Cisco Meraki MX vs OPNsense comparison

Read 47 OPNsense reviews

28,343 Views
26,642 Comparison Views

95% willing to recommend

Cisco Meraki MX

Comparison Buyer's Guide

Download the report

Executive Summary

We performed a comparison between Cisco Meraki MX and OPNsense based on real PeerSpot user reviews.

Find out in this report how the two Firewalls solutions compare in terms of features, pricing, service and support, easy of deployment, and ROI.

To learn more, read our detailed Cisco Meraki MX vs. OPNsense Report (Updated: November 2026).

Cisco Meraki MX vs. OPNsense

November 2026

Download the complete report

Helped 920,939 peers since 2012

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

4.9

Cisco Meraki MX offers long-term cost-effectiveness through operational savings, improved efficiency, and reduced equipment and training expenses.

Sentiment score

3.0

Numerous users reported substantial financial savings and improved network security with OPNsense compared to alternatives like FortiGate or Sophos.

I have seen a return on investment with Cisco Meraki MX because of the time saved through cloud management.

For more quotes and insights, download the Cisco Meraki MX report

Presales System Engineer at Logicom Sales Inc

You can eliminate some positions because it manages itself.

Lester Perrin

Enterprise Networking Solutions Architect at a computer software company with 51-200 employees

It greatly helps out when I am moving away from the expensive MPLS circuits or MPLS hardware.

JasminPatel

Senior Manager Networking at David Yurman

The network attacks reduced by approximately 60% after using that, even without customizing the custom configuration yet.

Mahmoud Suleiman

Senior IT Infrastructure Engineer at a real estate/law firm with 11-50 employees

For a very little investment, I was able to increase the security of my network.

For more quotes and insights, download the OPNsense report

Administrator at a retailer with 10,001+ employees

Customer Service

Sentiment score

8.2

Cisco Meraki MX customer support is praised for responsiveness and effectiveness, despite occasional issues with Level 1 support.

Sentiment score

5.3

OPNsense users mostly find community forums and documentation sufficient, though some express dissatisfaction with official support availability and cost.

The support is excellent, earning a rating of ten out of ten.

GireeshRamamurthy

Principal Consultant at Epitome Infotech Solutions (P) Ltd

Every time I got a hold of someone, I was always able to resolve my issues.

ChrisYankajtis

Systems Engineer at a consultancy with 11-50 employees

When we raise a ticket with Meraki MX, they instantly become available to support us for configurations or troubleshooting.

For more quotes and insights, download the Cisco Meraki MX report

Managing Director at a manufacturing company with 10,001+ employees

Compared to some open-source projects with weak support, OPNsense stands out for having both a strong community and commercial backing options.

For more quotes and insights, download the OPNsense report

ISO 27001 Lead Implementer at a consultancy with 11-50 employees

I mainly rely on community support since the solution is open source.

Stephen Zoran

Senior Client Solutions Architect at a tech services company with 1,001-5,000 employees

If you say you do not have one, it is finished. This is where the monopoly starts.

Harry Fusser

Senior Solutions Engineer at a educational organization with 201-500 employees

Scalability Issues

Sentiment score

6.6

Cisco Meraki MX is scalable for SMEs with easy deployment but may face limitations in high-bandwidth or large-scale scenarios.

Sentiment score

6.8

OPNsense offers scalable and flexible network solutions, effectively supporting mid-sized to enterprise needs with appropriate hardware or virtualization.

When you have hundreds of thousands of people it is very difficult to scale in Meraki.

Managing Director at a manufacturing company with 10,001+ employees

The scalability of Cisco Meraki MX is rated 10 out of 10; you can scale up and scale down with no effort.

For more quotes and insights, download the Cisco Meraki MX report

Presales System Engineer at Logicom Sales Inc

Cisco Meraki MX scales with my growing needs for my organization very well because they are easy to deploy.

reviewer2847897

Network Engineer at a non-profit with 1,001-5,000 employees

I use Zenarmor, pinning it to one core for packet inspection, and the CPU performance seems very good.

