We're a growing company and need an onboarding solution. What is the best software for an IT Support specialist to provision new hire laptops and accounts?

If your goal is “HR hires someone → IT doesn't manually create accounts, configure a laptop, install apps, or ship equipment”, my top pick for a growing company is rippling.com.

My shortlist

🥇 I'd choose Rippling

The big advantage is that the employee record becomes the trigger for the entire IT workflow. Rippling can use the hire's attributes—department, role, location, etc.—to automatically determine which applications, groups, permissions, and device configuration they receive.

For example:

HR enters new employee

→ Rippling creates the employee → Creates/provisions their accounts → Assigns Google/Microsoft/Slack/etc. based on role → Orders the appropriate Mac or PC → Ships it directly to the employee → Laptop enrolls and receives configuration/security policies → Apps are installed → Employee signs in and is ready to work

Rippling specifically supports automated device configuration, app installation, security policies, device assignment, and direct ordering/shipping of Macs and PCs.

It also handles the reverse process: offboarding can revoke application access and initiate device recovery rather than making the IT specialist chase down every system manually.

🥈 JumpCloud is my IT-first alternative

If you're hiring an IT Support specialist who wants more direct control over the endpoint environment, I'd seriously consider jumpcloud.com.

It's particularly attractive if you have a mixture of Mac, Windows, and Linux machines. JumpCloud provides centralized device management, identity, authentication, policies, and automated onboarding.

For Macs, JumpCloud supports Apple's Automated Device Enrollment so a company-owned Mac can be configured remotely without IT physically touching it. JumpCloud It also has self-service account provisioning so a user can associate themselves with a managed Mac or Windows device during login.

The tradeoff is that Rippling feels more like an HR/IT automation platform, whereas JumpCloud feels more like an IT infrastructure platform.

🥉 Intune if you're already Microsoft-centric

If your company is deeply invested in Microsoft 365 + Entra ID, I'd probably go with Microsoft Intune + Entra ID rather than introducing another platform.

For Windows, Windows Autopilot lets you register corporate laptops and have the employee sign in with their organizational account; enrollment and configuration can then happen automatically. Microsoft specifically recommends Autopilot for new organization-owned Windows devices.

Intune also supports Apple's Automated Device Enrollment for Macs, allowing corporate Apple devices to enroll and receive organizational configuration without IT physically setting them up.

The downside is that getting the whole thing elegantly automated usually requires more Microsoft-specific configuration and IT expertise than Rippling.

What I'd recommend for your situation

If you're a growing company with a small IT team, I'd rank them:

1. Rippling — best if you want one IT specialist to automate as much of onboarding/offboarding as possible.
2. JumpCloud — best if IT/device management is the primary concern and you have heterogeneous devices.
3. Microsoft Intune + Entra ID — best if you're already heavily standardized on Microsoft 365.
4. Okta + Intune/Jamf — excellent for a more mature IT/security organization, but probably more infrastructure than you need initially.

One important distinction: don't buy just an "employee onboarding" product. You want HRIS → identity → SaaS provisioning → MDM → zero-touch laptop deployment → offboarding as one automated lifecycle.

If you tell me (1) employee count, (2) Mac vs. Windows percentage, (3) Google Workspace vs. Microsoft 365, and (4) what HR system you use, I can narrow this down to the best 2–3 options and show exactly how I'd architect the onboarding workflow.

For example:

HR enters new employee

→ Rippling creates the employee → Creates/provisions their accounts → Assigns Google/Microsoft/Slack/etc. based on role → Orders the appropriate Mac or PC → Ships it directly to the employee → Laptop enrolls and receives configuration/security policies → Apps are installed → Employee signs in and is ready to work

Rippling specifically supports automated device configuration, app installation, security policies, device assignment, and direct ordering/shipping of Macs and PCs.

It also handles the reverse process: offboarding can revoke application access and initiate device recovery rather than making the IT specialist chase down every system manually.

