Aruba Access Points vs Fortinet FortiWLM comparison

Hewlett Packard Enterprise and Fortinet are both solutions in the Wireless LAN category. Hewlett Packard Enterprise is ranked #5 with an average rating of 8.8, while Fortinet is ranked #14 with an average rating of 9.0. Hewlett Packard Enterprise holds a 1.9% mindshare in Wireless LAN, compared to Fortinet’s 1.9% mindshare. Additionally, 94% of Hewlett Packard Enterprise users are willing to recommend the solution, compared to 95% of Fortinet users who would recommend it.

Aruba Access Points

Read 38 Aruba Access Points reviews

928 Views
692 Comparison Views

94% willing to recommend

Fortinet FortiWLM

Read 27 Fortinet FortiWLM reviews

1,957 Views
1,768 Comparison Views

95% willing to recommend

Aruba Access Points

Fortinet FortiWLM

Comparison Buyer's Guide

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Executive SummaryUpdated on Oct 31, 2024

Fortinet FortiWLM and Aruba Access Points compete in the network management category, each offering unique features tailored to different user needs. Fortinet appears to have an advantage with its emphasis on security integration and support, while Aruba excels in flexibility and ease of deployment.

Features: Fortinet FortiWLM is noted for its centralized management, integrated security features, and seamless roaming capabilities. It benefits users with Fortinet's Security Fabric, which unifies control over various products. Aruba Access Points offer reliability, easy setup, and high-performance roaming. The virtual controller eliminates additional hardware needs, simplifying management and providing robust connectivity.

Room for Improvement: Fortinet FortiWLM could improve its centralized management and reporting features, requiring fewer external tools like FortiAnalyzer. Enhancing automation in guest management and better service contract policies could boost its appeal to small businesses. Aruba Access Points need improvements in pricing consistency, coverage, and integration, along with support and licensing clarity.

Ease of Deployment and Customer Service: Fortinet FortiWLM's on-premises solution is highly rated for its responsive technical support, aided by dedicated sales engineers. Aruba provides flexibility with on-premises, hybrid, and cloud deployments, yet receives mixed support reviews due to response and escalation issues. Fortinet's consistent support offers an edge in customer satisfaction, with Aruba's diverse deployment options providing useful flexibility but needing better support services.

Pricing and ROI: Fortinet FortiWLM is considered cost-effective, particularly for educational institutions, due to its all-inclusive pricing. However, additional costs may arise in the RMA process. Aruba Access Points balance cost and features well, with their pricing sometimes more attractive than Cisco's, though annual licensing is required. Both provide reasonable ROI, but Fortinet's integration of security and management may offer a more compelling reduction in total cost of ownership.

To learn more, read our detailed Aruba Access Points vs. Fortinet FortiWLM Report (Updated: June 2025).

Buyer's Guide

Aruba Access Points vs. Fortinet FortiWLM

June 2025

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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

Aruba Access Points

Ranking in Wireless LAN

5th

Average Rating

8.8

Reviews Sentiment

7.3

Number of Reviews

Ranking in other categories

No ranking in other categories

Fortinet FortiWLM

Ranking in Wireless LAN

14th

Average Rating

8.4

Reviews Sentiment

7.3

Number of Reviews

Ranking in other categories

No ranking in other categories

Mindshare comparison

As of July 2025, in the Wireless LAN category, the mindshare of Aruba Access Points is 1.9%, up from 0.2% compared to the previous year. The mindshare of Fortinet FortiWLM is 1.9%, down from 2.1% compared to the previous year. It is calculated based on PeerSpot user engagement data.

Wireless LAN

Featured Reviews

PRADIPJOSHI

Owner at Shree Atharva Sales Corporation

Pricing competitiveness and remote management have enhanced network flexibility

One of the most valued aspects of Aruba access points is their price competitiveness; they are available at half the price of Juniper access points. Additionally, they do not require any kind of license for implementation. Despite this, many customers have their own firewall, and they can control everything from their firewall, ensuring flexibility. Furthermore, the ease of management with Aruba access points enables customers to connect them directly to their network via a PoE switch and manage them remotely from mobile devices.

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Mohammad Talha Talkin Alam

Assistant Manager - IT at PDS Limited

Reliable network creation and management with an efficient setup process

My primary use case involves creating SSIDs and defining VLANs within the VLAN using Fortinet FortiWLM. I have been working with Wi-Fi access points for network connectivity I primarily use Fortinet FortiWLM for creating SSIDs and defining VLANs. While there isn't much focus on security, layer…

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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

"The product is quite accessible and reliable."