Stephen Zoran

Senior Client Solutions Architect at a tech services company with 1,001-5,000 employees

OPNsense's scalability is excellent; I just need to resize my hardware and upgrade the server, and voilà, I am good to go.

Mahmoud Suleiman

Senior IT Infrastructure Engineer at a real estate/law firm with 11-50 employees

In theory, OPNsense can handle small home networks and even large enterprise environments if deployed on sufficiently powerful hardware or virtualized on a clustered system.

For more quotes and insights, download the OPNsense report

ISO 27001 Lead Implementer at a consultancy with 11-50 employees

Stability Issues

Sentiment score

8.2

Cisco Meraki MX is considered stable with high ratings, minor issues, and generally meets expectations despite some VPN concerns.

Sentiment score

7.3

OPNsense is stable with occasional issues; praised for security and UI, performance varies with hardware and resource availability.

There have been no outages, no stability issues, and we have not found any vulnerabilities during security audits.

Sanjay Gaiswal

Technical Presales at Vcom Technologies

I have had zero downtime at all with Cisco Meraki MX.

Lester Perrin

Enterprise Networking Solutions Architect at a computer software company with 51-200 employees

I assess the stability and the reliability of Cisco Meraki MX as good, and I have experienced no downtime, crashes, or performance issues.

reviewer2847897

Network Engineer at a non-profit with 1,001-5,000 employees

For more quotes and insights, download the Cisco Meraki MX report

For home and small network use, OPNsense is also reliable, providing enterprise-grade security at no cost.

ISO 27001 Lead Implementer at a consultancy with 11-50 employees

The only challenge faced was its inadequacy to manage large voice traffic effectively, even with dedicated hardware.

For more quotes and insights, download the OPNsense report

Senior Network Engineer at a comms service provider with 11-50 employees

At the latest code level, I haven't experienced any crashes.

Stephen Zoran

Senior Client Solutions Architect at a tech services company with 1,001-5,000 employees

Room For Improvement

Cisco Meraki MX requires improvements in reporting, flexibility, cost, control, scalability, language support, connectivity, and setup complexity.

OPNsense users face VPN setup issues, inadequate documentation, performance shortfalls, high pricing, and request better usability and features.

It should automatically remediate and find out the issue and then resolve it on its own without interrupting the work of the employees.

For more quotes and insights, download the Cisco Meraki MX report

Managing Director at a manufacturing company with 10,001+ employees

Data is the only path, so optimization is essential.

Mayur_Patel

Chief Commercial Officer at InnovAge Home Care

An improvement would be to use Cisco Meraki MX as a software solution as well, which might reduce the cost.

Sanjay Gaiswal

Technical Presales at Vcom Technologies

Enhancing its performance for significant amounts of data traffic would make it closer to a perfect solution.

Senior Network Engineer at a comms service provider with 11-50 employees

It would be beneficial if they could create some videos on how to set it up themselves.

Administrator at a retailer with 10,001+ employees

The documentation should be clearer because I faced some difficulties navigating many options.

For more quotes and insights, download the OPNsense report

ISO 27001 Lead Implementer at a consultancy with 11-50 employees

Setup Cost

Cisco Meraki MX pricing is valued for cloud management but is costly, with potential discounts available through negotiation.

OPNsense is a cost-effective, open-source solution for enterprises, reducing expenses compared to FortiGate and Palo Alto alternatives.

I get it for $25,000, a device that can connect up to 75-100 users, whereas in Meraki MX, it goes to 75,000-80,000 per access point.

Managing Director at a manufacturing company with 10,001+ employees

The price could be reduced by around 30% to make it more comfortable.

Sanjay Gaiswal

Technical Presales at Vcom Technologies

If Cisco can make the pricing less, customers can purchase more licenses.

For more quotes and insights, download the Cisco Meraki MX report

Presales System Engineer at Logicom Sales Inc

I consider the pricing of OPNsense to be high when compared with other market products.

