Fortinet FortiExtender vs Ruckus Wireless WAN comparison

Fortinet and Ruckus are both solutions in the Wireless WAN category. Fortinet is ranked #7 with an average rating of 9.5, while Ruckus is ranked #2 with an average rating of 8.4. Fortinet holds a 2.5% mindshare in Wireless WAN, compared to Ruckus’s 35.6% mindshare. Additionally, 100% of Fortinet users are willing to recommend the solution, compared to 93% of Ruckus users who would recommend it.

Fortinet FortiExtender

Read 10 Fortinet FortiExtender reviews

461 Views
123 Comparison Views

100% willing to recommend

Ruckus Wireless WAN

Read 56 Ruckus Wireless WAN reviews

2,816 Views
2,284 Comparison Views

93% willing to recommend

Fortinet FortiExtender

Ruckus Wireless WAN

Comparison Buyer's Guide

Download the report

Executive SummaryUpdated on Feb 4, 2025

Ruckus Wireless WAN and Fortinet FortiExtender compete in the wireless WAN category. Ruckus tends to have the edge with exceptional performance and user-friendly management, whereas Fortinet excels in SD-WAN integration and interoperability.

Features: Ruckus Wireless WAN is known for its easy deployment, excellent coverage, and reliable connectivity. The solution includes BeamFlex technology, which optimizes coverage and signal quality. Another feature of Ruckus is its robust software infrastructure, contributing to superior performance. Fortinet FortiExtender stands out with its seamless integration with external solutions like 5G LTE, broadband modems, and cellular networks. The solution is noted for its interoperability with Fortinet products and centralized control capabilities. Its integration into an SD-WAN topology adds significant value by minimizing compatibility issues.

Room for Improvement: Ruckus Wireless WAN faces criticism for its high cost, documentation gaps, and the need for better technical support and network access controls. Users also seek customization options for captive portals. Fortinet FortiExtender could enhance its security features, offer more pricing flexibility, and improve interface intuitiveness. A common criticism is that both products could benefit from more competitive pricing strategies, with Fortinet users looking for more affordable 5G models.

Ease of Deployment and Customer Service: Ruckus Wireless WAN offers various deployment models, including hybrid and cloud, and usually receives positive feedback for ease of connectivity. However, recent feedback notes a slight decline in customer service quality. Fortinet FortiExtender operates primarily on-premises, with consistent ease of deployment, though its customer service needs improvement. Ruckus rates higher in connectivity ease, while Fortinet is praised for integrative capabilities.

Pricing and ROI: Ruckus Wireless WAN is perceived as expensive but has competitive pricing and delivers good ROI through extended infrastructure life. Critiques focus on high costs and inconsistent pricing practices. Fortinet FortiExtender is recognized for a straightforward pricing model with perpetually licensed hardware and FortiCare options. Despite not being the most expensive option, Fortinet is generally considered affordable, offering clear value in control and visibility features. Both solutions deliver strong ROI, with Ruckus notable for longevity of equipment.

To learn more, read our detailed Fortinet FortiExtender vs. Ruckus Wireless WAN Report (Updated: June 2025).

Buyer's Guide

Fortinet FortiExtender vs. Ruckus Wireless WAN

June 2025

Download the complete report

Helped 859,957 peers since 2012

Review summaries and opinions

We asked business professionals to review the solutions they use. Here are some excerpts of what they said:

Categories and Ranking

Fortinet FortiExtender

Ranking in Wireless WAN

7th

Average Rating

8.6

Reviews Sentiment

6.9

Number of Reviews

Ranking in other categories

No ranking in other categories

Ruckus Wireless WAN

Ranking in Wireless WAN

2nd

Average Rating

8.2

Reviews Sentiment

7.2

Number of Reviews

Ranking in other categories

No ranking in other categories

Mindshare comparison

As of July 2025, in the Wireless WAN category, the mindshare of Fortinet FortiExtender is 2.5%, up from 1.7% compared to the previous year. The mindshare of Ruckus Wireless WAN is 35.6%, down from 36.9% compared to the previous year. It is calculated based on PeerSpot user engagement data.

