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Cisco Ethernet Switches vs D-Link Ethernet Switches comparison

 

Comparison Buyer's Guide

Executive SummaryUpdated on Apr 20, 2025

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 Ethernet Switches
Ranking in Ethernet Switches
1st
Average Rating
8.6
Reviews Sentiment
7.2
Number of Reviews
135
Ranking in other categories
No ranking in other categories
D-Link Ethernet Switches
Ranking in Ethernet Switches
13th
Average Rating
7.8
Reviews Sentiment
7.4
Number of Reviews
29
Ranking in other categories
No ranking in other categories
 

Mindshare comparison

As of June 2025, in the Ethernet Switches category, the mindshare of Cisco Ethernet Switches is 14.0%, down from 19.0% compared to the previous year. The mindshare of D-Link Ethernet Switches is 5.6%, up from 5.6% compared to the previous year. It is calculated based on PeerSpot user engagement data.
Ethernet Switches
 

Q&A Highlights

MW
May 02, 2021
 

Featured Reviews

Myint Aung - PeerSpot reviewer
Exceptional network support and AI integration drive performance while suggesting enhancements for future use cases
I work with both HyperFlex and other Cisco products. I prefer to make online support available because I can utilize my CCIE architect, solution consultant, and engineer team along with our account manager and product sales team. We can clarify requirements and decide how to support you. We should arrange a conference call about Cisco Ethernet Switches where I can invite my architect and consultant to clarify more about the features that are most beneficial for improving network efficiency. Today is AI day, and all the new firmware includes AI to optimize the performance, traffic, and security of Cisco Ethernet Switches. It's performing very well. With many solutions and vendors available, you have to decide on one. I am extremely satisfied with the licensing cost for Cisco Ethernet Switches. For the price of Cisco Ethernet Switches, I would rate it a 7. My overall rating for Cisco Ethernet Switches is 10 out of 10.
Daniel Kivuthi - PeerSpot reviewer
Fits well in networks, integrate well but initial setup needs trained people
I did not face any major challenges, but the only thing is that D-Link has to invest in training technicians or engineers who install their products. They have to keep training them. D-Link can offer free training, or maybe even if they are charged, it's some fair charge. That way, D-Link encourages many technicians to take that training. And when the team has trained technicians or trained engineers, then it becomes very easy to install the devices and put them in the network. The solution integrates very well with our existing network infrastructure. The initial setup is straightforward. But, again, I will insist: If it is handled by trained personnel, then you find that the integration and installation are easy. But when people try to install the switches or the solutions and they do not have the technical know-how, then it becomes a challenge. People start saying that it's not a good solution, that they are not working. Yet, it is the technician who does not know how to handle them.

Quotes from Members

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

Pros

"The solution is easy to use."
"The solution's valuable features are the speed of network transfer, it can transfer four to six gigabits per second."
"Cisco Ethernet Switches have a lot of valuable features. One that stands out to me is its ease of implementation."
"You get good support for Cisco Ethernet Switches versus other products in the market."
"In terms of most valuable feature, I would say the user interface."
"What I like the most is the performance and the latency that Cisco provides."
"Tech support has always been good."
"Cisco Ethernet Switches are more stable than other products."
"The most valuable feature is VLAN."
"D-Link has a good VPN feature and quality of service."
"The switches have a graphical user interface that makes configuration good, easy, and straightforward."
"D-Link has a graphical interface that is easy to use. It is simple enough that our junior technicians can configure the switches."
"We use the solution for the network and ethernet connection."
"The initial setup is straightforward."
"The management interface makes network management very easy."
"These switches are very easy to install because there is no configuration."
 

Cons

"Cisco's equipment is expensive, especially since it introduced the obligatory purchase of Cisco DNA."
"Cisco could definitely work on delivering improved pricing to its customers."
"I think the price should be cheaper to be able to afford more."
"The initial setup can be simplified."
"The SG thousand series has some downsides or weak points which require improvement regarding floor switch usage."
"Pricing could be lower."
"In terms of what could be improved, there is the bulk issue that is sometimes experienced with Cisco products we've used."
"The quality of Cisco Ethernet Switches could be better."
"I would like an option to create different networks within the switch."
"Currently, D-Link Ethernet Switches are often not used in large data centers due to issues with performance and scalability."
"The solution's web filtering feature could be improved."
"For high-end switches, the price could be 5% to 10% cheaper. Improvements in the voltage facility, like increasing from 360 watts to 400 or 450 watts, would make them more competitive with other vendors."
"In a future release, the solution could improve by being more secure and allowing the configuration of each port."
"The technical support needs a lot of improvement."
"They need to enhance stability."
"The solution needs better local support."
 

