…and how to set them up the right way so you stay compliant & secure, save money, and keep your sanity.

If you work in ABA, especially if you oversee operations, IT, or clinical teams, you’ve probably heard at least one of these statements:

• “Why don’t we just get cheaper tablets?”
• “Amazon has Fire tablets for like $50!”
• “Schools use Chromebooks… shouldn’t we?”
• “Android tablets are basically the same thing as iPads, right?”

I get it. When you’re buying devices for a whole team of BTs and RBTs, the costs add up fast. And on the surface, iPads look expensive. A Samsung tablet might be $150. An Amazon Fire tablet might be $80. Meanwhile, a new iPad is sitting there like, “Hello, I cost more than your car payment.”

But here’s the plot twist…

iPads are actually more cost-effective in ABA than the “cheaper” tablet options.
And they’re a lot easier to secure, manage, repair, replace, and integrate with the systems ABA organizations rely on.
And if you set them up the right way through Apple Business Manager + your cell carrier + Microsoft 365 (if you’re on Google Workspace, don’t worry – keep reading.) they become a long-term investment instead of a short-term headache.

This article breaks down why, in plain language. And at the end, you'll know exactly how to set everything up the right way (or you can just let us do it for you 😉).

Let’s dig in.

The Hidden Math of “Cheap Tablets” vs. iPads

Let’s start with the question everyone asks:

“Why should I get an iPad when Android tablets are cheaper?”

Great question with a simple answer:

Because the upfront cost is not the real cost.

In ABA, the real cost of a device includes:

• How long the device lasts
• How often it breaks
• How expensive repairs are
• Whether it’s HIPAA compliant
• How much time IT spends fixing and managing it
• Whether it works with your ABA software
• How easy it is for staff to use (so they don’t waste session time)

iPads shine in all of these categories.

Let’s look at the big pieces one by one.

Wi-Fi vs. Cellular: Why Data Plans Actually Save You Money

If your team works only in the clinic, you’re in luck.
You can get Wi-Fi-only iPads through Apple Business Manager for around $30/month, no data plan needed.

But if you have staff working:

• In homes
• In schools
• In community settings

…then you need an iPad with a cellular data plan. Yes, even if the family has Wi-Fi. Yes, even if the school has Wi-Fi.

Here’s why:

HIPAA requires devices to be on secure networks.

And here’s the truth nobody wants to say out loud:

You have zero control over a family’s Wi-Fi.
You have zero visibility into how a school’s network is configured.
You have zero way to guarantee either is secure.

Regardless, as a business owner, YOU. ARE. RESPONSIBLE.

… about everything, all day, every day.

You could spend $50–$100/month/device to secure and monitor every unknown network your staff connects to…
or you can spend $15–$30/month on a data plan, which automatically puts the device on the carrier’s secure, encrypted network – which also includes the cost of leasing the device, so you’re not paying for the whole device up front.

When you have a data plan - you are essentially renting a slice of their secure network.

Cell carrier networks (Verizon, AT&T, T-Mobile, and others) are:

• Encrypted
• Logged
• Audited
• Documented for HIPAA compliance

This means you’re not only saving money, but you’re getting built-in security.

It’s cheaper AND safer than trying to secure unknown Wi-Fi networks.

Without a data plan, you’d need:

• VPNs
• Firewalls
• Remote monitoring tools
• Network filtering
• Mobile device management upgrades
• Additional compliance solutions

That quickly becomes 2x–4x more expensive than a data plan.

So yes, the data plan costs money.
But trying to secure a device across 500 different home networks costs a LOT more.

Your ABA Tech Backbone: Apple Business Manager and Microsoft 365 (If you’re on Google Workspace, this next part is for you.)

In addition to choosing the right devices, the platform your whole tech stack sits on matters just as much. For ABA providers, Microsoft 365 always beats Google Workspace on total cost, compliance and security, and device management simplicity. Google can be made HIPAA-capable, but you usually end up paying for higher-tier licenses plus multiple add-on tools just to match the security, identity, and endpoint controls that Microsoft includes out of the box. With Microsoft 365, you get one unified place to manage users, Windows and Mac computers, iPads, and mobile devices with consistent policies and reporting. And if you’re already on Google and want to move, we actually have free and low-cost migration options that safely shift you from Google Workspace to Microsoft 365 and often save you money long term – details are in the following article. If you want the deep dive (with all the screenshots and receipts), check out this article: Google Workspace vs. Microsoft 365 for ABA: A Complete Guide to Cost, Compliance, and Device Management

If you’re not using Apple Business Manager yet, here’s the blunt truth:

You’re spending more money and causing more headaches than you need to.

Apple Business Manager connects your iPads to:

• Your Microsoft 365 environment (or Google Workspace if I haven’t convinced you to stop throwing away money yet.)
• Your mobile carrier
• Your mobile device management (MDM) system
• Your ABM purchasing account
• AppleCare

This gives you:

Zero-touch setup

Devices ship straight to you.
You never touch them (unless you want to – we all know how satisfying it is opening an Apple device box).
Your team opens the box, turns it on, and it automatically configures itself.
Magic.

Locked-down security

You can:

• Lock the device to specific apps
• Block app installs
• Enforce passcodes
• Erase devices remotely
• Track devices
• Push updates
• Control everything from a web dashboard

Try doing that with Amazon Fire tablets (you can’t).
Try doing that with Samsung devices (you can, but it's messy, expensive, and unreliable).

True long-term management

iPads last 5–6 years with proper management.

Cheaper tablets?
You’ll be replacing them every 12–24 months, plus dealing with repairs, random glitches, and software incompatibility.