Wireless WAN

Featured Reviews

Özden-Aydın

Technology Consultant at Netwiser

Ensures seamless network continuity with efficient remote management and cost savings

I manage and monitor Fortinet FortiExtender devices across multiple sites by using the FortiCloud feature, which allows me to easily manage and monitor everywhere. I haven't used Fortinet FortiExtender's AI-driven network features for this product. My advice for those who want to implement Fortinet FortiExtender is that if you use this device as a console server for out-of-band management, it has only one USB port; if you need more than one port, you can use an external USB hub for multiple console cables. I am maintaining Fortinet FortiExtender for my customers for one year, and I find that to be sufficient. I rate Fortinet FortiExtender a 10 out of 10.

Read full review

Udit Narayan

Senior Engineer IT Networking at JSW

Offers robust outdoor connectivity, but signal strength and support need improvement

In Cisco, there is a configuration where it automatically switches from the 2.4 GHz to 5.2 GHz frequency. But with Ruckus, usually, we need to manually define whether we want to use the 2.4 GHz or 5.2 GHz. Another point is that its penetration power is low when we are using it in any location with more walls, as the signal strength diminishes. So, the signal strength and the penetration power of the signal should be improved. It is not like Cisco. We are using Cisco APs also, but Cisco APs perform better when we compare them with Ruckus. In future releases, I would like to see automatic switching between 2.4 GHz and 5.2 GHz frequencies. We should not have to set it manually. It should automatically change its frequency based on the load. For example, if the number of users increases, then its frequency should change automatically, switching to the less congested band.

Read full review

Quotes from Members

We asked business professionals to review the solutions they use. Here are some excerpts of what they said:

Pros

"The overall stability deserves a perfect rating."

"For me, the best feature of Fortinet FortiExtender is its integration with an external solution such as a 5G LTE broadband modem, wired modem, and cellular network. I also like that the product can be integrated into one device or a unified device, and that is one of its best features because it allows you to manage and centralize the control of every device."

"The initial setup was was just beautiful. It was straightforward."

"The product is easy to use and easy to integrate."

"The integration is easy and it works as a normal internet connection."

"The solution is extremely user-friendly."

"The most valuable feature will be that it works."

"You don't need to have two different vendors to interoperate and get into comparability issues or inter-operability issues."

More Fortinet FortiExtender pros

"One of the best features of Ruckus Wireless WAN that customers are interested in is the adaptive antenna called BeamFlex. Ruckus Wireless WAN also has the best management platform, and even if there are thousands of users of the solution, it's very easy to manage on Ruckus Wireless WAN. It can also support third-party equipment. It's an all-in-one solution and it has IoT and secure access capabilities. Upgrading the network to Ruckus Wireless WAN is also easy."

"One of its notable advantages lies in the superior performance of its antennas and radios."

"It’s reliable."

"The connectivity, speed, and reliability are very good."

"The most valuable feature is the ease of adding an access point."

"The stability provided is very nice."

"The most valuable solution is its simplicity. The solution is simple and easy to use."

"Its build quality is good and quite robust."

More Ruckus Wireless WAN pros

Cons

"I would like to see them make it smaller in the next release so that it has a smaller footprint for mobile clients."

"We would like to see some improvement in the price for 5G models, as they are currently very expensive."

"They could improve the remote console server feature and make it more user-friendly for more users."

"The support could be faster and more responsive."

"The engineering of the solution has some negative points, especially in terms of troubleshooting. It's difficult to troubleshoot when we have a problem. It's not like other products like Cisco or Palo Alto which make troubleshooting much easier."

"The solution would be a lot better if it was a little bit more intuitive. Additionally, the help menu would be a lot better if it was easier to identify the items that I was looking for. I find the graphical interface a little bit difficult to navigate. And I find the font that is used on the HTML interface not conducive to being able to be read in low light situations."

"What most of my clients are telling me is the price is a problem."

"There is a huge downside because we need to remove and insert the SIM to get it working."

