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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
4th
Average Rating
8.6
Reviews Sentiment
7.2
Number of Reviews
50
Ranking in other categories
Enterprise Infrastructure VPN (14th)
SonicWall Global VPN Client
Ranking in SSL VPN
9th
Average Rating
10.0
Reviews Sentiment
4.8
Number of Reviews
3
Ranking in other categories
No ranking in other categories
 

Mindshare comparison

As of July 2026, in the SSL VPN category, the mindshare of Cisco IOS SSL VPN is 10.6%, up from 9.6% compared to the previous year. The mindshare of SonicWall Global VPN Client is 2.9%, up from 2.2% compared to the previous year. It is calculated based on PeerSpot user engagement data.
SSL VPN Mindshare Distribution
ProductMindshare (%)
Cisco IOS SSL VPN10.6%
SonicWall Global VPN Client2.9%
Other86.5%
SSL VPN
 

Featured Reviews

VM
student at a university with 1,001-5,000 employees
Ease and speed of connectivity impress and recommend
I have not found any areas that could be improved so far. I am not sure how Cisco IOS SSL VPN can continue their improvements for the future, but I think it is a great product. To stay on top, they probably need updates to this product. I do not know what kind of improvements these updates are offering. It is a great product so far.
Winsley De Oliveira - PeerSpot reviewer
Owner at ANOC
Reliable and efficient remote access boosts our network management capabilities
The SonicWall Global VPN Client is a very good product. Once I was connected for four days in a row with no faults or interruptions. It's fast, stable, and works. It's simple and effective. We use robust encryption protocols with the SonicWall Global VPN Client. These protocols help with maintaining confidentiality and security of the network data across our organization. Today it's a fact that you have to cryptograph your servers, hard disks, desktops, everything. The VPN is just part of that. The experience with the setup process and user interface of the SonicWall Global VPN Client is very easy. With the SonicWall Global VPN Client, you create a connection to the firewall, set up the cryptographic settings, keys, and passwords. Then download, create a download file, import in the client, enter username and password, and it's done. It is absolutely very simple.

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 very reliable."
"We primarily use this solution as browser and I like that you don't need a username or password to browse."
"It is stable."
"It is a product that is very robust and durable."
"The solution is very stable."
"Cisco IOS SSL VPN is an easy-to-use and straightforward solution."
"It helps us access networks from anywhere."
"The product is great because it is easy and simple."
"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."
"The switch to SonicWall Global VPN was driven by its superior ease of use and more straightforward setup than previous solutions."
"It simplifies connecting remote clients to secure networks without extensive configuration."
 

Cons

"I would like Cisco IOS SSL VPN to provide a faster connection."
"Firewall rule configuration not as intuitive as Checkpoint. ASDM needs work"
"The high price of the product is an area of concern where improvements are required."
"Cisco device management is quite difficult. They should work to simplify this."
"It can be difficult to find service and at times we cannot connect with the internet easily."
"The configuration is critical and complex."
"The solution does not give us options if the connectivity to one server is not available."
"Compatibility can sometimes be a challenge. There have been issues with operating systems where newer updates cause problems with backward compatibility."
"The product's integration process needs 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."
"When it comes to the Windows VPN client, I find security to be a significant concern. It's not secure and it's very unstable."
 

Pricing and Cost Advice

"The tool is expensive."
"The licensing cost of the solution is on a yearly basis, and it is expensive compared to other solutions in the market."
"The solution is reasonably priced, and we have around 50% to 60% discounts from Cisco."
"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."
"The platform is expensive."
"The product costs less."
"With Cisco, there is a free solution or a licensed version of the solution with a set of endpoint services."
"Cisco IOS SSL VPN comes with a cost-effective subscription."
"It is a cost-effective product."
report
Use our free recommendation engine to learn which SSL VPN solutions are best for your needs.
902,894 professionals have used our research since 2012.
 

Top Industries

By visitors reading reviews
Construction Company
22%
Financial Services Firm
9%
Manufacturing Company
8%
Marketing Services Firm
8%
No data available
 

Company Size

By reviewers
Large Enterprise
Midsize Enterprise
Small Business
By reviewers
Company SizeCount
Small Business23
Midsize Enterprise4
Large Enterprise26
No data available
 

Questions from the Community

What needs improvement with Cisco IOS SSL VPN?
I have not found any areas that could be improved so far. I am not sure how Cisco IOS SSL VPN can continue their improvements for the future, but I think it is a great product. To stay on top, they...
What is your primary use case for Cisco IOS SSL VPN?
Currently, I use Cisco IOS SSL VPN to VPN in, but not with high frequency. We use Cisco IOS SSL VPN as our VPN client to connect to our network. This is for health.
What is your experience regarding pricing and costs for SonicWall Global VPN Client?
In terms of pricing, normally a firewall box or appliance comes with some licenses. When we develop a solution for a company with a hundred users, normally 10% of that has remote access. So 10 VPN ...
What needs improvement with SonicWall Global VPN Client?
The only thing that we don't really appreciate about SonicWall, not specifically SonicWall but in general, is the SSL VPNs. We're still using GVC, the SonicWall Global VPN Client. The SonicWall Glo...
What is your primary use case for SonicWall Global VPN Client?
I have been using the SonicWall Global VPN Client for thirty years. We have a company here in Brazil that has extensive access to our customers' networks, all through site-to-site VPNs for managing...
 

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: June 2026.
902,894 professionals have used our research since 2012.