Cisco Meraki MR Wireless vs ExtremeWireless comparison

Cisco and Extreme Networks are both solutions in the Wireless LAN category. Cisco is ranked #21 with an average rating of 9.0, while Extreme Networks is ranked #16 with an average rating of 8.0. Additionally, 50% of Cisco users are willing to recommend the solution, compared to 92% of Extreme Networks users who would recommend it.

Cisco Meraki MR Wireless

Read 3 Cisco Meraki MR Wireless reviews

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15 Comparison Views

50% willing to recommend

ExtremeWireless

Read 30 ExtremeWireless reviews

1,616 Views
1,471 Comparison Views

92% willing to recommend

Cisco Meraki MR Wireless

ExtremeWireless

Comparison Buyer's Guide

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Executive SummaryUpdated on Aug 20, 2025

ExtremeWireless and Cisco Meraki MR Wireless are competing products in the wireless networking market. Cisco Meraki MR Wireless seems to have the upper hand due to its advanced features and superior value.

Features: ExtremeWireless offers robust security protocols, flexible network coverage, and high scalability. Cisco Meraki MR Wireless is noted for its cloud-based management, seamless integration capabilities, and superior analytics.

Ease of Deployment and Customer Service: Cisco Meraki MR Wireless provides a simplified deployment model with cloud-based management, streamlining configuration processes and offering efficient customer support. ExtremeWireless offers effective deployment options that may require more on-site configuration but is known for strong support personnel.

Pricing and ROI: ExtremeWireless is more budget-friendly with lower ongoing costs, resulting in favorable ROI for cost-conscious organizations. Cisco Meraki MR Wireless has a higher initial cost but offers advanced features that provide greater long-term benefits.

To learn more, read our detailed Wireless LAN Report (Updated: October 2025).

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Wireless LAN

October 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 Meraki MR Wireless

Ranking in Wireless LAN

21st

Average Rating

7.0

Reviews Sentiment

3.6

Number of Reviews

Ranking in other categories

No ranking in other categories

ExtremeWireless

Ranking in Wireless LAN

16th

Average Rating

8.0

Reviews Sentiment

6.7

Number of Reviews

Ranking in other categories

No ranking in other categories

Featured Reviews

Laurie Ellims

Enterprise Architect at Fujitsu

Has lacked advanced features and led to higher costs but has simplified management through cloud access

I don't think there's an advantage with Cisco Meraki MR Wireless; I think it's overpriced for what it does. The pricing is one reason, and there is also a limited feature set without spending more money. If you have a particular device at a site and want to add the advanced feature set, you may have to upgrade the hardware, which increases your costs. In contrast, products such as Palo Alto and Fortinet typically have all those features built in from day one, and they just need to be licensed, if that. There are limitations in terms of scalability. My main concern is that Cisco Meraki MR Wireless is overpriced, has limited functionality, and the hardware is not prepared for any further improvements in terms of features.

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Seungho Yang

Network Engineer at KOREAN AIR

Enhanced employee access with effective wireless monitoring and seamless roaming

Our use case for ExtremeWireless is to allow our employees to access the company systems The monitoring systems in ExtremeWireless have been very effective, and they are cheaper than other products. It provides better monitoring logs and detailed logs compared to Cisco Wireless. The most…

Read full review

Quotes from Members

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

Pros

"Cloud management is something I appreciate; it's an easy product to manage in comparison to many others."

"The Meraki controller, which is a cloud-based controller, allows us to manage multiple Cisco Meraki MR Wireless APs and monitor their performance, user connectivity, signal, and the AP performance itself."

"The most useful feature of Cisco Meraki MR Wireless is its cloud-based management."

"As a user of the product, the biggest advantage for me is that it works seamlessly; users can switch between access points, and it works great."

"Extreme access points perform very well in high-density environments, and we use them at sites with our customers."

"I like Cloud IQ, ExtremeWireless' cloud controller and analytics platform. It's full of information, easy to use, and provides excellent visibility into my network."

"The cloud-based solution allows for easy management and monitoring of traffic and congestion."

"ExtremeWireless is known for its strong security engine, Air Defense, which provides necessary wireless security assistance to many of my customers."

"The most valuable feature is stability."

"The initial setup process is simple."

"The customer service and support provided by Extreme are excellent."

"The stability of the solution has been fine."

More ExtremeWireless pros

Cons

"Overall, Cisco Meraki MR Wireless is a bit pricey; that's the main and probably only disadvantage."

"The challenge with Cisco Meraki MR Wireless is that for any Meraki device, you require internet connectivity to get it registered on the cloud."

"My main concern is that Cisco Meraki MR Wireless is overpriced, has limited functionality, and the hardware is not prepared for any further improvements in terms of features."

"The challenge with Cisco Meraki MR Wireless is that for any Meraki device, you require internet connectivity to get it registered on the cloud."

"Wireless products, in general, have room for improvement compared to wired ones, which are more stable."

"The solution must include integrated IoT solutions on their wireless APs."

"They should develop more troubleshooting tools for system management. Additional troubleshooting tools should be created by the engineers."

"The current product line is very high-level and is well suited for enterprise-level organizations, but they need a more cost-effective solution for smaller businesses."

"Many companies prefer Aruba over ExtremeWireless, possibly due to Aruba's broader range of products or their thorough approach to understanding customer needs."

