3Com H3C Switches vs Cisco Catalyst Switches comparison

Hewlett Packard Enterprise and Cisco are both solutions in the Ethernet Switches category. Hewlett Packard Enterprise is ranked #22 with an average rating of 10.0, while Cisco is ranked #5 with an average rating of 8.4. Hewlett Packard Enterprise holds a 1.0% mindshare in ES, compared to Cisco’s 3.5% mindshare. Additionally, 88% of Hewlett Packard Enterprise users are willing to recommend the solution, compared to 95% of Cisco users who would recommend it.

3Com H3C Switches

Read 8 3Com H3C Switches reviews

924 Views
924 Comparison Views

88% willing to recommend

Cisco Catalyst Switches

Read 178 Cisco Catalyst Switches reviews

5,802 Views
2,901 Comparison Views

95% willing to recommend

3Com H3C Switches

Cisco Catalyst Switches

Comparison Buyer's Guide

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Executive SummaryUpdated on Nov 3, 2024

Cisco Catalyst Switches and 3Com H3C Switches are competing products in the networking hardware market. Cisco Catalyst Switches have an advantage with a comprehensive feature set, albeit at a higher cost, while 3Com H3C Switches are cost-effective with flexibility, appealing to budget-conscious buyers.

Features: Cisco Catalyst Switches stand out for advanced Layer 3 capabilities, high scalability, and integration with Cisco's network management tools. 3Com H3C Switches offer robust performance, flexibility, and efficiency in delivering essential networking functionalities.

Room for Improvement: Cisco Catalyst Switches can improve by offering more competitive pricing and reducing complexity in feature sets to appeal to a wider audience. Enhancement in ease of integration with non-Cisco environments could be beneficial. For 3Com H3C Switches, improvements could include expanding advanced feature sets, providing more robust enterprise-level networking solutions, and enhancing the quality of network management tools.

Ease of Deployment and Customer Service: Cisco Catalyst Switches offer a streamlined deployment process with extensive support channels. 3Com H3C Switches are recognized for straightforward deployment and comprehensive support, making them more affordable.

Pricing and ROI: Cisco Catalyst Switches require a higher initial investment, reflected in their advanced capabilities and long-term ROI. 3Com H3C Switches provide lower setup costs and quicker realization of ROI due to efficient pricing.

To learn more, read our detailed 3Com H3C Switches vs. Cisco Catalyst Switches Report (Updated: December 2025).

Buyer's Guide

3Com H3C Switches vs. Cisco Catalyst Switches

December 2025

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Helped 881,082 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

3Com H3C Switches

Ranking in Ethernet Switches

22nd

Average Rating

8.0

Reviews Sentiment

5.4

Number of Reviews

Ranking in other categories

No ranking in other categories

Cisco Catalyst Switches

Ranking in Ethernet Switches

5th

Average Rating

8.6

Reviews Sentiment

6.7

Number of Reviews

178

Ranking in other categories

LAN Switching (1st), Data Center Networking (2nd), AV Over IP Switching (1st)

Mindshare comparison

As of January 2026, in the Ethernet Switches category, the mindshare of 3Com H3C Switches is 1.0%, down from 1.1% compared to the previous year. The mindshare of Cisco Catalyst Switches is 3.5%, up from 1.4% compared to the previous year. It is calculated based on PeerSpot user engagement data.

Ethernet Switches Market Share Distribution
Product	Market Share (%)
Cisco Catalyst Switches	3.5%
3Com H3C Switches	1.0%
Other	95.5%

Ethernet Switches

Featured Reviews

AdnanAli1

Manager at Necsol

Has improved operational response times and reduced downtime across departments

There is no negative impact, but to some extent their software side needs improvement because most people are familiar with iDRAC for the Dell product. Their software product is quite different and is new software. You have to take some time to learn their programming and other things such as installation of the media, Windows or office applications, or anything else. It is not complex. It is because it is a new thing and we had to face a little more problem for the installation at first. But now after some time, it has become easy for us because we have been working with Dell and listening about Dell for a long time, about decades. 3Com H3C Switches has occupied our market and has been working now for the last two to three years. 3Com H3C Switches has gained this much reputation and the brand is at its peak. It will be a matter of time and with the passage of time the learning stage will improve.