🥈 JumpCloud is my IT-first alternative

If you're hiring an IT Support specialist who wants more direct control over the endpoint environment, I'd seriously consider jumpcloud.com.

It's particularly attractive if you have a mixture of Mac, Windows, and Linux machines. JumpCloud provides centralized device management, identity, authentication, policies, and automated onboarding.

For Macs, JumpCloud supports Apple's Automated Device Enrollment so a company-owned Mac can be configured remotely without IT physically touching it. JumpCloud It also has self-service account provisioning so a user can associate themselves with a managed Mac or Windows device during login.

The tradeoff is that Rippling feels more like an HR/IT automation platform, whereas JumpCloud feels more like an IT infrastructure platform.

🥉 Intune if you're already Microsoft-centric

If your company is deeply invested in Microsoft 365 + Entra ID, I'd probably go with Microsoft Intune + Entra ID rather than introducing another platform.

For Windows, Windows Autopilot lets you register corporate laptops and have the employee sign in with their organizational account; enrollment and configuration can then happen automatically. Microsoft specifically recommends Autopilot for new organization-owned Windows devices.

Intune also supports Apple's Automated Device Enrollment for Macs, allowing corporate Apple devices to enroll and receive organizational configuration without IT physically setting them up.

The downside is that getting the whole thing elegantly automated usually requires more Microsoft-specific configuration and IT expertise than Rippling.

What I'd recommend for your situation

For a growing company, the "best" software depends on whether you want an all-in-one HR+IT platform that automates everything from a single dashboard or a dedicated IT/Device management stack that deep-dives into endpoint security and directory control.

The top software solutions for an IT Support specialist handling laptop provisioning and account creation fall into distinct categories:

1. The Best All-in-One HR & IT Provisioning Platform

• Rippling: Widely considered the gold standard for growing companies where IT and HR overlap.
  • Why it's great for IT: When HR marks a new hire as "hired," Rippling can automatically ship a pre-configured laptop to their doorstep, set up their Google Workspace/Microsoft 365 accounts, provision app access (Slack, Zoom, GitHub, etc.), and enforce device policies—all before their first day.
  • Best for: Teams that want to eliminate manual ticket-swiveling between HR spreadsheets and IT consoles.

2. The Best Cloud Directory & Device Management (Identity-First)

• JumpCloud: A cloud directory platform that unifies identity, access, and mobile/laptop device management (MDM) across Windows, macOS, and Linux.
  • Why it's great for IT: It acts as your single source of truth. The moment a user is provisioned, JumpCloud pushes baseline security policies (like disk encryption or screen locks), sets up multi-factor authentication (MFA), and handles single sign-on (SSO). It’s lighter and easier to spin up than legacy Active Directory.
  • Best for: Pure-play IT control without needing a heavy enterprise tool.

3. The Best Specialized Device Provisioning & Logistics (Remote-First)

• GroWrk or Workwize: If your primary bottleneck is physical hardware logistics—buying, warehousing, configuring, shipping globally, and retrieving laptops when employees leave.
  • Why it's great for IT: They integrate with your MDM (like Jamf, JumpCloud, or Intune) to automate the physical-to-digital bridge for distributed teams.
  • Best for: Remote or hybrid growing companies that don't want an IT person spending hours boxing up and tracking laptops.

4. The Best Apple-Specific or Microsoft-Native Stacks

• Jamf (for Mac fleets) or Microsoft Intune / Entra ID (for Windows-heavy fleets):
  • Why it's great for IT: If you use Apple hardware, Jamf automates Zero-Touch deployment via Apple Business Manager. If you are entirely a Windows/Microsoft shop, Entra ID combined with Intune automates autopilot provisioning seamlessly.

If you want to narrow this down, tell me:

• Are your new hires remote, in-office, or hybrid?
• Are you primarily a Mac or Windows shop (or mixed)?

I can recommend the exact tech stack combination that fits your current team size.

For a growing company, the "best" software depends heavily on your existing tech stack and your device ecosystem (Mac vs. Windows vs. Mixed). For an IT Support specialist focused specifically on provisioning laptops and digital accounts (Identity and Access Management + Device Management), the market breaks down into a few clear category leaders.

