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 #9 with an average rating of 8.6, while Fortinet is ranked #25. Hewlett Packard Enterprise holds a 1.2% 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

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1,476 Comparison Views

96% willing to recommend

Fortinet FortiWLC

Read 3 Fortinet FortiWLC reviews

362 Views
329 Comparison Views

100% willing to recommend

Aruba Instant On Access Points

Fortinet FortiWLC

Comparison Buyer's Guide

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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.

To learn more, read our detailed Aruba Instant On Access Points vs. Fortinet FortiWLC Report (Updated: July 2025).

Buyer's Guide

Aruba Instant On Access Points vs. Fortinet FortiWLC

July 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 Instant On Access Points

Ranking in Wireless LAN

9th

Average Rating

8.6

Reviews Sentiment

6.5

Number of Reviews

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

Ranking in other categories

No ranking in other categories

Mindshare comparison

As of August 2025, in the Wireless LAN category, the mindshare of Aruba Instant On Access Points is 1.2%, up 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

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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Md.Mehedi Hassan

Team Lead Manager at Blue Pill Ltd

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.

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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 initial setup is very simple."

"The most valuable aspect of Unifi switches is the Unifi Controller."

"Its performance is very good. It suits small and medium sites very well."

"The product is scalable. It has 20 users."

"With a variety of switches in their setup, they find that Aruba's online monitoring tools and configuration options for applications effectively manage most of their requirements, all while keeping the process straightforward and user-friendly."

"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 product is easy to set up, providing value for time since it is very quick."

"I would recommend Aruba Instant On Access Points to others."

More Aruba Instant On Access Points pros

"The most valuable feature of Fortinet FortiWLC is the overall high quality."

"I rate the overall solution a ten out of ten."

"FortiWLC is valuable due to its security features and the seamless WiFi experience it provides."

"It's easy to set everything up during implementation."

Cons

"Stability largely depends on how access points are installed and managed. While Aruba cannot entirely ensure connection reliability, the deployment approach can minimize wireless link downtime."

"The limited functionality of the mobile app restricts its use primarily to small and medium-sized setups, making it less suitable for enterprise-level solutions."

"It's only suitable for smaller offices. It doesn't scale well."

"If anything, its reporting could be improved."

"The tool is priced high."

"If there's a way to get a floor map of our office space so we can place the access points on a map to be able to see what's what, where everything is going, where the most traffic is being connected, that would be a nice feature."

"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."

More Aruba Instant On Access Points cons

"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."

"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."

Pricing and Cost Advice

"The price of Aruba Instant On Access Points is reasonable. They are competitively priced. I've even used it in my home at one time because of the low price."

"It is expensive."

"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."

"I rate the product's pricing a six on a scale of one to ten, where one is cheap and ten is expensive."

"The product's price falls on the cheaper end of the spectrum. The price of the product is one of the biggest benefits that it offers."

"It needs a license."

"You buy it for $165 an AP, which is what we paid."

"It's a cost-effective solution."

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."

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Top Industries

By visitors reading reviews

Computer Software Company

Performing Arts

Hospitality Company

Manufacturing Company

Non Profit

11%

Comms Service Provider

University

Real Estate/Law Firm

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.

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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.

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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.

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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

Aruba Instant vs Aruba Instant On Access Points

Compared 13% of the time

Fortinet FortiAP vs Aruba Instant On Access Points

Compared 11% of the time

Omada Access Points vs Aruba Instant On Access Points

Compared 10% of the time

Cisco Meraki Wireless LAN vs Aruba Instant On Access Points

Compared 10% of the time

Huawei Wireless vs Aruba Instant On Access Points

Compared 10% of the time

More Aruba Instant On Access Points Competitors

Juniper Mist Wireless Access Points vs Fortinet FortiWLC

Compared 52% of the time

Fortinet FortiWLM vs Fortinet FortiWLC

Compared 48% of the time

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Product Reports

Buyer's Guide

Aruba Instant On Access Points

August 2025

Download Aruba Instant On Access Points product report

Buyer's Guide

Wireless LAN

July 2025

Download 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

July 2025

Free Report: Aruba Instant On Access Points vs. Fortinet FortiWLC

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