Aruba Networks Wireless WAN vs Cisco Meraki Wireless LAN vs Ubiquiti Wireless comparison

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HPE Aruba Networking Logo
557 views|293 comparisons
92% willing to recommend
Cisco Logo
26,733 views|20,613 comparisons
92% willing to recommend
Ubiquiti Networks Logo
10,207 views|6,042 comparisons
89% willing to recommend
Comparison Buyer's Guide
Executive Summary

We performed a comparison between Aruba Networks Wireless WAN, Cisco Meraki Wireless LAN, and Ubiquiti Wireless based on real PeerSpot user reviews.

Find out what your peers are saying about Ubiquiti Networks, Ruckus, Cambium Networks and others in Wireless WAN.
To learn more, read our detailed Wireless WAN Report (Updated: April 2024).
769,334 professionals have used our research since 2012.
Featured Review
Quotes From Members
We asked business professionals to review the solutions they use.
Here are some excerpts of what they said:
Pros
"I like the way that it integrates with the ClearPass security system on-site.""The most valuable feature of Aruba Networks Wireless WAN is centralized management capability. You don't have to have wireless LAN controllers at every location.""The GUI offered by the product is good.""I believe their Adaptive Radio Management (ARM) in its current form provides the best automated management of transmit power and channel. It does a really good job of managing proper design and wireless environment.""The installation process was easy.""Aruba Networks Wireless WAN is stable and good.""The most valuable feature of Aruba Networks Wireless WAN is that it is easy to configure. Additionally, with the same configuration with Cisco and Ruckus, we can receive 55 to 60 percent more out of Aruba Networks Wireless WAN.""We don't know this product very well yet, but what we have used so far and what we like are user control, bandwidth, and access."

More Aruba Networks Wireless WAN Pros →

"It's easy to manage and provides a clear network view, allowing efficient navigation down to the network details.""It is easy to manage and configure. The dashboard of Meraki is easy to use.""The solution is easy to install.""Cisco Meraki Wireless LAN is a user-friendly solution that has good performance and stability.""The solution provides good coverage and identity management. Additionally, the user interface is straightforward.""Its flexibility, ease of management via the portal, and the variety of access points are the most valuable features.""Integrating with the router, firewall, and Wireless Controller is advantageous.""The ability to manage it remotely is the most valuable. If it has an internet connection, you can get to it. It is a great product for remote clinics. We kind of thought about doing this kind of standalone technology. Meraki is easy to manage. From a management perspective, it is the easiest to use, especially in the cloud. I like Meraki. I even have it in my home."

More Cisco Meraki Wireless LAN Pros →

"Ubiquiti Wireless is extremely easy to set up.""It's a well priced solution and as far as I'm concerned, it's enterprise class.""This access point provides internet to every lab on campus, including the computer laboratory""I like the fact that you can set it up like a wireless connection. Previously, we used to connect from one SSID to another. When we started using Ubiquiti, everyone was so happy because even if they moved from one place or another, say from the pantry to a meeting room, they didn't need to connect manually to another SSID. This is one of the features that I really like about it. It is doing a great job. It offers a free controller that you can use to see if the devices are connected or not and if they are up or down.""I like that it's cheaper and inexpensive. It's also easy to use.""Ubiquiti is intuitive. The management interface is user-friendly. You can easily make changes and do the things that need to be done.""It is very stable and the equipment lasts quite a long time.""Ubiquiti wireless proves especially helpful in scenarios requiring mobility."

More Ubiquiti Wireless Pros →

Cons
"The customization options could be improved.""The integration should be better.""There is room for improvement in the pricing, it's quite a premium.""This product needs more flecibility with switching technologies.""The product should improve Aruba Central.""In the next release, the security should be improved by including support for WPA3.""We'd like to have a bit more artificial intelligence incorporated into existing products.""If they provided more updates that would be ideal."

More Aruba Networks Wireless WAN Cons →

"In some cases, they could include enhanced features in the product, such as a firewall console and traffic analysis.""The price could be slightly lowered to make it more competitive in the market.""I would like to see integration with sensors.""The product's pricing needs improvement.""Its pricing could be better.""It would be better if they enable full integration with Cisco's cloud-based network in the next release.""The solution should be more secure.""The only thing that always causes problems with Meraki is the license. It's a bit of a bugbear with Meraki, and it remains today. So it's an unusual concept compared to the other products in the marketplace, but then it does cause a bit of a nuisance from time to time."