Senior Network Engineer at a comms service provider with 11-50 employees

OPNsense is free, the licensing and setup was easy.

For more quotes and insights, download the OPNsense report

Administrator at a retailer with 10,001+ employees

Valuable Features

Cisco Meraki MX offers centralized management, security, easy configuration, and robust performance, enhancing usability, connectivity, and deployment efficiency.

OPNsense provides user-friendly configuration, robust security features, and adaptability, making it ideal for enterprise and IT network management.

Meraki MX is among those top solutions in their exceptional approach towards VPN-less, Zero Trust client access to office private networks.

Managing Director at a manufacturing company with 10,001+ employees

Advanced security is the second tier of Cisco Meraki MX. It brings you the main next-generation firewalling features such as URL filtering, advanced malware protection, and threat protection.

For more quotes and insights, download the Cisco Meraki MX report

Presales System Engineer at Logicom Sales Inc

Cisco Meraki MX API makes it really easy for me to automate a lot of changes over several thousand devices.

reviewer2847915

Technology Engineer at a computer software company with 201-500 employees

The most valuable features include the basic firewall functionality and the GeoIP location services.

Senior Network Engineer at a comms service provider with 11-50 employees

I can have a Wi-Fi VLAN and feel secure that the server network or the VM network that I have on a different VLAN are isolated, and they cannot talk to one another, which adds a great level of security.

Administrator at a retailer with 10,001+ employees

It offers enterprise-grade features such as intrusion detection and prevention system, VPN support, traffic shaping, and web filtering, all without license cost.

For more quotes and insights, download the OPNsense report

ISO 27001 Lead Implementer at a consultancy with 11-50 employees

Categories and Ranking

Cisco Meraki MX

Ranking in Firewalls

8th

Average Rating

8.4

Reviews Sentiment

6.9

Number of Reviews

Ranking in other categories

Unified Threat Management (UTM) (4th)

OPNsense

Ranking in Firewalls

7th

Average Rating

8.2

Reviews Sentiment

6.6

Number of Reviews

Ranking in other categories

No ranking in other categories

Mindshare comparison

As of November 2026, in the Firewalls category, the mindshare of Cisco Meraki MX is 3.8%, up from 3.5% compared to the previous year. The mindshare of OPNsense is 7.0%, down from 11.3% compared to the previous year. It is calculated based on PeerSpot user engagement data.

Firewalls Mindshare Distribution
Product	Mindshare (%)
OPNsense	7.0%
Cisco Meraki MX	3.8%
Other	89.2%

Firewalls

Featured Reviews

ChrisYankajtis

Systems Engineer at a consultancy with 11-50 employees

Cloud-managed firewalls have simplified clinic networks and have empowered rapid remote deployment

If there was anything I can say I don't about it, I wish the automation was a little bit more friendly. If someone doesn't know too much about automations, I wish it had the ability within the platform to say, 'I want to run this automation within this network. Here's the new network that's coming on board. I'm utilizing the same firewalls, the same switches, same MVs. Here's the subnet that I'm going to use. Here are the IPs for the devices.' It should be able to give me that run book and configure it. That would be my main thing within the automation. I don't have much else to complain about. Everything is pretty straightforward. Back in the day, about five years ago, I tried to run 10 terabytes of data on an MX95 with a gig fiber coming in. The firewall was doing all the routing at the time and all the Layer 3. I did see some degraded performance trying to push that data through my MS350 10 gig switch. Once I moved the Layer 3 off the firewall and placed it on my core switch, I saw a better improvement. However, that was five years ago, and I'm not pushing that type of data out now. If the splash page was a little bit more appealing and more configurable, I think that would be nice.