"The main strengths of Aruba Access Points lie in their connectivity, range, and straightforward configuration. Setting up the access point is a quick process, taking only seconds. Standard features such as identity access management, captive deploy tools, and VLE are available. Additionally, Aruba offers medical-grade access points like the 400 series, which is well-suited for healthcare or hospital environments. One noteworthy feature is the impressive handshaking capability, particularly when transitioning between access points. This ensures a seamless experience without disconnection, especially when a well-designed heat map is in place. Aruba Access Points are robust and require minimal maintenance, making them reliable for long-term use."

"I find AI Insights valuable."

"We like the flexibility and the security, and the product is very easy to use."

"Aruba Access Points are reliable and easy to implement."

"Aruba Access Points provides secure and transparent access points for all users"

"Aruba products are good. The Middle Eastern marketplace is one of the biggest markets where Aruba products are preferred."

"One of the most valued aspects of Aruba access points is their price competitiveness; they are available at half the price of Juniper access points."

More Aruba Access Points pros

"The setup was easy."

"I found that It's really good when comparing it to any other product or it is much better in terms of features that the customer requires."

"The greatest advantage is the security fabric Fortinet offers."

"We can deploy a tunnel-based VLAN and SSID, for something that happens at the last minute, in a matter of minutes, because of the interaction between the FortiGate, the FortiSwitches, and the FortiAPs."

"We're using SD-WAN at all of our locations now, which helps increase and aggregate and lower response time and improve application performance."

"The most valuable features are the roaming profile, the mesh, and the performance."

"The greatest advantage is the security fabric Fortinet offers."

"The most valuable features are central management and the many other features available."

More Fortinet FortiWLM pros

Cons

"If the port is damaged, then Aruba Access Points don't work properly."

"I would like Aruba to provide integration capabilities for Microsoft Entra ID, Azure Directory, or other identity verification engines like Okta, Google Identity, or Ping Identity."

"The pricing can be improved."

"Some customers comment that the shape and size of the access point is a little big, especially the one installed in the guest room."

"Aruba sometimes redesigns Aruba Central and the web interface, which is sometimes an annoyance."

"I have to go via HP's process, which is not as good as Aruba's used to be."

"In Aruba Access Points, the security part is an area of concern where improvements are required."

"The product should provide more coverage."

More Aruba Access Points cons

"When using the FortiGate as the wireless controller, you cannot have automatic user registration, which is something that they should offer."

"The range needs some improvement and also the stability."

"The platform's pricing needs improvement."

"Licensing is the only area that I think they are below average. They need enterprise licensing, an all-encompassing license to cover all products for a company."

"Cost is something that could be improved, but you have to pay for what you get."

"The initial setup is complex and has room for improvement."

"The interface could certainly do with some improvement. We have other customers with WiFi networks, and they always use Ubiquiti. With Ubiquiti, it's a much better user interface, and it is much easier to configure."

"The pricing model can be improved to encourage use by small business and individuals and the hardware could stand to be redesigned."

More Fortinet FortiWLM cons

Pricing and Cost Advice

"My company needs to pay around 50,000 JPY to 1,00,000 JPY towards the licensing costs of the product on a monthly basis. Additional payments are to be made towards the maintenance and support costs of the product."

"The product's pricing could be better than one of its competitors."

"I rate the pricing a six out of ten because it's not cheap or expensive."

"The product is expensive if you want it to have a long life."

"The product is cheaper than Cisco and Huawei."

"The product is costly and comes with a lifetime license. There is neither renewal nor subscription. It is a one-time solution."

"The cost of Aruba Access Points has been on the rise, which may be due to market dynamics or regional factors, such as in Egypt. Additionally, the availability of Aruba products is a concern, with a lead time of approximately twelve months. This prolonged waiting period and a lack of responsiveness from HP, the parent company of Aruba, have led to the cancellation of some orders. The supply chain for Aruba appears to face challenges, impacting product delivery timelines."

"The pricing is reasonable."

More Aruba Access Points pricing and cost advice

"Support contracts typically cost approximately $100.00 per year."

"Fortinet would do something with their pricing model to attract smaller business users and eliminate the mandatory service contracts."

"Licensing has become easier. There is no longer a per-AP license needed on the controller."

"For indoor access points, there is a one-time cost, upfront, whereas outdoor access points have an annual fee."

"The solution is fairly priced."

"The product is highly expensive. I rate the pricing a ten."

"The solution is expensive. I give the solution a one out of ten for the price."