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Arun Giri

Unit Nos at Orange

Reliable support boosts confidence while initial setup complexities highlight improvement areas

Challenges I've encountered mostly involve the RMA part for hardware replacement, which doesn't happen regularly, but sometimes I face challenges due to limited parts in India; they offer different model devices as a stopgap arrangement. It's quite difficult to specify features I would want to see in future updates because that varies from model to model. I would definitely recommend Cisco Catalyst Switches to other users. We do maintenance for Cisco Catalyst Switches. For maintenance, we usually need three people from different regions working as a single team; our engineers handle both projects and maintenance, so there isn't a specific engineer just for maintenance. I work with firewalls and next-generation firewalls. Overall, I would rate the solution as an eight out of ten.

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Quotes from Members

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

Pros

"3Com H3C Switches products are available at a low price, and the second most important factor is their services, availability of parts, and warranty claims, with main service centers in all major cities of Pakistan."

"The hardware side is a very big advantage. We use it 24/7 and we haven't had any problems so far with the switches."

"The installation is quite straightforward."

"Their customer service is instant with a tracking system and follow-ups for human access."

"The user interface is upgraded to the latest GUI technology, allowing configurations like VLAN to be done through the interface rather than the command line, making it more efficient."

"The reliability of the solution has been the best feature."

"They're straightforward and stable."

"They are easy to use, they are cheaper, and it's a trusted brand."

"Scalable product."

"One main feature with Cisco is you know you are going to get a very good switching infrastructure that is secure."

"It enables fast data transfer rates, while offering stable and consistent network performance."

"Their technical support is very good. They know what to do and if they don't know what to do, they give me the person who does know."

"The hardware and the security are the product's valuable features"

"The solution is robust in terms of the equipment provided."

"It is a pretty good product. I don't see a problem with this product. Cisco Catalyst Switches fit the best for the type of systems that we deploy. Our customers usually are happy with Cisco equipment. Many partners and third parties have ordered this solution."

"The solution is good for computation and backup."

More Cisco Catalyst Switches pros

Cons

"The company should come up with new security features and new management and log recording systems, helping customers to analyze issues and prevent future incidents."

"When we try to do configuration changes sometimes it malfunctions."

"I think there's nothing that needs to be improved because the company is no longer in existence."

"The configuration of 3Com H3C Switches could be better."

"The technical support services need improvement in terms of communication."

"The company should come up with new security features and new management and log recording systems, helping customers to analyze issues and prevent future incidents."

"To some extent their software side needs improvement because most people are familiar with iDRAC for the Dell product."

"The cost and the integration with other solutions could be better."

"Its price can be improved. Some devices can be very expensive."

"The GUI should be addressed."

"Price could be lower."

"The initial setup can be easier in cases where the policy and ruleset are complex."

"The pricing needs improvement."

"Cisco has to lower the price of its products to make them more cost-effective."

"The solution could improve by allowing administrators to create scripts to help automate processes to make tasks easier."

"When you compare it with HPE and Aruba, it should be fancier."

More Cisco Catalyst Switches cons

Pricing and Cost Advice

"The cost could be improved, but it is cheaper than the others."

"3Com H3C Switches have a competitive cost. I rate the pricing a nine out of ten."

"Generally, Cisco Catalyst would be relatively expensive compared to the competition, it would be on the expensive side."

"Compared to the price of other solutions such as Huawei and HP, Cisco Catalyst Switches is a cheaper solution."

"It would be great for the user if Cisco lowered the prices for their routers and switches."

"The price could always be lower."

"This is an expensive product."

"Pricing of Cisco equipment is high, but I think these switches are worth the price."

"We are a large company and the price is reasonable because we have received a discount. However, the full price is expensive."

"Pricing could be cheaper as well."