More Fortinet FortiExtender cons

"The product could benefit from features like Cisco's, such as improved zoning and analytics tools."

"What needs improvement in Ruckus Wireless WAN is the initial setup. It could be easier. Availability is also another area for improvement in the product. Another huge disadvantage of Ruckus Wireless WAN is the cost you must continuously pay for the licenses."

"I would not consider this solution to be stable."

"The pricing, when compared to Ubiquiti, isn't competitive enough. If you want to have a Government or Public sector client they will ask why they should pay 200 euros if they can get something for 40 euros."

"Ruckus Wireless WAN we have a lot of component shortages in the world. This has impacted deliveries. We have large back orders of the solution."

"In comparison to Cambium, I find Cambium to be more robust in terms of performance."

"The captive portal should be more customizable because right now, it is very limited."

"This product needs a point-to-point, bridge solution."

More Ruckus Wireless WAN cons

Pricing and Cost Advice

"I've only used the open-source version of Fortinet FortiExtender, but I know that it has some features that require you to pay for a license."

"I'm not sure what the cost is. However, I anticipate that the purchase price will range between $2,500 and $5,000."

"The solution is not that expensive."

"It is less expensive than Aruba and Cisco."

"Here in India, Ruckus is chosen often because it is priced low."

"Licensing for Ruckus Wireless WAN when you compare it to other vendors, it's on par and not expensive. For me, all licensing is expensive by default, but you do get lifelong licenses, and what's cool about it is the license for Ruckus Wireless WAN, especially on the LAN controller, is not linked to an access point. It's just a quantity access point deployment, so you can rip out old APs, and put new ones in and they'll work on the wireless LAN because the license is not linked to a specific access point which is much easier to work with."

"The price of Ruckus Wireless WAN is in the middle price range compared to competitors. You will find Cisco is the most expensive, the second is HPE and Aruba, and the third is Ruckus Wireless WAN. You then have all the follower solutions."

"In terms of the license of Ruckus Wireless WAN being cheap or expensive, it would differ based on your country. As I'm living in Turkey, it's expensive, so far. There is a big challenge about the chip crisis or the silicon crisis lately, and all vendors are fighting, so not enough equipment could be sold and the vendors must earn money, so it's very fair for vendors to push software and licensing to keep working and earning, so it's hard to answer a question on how cheap or expensive the license is for the solution."

"I rate the product's price a seven on a scale of one to ten, where one is cheap, and ten is expensive."

"Sometimes they sell it for Rs.20,000, and other times, they sell it for Rs.30,000. Then, suddenly, they ask for Rs.70,000. There should be a tiered pricing structure based on the quantity. We understand that if you buy more, the price should be lower, and if you buy less, it may be higher."

"There is an annual license needed to use this solution. The pricing model is based on how many access points are used."

More Ruckus Wireless WAN pricing and cost advice

See which vendors are best for you

Use our free recommendation engine to learn which Wireless WAN solutions are best for your needs.

See recommendations

859,957 professionals have used our research since 2012.

Top Industries

By visitors reading reviews

Computer Software Company

20%

Media Company

11%

Government

Financial Services Firm

Comms Service Provider

15%

Computer Software Company

10%

Financial Services Firm

Manufacturing Company

Company Size

By reviewers

Large Enterprise

Midsize Enterprise

Small Business

Questions from the Community

What is your experience regarding pricing and costs for Fortinet FortiExtender?

The price for Fortinet FortiExtender deserves the highest rating.

See all answers

What needs improvement with Fortinet FortiExtender?

I think it's good, but they could improve the remote console server feature and make it more user-friendly for more users.

See all answers

What is your primary use case for Fortinet FortiExtender?

We use Fortinet FortiExtender for out-of-band management and network continuity because network continuity is very important for us and for mobility. With 3G or 4G, we can put a mobile cellular dat...

See all answers

Is Ubiquiti Wireless better than Ruckus Wireless WAN?

Ubiquiti Wireless is extremely easy to set up and is an excellent option for small businesses, offering enterprise features for a one-time fee and no ongoing licensing fees. Ubiquiti Wireless is ve...

