Aviatrix vs Cisco ACI comparison

Aviatrix and Cisco are both solutions in the Software Defined Networking (SDN) category. Aviatrix is ranked #4 with an average rating of 7.8, while Cisco is ranked #2 with an average rating of 8.9. Aviatrix holds a 5.1% mindshare in SDN, compared to Cisco’s 14.6% mindshare. Additionally, 85% of Aviatrix users are willing to recommend the solution, compared to 85% of Cisco users who would recommend it.

Aviatrix

Read 7 Aviatrix reviews

688 Views
358 Comparison Views

85% willing to recommend

Cisco ACI

Read 102 Cisco ACI reviews

4,730 Views
1,466 Comparison Views

85% willing to recommend

Aviatrix

Cisco ACI

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Executive SummaryUpdated on Jul 15, 2025

Cisco ACI and Aviatrix both compete in the network management solutions category. Cisco ACI is considered stronger in features with its comprehensive integration with virtual environments, while Aviatrix stands out in cloud operations with excellent Terraform module support.

Features: Cisco ACI excels in integration, providing seamless connectivity with virtual environments like VMware, Hyper-V, and KVM. It offers centralized management that simplifies network operations and rich automation features that reduce manual workload. Aviatrix, impressive for its cloud-agnostic capabilities, boasts real-time topology and uses uniform Terraform modules across cloud environments, facilitating streamlined cloud deployments.

Room for Improvement: Cisco ACI users often request a simplified fabric setup and enhanced interoperability with third-party products. Users also seek improvements in the command line interface. Aviatrix could enhance its security features, focusing on intrusion detection and expanded IPv6 support, as well as provide more comprehensive documentation and training resources.

Ease of Deployment and Customer Service: Cisco ACI is commonly deployed in private and hybrid clouds, offering robust support but criticized for its complex deployment process that may require professional services. In contrast, Aviatrix receives praise for its straightforward deployment across cloud platforms and fast customer support, though it could improve its local market presence.

Pricing and ROI: Cisco ACI is a high-cost solution with significant licensing and setup expenses, offering a powerful ROI by reducing network downtime and operational costs over time. Aviatrix operates on a consumption-based pricing model, seen as costly but offering valuable cloud resource management and efficient operations. Each product has unique pricing and ROI benefits, aligning with different organizational needs.

To learn more, read our detailed Aviatrix vs. Cisco ACI Report (Updated: July 2025).

Buyer's Guide

Aviatrix vs. Cisco ACI

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

Aviatrix

Ranking in Software Defined Networking (SDN)

4th

Average Rating

8.0

Reviews Sentiment

7.4

Number of Reviews

Ranking in other categories

No ranking in other categories

Cisco ACI

Ranking in Software Defined Networking (SDN)

2nd

Average Rating

8.0

Reviews Sentiment

6.5

Number of Reviews

102

Ranking in other categories

Network Virtualization (1st), Cloud and Data Center Security (5th)

Mindshare comparison

As of July 2025, in the Software Defined Networking (SDN) category, the mindshare of Aviatrix is 5.1%, up from 3.8% compared to the previous year. The mindshare of Cisco ACI is 14.6%, up from 9.9% compared to the previous year. It is calculated based on PeerSpot user engagement data.

Software Defined Networking (SDN)

Featured Reviews

Bharadhwaj Bathini

System Engineer at a tech services company with 201-500 employees

Seamless integration features for multi-cloud environments with significant challenges regarding security and support

There is room for improvement regarding enhancing its security features in response to modern cybersecurity challenges. This includes implementing advanced security measures like multi-factor authentication when connecting with various technologies and during login processes. Additionally, the user experience could be improved by offering more practical training courses, helping users understand the purpose and capabilities of Aviatrix, especially in scenarios like archiving systems. Offering temporary subscriptions to external users could boost adoption and usage. Clear communication of policies, terms, and conditions is also recommended to ensure users are well-informed about what can and cannot be done. These enhancements would provide a more user-friendly experience.

Read full review

Rahul Khandelwal

Network Technical Manager at KPMG

Enables streamlined data center management with automation and application-centric design

The main features of Cisco ACI that I really appreciate are the application-centric and network-centric designs, allowing you to create your network according to your application. That's helpful, and it's good for one-time implementation. The automation capabilities are really helpful. We deployed one data center using Terraform, and after deployment, many automation features are available, which can be very helpful. Based on my experience, Cisco ACI provides substantial capability; you can design your network accordingly and it's part of the SDN family, providing many benefits to the organization, especially when moving from traditional network infrastructure. Many organizations are actually using the old traditional Nexus infrastructure or some old data center devices. It gives you significant control and one-time implementation capabilities, and it also provides better performance and security. Functionality-wise, Cisco ACI provides integration using automation. We implemented it through Terraform, which was easy. Those features are available, so I don't think any new features are needed right now; something new could come up, but they have implemented many improvements over the years.

Read full review

Quotes from Members

We asked business professionals to review the solutions they use. Here are some excerpts of what they said:

Pros

"The product has greatly improved our organization by saving costs for multiple direct connections and simpler cloud configurations."

