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Cisco IOS SSL VPN vs SonicWall Global VPN Client comparison

 

Comparison Buyer's Guide

Executive SummaryUpdated on May 21, 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 IOS SSL VPN
Ranking in SSL VPN
3rd
Average Rating
8.6
Reviews Sentiment
7.8
Number of Reviews
49
Ranking in other categories
Enterprise Infrastructure VPN (9th)
SonicWall Global VPN Client
Ranking in SSL VPN
10th
Average Rating
10.0
Reviews Sentiment
7.1
Number of Reviews
2
Ranking in other categories
No ranking in other categories
 

Mindshare comparison

As of July 2025, in the SSL VPN category, the mindshare of Cisco IOS SSL VPN is 9.6%, down from 10.1% compared to the previous year. The mindshare of SonicWall Global VPN Client is 2.2%. It is calculated based on PeerSpot user engagement data.
SSL VPN
 

Featured Reviews

Rupesh Kolhapurkar - PeerSpot reviewer
Offers easy setup phase but needs to improve connectivity
For our company's remote workforce connectivity, the tool was very useful during the COVID-19 situation. In general, the VPN functionality offered by the product was very useful during the COVID-19 situation. In terms of the product's ability to secure third-party access, the tool works very well. The most valuable feature of the product in terms of network security stems from the fact that the tool provides access to the whole network, and even if users give access to some special applications, it is still really helpful. The clientless access feature is not available for clients. My company installed the product for its clients. If the product offers a clientless access feature, then it is okay and can be very helpful for our company. I recommend the product to those who plan to use it. Cisco IOS SSL VPN is a reliable product. The product is very helpful for a work-from-home setup as the tool can be used to access our company's internal network, which Falls outside the network of our organization. I rate the tool a seven to eight out of ten.
Syed Taha - PeerSpot reviewer
Secure connection has improved work on application servers
I am curious to explore how AI, when integrated with Global VPN, works in detail. I have not faced any issues related to the Global VPN, so I am satisfied. I am not using any services from Google, Oracle, or IBM. Most of the end users are using MS Teams for communication. This is unrelated to the consultation requirements. The overall rating is ten out of ten.

Quotes from Members

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

Pros

"It's a very stable solution and I'd say it works perfectly."
"The solution is very easy to work with. This is its most valuable feature. They also did a good job surrounding how you configure the devices."
"The setup and installation was easy."
"The solution is very stable."
"The solution is very stable."
"It is stable."
"With Cisco IOS SSL VPN, you can access your corporate data safely and securely."
"It is a product that is very robust and durable."
"It simplifies connecting remote clients to secure networks without extensive configuration."
"This VPN has a secure tunnel created between the end user and the standard machine. This secure connection facilitates the transfer of data without compromising on security or speed."
 

Cons

"It would be nice if we could use this not just on mobile, but on laptops and desktops as well."
"Compatibility can sometimes be a challenge. There have been issues with operating systems where newer updates cause problems with backward compatibility."
"The pricing is a stumbling block to scaling our utilization of Cisco products and we would prefer to use more of them."
"The product’s dashboard is not good enough."
"Enhancing the client certificate deployment process could be a valuable improvement, ensuring smoother and more reliable certificate renewal experiences in the future."
"In terms of what needs improvement, it should have better integration. Although, it might have already been taken care of."
"In addition to Cisco, we work with other solutions on behalf of our customers, such as Fortinet for FortiGate, but this latter solution can achieve the same results at a lower price."
"It would be helpful if Cisco IOS SSL VPN could help us set up devices on our iPads and phones."
"The product's integration process need improvement with certain regional network configurations, especially in locations where ISP practices can affect performance."
"There is always a delay in response when I try to work on the VPN."
 

Pricing and Cost Advice

"It stands as the priciest solution available in the market."
"The solution is reasonably priced, and we have around 50% to 60% discounts from Cisco."
"There are no pricing programs for non-profit organizations and the product is otherwise expensive by comparison."
"Cisco IOS SSL VPN comes with a cost-effective subscription."
"With Cisco, there is a free solution or a licensed version of the solution with a set of endpoint services."
"My company makes payments on a quarterly basis to the vendor to cover the licensing costs attached to the product. Cisco IOS SSL VPN is an expensive product. There are no additional costs apart from the licensing costs attached to the product."
"I would say it is a bit expensive, but I think it is worth the price."
"Users have to pay a yearly licensing fee for Cisco IOS SSL VPN."
"It is a cost-effective product."
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Top Industries

By visitors reading reviews
Computer Software Company
21%
Financial Services Firm
9%
Educational Organization
8%
Comms Service Provider
7%
No data available
 

Company Size

By reviewers
Large Enterprise
Midsize Enterprise
Small Business
No data available
 

Questions from the Community

What is your experience regarding pricing and costs for Cisco IOS SSL VPN?
The pricing for Cisco IOS SSL VPN is based on per user. For more than one hundred users, it costs about $60 per seat.
What needs improvement with Cisco IOS SSL VPN?
It's hard for me to say how Linksys could be improved. I can't think of any specific improvements needed. I believe Cisco could support easier configuration and having tools that allow for easier m...
What needs improvement with SonicWall Global VPN Client?
I have not evaluated the product yet, so I do not have specific feedback. Currently, it is not a perfect product for me. It depends on the requirements of the architecture.
What is your primary use case for SonicWall Global VPN Client?
I am still working with Sunny Core and using several solutions like SonicWall Firewall with NSM and Net Extender. I am utilizing the Global VPN, which is part of SonicWall, primarily to connect to ...
 

Also Known As

Cisco SSL VPN
No data available
 

Overview

 

Sample Customers

MST Systems
Information Not Available
Find out what your peers are saying about Cisco IOS SSL VPN vs. SonicWall Global VPN Client and other solutions. Updated: July 2025.
863,429 professionals have used our research since 2012.