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Cisco Ethernet Switches vs HPE Ethernet Switches vs Juniper EX Series Ethernet Switches comparison

Cisco and Hewlett Packard Enterprise are both solutions in the Ethernet Switches category. Cisco is ranked #1 with an average rating of 8.8, while Hewlett Packard Enterprise is ranked #9 with an average rating of 8.5. Cisco holds a 12.8% mindshare in ES, compared to Hewlett Packard Enterprise’s 2.7% mindshare. Additionally, 96% of Cisco users are willing to recommend the solution, compared to 93% of Hewlett Packard Enterprise users who would recommend it.
Cisco Ethernet Switches
Read 136 Cisco Ethernet Switches reviews
  • 13,797 Views
  • 13,797 Comparison Views
96% willing to recommend
HPE Ethernet Switches
Read 103 HPE Ethernet Switches reviews
  • 2,280 Views
  • 2,257 Comparison Views
93% willing to recommend
Juniper EX Series Ethernet ...
Read 72 Juniper EX Series Ethernet Switches reviews
  • 3,450 Views
  • 3,347 Comparison Views
91% willing to recommend
 

Comparison Buyer's Guide

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Executive Summary
We performed a comparison between Cisco Ethernet Switches, HPE Ethernet Switches, and Juniper EX Series Ethernet Switches based on real PeerSpot user reviews.

Find out what your peers are saying about Cisco, Hewlett Packard Enterprise, Netgear and others in Ethernet Switches.

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To learn more, read our detailed Ethernet Switches Report (Updated: August 2025).
Buyer's Guide
Ethernet Switches
August 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:
 

Mindshare comparison

As of August 2025, in the Ethernet Switches category, the mindshare of Cisco Ethernet Switches is 12.8%, down from 18.6% compared to the previous year. The mindshare of HPE Ethernet Switches is 2.7%, up from 2.4% compared to the previous year. The mindshare of Juniper EX Series Ethernet Switches is 2.8%, down from 3.8% compared to the previous year. It is calculated based on PeerSpot user engagement data.
Ethernet Switches Market Share Distribution
ProductMarket Share (%)
Cisco Ethernet Switches12.8%
HPE Ethernet Switches2.7%
Juniper EX Series Ethernet Switches2.8%
Other81.7%
Ethernet Switches
 

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.
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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.
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FauzanRahmanto - PeerSpot reviewer
Have achieved lower costs and gained reliability with some room for better scalability
The security capabilities of Juniper EX Series Ethernet Switches are comparable to other brands, so there are no additional points for Juniper regarding the security systems. I would rate the price of Juniper EX Series Ethernet Switches an eight out of ten. Regarding stability, I would rate Juniper EX Series Ethernet Switches a nine out of ten. I would recommend Juniper EX Series Ethernet Switches to other organizations because it is easy to use, the command is easy to learn, and it is very stable. I chose Juniper as my primary vendor because it is very stable, reliable, and the price is lower than competitors. I am the person who usually does the maintenance alone. In my office, my two colleagues and I are the network engineers directly responsible for the operation of the EX devices. The number of users in my organization who have access to Juniper EX Series Ethernet Switches is around 17 people. Overall, I would rate Juniper EX Series Ethernet Switches an eight out of ten.
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

"The most valuable feature is the complete functionality, but the most important thing is support."
"These switches are both stable and scalable."
"We like the stability and scalability of Cisco Ethernet Switches."
"The product offers very good customer support. It's likely the best in the industry."
"The greatest advantage of Cisco switches is their reliability. For example, we bought some 500 series switches back in 2002 or 2003, and they ran 24/7. I never had an issue for seven years."
"The quality of service is one of the main reasons we use Cisco in our organization. It's quite high and very reliable. The switches also end up working for a long time, so there's less need to replace them as often as others. We have some switches in our company that has been running since 2006, for example. They are quite old, but they still work."
"I am not sure exactly which feature is most valuable because overall, the device helps us to manage our environment."
"The power stacking feature in Cisco Ethernet Switches can be considered the most valuable."
More Cisco Ethernet Switches pros
"Stable and scalable."
"The product's stacking technology is stable and works well."
"The security features of the HPE Ethernet Switches are good."
"I value that there is a clear place to find a MAC table with HPE Ethernet Switches."
"HPE Ethernet Switches are scalable, and their software is also quite sturdy."
"The most valuable features of HPE Ethernet switches include configuring VLAN trunking and the overall ease of configuration."
"I have found the most valuable feature is stability."
"We use HPE Ethernet Switches to provide solutions for the hotel, their guests, and IPTV."
More HPE Ethernet Switches pros
"It is a highly stable solution. Stability-wise, I rate the solution a nine to ten out of ten."
"You willuse almost every feature on every switch to some degree because the utility is valuable."
"The scalability is excellent. It's one of the aspects of the solution that is quite good."
"The setup phase was straightforward."
"Juniper Ethernet Switches' best features are the high packer sorting and throughput, good uplink port capacity, and virtual setup."
"It is very valuable for SRX devices and we have found it very easy to configure."
"The most valuable features of Juniper Ethernet Switches are the simple configuration and ruggedness."
"I would rate this solution a 10 out of 10 for scalability."
More Juniper EX Series Ethernet Switches pros
 

