Cisco IOS SSL VPN vs SonicWall Global VPN Client comparison

Cisco and SonicWall are both solutions in the SSL VPN category. Cisco is ranked #3 with an average rating of 8.7, while SonicWall is ranked #9 with an average rating of 10.0. Cisco holds a 9.1% mindshare in SV, compared to SonicWall’s 2.3% mindshare. Additionally, 100% of Cisco users are willing to recommend the solution, compared to 100% of SonicWall users who would recommend it.

Cisco IOS SSL VPN

Read 49 Cisco IOS SSL VPN reviews

1,092 Views
612 Comparison Views

100% willing to recommend

SonicWall Global VPN Client

Read 3 SonicWall Global VPN Client reviews

151 Views
151 Comparison Views

100% willing to recommend

Cisco IOS SSL VPN

SonicWall Global VPN Client

Comparison Buyer's Guide

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Executive SummaryUpdated on May 21, 2025

Cisco IOS SSL VPN and SonicWall Global VPN Client compete in the VPN market. Cisco IOS SSL VPN is favored for enterprises focusing on security, while SonicWall Global VPN Client stands out for cost-effectiveness and essential features.

Features: Cisco IOS SSL VPN offers granular security controls, comprehensive policy enforcement capabilities, and supports various authentication methods. It integrates seamlessly with Cisco's networking products. SonicWall Global VPN Client is designed for user-friendly setup, offering efficient management and varied deployment options, which are ideal for small to mid-sized organizations.

Ease of Deployment and Customer Service: SonicWall Global VPN Client provides a straightforward deployment process with accessible customer service for setup and troubleshooting assistance. Cisco IOS SSL VPN might require more technical expertise due to extensive customization options, offering a comprehensive deployment strategy.

Pricing and ROI: Cisco IOS SSL VPN typically has higher initial setup costs due to its feature-rich and security-focused offerings, suitable for enterprises with specific security needs aiming for long-term ROI. SonicWall Global VPN Client presents an attractive pricing model, appealing to smaller organizations seeking effective VPN solutions with a lower initial investment, offering competitive pricing and strong ROI.

To learn more, read our detailed Cisco IOS SSL VPN vs. SonicWall Global VPN Client Report (Updated: September 2025).

Buyer's Guide

Cisco IOS SSL VPN vs. SonicWall Global VPN Client

September 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:

Categories and Ranking

Cisco IOS SSL VPN

Ranking in SSL VPN

3rd

Average Rating

8.6

Reviews Sentiment

7.8

Number of Reviews

Ranking in other categories

Enterprise Infrastructure VPN (8th)

SonicWall Global VPN Client

Ranking in SSL VPN

9th

Average Rating

10.0

Reviews Sentiment

4.8

Number of Reviews

Ranking in other categories

No ranking in other categories

Mindshare comparison

As of September 2025, in the SSL VPN category, the mindshare of Cisco IOS SSL VPN is 9.1%, down from 9.7% compared to the previous year. The mindshare of SonicWall Global VPN Client is 2.3%, up from 0.3% compared to the previous year. It is calculated based on PeerSpot user engagement data.

SSL VPN Market Share Distribution
Product	Market Share (%)
Cisco IOS SSL VPN	9.1%
SonicWall Global VPN Client	2.3%
Other	88.6%

SSL VPN

Featured Reviews

Rupesh Kolhapurkar

Manager at Reliance Industries Ltd

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.

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Winsley De Oliveira

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.

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Quotes from Members

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

Pros

"Stability-wise, it is a very good solution."

"The solution is quite transparent."

"It is a stable solution. In my company, we haven't faced any issues related to the product's stability. I rate the product's stability a ten out of ten."

"Cisco IOS SSL VPN provides fast connectivity and the option to connect through multiple servers."

"Cisco IOS SSL VPN is an easy-to-use and straightforward solution."

"With Cisco IOS SSL VPN, you can access your corporate data safely and securely."

"The solution's environment is stable and doesn't get disconnected every now and then."

"The feature I find most valuable, is the management portal."

More Cisco IOS SSL VPN pros

"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

"I would like for it to have support for the Dutch language. I typically use English in 99% of our communications but for some people, it matters."

"The only issue with Cisco IOS SSL VPN is on the price point. Price is an area of the solution where improvements are required."

