Aruba Instant On Access Points vs Fortinet FortiAP comparison

Aruba Instant On Access Points vs. Fortinet FortiAP

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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:

ROI

Sentiment score

2.5

Aruba Instant On Access Points are valued for setup ease, no fees, stability, reliability, and promising ROI despite initial costs.

Sentiment score

8.0

Fortinet FortiAP offers high ROI with robust security, minimal maintenance, and 80% cost savings compared to competitors.

No quotes available

For more quotes and insights, download the Aruba Instant On Access Points report

I do not have to continuously manage them, and their reliability means they are consistently up and running.

Network Administrator at a educational organization with 501-1,000 employees

Fortinet FortiAP provides value for money, and I can quantify the savings at about 80%.

For more quotes and insights, download the Fortinet FortiAP report

Senior Network Security Engineer at ITCG SOlutions Pvt Ltd

Customer Service

Sentiment score

7.9

Customer service for Aruba Instant On Access Points receives mixed reviews, with efficient support praised, but inconsistency noted.

Sentiment score

7.4

Fortinet FortiAP's customer service experiences vary, with mixed support quality influenced by region, service tier, and training resources.

The technical support from Aruba is rated seven due to limitations, such as support issues when the controller is on the VM side.

Senior Network Engineer Specialist at Zenith Comp Co.,Ltd.

There are still issues with the language barrier and the overall quality of support.

For more quotes and insights, download the Aruba Instant On Access Points report

Consultant at a tech services company with 1,001-5,000 employees

We keep a support contract open with Fortinet, so we have instantaneous response from them.

Network Engineer III at a energy/utilities company with 1,001-5,000 employees

I am not satisfied with Fortinet FortiAP's technical support in India.

Senior Network Security Engineer at ITCG SOlutions Pvt Ltd

The technical support from Fortinet FortiAP is rated 7.5 out of ten.

For more quotes and insights, download the Fortinet FortiAP report

Senior IT System Engineer at a tech services company with 1-10 employees

Scalability Issues

Sentiment score

6.9

Aruba Instant On Access Points excel for small to medium businesses but lack scalability needed for large enterprises.

Sentiment score

7.4

Fortinet FortiAP is scalable, supporting thousands of users, but may require new purchases due to technology constraints.

No quotes available

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There could be constraints where a product can't be scaled further without purchasing a new model.

Senior IT System Engineer at a tech services company with 1-10 employees

We have good scalability with Fortinet FortiAP because we have multiple ISPs connected to it through FortiManager.

For more quotes and insights, download the Fortinet FortiAP report

Network Engineer III at a energy/utilities company with 1,001-5,000 employees

Stability Issues

Sentiment score

8.3

Aruba Instant On Access Points are stable with minor app issues, reliable installation-dependent performance, and no major connectivity problems.

Sentiment score

7.2

Fortinet FortiAP's stability is mixed; some praise performance while others face disconnections and vulnerabilities, influenced by location and setup.

The stability of Aruba Instant On Access Points is generally good.

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Senior Network Engineer Specialist at Zenith Comp Co.,Ltd.

I have not experienced any issues, outages, or problems and have not had to interfere with them at all.

Network Administrator at a educational organization with 501-1,000 employees

The stability of the solution is very high.

For more quotes and insights, download the Fortinet FortiAP report

Network Engineer III at a energy/utilities company with 1,001-5,000 employees

Room For Improvement

Aruba Instant On Access Points need improved integration, scalability, security, pricing, management, range, documentation, and mobile app features.

Fortinet FortiAP needs enhancements in wireless functionality, affordability, security integration, configuration, automation, compatibility, support, and reporting.

In future updates, more AI for intelligence and the option for a separate network could be beneficial.

Aslam Khabou

Systems and support engineer at Lan to Wan

There is not enough focus on security across networking vendors, and they often add features without testing them thoroughly.

Consultant at a tech services company with 1,001-5,000 employees

The default configuration can be overridden to enhance performance beyond the default settings.

For more quotes and insights, download the Aruba Instant On Access Points report

Senior Network Engineer Specialist at Zenith Comp Co.,Ltd.

I know they're going up to six soon, which will enhance reliability.

Network Engineer III at a energy/utilities company with 1,001-5,000 employees

Security is always a concern for any business, and the network should not be compromised easily.

