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Aruba Instant vs Cisco Wireless vs Ubiquiti WLAN comparison

 

Comparison Buyer's Guide

Executive Summary

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
5.9
Aruba Instant provides a positive ROI by enhancing productivity, safety, and manageability, making it a cost-effective choice for users.
Sentiment score
2.3
Cisco Wireless boosts productivity, reduces downtime, improves connectivity, and offers cost savings with robust security and manageability.
Sentiment score
1.8
Ubiquiti WLAN offers competitive pricing and ROI, but its performance varies based on design quality and specific needs.
Overall, it's a fair pricing and good in terms of cost-effectiveness or ROI.
Technical Consultant at Vertex Techno Solutions (B) Pvt Ltd
A comparison from standalone to distributed WLC-controlled access points provides some decent ROI.
Sr. Cloud Security Architect at a tech services company with 11-50 employees
 

Customer Service

Sentiment score
8.2
Aruba Instant's support receives mixed reviews, praised for guidance but criticized for slow responses and integration issues with HPE.
Sentiment score
5.3
Customer service is mostly praised for professionalism and efficiency, though some users experience slow response times and regional differences.
Sentiment score
4.5
Ubiquiti WLAN's customer service is satisfactory but direct technical assistance is often inadequate, with notable self-service resource effectiveness.
The technical support from Aruba is of high quality, and I would rate it a ten.
Director and Co-Founder at Converge Systems & Services Pvt. Ltd.
I rate Aruba TAC as a 9 out of 10.
Technical Consultant at Vertex Techno Solutions (B) Pvt Ltd
The technical support from Cisco is of high quality.
Head Of ELV and ICT at Intec Systems Solution Pvt Ltd
We received responses quickly after logging our problem.
Group IT Head at Euracare
The refresh cycle is not as aggressive with Aruba, meaning they will continue supporting products for longer durations without facing end-of-life and end-of-sale situations as frequently as Cisco does.
Sr. Cloud Security Architect at a tech services company with 11-50 employees
The problem with Ubiquiti is the lack of a serious reselling chain, as they sell directly to the customer.
Senior Software and Systems Engineer at SAMU.IT
I seldom contact the technical support team as there is comprehensive documentation and FAQs available that help me resolve most issues independently.
Infrastructure Administrator at Aluko & Oyebode
 

Scalability Issues

Sentiment score
5.3
Aruba Instant is praised for scalability and efficiency in diverse environments, ideal for small to medium businesses.
Sentiment score
6.8
Cisco Wireless offers scalable solutions for enterprises, praised for flexibility and seamless expansion, despite some cost concerns.
Sentiment score
7.0
Ubiquiti WLAN is scalable and flexible for SMEs, but faces challenges in very large or dense environments.
I find Aruba Instant to be highly scalable.
Director and Co-Founder at Converge Systems & Services Pvt. Ltd.
Installing new licenses with the number of access points that the device WLC is expected to support makes it scalable.
Sr. Cloud Security Architect at a tech services company with 11-50 employees
It might struggle in very complex environments with many users.
Infrastructure Administrator at Aluko & Oyebode
Scalability is a strong point for Ubiquiti Wireless LAN.
Senior Software and Systems Engineer at SAMU.IT
I would assess the scalability feature of Ubiquiti WLAN in accommodating my organization's growth or changing network demands as pretty scalable, warranting a nine out of ten rating.
IT Architect and Consultant at Compuhouse working for SDC and Bernadotte Skolen
 

Stability Issues

Sentiment score
8.6
Aruba Instant is praised for reliability, ease of management, excellent support despite rare bugs, cloud dependency, and latency issues.
Sentiment score
7.4
Cisco Wireless is praised for its stability and reliability, with minimal downtime and robust performance in production environments.
Sentiment score
7.0
Ubiquiti WLAN is generally stable and reliable but can encounter issues with connection drops, updates, and high-density environments.
Aruba is a known name in the market providing sufficient support for all these products.
Technical Consultant at Vertex Techno Solutions (B) Pvt Ltd
The performance is excellent, rating 10 out of 10.
Group IT Head at Euracare
The best aspect is that even if the WLC goes down, the access points stay up and remain functional.
Sr. Cloud Security Architect at a tech services company with 11-50 employees
Proper connections and cabling are essential for maintaining stability.
Infrastructure Administrator at Aluko & Oyebode
It performs well as an access point but is not designed for high-density environments.
Senior Software and Systems Engineer at SAMU.IT
It does require some maintenance from my side, including troubleshooting and fixing occasionally.
IT Architect and Consultant at Compuhouse working for SDC and Bernadotte Skolen
 

