Catalyst 9100 Access Points vs ExtremeWireless comparison

Cisco and Extreme Networks are both solutions in the Wireless LAN category. Cisco is ranked #20 with an average rating of 9.5, while Extreme Networks is ranked #15 with an average rating of 8.0. Additionally, 100% of Cisco users are willing to recommend the solution, compared to 92% of Extreme Networks users who would recommend it.

Catalyst 9100 Access Points

Read 3 Catalyst 9100 Access Points reviews

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122 Comparison Views

100% willing to recommend

ExtremeWireless

Read 30 ExtremeWireless reviews

1,712 Views
1,575 Comparison Views

92% willing to recommend

Catalyst 9100 Access Points

ExtremeWireless

Comparison Buyer's Guide

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Executive SummaryUpdated on Nov 23, 2025

ExtremeWireless and Catalyst 9100 are competing products in the wireless networking space. Catalyst 9100 appears to have an edge due to more advanced features and state-of-the-art capabilities.

Features: ExtremeWireless offers dynamic bandwidth optimization, scalable networking, and flexible deployment options. Catalyst 9100 provides state-of-the-art security features, advanced analytics, and integration with Cisco DNA.

Ease of Deployment and Customer Service: Catalyst 9100 is known for its streamlined deployment process supported by Cisco resources. ExtremeWireless offers ease of use and direct manufacturer support, simplifying deployment with lesser initial complexity.

Pricing and ROI: ExtremeWireless presents a competitive pricing model with lower upfront costs and strong ROI. Catalyst 9100 incurs higher setup costs but promises substantial ROI with its advanced feature set.

To learn more, read our detailed Catalyst 9100 Access Points vs. ExtremeWireless Report (Updated: December 2025).

Buyer's Guide

Catalyst 9100 Access Points vs. ExtremeWireless

December 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

Catalyst 9100 Access Points

Ranking in Wireless LAN

20th

Average Rating

9.6

Reviews Sentiment

5.8

Number of Reviews

Ranking in other categories

No ranking in other categories

ExtremeWireless

Ranking in Wireless LAN

15th

Average Rating

8.0

Reviews Sentiment

6.7

Number of Reviews

Ranking in other categories

No ranking in other categories

Featured Reviews

Syed Aathif Hussain

Principal Associate IT at a tech services company with 10,001+ employees

Has improved wireless connectivity by supporting high user density and signal reliability

Catalyst 9100 Access Points reduce network vulnerabilities. The frequency reuse technology is used in Wi-Fi 6 technology. The devices are nowadays intelligent compared to the legacy devices. They communicate with each other, adapt themselves, and improve the quality of Wi-Fi infrastructure connectivity within the premise. They are more robust and adaptable. They have significantly improved wireless connectivity compared to the legacy environment. The legacy environment was not effective with those kinds of algorithms, whereas Catalyst 9100 Access Points have different inbuilt features and are more optimized and adaptable to situations. Catalyst 9100 Access Points provide Wi-Fi connection to end users, similar to home routers with broadband connectivity. When a technician connects the device to the modem, it starts providing Wi-Fi. The configuration is inbuilt, requiring only an IP address to operate. It listens to the wireless controller, and whatever SSID is configured in the controller will be broadcasting. Catalyst 9100 Access Points are next-generation access points without the limitations of legacy access points. They have better reachability, signal strength, power utilization, and scalability. While legacy access points could accommodate 15 users practically, Catalyst 9100 Access Points can reach up to 40 or 50 users simultaneously on different radios with MIMO technology. There are different models of Catalyst 9100 Access Points depending on site requirements. Wi-Fi 6 technology has improved wireless connectivity significantly. Post-pandemic, everything has become hybrid, and wireless network has become an undeniable infrastructure requirement. Previously, LAN cable connectors were used for better speed achievement. Now, Wi-Fi 6 technology has improved wireless connectivity to such an extent that LAN cable connectivity is no longer necessary. Users can work remotely with Wi-Fi connectivity, achieving both speed and scalability. The sixth-generation Wi-Fi provides improved bandwidth and security on wireless infrastructure.

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Karel Ondracek

Network Administrator at THK Co Ltd

We manage complex networks with seamless guest and user access while ensuring device authorization

I use enterprise connections where users need to be authorized against radius servers. This feature is common across various products, including ExtremeWireless. Generally, the network management is valuable to me. However, I am unsure how the security architecture enhances our network protection as we typically use the latest firmware for access points. Nonetheless, we had some troubles with roaming, requiring me to install specific firmware to avoid issues.

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Quotes from Members

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

Pros

"The features in Catalyst 9100 Access Points that I have found most valuable include that it's a complete solution; we go with Cisco because you have access points, you have a controller, you have Cisco ISE, and you have Cisco DNA Center."

"The reliability of Cisco is the number one aspect I have seen, and the performance is pretty stable."

"Wi-Fi 6 technology has improved wireless connectivity to such an extent that LAN cable connectivity is no longer necessary, allowing users to work remotely with Wi-Fi connectivity while achieving both speed and scalability."

"The platform's most valuable feature is the ability of its access points to adapt and self-heal."

"The central control is valuable."

"I like Cloud IQ, ExtremeWireless' cloud controller and analytics platform. It's full of information, easy to use, and provides excellent visibility into my network."

"The solution is easy to use and manage. Overall it is very simple to understand and users do not know it is a cloud solution."

"ExtremeWireless offers profiles, policies, and tags."

"The wireless security solution is the most valuable feature of ExtremeWireless."

"It's cloud-based and very easy to deploy."

"The most valuable features of ExtremeWireless include the management through the one dashboard management with ActionCloud IQ, integrated with Site Engine."

More ExtremeWireless pros

Cons

"Technical support from Cisco has been a bit degraded lately because the first support we get is challenging."