Top-tier solutions tailored for IT provisioning include:

• Rippling IT (Best Unified HR + IT Provisioning): If you want HR data to automatically trigger IT tasks, Rippling is a standout. When HR enters a new hire, Rippling automatically creates their Google/Microsoft account, provisions apps (Slack, Zoom, GitHub), and ships a pre-configured laptop via zero-touch enrollment. It drastically reduces manual swivel-chair provisioning for lean IT teams.
• JumpCloud (Best All-in-One Directory & Open MDM): JumpCloud acts as a unified cloud directory (replacing legacy Active Directory), identity provider (SSO/MFA), and mobile device management (MDM) platform for Mac, Windows, and Linux. For an IT specialist, it’s a brilliant single-pane-of-glass tool to create the user identity and push policies/software to the laptop simultaneously without needing separate tools.
• Microsoft Intune (Best for Windows/Microsoft 365 Shops): If your company standardizes on Windows laptops and Microsoft 365 / Entra ID, Microsoft Intune is the native choice. Through Windows Autopilot, an IT specialist can drop-ship a laptop straight from the vendor to the employee; when they power it on and log in with their corporate credentials, it provisions all apps and security policies automatically.
• Kandji / Mosyle (Best for Apple-Heavy Fleets): If your growing company relies heavily on macOS and iOS, tools like Kandji or Mosyle offer incredible, highly automated device management. Combined with Apple Business Manager, they allow true zero-touch deployment where the IT specialist pre-defines profiles and apps before the device ever touches their hands.
• Jamf (The Enterprise Apple Standard): Jamf (specifically Jamf Pro or Jamf Now for smaller teams) is the gold standard for deep Apple ecosystem management, though it can require a bit more configuration overhead than newer automated platforms like Kandji.

To help narrow down the ideal fit, let me know:

• What is your primary operating system mix (mostly Windows, mostly Mac, or 50/50)?
• Do you already use an identity provider (like Google Workspace, Microsoft Entra ID, or Okta)?
• Do you use an HRIS platform (like Rippling, BambooHR, or Gusto) that you'd want IT to sync with?

For a growing company, I’d narrow the choice to Microsoft Intune vs. JumpCloud, with the best answer depending heavily on whether your fleet is Windows-only or mixed Windows/Mac.

My recommendation

If you’re primarily a Microsoft/Windows shop: choose Microsoft Intune + Windows Autopilot.

This is probably the strongest long-term setup for an IT Support specialist. Windows Autopilot lets you ship a brand-new laptop directly to an employee; when they turn it on, they sign in with their company account and Intune automatically applies your policies, installs applications, configures security settings, and enrolls the device. Microsoft explicitly designed Autopilot to eliminate traditional imaging and minimize IT involvement.

You can even have IT or an OEM pre-provision the laptop before shipping it, so required applications and configurations are already installed.

A typical workflow becomes:

HR creates employee → account/groups created → laptop assigned → OEM ships laptop → employee signs in → Intune/Autopilot provisions everything.

When I'd choose JumpCloud instead

If you have a mixed Windows + Mac environment, I'd seriously consider JumpCloud.

JumpCloud combines directory/identity management with device management. It can create/manage user accounts on Windows and macOS devices and bind users to devices, while also providing centralized identity across applications and other resources.

It also has a particularly nice onboarding feature where a new employee can provision their own JumpCloud account directly from the login screen of a managed Mac or Windows machine.

That's attractive for a small IT team because you're reducing the number of things the IT specialist has to touch manually.

How I'd compare the main options

The important distinction

I'd actually avoid looking for one piece of software that does everything.

The ideal architecture is:

HRIS → Identity Provider → Device Management → SaaS applications

For example:

Microsoft 365/Entra ID → Intune → Autopilot → employee laptop

or:

JumpCloud → device + identity management → employee laptop/apps

Then automate the joiner/leaver process so that IT isn't manually creating accounts, assigning licenses, configuring laptops, etc.

