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Cisco Linksys Ethernet Switches vs Meraki MS Switches comparison

 

Comparison Buyer's Guide

Executive SummaryUpdated on Nov 3, 2024

Review summaries and opinions

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

ROI

Sentiment score
8.0
Cisco Linksys Ethernet Switches offer substantial ROI with enhanced functionality, security, and value, typically recouped in seven years.
Sentiment score
7.6
Meraki MS Switches offer increased manageability, reduced costs, and efficient performance, despite initial cost concerns and incomplete cloud transitions.
 

Customer Service

Sentiment score
6.3
Cisco Linksys Ethernet Switches customer service is mixed, with notable improvements and some users experiencing delays or regional accessibility issues.
Sentiment score
8.6
Meraki MS Switches support is praised for expertise and reliability, but needs improvement in response times and local support.
They've integrated it over the last few years, and they don't differentiate with the support as far as the Linksys versus the full-blown Cisco switches.
They were easily reachable for technical support in our last project.
I rate Cisco's technical support at eight out of ten.
The support is excellent and rated ten out of ten.
If the devices are licensed, the support team will assist you depending on the severity level of the case.
Cisco's tech support is pretty good, and I would rate it an eight out of ten.
 

Scalability Issues

Sentiment score
6.8
Cisco Linksys Ethernet Switches offer scalability for small and medium setups, praised for adaptability but limited for enterprise needs.
Sentiment score
7.7
Meraki MS Switches are praised for scalability and flexibility but may lack features for larger enterprise needs.
 

Stability Issues

Sentiment score
8.4
Cisco Linksys Ethernet Switches are reliable and stable, trusted by data centers and appreciated for dependable uptime despite rare issues.
Sentiment score
8.6
Meraki MS Switches offer reliable performance, minimal downtime, and strong support, with occasional firmware and reboot challenges reported.
The Linksys depends on the environment; if it's an easy-going environment, they're pretty stable, but in more complex network environments, Cisco is definitely a lot more stable.
If something happens to the device or hardware, Cisco will automatically change the device by the next business day.
We faced issues following firmware updates, which we now handle by performing updates outside of working hours.
 

Room For Improvement

Cisco Linksys Ethernet Switches struggle with pricing, scalability, user interface, stability, support, and integration, needing improvements overall.
Meraki MS Switches are criticized for high costs, cloud dependency, limited configurations, and need better management, compatibility, and stability.
There should be an improvement in Cisco's response time and overall competence.
Having tools that allow for easier management and configuration would benefit the Cisco switches because the Linksys switches are easier to manage, set up, configure, and get up and running than doing configs on Cisco switches.
I would like Cisco to improve their technical support.
Most people are familiar with the Cisco commands, and it would be beneficial if the switch could be accessed by GUI configuration and by normally accessing the console.
There are compatibility issues with certain Power over Ethernet (PoE) devices, which we would like to see resolved.
Meraki should also consider improvements in stacking features, particularly in the lower-end models like NS130, where stacking isn't supported, unlike with Cisco traditional switching.
 

Setup Cost

Cisco Linksys Ethernet Switches offer competitive subscription pricing but vary in affordability compared to competitors and advanced feature costs.
Meraki MS Switches are costly but valued for their cloud management, stability, and support, despite high hardware and licensing fees.
Pricing can be high when compared to other solutions in the market.
Meraki MS Switches, including their licensing, are somewhat expensive, particularly when compared with competitor solutions like HP.
Pricing is affordable, and licenses for the cloud need to be purchased every three to five years.
Meraki pricing is a little premium compared to other vendor products.
 

Valuable Features

Cisco Linksys Ethernet Switches deliver scalable, secure, cost-effective networking with user-friendly setup and high performance, ideal for SMBs and enterprises.
Meraki MS Switches excel in cloud management, ease of use, proactive monitoring, security, and reliability with advanced features and scalability.
Cisco is trusted by most broadcast customers for data centers due to their experience and knowledge.
Some of the most valuable features of Cisco Linksys Ethernet Switches include their security features.
Cost savings and ease of use are benefits I've seen from using this, as it's less complex to set up and configure compared to Cisco switching.
One of the most valuable features of Meraki MS Switches is its precise traffic analytics capabilities, allowing us to query the system for any place at any time.
The control plane is in the cloud, and the data plane is local, allowing manageability from anywhere.
The most valuable feature is the ability to access devices from anywhere in the world through the cloud.
 

Categories and Ranking

Cisco Linksys Ethernet Swit...
Ranking in Ethernet Switches
14th
Average Rating
8.0
Reviews Sentiment
6.8
Number of Reviews
76
Ranking in other categories
No ranking in other categories
Meraki MS Switches
Ranking in Ethernet Switches
8th
Average Rating
8.4
Reviews Sentiment
7.3
Number of Reviews
96
Ranking in other categories
No ranking in other categories
 

Mindshare comparison

As of June 2025, in the Ethernet Switches category, the mindshare of Cisco Linksys Ethernet Switches is 2.3%, down from 3.2% compared to the previous year. The mindshare of Meraki MS Switches is 3.6%, down from 4.1% 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.
MajidKhan - PeerSpot reviewer
Remote access enhances troubleshooting with potential for more intuitive interface
We are working with Citrix and router, but in Cisco for Cisco vendor only. We are taking from them since 2015.  The main use case involves some small business customers needing one router, one switch, and two to three access points. It is easy to handle the devices with just a small knowledge of…
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Use our free recommendation engine to learn which Ethernet Switches solutions are best for your needs.
856,873 professionals have used our research since 2012.
 

Top Industries

By visitors reading reviews
Computer Software Company
12%
Financial Services Firm
11%
Manufacturing Company
10%
Healthcare Company
6%
Computer Software Company
17%
Manufacturing Company
9%
Financial Services Firm
6%
Educational Organization
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?
I would like Cisco to improve their technical support, and I have encountered challenges with Cisco Linksys switches. Additionally, I would like to see improvements in overall solution features in ...
What do you like most about Meraki MS Switches?
The most valuable features of Meraki MS Switches are their reliability and simplicity.
What needs improvement with Meraki MS Switches?
What could be improved is that when a switch disconnects from the internet, you can't make any changes to that switch. Sometimes the switches lose internet connectivity, and we can't do anything to...
 

Also Known As

Linksys Ethernet Switches
MS220, MS320, MS420
 

Overview

 

Sample Customers

Linz AG
Cisco Live Milan, Hyatt
Find out what your peers are saying about Cisco Linksys Ethernet Switches vs. Meraki MS Switches and other solutions. Updated: June 2025.
856,873 professionals have used our research since 2012.