Try our new research platform with insights from 80,000+ expert users

Aruba Instant On Access Points vs Fortinet FortiWLC comparison

Hewlett Packard Enterprise and Fortinet are both solutions in the Wireless LAN category. Hewlett Packard Enterprise is ranked #10 with an average rating of 8.6, while Fortinet is ranked #25. Hewlett Packard Enterprise holds a 0.9% mindshare in Wireless LAN, compared to Fortinet’s 0.2% mindshare. Additionally, 96% of Hewlett Packard Enterprise users are willing to recommend the solution, compared to 100% of Fortinet users who would recommend it.
Aruba Instant On Access Points
Read 32 Aruba Instant On Access Points reviews
  • 2,010 Views
  • 995 Comparison Views
96% willing to recommend
Fortinet FortiWLC
Read 3 Fortinet FortiWLC reviews
  • 369 Views
  • 283 Comparison Views
100% willing to recommend
 

Comparison Buyer's Guide

Download the report
Executive SummaryUpdated on Oct 31, 2024

Fortinet FortiWLC and Aruba Instant On Access Points are competing in the wireless network management and access points sector. Fortinet has more favorable pricing and support, while Aruba offers advanced features justifying its price.

Features: Fortinet FortiWLC provides robust network management, scalability, and seamless integration within IT environments. Aruba Instant On Access Points offers ease of use, mobile app management, and advanced security features, catering to superior usability.

Ease of Deployment and Customer Service: Fortinet FortiWLC is recognized for its straightforward deployment in large-scale networks and responsive customer service. Aruba Instant On Access Points uses a plug-and-play model, simplifying setup without technical expertise, though it provides less extensive support, focusing on user simplicity.

Pricing and ROI: Fortinet FortiWLC presents a competitive setup cost, offering solid ROI appealing to budget-conscious buyers. Aruba Instant On Access Points, despite a higher initial investment, provides value through reduced operational complexity and quick ROI due to lower lifecycle costs, reflecting Fortinet's cost-effectiveness versus Aruba’s investment in advanced capabilities.

DOWNLOAD THE COMPLETE REPORT
To learn more, read our detailed Aruba Instant On Access Points vs. Fortinet FortiWLC Report (Updated: April 2025).
Buyer's Guide
Aruba Instant On Access Points vs. Fortinet FortiWLC
April 2025
Download the complete report
Helped 850,028 peers since 2012

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 Instant On Access Points
Ranking in Wireless LAN
10th
Average Rating
8.6
Reviews Sentiment
6.5
Number of Reviews
32
Ranking in other categories
No ranking in other categories
Fortinet FortiWLC
Ranking in Wireless LAN
25th
Average Rating
9.0
Reviews Sentiment
8.4
Number of Reviews
3
Ranking in other categories
No ranking in other categories
 

Mindshare comparison

As of May 2025, in the Wireless LAN category, the mindshare of Aruba Instant On Access Points is 0.9%, down from 1.0% compared to the previous year. The mindshare of Fortinet FortiWLC is 0.2%, down from 0.3% compared to the previous year. It is calculated based on PeerSpot user engagement data.
Wireless LAN
 

Featured Reviews

Ricardo Quintero - PeerSpot reviewer
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.
Read full review
Md.Mehedi Hassan - PeerSpot reviewer
Offers a seamless and secure WiFi experience with outstanding customer support
FortiWLC is valuable due to its security features and the seamless WiFi experience it provides. Our customers benefit greatly from the security aspect, especially since they are already using Fortinet for Firewall services. The security features are crucial for their requirements. The stability and ease of use of FortiWLC also add to its effectiveness.
Read full review

Quotes from Members

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

Pros

"The advantages of Aruba Instant On Access Points include using a mobile application to control various aspects, making it a user-friendly solution for home use."
"The coverage Aruba provides across the physical area is much better. Most probably because of the new technology, the 4x4 antenna, and everything around it. It's just a much better, easier to use, and easier to manage product."
"The solution is scalable."
"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."
"The solution has fast deployment and easy setup. There is no security PIN for this account."
"Aruba is much better than other vendors like Cisco and NETGEAR in terms of quality, price, and value for money."
"The mobile app is good. We have many things that are connected through mobile. Most users use mobile to connect to the Wi-Fi."
"The initial setup is very simple."
More Aruba Instant On Access Points pros
"The most valuable feature of Fortinet FortiWLC is the overall high quality."
"FortiWLC is valuable due to its security features and the seamless WiFi experience it provides."
"It's easy to set everything up during implementation."
"I rate the overall solution a ten out of ten."
 

Cons

"I would like to see a feature that blocks, increases, or decreases bandwidth capacity for devices."
"In terms of financial benefits, the Aruba project is a high-cost solution, and I haven't seen specific financial returns."
"The security aspect needs improvement."
"I believe there's room for improvement in the validation process, especially for customers facing compliance issues when managing access points from the cloud. It would be beneficial if the access points could also be managed from an on-premises controller. Regarding additional features, customers express interest in enhancing the controller, specifically improving the capability to manage a higher number of access points from the same controller. This feature is crucial for better scalability. Another feature that customers would appreciate is the ability to increase the number of access points. However, the current process for obtaining this permission can be time-consuming, and customers would like to see improvements in this regard."
"The tool is priced high."
"The pricing could be a little cheaper."
"I want the product to be made available at a cheaper price point."
"When there are a lot of people connected, especially during video streaming demonstrations, the connection can get a bit choppy."
More Aruba Instant On Access Points cons
"For massive implementations, Fortinet should consider reducing the price to make it more affordable."
"One thing that is lacking is, compared with some other brands, the signal is a bit weaker. Ruckus has much wider signal coverage."
"However, for massive implementations, Fortinet should consider reducing the price to make it more affordable."
"Fortinet FortiWLC is not simple to configure when compared to other solutions. The design could be better."
 