"This tool resolves the overlapping of CIDR’s IP addresses in a multi-cloud environment, which is its best feature. The product also gives packet-level details on the data that has been put from one cloud to another. Currently, no other solution in the market can give this kind of detail. There is also the high VPN connectivity which gives high throughput. Internet service providers have a limitation on large migrations like 10 Gigabytes or 2 to 2.3 GBPS. However, this tool gives you a functionality where you can bundle multiple tunnels into one tunnel. Thereafter, you can transfer the data from one environment to another or from on-prem to the cloud."

"Its exceptional capability to seamlessly integrate with various cloud services makes it the preferred choice for multi-cloud deployments."

"The most valuable feature of Aviatrix is that it saves us a lot of time."

"The connections are seamless, and we can access the static clouds on the platform itself. We are also able to trace the issues. The most valuable features of the solution are security, user interface, and performance."

"Within the Aviatrix ecosystem, you could connect different clouds, and the intricacies of low-level commands and configurations were abstracted away."

"The ability to integrate with other systems is the most valuable feature."

"The most valuable feature of Cisco ACI is that it is eay to manage. We can automate and it can be scripted. Virtual ACI is very good."

"The most valuable feature is the unified fabric."

"The most valuable features are the ease of setup for redundancy, as well as centralized control."

"Cisco ACI's multi-tenancy has been most beneficial for our network management."

"With its programmability, you can do stuff to policies to make them more flexible, allowing you to connect devices in new ways."

"In legacy networks, managing changes requires individual tickets for each device. ACI's single pane of glass management through APIC is a big advantage. So, single-tenant management is a plus."

"The straightforward migration of all of the applications and loop balancing are the two most valuable features. Also, the measurement of their customer-wide sources is very straightforward. It's another dimension of the networks."

More Cisco ACI pros

Cons

"The solution needs to improve the onboarding architecture."

"The tool has a very limited local presence in the GCC market. I am based in Dubai, UAE and it would be very difficult for me to reach out to US staff for technical discussion during the tool’s implementation. The tool needs to focus on the GCC market which includes UAE, Qatar, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, etc. There is nobody to help you out in this region."

"There is room for improvement regarding enhancing its security features in response to modern cybersecurity challenges."

"There can be a steep learning curve for users who are not familiar with it or multi-cloud networking concepts"

"There could be an easy availability of multiple features in the profile."

"Aviatrix should include more integrated security features like intrusion detection and lateral movement detection."

"Because this is new technology, which requires a different way of thinking, it can be hard to understand. Therefore, I would like more documentation or education."

"It needs more integration with public clouds, like Azure and AWS."

"I would like to be able to test the upgrades in a simulation before implementing them in production because not everyone has a lab."

"It needs to be able to function on the cloud."

"It's a very complex system, as it should be. It's a new way of thinking about networking. Cisco ACI adds complexity. Cisco ACI is extremely complex. That's not necessarily a complaint, as much as it is a fact."

"The product needs to be simpler. There is too much complexity in ACI. 80 percent of its features are of no use to us. We could do with a simplified version."

"It needs more features for integrating with third-party vendors."

"It would be good if Cisco ACI had some cross-domain orchestrator that could rule all the pillars in the customer network or interconnect more easily with the compass environment."

More Cisco ACI cons

Pricing and Cost Advice

"During the initial phase, it operates as an open-source and it's a free tool."

"Aviatrix is a pretty expensive solution."

"It operates on a consumption-based model and the expenses depend on factors such as the number of virtual machines you use and the resources consumed."

"The tool is quite expensive."

"It's expensive but the product is very good. I have never found another partner like Cisco with a solution like this and with great support."

"It is quite expensive. It is not at all on the cheap or medium side."

"Cisco ACI is more expensive than Juniper, however, ACI is not the most expensive option."

"The cost is fine."

"The good thing about Cisco is that you can trade in your old products to replace them with ACI."

"Cisco is much more expensive than other vendors, especially when it comes to the licensing."

"A big company can automate it themselves or spend a lot of money and buy it."

"I don't believe there is any licensing required."

More Cisco ACI pricing and cost advice

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Top Industries

By visitors reading reviews

Computer Software Company

20%

Financial Services Firm

13%

Manufacturing Company

11%

Insurance Company

Computer Software Company

21%

Financial Services Firm

10%

Manufacturing Company

Healthcare Company

Company Size

By reviewers

Large Enterprise

Midsize Enterprise

Small Business

Questions from the Community

What do you like most about Aviatrix?

The most valuable feature of Aviatrix is that it saves us a lot of time.

See all answers

What is your experience regarding pricing and costs for Aviatrix?

Aviatrix is a pretty expensive solution. Users have to pay a yearly licensing fee for the solution and the support. You can't buy the product without support.

See all answers

What needs improvement with Aviatrix?

Aviatrix should include more integrated security features like intrusion detection and lateral movement detection.