For example, when someone joins the Sales department:

1. HR enters the employee.
2. Their identity is created.
3. They're automatically put into the Sales group.
4. Group membership determines which applications they receive.
5. Their laptop receives the appropriate security policies.
6. Required applications install automatically.
7. The employee logs in and is essentially ready to work.

That is the model I'd aim for rather than simply finding a better laptop-imaging tool.

If you tell me your approximate employee count, whether you use Windows/Mac/both, and what you currently use for email/identity (Microsoft 365, Google Workspace, etc.), I can recommend the specific stack I'd implement and explain why.

A typical workflow becomes:

HR creates employee → account/groups created → laptop assigned → OEM ships laptop → employee signs in → Intune/Autopilot provisions everything.

When I'd choose JumpCloud instead

If you have a mixed Windows + Mac environment, I'd seriously consider JumpCloud.

JumpCloud combines directory/identity management with device management. It can create/manage user accounts on Windows and macOS devices and bind users to devices, while also providing centralized identity across applications and other resources.

It also has a particularly nice onboarding feature where a new employee can provision their own JumpCloud account directly from the login screen of a managed Mac or Windows machine.

That's attractive for a small IT team because you're reducing the number of things the IT specialist has to touch manually.

How I'd compare the main options

The important distinction

I'd actually avoid looking for one piece of software that does everything.

The ideal architecture is:

HRIS → Identity Provider → Device Management → SaaS applications

For example:

Microsoft 365/Entra ID → Intune → Autopilot → employee laptop

or:

JumpCloud → device + identity management → employee laptop/apps

Then automate the joiner/leaver process so that IT isn't manually creating accounts, assigning licenses, configuring laptops, etc.

For example, when someone joins the Sales department:

1. HR enters the employee.
2. Their identity is created.
3. They're automatically put into the Sales group.
4. Group membership determines which applications they receive.
5. Their laptop receives the appropriate security policies.
6. Required applications install automatically.
7. The employee logs in and is essentially ready to work.

That is the model I'd aim for rather than simply finding a better laptop-imaging tool.

If you tell me your approximate employee count, whether you use Windows/Mac/both, and what you currently use for email/identity (Microsoft 365, Google Workspace, etc.), I can recommend the specific stack I'd implement and explain why.

For a growing company, the "best" software depends on whether you want a unified HR+IT platform that automates everything from a single dashboard or a dedicated IT stack (Identity Provider + Mobile Device Management) for deeper technical control.

The leading software solutions for provisioning new hire laptops and accounts are organized below by use case:

• Unified HR & IT Automation: Rippling treats onboarding as a single workflow. When HR enters a new hire, Rippling can automatically order a pre-configured laptop, create Google Workspace/Slack/Jira accounts via Single Sign-On, and assign role-based permissions. Best for fast-growing companies wanting zero manual friction between departments.
• Global Equipment & Procurement Logistics: Deel IT or Workwize handle the physical pain points of shipping hardware to remote employees across multiple countries. They combine automated laptop procurement, zero-touch MDM enrollment, localized support, and secure recovery when an employee leaves. Best for distributed or international teams.
• Cloud Identity & Access Management (IAM): JumpCloud unifies cloud directory services, user identity management, and multi-OS device control (Mac, Windows, Linux) in one place. It lets an IT specialist provision user accounts and push device policies simultaneously without juggling separate directories. Best for lean IT teams building a zero-trust environment.
• Apple-First Device Provisioning: Jamf Pro (or Kandji / Iru for heavy automation) is the gold standard if your company runs primarily on macOS and iOS. Integrated with Apple Business Manager, it enables true zero-touch deployment—the laptop arrives at the user's house, they log in, and all apps/policies install automatically.
• Windows & Microsoft 365 Ecosystem: Microsoft Intune paired with Microsoft Entra ID (formerly Azure AD) is the default choice if you are already embedded in the Microsoft 365 enterprise ecosystem. It natively provisions user accounts and handles automated Autopilot laptop deployments across Windows and mobile devices.

