AirMagnet Survey PRO vs Forward Enterprise comparison

NetAlly and Forward Networks are both solutions in the Network Modeling and Simulation category. NetAlly is ranked #2 with an average rating of 7.0, while Forward Networks is ranked #21. NetAlly holds a 8.1% mindshare in NM, compared to Forward Networks’s 1.4% mindshare. Additionally, 86% of NetAlly users are willing to recommend the solution, compared to 100% of Forward Networks users who would recommend it.

AirMagnet Survey PRO

Read 39 AirMagnet Survey PRO reviews

3,627 Views
2,321 Comparison Views

86% willing to recommend

Forward Enterprise

Read 1 Forward Enterprise review

617 Views
167 Comparison Views

100% willing to recommend

AirMagnet Survey PRO

Forward Enterprise

Comparison Buyer's Guide

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Executive SummaryUpdated on Mar 15, 2026

AirMagnet Survey PRO and Forward Enterprise both operate in the network management category. AirMagnet Survey PRO maintains an edge in affordability and support, while Forward Enterprise offers comprehensive features.

Features: AirMagnet Survey PRO is designed for wireless network planning, providing precise on-site surveys, advanced design tools, and predictive modeling capabilities. Forward Enterprise focuses on infrastructure with robust network simulation, policy verification, and systemic overview, enabling proactive issue resolution.

Ease of Deployment and Customer Service: AirMagnet Survey PRO is straightforward in deployment and suited for quick setups, providing immediate functionality. Forward Enterprise demands complex deployment but offers thorough customer support, ensuring long-term network reliability.

Pricing and ROI: AirMagnet Survey PRO is cost-effective for small to medium-sized businesses, enhancing ROI with effective wireless management. Forward Enterprise, with a higher initial cost, provides significant long-term ROI through extensive network analysis tools for enterprises requiring detailed insights.

To learn more, read our detailed Network Modeling and Simulation Report (Updated: March 2026).

Buyer's Guide

Network Modeling and Simulation

March 2026

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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

AirMagnet Survey PRO

Ranking in Network Modeling and Simulation

2nd

Average Rating

8.2

Reviews Sentiment

6.7

Number of Reviews

Ranking in other categories

Network Troubleshooting (5th)

Forward Enterprise

Ranking in Network Modeling and Simulation

21st

Average Rating

8.0

Reviews Sentiment

8.5

Number of Reviews

Ranking in other categories

Network Automation (19th)

Mindshare comparison

As of April 2026, in the Network Modeling and Simulation category, the mindshare of AirMagnet Survey PRO is 8.1%, down from 22.3% compared to the previous year. The mindshare of Forward Enterprise is 1.4%. It is calculated based on PeerSpot user engagement data.

Network Modeling and Simulation Mindshare Distribution
Product	Mindshare (%)
AirMagnet Survey PRO	8.1%
Forward Enterprise	1.4%
Other	90.5%

Network Modeling and Simulation

Featured Reviews

Mark Witherspoon

Wireless Services Manager at Veritas Managed Solutions

A solution for site verifications and enhanced with adapters that provide more realistic readings, but needs to support Wi-Fi 6E

Ekahau and AirMagnet Survey have their own pros and cons, in my opinion. For example, the APs are not visible in Ekahau but AirMagnet Survey allows us to see what APs and channels are being used in a live view, which Ekahau lacks. In Ekahau, the signal from the AP it's capturing at that time is visible which is a bit of an inconvenience. The predictive planner of AirMagnet's is better. However, Ekahau has advantages over AirMagnet because it groups all the SSIDs into one AP, whereas with AirMagnet, one needs to group them manually. Ekahau also supports Wi-Fi 6E, but its licensing is restrictive and more costly.

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Rozita Ahmadi

IT Architectural System Expert at a comms service provider with 1,001-5,000 employees

Plenty of useful features, and simple implementation

Forward Enterprise has improved the way my organization functions All the features are valuable in Forward Enterprise. Forward Enterprise could improve by increasing flexibility. Additionally, there should be an Android version or desktop. I have been using Forward Enterprise for approximately…

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

"AirMagnet is a very stable and time-tested product, as proved by the fact that the world's leading IT companies use AirMagnet Survey and if we look at the release notes we can see a lot of new features instead of bug fixes as in the Ekahau Site Survey."

"We use the solution for Wi-Fi and networks."

"Everything about the AirMagnet is useful."

"If they want a good feel of the network, it has all the tools and information you need to know for problems with coverage and signal strength."

"It allows us to prepare more real designs, and later we validate them with actual surveys."

"The program did seem to work well with multiple floors as well as multiple surveys within a particular floor."

"As far as using the software, it's going to give you true results and be very accurate."

"It is reliable and easy to use (user-friendly). The heat mapping, passive network surveying, and doing the heat mapping of a building's wireless network allows me to see what level of coverage an area has."

More AirMagnet Survey PRO pros

"All the features are valuable in Forward Enterprise."

"Forward Enterprise has improved the way my organization functions."

Cons

"I would say some of our newer techs that are going out to job sites can be a little bit intimidated by the interface."

"The worst thing that is built into AirMagnet is, if your laptop crashes in the middle, all of the work you have done is gone."

"Often, AirMagnet will crash and you will have to reboot your laptop or tablet to start it again. Data will be lost if you haven’t saved it."