More Cisco Meraki Wireless LAN Cons →

"The product lacks some security features.""This solution should be more robust when it comes to connectivity and improve wireless technology.""I would like to see this solution have any kind of captive portal on the tool or user accounting tool. This would be quite useful for companies.""Their stock is a bit low compared to others, making it difficult to purchase.""This might not be the best solution for a very large organization.""I would prefer if the solution offered more integration capabilities.""After upgrades to the interface, some features disappear.""They should make more advanced features for the power users. I am a technician and I am functional, but I do need some features that I find only in Microsoft."

More Ubiquiti Wireless Cons →

Pricing and Cost Advice
  • "It is more affordable than Cisco."
  • "The price of this solution is approximately 1,000,000 ESP ($6,750 USD)."
  • "The price of this solution is better than some other vendors."
  • "Licensing fees are paid on a yearly basis."
  • "The price of Aruba Networks Wireless WAN depends on how you buy it. From a pricing perspective, if you choose to buy Aruba Networks Wireless WAN as an MRC, it's dependent upon the radio and the solution that you choose what your MRC is. If you choose to buy it outright, they're competitive with their competitors, and they're probably four percent or five percent lower than their largest competitor."
  • "Aruba Networks Wireless WAN is cheaper than Cisco, and the web experience is great."
  • "Aruba Wireless comes with the controller."
  • "With some vendors, the access point is not manageable anymore if you don't maintain the license. It's more or less a doorstop because you can't configure and control it. You can't troubleshoot it unless you maintain the license. That's not true with Aruba."
  • More Aruba Networks Wireless WAN Pricing and Cost Advice →

  • "Negotiate the deal put in front of you!"
  • "At this price point, I would not mind seeing a four-way channel, instead of a 3x3 or a 4x4, like they do in the Cisco Aironet system with their other brand. For the same price point in this other Cisco brand, it is a lot cheaper, and you can get a slightly better throughput than you can with these."
  • "​If you are wondering if Meraki can work for you, contact one of their representatives because they will do onsite trials where you can set up their system. If it does not work, you can send it back to them for no charge.​​"
  • "The price is negotiable."
  • "It's a pretty good value, but not great. Pricing is on a yearly basis for the Meraki solution."
  • "The price is good, but it could be improved."
  • "You have to renew your contract every year, or for three or for five years. If you do not pay right away they will suspend your subscription."
  • "The pricing is based on a subscription and is a bit high at the moment."
  • More Cisco Meraki Wireless LAN Pricing and Cost Advice →

  • "The price of this solution is ok."
  • "The product is a very good price."
  • "Right now the product is less expensive and of higher quality than other solutions."
  • "The price is reasonable and there's only a one-time payment. We have had this for a long time and I haven't seen any additional fee after paying for the installation."
  • "In South Africa, for some Cisco access points, it will cost you 10,000 Rand ($690 USD), whereas with Ubiquity that same access point will cost you less than 3,000 Rand ($210 USD)."
  • "The product is expensive."
  • "Ubiquiti Wireless is affordable."
  • "If you do not have a big budget, you can use Ubiquiti, it is cost-effective."
  • More Ubiquiti Wireless Pricing and Cost Advice →

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    Questions from the Community
    Top Answer:I recommend Aruba Networks Wireless WAN. I have been using Aruba for approximately a decade. It has a great centralized… more »
    Top Answer: In the event of a controller appliance failure or downtime, the system seamlessly transitions control to any access… more »
    Top Answer:The pricing of the product is pretty good. Aruba Networks and Extreme Networks offer good prices. Cisco operates in its… more »
    Top Answer:Depends.  I have personally used both Cisco and Aruba so I am familiar with them.  Extreme I am not, so unless they have… more »
    Top Answer:Cisco Wireless is very robust, very rugged, and can handle indoor and outdoor coverage extremely well. We found it to be… more »
    Top Answer:Cisco’s Meraki Virtual MX is a virtual instance of the Meraki SD-WAN appliance. We liked the Meraki. The Wifi APs are a… more »
    Top Answer:Ubiquiti Wireless is extremely easy to set up and is an excellent option for small businesses, offering enterprise… more »
    Top Answer:For me, Ubiquiti was easy to install, configure, set up, and maintain, while also providing solid coverage and better… more »
    Top Answer:Ubiquiti Wireless offers a wide range of WLAN products. We tested their devices before ultimately choosing Cisco Meraki… more »
    Ranking
    5th
    out of 10 in Wireless WAN
    Views
    557
    Comparisons
    293
    Reviews
    23
    Average Words per Review
    454
    Rating
    8.4
    4th
    out of 31 in Wireless LAN
    Views
    26,733
    Comparisons
    20,613
    Reviews
    25
    Average Words per Review
    450
    Rating
    8.2
    1st
    out of 10 in Wireless WAN
    Views
    10,207
    Comparisons
    6,042
    Reviews
    27
    Average Words per Review
    514
    Rating
    7.7
    Comparisons
    Also Known As
    MR18, MR26, MR32, MR34, MR66, MR72, Meraki Wireless LAN, Meraki WLAN
    Learn More
    Cisco
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    Ubiquiti Networks
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    Overview