See all answers

What do you like most about Ruckus Wireless WAN?

Ruckus Wireless WAN is an easy-to-use solution.

See all answers

What is your experience regarding pricing and costs for Ruckus Wireless WAN?

The price is always on the higher side, which impacts the perception of return on investment.

See all answers

Comparisons

Ubiquiti Wireless vs Fortinet FortiExtender

Compared 57% of the time

Cisco Wireless WAN vs Fortinet FortiExtender

Compared 43% of the time

More Fortinet FortiExtender Competitors

Ubiquiti Wireless vs Ruckus Wireless WAN

Compared 87% of the time

Cambium Networks Wireless WAN vs Ruckus Wireless WAN

Compared 11% of the time

Cisco Meraki Wireless LAN vs Ruckus Wireless WAN

Compared 2% of the time

More Ruckus Wireless WAN Competitors

Product Reports

Buyer's Guide

Fortinet FortiExtender

June 2025

Download Fortinet FortiExtender product report

Buyer's Guide

Ruckus Wireless WAN

June 2025

Download Ruckus Wireless WAN product report

Overview

Fortinet FortiExtender is a cost-effective hardware WAN device that is robust, easily scales, and delivers 5G, LTE, and Ethernet options. FortiExtender is designed using Fortinet’s trademark security-focused networking. The solution enables organizations to have enhanced secure network connectivity with cellular and wired broadband network options.

FortiExtender can be used for secure point of sale (POS) systems to transport fleet communications. The device delivers dependable broadband access to the internet and increases the usefulness of the Fortinet Security Fabric integration to enhance seamless business processes that rely heavily on remote device connectivity to get the job done.

FortiExtender delivers super-fast 5G and LTE wireless to connect and quickly scale any WAN edge. Users get 5G/LTE cellular, out-of-band management (OBM), high availability (HA), and dynamic risk security in one comprehensive, reliable solution.

Fortinet FortiExtender Benefits

Failover protection: Users get secure network failover protection with dual SIM, dual modem, and out of band management (OBM) functionalities.
Cloud-based processes: Organizations with a global reach can easily manage processes in the cloud from anywhere. Users can use FortiGate, FortiManager, or FortiExtender Cloud Dashboard to view and easily manage security controls, network changes, and policy and protocol automation.
Integration: Seamlessly integrates with Fortinet Secure SD-WAN for simplified deployment, security, and management.
Improves TCO: FortiExtender is a very cost-effective option when integrated with FortiGate Network Security Platform. FortiExtender implements processes that save money and improve connectivity, functionality, and profitability.

Fortinet FortiExtender Features

Plug-and-play: Out of the box and ready to go, once FortiExtenders are connected to the FortiGate, they are available on the FortiOS management platform. Additionally, FortiOS provides complete visibility, monitoring data usage to ensure limits are not exceeded, resulting in significant cost savings.
Flexible connectivity options:
- LTE/5G : The FortiExtender devices provide dual SIM and dual modem options for four different ISPs. Dual SIM allows for active/passive cellular link for fast failover. Dual modem options provide two active/passive links for super-fast failover and disaster recovery. ISPs can be set for data usage limits and seamlessly switch to other ISPs to balance connectivity and reduce costs.
- WAN connectivity: Using an Ethernet WAN port, users can connect cable, DSL, or another modem. Load balancing and failover options available.
- Hybrid WAN-LAN connectivity: Four LAN ethernet ports enable users to have numerous connections to the LTE connection. Works well for high availability (HA) pairs of FortiGates to connect to FortiExtender. FortiGates then will run in failover or load balancing mode and receive WAN connectivity from the FortiExtender device.