"AirMagnet Survey doesn't cover certain devices in the system."

"The pricing and licensing are expensive, but for us, it was fair."

"My biggest complaint is their training shouldn't be so expensive."

"If anything, the rendering speed when doing or looking at large surveys could be faster, but I understand that sheer volume of information is the issue."

"The surveying features are in need of improvement, along with general usability."

More AirMagnet Survey PRO cons

"Forward Enterprise could improve by increasing flexibility. Additionally, there should be an Android version or desktop."

Pricing and Cost Advice

"This product is very expensive."

"The tool's pricing is medium."

"For technical support, you need an annual license, but it is not worth it."

"The moment we began needing more of the vendor's support, the cost became very high; we switched to another solution."

"The licensing of AirMagnet Survey is different when compared to Ekahu. It is a third of the cost of Ekahau but there are no dedicated laptops to the Sidekick. AirMagnet allows you to license an adapter and share that adapter."

"The pricing needs improvement."

"There is an annual cost of the solution. There are some additional charges, such as support and maintenance."

"We pay for the solution annually."

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Top Industries

By visitors reading reviews

Manufacturing Company

Computer Software Company

Comms Service Provider

Retailer

Financial Services Firm

22%

Computer Software Company

19%

Government

Outsourcing Company

Company Size

By reviewers

Large Enterprise

Midsize Enterprise

Small Business

By reviewers
Company Size	Count
Small Business	21
Midsize Enterprise	14
Large Enterprise	10

No data available

Questions from the Community

What needs improvement with AirMagnet Survey?

AirMagnet Survey needs to support Wi-Fi 6E otherwise they can lose to the competition. They also need to allow better grouping of SSIDs to one AP, removing the need to filter manually. At the momen...

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What is your primary use case for AirMagnet Survey?

We use AirMagnet Survey, for site verifications after the wireless system has been installed. We conduct pre and post-install surveys with it. We have reduced the use since now our customers requir...

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What advice do you have for others considering AirMagnet Survey?

The AI simulation capabilities, especially the predictive feature in AirMagnet, have been somewhat helpful for network planning. However, both AirMagnet and other tools like Ekahau have accuracy is...

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Comparisons

Ekahau AI Pro vs AirMagnet Survey PRO

Compared 27% of the time

Wireshark vs AirMagnet Survey PRO

Compared 8% of the time

iBwave Unity vs AirMagnet Survey PRO

Compared 7% of the time

Aruba Wireless vs AirMagnet Survey PRO

Compared 6% of the time

AirCheck G3 vs AirMagnet Survey PRO

Compared 6% of the time

More AirMagnet Survey PRO Competitors

NetBrain vs Forward Enterprise

Compared 74% of the time

SolarWinds Network Configuration Manager vs Forward Enterprise

Compared 16% of the time

Cisco DNA Center vs Forward Enterprise

Compared 10% of the time

More Forward Enterprise Competitors

Product Reports

Buyer's Guide

AirMagnet Survey PRO

April 2026

Download AirMagnet Survey PRO product report

Buyer's Guide

Network Automation

March 2026

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Overview

AirMagnet Survey PRO provides efficient wireless network surveying and design capabilities, optimizing access point placement with dual passive-active surveys, spectrum integration, and real-time analysis.

AirMagnet Survey PRO offers comprehensive tools for wireless coverage optimization. It facilitates accurate SNR/RSSI data collection and features multi-floor planning with robust reporting capabilities. The software enables efficient spectrum analysis, predictive mapping, and simultaneous 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz surveys, saving significant time. Users appreciate its intuitive interface, which aids technical assessments and visual displays. However, they suggest improvements in multi-floor integration, file import options, and a more dynamic license system. Enhanced cloud storage support, improved auto-placement features, and better device compatibility are also on the wishlist.

What are the key features of AirMagnet Survey PRO?

Dual Passive-Active Surveys: Streamline access point placement with dual survey types.
Antenna Customization: Tailor antenna parameters for optimal performance.
Predictive Mapping: Visualize potential coverage areas before deployment.
Spectrum Integration: Analyze interference and optimize signal paths.
Simultaneous 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz Surveys: Conduct faster, comprehensive surveys across frequency bands.

What benefits should users look for in reviews of AirMagnet Survey PRO?

Accurate Data Collection: Highly precise SNR/RSSI measurements improve network assessments.
Time Efficiency: Reduce survey duration with dual-band simultaneous assessments.
User-Friendly Interface: Simplifies complex tasks with intuitive visual tools.
Comprehensive Reporting: Offers detailed analysis and insights into network performance.
Cost Savings: Efficient planning and troubleshooting lead to reduced deployment costs.

In industries like hospitality, education, and healthcare, AirMagnet Survey PRO is instrumental in wireless network surveying and design. These sectors rely on the software for precise Wi-Fi coverage assessments, spectrum analysis, and real-time signal checks, using heat maps to identify dead zones for pre and post-installation verifications. Some opt for alternatives to support newer technologies like Wi-Fi 6E.

NetAlly

The company provides a robust network assurance and verification platform to reduce business risk and improve network operations.

Forward Networks

Sample Customers

Houston Methodist Hospital, Love's Travel Stops

Information Not Available

Buyer's Guide

Network Modeling and Simulation

March 2026

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