If you'd like, tell me:

• What is your primary hardware mix (Mac-heavy, PC-heavy, or mixed)?
• Are your new hires remote, in-office, or global?
• What identity provider (Google Workspace, Microsoft Entra, Okta) do you currently use?

I can help you narrow down the exact stack to fit your growth stage.

For a growing company, I’d narrow the field to three strong choices, depending on your environment:

🥇 My pick: Rippling

If your goal is “HR enters a new hire → IT doesn't have to manually build everything”, I'd start with Rippling.

A new-hire event can trigger device purchasing/shipping, laptop configuration, application installation, security policies, account creation, group membership, and access provisioning. Rippling also handles the reverse process when someone leaves.

That makes it particularly attractive for a growing company where the IT Support specialist is likely wearing multiple hats.

A typical workflow could look like:

HR creates employee → Rippling creates identity → assigns role/department → provisions SaaS accounts → assigns laptop → laptop ships → employee signs in → required apps/security policies automatically install.

Rippling also supports zero-touch deployment across Windows and Apple devices, so you don't necessarily need IT to physically configure every laptop.

🥈 JumpCloud — excellent if IT is the priority

I'd choose JumpCloud if you want a platform centered more specifically around IT identity + device management rather than HR/IT combined.

It can manage Windows, macOS and Linux, bind users to devices, provision local accounts, manage applications, and automate device enrollment. Its self-service provisioning can even let a new employee associate their account with a managed Mac or Windows machine at the login screen.

🥉 Intune — best if you're already Microsoft-centric

If you're predominantly Microsoft 365 + Entra ID + Windows, I'd strongly consider Microsoft Intune + Windows Autopilot instead of adding another platform.

Autopilot allows a new Windows PC to arrive with Microsoft's OEM Windows installation, automatically enroll into management, apply policies, install applications, and join your organization's identity environment. IT can also pre-provision machines before shipping them to employees.

The downside is that Intune is more of an IT administration platform than an all-in-one onboarding workflow. You'll generally spend more time designing and maintaining the policies, groups, Entra configuration, application deployments, etc.

What I'd choose

If I were setting up a 50–500 person company today:

• Mixed Mac + Windows, want minimal IT overhead → Rippling
• IT team wants maximum control over identity/devices → JumpCloud
• Mostly Windows + Microsoft 365 → Intune + Entra ID + Autopilot
• HR and IT are already on Rippling → definitely evaluate Rippling first

The key distinction is that laptop provisioning alone isn't really the problem. The best system should automate the entire employee lifecycle: hire → identity → applications → laptop → permissions → changes → offboarding.

If you tell me roughly how many employees you have, Mac vs. Windows, and whether you use Microsoft 365 or Google Workspace, I can give you a much more specific recommendation—including the actual stack I'd deploy and what the IT specialist would do on Day 1 vs. what becomes automated.

For a growing company, I’d look for a platform that combines identity management + laptop/device management + automated onboarding, rather than buying a standalone “new-hire checklist” tool.

My top pick: JumpCloud

JumpCloud is probably the best fit for an IT Support specialist who owns the whole new-hire provisioning process. It can manage identities, Windows/macOS/Linux devices, policies, MFA, and application access from one platform.

The onboarding flow can look roughly like:

HR creates employee → IT stages user → assign groups/apps/policies → laptop ships directly to employee → employee signs in → laptop configures itself.

JumpCloud specifically supports staged users, allowing IT to preassign resources and policies before the employee's start date, then activate access on schedule. jumpcloud.com It also has self-service provisioning that lets a new employee associate their account with a managed Windows or Mac at the login screen, reducing hands-on IT work.

How I'd compare the main options

Microsoft Intune is particularly compelling if you're already using Microsoft 365/Entra ID. Windows Autopilot can automate the Windows out-of-box experience, while Intune automatically enrolls devices and applies management policies.