See all answers

What are the biggest differences between Cisco ACI and VMware NSX?

There are some very major differences between both the Products and to name a few. -Cisco ACI have physical network gear (9K Switches) where the Code runs in ACI Policy Mode & the UCS server wh...

See all answers

What are the biggest differences between Cisco ACI and VMware NSX?

Once you know your way around the Cisco ecosystem, using Cisco ACI is not so difficult. It is a global product, so when you change one interface, changes are automatically reflected on every switch...

See all answers

What do you like most about Cisco ACI?

The flexibility of adding new components with minimal impact on existing services running in the data center is a key benefit of this ACI-based solution.

See all answers

Comparisons

Cisco Catalyst SD-WAN vs Aviatrix

Compared 35% of the time

Meraki SD-WAN vs Aviatrix

Compared 27% of the time

VMware NSX vs Aviatrix

Compared 21% of the time

More Aviatrix Competitors

Cisco Secure Workload vs Cisco ACI

Compared 23% of the time

VMware NSX vs Cisco ACI

Compared 18% of the time

Akamai Guardicore Segmentation vs Cisco ACI

Compared 14% of the time

HPE SDN vs Cisco ACI

Compared 11% of the time

Omada Cloud SDN vs Cisco ACI

Compared 2% of the time

More Cisco ACI Competitors

Product Reports

Buyer's Guide

Software Defined Networking (SDN)

July 2025

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Buyer's Guide

Cisco ACI

July 2025

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Also Known As

Aviatrix Enterprise Contract

No data available

Overview

Aviatrix specializes in solving CIDR IP overlap issues in multi-cloud environments while providing superior packet-level data insights and high VPN connectivity capabilities.

Aviatrix delivers seamless integration with AWS, Azure, and Google Cloud, ensuring efficient connectivity across major platforms. Its robust security, intuitive usage, and cloud-agnostic nature help manage network constraints while automating processes and adopting zero trust principles. With real-time topology views, consistent Terraform modules, and efficient troubleshooting tools, it simplifies cloud network management. Desired improvements include strengthened presence in the GCC market, enhanced security features, better user training, and improved onboarding processes. Advances in integrated security measures and effective training could reduce the learning curve.

What are Aviatrix's most important features?

CIDR IP Overlap Resolution: Address overlapping IP issues in multi-cloud setups.
High VPN Connectivity: Ensures robust connectivity for migrations.
Cloud Service Integration: Seamless integration across AWS, Azure, and GCP.
Real-Time Topology: Offers a dynamic view of network architecture.
Security: Implements robust security protocols for data safety.

What benefits and ROI can users expect from Aviatrix?

Time-Saving: Streamlines processes to save valuable time.
Enhanced Security: Strengthens network protection across platforms.
Ease of Use: Simplifies cloud network management with a user-friendly interface.
Connectivity: Ensures high connectivity between cloud providers.

In industries like finance, healthcare, and technology, Aviatrix is employed to manage cloud environments with enhanced security and connectivity. Organizations automate networking processes, applying zero trust principles while maximizing management efficiencies. Effective implementation allows for streamlined operations and valuable insights.

Aviatrix

Cisco ACI automates data center networking, centralizing management and configuration of diverse network environments. It's used for micro-segmentation, replacing legacy networks, and deploying software-defined networking.

Cisco ACI enables seamless integration with cloud platforms and multi-site connectivity. It ensures high availability and redundancy, supports network-centric applications, enhances security, and facilitates agile service implementations across different regions and data centers. The platform offers high throughput, ease of configuration, centralized management, and programmability. Users find value in its single management interface, policy-based routing, Service Graphs, and simplified deployment. Cisco ACI also excels in scalability, automation, low latency, and supports data center expansion efficiently.

What are the key features of Cisco ACI?

High Throughput: Ensures fast data transmission and network efficiency.
Ease of Configuration: Simplifies setup and changes to network configurations.
Centralized Management: Provides a single interface for managing the entire network.
Micro-Segmentation: Enhances security by isolating network segments.
Integration with VMware: Seamlessly integrates with VMware environments.
Scalability: Easily expands to accommodate growing organizational needs.
Automation Capabilities: Reduces manual tasks through advanced automation.
Policy-Based Routing: Optimizes network traffic based on set policies.

What benefits should users look for when evaluating Cisco ACI?

Seamless integration with cloud platforms and multi-site connectivity.
High availability and redundancy ensuring consistent service uptime.
Enhanced security with micro-segmentation and policy-based control.
Agility in service implementations across regions and data centers.
Efficiency in network management with centralized control.

Organizations in industries such as finance, healthcare, and technology implement Cisco ACI to modernize data centers, improve security, and streamline network operations. Its capabilities support expanding infrastructure, integrating with cloud services, and managing complex network architectures with minimal effort.

Cisco

Sample Customers

Hyatt, Robert Half, GREE

Bowling Green State University, du, Qatar University

Buyer's Guide

Aviatrix vs. Cisco ACI

July 2025

Free Report: Aviatrix vs. Cisco ACI

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