"Theoretically, you can connect up to 100 clients simultaneously, but practically, this is not feasible. There will be bandwidth deterioration, and 100 clients using the same bandwidth will impact the quality of service."

"Frankly, ease of use is one of the things that needs improvement, as the management interfaces have always been complex and not very intuitive."

"I experienced issues during firmware upgrades, as some devices required a physical restart, which affects system stability."

"The troubleshooting feature for the cloud version is challenging."

"They should develop more troubleshooting tools for system management. Additional troubleshooting tools should be created by the engineers."

"They could provide different product models. Additionally, there could be a feature to manage devices."

"They should develop more troubleshooting tools for system management."

"The performance of the access points could be improved. ExtremeWireless coverage and signal stability could be enhanced to match the level of Ruckus Wireless and other vendors."

"In the next release, I would like to see more security features."

"There are concerns regarding the stability of ExtremeWireless. It could be an area of improvement, especially when compared to previous solutions such as Motorola before their acquisition."

More ExtremeWireless cons

Pricing and Cost Advice

Information not available

"The price of the solution overall is expensive. Additionally, the controller and license are expensive. We pay for an annual subscription."

"I rate the price of Extreme Wireless a three out of five."

"The solution is priced well and we currently are only paying for a license for maintenance."

"Our access points device is at its end of life. I can buy one more and then I must buy a new device, but if it is a new device it will not support the old virtual appliance. I would need to upgrade our virtual appliance to the next version or build a new virtual appliance with new devices, and it's not good for us. The overall licensing subscription could be better."

"It's not as expensive as some and is scalable to our needs."

"We pay approximately $30,000 per year."

"Extreme isn't the most expensive, but it's not a low-cost solution, and because there are no big volumes, you don't receive significant discounts, making the final price higher."

"The solution has a yearly subscription, and we have to pay additional costs for technical support."

More ExtremeWireless pricing and cost advice

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Top Industries

By visitors reading reviews

No data available

Manufacturing Company

13%

Computer Software Company

Comms Service Provider

Government

Company Size

By reviewers

Large Enterprise

Midsize Enterprise

Small Business

No data available

By reviewers
Company Size	Count
Small Business	14
Midsize Enterprise	10
Large Enterprise	8

Questions from the Community

What needs improvement with Catalyst 9100 Access Points?

Frankly, ease of use is one of the things that needs improvement, as the management interfaces have always been complex and not very intuitive. I believe Cisco needs to enhance its visibility solut...

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What is your primary use case for Catalyst 9100 Access Points?

We have recently deployed hundreds of access points in the last two years.

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What advice do you have for others considering Catalyst 9100 Access Points?

I am currently working with Fortinet, but frankly, I have a team which is more working on Fortinet and other products because I am managing them, so I am a little less hands-on right now. Basically...

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What needs improvement with ExtremeWireless?

There are concerns regarding the stability of ExtremeWireless. It could be an area of improvement, especially when compared to previous solutions such as Motorola before their acquisition. Another ...

See all answers

What is your primary use case for ExtremeWireless?

We mainly use ExtremeWireless ( /products/extremewireless-reviews ) for the warehouse, specifically for the Zebra handheld devices and printers.

See all answers

What advice do you have for others considering ExtremeWireless?

Overall, ExtremeWireless has a lot of room for improvement. The main concern is stability. As a user, I focus on supporting the devices and ensuring they meet my client’s needs. While I do not hand...

See all answers

Comparisons

No data available

Ruckus Wireless vs ExtremeWireless

Compared 35% of the time

Aruba Wireless vs ExtremeWireless

Compared 19% of the time

Juniper Mist Wireless Access Points vs ExtremeWireless

Compared 8% of the time

Huawei Wireless vs ExtremeWireless

Compared 6% of the time

Ubiquiti WLAN vs ExtremeWireless

Compared 5% of the time

More ExtremeWireless Competitors

Product Reports

Buyer's Guide

Catalyst 9100 Access Points

January 2026

Download Catalyst 9100 Access Points product report

Buyer's Guide

ExtremeWireless

January 2026

Download ExtremeWireless product report

Overview

Catalyst 9100 Access Points are cutting-edge wireless solutions designed for complex network environments, offering seamless connectivity, robust performance, and expansive coverage to enhance business operations.

Engineered to meet high-density demands, Catalyst 9100 Access Points deliver high-speed wireless performance with Wi-Fi 6 technology. These access points support advanced security protocols and artificial intelligence-driven analytics, ensuring optimal operational efficiency. Their seamless integration with existing infrastructures makes them adaptable for various enterprise needs.

What are the key features?

Wi-Fi 6: Enables faster speeds and increased capacity.
Advanced Security: Features embedded encryption for secure connections.
AI Analytics: Provides insights for network optimization.
Seamless Integration: Compatible with existing network setups.

What benefits and ROI can be expected?

Improved Connectivity: Enhanced device performance and fewer interruptions.
Cost Efficiency: Reduced operational costs through efficient energy use.
Scalability: Easily expand networks as business grows.

Catalyst 9100 Access Points are used in industries like healthcare and education, where reliable, high-performance wireless connections are essential, ensuring constant connectivity for critical applications and facilitating advanced data analytics to support industry-specific needs.

Cisco

Extreme ExtremeWireless Access Points deliver wired-like performance, at scale for high-density in every environment. Smart Access Points are equally adept for both distributed and centralized deployment models. ExtremeWireless Controllers provide advanced functionality to allow organizations to define how wireless voice/video/data traffic is processed without architectural constraints and in accordance with business needs.

Extreme Networks

Sample Customers

Information Not Available

St. Xavier High School, Americatel, Diamond Light Source

Buyer's Guide

Catalyst 9100 Access Points vs. ExtremeWireless

December 2025

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