Aruba Access Points vs WatchGuard Secure Wi‑Fi comparison

Hewlett Packard Enterprise and WatchGuard are both solutions in the Wireless LAN category. Hewlett Packard Enterprise is ranked #5 with an average rating of 8.9, while WatchGuard is ranked #23 with an average rating of 7.0. Hewlett Packard Enterprise holds a 2.0% mindshare in Wireless LAN, compared to WatchGuard’s 0.5% mindshare. Additionally, 94% of Hewlett Packard Enterprise users are willing to recommend the solution, compared to 83% of WatchGuard users who would recommend it.

Aruba Access Points

Read 38 Aruba Access Points reviews

1,022 Views
1,022 Comparison Views

94% willing to recommend

WatchGuard Secure Wi‑Fi

Read 7 WatchGuard Secure Wi‑Fi reviews

495 Views
485 Comparison Views

83% willing to recommend

Aruba Access Points

WatchGuard Secure Wi‑Fi

Comparison Buyer's Guide

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Executive SummaryUpdated on Oct 31, 2024

WatchGuard Secure Wi-Fi and Aruba Access Points compete in the wireless networking solutions market. WatchGuard generally has an advantage due to its pricing and customer support, whereas Aruba is seen as superior because of its extensive features.

Features: WatchGuard Secure Wi-Fi provides comprehensive data protection, threat management capabilities, and compatibility with various APs. Aruba Access Points offer extensive IoT device integration, network mobility, and ease of use.

Room for Improvement: WatchGuard could enhance device compatibility, expand advanced configuration options, and improve scalability. Aruba might work on decreasing deployment complexity, offering better pricing tiers, and enhancing initial setup processes.

Ease of Deployment and Customer Service: WatchGuard Secure Wi-Fi ensures straightforward deployment with intuitive setups and reliable customer service. Aruba Access Points, although complex initially, are backed by responsive and knowledgeable support teams enhancing user experience.

Pricing and ROI: WatchGuard Secure Wi-Fi is more cost-effective, offering quicker ROI with lower initial costs. Aruba Access Points, with higher upfront investments, promise long-term value with their advanced features and scalability.

To learn more, read our detailed Aruba Access Points vs. WatchGuard Secure Wi‑Fi Report (Updated: July 2025).

Buyer's Guide

Aruba Access Points vs. WatchGuard Secure Wi‑Fi

July 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

WatchGuard Secure Wi‑Fi

Ranking in Wireless LAN

23rd

Average Rating

7.8

Reviews Sentiment

6.4

Number of Reviews

Ranking in other categories

No ranking in other categories

Mindshare comparison

As of August 2025, in the Wireless LAN category, the mindshare of Aruba Access Points is 2.0%, up from 0.2% compared to the previous year. The mindshare of WatchGuard Secure Wi‑Fi is 0.5%, down from 0.5% compared to the previous year. It is calculated based on PeerSpot user engagement data.

Wireless LAN

Featured Reviews

PRADIPJOSHI

Owner at a transportation company with 11-50 employees

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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WarrenWilliams

Senior Account Manager at Bralin Technology Solutions

A solution that offers excellent support and makes it easy to manage networks

To utilize the solution properly, you need some training and guidance on that. Getting it working is easy, but if you're going to use it with feature sets that make WatchGuard worthwhile to use, it's probably not the easiest to set up. I'd rate the initial setup a seven out of ten. The time taken to deploy the solution depends on the project scope you're doing. Do you need ten WiFi access points or one? You could deploy the solution in an hour. We need one person to deploy the solution. But the number of people required for deployment depends on where the access points are deployed. Like, if it's the ceiling or whatever. The way we do it, we usually have an on-site technician who sets up the backend. We usually have two people when deploying the solution, but you can do it with one person. We have a team that manages the solution. But if you have ten people on a site to manage the solution, 15 minutes daily is enough.

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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

"Aruba access points protect connectivity, and we don't get interference."

"Aruba Access Points is an economical solution."

"The technical support is perfect."

"Aruba Access points easily integrate with existing network infrastructure."

"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."

"Aruba is a controller-based solution. We have some multi-story buildings. We only need to maintain one controller, and we can manage it from a single IP address."

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

"The manageability of both on-premise and cloud versions is valuable."

More Aruba Access Points pros

"We like that WatchGuard works and integrates directly with the firewalls we use."

"It makes it easy to obtain all information about the client experience."

"Cloud analytics that provide all its attributes."

"They're very easy to set up and get running."