"The solution needs to improve its portfolio."

"There are concerns regarding the stability of ExtremeWireless. It could be an area of improvement, especially when compared to previous solutions such as Motorola before their acquisition."

"It is a subscription model, so it is maybe a bit pricey."

More ExtremeWireless cons

Pricing and Cost Advice

Information not available

"The solution has a yearly subscription, and we have to pay additional costs for technical support."

"The pricing is reasonable."

"Extreme isn't the most expensive, but it's not a low-cost solution, and because there are no big volumes, you don't receive significant discounts, making the final price higher."

"We pay approximately $30,000 per year."

"Our access points device is at its end of life. I can buy one more and then I must buy a new device, but if it is a new device it will not support the old virtual appliance. I would need to upgrade our virtual appliance to the next version or build a new virtual appliance with new devices, and it's not good for us. The overall licensing subscription could be better."

"The license cost per AP is about $150 USD."

"ExtremeWireless is subscription-based for both cloud and on-prem solutions, and it's quite expensive."

"The price of the solution overall is expensive. Additionally, the controller and license are expensive. We pay for an annual subscription."

More ExtremeWireless pricing and cost advice

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Top Industries

By visitors reading reviews

No data available

Manufacturing Company

13%

Computer Software Company

10%

Government

Comms Service Provider

Company Size

By reviewers

Large Enterprise

Midsize Enterprise

Small Business

No data available

By reviewers
Company Size	Count
Small Business	14
Midsize Enterprise	10
Large Enterprise	8

Questions from the Community

What is your experience regarding pricing and costs for Cisco Meraki MR Wireless?

The cost of Cisco Meraki MR Wireless is high; the price of one AP to the end customer is approximately 50,000 INR.

See all answers

What needs improvement with Cisco Meraki MR Wireless?

The challenge with Cisco Meraki MR Wireless is that for any Meraki device, you require internet connectivity to get it registered on the cloud. Most customers do not have internet connectivity due ...

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What is your primary use case for Cisco Meraki MR Wireless?

The main use case for my customers is that they are using Cisco Meraki MR Wireless for their Wi-Fi users. Customers use Cisco Meraki MR Wireless across different industries, including plants and en...

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What do you like most about ExtremeWireless?

The initial setup process is simple.

See all answers

What needs improvement with ExtremeWireless?

There are concerns regarding the stability of ExtremeWireless. It could be an area of improvement, especially when compared to previous solutions such as Motorola before their acquisition. Another ...

See all answers

What is your primary use case for ExtremeWireless?

We mainly use ExtremeWireless ( /products/extremewireless-reviews ) for the warehouse, specifically for the Zebra handheld devices and printers.

See all answers

Comparisons

No data available

Ruckus Wireless vs ExtremeWireless

Compared 37% of the time

Aruba Wireless vs ExtremeWireless

Compared 22% of the time

Huawei Wireless vs ExtremeWireless

Compared 7% of the time

Juniper Mist Wireless Access Points vs ExtremeWireless

Compared 6% of the time

Cisco Meraki Wireless LAN vs ExtremeWireless

Compared 5% of the time

More ExtremeWireless Competitors

Product Reports

Buyer's Guide

Cisco Meraki MR Wireless

October 2025

Download Cisco Meraki MR Wireless product report

Buyer's Guide

ExtremeWireless

October 2025

Download ExtremeWireless product report

Overview

Cisco Meraki MR Wireless offers a robust wireless connectivity solution designed for scalability and ease of deployment, making it suitable for modern enterprises seeking reliable network performance.

With its cloud-managed structure, Cisco Meraki MR Wireless provides comprehensive visibility and control over wireless environments, catering to diverse locations and user counts. Its seamless integration simplifies network management, crucial for data-driven decisions in enterprises. The system's configuration and maintenance are streamlined via the intuitive dashboard, ensuring users can optimize performance with minimal effort.

What are the important features of Cisco Meraki MR Wireless?

Cloud Management: Access and control your wireless network from anywhere, providing flexibility and ease of administration.
Seamless Scaling: Effortlessly expand the network as the organization grows without disruption.
Advanced Security: Integrated security features protect against threats and ensure data integrity.
Powerful Analytics: Gain insights into network usage to make informed decisions and optimize performance.

What benefits and ROI should users consider when evaluating Cisco Meraki MR Wireless?

Cost Efficiency: Reduced operational costs due to simplified management and deployment tools.
Time Savings: Quick setup and easy maintenance lead to significant time savings for IT teams.
Improved Performance: Enhanced network reliability and speed increase productivity and satisfaction.
Scalability: Adaptable solution that supports business growth without needing significant manual intervention.

Healthcare facilities, educational institutions, and retail environments favor Cisco Meraki MR Wireless for its robust security and ease of management in environments demanding reliable connectivity. Its ability to handle high-density environments with minimal latency makes it an asset in education. Retail chains utilize comprehensive analytics to optimize in-store experiences and operations.

Cisco

Extreme ExtremeWireless Access Points deliver wired-like performance, at scale for high-density in every environment. Smart Access Points are equally adept for both distributed and centralized deployment models. ExtremeWireless Controllers provide advanced functionality to allow organizations to define how wireless voice/video/data traffic is processed without architectural constraints and in accordance with business needs.

Extreme Networks

Sample Customers

Information Not Available

St. Xavier High School, Americatel, Diamond Light Source

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