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Cisco Linksys Ethernet Switches vs HPE Ethernet Switches vs MikroTik Routers and Switches comparison

 

Comparison Buyer's Guide

Executive Summary

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 Linksys Ethernet Switches is 2.1%, down from 3.4% 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 MikroTik Routers and Switches is 7.1%, up from 4.4% compared to the previous year. It is calculated based on PeerSpot user engagement data.
Ethernet Switches
 

Featured Reviews

Hakan Pehlivan - PeerSpot reviewer
Enhanced broadcast management with trusted support and intuitive interfaces
Cisco is the best on the Metro Solution side and also strong in the broadcast sector. Cisco and Arista support the IP standard, which is more in demand nowadays for TV broadcasting. Cisco is trusted by most broadcast customers for data centers due to their experience and knowledge. Cisco Linksys switches offer ease of management and experience, especially for engineers holding CCNA certificates. The functionalities and measurements are similar across switches, but Cisco offers a useful web interface.
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.
AnikIslam - PeerSpot reviewer
Cost-effective protocol support and a straightforward setup with room for login enhancements
In the network operations center, I manage our client's bandwidth. We connect with our clients through BGP and OSPF based on client demands. We also manage routing protocols, policies, internal firewalls, and other details like QE bandwidth, client manage bandwidth management, PoE, PPPoE, and DNS…

Quotes from Members

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

Pros

"Integration is much easier than with competitor products because it allows for segmentation inside the network."
"Linksys switches are easy to use. You can pull the switch out of the box, plug it in, and it's going to work."
"The stability of the program is excellent."
"Ability to expand connections."
"The most valuable feature of this solution is the support."
"Administration can be done using the web-based interface."
"The installation is straightforward. We did not face any problems."
"The most valuable feature of Cisco routers is that they are robust."
"We have scaled it without any issues."
"We found the installation process to be simple."
"These are the basic access layer switches used for connectivity among users, and they are cost-effective."
"A very robust solution."
"What I like the most is the management system integrated with the HP system."
"The most valuable features of HPE Ethernet switches include configuring VLAN trunking and the overall ease of configuration."
"We get a lifetime warranty for the solution so whenever the switches get faulty, you can get a replacement."
"The solution is very stable and easy to use."
"I like the routing features."
"The tool is simple and reliable. The most valuable function for us is filtering. We can manage which connections users can and cannot make. This is important as our office has about 2,200 employees using the Internet. It provides benefits because it's available and simple. Our IT staff is familiar with it, making it easy to operate and manage."
"The radius and wireless features are the most valuable aspects of the solution."
"I rate MikroTik Routers and Switches nine out of ten overall."
"One of the primary advantages is its competitive pricing in the market."
"The cost and versatility are the solution's most valuable features. You can do anything with them if you know how to. The solution has a whole portfolio of routing features available."
"I like MikroTik's GUI. It's completely handy and easy to handle because of its GUI. Despite other brands like Cisco urging me to switch, I didn't because they don't have a GUI. This is the most comfortable thing in my project that anyone can use easily. It's effortless to maintain MikroTik routers because both screens make it very easy in GUI mode. You can easily interact with your hardware."
"We make use of a script that will automatically re-route traffic when connections are slow."
 

Cons

"This product does not scale to environments where there is a lot of network traffic."
"It would be ideal if, for private users that are not companies, the solution could be made even cheaper."
"Cisco Linksys Ethernet Switches could improve their price, it is high."
"They could work on the pricing and make it more affordable for everyone."
"The solution's price could be better."
"They just need to simplify the learning curve."
"It would be ideal if they could do more configurations and offer more flexibility. Right now, it's not flexible at all."
"The documentation should be improved from Cisco Linksys Ethernet Switches. Although it hints or refers to being able to do certain operations, they try to get you to load the software instead. They need to be more open with their documentation on using the web interface and give the client the option to use the software or not. This improvement is not on the switch itself, it is in the packaging."
"In the next release, I would like to see them include more features like the Aruba solution, to have more possibilities concerning the software design."
"The pricing is expensive."
"HPE Ethernet Switches must ensure that the updates and patching are done regularly. When we have new software updates, we can resolve issues quickly."
"We haven't had any issues with this switch in the past 10 years. That's the reason we're still keeping them alive."
"I would like to see the initial setup become easier."
"It's gone up in price in the last 12 months."
"The cost could be better. HPE has to study it carefully with other vendors in the market, like Cisco or Juniper."
"The tool should be more stable."
"The updates as well as the patches could be improved. I believe it would be beneficial to automate the process of router patching to avoid the need for manual checks. With automated patching, as long as the router is connected to the internet, it can automatically perform necessary updates. Failing to patch the router can leave me vulnerable to potential security threats."
"There is an area of improvement. The firewall features are self-contained, but features like email scanning and voice control should be improved. This is the best routing product."
"They can improve the way the user interface is laid out. Their user interface is slightly geeky. There is more than one way to do the same thing in the user interface, and they need to work on that."
"The manageability of the web-based UI needs to be improved."
"I would like to have the option of having multiple logins."
"The solution's website isn't that good. When I go to it, I can't find what I'm looking for. However, if I go to a third party's website, I can easily find the information."
"The batch management could be improved."
"There needs to be better support for this solution in India. We have no local support."
 

