Cisco Meraki MR Wireless vs Fortinet FortiWLC comparison

Cisco and Fortinet are both solutions in the Wireless LAN category. Cisco is ranked #21 with an average rating of 9.0, while Fortinet is ranked #26. Additionally, 50% of Cisco users are willing to recommend the solution, compared to 100% of Fortinet 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

Fortinet FortiWLC

Read 3 Fortinet FortiWLC reviews

355 Views
330 Comparison Views

100% willing to recommend

Cisco Meraki MR Wireless

Fortinet FortiWLC

Comparison Buyer's Guide

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Executive SummaryUpdated on Aug 20, 2025

Fortinet FortiWLC and Cisco Meraki MR Wireless are competing products in wireless networking solutions. Meraki MR Wireless appears to have the upper hand with its robust feature set, offering greater value for users.

Features: Fortinet FortiWLC is known for its advanced security measures, extensive scalability, and suitability for large-scale deployments. Cisco Meraki MR Wireless is characterized by its cloud-based management, real-time analytics, and integrated security features, enabling streamlined management and ease of use. A pivotal difference is Meraki's cloud-driven management versus FortiWLC's focus on security and scalability.

Ease of Deployment and Customer Service: Cisco Meraki MR Wireless provides a simplified, cloud-centric deployment model, facilitating quick setup and remote management, along with strong customer service. Fortinet FortiWLC involves a traditional deployment that may require extra technical support but includes dedicated customer service. Meraki’s ease of deployment and remote management capabilities provide an advantage.

Pricing and ROI: Fortinet FortiWLC generally has a lower initial setup cost, targeting cost-efficient scalability, often leading to a faster ROI in large environments. Cisco Meraki MR Wireless might involve higher upfront costs due to its advanced features and subscription model, potentially offering a higher ROI with long-term operational savings and improved productivity through its comprehensive cloud-based services.

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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

Fortinet FortiWLC

Ranking in Wireless LAN

26th

Average Rating

9.0

Reviews Sentiment

8.4

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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Md.Mehedi Hassan

Team Lead Manager at Blue Pill Ltd

Offers a seamless and secure WiFi experience with outstanding customer support

FortiWLC is valuable due to its security features and the seamless WiFi experience it provides. Our customers benefit greatly from the security aspect, especially since they are already using Fortinet for Firewall services. The security features are crucial for their requirements. The stability and ease of use of FortiWLC also add to its effectiveness.

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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

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

"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."

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

"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."

"I rate the overall solution a ten out of ten."

"It's easy to set everything up during implementation."

"FortiWLC is valuable due to its security features and the seamless WiFi experience it provides."

"The most valuable feature of Fortinet FortiWLC is the overall high quality."

Cons

"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."

"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."

"However, for massive implementations, Fortinet should consider reducing the price to make it more affordable."

"For massive implementations, Fortinet should consider reducing the price to make it more affordable."

"One thing that is lacking is, compared with some other brands, the signal is a bit weaker. Ruckus has much wider signal coverage."

"Fortinet FortiWLC is not simple to configure when compared to other solutions. The design could be better."

Pricing and Cost Advice

Information not available

"The price of Fortinet FortiWLC is high. The solution will be out of the market for us because the price is too high for the features it provides."

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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.

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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 is your experience regarding pricing and costs for Fortinet FortiWLC?

I cannot disclose the license price, however, I recommend Fortinet reduce its pricing for massive implementations.

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What needs improvement with Fortinet FortiWLC?

Until now, I have not observed any issues. However, for massive implementations, Fortinet should consider reducing the price to make it more affordable.

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What is your primary use case for Fortinet FortiWLC?

We are resellers of FortiWLC, and our customers mainly use it in enterprise settings, particularly for chemical companies.

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Comparisons

No data available

Juniper Mist Wireless Access Points vs Fortinet FortiWLC

Compared 52% of the time

Fortinet FortiWLM vs Fortinet FortiWLC

Compared 48% of the time

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Product Reports

Buyer's Guide

Cisco Meraki MR Wireless

October 2025

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Buyer's Guide

Wireless LAN

October 2025

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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

Fortinet controllers for infrastructure Wi-Fi manage authentication and encryption of our enterprise-class infrastructure access points. These controllers are powered by Fortinet’s System Director operating system for seamless mobility and high-density environments.

Fortinet

Sample Customers

Information Not Available

Black Gold Regional Schools, Amadeus Hospitality, Jefferson County, Chunghwa Telecom, City of Boroondara, Dimension Data

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