Aruba Wireless vs Cisco Wireless comparison

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Comparison Buyer's Guide
Executive Summary
Updated on Mar 21, 2022

We performed a comparison between Aruba Wireless and Cisco Wireless based on our users’ reviews in five categories. After reading all of the collected data, you can find our conclusion below.

  • Ease of Deployment: Reviewers of Aruba Wireless and Cisco Wireless agree that the initial setup of both solutions is straightforward and simple.
  • Features: Reviewers of both solutions found them to be reliable, stable, and scalable. Valuable features of Aruba Wireless include role-based authentication, aesthetically pleasing GUI for configuration, client match, easy deployment of APs, MAC caching, high functionality, great integration capabilities, a good user experience, Airwave, easy implementation and management, visual RF maps, and good reporting. Some Aruba Wireless users say it could benefit from better visibility, and have experienced that most of the access points don't include the chargers. They also complain that the upgrades can sometimes be buggy and that the Help option within the GUI needs to be improved.

    Users of Cisco Wireless mentioned that valuable features include solid functionality, security, easy management, good application visibility, control integration for other analysis software, and ease of configuration. Some users of Cisco Wireless state that the software can sometimes be very clunky, and others would like to see cloud-based support and management as well as some AI capabilities and the introduction of a dashboard.
  • Pricing: Most Aruba Wireless users feel that the pricing is comparable to that of its competitors, while a few select reviewers feel that it is on the expensive side. Users of Cisco Wireless find that it is expensive, with a rigid pricing model in place.
  • Service and Support: Overall, users of Aruba Wireless feel that the service and support are good, and note that they are even available 24/7. Cisco Wireless reviewers confirm that the service and support they receive is excellent, stating that support is responsive and knowledgeable, and that ample documentation is available online.
  • ROI: Aruba Wireless users say that they have not been impressed with the ROI while Cisco Wireless users mention that they have yet to see an ROI.

Comparison Results: When comparing Aruba Wireless and Cisco Wireless, it is evident that Cisco Wireless is the more popular choice. While both have great features, users of Cisco Wireless seem to find fewer things lacking with it and are generally satisfied. In regards to service and support as well, Cisco users are happy with the service they receive. Users do feel that it is an expensive solution, however.

To learn more, read our detailed Aruba Wireless vs. Cisco Wireless Report (Updated: March 2023).
690,226 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
"The most valuable feature of Juniper Wireless Access Points (AP Series) is the ability to troubleshoot ports on the network. Additionally, when there is an update on the APs they are able to reboot quickly reducing downtime. Other solutions have a longer downtime when updates are done.""The simplicity is great.""The solution is pretty generic and easy to use.""In terms of reporting, in terms of all the user reports, it's very rich.""The most useful feature of Juniper Wireless AP is the reporting Marvis."

More Juniper Mist Wireless Access Points Pros →

"Aruba is easier than Juniper.""The most useful feature of this product is the configuration that allows us to have several areas covered with one unit.""The stability of Aruba Wireless has been good.""I think Aruba Wireless' Wi-Fi 6 capability is something that really makes a difference. We used to have bottlenecks. Each user has one laptop on one mobile device, so that equals 40 devices connecting to one AP. The Wi-Fi 5 series couldn't handle the traffic during peak hours, and when I say "peak hours," I mean Monday at 11 a.m. We used to see a lot of packet drops, but we haven't seen that problem at all since we moved to Wi-Fi 6.""The most valuable feature of Aruba Wireless is the controller. It is easy to use.""The stability is the best. It's very reliable.""The solution is very stable.""Aruba Central is a valuable feature because I can monitor access points remotely, even if I'm not in the office."