ABM is the infrastructure that makes iPads a cost-effective choice.
And most ABA organizations aren’t using it because nobody taught them how.

(That’s exactly what we help with.)

Durability and Repair Costs: AppleCare Wins Every Time

Here’s a fun statistic:

RBTs break devices.
They will break your devices.
They will break more devices than you think.

It’s not intentional. It’s just part of the job.

ABA work is physical. Kids are fast. Devices get:

• Dropped
• Thrown
• Drooled on
• Stepped on
• Left on car roofs
• Smashed in backpacks

This is the real world. And here’s where Apple pulls ahead:

With AppleCare, repairs are $49.

Not $150.
Not $300.
Not “welp, guess we need a new tablet.”

Cheaper tablets = full replacement every time something breaks.

Samsung Galaxy tablet cracked?
You’re usually buying a brand new one.

Amazon Fire tablet stops charging?
You’re definitely buying a new one.

After 6–12 months, your “cheaper” device is costing you more than an iPad.

Compatibility (aka: iPads Just Work Better with ABA Apps)

This is the part people don’t want to admit:

Every major ABA software vendor designs for iPadOS/iOS first.

They all perform better on iOS.

Android is secondary.
And Fire tablets?
Forget it.

You’ll see:

• More glitches
• More app crashes
• More missing data
• More support tickets
• More staff frustration

iPads simply work better out of the box.

And when your frontline staff have devices that “just work,” they're able to collect accurate data without technology slowing them down.

Ease of Use = Faster Training, Fewer Mistakes

If you’ve trained a new RBT before, you know:

The simpler the technology, the better.

Staff need to:

• Clock in and out
• Run session notes
• Collect data
• Access manuals and programs
• Use telehealth apps
• Send messages
• Upload documentation

iPads make this simple.

The interface is straightforward.
Apps run smoothly.
There’s less room for errors.

Every hour your RBT isn’t fighting with technology is an hour they’re doing what they’re trained to do: supporting kids.

Why You Should Skip the iPad Mini

Many people ask:

“Can we save money by getting the iPad Mini?”

Short answer:

It’s not cheaper enough to justify the downgrade.
It has less power and storage.
It doesn’t last as long.
ABA software doesn’t display as well on the smaller screen.

Just forget about phones. There are so many reasons that I just don’t even want to get into that in this article.

You’ll get far better performance from the standard iPad with the A16 chip, which lasts 5–6 years easily.

The Mini costs almost as much - but does a lot less.

Total Cost of Ownership (TCO): The Real Reason iPads Win

When you add it all up:

• The device cost
• The cost of securing unknown Wi-Fi
• The cost of staff time
• The cost of repairs
• The cost of replacements
• The cost of glitches
• The cost of compliance risks
• The cost of managing cheap devices

…iPads are hands-down the most cost-effective device for ABA organizations.

Especially when purchased and managed through:

• Apple Business Manager
• Microsoft 365 (If you still want to be on Google Workspace, you must not care about wasting money.)
• Your mobile carrier
• An MDM system
• AppleCare+

You get:

• Longer device lifespan
• Lower repair costs
• Stronger compliance
• Easier management
• Happier staff
• More reliable data collection
• Lower long-term expenses

It’s not even close.

The Problem? Most ABA Organizations Don’t Know How to Set All This Up

This is where things fall apart.

To get iPads working the right way, you need:

✔ A DUNS number
✔ Apple Business Manager
✔ An MDM system
✔ Microsoft 365 correctly configured (If you’re seriously still on Google Workspace, why? LOL)
✔ Correct setup with your mobile carrier
✔ Device enrollment automations
✔ Compliance policies
✔ Security baselines
✔ Conditional access rules
✔ Identity management

The individual steps aren’t hard…
…but knowing which steps matter, in which order, for ABA is the tricky part.

Most ABA founders and clinical directors didn’t go to school for IT or tech compliance.
And most IT professionals didn’t go to school for ABA.

So naturally, there’s a gap.

This is the gap we fill: We’ve helped hundreds of ABA businesses set up their technology.

Want the Easy Button? We’ll Help Guide You.

If you want iPads to be:

• Cost-effective
• Secure
• HIPAA compliant
• Integrated
• Easy to manage
• Auto-configured
• Durable
• Staff-proof
• Set up the right way

…you don’t have to figure it out alone.

We’ll walk you through everything, including the things most people don’t even know they need.

Our team will:

⭐ Help you get your DUNS number
⭐ Help you set up Apple Business Manager
⭐ Help you integrate ABM with Microsoft 365
⭐ Show you how to connect your MDM and security policies
⭐ Show you how to work with your cell carrier to automate device setup
⭐ Help you build a secure tech foundation designed specifically for ABA

By the end of strategy session, you’ll have the information you need to set up:

• A fully automated device system
• Secure data collection
• Streamlined workflows
• Lower costs
• Fewer tech headaches
• Happier clinicians
• A more scalable organization

Your future self will thank you.

Ready to Skip the Headaches and Get This Done Right?

If you want to make iPads the most cost-effective, secure, scalable part of your ABA tech stack…

Book a free consult with us today: https://meetings.hubspot.com/derreck-ogden/abm-consult
We’ll walk you through:

• Setting up Apple Business Manager
• Ensuring HIPAA-secure mobile device usage
• Integrating iPads with Microsoft 365 (Listen, if you really, really love Google, we’ll still help you.)
• Working with your mobile carrier
• Choosing the right iPad models
• Avoiding expensive compliance mistakes
• Creating a device setup workflow that just works

If you want a smooth, secure, stress-free solution for your ABA organization's mobile tech, we’d love to help.