Reviews from Real Users

“Fortinet FortiExtender helps facilitate Fortinet connectivity. When it comes to cell phone towers, you never know what you'll get with global configurations. We use this solution to mitigate switching cell phone towers. The scalability is limitless based on your cell and your internet or your cloud connectivity. It's similar to any other VPN in terms of how simple it is to set up in a global or extended environment with a large number of clients.” - Clement J., Chief Executive Officer at Clemtech LLC

Fortinet

Ruckus Wireless’s WAN (Wide Area Network) suite of switches and solutions provides companies and organizations with a wide variety of products that enable them to deploy and manage the kinds of WANs that best meet their needs. Ruckus Wireless is a leader in the field of WAN creation, deployment, and management. Their solutions are designed with the user in mind. They are sleek products and solutions that are easy for administrators to use and maintain. This makes it a valuable suite for any and every kind of industry. The level of ease that it provides makes it possible for companies and organizations to reap a high level of benefit from whichever product they choose to use.

Ruckus Wireless WAN Benefits

Some of the benefits of using the Ruckus Wireless WAN suite of switches and solutions include:

Simplified network deployment and management. Ruckus Wireless WAN uses Campus Fabric technology to create a streamlined network creation and management process. This technology takes many of the processes used to create and manage networks that usually require many different solutions and combines them so that a single solution can accomplish the same amount of work.

The ability to operate on a massive scale. The Ruckus Wireless SmartZone 100 solution gives administrators the power to handle 1,024 access points and 25,000 users from a single device. Companies can operate at a high level with fewer devices than their competitors require to accomplish a similar level of work.

Ease of use. Solutions like RuckusZoneDirector 1200 can be easily deployed and used by administrators who may not have a background in the use of wireless solutions. Companies that choose Ruckus Wireless WAN do not need to train administrators to deploy it. This makes it extremely valuable to companies looking to keep their budgets to a minimum.

Ruckus Wireless WAN Features

Organizations that choose to use the Ruckus Wireless WAN suite of switches and solutions have a large number of capabilities from which they can choose.

Centralized network management. Ruckus Wireless WAN’s RUCKUS Network Director feature enables administrators to manage their networks from a single location. All of the controls and data that users need to monitor and control the network can be managed from one interface.

Advanced security features. Ruckus Wireless WAN has the capability to encrypt and demand that traffic that is trying to pass through the network be authenticated before it is allowed access. This protects the data that leaves the network and the network itself.
Seamless interoperability. The various solutions and products that make up Ruckus Wireless’s WAN solution suite have the ability to integrate and operate together seamlessly. Users can mix and match solution pieces to best fit their needs.

Reviews from Real Users

Ruckus Wireless’s WAN suite is a truly versatile selection of solutions that offer users a complete package of capabilities and features. This suite makes it possible for users to meet all of their networking needs. Their wireless access points are the kind that is mostly employed in industries like resorts, which have to cater to large volumes of people over extended periods of time. They provide companies with the highest possible level of coverage. Users working in any number of fields would find Ruckus Wireless to be up to the task of handling their networking needs. This suite is appropriate for large corporations and small businesses alikes.

An information technology project manager at a university writes, “The actual wireless access points themselves are very powerful. We get very good coverage from just one access point. The throughput is very good and the centralized management is excellent. Also, the ease of deployment is very good.”

A video conferencing administrator at a technology services company states, “The solution is suitable for many types of environments, such as small businesses.”

Ruckus

Sample Customers

Black Gold Regional Schools, Amadeus Hospitality, Jefferson County, Chunghwa Telecom, City of Boroondara, Dimension Data

American University of Sharjah, Dordt College, Drew University, Lamar University, Raroa School

Buyer's Guide

Fortinet FortiExtender vs. Ruckus Wireless WAN

June 2025

Free Report: Fortinet FortiExtender vs. Ruckus Wireless WAN

Find out what your peers are saying about Fortinet FortiExtender vs. Ruckus Wireless WAN and other solutions. Updated: June 2025.

DOWNLOAD NOW

859,957 professionals have used our research since 2012.

See our Fortinet FortiExtender vs. Ruckus Wireless WAN report.

See our list of best Wireless WAN vendors.

We monitor all Wireless WAN reviews to prevent fraudulent reviews and keep review quality high. We do not post reviews by company employees or direct competitors. We validate each review for authenticity via cross-reference with LinkedIn, and personal follow-up with the reviewer when necessary.