

Cisco Ethernet Switches and Ubiquiti UniFi Switches both compete in the network hardware category. Cisco tends to have the upper hand in enterprise features and reliability, making them strong contenders for core network environments, while Ubiquiti offers cost-effective solutions for smaller businesses.
Features: Cisco Ethernet Switches offer advanced enterprise features such as high-performance IP routing, advanced QoS, and Cisco DNA Assurance, incorporating AI Network Analytics for enhanced network management. They provide stability, flexibility, and a plethora of configuration options. Ubiquiti UniFi Switches deliver strong cloud management capabilities, integrated network protection features, and a user-friendly setup, making them accessible for cost-conscious businesses.
Room for Improvement: Cisco faces challenges with high costs and complex licensing processes. Users call for a more intuitive GUI and seamless integration with third-party products. Additionally, Cisco's advanced features that require extra licensing can be costly. Ubiquiti could enhance security functionalities and improve system integration. Its customer support relies heavily on community forums, presenting challenges in advanced configurations.
Ease of Deployment and Customer Service: Cisco Ethernet Switches are preferred in enterprises focused on on-premises deployment, offering generally positive technical support but with noted delays. Ubiquiti UniFi Switches enjoy praise for ease of deployment in hybrid setups and straightforward integration. However, Ubiquiti's customer service largely depends on indirect support channels.
Pricing and ROI: Cisco Ethernet Switches are recognized for their premium pricing, encompassing hardware and required licenses, viewed as worthwhile investments for long-term reliability. Ubiquiti UniFi Switches provide more budget-friendly options without recurring licensing costs, offering quicker ROI suitable for SMEs. While both demand upfront investments, Ubiquiti's cost advantages appeal to budget-conscious enterprises.
It has saved considerable time for engineers to troubleshoot and perform related tasks.
Another solution offered to us was more than double the price, making UniFi a cost-effective choice.
We saw a return on investment within a year, although I believe there's more potential to be leveraged.
Customer support for Cisco Ethernet Switches is really good.
It takes two to three days for Cisco support to address issues.
Currently, we don't have any technical support because our license doesn't allow for direct support.
The team is knowledgeable and efficient.
the manuals, installation videos, and resources on the website are very good and straightforward.
They have a large customer base that sometimes faces issues due to a lack of know-how in managing the devices.
Cisco mainly provides security, patch management, hardware reliability, durability, scalability, and security features supporting my organization's expansion.
The latest products do not allow integration with the earlier environment.
The scalability depends on the model.
I rate the scalability as nine out of ten.
If planning for future scalability, choosing switches that support extra modules for fiber optics is advisable.
The solution is sufficiently scalable because the switches can be stacked.
The switches are very stable, rated ten out of ten.
I did not experience any problems the whole year.
We have never experienced any problems with Ubiquiti UniFi Switches as they are consistently stable.
The switches are stable and there have been no outages.
The pricing and hardware warranty renewal costs are more expensive than other products.
FortiGate switches are considered more valuable because they have firewall capabilities.
For example, on switches, filtering specific sections isn't supported, whereas, on routers, you can do 'show run' with additional commands to filter.
The current setup is closed and does not allow for integration with non-Ubiquiti VoIP devices or providers outside their ecosystem.
Recent updates have removed many options available in earlier versions, simplifying the interface but limiting control.
The choice depends on the network architecture and planning for the future scalability requirements.
Cisco Ethernet switches are priced at a rating of nine, indicating they are expensive.
We need to pay for the subscription, as there are extra expenses after purchasing the product.
Regarding the cost, Cisco Ethernet Switches have a competitive price.
Many vendors mark up prices significantly.
Pricing is very favorable, with minimal licensing involved.
Our investment in Ubiquiti is about £30,000, and it's a cost-effective solution since there is no subscription fee.
Their stability and durability are essential features we've been looking for many years, and they are still working fine.
It provides a high layer of enterprise security via 802.1X port-based authentication, DHCP snooping, ARP inspection, IP Guard, ACLs, and integration with Cisco ISE.
The Cisco Ethernet switches are sturdy products that do not require any kind of maintenance.
I can manage user connectivity, limit bandwidth, apply MAC address filtering, and it offers POE capabilities.
The switches enable management from anywhere using the cloud controller, making configuration changes and management easier.
I was involved in Kenya's last general elections where we used Ubiquiti equipment, both wireless and switching, which performed excellently.
| Product | Mindshare (%) |
|---|---|
| Cisco Ethernet Switches | 9.0% |
| Ubiquiti UniFi Switches | 7.3% |
| Other | 83.7% |


| Company Size | Count |
|---|---|
| Small Business | 60 |
| Midsize Enterprise | 35 |
| Large Enterprise | 55 |
| Company Size | Count |
|---|---|
| Small Business | 45 |
| Midsize Enterprise | 8 |
| Large Enterprise | 1 |
Ubiquiti UniFi Switches are managed Gigabit switches (Available with 24 or 48 RJ45 Gigabit ports) designed to meet all your network needs while delivering excellent performance. The switches’ excellent network performance is combined with fiber connectivity that includes two SFP ports and the ability to process traffic without putting packet loss at risk.
Ubiquiti UniFi Switches Are:
Ubiquiti UniFi Switches Support These Three Output Modes:
Ubiquiti UniFi Switches Support These Three Input Modes:
Ubiquiti UniFi Switches Features:
Benefits of Ubiquiti UniFi Switches:
Reviews from Real Users
A PeerSpot user who is a Director of Technical Operations/CTO at a consultancy says "The ability to deploy quickly and then having one central location for all the settings are its most valuable aspects."
"The integration with the controller is one of the most valuable features of these switches. They are also very stable. For example, we have some equipment that we haven't touched for four years that is still reliable," says Doru I., Senior solutions architect at Aplix Technologies
Murali S., Management Consultant at a consultancy, explains that “For the world where you have to balance traffic and traffic loads and bandwidth, their GUI makes it really easy because the switches, though they are enterprise grade level two or level three switches, the GUI is designed so that it's easy to set up VLANs where you need to control your traffic so that your phones don't break up and get choppy because of other people loading the network down too heavily."
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