Aruba Instant On Access Points vs Juniper WLC Series comparison

Hewlett Packard Enterprise and Juniper are both solutions in the Wireless LAN category. Hewlett Packard Enterprise is ranked #9 with an average rating of 8.6, while Juniper is ranked #17 with an average rating of 8.7. Hewlett Packard Enterprise holds a 1.2% mindshare in Wireless LAN, compared to Juniper’s 1.0% mindshare. Additionally, 96% of Hewlett Packard Enterprise users are willing to recommend the solution, compared to 100% of Juniper users who would recommend it.

Aruba Instant On Access Points

Read 32 Aruba Instant On Access Points reviews

1,476 Views
1,476 Comparison Views

96% willing to recommend

Juniper WLC Series

Read 14 Juniper WLC Series reviews

837 Views
829 Comparison Views

100% willing to recommend

Aruba Instant On Access Points

Juniper WLC Series

Comparison Buyer's Guide

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Executive SummaryUpdated on Oct 31, 2024

Juniper WLC Series and Aruba Instant On Access Points compete in the wireless management solutions category. Based on the comparison, Aruba Instant On Access Points appear to have the upper hand due to their ease of management, superior antenna technology, and cost-efficiency.

Features: Juniper WLC Series provides robust management flexibility and virtualization, supporting up to 256 wireless access points. It features an open API, strong programmability, and AI-driven features, combined with straightforward setup and stable coverage. Aruba Instant On Access Points are recognized for ease of management, superior coverage with 4x4 antenna technology, and cloud-based management. They feature a Virtual Controller, eliminating the need for separate controllers, with user-friendly integration and reliable performance.

Room for Improvement: Juniper WLC Series requires better portal functionality, WPA3 support, and improved traffic monitoring. Users also seek better integration with other products and reduced costs. Aruba Instant On Access Points could enhance monitoring capabilities and documentation. Users desire better integration and more scalability, with feedback on improving security and range, alongside pricing concerns.

Ease of Deployment and Customer Service: Juniper WLC Series deployment is primarily on-premises, supported by responsive technical support and extensive documentation, though post-development support has impacted availability. Aruba Instant On Access Points offer both on-premises and cloud deployment, with highly rated technical support and consistent customer service. The Aruba app enhances remote management and notifications.

Pricing and ROI: Juniper WLC Series, while expensive, is valued for administration cost savings and solid ROI despite high complexity and licensing fees. Aruba Instant On Access Points provide a cost-effective solution with no mandatory licensing, appealing to budget-conscious buyers. Although considered pricier than brands like Ubiquiti, their absence of additional costs for features makes them competitive for small to midsize deployments.

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

Buyer's Guide

Aruba Instant On Access Points vs. Juniper WLC Series

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

Juniper WLC Series

Ranking in Wireless LAN

17th

Average Rating

8.6

Reviews Sentiment

7.3

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 Juniper WLC Series is 1.0%, up from 0.9% 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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Matilda Elwell

Technical Team Leader - Network &Security at STAFFORDSHIRE COUNTY COUNCIL

Offers visibility and cost benefits

The tool has given us more visibility, but I'm not very technical, so I can't comment on specific features. However, the diagnostic tools for identifying system issues have greatly improved, which we appreciate. We still use Cisco ICE for authentication on the Juniper network, as we did before. We've seen cost benefits with the Juniper WLC Series, which was a key factor in our decision-making during the proof of concept. Besides cost improvements, we've also noticed better resolution of issues and faults in our help desk, thanks to the enhanced features.

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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

"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 roaming feature and connectivity during disconnections are valuable."

"The product's initial setup phase is too easy."

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

"The initial setup is very simple."

"Configuring everything in the cloud with Aruba Central and having all the devices be independent of a centralized controller has made it simple to deploy."

"The mobile app is good. We have many things that are connected through mobile. Most users use mobile to connect to the Wi-Fi."

"Regarding access points, the customer typically considers low-cost plans, and Ruckus Unleashed Access Points are commonly used. These access points are managed through the Microsoft console and can be accessed either with or without ports. The management is done through a controller. The main benefits customers see include cost-effectiveness, especially for those with budget constraints. Aruba, in particular, provides a good user experience. Some customers might choose Huawei, but enterprise access points are also considered. Additionally, the unified access point capabilities are valuable, allowing management from the same account. However, there is a limitation of twenty-five access points, and if a customer requires more, they need to create another site or account. If the customer exceeds twenty-five access points, they need to generate another site or virtual business to manage additional access points, as the external number is limited to twenty-five."

More Aruba Instant On Access Points pros

"It's easy to set up, and I feel it's very secure. I also prefer its reporting feature. The devices are quite good."

"The installation process is nice and easy."

"The AI integration with Marvis is very valuable."

"Juniper WLC Series is a very high-performance device designed for indoor wireless deployment."