More Cisco Catalyst Switches pricing and cost advice

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Top Industries

By visitors reading reviews

Educational Organization

Comms Service Provider

Manufacturing Company

University

Computer Software Company

11%

Manufacturing Company

11%

Comms Service Provider

Educational Organization

Company Size

By reviewers

Large Enterprise

Midsize Enterprise

Small Business

By reviewers
Company Size	Count
Small Business	7
Midsize Enterprise	1
Large Enterprise	4

By reviewers
Company Size	Count
Small Business	79
Midsize Enterprise	29
Large Enterprise	79

Questions from the Community

What do you like most about 3Com H3C Switches?

The installation is quite straightforward.

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What is your experience regarding pricing and costs for 3Com H3C Switches?

Price is the major factor. You cannot say it is much better because all servers and all products have a few things in common, which are the processor, storage, and RAM and other things. Mostly the ...

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What needs improvement with 3Com H3C Switches?

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Would you recommend replacing a Cisco Catalyst Switch by a D-link one?

Hello Mesfin It depends on the real scenario, the cisco 2960 is a very good device and they usually have routing functions but there are many different models within the same 2960 line, and on the ...

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What do you like most about Cisco Catalyst Switches?

We are a vendor for the healthcare sector, especially hospitals, and normally, we use a full Cisco solution for stability, especially for the stability of the Access Points and the security of swit...

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What is your experience regarding pricing and costs for Cisco Catalyst Switches?

For pricing satisfaction, I'd say it will be six to seven because Cisco usually is costly compared to other vendors. Regarding pricing, there is indeed room for improvement.

See all answers

Comparisons

MikroTik Routers and Switches vs 3Com H3C Switches

Compared 21% of the time

Cisco Ethernet Switches vs 3Com H3C Switches

Compared 13% of the time

Aruba Switches vs 3Com H3C Switches

Compared 12% of the time

TP-Link Omada Switches vs 3Com H3C Switches

Compared 11% of the time

Ubiquiti UniFi Switches vs 3Com H3C Switches

Compared 7% of the time

More 3Com H3C Switches Competitors

Arista Networks Platform vs Cisco Catalyst Switches

Compared 13% of the time

ExtremeSwitching vs Cisco Catalyst Switches

Compared 6% of the time

TP-Link Omada Switches vs Cisco Catalyst Switches

Compared 6% of the time

Ubiquiti UniFi Switches vs Cisco Catalyst Switches

Compared 6% of the time

HPE ProCurve vs Cisco Catalyst Switches

Compared 5% of the time

More Cisco Catalyst Switches Competitors

Product Reports

Buyer's Guide

Ethernet Switches

January 2026

Download 3Com H3C Switches product report

Buyer's Guide

Cisco Catalyst Switches

January 2026

Download Cisco Catalyst Switches product report

Also Known As

No data available

Cisco Catalyst, Catalyst

Overview

3Com Baseline switches provide cost-effective layer 2 10/100 and 10/100/1000 Ethernet switching for LANs that do not need management capabilities. Simple to install and economical to own, they feature wirespeed performance on fixed-configuration, rack-mountable platforms.

Hewlett Packard Enterprise

Cisco Catalyst Switches are a reliable and scalable network switching and routing solution, focusing on VLANs and VLAN switching. They are used as access switches, distribution switches, and core switches in various environments, deployed on-premises, and used for long connections. The switches are easy to configure, install, and upgrade and offer good pricing.

The most valuable features include warranty and firmware support, stability, security, good performance, flexibility, etc. The Cisco Catalyst Switches have provided a stable solution for the organizations and are widely used, trusted, and well-known in the networking industry.

Cisco

Sample Customers

British Columbia Assessment Authority, DreamWorks, DRV

Afni, Anilana Hotels and Resorts, Baylor Scott & White Health, Beachbody, Bellevue, Del Papa Distributing, Explorer Pipeline, Mindtree, Omaha World Herald, Radio 538, Sony Corporation, Telecom Italia, Telenor Arena

Buyer's Guide

3Com H3C Switches vs. Cisco Catalyst Switches

December 2025

Free Report: 3Com H3C Switches vs. Cisco Catalyst Switches

Find out what your peers are saying about 3Com H3C Switches vs. Cisco Catalyst Switches and other solutions. Updated: December 2025.

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