Senior IT System Engineer at a tech services company with 1-10 employees

We earlier expected that Fortinet FortiAP could be managed through the cloud, which would be very good, but nowadays, FortiNet is providing FortiAPs with cloud management also.

For more quotes and insights, download the Fortinet FortiAP report

Senior Network Security Engineer at ITCG SOlutions Pvt Ltd

Setup Cost

Aruba Instant On Access Points offer excellent value with no hidden fees, but some users find costs slightly high.

Fortinet FortiAP offers competitive enterprise pricing, though licensing costs can be high, generally rated six to nine out of ten.

The pricing of Aruba Instant On Access Points is competitive compared to Cisco, and they are actually cheaper.

Consultant at a tech services company with 1,001-5,000 employees

Aruba Instant On Access Points work without a list price, suggesting that they are open source and no additional licensing costs are incurred.

Aslam Khabou

Systems and support engineer at Lan to Wan

The cost of Aruba Instant On Access Points is reasonable;

For more quotes and insights, download the Aruba Instant On Access Points report

Senior Network Engineer Specialist at Zenith Comp Co.,Ltd.

The license costs for Fortinet are more affordable when considering licensing costs with other leaders like Cisco.

Senior IT System Engineer at a tech services company with 1-10 employees

Fortinet FortiAP is affordable, not expensive.

Senior Network Security Engineer at ITCG SOlutions Pvt Ltd

The pricing is much better than Cisco pricing.

For more quotes and insights, download the Fortinet FortiAP report

Network Engineer III at a energy/utilities company with 1,001-5,000 employees

Valuable Features

Aruba Instant On Access Points offer easy management, superior coverage, cloud setup, robust security, and seamless network integration with remote management.

Fortinet FortiAP excels in integration, management, and security, providing stability and performance for small to medium enterprises.

Customers choose Aruba because it is more stable, has superior radio management, and offers features like mesh and a stateful firewall.

Senior Network Engineer Specialist at Zenith Comp Co.,Ltd.

The product is incredibly stable and meets our needs excellently.

Aslam Khabou

Systems and support engineer at Lan to Wan

The virtual controller feature is very beneficial because it removes the need for a physical controller.

For more quotes and insights, download the Aruba Instant On Access Points report

Consultant at a tech services company with 1,001-5,000 employees

Fortinet FortiAP is effective in protecting against wireless threats.

Senior Network Security Engineer at ITCG SOlutions Pvt Ltd

Compatibility with Fortinet firewalls allows clients to set up new businesses with integrated firewalls and access points, offering a cost-effective solution while providing excellent wireless coverage.

Senior IT System Engineer at a tech services company with 1-10 employees

FortiAPs are an enterprise-level device capable of handling a large number of users and connections, ensuring quality.

For more quotes and insights, download the Fortinet FortiAP report

Network Administrator at a educational organization with 501-1,000 employees

Categories and Ranking

Aruba Instant On Access Points

Ranking in Wireless LAN

8th

Average Rating

8.6

Reviews Sentiment

6.5

Number of Reviews

Ranking in other categories

No ranking in other categories

Fortinet FortiAP

Ranking in Wireless LAN

9th

Average Rating

8.4

Reviews Sentiment

7.6

Number of Reviews

Ranking in other categories

No ranking in other categories

Mindshare comparison

As of June 2025, in the Wireless LAN category, the mindshare of Aruba Instant On Access Points is 1.0%, up from 1.0% compared to the previous year. The mindshare of Fortinet FortiAP is 5.6%, up from 0.8% compared to the previous year. It is calculated based on PeerSpot user engagement data.

Wireless LAN

Featured Reviews

Ricardo Quintero

Infrastructure/Telcom Coordinator at Schnellecke Group AG & Co. KG

Affordable and offers an easy setup phase

I was working on the on-premises solutions, like IronNet, Aironet, and some other tools from Cisco, but not with Meraki. The last Aironet model that we have here in Mexico, in the corporate office, and in some of the other regions of Mexico is Cisco Aironet 3700 and Cisco Aironet 3800, so it is just two or three devices. Aruba Instant On Access Points was working with Aruba 2540 and Cisco 3850 In Cisco, I found some issues. I was working well with a vendor. I was working with Cisco Catalyst 9200 and Cisco Catalyst 9300, along with Cisco Catalyst 2916M XL Switch. With all devices, we got a report. During the immigration, we choose another vendor, which Aruba. We have some issues with Aruba Instant On Access Points in iOS that are targeting the devices, and I have seen some problems with the DHCP solution.