Room For Improvement

Aruba Instant needs improved security, support, interface, scalability, IoT compatibility, cost efficiency, and enhanced equipment availability with feature additions.
Cisco Wireless struggles with complex UI, high costs, integration issues, and inadequate support, affecting user satisfaction and performance.
Ubiquiti WLAN struggles with manageability, support, and stability, needing enhanced tools, features, and AI for improved performance.
Some features are not listed in the cloud management platform and still require offline access, so enhancing the cloud management features would be better for us.
Technical Consultant at Vertex Techno Solutions (B) Pvt Ltd
An important missing feature is the console port, which allows direct management without the cloud.
Sales Engineer at SGE
Sometimes, integration with other Cisco products requires manual intervention for tasks such as firmware upgrades, which should be automated.
Network Security at Tech Mahindra Limited
We would prefer if we could increase the controller to a 10 gig interface because we want to connect our controller to a 10 gig interface.
Group IT Head at Euracare
In the long term, there could be a cost reduction because it does not require much maintenance.
System Engineer at DANAT IT FOR BUSINESS
This could provide a detailed view of connections and possible disconnections, offering valuable insights for improving Wi-Fi connections.
Senior Software and Systems Engineer at SAMU.IT
There is room for improvement in providing the flexibility to change the default management VLAN from VLAN one to another for enhanced security.
Infrastructure Administrator at Aluko & Oyebode
Capacity has been a concern, especially since I needed to change some of my devices to a 10 gig network due to limitations.
Chief Digital Officer (CDO) at a insurance company with 201-500 employees
 

Setup Cost

Aruba Instant offers enterprise buyers cost-effective pricing, focusing on hardware without ongoing licenses, despite some feature-related expenses.
Cisco Wireless is costly but valued for quality; licensing is complex and varies by enterprise size and project scope.
Ubiquiti WLAN offers cost-effective, one-time pricing without recurring fees, providing competitive value compared to pricier alternatives like Aruba.
We do not sell very expensive devices as we move to other products.
Sales Engineer at SGE
However, when compared to entry-level market segments, the price is higher.
Director and Co-Founder at Converge Systems & Services Pvt. Ltd.
Cisco generally is expensive.
Group IT Head at Euracare
The setup cost involves licenses.
System Engineer at DANAT IT FOR BUSINESS
The licensing of Cisco Wireless is competitive.
Network Security at Tech Mahindra Limited
Ubiquiti is affordable, as it does not require recurring licensing fees.
Infrastructure Administrator at Aluko & Oyebode
it is considered medium-priced, suitable for the quality it offers.
Senior Software and Systems Engineer at SAMU.IT
 

Valuable Features

Aruba Instant delivers easy setup, robust performance, advanced security, seamless cloud management, and cost-effective scalability with flexible deployment options.
Cisco Wireless provides scalable, easy management with robust security, seamless roaming, high performance, and advanced integration capabilities.
Ubiquiti WLAN offers high security, scalability, user-friendly management, cost-effectiveness, and robust performance with adaptable hybrid environment features.
The most beneficial features for network management are the price and the cloud console.
Sales Engineer at SGE
I highly value Aruba Instant for its ClearPass feature, which is an exceptional product for network access control and works as a NAC solution.
Director and Co-Founder at Converge Systems & Services Pvt. Ltd.
The most valuable feature of Aruba Instant On is that it is cloud-managed, making it easy to manage multiple locations in a single dashboard.
Technical Consultant at Vertex Techno Solutions (B) Pvt Ltd
If one network fails, there is a link between different access points, which ensures network continuity.
Head Of ELV and ICT at Intec Systems Solution Pvt Ltd
The advantages of Cisco Wireless include helping me aggregate all the access points, managing one point connection for my users easily, controlling rogues, and addressing hotspots effectively.
Group IT Head at Euracare
The primary benefit is the ability to triage and identify what is where, and when users report issues, we can identify the users, location, endpoint, and nuances such as signal strength and signal-to-noise ratio.
Sr. Cloud Security Architect at a tech services company with 11-50 employees
The Cloud Key Controller is a valuable feature because it allows me to access the wireless system from the cloud and locally within the same network, enhancing network management.
Infrastructure Administrator at Aluko & Oyebode
I utilize Ubiquiti WLAN unified management system, and it helps streamline network management by making consistent configuration of all my access points and switches.
IT Architect and Consultant at Compuhouse working for SDC and Bernadotte Skolen
It provides one interface to manage all installations, allowing me to monitor all customers through the same web interface.
Senior Software and Systems Engineer at SAMU.IT
 

Mindshare comparison

As of February 2026, in the Wireless LAN category, the mindshare of Aruba Instant is 2.3%, up from 2.1% compared to the previous year. The mindshare of Cisco Wireless is 9.5%, down from 11.7% compared to the previous year. The mindshare of Ubiquiti WLAN is 5.1%, up from 5.0% compared to the previous year. It is calculated based on PeerSpot user engagement data.
Wireless LAN Market Share Distribution
ProductMarket Share (%)
Cisco Wireless9.5%
Ubiquiti WLAN5.1%
Aruba Instant2.3%
Other83.1%
Wireless LAN
 

