

Aruba Instant On Access Points and Cisco Meraki MR Wireless systems are both prominent contenders in the wireless networking market. Aruba enjoys favorable feedback for its cost-effectiveness and support, while Cisco Meraki is preferred for its advanced feature set despite a higher price point.
Features: Aruba Instant On Access Points are known for their ease of use, scalability, and robust coverage, catering well to small and medium-sized businesses. They also offer security features easily deployable with RADIUS and dot1x and the intuitive mobile app enables simple management and monitoring. Cisco Meraki MR Wireless presents cloud-based management, advanced RF optimization, and built-in security features such as Air Marshal and WIPS, making them suitable for handling complex networking demands.
Room for Improvement: Aruba Instant On Access Points could benefit from additional advanced features to appeal to enterprise-level users and enhance their current limitations on managing multiple access points. Improvements to mesh network support and seamless integration with enterprise-grade systems could enhance user experience. Cisco Meraki MR Wireless could improve user accessibility by reducing complexity in its configuration processes and extending customer support to help users with non-cloud-based management preferences. Enhancing ROI metrics for small setups might also make it more attractive to smaller businesses.
Ease of Deployment and Customer Service: Aruba Instant On Access Points provide an effortless setup process through a mobile app, combined with dependable customer support. Cisco Meraki MR Wireless offers a streamlined cloud-managed deployment that simplifies large-scale installations, and its superior customer service assists in swiftly resolving complex issues. Cisco's comprehensive support and cloud management present a notable competitive edge.
Pricing and ROI: Aruba Instant On Access Points are budget-friendly, featuring lower upfront costs ideal for smaller setups and yielding solid returns on investment. Cisco Meraki MR Wireless, although requiring a higher initial expenditure, provides value through its advanced network management capabilities and improved performance. The enhanced oversight offered by Cisco Meraki positions it as an attractive long-term investment despite the higher cost.
This singular point is important because one wants something that is not just cost-effective but also something that can be supported and troubleshot with skilled people familiar with the technology.
Giving me a view of unauthorized users attempting to access the environment, which I can easily track from the Meraki dashboard, allowing me to reject such traffic as and when needed.
I find Cisco Meraki MR Wireless to be cost-effective, and it delivers a good return on investment.
The technical support from Aruba is rated seven due to limitations, such as support issues when the controller is on the VM side.
There are still issues with the language barrier and the overall quality of support.
Cisco's technical support is the best.
Raising a tech call can be a convoluted mechanism, which impacts my rating.
Among our tickets, 50% receive proper support and guidance, while the remaining 50% do not receive adequate attention.
Cisco Meraki MR Wireless is easier to deploy or manage multiple access points via the same Meraki dashboard cloud.
I have seen a customer scale from three branch offices to approximately ninety-seven, and it scaled without issues.
Cisco Meraki MR Wireless is very easy to scale in either direction.
The stability of Aruba Instant On Access Points is generally good.
I have not seen any glitches, bugs, or stability problems with Cisco Meraki MR Wireless.
It's stable, but there's a vendor lock-in with Cisco Meraki MR Wireless.
There is not enough focus on security across networking vendors, and they often add features without testing them thoroughly.
In future updates, more AI for intelligence and the option for a separate network could be beneficial.
The default configuration can be overridden to enhance performance beyond the default settings.
In my opinion, what should be improved in Cisco Meraki MR Wireless is that the AP should initially get configured irrespective of the internet connectivity.
My main concern is that Cisco Meraki MR Wireless is overpriced, has limited functionality, and the hardware is not prepared for any further improvements in terms of features.
Cost is also an area for improvement, as feedback from some customers indicates that for the same amount of value received from alternative solutions, Cisco Meraki MR Wireless could be priced better.
The pricing of Aruba Instant On Access Points is competitive compared to Cisco, and they are actually cheaper.
Aruba Instant On Access Points work without a list price, suggesting that they are open source and no additional licensing costs are incurred.
When comparing pricing with Cisco, Aruba Instant On Access Points are competitively priced, making them affordable solutions for SMBs, rather than being higher priced.
The cost of Cisco Meraki MR Wireless is high; the price of one AP to the end customer is approximately 50,000 INR.
My experience with pricing, setup cost, and licensing was very straightforward with no complex licensing requirements; just one single subscription based license on the APs is what is outstanding, making pricing and licensing pretty easy.
I would rate pricing an eight, as the retail prices are rather high, but if we go as a known customer to Meraki, there are some nice discounts.
Customers choose Aruba because it is more stable, has superior radio management, and offers features like mesh and a stateful firewall.
We have implemented approximately 300 plus devices on one premise without receiving any complaints about malfunctioning or functionality errors; it runs smoothly.
The virtual controller feature is very beneficial because it removes the need for a physical controller.
Regarding security features Air Marshal and WIPS, they help with protecting my network, as we use enterprise protocols, so it meets our standards.
Easy deployment and configuration is the biggest feature that I really appreciate about the solution, plus it allows me to implement basic access-based controls, which gives me the feasibility of having secured connectivity.
Everything can be done remotely, including deployment, provisioning, and troubleshooting from the cloud.
| Product | Mindshare (%) |
|---|---|
| Cisco Meraki MR Wireless | 1.6% |
| Aruba Instant On Access Points | 2.3% |
| Other | 96.1% |


| Company Size | Count |
|---|---|
| Small Business | 23 |
| Midsize Enterprise | 4 |
| Large Enterprise | 9 |
| Company Size | Count |
|---|---|
| Small Business | 4 |
| Midsize Enterprise | 2 |
| Large Enterprise | 6 |
Aruba Instant On Access Points deliver seamless connectivity, easy management through mobile apps, and robust security features for businesses seeking reliable wireless solutions.
Aruba Instant On Access Points ensure stable connectivity with stateful firewalls and user-friendly setup via virtual controllers. These devices offer efficient radio management, advanced antenna systems, and scalability, integrating smoothly into existing networks. Intuitive interfaces provide quick deployment and reliable performance, enhancing user experience. However, there is room for improvement in range, scalability, software usability, and management simplicity. Pricing also poses a concern, with a desire for enhanced security, better documentation, and improved monitoring. The mobile app could benefit larger setups by offering more advanced features and improving radio frequency coverage.
What are the key features of Aruba Instant On?Aruba Instant On Access Points are employed across industries, providing wireless connectivity for offices, guest networks, and homes. Banking, insurance, warehouses, and medical facilities utilize them for reliable LANs. They are suitable for small to medium enterprises needing low indoor coverage, indoor and outdoor settings, and IoT monitoring support.
Cisco Meraki MR Wireless offers a robust wireless connectivity solution designed for scalability and ease of deployment, making it suitable for modern enterprises seeking reliable network performance.
With its cloud-managed structure, Cisco Meraki MR Wireless provides comprehensive visibility and control over wireless environments, catering to diverse locations and user counts. Its seamless integration simplifies network management, crucial for data-driven decisions in enterprises. The system's configuration and maintenance are streamlined via the intuitive dashboard, ensuring users can optimize performance with minimal effort.
What are the important features of Cisco Meraki MR Wireless?Healthcare facilities, educational institutions, and retail environments favor Cisco Meraki MR Wireless for its robust security and ease of management in environments demanding reliable connectivity. Its ability to handle high-density environments with minimal latency makes it an asset in education. Retail chains utilize comprehensive analytics to optimize in-store experiences and operations.
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