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Enterprise-level control simplifies wireless management and increases reliability

Network Administrator at a educational organization with 501-1,000 employees

FortiAPs are an enterprise-level device capable of handling a large number of users and connections, ensuring quality. A benefit is their controllability by local firewalls, which simplifies management and eliminates the need to buy separate hardware or virtual appliances. The integration is efficient, allowing for management through the firewall. Firmware updates are also pushed to Fortinet access points. The lack of maintenance needs and their reliability means I almost never experience wireless problems in the campuses where they are deployed.

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Top Industries

By visitors reading reviews

Educational Organization

44%

Computer Software Company

Construction Company

Comms Service Provider

Computer Software Company

11%

Government

10%

Comms Service Provider

Manufacturing Company

Company Size

By reviewers

Large Enterprise

Midsize Enterprise

Small Business

Questions from the Community

What do you like most about Aruba Instant On Access Points?

It's really easy to set up. And, you don't have to pay for the cloud solution. That's really interesting for our clients. And the other thing is, the roaming is also quite good.

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

The cost of Aruba Instant On Access Points is reasonable; however, I do not have information on the exact pricing, such as cost per user or annual license fees.

What needs improvement with Aruba Instant On Access Points?

We can improve Aruba Instant On Access Points by tuning some of the parameters of the radio. The default configuration can be overridden to enhance performance beyond the default settings.

What do you like most about FortiAP?

If we have FortiClient installed on multiple devices, it is seamless to connect with FortiAP. It supports passwordless authentication as well. That is a great thing about it.

What is your experience regarding pricing and costs for FortiAP?

Fortinet solutions are more cost-effective compared to Cisco. The license costs for Fortinet are more affordable when considering licensing costs with other leaders like Cisco.

What needs improvement with FortiAP?

I cannot pinpoint the exact improvements needed at the moment. However, security is always a concern for any business, and the network should not be compromised easily. There should be alerts to in...

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Product Reports

Aruba Instant On Access Points

Download Aruba Instant On Access Points product report

Fortinet FortiAP

Download Fortinet FortiAP product report

Overview

Ingredients for success.

Fast 802.11ac Wave 2, secure employee and guest access, easy-to-use web, and mobile app management.

Say yes to secure Wi-Fi access.

Pre-built access control lists (ACLs) and built-in firewall in the access points prevent malicious traffic from entering your network – we call it “hassle-free” security.

Never drop an important call.

With Instant On, voice and video business applications are automatically prioritized, so you stay connected with your peers.

Hewlett Packard Enterprise

Fortinet FortiAP provides wireless network access for industries such as banking, healthcare, and logistics. It enhances connectivity with FortiGate and FortiSwitch, ensuring secure data exchange in settings like offices and malls.

Fortinet FortiAP is integral for managing connected devices across sectors. It integrates seamlessly with Fortinet products, enhancing security and connectivity. Users benefit from a unified console that simplifies configuration and monitoring without additional controllers. The support for passwordless authentication and cloud visibility adds value, while its use in environments like shopping centers and offices facilitates secure data sharing and access.

What are the key features of Fortinet FortiAP?

Integration with FortiGate and FortiAnalyzer: Simplifies network management and monitoring.
Passwordless Authentication: Enhances security and accessibility.
Cloud Dashboard: Provides comprehensive visibility over network activities.
Direct Control from FortiGate: Eliminates the need for separate controllers.
SSID Customization: Supports tailoring of wireless access.

What benefits should users expect from Fortinet FortiAP?

Efficient Network Management: Centralized control and configuration simplify operations.
Comprehensive Reporting: Transparent insights for improved decision-making.
Secure Access: Protects data through advanced security measures.
Seamless Connectivity: Improves user experience with simplified networking.

In industries like banking and healthcare, Fortinet FortiAP is deployed to enhance network security and provide reliable access. Retailers leverage its capabilities in shopping centers, while warehouses benefit from its reliable connectivity to support seamless operations. Managed service providers use it to deliver tailored solutions, ensuring effective network segmentation and coverage.

Fortinet

Aruba Instant On Access Points vs. Fortinet FortiAP