"When many people are using the internet at home, which is usually right after dinner, this type of service is a little bit hard to use. The internet becomes quite slow, and sometimes, I have to stop using this application. I am not sure if this issue is because of the application or my internet provider."

"It can be difficult to find service and at times we cannot connect with the internet easily."

"The product’s dashboard is not good enough."

"The flexibility of configurations could be improved."

"The product costs a lot of money."

"The pricing needs to be better."

More Cisco IOS SSL VPN cons

"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

"The licensing cost of the solution is on a yearly basis, and it is expensive compared to other solutions in the market."

"Cisco IOS SSL VPN is more expensive than the Aruba VPN, but it is worth the money."

"Cisco IOS SSL VPN comes with a cost-effective subscription."

"There are no pricing programs for non-profit organizations and the product is otherwise expensive by comparison."

"The product costs less."

"The pricing of the solution is reasonable"

"With Cisco, there is a free solution or a licensed version of the solution with a set of endpoint services."

"The tool is expensive."

More Cisco IOS SSL VPN pricing and cost advice

"It is a cost-effective product."

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Top Industries

By visitors reading reviews

Computer Software Company

23%

Educational Organization

Financial Services Firm

Comms Service Provider

No data available

Company Size

By reviewers

Large Enterprise

Midsize Enterprise

Small Business

By reviewers
Company Size	Count
Small Business	23
Midsize Enterprise	4
Large Enterprise	24

No data available

Questions from the Community

What do you like most about Cisco IOS SSL VPN?

The solution is pretty fast.

See all answers

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.

See all answers

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...

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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 ...

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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...

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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...

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Comparisons

OpenVPN Access Server vs Cisco IOS SSL VPN

Compared 33% of the time

Ivanti Connect Secure vs Cisco IOS SSL VPN

Compared 20% of the time

F5 BIG-IP Access Policy Manager (APM) vs Cisco IOS SSL VPN

Compared 17% of the time

Citrix Gateway vs Cisco IOS SSL VPN

Compared 12% of the time

Fortinet FortiClient vs Cisco IOS SSL VPN

Compared 10% of the time

More Cisco IOS SSL VPN Competitors

No data available

Product Reports

Buyer's Guide

Cisco IOS SSL VPN

September 2025

Download Cisco IOS SSL VPN product report

Buyer's Guide

SSL VPN

August 2025

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Also Known As

Cisco SSL VPN

No data available

Overview

Cisco SSL VPN solutions help you easily and securely extend the network to users who have access to the Internet and a web browser. You can customize access and extend the reach of your corporate network to individuals based on their roles, including teleworker contractors and business partners.

Cisco

SonicWall Global VPN Client provides a secure and scalable VPN solution suited for businesses seeking robust remote access with easy deployment and centralized management.

This VPN client offers a comprehensive range of features for secure remote connectivity, making it appropriate for businesses of all sizes. It supports centralized management, allowing IT teams to configure and monitor connections with ease. With a focus on security, it uses advanced encryption technologies to protect data transmissions. It integrates seamlessly with SonicWall's hardware and software, ensuring optimal performance and reliability. This flexibility makes it a favored choice for businesses aiming to maintain secure operations with employees working remotely.

What are the valuable features of SonicWall Global VPN Client?

Easy Deployment: Facilitates quick setup and configuration.
Centralized Management: Offers comprehensive control over multiple users.
Advanced Encryption: Ensures secure data transmission across networks.
Seamless Integration: Works well with SonicWall products for enhanced performance.

What benefits and ROI should users look for?

Cost Efficiency: Reduces overhead related to secure remote access infrastructure.
Scalability: Supports growing businesses without sacrificing performance.
Enhanced Security: Protects sensitive corporate data from cyber threats.
Improved Productivity: Enables uninterrupted workflow for remote employees.

SonicWall Global VPN Client is widely implemented in sectors like healthcare, finance, and education, where data security is crucial. Its advanced security features and seamless remote access integration support industries with stringent compliance and remote collaboration requirements.

SonicWall

Sample Customers

MST Systems

Information Not Available

Buyer's Guide

Cisco IOS SSL VPN vs. SonicWall Global VPN Client

September 2025

Free Report: Cisco IOS SSL VPN vs. SonicWall Global VPN Client

Find out what your peers are saying about Cisco IOS SSL VPN vs. SonicWall Global VPN Client and other solutions. Updated: September 2025.

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