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Broadcom StrataXGS vs Cisco Catalyst Switches 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:
 

Categories and Ranking

Broadcom StrataXGS
Ranking in Ethernet Switches
29th
Average Rating
10.0
Reviews Sentiment
3.9
Number of Reviews
1
Ranking in other categories
No ranking in other categories
Cisco Catalyst Switches
Ranking in Ethernet Switches
3rd
Average Rating
8.6
Reviews Sentiment
6.3
Number of Reviews
187
Ranking in other categories
LAN Switching (1st), Data Center Networking (1st), AV Over IP Switching (1st)
 

Mindshare comparison

As of August 2026, in the Ethernet Switches category, the mindshare of Broadcom StrataXGS is 0.8%, down from 0.9% compared to the previous year. The mindshare of Cisco Catalyst Switches is 4.6%, up from 2.5% compared to the previous year. It is calculated based on PeerSpot user engagement data.
Ethernet Switches Mindshare Distribution
ProductMindshare (%)
Cisco Catalyst Switches4.6%
Broadcom StrataXGS0.8%
Other94.6%
Ethernet Switches
 

Featured Reviews

WILLIAM SANITATE - PeerSpot reviewer
Vice President Of Engineering at O & S Services LLC
Useful multi-processes, software compatibility, and flexible
The initial setup of Broadcom StrataXGS is complex. However, if you use reference design by Broadcom it can be easy. If you use something else that is not in the reference design you can start to have timing or other problems. If you are not using their hardware, such as Intel, the support might not be there.
MS
Electrical control system engineer at Dangote petroleum refinery and petrol chemicals
Reliable switching has delivered long‑term uptime, strong PoE support, and predictable performance
Cisco Systems Catalyst Switches are highly regarded for their performance, reliability, and enterprise-grade capabilities. My main reservation, however, is the pricing. The cost of Cisco Catalyst Switches—and Cisco products in general—is relatively high, especially in many African markets where organizations often need to balance budget constraints with required functionality. There are alternative vendors that offer comparable features at a lower price point. While they may not always match Cisco’s ecosystem, stability, or full feature depth, many businesses still choose them because of the significant cost savings. Another consideration is licensing, which can add to the overall total cost of ownership depending on the deployment model and required features. Overall, Cisco Catalyst Switches remain premium enterprise solutions, but when compared with other OEMs, their higher acquisition and licensing costs can be a major deciding factor for cost-conscious organizations.

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 Broadcom StrataXGS is the multi-processes and software compatibility providing flexibility. There are plenty of options to choose from."
"Configuring the solution is very easy. It's quite a straightforward process, and it's not difficult at all."
"Cisco support is very good and responsive."
"The hardware and the security are the product's valuable features"
"Cisco Catalyst Switches are able to communicate to all the other hardware very well."
"Cisco Catalyst Switches are very stable."
"The solution has been issue-free."
"The performance is great."
"Easy to manage, with a long lifespan."
 

Cons

"The support could improve."
"They should also have a graphic interface for the switches too without the command line."
"There's a ban on my country and therefore I can't get Cisco support if I need it. It's not allowed."
"Their centralized management could be better. There should be some kind of software for centralized management so that I don't need somebody else to manage it."
"They should make so that they let users know five to ten minutes before productivity is restored in the case of power loss."
"The stability must be improved."
"It can have more security features to secure the access layer."
"The product could be more user-friendly."
"Cisco has to lower the price of its products to make them more cost-effective."
 

Pricing and Cost Advice

"The price of Broadcom StrataXGS is high, but other solutions such as Cisco are more expensive."
"The product is quite expensive."
"Pricing is an issue I have been facing, in comparison with HPE or Juniper. The Nexus series is out of the question right now. Scalability is more an issue on the pricing side and less on the technology side."
"There is no licensing fee. All of the features are available on the switch from day one."
"I cannot say that the pricing is reasonable because it's a little above our expectations. If we consider the recent price increases, it is not acceptable anymore."
"Not one of the cheapest switches in the market. There are a lot of other cheaper switches, but in terms of availability and reliability, Cisco Catalyst Switches meet all requirements."
"I would rate the features-to-pricing ratio at six out of 10. My advice about licensing is that you should have a perpetual license, not one that is subscription-based."
"They are a little bit expensive. We are a public institution, so we go through other traders, and sometimes, they put in their own surplus price because it is a government contract. Cisco products are expensive, especially when you compare them to Huawei."
"It is expensive."
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Top Industries

By visitors reading reviews
Manufacturing Company
19%
Computer Software Company
13%
Financial Services Firm
9%
Outsourcing Company
6%
Manufacturing Company
10%
Financial Services Firm
10%
Construction Company
9%
Outsourcing Company
8%
 

Company Size

By reviewers
Large Enterprise
Midsize Enterprise
Small Business
No data available
By reviewers
Company SizeCount
Small Business83
Midsize Enterprise29
Large Enterprise85
 

Questions from the Community

Ask a question
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Would you recommend replacing a Cisco Catalyst Switch by a D-link one?
Hello Mesfin It depends on the real scenario, the cisco 2960 is a very good device and they usually have routing functions but there are many different models within the same 2960 line, and on the ...
What is your experience regarding pricing and costs for Cisco Catalyst Switches?
My experience with pricing, setup costs, and licensing was not all good. Licensing is quite a nightmare in the Cisco world, and I wish we had simplified licensing.
What needs improvement with Cisco Catalyst Switches?
Regarding the impression of end-to-end visibility offered by Cisco, I would love to have more visibility. What I want to see in the future regarding Cisco Catalyst Switches is more integrations bet...
 

Also Known As

StrataXGS
Cisco Catalyst, Catalyst
 

Overview

 

Sample Customers

State Bank of India, Hill International, Coty
Afni, Anilana Hotels and Resorts, Baylor Scott & White Health, Beachbody, Bellevue, Del Papa Distributing, Explorer Pipeline, Mindtree, Omaha World Herald, Radio 538, Sony Corporation, Telecom Italia, Telenor Arena
Find out what your peers are saying about Hewlett Packard Enterprise, Cisco, Arista and others in Ethernet Switches. Updated: August 2026.
908,800 professionals have used our research since 2012.