Aruba Wireless and Fortinet FortiWLM are strong competitors in the wireless management category. Aruba holds an upper hand in scalability and integration, while Fortinet leads in security through its Security Fabric.
Features: Aruba Wireless provides enhanced security and manageability with tools like ClearPass and AirWave. It offers adaptive radio management, excellent scalability, and flexibility that integrates with existing systems seamlessly. Fortinet FortiWLM features a strong Security Fabric enabling integration with Fortinet's security measures, and a single-pane-of-glass management for comprehensive network control.
Room for Improvement: Aruba Wireless could improve in stability, support services, and user interface design. There is a need for better documentation and simpler configuration processes. Fortinet FortiWLM users seek improved integration with third-party products and enhanced user capacity. Pricing is a concern for Fortinet users, with calls for more affordable options despite its reliability.
Ease of Deployment and Customer Service: Aruba Wireless supports hybrid and on-premises deployments with generally positive customer service experiences, yet some inconsistency is noted. Fortinet FortiWLM, with its predominantly on-premises approach, provides reliable technical support but could benefit from quicker response times compared to Aruba's service. Aruba's flexible deployment stands out as an advantage.
Pricing and ROI: Aruba Wireless is recognized for its competitive licensing model with perpetual licenses avoiding recurring fees, though there are concerns about its pricing competitiveness. Fortinet's pricing is straightforward but perceived as high, especially with service contracts included. Both Aruba and Fortinet are seen as delivering positive ROI, through long-term savings and operational efficiency, respectively. The choice depends heavily on budget and specific security needs.
There is no need to buy additional controllers for managing access points.
There are significant time savings, around thirty to forty percent, due to minimal disconnections.
I only needed support once or twice for a replacement, and it was handled smoothly without any difficulty.
I would rate their technical support nine out of ten.
The customer support is good.
If we encounter any bugs, they inform us of the recommended configuration and firmware to resolve our problems.
The local support we receive from our distributor is perfect.
Fortinet provides excellent customer support.
The solution is scalable, as multiple sites connect seamlessly.
It is easy to adapt and very scalable.
Now, with any simple FortiGate 60F or newer model, you can manage more than 64 access points.
Fortinet's solutions are integrated into many standard frameworks, allowing for good scalability and interaction with other vendors' products.
I have been using the product for the last nine years without facing any issues post-installation.
I don't remember it going down during the years it existed.
Aruba Wireless is stable.
This is a stable solution.
The product should be more affordable, especially the cloud and console for the Aruba product as it is currently very expensive.
While the technical specifications are satisfactory, the access points are expensive.
At the time of purchase, the prices were moderate, but now they are quite expensive.
Firmware upgrades and bug improvements need to be tested well.
A mobile application to manage the Wi-Fi or the whole network would be beneficial.
The price is higher than I would like.
The pricing seems reasonable compared to other brands; however, it is too expensive for smaller businesses.
The pricing can be expensive.
The initial prices were more affordable compared to the current high prices.
While the pricing of Fortinet FortiWLM is a bit high, it remains effective.
Fortinet's pricing is different from Aruba, as Aruba has solutions for small business and enterprise in different categories.
The price is competitive.
I do not need to buy a controller for the access point since the Aruba Access Point has a built-in virtual controller.
The Aruba Wireless solution has excellent roaming capabilities, ensuring seamless connectivity.
It has many features and is integrated with Azure AD and multiple active directories, making authentication easy.
The solution is controlled from one device and one GUI for all devices.
It also has integration capabilities with FortiFirewall which is beneficial for customers.
The most useful aspect of Fortinet FortiWLM is that you can manage all the Fortinet products from one portal, from one device.
| Product | Market Share (%) |
|---|---|
| Aruba Wireless | 15.7% |
| Fortinet FortiWLM | 1.9% |
| Other | 82.4% |
| Company Size | Count |
|---|---|
| Small Business | 76 |
| Midsize Enterprise | 46 |
| Large Enterprise | 73 |
| Company Size | Count |
|---|---|
| Small Business | 19 |
| Midsize Enterprise | 3 |
| Large Enterprise | 5 |
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:
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:
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."
Consolidate security and wireless LAN management with our integrated wireless solutions. Single-pane-of-glass management for security and access without the need to add point products simplifies deployment and reduces management complexity. These solutions are highly scalable to support even the largest organizations and distributed enterprises.
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.
