Primo positions itself as an all-in-one IT platform combining device management, identity, and hardware procurement. Appaloosa is a specialized mobile device management (MDM) and app management solution built for mobile fleets. Both are French companies, both target growing businesses. But they solve different problems.
Appaloosa and Primo at a glance
Appaloosa manages smartphones, tablets, and computers across iOS, Android, macOS, and Windows. It stands out with its private app store, native remote support, and SecNumCloud hosting in France. Pricing starts at 1.99 euros per device per month.
Primo (Clutch SAS) manages laptops and desktops first, with mobile support added on top. It bundles MDM with identity management (SSO, provisioning) and hardware procurement. Pricing starts at 8 euros per device per month for device management alone, plus 5 euros for identity management.
The core question: do you need a mobile-first MDM with deep app management, or a broad IT operations platform that also handles devices?
Feature comparison
| Criteria | Appaloosa | Primo |
|---|---|---|
| Supported platforms | iOS, iPadOS, macOS, Windows, Android | macOS, Windows, Linux, iOS, Android |
| Mobile focus | Primary: deep iOS and Android management | Secondary: basic mobile enrollment and policies |
| Hosting | SecNumCloud (France), ISO 27001 | Europe, UK, US (SOC 2 Type II) |
| Data sovereignty | French sovereign cloud, outside US jurisdiction | Not sovereign (multi-region hosting) |
| Private app store | Yes: private + public apps, preconfigured (iOS and Android) | No private store, basic app deployment |
| Kiosk mode | Yes: single-app and multi-app (iOS + Android) | Not available |
| Zero-touch enrollment | Apple ADE + Android Enterprise | Apple ABM + Windows Autopilot |
| Android Enterprise | Silver Partner, all modes (work profile, fully managed, kiosk) | Basic Android support |
| Remote support | Native, all platforms | Not mentioned |
| Identity management | SAML 2.0, Okta, Microsoft 365 integration | Built-in SSO, SCIM, auto-provisioning (60+ integrations) |
| HR integration | No native HR connector | 60+ HR tools (Workday, Personio, BambooHR...) |
| Hardware procurement | Not included | Built-in: 10+ brands, 60+ countries, device retrieval |
| Linux support | Not supported | Supported |
| Compliance exports | ISO 27001, RGPD | Vanta, Drata, Bastion integrations |
| Pricing (MDM) | From 1.99 euros/device/month | 8 euros/device/month |
Where Primo stands out
Primo works best for laptop-heavy companies. If your IT team spends hours provisioning SaaS accounts when someone joins, revoking access when they leave, and ordering hardware across multiple countries, Primo bundles all of that into one dashboard. The HR integration means onboarding and offboarding can trigger device setup and access changes automatically.
SOC 2 Type II certification matters for SaaS-heavy organizations running compliance audits with tools like Vanta or Drata. Primo connects natively with those platforms.
Linux support is a genuine differentiator for engineering-heavy companies. Appaloosa does not cover Linux.
Where Appaloosa stands out
Appaloosa was built for mobile fleets. That shows in the details: a private app store where you can push custom enterprise apps alongside public store apps, kiosk mode for locking devices to specific apps (retail terminals, field devices, student tablets), and native remote support to troubleshoot a phone in the field without third-party tools.
Android Enterprise Silver certification means Appaloosa passed Google validation for advanced Android management: work profiles, fully managed mode, dedicated devices. Primo offers basic Android support without this level of certification.
Data sovereignty is another clear gap. Appaloosa hosts on SecNumCloud in France, outside US jurisdiction (no Cloud Act exposure). Primo uses multi-region infrastructure across Europe, UK, and US, which does not meet French sovereign cloud requirements.
And then there is price. At 1.99 euros per device per month, Appaloosa costs roughly a quarter of Primo (8 euros per device per month) for device management. For a 200-device fleet, that is a difference of about 14,400 euros per year.
Which one fits your needs?
Pick Appaloosa if your fleet is mostly smartphones and tablets, you need a private app store or kiosk mode, French data sovereignty matters, or you want a cost-effective MDM that does mobile application management deeply.
Pick Primo if you need built-in identity management and HR automation, you buy and ship hardware internationally, you run Linux workstations, or you are optimizing IT operations beyond device management.
Some companies run both. A retailer managing 500 Android scanners in stores plus a head-office fleet of Macs and PCs can keep the entire device fleet on Appaloosa, then layer Primo on top for HR-driven provisioning, international hardware procurement, or Linux workstations. They cover different layers: device management on one side, IT operations on the other.
FAQ
Can Primo replace a dedicated MDM for mobile devices?
For basic mobile policies (passcode, encryption, remote wipe), yes. But Primo lacks a private app store, kiosk mode, and advanced Android Enterprise features. If mobile management is central to your operations, you will hit limits quickly.
Is Primo a French sovereign cloud solution?
Primo is a French company (Clutch SAS, Paris), but its infrastructure spans Europe, UK, and US. It does not hold SecNumCloud certification and data may transit through US-hosted infrastructure. For strict sovereignty requirements, this matters.
Can I use Appaloosa and Primo together?
Yes. Many companies run their full device fleet (mobile, tablets, Mac, and Windows) on Appaloosa and add Primo on top for the IT-operations layer: identity provisioning, HR automation, hardware procurement, and Linux workstations. Both support SSO integration, so user management stays unified.
How do the costs compare for a 100-device fleet?
Appaloosa Business: 349 euros per month (3.49 euros per device). Primo MDM only: 800 euros per month (8 euros per device). With Primo identity add-on: 1,300 euros per month (13 euros per device total). The gap widens with fleet size.