More Aruba Wireless Pros →

"Cisco Wireless is easy to use.""Cisco Wireless is quite convenient for mobile and laptop access.""The solution is easy to use and its stable.""Setting up Cisco Wireless is pretty straightforward. It takes about an hour or two, and we can handle it in-house. To deploy one project, it takes two to three for a single controller.""I'm very satisfied with Cisco's technical support.""The capacity, security, downloading, and exporting data are all very good. It's user-friendly, but if I look at Meraki versus normal Cisco equipment, then I think that Meraki will be much more user-friendly.""It is a stable solution.""Cisco has good support services."

More Cisco Wireless Pros →

Cons
"If you want to do more specific stuff, it's a bit limited.""I need a bit more time with it before criticizing the features.""The solution is expensive.""Juniper Wireless AP can improve by continually improving its reporting and integration with other systems.""Juniper Wireless Access Points (AP Series) could improve if the MIST platform had a built-in master key. This would be an advantage."

More Juniper Mist Wireless Access Points Cons →

"We needed the help of network consultants to complete the setup for us.""I would like to see the management improve.""The solution needs to add features and enhance security.""The certification for licensing could be better.""The coverage, concurrent user life, and visualization are the most valuable features of these solutions.""The user interface could be improved in Aruba Wireless. This would make the setup easier.""The dashboards that represent the network access control in Aruba Wireless could improve.""Aruba doesn't match some competitors in wireless signal strength. It isn't in the same class as Cisco Meraki, so I would use Cisco Meraki in situations where I need to cover a large open space. Meraki has more powerful signals going out."

More Aruba Wireless Cons →

"For all products on the market, the availability of the products may not be ideal. We're waiting on a lot of products simply due to the fact that there's a material shortage. We've ordered products and have had to wait three or four months for anything to get delivered. This is not just Cisco. It's a problem on the market for all components which include semiconductors.""In the future, I would like to have Cisco add video documentation on configuring and overall learning of how to use the solutions. For example, in such areas as, security, authentication, and load balancing.""The price could be better.""Requires a firewall body to improve security.""Older versions used to be hard to deploy. The latest OS, however, has made things a lot easier. While deployment is much better, it could always be even easier.""There is no technology without room for improvement. The main setback with Cisco solutions, not only with Cisco Wireless, is having to update the OS manually. We are now migrating to Miraki, so we've been able to work that out.""It's very scalable, but when you shift gears sometimes, you have to do more work than people anticipate.""The solution could improve by having an advanced model with a controller. Additionally, the solution could be more secure."

More Cisco Wireless Cons →

Pricing and Cost Advice
  • "We pay maybe 1000 SEK per year, per access point."
  • "Juniper Wireless AP's price is a little more expensive than other solutions, but you get what you pay for."
  • "The pricing is something Juniper Wireless Access Points (AP Series) can work on. The pricing is very high compared to the competition."
  • More Juniper Mist Wireless Access Points Pricing and Cost Advice →

  • "Aruba Wireless is very attractive cost-wise."
  • "My main concern about this product is the price. The cost is causing me to look at other vendors and competing products."
  • "The price of Aruba Wireless is fairly reasonable. It was within our budget."
  • "The price is reasonable."
  • "The price of Aruba Wireless has a more competitive price than other solutions."
  • "The price is low. There is an additional cost for maintenance."
  • "In terms of pricing, the pricing for Aruba Wireless is not bad for large-sized companies, but for medium-sized companies, it's on the higher end, but because Aruba has a good company image, medium-sized companies still go with Aruba Wireless."
  • "Aruba Wireless is much cheaper than our previous solution by Cisco. It is a significant saving, measured in thousands of dollars per year."
  • More Aruba Wireless Pricing and Cost Advice →

  • "From a pricing point of view, it's a little bit expensive compared to competitors like Aruba and others."
  • "Its licensing is hard to understand."
  • "It's expensive. The pricing is an obstacle."
  • "It is expensive, and there are some costs in addition to the standard licensing fee. Its licensing model and cost should be improved."
  • "Because the Cisco architecture is quite complex, you may end up having to add more components and licenses. So, the cost could go up."
  • "I think it's affordable. Maybe there are little differences, but it's not very expensive. But with all Cisco products, you have to pay more for the power supply. You'll have to pay for the PoE converter."
  • "The solution does not come with a licensing fee."
  • "The license is a one-time purchase."
  • More Cisco Wireless Pricing and Cost Advice →

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    Answers from the Community
    Netanya Carmi
    Chi Kieu - PeerSpot reviewerChi Kieu
    User

    Aruba is our choice for our WIFI solution as Aruba has a lot of features that can do the same with Meraki. 


