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Cisco DNA Center vs Cisco Prime [EOL] comparison

Cisco DNA Center and Cisco Prime [EOL] are both solutions in the Network Management Applications category. Additionally, 89% of Cisco DNA Center users are willing to recommend the solution, compared to 91% of Cisco Prime [EOL] users who would recommend it.
Cisco DNA Center
Read 41 Cisco DNA Center reviews
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  • 3,443 Comparison Views
89% willing to recommend
Cisco Prime [EOL]
Read 35 Cisco Prime [EOL] reviews
    91% willing to recommend
     

    Comparison Buyer's Guide

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    Executive SummaryUpdated on Apr 20, 2025

    Cisco DNA Center and Cisco Prime [EOL] are network management solutions with unique strengths. Cisco DNA Center is more advanced in features but challenges with pricing for smaller sectors, while Cisco Prime offers cost-effective robust functionalities despite its end-of-life status.

    Features: Cisco DNA Center is recognized for its comprehensive analytics, security integration with Cisco ISE, and centralized management, offering network visibility and reducing human errors. Its automation, RF environment insights, and Zero-day configuration are advanced capabilities. Cisco Prime [EOL] provides effective monitoring and reporting with strong heatmap visualization, delivering robust features for extensive deployments.

    Room for Improvement: Cisco DNA Center could benefit from enhanced third-party integrations, reduced costs to increase accessibility, and improved reporting and real-time data replication. Cisco Prime [EOL] has limitations in NetFlow support and third-party compatibility, necessitating other tools for comprehensive visibility. With its discontinuation, migrating to DNA Center becomes necessary.

    Ease of Deployment and Customer Service: Cisco DNA Center and Cisco Prime [EOL] offer both on-premises and cloud deployment options. DNA Center users report mixed technical support experiences, highlighting delays in resolving complex issues. Conversely, Cisco Prime [EOL] receives generally positive feedback on support, though some areas need enhancement to align with the evolving network management landscape.

    Pricing and ROI: Cisco DNA Center is viewed as high-priced but justified by its advanced features, potentially limiting its reach to larger enterprises. Cisco Prime [EOL] is more competitively priced with a manageable licensing structure, though less feature-rich compared to DNA Center. Both solutions are generally perceived as offering good ROI, though DNA Center's higher total cost may be a barrier for organizations seeking robust network management without a premium price tag.

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    Network Management Applications
    May 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

    Cisco DNA Center
    Average Rating
    8.0
    Reviews Sentiment
    6.3
    Number of Reviews
    41
    Ranking in other categories
    Network Management Applications (1st), Network Monitoring Software (13th), Network Automation (2nd)
    Cisco Prime [EOL]
    Average Rating
    7.8
    Reviews Sentiment
    6.5
    Number of Reviews
    35
    Ranking in other categories
    No ranking in other categories
     

    Featured Reviews

    AvrahamSonenthal - PeerSpot reviewer
    Efficiently manages our wireless network and provides valuable monitoring features
    The platform's biggest benefit has been in managing our wireless network. Having a single pane of glass to control all wireless controllers and access points and to monitor activity has been a significant advantage. We're a small federal agency with around 300 network devices, so automation is a minor focus. It's more relevant for larger networks. The main benefits we've seen are in inventory management and the potential for configuration automation. However, I recommend using the DNA Centre only for larger networks with over a thousand devices; otherwise, it may not be cost-effective. Before proceeding, ensure that your devices are compatible with DNA Center, as not all Cisco devices are supported. Also, investing in proper training is different from plug-and-play. I rate it an eight.
    Read full review
    ZeeshanAli1 - PeerSpot reviewer
    Robust, cost-effective, and provides good visibility, but the scalability could improve
    We are extremely satisfied with the reliability and robustness of Cisco Prime Infrastructure, which we have been using for many years. Compared to newer products such as DNS centers or others, it has proven to be much more stable, which is important for large-scale operations. Stability is a primary concern for us, and we are glad that Cisco Prime Infrastructure meets our expectations in that regard. Furthermore, in regards to Legacy Plus new hardware, Cisco Prime has proven to be a reliable and adaptable solution thus far. Not only can it support older hardware, but it also has the capability to handle new features with the latest updates. If we consider new solutions such as DNS Center, we may have to sacrifice some legacy features that we still rely on. We may need to continue using these legacy features for a few more years due to various reasons such as budget constraints or the site not being a high priority. However, if we switch to a new product at this stage, we may lose a lot of the monitoring and other capabilities that we have with Cisco Prime. We have a close relationship with Cisco and understand that they are not prioritizing investments in Cisco Prime as they are encouraging customers to adopt the Cisco DNA Center. This means that we don't anticipate many new features to be added to the product in the future. While we know that we will eventually have to transition to a new solution, in the meantime, we plan to do a quick refresh of our legacy products.
    Read full review

