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Aruba ClearPass vs Fortinet FortiNAC comparison

 

Comparison Buyer's Guide

Executive SummaryUpdated on Nov 2, 2025

Review summaries and opinions

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

ROI

Sentiment score
4.9
Aruba ClearPass enhances data security and management efficiency, though licensing misunderstandings can complicate ROI measurements for some users.
Sentiment score
5.8
Fortinet FortiNAC enhances network security and management, reducing costs and labor while offering financial savings and efficiency.
Using Aruba ClearPass has resulted in less engineering time compared to other products we've used.
Owner at Channelserve
The investment is huge for enterprise clients, but Aruba ClearPass makes processes easier.
Pre-Sales Consultant at a consultancy with 201-500 employees
 

Customer Service

Sentiment score
7.3
Aruba ClearPass customer service is praised for expertise and effectiveness, though some desire faster responses and improved escalation.
Sentiment score
6.6
Fortinet FortiNAC support is varied, excelling in US and Asia-Pacific but needing improvements in EMEA, especially UK.
Portnox is one level up, as their customer support is outstanding.
Chief Digital Officer at Clarity AI
We have faced delays in the resolution of production issues after raising tickets, which impacts productivity.
Network Support Engineer at HDFC Life
We have escalated questions to tech support, and I would rate the technical support an eight out of ten.
Network Engineer at a outsourcing company with 11-50 employees
They provide sessions to help with various questions.
Network &Security Engineer at Natioanal Drug Authority Uganda
They could do more to improve, not because of the product itself but because of the support they provide.
Senior Cyber Security Engineer at Beta Information Technology
 

Scalability Issues

Sentiment score
8.1
Aruba ClearPass is highly scalable, seamlessly integrating with upgrades and environments, effectively handling large, diverse user volumes.
Sentiment score
7.5
Fortinet FortiNAC is scalable and adaptable, with flexible licensing, though integration and setup complexity may need improvement.
I believe the scalability of ClearPass is rated as ten out of ten.
Senior Security & Infra Technology Systems Engineer at BARQ Systems
Everything will be handled when you add new users because all configurations are deployed from the beginning.
Network Product Manager/ Senior Presales engineer at a computer software company with 501-1,000 employees
In our environment, ClearPass handles up to 100,000 users, which is better than some other NAC solutions like Fortinox that scale up to 25,000.
Network Engineer at a outsourcing company with 11-50 employees
The pricing model makes it challenging as the cost is substantial due to the per-node licensing model.
Network &Security Engineer at Natioanal Drug Authority Uganda
Fortinet FortiNAC's scalability is great.
Cybersecurity Team Leader at EMAK For Integrated Solutions
 

Stability Issues

Sentiment score
7.9
Aruba ClearPass is highly stable, performing reliably with minimal disruptions, and receives high ratings for consistent dependability.
Sentiment score
7.5
Opinions on Fortinet FortiNAC's stability vary, with ratings from seven to ten, citing both reliability and persistent issues.
I have experienced more than three years without zero downtime with Aruba ClearPass.
Senior Enterprise Customer Solutions Specialist at a comms service provider with 1,001-5,000 employees
There are issues with some versions, especially in integrating with AD and SSL configurations over port sixty-three.
Network Support Engineer at HDFC Life
There aren't many stability issues, but sometimes the guest management function occasionally throws errors.
Pre-Sales Consultant at a consultancy with 201-500 employees
 

Room For Improvement

Aruba ClearPass requires UI enhancements, improved integration, better scalability, refined features, and comprehensive support for optimal performance.
Fortinet FortiNAC struggles with integration, usability, setup, support, and pricing, needing better documentation and enhanced features.
The language and policy enforcement mechanisms are not clear, making it difficult to use the product effectively.
Project Manager at a tech consulting company with 51-200 employees
It is also better to improve threat intelligence for built-in threat detection and prevention.
Network Engineer at a outsourcing company with 11-50 employees
A more streamlined menu of licensing options would be helpful.
Owner at Channelserve
Improvement in the interface design would make FortiNAC a better solution.
Network &Security Engineer at Natioanal Drug Authority Uganda
The graphical user interface (GUI) of Fortinet FortiNAC is very poor compared to competitors like Forcepoint and Cisco ISE.
Senior Cyber Security Engineer at Beta Information Technology
Real-time use cases for implementing Fortinet FortiNAC will be useful for all customers.
Cybersecurity Team Leader at EMAK For Integrated Solutions
 

Setup Cost

Aruba ClearPass pricing varies by needs and usage, with licensing options influencing costs and long-term value for users.
Fortinet FortiNAC offers competitively priced license tiers, considered valuable with options for yearly or perpetual licenses and support.
Achieving the best price requires careful selection from a menu of licensing options.
Owner at Channelserve
We cannot mix in prices, and of course, prices are going higher.
IT Network Operations Manager at KEDS
Aruba ClearPass is a premium product with higher pricing, which seems unnecessary given its complexity.
Project Manager at a tech consulting company with 51-200 employees
Fortinet FortiNAC is relatively cheap compared to other solutions.
Senior Cyber Security Engineer at Beta Information Technology
My experience with pricing, setup cost, and licensing has been wonderful from Fortinet FortiNAC.
Cybersecurity Team Leader at EMAK For Integrated Solutions
 