Cons

"From a system integrator's perspective, Cisco must train system integrators, partners, and customers about their services."
"Cisco should strive to improve the software for its switches."
"The solution needs to work on lowering the amount of bugs. We find them quite regularly."
"Setting up Cisco Ethernet Switches is not very easy; I'd rate it around four out of ten in terms of ease."
"This may be something that they are already working on, but it would be an improvement if they could add a layer of security to layer two and layer three to protect the server and to protect the data."
"We'd like the pricing to be lowered."
"Firewall features should be pre-enabled in Cisco Ethernet switches. FortiGate switches are considered more valuable because they have firewall capabilities."
"The price of the solution could be reduced."
More Cisco Ethernet Switches cons
"There is room for improvement in the update process, especially the web UI update process."
"Technical support needs improvement, as the response time could be better."
"There could be features for ransomware attack detection and enhanced anomaly detection to identify and mitigate anonymous traffic."
"It would be helpful to have training available for this solution."
"There is some improvement needed for the power supply of the solution."
"The next release would benefit from adding a central management that could be deployable on premise and allow you to see the layout of topology."
"Sometimes, we encounter the need for new technologies, especially when we require higher bandwidth. If we can't find what we need with HPE Ethernet Switches, we explore options from other vendors like Cisco."
"The product could always use better technical support."
More HPE Ethernet Switches cons
"Juniper needs to get their code up to par because it isn't stable enough for a leaf and spine design."
"Stability could be better, especially during a reboot. We have had some issues recently with the software getting corrupt on reboot, which causes a lot of downtime."
"The tool should improve its fabric."
"The initial setup of switches is not that simple."
"The stability of this solution should be improved."
"It was very difficult to get technical support, here in Egypt. There is no local support available."
"We would like it if there was more security added in future releases."
"Juniper EX Series Ethernet Switches lack to offer the latest management tools."
More Juniper EX Series Ethernet Switches cons
 

Pricing and Cost Advice

"The cost of Cisco Ethernet Switches is expensive."
"Customers have to pay for some of the L3 switches licenses, which are expensive."
"Cisco Ethernet Switches are more expensive than Huawei Ethernet Switches."
"The product is very expensive"
"It's a little expensive."
"Quality comes at a price. I've been around the block a bit, and I know that good quality comes at a price. However, some of the organizations don't have big budgets, so you have to develop different solutions for them. They don't have the budget to get some of the high-end features. Cisco can consider providing entry-level hardware to suit SMBs."
"The price of Cisco Ethernet Switches is expensive."
"I pay a fixed price on it. I'm not the person on the pursing, so I don't really compare."
More Cisco Ethernet Switches pricing and cost advice
"The tool's pricing is very cheap."
"All the solutions have a license for the QSFP. Additionally, there is a one-time license fee to increase the interface speed."
"The price of the solution is expensive."
"It would be great if certain features, like licensing, were included in the base price of the switches."
"There are free software updates and there is a lifetime warranty for a few of the switch series."
"We have to pay for a yearly license for HPE Ethernet Switches."
"We need to pay when we buy the switch. We pay for a license to use the software, but it is not required."
"This is not an expensive solution."
More HPE Ethernet Switches pricing and cost advice
"You don't need to license every switch. We only chose to cover support on core/key equipment and keep a cold spare available when needed."
"Juniper Ethernet Switches could be less expensive. There is not a license needed to use the solution."
"The price of the Juniper EX Series is reasonable. Cisco is a lot more expensive."
"They offer a more competitive pricing structure compared to one of the competitors."
"It is an inexpensive product."
"We don't need to pay for the solution's features."
"Support prices and licensing scheme need to be improved to allow some features to be purchased at lower costs, for example, RPM​."
"The maintenance cost is approximately €2,000 ($2,200 USD) per year, including support, for our entire fleet."
More Juniper EX Series Ethernet Switches pricing and cost advice
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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…
Read full review
 

Top Industries

By visitors reading reviews
Computer Software Company
12%
Manufacturing Company
9%
Financial Services Firm
8%
Government
7%
Computer Software Company
11%
Educational Organization
9%
Manufacturing Company
7%
Government
7%
Computer Software Company
11%
Manufacturing Company
9%
University
8%
Educational Organization
7%
 

Company Size

By reviewers
Large Enterprise
Midsize Enterprise
Small Business
By reviewers
Company SizeCount
Small Business58
Midsize Enterprise36
Large Enterprise53
By reviewers
Company SizeCount
Small Business62
Midsize Enterprise19
Large Enterprise31
By reviewers
Company SizeCount
Small Business38
Midsize Enterprise17
Large Enterprise24
 

