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Cisco Catalyst Switches vs HPE Ethernet Switches comparison

 

Comparison Buyer's Guide

Executive SummaryUpdated on Nov 3, 2024

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

Cisco Catalyst Switches
Ranking in Ethernet Switches
7th
Average Rating
8.6
Reviews Sentiment
6.9
Number of Reviews
176
Ranking in other categories
LAN Switching (1st), Data Center Networking (1st), AV Over IP Switching (1st)
HPE Ethernet Switches
Ranking in Ethernet Switches
9th
Average Rating
8.2
Reviews Sentiment
7.3
Number of Reviews
104
Ranking in other categories
No ranking in other categories
 

Mindshare comparison

As of June 2025, in the Ethernet Switches category, the mindshare of Cisco Catalyst Switches is 2.1%, down from 2.6% compared to the previous year. The mindshare of HPE Ethernet Switches is 2.6%, up from 2.5% compared to the previous year. It is calculated based on PeerSpot user engagement data.
Ethernet Switches
 

Featured Reviews

Joshua Odunsi - PeerSpot reviewer
Ensures efficient performance and supports network growth with optimal speed
Catalyst Switches are efficient and swift, which is valuable for my organization. I experience optimal speed and effective configuration, making them stand out compared to other switches. The PoE switches offer more ports on SFP, and it is efficient in use. Overall, the switches provide me with the value I expect in terms of speed and efficiency.
Dinesh Upadhyay - PeerSpot reviewer
Experience years of robust features and strong technical support
It is a nice and robust tool where we use HPE Ethernet Switches. It is a lower switch, and we have received good warranty support with HPE switches. The security features of the HPE Ethernet Switches are good. The UI mode is available, and we can easily configure the access list and SNMP. All these configurations can be done here. Users can enable the Layer 3 features.

Quotes from Members

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

Pros

"As far as technology is concerned, Cisco improves the client-to-client business."
"The technical support is at an expert level."
"We find the product very easy to configure."
"Cisco comes with built-in software access for network devices."
"The most valuable feature is the ease of configuring a switch."
"The solution is very stable."
"Catalyst Switches are easy to install."
"Catalyst switches are our dedicated solution for connecting everything into one big domain."
"The initial setup of this solution is easy."
"HPE is very reliable because it has a lifetime warranty, so the switches didn't give us any problems."
"The speed is very fast."
"I would rate the stability a solid ten out of ten."
"It is a stable product."
"We can easily replace components without incurring significant costs in an error or failure."
"The solution is scalable."
"It's stable and performing well."
 

Cons

"The solution is quite expensive for our clients. It's a pain point for some companies. They should work to reduce the price."
"With most of the Cisco devices and models, we faced a slight decrease in speed during the initial setup and while restarting the system"
"Cisco has to lower the price of its products to make them more cost-effective."
"The delivery dates need to be more expedient."
"The solution is expensive."
"Cisco should support all of the features that are included with the suite."
"Cisco should work to lower its costs. It's quite expensive right now."
"The customer service and support need a bit more improvement and a faster response. So, there is an area of improvement."
"I would also like to see a more centralized private management console for the series of devices. Most solutions are adopting centralized cloud-based management, but my client base believes cloud solutions are too insecure. You've got a few dozen switches, so it would be nice to have the ability to manage them on a "single pane of glass.""
"Authentication and other security features are not easily satisfied using the lower-end switches."
"The tool should be more stable."
"The pricing could be better."
"The solution is very comparable to Huawei, however, it could be more scalable. Huawei is easier to scale."
"I would like to see more updates for the solution."
"Installation could be made more secure."
"It is a bit complex to configure."
 

Pricing and Cost Advice

"I rate the product price a nine on a scale of one to ten, where one is low price and ten is high price."
"Cisco Catalyst Switches are a bit expensive."
"There needs to be some improvement with the Cisco DNA licensing activation process, it is difficult at the moment."
"The solution is probably the most expensive, but users who want the best need to pay the premium."
"The price for Cisco Catalyst Switches is not cheaper than other solutions."
"It's very pricey. Compared to competitors, it's a lot more expensive."
"Generally, Cisco Catalyst would be relatively expensive compared to the competition, it would be on the expensive side."
"The price of this solution is reasonable."
"The price could be more competitive."
"The licensing cost is set up annually or every three years."
"HPE costs almost the same as Cisco."
"Licensing fees are on a yearly basis."
"The price of the solution is expensive."
"The box itself is cheap, but when we have to install new features, it becomes very expensive."
"HPE Ethernet Switches is a fairly cheap solution."
"The licensing cost is yearly, and there aren't any additional costs on top of the standard fee."
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Top Industries

By visitors reading reviews
Educational Organization
45%
Computer Software Company
9%
Manufacturing Company
6%
Financial Services Firm
5%
Computer Software Company
14%
Educational Organization
9%
Financial Services Firm
8%
Government
7%
 

Company Size

By reviewers
Large Enterprise
Midsize Enterprise
Small Business
 

Questions from the Community

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.
What do you like most about HPE Ethernet Switches?
The solution is very stable and easy to use.
What is your experience regarding pricing and costs for HPE Ethernet Switches?
When compared to Cisco, Aruba is about 40% cheaper. However, Huawei would be even cheaper than Aruba. We can't compare HPE Ethernet Switches with Huawei directly because of different price ranges.
What needs improvement with HPE Ethernet Switches?
HPE Ethernet Switches have room for improvement in the initial setup and integration process, especially when incorporating them into an existing infrastructure with competitor products. It's a cha...
 

Also Known As

Cisco Catalyst, Catalyst
HP Ethernet Switches
 

Overview

 

Sample Customers

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
Emirates Palace Hotel
Find out what your peers are saying about Cisco Catalyst Switches vs. HPE Ethernet Switches and other solutions. Updated: June 2025.
859,129 professionals have used our research since 2012.