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 8.7, while WatchGuard is ranked #24 with an average rating of 7.0. Hewlett Packard Enterprise holds a 1.5% mindshare in Wireless LAN, compared to WatchGuard’s 0.4% 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 37 Aruba Access Points reviews

696 Views
530 Comparison Views

94% willing to recommend

WatchGuard Secure Wi‑Fi

Read 7 WatchGuard Secure Wi‑Fi reviews

531 Views
431 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: April 2025).

Buyer's Guide

Aruba Access Points vs. WatchGuard Secure Wi‑Fi

April 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

7.2

Number of Reviews

Ranking in other categories

No ranking in other categories

WatchGuard Secure Wi‑Fi

Ranking in Wireless LAN

24th

Average Rating

7.8

Reviews Sentiment

6.4

Number of Reviews

Ranking in other categories

No ranking in other categories

Mindshare comparison

As of May 2025, in the Wireless LAN category, the mindshare of Aruba Access Points is 1.5%, up from 0.1% compared to the previous year. The mindshare of WatchGuard Secure Wi‑Fi is 0.4%, down from 0.4% 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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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

"The controller software, which can control multiple access points remotely, is very convenient."

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

"Aruba's virtual controller is the most important feature."

"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."

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

"It is a stable solution."

"The tool's most valuable feature is better connectivity."

"It has been a stable solution since its installation."

More Aruba Access Points pros

"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 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."

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

"The configuration part of WatchGuard is very flexible."

Cons

"The ICT dynamic is important. Every other vendor is innovating with new features and ideas. They need to compete and implement these things to stay ahead. So, I would suggest Aruba continue to gain the competitive edge."

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

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

"The product's stability and technical support services needs improvement."

"They should reduce the prices as an advanced marketing tool."

"The product is highly priced. They could improve pricing."

"The solution's lead time is very slow and should be improved."

"The price could be a bit lower."

More Aruba Access Points cons

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

"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."

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

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

"Inability to import a user with one click."

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

Pricing and Cost Advice

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

"The pricing is reasonable."

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

"The pricing is competitive. It is neither cheap nor expensive. It is moderate. It offers better price than Cisco and other competitors."

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

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

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

"The tool is priced the same as its competitors."

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."

"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."

"WatchGuard is on the upper scale for pricing."

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Top Industries

By visitors reading reviews

Computer Software Company

15%

Comms Service Provider

Financial Services Firm

Manufacturing Company

Computer Software Company

13%

Comms Service Provider

12%

Non Profit

11%

Government

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 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. It is important ...

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 72% of the time

Ruckus Wireless vs Aruba Access Points

Compared 13% of the time

Cisco Wireless vs Aruba Access Points

Compared 5% 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

Ruckus Wireless vs WatchGuard Secure Wi‑Fi

Compared 40% of the time

Ubiquiti WLAN vs WatchGuard Secure Wi‑Fi

Compared 33% of the time

Aruba Wireless vs WatchGuard Secure Wi‑Fi

Compared 27% of the time

More WatchGuard Secure Wi‑Fi Competitors

Product Reports

Buyer's Guide

Aruba Access Points

May 2025

Download Aruba Access Points product report

Buyer's Guide

WatchGuard Secure Wi‑Fi

April 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

April 2025

Free Report: Aruba Access Points vs. WatchGuard Secure Wi‑Fi

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