Valuable Features

Aruba ClearPass provides versatile network security, supporting diverse authentication and integration, with a user-friendly interface for comprehensive access control.
Fortinet FortiNAC ensures robust security, visibility, and integration, with features like compliance checks and customizable reporting for diverse networks.
In Aruba ClearPass, you can have control of all authentication in the company.
Senior Enterprise Customer Solutions Specialist at a comms service provider with 1,001-5,000 employees
The ClearPass solution has reduced the amount of engineering time compared to previous solutions, making it more efficient for our purposes.
Owner at Channelserve
The most effective feature for us is the OnGuard feature.
Senior Security & Infra Technology Systems Engineer at BARQ Systems
Implementing zero trust with Fortinet FortiNAC has improved security metrics and enhanced security for our infrastructure.
Cybersecurity Team Leader at EMAK For Integrated Solutions
I appreciate the feature where it can connect with different vendor equipment, regardless of the network devices from other vendors.
Network &Security Engineer at Natioanal Drug Authority Uganda
The main advantage of Fortinet FortiNAC is its integration with the entire Fortinet product portfolio.
Senior Cyber Security Engineer at Beta Information Technology
 

Categories and Ranking

Aruba ClearPass
Ranking in Network Access Control (NAC)
1st
Average Rating
8.6
Reviews Sentiment
6.6
Number of Reviews
89
Ranking in other categories
No ranking in other categories
Fortinet FortiNAC
Ranking in Network Access Control (NAC)
3rd
Average Rating
7.8
Reviews Sentiment
6.7
Number of Reviews
57
Ranking in other categories
No ranking in other categories
 

Mindshare comparison

As of January 2026, in the Network Access Control (NAC) category, the mindshare of Aruba ClearPass is 21.6%, down from 24.7% compared to the previous year. The mindshare of Fortinet FortiNAC is 16.1%, down from 18.1% compared to the previous year. It is calculated based on PeerSpot user engagement data.
Network Access Control (NAC) Market Share Distribution
ProductMarket Share (%)
Aruba ClearPass21.6%
Fortinet FortiNAC16.1%
Other62.3%
Network Access Control (NAC)
 

Featured Reviews

Darko Skurla - PeerSpot reviewer
Senior Enterprise Customer Solutions Specialist at a comms service provider with 1,001-5,000 employees
Role-based policies have simplified secure access control for all users and smart devices
I do not know about the functionality of Aruba ClearPass integration with a third party. If you ask me if there is support for Zebra and for different IoT devices, they have it. However, I do not know how to describe integration with other products. Aruba ClearPass can act as a RADIUS server and it can connect to the domain RADIUS server, for example. The biggest problem is when a customer does not know what they want with Aruba ClearPass. I can recommend Aruba ClearPass to other users because it is very stable. My review rating for this product is ten out of ten.
Ahmed_Shalaby - PeerSpot reviewer
Senior Cyber Security Engineer at Beta Information Technology
Struggles with interface and integration while benefiting from portfolio synergy
We use Fortinet FortiNAC for security assessment, penetration testing, and posture assessment. These are the typical use cases for any NAC solution The main advantage of Fortinet FortiNAC is its integration with the entire Fortinet product portfolio, which includes the self-security fabric of…
report
Use our free recommendation engine to learn which Network Access Control (NAC) solutions are best for your needs.
880,511 professionals have used our research since 2012.
 

Top Industries

By visitors reading reviews
Computer Software Company
10%
Government
9%
Manufacturing Company
8%
University
7%
Manufacturing Company
11%
Computer Software Company
11%
Financial Services Firm
9%
Comms Service Provider
7%
 

Company Size

By reviewers
Large Enterprise
Midsize Enterprise
Small Business
By reviewers
Company SizeCount
Small Business44
Midsize Enterprise25
Large Enterprise33
By reviewers
Company SizeCount
Small Business30
Midsize Enterprise13
Large Enterprise14
 

Questions from the Community

Which is better - Aruba Clearpass or Cisco ISE?
Aruba ClearPass is a Network Access Control tool that gives secure network access to multiple device types. You can adapt the policies to VPN access, wired, or wireless access. You can securely ...
What is the biggest difference between Aruba ClearPass and FortiNAC?
I've done quite a lot of work with ClearPass, and not a lot with FortiNAC/Bradford. ClearPass incorporates a number of different functions including ClearPass Guest for creating complex wireless g...
What do you like most about Aruba ClearPass?
If you are looking at the base installation, then it was a very straightforward process, which I would rate an eight or nine out of ten.
How does Cisco ISE compare with Fortinet FortiNAC?
Cisco ISE uses AI endpoint analytics to identify new devices based on their behavior. It will also notify you if someone plugs in with a device that is not allowed and will block it. The user exper...
What do you like most about Fortinet FortiNAC?
The support responds to our queries within two to four hours.
What is your experience regarding pricing and costs for Fortinet FortiNAC?
My experience with pricing, setup cost, and licensing has been wonderful from Fortinet FortiNAC.
 

Also Known As

Avenda eTIPS
FortiNAC, Bradford Networks, Bradford Networks Sentry, Network Sentry Family
 

Overview

 

Sample Customers

Consulate Health Care, Los Angeles Unified School District, Science Applications International Corp (SAIC), San Diego State University, KFC, ACTS Retirement-Life Communities
Isavia, Pepperdine University, Medical University of South Carolina, Columbia University Medical Center, Utah Valley University
Find out what your peers are saying about Aruba ClearPass vs. Fortinet FortiNAC and other solutions. Updated: December 2025.
880,511 professionals have used our research since 2012.