Pricing and Cost Advice

"Licensing cost has not been much for the last five years. We have the same license working for Cisco Linksys Ethernet Switches."
"The product is expensive."
"The solution is more expensive than competitors but is reliable and worth the money."
"The cost of Linksys switches is very reasonable and for a small enterprise like my company, it's perfect."
"Cisco can be quite costly, especially if you're looking to implement more advanced or unique configurations. When keeping things relatively straightforward, they are positioned at the higher end of the pricing spectrum. However, it's worth noting that Cisco offers excellent support, a strong global presence, a robust operating system, and highly skilled professionals in the field of networking infrastructure. These advantages come at a premium, and there's a price associated with all these benefits."
"Cisco Linksys Ethernet Switches prices are high. However, it was acceptable. The price is higher than competitors."
"The licensing cost is not bad and is actually very competitive within the product category."
"The price of this solution is high, but it depends on the number of units that you want to order."
"The license cost is yearly."
"This is an expensive product."
"I like HPE switches because you get a perpetual license with the hardware. The initial cost is about the same as other switches, but it starts beating the competitors after three or four years because you don't have to pay for additional annual licensing costs."
"We need to pay when we buy the switch. We pay for a license to use the software, but it is not required."
"Licensing fees are on a yearly basis."
"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."
"We have to pay for a yearly license for HPE Ethernet Switches."
"The tool is cheap."
"Pricing is not an issue."
"The pricing of the solution is significantly lower than other solutions. There are no additional costs involved."
"When you buy a license, it is for life and you don't need to buy another one every year."
"Here in Bangladesh, MikroTik Routers and Switches cost 90,000 Taka, or converting that figure to dollars is $1,000."
"In our company, we are using MikroTik without a license...However, we are planning to buy their services and subscriptions."
"In terms of the economic side, we're completely satisfied. The price is affordable for both SMEs and enterprises."
"The tool offers a one-time buying option."
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Top Industries

By visitors reading reviews
Manufacturing Company
10%
Financial Services Firm
8%
Computer Software Company
8%
Comms Service Provider
7%
Computer Software Company
10%
Educational Organization
9%
Manufacturing Company
7%
Government
7%
Comms Service Provider
16%
Computer Software Company
13%
Hospitality Company
7%
Manufacturing Company
6%
 

Company Size

By reviewers
Large Enterprise
Midsize Enterprise
Small Business
 

Questions from the Community

What is your experience regarding pricing and costs for Cisco Linksys Ethernet Switches?
Regarding pricing, I take the cost of Cisco Linksys Ethernet switches into consideration.
What needs improvement with Cisco Linksys Ethernet Switches?
It's hard for me to say if there's any room for improvement with them. With Cisco, having tools that allow for easier...
What do you like most about HPE Ethernet Switches?
The solution is very stable and easy to use.
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.
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...
How do Cisco Enterprise routers compare with Mikrotik routers and switches?
Cisco Enterprise Routers are very stable and easy to use. They offer a very solid performance and are very secure. Th...
Which are better - Ubiquiti UniFi switches or MikroTik routers and switches?
Ubiquiti Unifi is a great solution. For starters, it is easy to configure and implement, and doesn’t require a learni...
What do you like most about MikroTik Routers and Switches?
The price is a big factor. They are very affordable, and the quality is high.
 

Also Known As

Linksys Ethernet Switches
HP Ethernet Switches
No data available
 

Overview

 

Sample Customers

Linz AG
Emirates Palace Hotel
ABB, Boingo Wireless, JPL, HP, Allied Telesis, iPass, Mips Technologies, MicroAge, Matsushita, Telia, undp, WFP, NASA
Find out what your peers are saying about Cisco, Hewlett Packard Enterprise, Netgear and others in Ethernet Switches. Updated: August 2025.
865,164 professionals have used our research since 2012.