    Aruba Networks Wireless Wide Area Network (WAN) is a powerful WAN solution that enables organizations and businesses to create global networks that securely connect their members regardless of their locations. Aruba Networks Wireless WAN leverages AI to create a network that is always equipped to address issues or keep up with evolving needs. The operations that run on this network are also capable of running consistently because the AI is always learning and keeping the network running smoothly. The cutting-edge build of this solution is the reason that it is a leader in the field of wide area networks.

    Aruba Networks Wireless WAN Benefits

    Some of the benefits of using Aruba Networks Wireless WAN include:

    • Minimize the costs associated with cloud integrations. Aruba Networks Wireless WAN enables users to automate the process by which networks connect to cloud and SaaS services. This reduces the total amount of resources that need to be spent on these integrations.
    • Track the health of a network using real-time tracking. Aruba Networks Wireless WAN gives administrators the ability to keep track of different network health metrics. It possesses a variety of different tracking capabilities that can be used to best meet a user’s needs.
    • Increased network efficiency. Aruba Networks Wireless WAN’s AI software leverages machine learning to identify issues before they arise and recommend solutions when an issue arises. It enables users to be proactive in dealing with network issues.

    Aruba Networks Wireless WAN Features

    When users deploy Aruba Networks Wireless WAN, they gain access to a number of very powerful and useful features. These features include:

    • Unified network policy enforcement. Aruba’s Dynamic Segmentation feature connects all aspects of a user’s WAN. In doing so, it ensures that all network policies are enforced uniformly across every portion of the network.
    • Dynamic Path Steering (DPS). Aruba Networks Wireless WAN’s DPS feature keeps a user’s network running smoothly. It directs traffic running through the network to the uplink that is most appropriate for it. This minimizes potential network latency.

    • WAN Compression. This feature makes it possible for users to route more traffic through a given WAN circuit at times of high congestion. It compresses traffic so that the network circuit can better accommodate the increased activity.

    Reviews from Real Users

    Aruba Networks Wireless WAN allows users to create, deploy, and manage wide area networks. It is a highly flexible solution that provides system engineers with many options when they are designing and rolling out their networks. Administrators can produce networks that are easily configured, rolled out, and monitored from anywhere in the world. Aruba Networks Wireless WAN has a centralized management interface. Administrators can control every aspect of the network from one console. They can access all of the network controls and data from this one interface. This simplifies the jobs of network administrators who are responsible for keeping the networks up and running.

    A network engineer at a technology company writes, “I feel that Aruba allows for more flexibility when it comes to configuration and deployment. Aruba gives you the same feeling as using a controller on-prem, whereas Meraki seems to be hiding a lot of the configuration behind the scenes and forces you to actually call them and ask them to enable certain features. So far, using Aruba Central is more like using an actual controller based on the amount of configuration you can do. Meraki just came out with profiles, but as far as I know, they don't have profiles for how your device connects to the actual physical LAN.”

    A network and security engineer at a communications service provider writes, “The most valuable feature of Aruba Networks Wireless WAN is centralized management capability. You don't have to have wireless LAN controllers at every location.”

    Cisco Meraki access points are built from the highest grade components and carefully optimized for a seamless user experience. The outcome: faster connections, greater user capacity, more coverage, and fewer support calls. The Cisco Meraki dashboard gives visibility into the network users, their devices, and their applications. Armed with rich analytics, administrators can quickly create access control and application usage policies, optimizing both the end-user experience and network security.

    Ubiquiti Wireless refers to the wireless networking solutions provided by Ubiquiti Networks, a leading technology company specializing in networking and wireless communication products. Ubiquiti Wireless offers a range of innovative and cost-effective wireless networking solutions designed for various applications, including enterprise networks, service providers, small and medium-sized businesses, and home users.

    Ubiquiti Wireless products are known for their reliability, performance, and ease of use. They encompass a wide range of devices and technologies, including wireless access points, wireless routers, antennas, bridges, mesh networks, and point-to-point or point-to-multipoint wireless links.

    Ubiquiti Wireless Features:

    • Scalability: Ubiquiti Wireless products are designed to scale easily, allowing organizations to expand their wireless networks as needed without significant infrastructure changes.

    • Flexibility: Ubiquiti Wireless offers a range of products suitable for various deployment scenarios, including indoor and outdoor environments, long-range connectivity, and mesh networks.