"The tool has given us more visibility, but I'm not very technical, so I can't comment on specific features. However, the diagnostic tools for identifying system issues have greatly improved, which we appreciate. We still use Cisco ICE for authentication on the Juniper network, as we did before. We've seen cost benefits with the Juniper WLC Series, which was a key factor in our decision-making during the proof of concept. Besides cost improvements, we've also noticed better resolution of issues and faults in our help desk, thanks to the enhanced features."

"The Artificial Intelligence on offer is very useful."

"The AI integration with Marvis is very valuable."

"The installation process is very easy."

More Juniper WLC Series pros

Cons

"When I first deployed the solution, I couldn't use a tagged VLAN for the management. It might already have been fixed in a recent firmware upgrade."

"If anything, its reporting could be improved."

"Improvement as per customer requirements."

"The product's machine or equipment can cater to around 20 connections and cannot go beyond 50 simultaneous connections, because of which I think the tool's scalability is limited."

"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."

"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 security aspect needs improvement."

"The pricing could be a little cheaper."

More Aruba Instant On Access Points cons

"We would prefer it if the solution could be less expensive."

"The solution could offer more integration with other products."

"There could be a high level of security."

"Juniper WLC Series has certain shortcomings in traffic monitoring."

"In my region, access to the product is very difficult and presents a logistical nightmare."

"The solution should create configuration documentation."

"The biggest issue was that Juniper stopped developing, so we had to look for another solution."

"In my region, access to the product is very difficult and presents a logistical nightmare. Also, pricing is a big problem and a barrier to entry when selling Juniper against competitors."

More Juniper WLC Series cons

Pricing and Cost Advice

"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."

"It needs a license."

"It is competitively priced. It was at a price point that made sense for me to put in my home, and that says something. The cost of the solution includes everything we need to manage and upgrade our Wi-Fi network, including the mobile management app. Having the licensing and all the functionality built into the base price of the product is really important for me. There are no extra costs for the security feature or automatic software/firmware updates, which is really important to me."

"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."

"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."

"Its price is fair. It is not really cheap, and it is also not expensive. It is in the middle."

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

More Aruba Instant On Access Points pricing and cost advice

"There is a certain amount that needs to be paid towards the licensing charges associated with the product, but though I am not sure, I feel the licenses that we have in our company are for three years."

"The licensing cost is quite high, but considering it's an enterprise solution, the complexity justifies the price."

"The product is relatively affordable for enterprise companies."

"The solution's pricing is reasonable."

"Juniper WLC Series is a bit pricey but worth its cost."

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Top Industries

By visitors reading reviews

Computer Software Company

Performing Arts

Government

Hospitality Company

Computer Software Company

13%

Comms Service Provider

Financial Services Firm

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.

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 do you like most about Juniper WLC Series?

Juniper WLC Series is a very high-performance device designed for indoor wireless deployment.

See all answers

What needs improvement with Juniper WLC Series?

Juniper lacks a network access control agent similar to solutions like Alubakya Path and Cisco ISE. There should be a network access control engine. Some customers find it challenging as they do no...

See all answers

What is your primary use case for Juniper WLC Series?

I work with Juniper service provider solutions. I have a service provider customer and some enterprise customers in retail.

See all answers

Comparisons

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Compared 13% of the time

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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

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Cisco Wireless vs Juniper WLC Series

Compared 38% of the time

Aruba Wireless vs Juniper WLC Series

Compared 30% of the time

Ruckus Wireless vs Juniper WLC Series

Compared 27% of the time

Cisco Meraki Wireless LAN vs Juniper WLC Series

Compared 5% of the time

More Juniper WLC Series Competitors

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 Juniper WLC Series product report

Also Known As

No data available

Juniper WLAN

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

WLC Series Wireless LAN Controllers deliver and manage wireless local area networks with the highest level of reliability, performance, security, and management in the industry. They integrate secure, wireless LANs with any size wired infrastructures, from small branch offices to the largest enterprise or university campus.

Juniper

Sample Customers

Information Not Available

Apollo Hotel Papendrecht, Armstrong Atlantic State University, Bajaj Capital, Baloise Insurance, BAS Group, Borealis, Danish Crown, Deloitte Belgium, Jan Yperman Hospital, Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca, MercaSID, S.A., NHTV Breda University, Parklands College and Christopher Robin Pre-Primary, San Antonio Community Hospital, Sandia National Laboratories, Springfield Public Schools (SPS), St. Catherine University, TalkTalk, The Education Village, University of Copenhagen, University of the Highlands and Islands, University of the West of Scotland (UWS), Valdosta State University, Waikato Institute of Technology (Wintec), zulily

Buyer's Guide

Aruba Instant On Access Points vs. Juniper WLC Series

July 2025

Free Report: Aruba Instant On Access Points vs. Juniper WLC Series

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