    Aruba is saving costs vs Meraki in a long time operation.

    Questions from the Community
    Top Answer:In terms of reporting, in terms of all the user reports, it's very rich.
    Top Answer:It is a very expensive product. Not every company could afford a device like this. The cost is around 1.2 lakhs, or… more »
    Top Answer:I haven't had any issues with the product. The solution is expensive. That is why we have a very minor deployment.
    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:At my organization, we researched Ruckus Wireless among other solutions but ultimately chose Aruba wireless. What did… more »
    Top Answer:On the most basic level, Cisco Wireless can offer a rather straightforward initial setup. In the span of about three… 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:Ruckus Wireless offers users the benefit of being both easy to set up and get running as well as being very user… more »
    Top Answer:You cannot use them together if you want central management. This is because they are independent products.
    Comparisons
    Also Known As
    Juniper Wireless Access Points (AP Series), Mist Access Points
    Aruba WLAN, HP WLAN, HP Wireless, Aruba Instant On AP Series Access Point
    Cisco WLAN Controller
    Learn More
    Overview

    Juniper Wireless Access Points work in conjunction with Juniper Mist Cloud Services and Mist AI to deliver premier wireless access capabilities. The Juniper Mist Edge extends microservices to the campus to bring agility and scale while enabling new applications at the edge.

    Aruba Wireless is a secure, high-performance, multi-user wireless LAN supporting Wi-Fi 6. As workplaces and user expectations change, users can now maintain hybrid workplaces and IoT without compromising performance, reliability, or security. Aruba Wireless delivers better performance and capacity and greater AIOps visibility throughout all devices and users. In addition, through built-in network intelligence, network operations are made simpler while keeping everything secure through user and guest encryption.

    Aruba Wireless, offered through Aruba Networks, is helping achieve digital transformation and IoT with seamless connectivity through multiple Wi-Fi access points. For the user’s convenience, Aruba Wireless provides indoor, outdoor, and remote access points to help boost faster and safer connectivity.

    Choosing Aruba Wireless can help improve your organization’s user experience with wireless LAN in many ways, including:

    • Transforming hybrid workplaces: Employees can move seamlessly between home and office, with reliable internet and without compromising security.

    • Connect and protect IoT: With built-in AP support for BLE, Zigbee, and USB-port extensions, users can extend visibility, control, and connectivity to IoT devices and applications.

    • Expand the 5G experience to the enterprise network: Empower users to experience 5G with Wi-Fi 6 by automatically enabling cellular devices to join Aruba Wireless LAN securely and reliably.

    Aruba Gateways and Controllers

    Small organizations as well as large enterprises require excellent performance and security for cloud, mobility, and digital transformation. Therefore, in addition to the access points, Aruba Wireless also offers a variety of gateways and controllers, including:

    • 9000 Series: With SD-WAN capabilities, it’s excellent for small campus networks looking for enhanced Wi-Fi scalability and security.

    • 7200 Series: Perfect for campus WLAN scalability or branch SD-WAN and VPN Concentrator capabilities, the 7200 Series optimizes Wi-Fi performance to guarantee smooth roaming.

    • 7000 Series: Acting as a controller or gateway to provide WAN intelligence, the 7000 Series is a policy-based router and an excellent solution for small to mid-sized campuses.

    • Mobility Controller Virtual Appliance: Maximizes Wi-Fi and network services in an economical, virtualized environment.

