Catalyst 9100 Access Points vs NETGEAR Insight Access Points comparison

Cisco and Netgear are both solutions in the Wireless LAN category. Cisco is ranked #20 with an average rating of 9.5, while Netgear is ranked #21 with an average rating of 8.0. Additionally, 100% of Cisco users are willing to recommend the solution, compared to 81% of Netgear users who would recommend it.

Catalyst 9100 Access Points

Read 3 Catalyst 9100 Access Points reviews

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100% willing to recommend

NETGEAR Insight Access Points

Read 12 NETGEAR Insight Access Points reviews

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1,251 Comparison Views

81% willing to recommend

Catalyst 9100 Access Points

NETGEAR Insight Access Points

Comparison Buyer's Guide

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Executive SummaryUpdated on Nov 23, 2025

NETGEAR Insight Access Points and Catalyst 9100 Access Points compete in the wireless access point market. Catalyst 9100 Access Points seem to have the upper hand due to their advanced features and superior performance.

Features: NETGEAR Insight Access Points offer user-friendly management, scalability for small to medium businesses, and hassle-free operation. Catalyst 9100 Access Points provide robust security, high-speed capabilities, and extensive feature sets suitable for enterprises.

Ease of Deployment and Customer Service: NETGEAR Insight Access Points have a straightforward deployment process and efficient customer service, ensuring a quick start with minimal issues. Catalyst 9100 Access Points offer comprehensive deployment options and superior technical support, suitable for complex environments despite requiring more initial setup effort.

Pricing and ROI: NETGEAR Insight Access Points are characterized by lower setup costs and appealing ROI for small businesses. Catalyst 9100 Access Points, although higher priced, deliver enhanced performance and long-term value, justifying the investment for organizations prioritizing advanced networking solutions.

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

Buyer's Guide

Catalyst 9100 Access Points vs. NETGEAR Insight Access Points

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

NETGEAR Insight Access Points

Ranking in Wireless LAN

21st

Average Rating

7.8

Reviews Sentiment

6.9

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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Calvin Ong

Business Manager at KAIRA Technologies pte ltd

Reasonably priced product with a straightforward deployment process

I never thought about what could be made better in the product since my company is a customer-centric organization where we provide Aruba or NETGEAR, depending on the demands and needs of our customers. The product's UI needs to be simplified and made more straightforward. It would be great if it was possible to send notifications regarding some errors related to the product that can be sent from our company to our clients through the organization's post-sales team.

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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 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 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."

"I am all about simplicity. With the Insight management solution, I don’t need an additional cloud controller, appliance, network manager, or PC/server to configure and manage my access points. You have to look at cost, and everything has a cost. There is a cost to using Insight. But if the cost is reasonable, I don't want another layer. The ability to deploy a network and then have that software built-in, without having to go to a third-party, is big. Also, the less pieces that I have to call in on, the better. So, when I'm calling NETGEAR, it's not like I'm using some third-party piece of software to manage their product. It doesn't add that layer of complexity, which is key."

"The internet connectivity is good."

"The meshing capabilities are the most valuable feature. When I am going in-between buildings, my phone doesn't have to pick up different WiFi. They are all the same. Even in-between the buildings, I stay connected."

"I'm able to do a lot of things, because the GUI is designed very well. I'm able to remotely make certain changes via my phone and apply them right away. It makes life easier when it comes to managing the equipment. The Insight management solution phone app is very good. It enables me to do what I want to do."

"We use NETGEAR's Insight management solution to do off-property controls. It is user-friendly and provides network management, monitoring, and service deployment across multiple remote and local sites. That means I don't have to be physically at a location to do things if I want to make any changes to the network. It saves time and money."

"The metrics demonstrate that NETGEAR really does a good job of balancing the load between the various access points on the networks and this results in an elimination of downtime."

"Our company sometimes uses the solution's technical support, and we have seen that they sort out our general problems quickly."

"I now have the ability to remote access my network. That works extremely well. I can access it from any place. I don't need to be physically at the device. This saves me on time and travel."

More NETGEAR Insight Access Points pros

Cons

"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."

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

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

"The product's UI needs to be simplified and made more straightforward."

"The biggest issue I've had is that it works very well with the WiFi, but it does not offer any assistance at all with the routers. You can't control them or manage them at all. As soon as you want to use anything on the network side—because I have multiple 28-port switches—you can't manage them using this app."

"There is always room for improvement."

"While the data throughput does provide us with full insight into data being used, we find that it's not very accurate."

"The pricing and standard connectivity can be further improved."

"Software-wise, they need to provide the ability to kick users out. If multiple users are abusing the system or the network, I should be able to block them for a time and, when I need to unblock them, I should be able to do so by using their MAC ID. That feature might already be there and I just don't know about it."

"Ubiquiti is a very good company. NETGEAR should look at that model and expand on its remote capabilities. Ubiquiti seems to have a better product."

"Due to certain shortcomings in the solution's stability, I feel that the solution's stability requires improvement."

More NETGEAR Insight Access Points cons

Pricing and Cost Advice

Information not available

"I think that the price of the product is reasonable."

"We have some basic models they give without a license."

"My company does not need to pay anything related to the solution's licensing costs."

"It wasn't much more than 100 dollars a year. For the devices that we have, the pricing was pretty fair."

"It is an expensive solution."

"I can source the stuff pretty quickly wherever I go through the distributor. There is pricing available at NETGEAR if you can spend between $2,000 and $5,000 on a solution. So, there is special pricing that they can help with. The vendor's reps are very responsive. They have a good channel system."

"Their pricing is perfect for smaller businesses who are money and budget conscious. There are a lot of other solutions out there that are two to three times more expensive."

"Price-wise, it is a little too high, about $20 higher than what it should be, but it's worth it. It's cheaper than Cisco's access point, but the products are not apples to apples."

More NETGEAR Insight Access Points pricing and cost advice

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Top Industries

By visitors reading reviews

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Comms Service Provider

Retailer

University

Outsourcing Company

Company Size

By reviewers

Large Enterprise

Midsize Enterprise

Small Business

No data available

By reviewers
Company Size	Count
Small Business	8
Midsize Enterprise	1
Large Enterprise	2

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 do you like most about NETGEAR Insight Access Points?

The product's deployment is straightforward.

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What is your experience regarding pricing and costs for NETGEAR Insight Access Points?

We have some basic models they give without a license.

See all answers

What needs improvement with NETGEAR Insight Access Points?

The pricing and standard connectivity can be further improved.

See all answers

Comparisons

No data available

Ubiquiti WLAN vs NETGEAR Insight Access Points

Compared 18% of the time

Omada Access Points vs NETGEAR Insight Access Points

Compared 13% of the time

Aruba Wireless vs NETGEAR Insight Access Points

Compared 11% of the time

Ruckus Wireless vs NETGEAR Insight Access Points

Compared 10% of the time

Cisco Wireless vs NETGEAR Insight Access Points

Compared 8% of the time

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Product Reports

Buyer's Guide

Catalyst 9100 Access Points

January 2026

Download Catalyst 9100 Access Points product report

Buyer's Guide

NETGEAR Insight Access Points

December 2025

Download NETGEAR Insight Access Points 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.

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Buyer's Guide

Catalyst 9100 Access Points vs. NETGEAR Insight Access Points

December 2025

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