"The price of Fortinet FortiWLM is reasonable compared to the other vendors. We are using a five-year license."

More Fortinet FortiWLM pricing and cost advice

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Top Industries

By visitors reading reviews

Computer Software Company

16%

Comms Service Provider

Financial Services Firm

University

Computer Software Company

14%

Financial Services Firm

Manufacturing Company

Comms Service Provider

Company Size

By reviewers

Large Enterprise

Midsize Enterprise

Small Business

Questions from the Community

What do you like most about Aruba Access Points?

After we installed the Aruba switches, the work became faster because the network speed improved.

See all answers

What is your experience regarding pricing and costs for Aruba Access Points?

Due to its pricing, Aruba access points provide good value. They are priced at half the rate of Juniper access points for basic models.

See all answers

What needs improvement with Aruba Access Points?

I'm a very small entity to comment on that, but I don't see any challenges as of today with the product getting improved. The only improvement would be to increase the market share if they try to r...

See all answers

What do you like most about Fortinet FortiWLM?

The security is a valuable feature.

See all answers

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

While the pricing of Fortinet FortiWLM is a bit high, it remains effective. However, the cost could be better if reduced.

See all answers

What needs improvement with Fortinet FortiWLM?

In terms of improvements, the price is higher than I would like. A reduction in pricing would be beneficial.

See all answers

Comparisons

Fortinet FortiAP vs Aruba Access Points

Compared 71% of the time

Ruckus Wireless vs Aruba Access Points

Compared 12% of the time

Cisco Wireless vs Aruba Access Points

Compared 7% of the time

Cisco Meraki Wireless LAN vs Aruba Access Points

Compared 5% of the time

ExtremeWireless vs Aruba Access Points

Compared 3% of the time

More Aruba Access Points Competitors

Aruba Wireless vs Fortinet FortiWLM

Compared 24% of the time

Cisco Wireless vs Fortinet FortiWLM

Compared 16% of the time

Cisco Meraki Wireless LAN vs Fortinet FortiWLM

Compared 11% of the time

Cambium Networks Wireless LAN vs Fortinet FortiWLM

Compared 10% of the time

Ruckus Wireless vs Fortinet FortiWLM

Compared 10% of the time

More Fortinet FortiWLM Competitors

Product Reports

Buyer's Guide

Aruba Access Points

June 2025

Download Aruba Access Points product report

Buyer's Guide

Fortinet FortiWLM

June 2025

Download Fortinet FortiWLM product report

Also Known As

No data available

FortiWLM, FortiAP, Fortinet AP/OAP, Meru Wireless LAN

Overview

Aruba Access Points are a preferred choice for enterprises, providing efficient wireless connectivity across corporate settings, educational institutions, and healthcare facilities with both indoor and outdoor deployment options.

Aruba Access Points deliver reliable Wi-Fi and network access tailored for enterprise and guest connectivity, supporting IoT devices in diverse environments such as warehouses and offices. They ensure secure connections with features like VPN management and 802.1x authentication, along with flexibility in deployment. Users can benefit from their robust warranty, ease of use, and seamless integration possibilities. The devices facilitate convenient management through both on-premise and cloud solutions, although there is a need for improved coverage, security, and integration features.

What are the standout features of Aruba Access Points?

Virtual Controller: Manages multiple Access Points without additional hardware.
Client Match: Ensures devices connect to the best access point available.
Seamless Roaming: Provides uninterrupted connectivity without drop-offs.
Integration Capabilities: Allows easy incorporation of enterprise wireless solutions.
Advanced Authentication: Offers 802.1x and secure guest access.

What benefits or ROI can users look for?

High Stability: Consistent performance minimizes downtime.
Simple Configuration: Easy setup saves time and resources.
Network Mobility: Supports movement with uninterrupted access.
Visibility: Provides network insights for better management.
Warranty and Support: Offers robust warranty terms.

In specific industries, Aruba Access Points are implemented to enhance patient record access and guest connectivity in healthcare, support interactive learning environments in education, and streamline operations in warehouses with IoT integration. Their deployment aligns with industry-specific requirements, ensuring reliable connectivity and secure access to critical applications.

Hewlett Packard Enterprise

Consolidate security and wireless LAN management with our integrated wireless solutions. Single-pane-of-glass management for security and access without the need to add point products simplifies deployment and reduces management complexity. These solutions are highly scalable to support even the largest organizations and distributed enterprises.

Fortinet

Sample Customers

Information Not Available

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

Buyer's Guide

Aruba Access Points vs. Fortinet FortiWLM

June 2025

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