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 func...
See all answers
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 F...
See all answers
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...
See all answers
What do you like most about HPE Ethernet Switches?
The solution is very stable and easy to use.
See all answers
What is your experience regarding pricing and costs for HPE Ethernet Switches?
The price of HPE Ethernet Switches is reasonable and less than other OEM brands.
See all answers
What needs improvement with HPE Ethernet Switches?
The price should be reduced in comparison to Cisco, as sometimes we cannot use the HPE one at the core level, where g...
See all answers
What advice do you have for others considering Juniper Ethernet Switches?
Juniper EX model is ok for the campus network as the ex4300 is EOL in a few years and the new ex4400 is the standard....
See all answers
What is your primary use case for Juniper EX Series Ethernet Switches?
We deal mostly with Juniper EX Series Ethernet Switches products, as we are partners with Juniper products. We work w...
See all answers
What do you like most about Juniper EX Series?
The setup phase was straightforward.
See all answers
 

Comparisons

Aruba Switches vs Cisco Ethernet Switches Logo
Aruba Switches vs Cisco Ethernet Switches
Compared 19% of the time
Fortinet FortiSwitch - Secure Access vs Cisco Ethernet Switches Logo
Fortinet FortiSwitch - Secure Access vs Cisco Ethernet Switches
Compared 16% of the time
D-Link Ethernet Switches vs Cisco Ethernet Switches Logo
D-Link Ethernet Switches vs Cisco Ethernet Switches
Compared 9% of the time
NETGEAR Switches vs Cisco Ethernet Switches Logo
NETGEAR Switches vs Cisco Ethernet Switches
Compared 7% of the time
More Cisco Ethernet Switches Competitors
Aruba Switches vs HPE Ethernet Switches Logo
Aruba Switches vs HPE Ethernet Switches
Compared 14% of the time
Fortinet FortiSwitch - Data Center vs HPE Ethernet Switches Logo
Fortinet FortiSwitch - Data Center vs HPE Ethernet Switches
Compared 10% of the time
H3C Ethernet Switches vs HPE Ethernet Switches Logo
H3C Ethernet Switches vs HPE Ethernet Switches
Compared 8% of the time
Ubiquiti UniFi Switches vs HPE Ethernet Switches Logo
Ubiquiti UniFi Switches vs HPE Ethernet Switches
Compared 8% of the time
Fortinet FortiSwitch - Secure Access vs HPE Ethernet Switches Logo
Fortinet FortiSwitch - Secure Access vs HPE Ethernet Switches
Compared 4% of the time
More HPE Ethernet Switches Competitors
Aruba Switches vs Juniper EX Series Ethernet Switches Logo
Aruba Switches vs Juniper EX Series Ethernet Switches
Compared 14% of the time
Arista Networks Platform vs Juniper EX Series Ethernet Switches Logo
Arista Networks Platform vs Juniper EX Series Ethernet Switches
Compared 10% of the time
Ubiquiti UniFi Switches vs Juniper EX Series Ethernet Switches Logo
Ubiquiti UniFi Switches vs Juniper EX Series Ethernet Switches
Compared 8% of the time
NETGEAR Switches vs Juniper EX Series Ethernet Switches Logo
NETGEAR Switches vs Juniper EX Series Ethernet Switches
Compared 6% of the time
Fortinet FortiSwitch - Data Center vs Juniper EX Series Ethernet Switches Logo
Fortinet FortiSwitch - Data Center vs Juniper EX Series Ethernet Switches
Compared 4% of the time
More Juniper EX Series Ethernet Switches Competitors
 

Product Reports

Buyer's Guide
Cisco Ethernet Switches
August 2025
Cisco Ethernet Switches reportDownload Cisco Ethernet Switches product report
Buyer's Guide
HPE Ethernet Switches
August 2025
HPE Ethernet Switches reportDownload HPE Ethernet Switches product report
Buyer's Guide
Juniper EX Series Ethernet Switches
August 2025
Juniper EX Series Ethernet Switches reportDownload Juniper EX Series Ethernet Switches product report
 

Also Known As

Cisco Industrial Ethernet Switches
HP Ethernet Switches
Juniper Ethernet Switches
 

Overview

Cisco Ethernet Switches scale to meet the needs of networks of all sizes. They are Secure, Reliable and Seamless.
Cisco

HP has created the most open, integrated and software-defined networking portfolio and ecosystem of its kind – driving simplification with networks that understand, adapt to and protect your business applications in real-time. Only HP extends the momentum of software-defined networking everywhere–from the mobile edge to the heart of data centers.

Hewlett Packard Enterprise

Juniper Ethernet Switches are made up of the EX Series product line. These EX Series Ethernet Switches provide branch, campus and data center networks with access, aggregation and core layer switching solutions. The end result is secure, fast and efficient application and data delivery.

Today's enterprise networks increasingly demand mobile access, optimal availability, virtualization, and unified communications. The Juniper Ethernet Switches EX Series caters for all of these requirements, ensuring business continuity, network flexibility and maximum productivity.

Juniper EX Series switches are AI-driven, operated and managed using the Mist AI cloud from Juniper. This gives EX customers simplified operations with insights, anomaly detection and automated troubleshooting, empowering IT teams to deliver the best user experience across the wired network.

Juniper
 

Sample Customers

Linz AG
Emirates Palace Hotel
BlackLotus, Staminus, Community Bank, BAS Group, Cloud Dynamics, Privalia, Fluidata, and Tesla Motors.
Buyer's Guide
Ethernet Switches
August 2025
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