    Quotes from Members

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

    Pros

    "I think that their LAN automation is a very good feature."
    "Cisco DNA Center provides operational support, compliance support, security vulnerability detection, and automatic scheduling."
    "The product gives a consolidated view."
    "Cisco VXLAN is a protocol that has been around for some time, but the practical implementation and operational capability of Cisco DNA Center bring it to life."
    "It gives us automation capabilities for pushing out the configuration to branch networks. It also provides visibility into the health of user network devices."
    "The solution helps with the management and orchestration of campaigns. It helps with visibility and analytics. I also like its SDA configuration."
    "The monitoring is very valuable to me."
    "Cisco is a leading network company."
    More Cisco DNA Center pros
    "It gives you the ability to upgrade switches remotely, schedule the upgrade time, perform backups, and monitor the health of all networks."
    "What I found most beneficial from Cisco Prime is that it gives you an insight into what your network does, even when you're not actively monitoring what's going on with your network."
    "Cisco Prime is user-friendly, so we are comfortable using it."
    "The interfaces are a valuable feature."
    "The VLAN mapping function has been most impactful in simplifying our network management tasks."
    "Cisco Prime, from a management perspective, has good reporting."
    "The most valuable feature of Cisco Prime is the heat map."
    "The solution provides data that allows us to time travel through logs and perform remote operations or troubleshooting."
    More Cisco Prime [EOL] pros
     

    Cons

    "The product doesn’t have good monitoring capabilities."
    "The weaknesses primarily involve pricing and the ongoing need for increased bandwidth and data throughput."
    "The solution's setup process needs enhancement."
    "As a user, it would be good if I could plug in controllers, suites, and devices from other vendors to Cisco DNA Center."
    "In terms of the clustering part, there are some concerns."
    "What I want to see in Cisco DNA Center in the future is more support for other platforms so that you can manage third-party products, such as Fortinet."
    "The solution needs to improve the dashboard."
    "The tool's deployment is complex. It also needs to improve its GUI."
    More Cisco DNA Center cons
    "If you look at some of the wireless site-survey tools that are available in the commercial space, Cisco should include similar solutions, which would help our on-plant engineers when they're doing a site survey."
    "Some improvements are needed, specifically in the form of more updates and enhancements."
    "Cisco Prime could improve the notifications in the system. Having more details about what is happening would be useful, such as traffic numbers or who is connected. We can see them through the firewall controller, but it would be better if you can see them from one place."
    "I want the tool to improve data visibility."
    "I would rate the scalability of Cisco Prime a six out of ten. To scale up from a hundred to a thousand devices, the platform needs to be rebuilt logically. This process might require a downtime window and may involve changing the hardware or upgrading to a larger appliance."
    "If you think about a centralized monitoring system, Cisco Prime is not good because it does not support third-party vendors like Palo Alto or FortiGate."
    "The product needs to improve its interface and reporting."
    "The reporting feature of Cisco Prime should be improved."
    More Cisco Prime [EOL] cons
     

    Pricing and Cost Advice

    "Licensing for Cisco DNA Center is a little bit expensive, just like any Cisco solution. Its cost could still be improved."
    "I would rate the pricing a six out of ten, with ten being expensive."
    "The price could be better. It's a very expensive tool."
    "Cisco DNA Center is too expensive."
    "The partnership price is notably high, but it ultimately depends on the chosen business model."
    "The price of the solution is expensive. The hardware is licensed on the device, but the hardware on the server is expensive."
    "I do know that Cisco does offer some really good promotions for DNA Center to bring the costs down."
    "It is an expensive solution."
    More Cisco DNA Center pricing and cost advice
    "The cost is quite high."
    "I would rate the solution's pricing an eight out of ten."
    "The solution is not inexpensive but is worth it for large-scale environments."
    "The product's performance monitoring feature could be more intuitive."
    "Cisco Prime is an expensive solution."
    "If we have a license for Cisco DNA, we can use the same license for Cisco Prime."
    "We update the license every five years."
    "I would rate the pricing of Cisco Prime a seven out of ten."
    More Cisco Prime [EOL] pricing and cost advice
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    Top Industries

    By visitors reading reviews
    Computer Software Company
    15%
    Government
    10%
    Manufacturing Company
    10%
    Financial Services Firm
    6%
    Computer Software Company
    17%
    Government
    14%
    Manufacturing Company
    7%
    Educational Organization
    6%
     