    • Centralized Management: Ubiquiti provides a centralized management platform called the UniFi Controller, which allows administrators to configure, monitor, and manage their entire wireless network from a single interface.

    • Seamless Roaming: Ubiquiti Wireless solutions support seamless roaming, allowing wireless devices to maintain connectivity while moving across different access points within a network.

    • Advanced Security: Ubiquiti incorporates security features such as encryption, authentication, and firewall capabilities to protect wireless networks and data transmissions.

    • Cost-Effective: Ubiquiti Wireless products are known for their affordability without compromising performance, making them an attractive option for organizations with budget constraints.

    • Community Support: Ubiquiti has a vibrant community of users and enthusiasts who actively contribute to knowledge sharing, troubleshooting, and expanding the capabilities of Ubiquiti Wireless products.

    Ubiquiti Wireless Components:

    Ubiquiti Wireless encompasses a range of components that work together to provide reliable and scalable wireless networking solutions. Here are some key components commonly found in Ubiquiti Wireless deployments:

    • Wireless Access Points (APs) for providing wireless connectivity.
    • Wireless Routers as central network hubs for managing traffic.
    • Wireless Bridges for creating wireless connections between networks.
    • Antennas to enhance wireless range and coverage.
    • Mesh Networking Devices for seamless coverage across large areas.
    • Network Switches for wired connectivity within the network.
    • Management Software like the UniFi Controller for centralized management and monitoring.

    Reviews from Real Users

    George Ferns, Solution Architect - Networking and IoT at a wholesaler & distributor, states that Ubiquiti Wireless has "Attractive pricing and good for home use and small businesses, but it is not easily scalable and lacks security features".

    Walter Shelver, Owner at CableWeb, writes that "The most valuable aspect of Ubiquiti is the ease of setup. It's easy to set up, secure, and use. It works on an adoption basis. I can pull the system up, design a network, and pull 20 different Ubiquiti units into it".

    ThomasWilke, CEO at CITOM, says that “You can almost do everything with Cisco products for a much better price with a significantly lower learning curve”.

    Sample Customers
    The Pittsburgh Golf Club, Rio Rancho Public Schools, Amwaj Rotana - Jumeirah Beach Residence - Dubai, Trevecca Nazarene University
    Advanced Medical Transport, Banco de Guayaquil, Baylor Scott & White Health, BH Telecom, Bowling Green State University, Calligaris, Children's Hospital Colorado, City of Biel, Del Papa Distributing, Department of Justice, Dimension Data, Dualtec Cloud Builders, Electricity Authority of Cyprus, Grupo Industrial Saltillo (GIS), Hertz, K&L Gates , LightEdge, Lone Star College System, Management Science Associates, Mindtree, NBC Olympics, Quest, Sony Corporation, The Department of Education in Western Australia, Valley Proteins
    NASCAR Grand-AM, Maritime Parc, Outdoor Music Festival, British Armed Forces, Arcadia School District, Moscow - Enforta
    Top Industries
    REVIEWERS
    Comms Service Provider17%
    Manufacturing Company17%
    Computer Software Company13%
    Hospitality Company9%
    VISITORS READING REVIEWS
    Computer Software Company15%
    Comms Service Provider14%
    Media Company9%
    Government8%
    REVIEWERS
    Comms Service Provider19%
    Educational Organization10%
    Non Profit8%
    Financial Services Firm8%
    VISITORS READING REVIEWS
    Computer Software Company20%
    Comms Service Provider7%
    Manufacturing Company6%
    Government6%
    REVIEWERS
    Energy/Utilities Company15%
    University12%
    Educational Organization12%
    Computer Software Company9%
    VISITORS READING REVIEWS
    Computer Software Company12%
    Comms Service Provider9%
    Manufacturing Company6%
    Educational Organization6%
    Company Size
    REVIEWERS
    Small Business56%
    Midsize Enterprise10%
    Large Enterprise33%
    VISITORS READING REVIEWS
    Small Business39%
    Midsize Enterprise13%
    Large Enterprise49%
    REVIEWERS
    Small Business54%
    Midsize Enterprise21%
    Large Enterprise25%
    VISITORS READING REVIEWS
    Small Business29%
    Midsize Enterprise17%
    Large Enterprise54%
    REVIEWERS
    Small Business62%
    Midsize Enterprise15%
    Large Enterprise23%
    VISITORS READING REVIEWS
    Small Business34%
    Midsize Enterprise19%
    Large Enterprise47%
    Buyer's Guide
    Wireless WAN
    April 2024
    Find out what your peers are saying about Ubiquiti Networks, Ruckus, Cambium Networks and others in Wireless WAN. Updated: April 2024.
    769,334 professionals have used our research since 2012.