Pricing and Cost Advice

"Aruba Instant On Access Points are license-free. It's a very good and cheap solution for wireless networks. It can be compared with solutions from Ubiquiti and TP-Link, but it is in a different class. Aruba Instant On Access Points are cheaper than those from Cisco, Ruckus, and Motorola. It's perhaps the cheapest one. They do not use licenses, so it is a solution from the box. You don't need to pay extra money or deal with hidden payments."
"There is a need to make yearly payments towards the standard licensing charges associated with the product. There are some additional costs associated with the product since I have seen customers who purchase three-year or five-year plans."
"It needs a license."
"It's a cost-effective solution."
"I rate the product's pricing a six on a scale of one to ten, where one is cheap and ten is expensive."
"I would rate the solution's pricing an eight out of ten."
"It is expensive."
"You buy it for $165 an AP, which is what we paid."
More Aruba Instant On Access Points pricing and cost advice
"The price of Fortinet FortiWLC is high. The solution will be out of the market for us because the price is too high for the features it provides."
report
See which vendors are best for you
Use our free recommendation engine to learn which Wireless LAN solutions are best for your needs.
See recommendations
850,028 professionals have used our research since 2012.
 

Top Industries

By visitors reading reviews
Educational Organization
57%
Computer Software Company
6%
Construction Company
4%
Manufacturing Company
4%
Manufacturing Company
11%
Financial Services Firm
10%
Non Profit
10%
Real Estate/Law Firm
9%
 

Company Size

By reviewers
Large Enterprise
Midsize Enterprise
Small Business
No data available
 

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.
See all answers
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.
See all answers
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.
See all answers
What is your experience regarding pricing and costs for Fortinet FortiWLC?
I cannot disclose the license price, however, I recommend Fortinet reduce its pricing for massive implementations.
See all answers
What needs improvement with Fortinet FortiWLC?
Until now, I have not observed any issues. However, for massive implementations, Fortinet should consider reducing the price to make it more affordable.
See all answers
What is your primary use case for Fortinet FortiWLC?
We are resellers of FortiWLC, and our customers mainly use it in enterprise settings, particularly for chemical companies.
See all answers
 

Comparisons

Fortinet FortiAP vs Aruba Instant On Access Points Logo
Fortinet FortiAP vs Aruba Instant On Access Points
Compared 18% of the time
Cambium Networks Wireless LAN vs Aruba Instant On Access Points Logo
Cambium Networks Wireless LAN vs Aruba Instant On Access Points
Compared 15% of the time
Omada Access Points vs Aruba Instant On Access Points Logo
Omada Access Points vs Aruba Instant On Access Points
Compared 12% of the time
Aruba Instant vs Aruba Instant On Access Points Logo
Aruba Instant vs Aruba Instant On Access Points
Compared 12% of the time
Cisco Meraki Wireless LAN vs Aruba Instant On Access Points Logo
Cisco Meraki Wireless LAN vs Aruba Instant On Access Points
Compared 12% of the time
More Aruba Instant On Access Points Competitors
Juniper Mist Wireless Access Points vs Fortinet FortiWLC Logo
Juniper Mist Wireless Access Points vs Fortinet FortiWLC
Compared 55% of the time
Fortinet FortiWLM vs Fortinet FortiWLC Logo
Fortinet FortiWLM vs Fortinet FortiWLC
Compared 45% of the time
More Fortinet FortiWLC Competitors
 

Product Reports

Buyer's Guide
Aruba Instant On Access Points
May 2025
Aruba Instant On Access Points reportDownload Aruba Instant On Access Points product report
Buyer's Guide
Wireless LAN
April 2025
Fortinet FortiWLC reportDownload Fortinet FortiWLC 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 controllers for infrastructure Wi-Fi manage authentication and encryption of our enterprise-class infrastructure access points. These controllers are powered by Fortinet’s System Director operating system for seamless mobility and high-density environments.

Fortinet
 

Sample Customers

Information Not Available
Black Gold Regional Schools, Amadeus Hospitality, Jefferson County, Chunghwa Telecom, City of Boroondara, Dimension Data
Buyer's Guide
Aruba Instant On Access Points vs. Fortinet FortiWLC
April 2025
Free Report: Aruba Instant On Access Points vs. Fortinet FortiWLC
Find out what your peers are saying about Aruba Instant On Access Points vs. Fortinet FortiWLC and other solutions. Updated: April 2025.
DOWNLOAD NOW
850,028 professionals have used our research since 2012.
See our Aruba Instant On Access Points vs. Fortinet FortiWLC report.
See our list of best Wireless LAN vendors.

We monitor all Wireless LAN reviews to prevent fraudulent reviews and keep review quality high. We do not post reviews by company employees or direct competitors. We validate each review for authenticity via cross-reference with LinkedIn, and personal follow-up with the reviewer when necessary.