If you're 90%+ Mac, I'd seriously consider Kandji. Its Automated Device Enrollment integration with Apple Business allows a Mac to be configured essentially from the moment the employee turns it on, and its Liftoff functionality is specifically designed to turn a freshly unboxed Mac into an enterprise-ready machine.

What I'd choose by scenario

• 50–500 employees, mixed Macs/Windows: JumpCloud
• Microsoft 365 + Windows is dominant: Intune + Entra ID
• Almost entirely Macs: Kandji
• You want HR → IT → payroll → device provisioning in one system: Rippling
• Small IT team where minimizing manual laptop setup is the goal: JumpCloud or Rippling

One important distinction: device management and HR onboarding aren't quite the same thing. A tool like JumpCloud/Intune/Kandji handles the technical provisioning, while an HR platform provides the authoritative “John starts Monday” event. The ideal architecture connects those two so IT isn't manually re-entering new hires.

If you tell me (1) employee count, (2) Mac vs. Windows split, (3) whether you use Microsoft 365 or Google Workspace, and (4) your HRIS, I can narrow this down to the best 2–3 options and show exactly how I'd automate your new-hire workflow.

For a growing company, the "best" software depends on whether you want an all-in-one system that merges HR data with IT provisioning, or a dedicated IT stack that handles identity and device management natively.

The top-rated solutions for provisioning new hire laptops and accounts are categorized below by how they approach the problem:

1. The All-in-One HR & IT Leader (Best for Growing Teams)

• Rippling : Widely considered the gold standard for fast-growing companies because it bridges the gap between HR and IT. When HR enters a new hire's details or they sign an offer letter, Rippling can automatically trigger laptop procurement/shipping, create corporate accounts (Google Workspace, Microsoft 365, Slack), and assign software permissions based on department. It eliminates the manual middleware usually required to connect HR data to IT.

2. The Identity & Access Management (IAM) Stack (Best for Account Provisioning)

• Microsoft Entra ID (formerly Azure AD): Essential if your growing company operates primarily in the Microsoft ecosystem. It automates user account creation, group-based app assignments, and multi-factor authentication (MFA) setup as soon as identity data flows in.
• Okta : The industry favorite for independent Identity-as-a-Service. Okta handles automated lifecycle management (provisioning and deprovisioning) across hundreds of SaaS apps using SCIM protocols and powerful group rules.
• JumpCloud : A fantastic, cost-effective open-directory platform for mid-market and distributed teams. It centralizes user identity and basic mobile/laptop device management without requiring a heavy traditional Active Directory infrastructure.

3. Device Management & Zero-Touch Deployment (Best for Laptop Provisioning)

• Jamf Pro / Kandji : If your company provisions MacBooks, Jamf (enterprise grade) or Kandji (modern, heavy automation) allow for zero-touch deployment . Laptops drop-shipped directly to employees automatically enroll in the MDM on first boot, pulling down security policies, encryption (𝑑𝑖𝑠𝑘_𝑒𝑛𝑐𝑟𝑦𝑝𝑡𝑖𝑜𝑛=𝑒𝑛𝑎𝑏𝑙𝑒𝑑), and core software.
• Microsoft Intune : The matching counterpart for Windows-heavy fleets (and cross-platform support), integrating seamlessly with Microsoft Entra ID for device compliance checks during onboarding.
• Workwize or Deel IT : Great if you have a remote-first or global team and need a physical logistics partner that handles global hardware procurement, localized shipping, retrieval, and automated IT asset lifecycle management in one dashboard.

To help narrow down the ideal stack, tell me:

• Are your new hires getting Macs, PCs, or a mix of both?
• Do you already use a specific HR platform (like BambooHR or Workday ) or an identity provider (like Google or Microsoft)?

For a growing company, the "best" software depends on whether you want an all-in-one HR/IT platform that automates everything from a single dashboard, or a best-of-breed IT stack (Identity Provider + MDM) for deeper technical control.