    Company Size

    By reviewers
    Large Enterprise
    Midsize Enterprise
    Small Business
     

    Questions from the Community

    What do you like most about Cisco DNA Center?
    The most valuable feature of the solution stems from the fact that it gives some kind of ease in operations, especially since our company is moving from CLI to GUI-based configuration.
    See all answers
    What is your experience regarding pricing and costs for Cisco DNA Center?
    The cost is very high.
    See all answers
    What needs improvement with Cisco DNA Center?
    The system is working fine for me currently.
    See all answers
    What do you like most about Cisco Prime?
    The most valuable features of Cisco Prime include its comprehensive functionality as a one-stop solution for basic SNMP port management.
    See all answers
    What needs improvement with Cisco Prime?
    The product's performance monitoring feature could be more intuitive.
    See all answers
    What is your primary use case for Cisco Prime?
    We use Cisco Prime for centralized configuration management backups and monitoring.
    See all answers
     

    Comparisons

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    SolarWinds Network Configuration Manager vs Cisco DNA Center Logo
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    Compared 6% of the time
    Fortinet FortiManager vs Cisco DNA Center Logo
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    Compared 6% of the time
    NetBrain vs Cisco DNA Center Logo
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    Compared 5% of the time
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    Huawei eSight vs Cisco Prime [EOL]
    Compared 19% of the time
    SolarWinds Network Configuration Manager vs Cisco Prime [EOL] Logo
    SolarWinds Network Configuration Manager vs Cisco Prime [EOL]
    Compared 13% of the time
    Aruba Airwave vs Cisco Prime [EOL] Logo
    Aruba Airwave vs Cisco Prime [EOL]
    Compared 10% of the time
    NetMaster Network Intelligence vs Cisco Prime [EOL] Logo
    NetMaster Network Intelligence vs Cisco Prime [EOL]
    Compared 9% of the time
    Fortinet FortiManager vs Cisco Prime [EOL] Logo
    Fortinet FortiManager vs Cisco Prime [EOL]
    Compared 9% of the time
    More Cisco Prime [EOL] Competitors
     

    Product Reports

    Buyer's Guide
    Cisco DNA Center
    June 2025
    Cisco DNA Center reportDownload Cisco DNA Center product report
    Buyer's Guide
    Cisco Prime [EOL]
    June 2025
    Cisco Prime [EOL] reportDownload Cisco Prime [EOL] product report
     

    Also Known As

    DNA Center
    Cisco Prime Infrastructure
     

    Overview

    Cisco DNA Center offers a comprehensive platform for network automation and management, providing detailed analytics, enhanced security, and streamlined operations for both wired and wireless networks.

    Cisco DNA Center integrates with Cisco infrastructure to deliver efficient network automation and management, helping organizations improve network visibility, security, and control. It supports AI-driven analytics and automated workflows to enhance operational efficiency and reduce errors. Challenges include compatibility with third-party systems, steep learning curve, and complex deployment. Its interface facilitates centralized control, vital for troubleshooting, policy management, and configuration management, with support for zero-touch provisioning and SD-Access.

    What are the key features of Cisco DNA Center?
    • Robust Analytics: Provides detailed insights into network health with AI-driven analytics.
    • Centralized Security: Integrates with ISE for comprehensive security management.
    • Automated Device Management: Simplifies device provisioning and configuration transfers.
    • Wi-Fi Analytics: Offers deep insights into wireless network performance.
    • Zero-Touch Provisioning: Streamlines new device deployments with minimal human intervention.
    • Scalable Segmentation: Efficiently segments network traffic ensuring security and performance.
    What benefits should users consider?
    • Operational Efficiency: Automation reduces potential errors and streamlines workflow.
    • Enhanced Security: Integration with Cisco ISE bolsters security capabilities.
    • Network Visibility: Comprehensive dashboards and analysis tools enhance monitoring.
    • Troubleshooting: Real-time monitoring aids in identifying and resolving issues swiftly.

    In sectors such as healthcare, finance, and retail, Cisco DNA Center is utilized for its ability to enhance security and compliance, manage large-scale networks, and provide detailed analytics for better operational decision-making. Its support for location tracking and policy automation ensures efficient network management across diverse environments.

    Cisco

    Cisco Prime products deliver next-generation management by supporting an intuitive workflow-oriented user experience and integrated lifecycle operations across Cisco architectures, technologies, and networks.

    Cisco
     

    Sample Customers

    Information Not Available
    Mohawk Industries, Universidad EAFIT, Halton Healthcare
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    May 2025
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