Pricing and Cost Advice

"The solution’s pricing is reasonable."
"It is an expensive product."
"The cost of Cisco Ethernet Switches is expensive."
"The pricing for individual use is expensive but partners receive discounts of 70-80 percent for high-end use."
"The cost of the solution is by unit."
"In some of the latest switches, the warranty is not included in the pricing and we have to purchase it separately."
"The pricing is reasonable so I rate it a six out of ten."
"The solution can be comparatively cheaper."
"There is not a license required for this solution and it is priced well."
"It has a good return on investment. It has indeed saved us resources significantly."
"D-Link Ethernet Switches' price is good."
"The solution is budget-friendly"
"The solution's pricing is reasonable."
"D-Link Ethernet Switches are cheap products for homes and small offices."
"This product is very affordable, especially compared to Cisco."
"They were cheap. We were not paying for any license."
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Use our free recommendation engine to learn which Ethernet Switches solutions are best for your needs.
856,873 professionals have used our research since 2012.
 

Comparison Review

it_user82779 - PeerSpot reviewer
Jan 29, 2014
Benefits of Juniper vs Cisco
Both are decent products. I prefer Juniper for the following reasons: 1) Cleaner separation of data plane from control plane. Higher end Cisco devices are better at this but most of the lower end products still seem to be more integrated than I like. 2) The Hierarchical config design means I can…
 

Answers from the Community

MW
May 2, 2021
May 2, 2021
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 other hand, which model of the Dlink brand do you want to use?1) is equivalent in functions?2) are all the functions of the Cisco equipment used?3) Do you already have the IT expert to install and con...
2 out of 5 answers
EB
Apr 28, 2021
Hi @Manish Nalawade , @Phillip Peerman ​and @Devanand PR. Could you assist @Mesfin Workneh?
Luis Apodaca - PeerSpot reviewer
Apr 28, 2021
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 other hand, which model of the Dlink brand do you want to use?1) is equivalent in functions?2) are all the functions of the Cisco equipment used?3) Do you already have the IT expert to install and configure it?4) Will the new equipment suggested in Dlink use all the functions you need?Most of the time, the consideration of changing the equipment is because its useful life has come to an end, the technology is no longer the best available, or it broke down due to some overload, in these cases the first criterion to decide is always the cost economic, but the ideal is to see the big picture and look at the overall cost-benefitIt does not matter that the Dlink equipment is more economical, in these times many brands have economic equipment and that rival in capabilities with the leading brands you can have confidence in itAs a result of this, the same Cisco brand already has a line (Catalyst 1000) that presents the same cost benefit as the equipment of the others with lower price rangesfinally my personal recommendation is any brand of the followinga) Ubiquiti Edge or ubiquiti Unifib) Cisco Catalyst 1000c) TPLink Omadad) Aruba instant onGood luck.
 

Top Industries

By visitors reading reviews
Computer Software Company
14%
Financial Services Firm
9%
Manufacturing Company
9%
Government
7%
Computer Software Company
13%
Healthcare Company
10%
Comms Service Provider
10%
Manufacturing Company
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 ...
Which would you choose - Fortinet Fortiswitch secure access or Cisco Ethernet Switches?
We researched Cisco but ultimately chose Fortinet FortiSwitch Secure Access, mostly because of the price. Fortinet FortiSwitch is an ethernet switch solution that provides security and performance...
In terms of ethernet switches, would you go with Cisco or Juniper?
Our organization ran comparison tests to determine whether Cisco or Juniper Ethernet switches were the better fit for us. We decided to go with Juniper. Juniper ethernet switches are a lesser-known...
What do you like most about D-Link Ethernet Switches?
D-Link has a good VPN feature and quality of service.
What is your experience regarding pricing and costs for D-Link Ethernet Switches?
D-Link Ethernet Switches are 30% cheaper than Cisco switches. Pricing has not been a concern since it is already included in the capex.
What needs improvement with D-Link Ethernet Switches?
Currently, I have no issues with D-Link Ethernet Switches nor any new features needed at the moment.
 

Also Known As

Cisco Industrial Ethernet Switches
No data available
 

Overview

 

Sample Customers

Linz AG
George Mason University, Somerville House, Hiperwall, New Brunswick School District 16, The Fulcrum Group, Bremond Independent School District, University of Texas Health Science Center, Grand Canyon Skywalk, SUN Area Career & Technology Center, Abington Senior High School
Find out what your peers are saying about Cisco Ethernet Switches vs. D-Link Ethernet Switches and other solutions. Updated: June 2025.
856,873 professionals have used our research since 2012.