No more typing reviews! Try our Samantha, our new voice AI agent.

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
28th
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
5th
Average Rating
8.6
Reviews Sentiment
6.6
Number of Reviews
181
Ranking in other categories
LAN Switching (1st), Data Center Networking (2nd), AV Over IP Switching (1st)
 

Mindshare comparison

As of May 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 4.3%, up from 2.0% compared to the previous year. It is calculated based on PeerSpot user engagement data.
Ethernet Switches Mindshare Distribution
ProductMindshare (%)
Cisco Catalyst Switches4.3%
Broadcom StrataXGS0.8%
Other94.9%
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."
"Catalyst switches are easy to use and simple to work with."
"The device itself is quite good and reliable."
"They are extremely stable; we've been running them for 12 years, and we lost the uptime only due to power loss."
"These are a proven technology and I haven't had any problem with them."
"The solution is already at the cutting edge in terms of innovation."
"Our clients are able to get analytics on how often people are in rooms or using a certain area of a building, and by doing this, in the future, they can often opt for a slightly smaller space and use multi-purpose rooms instead, achieving higher efficiency and lower overhead for rent and other things."
"The stability and Cisco's support are the most valuable features."
"If we are providing a switching solution, it's not just switching, it's a whole solution with DNA, and that is where the whole concept of Network Management and Network Assurance comes in, so Catalyst plays a big role in putting everything together and providing a whole solution to the customer."
 

Cons

"The support could improve."
"Cisco can definitely improve the training part. They can provide more training related to configuration."
"They need to implement sFlow, other than that, I can't think of anything else that needs to be improved — I am happy."
"In the future, I would like to see better security for this product."
"The delivery of the product lead time should be improved."
"The solution offers a bit of complexity and you need a specialized workforce."
"In terms of additional features or improvements, I would like to see more fiber ports, more security features, and perhaps the integration of wireless features into the switch."
"The solution is quite expensive for our clients. It's a pain point for some companies. They should work to reduce the price."
"I can't use older Cisco devices with newer versions of the controller or switches. For example, if a switch was manufactured in 2014, I can't use it with a controller made in 2019. I have to change the switch so that I can upgrade my network or my devices. I don't have the option to update the version I have on the image of the AP or the controller."
 

Pricing and Cost Advice

"The price of Broadcom StrataXGS is high, but other solutions such as Cisco are more expensive."
"Pricing could be cheaper as well."
"​The price should go down instead of up. ​"
"The price could always be lower."
"Licensing is on a yearly basis. We usually spend up to $20,000."
"Cisco Catalyst Switches is a very expensive solution."
"It's expensive."
"The price of this solution is reasonable."
"The price of the solution is expensive compared to other products from America or Europe. They should have more competitive pricing."
report
Use our free recommendation engine to learn which Ethernet Switches solutions are best for your needs.
892,943 professionals have used our research since 2012.
 

Top Industries

By visitors reading reviews
Manufacturing Company
23%
Computer Software Company
14%
Financial Services Firm
8%
Legal Firm
6%
Manufacturing Company
10%
Financial Services Firm
10%
Computer Software Company
7%
Construction Company
6%
 

Company Size

By reviewers
Large Enterprise
Midsize Enterprise
Small Business
No data available
By reviewers
Company SizeCount
Small Business81
Midsize Enterprise29
Large Enterprise79
 

Questions from the Community

Ask a question
Earn 20 points
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 do you like most about Cisco Catalyst Switches?
We are a vendor for the healthcare sector, especially hospitals, and normally, we use a full Cisco solution for stability, especially for the stability of the Access Points and the security of swit...
What is your experience regarding pricing and costs for Cisco Catalyst Switches?
For pricing satisfaction, I'd say it will be six to seven because Cisco usually is costly compared to other vendors. Regarding pricing, there is indeed room for improvement.
 

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, Ubiquiti and others in Ethernet Switches. Updated: April 2026.
892,943 professionals have used our research since 2012.