Featured Reviews

SreejeshSoman - PeerSpot reviewer
Technical Consultant at Vertex Techno Solutions (B) Pvt Ltd
Has supported mid-market deployments with cloud-based centralized management and reliable wireless performance
I faced challenges earlier with a limitation of 50 APs in single sites, but that has enhanced to 100 numbers, eliminating that challenge for Aruba Instant On team. Additionally, some features are not listed in the cloud management platform and still require offline access, so enhancing the cloud management features would be better for us.
EvansEsezobor - PeerSpot reviewer
Group IT Head at Euracare
Has enabled centralized user management and improved wireless access point aggregation
To improve Cisco Wireless, the ports on the access points are all 100 Meg, not 1 gig. We have not gotten a gigabyte interface of about 1,000, but the controller we have is just 1 gig. We would prefer if we could increase the controller to a 10 gig interface because we want to connect our controller to a 10 gig interface, which currently limits us to 1 gig. When we want to move higher capacity data via wireless, it limits us to 1 gig.
Gabriele-Pizzigati - PeerSpot reviewer
Senior Software and Systems Engineer at SAMU.IT
Managing installations through one interface enhances efficiency but AI features improvement
Ubiquiti Wireless LAN is reliable and offers a good quality product. It provides one interface to manage all installations, allowing me to monitor all customers through the same web interface. The web interface in the controller allows for quick configuration of devices with just one click, which is a significant advantage.
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Comparison Review

it_user212721 - PeerSpot reviewer
President at a tech services company with 51-200 employees
Mar 24, 2015
Cisco vs. Aruba Wireless Solutions
Cisco or Aruba Networks? If you are considering wireless access solutions, this is a common question that you are probably asking. You probably have sales people knocking at your door. How do you make sense of all the stories that you are presented with. If you have done any research, you are…
 

Top Industries

By visitors reading reviews
Comms Service Provider
11%
Computer Software Company
9%
Manufacturing Company
8%
Healthcare Company
6%
Computer Software Company
11%
Manufacturing Company
9%
Financial Services Firm
7%
Educational Organization
7%
Comms Service Provider
11%
Computer Software Company
8%
Government
7%
Manufacturing Company
6%
 

Company Size

By reviewers
Large Enterprise
Midsize Enterprise
Small Business
By reviewers
Company SizeCount
Small Business31
Midsize Enterprise7
Large Enterprise14
By reviewers
Company SizeCount
Small Business78
Midsize Enterprise41
Large Enterprise73
By reviewers
Company SizeCount
Small Business27
Midsize Enterprise9
Large Enterprise10
 

Questions from the Community

Which is better - Ubiquiti WLAN or Aruba Instant?
We researched Ubiquiti and Aruba when looking for a WLAN solution. Ubiquiti offers good WLAN access both indoors and ...
What do you like most about Aruba Instant?
I find network management features related to monitoring Wi-Fi usage and visited sites particularly valuable. Content...
What is your experience regarding pricing and costs for Aruba Instant?
In my experience, Aruba Instant's price is reasonable compared to premium products like Ruckus, Cisco, or Juniper. Ho...
Which is better - Cisco Wireless or Cisco Meraki Wireless LAN?
Cisco Wireless is very robust, very rugged, and can handle indoor and outdoor coverage extremely well. We found it to...
Which is better - Ruckus Wireless or Cisco Wireless?
Ruckus Wireless offers users the benefit of being both easy to set up and get running as well as being very user frie...
How does Cisco Wireless compare with Aruba Wireless?
On the most basic level, Cisco Wireless can offer a rather straightforward initial setup. In the span of about three ...
Is Ubiquiti Wireless better than Ruckus Wireless WAN?
Ubiquiti Wireless is extremely easy to set up and is an excellent option for small businesses, offering enterprise fe...
What do you like most about Ubiquiti WLAN?
Anyone can buy the product off the shelf and configure it.
What is your experience regarding pricing and costs for Ubiquiti WLAN?
My experience with overall licensing costs, setup costs, and pricing of the product is that it's reasonable.
 

Also Known As

No data available
Cisco WLAN Controller
No data available
 

Overview

 

Sample Customers

Purdue University, Orlando Magic, Brussels Airport Company, Molecaten Holiday Parks
Aegean Motorway, Baylor Scott & White Health, Beachbody, Bellevue, Brunel University London, Bucks County Intermediate Unit , Chartwell School, Children's Hospital Colorado, Cisco Live Milan, City of Biel, City of Mississauga, Dundee Precious Metals, Electricity Authority of Cyprus, Erickson Living, Goldcorp, Great Ormond Street Hospital, Grupo Industrial Saltillo (GIS)
NASCAR Grand-AM, Maritime Parc, Outdoor Music Festival, One Republic Tour, British Armed Forces, Arcadia School District, Bartlett School District, Universidad del Azuay, Estelar Hotels, Intercontinental Bali, Moscow - Enforta, Miami - Sling Broadband, Manhattan - MST, Ecuador - Aire.EC
Find out what your peers are saying about Ruckus, Hewlett Packard Enterprise, Cisco and others in Wireless LAN. Updated: January 2026.
881,821 professionals have used our research since 2012.