s, while the stated allowance is capped; organizations should weigh that narrower ceiling against their fleet needs. FileWave also offers a 30-day trial.

Platforms

FileWave covers desktops, laptops, mobile devices, tablets, Apple TV, and Chromebooks. Supported operating systems are Windows, macOS, iOS, iPadOS, tvOS, Android, and ChromeOS. Cloud hosting and self-hosted installation provide two deployment choices, while the listed platform reach includes web, Linux, and API as well as the device operating systems.

Who it's for

FileWave is a strong fit for schools, government agencies, media organizations, businesses, and finance teams managing a mixed-device estate that needs enrollment, application control, patching, and reporting in one platform. Self-hosting is a relevant option for organizations that want to install the system on their own servers. Small teams with only a few devices, or those whose priority is the largest possible free allowance, may be better served elsewhere.

Pros and cons

Pros: Enrollment frameworks span major device ecosystems, making it practical for mixed-fleet rollouts.
Pros: Filesets support file-level updates and post-deployment edits or removals, giving administrators granular delivery control.
Pros: Patching, revision testing and rollback, security controls, and audit-ready reports address several ongoing fleet-management tasks.
Cons: Community Edition is limited to 15 computers, 15 tablets, and 15 Chrome devices, and has no included support service.
Cons: Community’s stated allowance is capped at 15 devices each for mobile, desktop, and Chrome, limiting its reach for larger deployments.

Alternatives

Relution is worth considering for a smaller fleet: its free plan covers five devices, runs without a time limit, and offers shared cloud or on-premises deployment. Miradore is another free-tier option, covering up to 50 devices after a 14-day trial, which gives a small organization a larger free allowance than FileWave Community Edition.

SureAsset is an alternative for teams focused on asset lifecycle management, hardware and software license tracking, and API access and automation. ManageEngine Endpoint Central offers a free edition for 25 endpoints, a higher stated endpoint count than FileWave’s free caps.

OpenUEM is a free alternative. myMDM is a freemium alternative. baramundi Management Suite is a paid option with a free trial. Ivanti Neurons for Zero Trust Access is a paid option with named-user licensing.

For readers comparing categories rather than individual products, see Unified Endpoint Management Software, Mobile Device Management Software, Mac Management Software, and Application Deployment Software.

Verdict

Choose FileWave if you manage a mixed fleet and value flexible hosting, broad enrollment, controlled software delivery, scheduled patching, and compliance reporting in one platform. Its main drawback is the tight free-edition ceiling, while the paid starting price is per device. Teams with larger fleets or a need for direct support should focus on Professional; very small teams prioritizing a more generous free allowance should compare alternatives first.

	FileWave	WAPT
Free plan	Yes	No
Free trial	Yes	Yes
Paid from	Free	—
Open source	No	No
Platforms	Android, api, extension, iOS, Linux, macOS, self-hosted, Web, Windows	api, Linux, macOS, self-hosted, Windows
Free plan	No	Yes
Third-party app patching	—	Yes

FileWave vs WAPT

FileWave

WAPT