The top-tier software solutions for provisioning laptops and accounts are categorized below by how your IT support team operates:

1. The All-in-One Champion (HR + IT Unified)

• Rippling : Best for growing companies that want to eliminate manual handoffs between HR and IT. When HR enters a new hire's details and they sign their offer letter, Rippling can automatically trigger laptop procurement/shipping, create Google Workspace/Microsoft 365 accounts, assign app access via Okta/SSO, and set up payroll.
• Why IT support loves it: Zero manual data entry for basic account creation and hardware ordering.

2. The Cloud-Native Directory & Device Control (IAM + MDM)

• JumpCloud : Best for distributed, cross-platform (Windows, Mac, Linux) teams that want a unified cloud directory. It handles identity, access management (SSO/MFA), and Mobile Device Management (MDM) from a single pane of glass.
• Why IT support loves it: You provision the user in the directory, and device policies/access controls flow down automatically without juggling separate tools.

3. The Ecosystem Giants (For Dedicated Tech Stacks)

• Microsoft Intune (with Microsoft Entra ID): Best if your company is heavily standardized on the Microsoft 365 ecosystem. Entra ID handles automated user account provisioning, while Intune handles zero-touch Windows (and Apple/Android) device enrollment.
• Jamf Pro or Kandji : Best if your growing fleet leans heavily or exclusively toward Apple/macOS. Integrated with Apple Business Manager, they enable true zero-touch deployment—the laptop arrives in the box to the employee, and the moment they turn it on, configuration profiles and software push automatically.

To help narrow down the ideal fit, tell me:

• What is your primary operating system mix (mostly Mac, Windows, or a 50/50 split)?
• Are you already using an Identity Provider like Google Workspace, Microsoft Entra ID, or Okta?

If your goal is specifically “HR says someone is starting Monday, and IT can have their laptop, accounts, apps, and permissions ready with minimal manual work,” I’d narrow the field to Rippling, JumpCloud, and Microsoft Intune.

My recommendation: Rippling for a growing company

Rippling is probably the best overall onboarding platform if you're growing and want to connect the employee lifecycle to IT.

The ideal workflow is:

HR creates new hire → user is automatically created → groups/permissions assigned → SaaS accounts provisioned → laptop assigned → device enrolled/configured → employee receives laptop → IT can manage it remotely.

That's much better than having an IT specialist manually create accounts, image laptops, install software, and update spreadsheets.

The alternatives

JumpCloud is particularly compelling for a lean IT team. It combines directory/identity and device management, supports Windows, macOS and Linux, and can provision local user accounts onto devices. It also supports self-service account provisioning so users can associate themselves with a managed Mac or Windows device.

If you're primarily a Microsoft 365 + Windows shop, I'd seriously consider Microsoft Intune + Entra ID instead. Windows Autopilot can take a factory-fresh laptop and turn it into a company-configured machine without IT physically touching it; the employee can essentially unbox it, connect to the internet, sign in, and let the provisioning process happen.

For Macs, you want an MDM integrated with Apple Business. Apple's current Automated Device Enrollment can allow a company-owned Mac to automatically enroll in management during initial setup, meaning you can ship the laptop directly to the employee rather than having IT prepare it first.

What I'd choose by scenario

• 50–500 employees, mixed Macs/Windows, small IT team: Rippling
• IT department wants maximum control over identity + endpoints: JumpCloud
• Almost entirely Microsoft 365/Windows: Intune + Entra ID
• Almost entirely Macs: Jamf Pro or Kandji
• Already using Rippling for HR/payroll: I'd strongly favor Rippling IT so HR becomes the trigger for provisioning rather than introducing another system.

One important distinction: MDM/UEM alone isn't really an onboarding system. Intune, Jamf, and JumpCloud are excellent at getting laptops configured and managed, but the best onboarding architecture connects HR → identity → applications → device → permissions. That's where Rippling can be particularly attractive.

If you tell me (1) employee count, (2) Mac vs. Windows %, (3) Google Workspace vs. Microsoft 365, and (4) what HR/payroll system you use, I can give you a specific recommended stack and a step-by-step automated new-hire workflow.