    • SD-WAN Virtual Gateways: Orchestrate virtual gateways in public cloud infrastructure, like Amazon Web Services (AWS).

    • Mobility Conductor Hardware Appliance: While enhancing the scalability and reliability for large campus WLANs, Aruba Mobility Conductors bring the full capability of ArubaOS.

    • Mobility Conductor Virtual Appliance: To scale large campus deployments, Aruba Mobility Conductors simplify the deployment and management of up to 1,000 Mobility Controllers.

    • ArubaOS Network Operating System: Great for remote workers in mid-sized and large companies who need seamless connectivity to and security over Wi-Fi.

    Reviews from Real Users

    Aruba Networks is aiding organizations in transforming to a hybrid work environment with Aruba Wireless. Users especially love its ability to work with many devices and its ability to group and manage access points.

    A senior IT solutions architect at a manufacturing company says, "The most valuable feature is the fact that it can work with many devices. It supports everything that we need it to."

    Gary F., a network administrator at wireless at Abilene Christian, notes, "I like the way it groups and manages access points."

    With Cisco Wireless you will successfully plan, deploy, monitor, troubleshoot, and report on indoor and outdoor wireless networks - all from a centralized location.
    Offer
    Learn more about Juniper Mist Wireless Access Points
    Learn more about Aruba Wireless
    Learn more about Cisco Wireless
    Sample Customers
    Information Not Available
    Consulate Health Care, Los Angeles Unified School District, Science Applications International Corp (SAIC), San Diego State University, KFC, ACTS Retirement-Life Communities
    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)
    Top Industries
    VISITORS READING REVIEWS
    Computer Software Company19%
    Government8%
    Educational Organization7%
    Manufacturing Company6%
    REVIEWERS
    University20%
    Comms Service Provider15%
    Educational Organization9%
    Computer Software Company9%
    VISITORS READING REVIEWS
    Computer Software Company18%
    Comms Service Provider15%
    Government8%
    Educational Organization6%
    REVIEWERS
    Comms Service Provider15%
    Computer Software Company10%
    Government9%
    Manufacturing Company8%
    VISITORS READING REVIEWS
    Computer Software Company18%
    Comms Service Provider12%
    Government8%
    Educational Organization7%
    Company Size
    VISITORS READING REVIEWS
    Small Business30%
    Midsize Enterprise17%
    Large Enterprise53%
    REVIEWERS
    Small Business37%
    Midsize Enterprise25%
    Large Enterprise39%
    VISITORS READING REVIEWS
    Small Business27%
    Midsize Enterprise18%
    Large Enterprise55%
    REVIEWERS
    Small Business36%
    Midsize Enterprise26%
    Large Enterprise38%
    VISITORS READING REVIEWS
    Small Business24%
    Midsize Enterprise16%
    Large Enterprise60%
    Buyer's Guide
    Aruba Wireless vs. Cisco Wireless
    March 2023
    Find out what your peers are saying about Aruba Wireless vs. Cisco Wireless and other solutions. Updated: March 2023.
    690,226 professionals have used our research since 2012.

    Aruba Wireless is ranked 1st in Wireless LAN with 47 reviews while Cisco Wireless is ranked 2nd in Wireless LAN with 54 reviews. Aruba Wireless is rated 8.2, while Cisco Wireless is rated 8.0. The top reviewer of Aruba Wireless writes "Simple to install, easy to use, and cost-effective". On the other hand, the top reviewer of Cisco Wireless writes "Robust with a good level of performance and very helpful technical support". Aruba Wireless is most compared with Cisco Meraki Wireless LAN, Ruckus Wireless, Ubiquiti WLAN, Mist AI and Cloud and D-Link Wireless, whereas Cisco Wireless is most compared with Cisco Meraki Wireless LAN, Ubiquiti WLAN, Ruckus Wireless, Huawei Wireless and D-Link Wireless. See our Aruba Wireless vs. Cisco Wireless 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.