"The configuration part of WatchGuard is very flexible."

"The solution has been stable."

"The Wi-Fi security features of this solution have been great for our customers who need to strictly control access to their network."

Cons

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

"I would appreciate for the higher-end models to offer the same signal strength as the older, smaller models, even while maintaining the latest standards, as this would enhance the overall network performance and coverage."

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

"Since we are in health care, it would be beneficial to have enhanced security features around medical devices and IoT, especially for improving the visibility of medical devices within the WiFi network."

"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."

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

"The pricing can be improved."

"Going with a cloud solution will make dependency no longer a challenge from a connectivity point of view."

More Aruba Access Points cons

"The support response can be time-consuming because sometimes issues are very sensitive and require instant attention."

"I don't think they're available at the best price."

"One of the things is if you buy it with a certain subscription, you can't easily change the subscription level."

"Inability to import a user with one click."

"The solution can be scaled but it has limitations from my experience."

"If a client device had issues with authentication due to out of date browser or similar difficulties, it would be nice to have the ability to migrate the client onto the portal via one click."

"The price of this solution needs to reviewed, as it is currently high enough to deter customers from trying it."

Pricing and Cost Advice

"The product's licensing cost is low. However, hardware is costly. Thus, it is overall expensive."

"It is a reasonably priced tool."

"Users have to pay a licensing fee for Aruba Access Points, which could be cheaper."

"Aruba Central is a bit overpriced for some customers."

"There is a need to pay the licensing charges for the product...I feel that it is a moderately priced tool that is available at a price higher than Cisco and Huawei."

"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."

"Although not cheap, Aruba Access Points is a reasonably priced 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."

More Aruba Access Points pricing and cost advice

"The solution is priced high compared to competitors. However, for the features that are included in the solution, the price becomes more reasonable."

"WatchGuard is on the upper scale for pricing."

"Your licensing and cost, as would be required for many other solutions, being considered for eighty to two hundred and eighty different physical locations, is just about the same amount per access point."

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Top Industries

By visitors reading reviews

Computer Software Company

16%

Comms Service Provider

Financial Services Firm

Manufacturing Company

Comms Service Provider

12%

Computer Software Company

12%

Non Profit

12%

Retailer

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 WatchGuard Secure Wi‑Fi?

We like that WatchGuard works and integrates directly with the firewalls we use.

See all answers

What is your experience regarding pricing and costs for WatchGuard Secure Wi‑Fi?

WatchGuard is on the upper scale for pricing.

See all answers

What needs improvement with WatchGuard Secure Wi‑Fi?

The support response can be time-consuming because sometimes issues are very sensitive and require instant attention. Also, when an incident occurs, the impact can be significantly huge. A recent p...

See all answers

Comparisons

Fortinet FortiAP vs Aruba Access Points

Compared 64% of the time

Ruckus Wireless vs Aruba Access Points

Compared 11% of the time

Cisco Wireless vs Aruba Access Points

Compared 8% of the time

Cisco Meraki Wireless LAN vs Aruba Access Points

Compared 5% of the time

Huawei Wireless vs Aruba Access Points

Compared 4% of the time

More Aruba Access Points Competitors

Ubiquiti WLAN vs WatchGuard Secure Wi‑Fi

Compared 36% of the time

Ruckus Wireless vs WatchGuard Secure Wi‑Fi

Compared 30% of the time

Aruba Wireless vs WatchGuard Secure Wi‑Fi

Compared 22% of the time

Fortinet FortiWLM vs WatchGuard Secure Wi‑Fi

Compared 13% of the time

More WatchGuard Secure Wi‑Fi Competitors

Product Reports

Buyer's Guide

Aruba Access Points

August 2025

Download Aruba Access Points product report

Buyer's Guide

WatchGuard Secure Wi‑Fi

July 2025

Download WatchGuard Secure Wi‑Fi product report

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

WatchGuard is a global leader in network security, secure Wi-Fi, and network intelligence products and services for SMBs and Distributed Enterprises worldwide. Our mission is to make enterprise-grade security accessible to companies of all types and sizes through simplicity, making WatchGuard an ideal solution for distributed enterprises and SMBs. WatchGuard is headquartered in Seattle, Washington, with offices throughout North America, Europe, Asia Pacific, and Latin America.

WatchGuard

Sample Customers

Information Not Available

Portsmouth Grammar School, HILOTEC

Buyer's Guide

Aruba Access Points vs. WatchGuard Secure Wi‑Fi

July 2025

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