Read full review

Peter Muiruri

IT Manager at a comms service provider with 201-500 employees

Open-source firewall has provided affordable real-time protection and secure remote access

In my opinion, OPNsense could improve by incorporating either an open side of wireless management or a way that you can also manage your interconnected devices. You could easily have SNMP, Simple Network Management Protocol, incorporated in it so that you can easily manage the devices and easily get the information about the devices that you are managing. Additionally, the inclusion of Pi-hole would allow you to create an ad-free network instead of adding it on a separate device. I would prefer that incorporated into OPNsense, or if it is there, I would appreciate guidance on how to use it.

Read full review

See which vendors are best for you

Use our free recommendation engine to learn which Firewalls solutions are best for your needs.

See recommendations

920,939 professionals have used our research since 2012.

Top Industries

By visitors reading reviews

Manufacturing Company

10%

Outsourcing Company

Computer Software Company

Construction Company

Comms Service Provider

18%

Manufacturing Company

Outsourcing Company

Computer Software Company

Company Size

By reviewers

Large Enterprise

Midsize Enterprise

Small Business

By reviewers
Company Size	Count
Small Business	50
Midsize Enterprise	23
Large Enterprise	20

By reviewers
Company Size	Count
Small Business	32
Midsize Enterprise	6
Large Enterprise	8

Questions from the Community

Fortigate 60d vs. Meraki MX67 for a small company without a dedicated IT Department

We have Meraki Mx devices now, we are looking to replace them. But that is because the Meraki MX platform lacks SSL Inspection, Granular Firewall rules (Block only, no allow setting), client vpn re...

Which is better - Meraki MX or Cisco ASA Firewall?

Cisco Adaptive Security Appliance (ASA) software is the operating software for the Cisco ASA suite. It supports network security and firewall options. We researched both Meraki and ASA. We liked t...

What is your experience regarding pricing and costs for Meraki MX?

I find the pricing for Cisco Meraki MX reasonable and competitive given the features provided and the target market. I believe it is acceptable.

What is the difference between PfSense and OPNsense?

Two of the most common and well recognized firewalls, PfSense and OPNsense both support site-to-site IPsec VPN and client, Open VPN and client, and PPTP client. Both also have intrusion detection a...

What is your experience regarding pricing and costs for OPNsense?

Setup cost is almost zero as one can simulate the whole environment using open source version. Pricing seems fair enough. Open source license allows a beginner to have a complete firewall solution ...

What needs improvement with OPNsense?

When I talk about VPN, I am not completely satisfied with the VPN functions of OPNsense. What I have received so far is that sometimes the VPN route caches for some time and sometimes I want to cha...

Palo Alto Networks NG Firewalls vs Cisco Meraki MX

Comparisons

Compared 33% of the time

Fortinet FortiGate vs Cisco Meraki MX

Compared 9% of the time

Cisco Secure Firewall vs Cisco Meraki MX

Compared 6% of the time

Sophos Firewall vs Cisco Meraki MX

Compared 4% of the time

More Cisco Meraki MX Competitors

Netgate pfSense vs OPNsense

Compared 48% of the time

Fortinet FortiGate vs OPNsense

Compared 6% of the time

IPFire vs OPNsense

Compared 5% of the time

Sophos Firewall vs OPNsense

Compared 4% of the time

Cisco Secure Firewall vs OPNsense

Compared 4% of the time

More OPNsense Competitors

Product Reports

Download Cisco Meraki MX product report

Cisco Meraki MX

November 2026

Download OPNsense product report

October 2026

Also Known As

MX64, MX64W, MX84, MX100, MX400, MX600

No data available

Overview

Cisco Meraki MX offers centralized management for network security and SD-WAN, featuring advanced threat protection, VPN capabilities, and seamless integration with other Cisco products. It enhances operational efficiency through cloud management and intuitive interface.

Cisco Meraki MX is designed for ease of use with a user-friendly cloud management platform that provides real-time insights through a centralized dashboard. It includes AutoVPN for secure remote connections and advanced threat protection to ensure consistent policy enforcement. Its integration capabilities with Cisco products streamline network administration. Users highlight the need for improvements in advanced reporting, detailed alerts, and enhanced API flexibility. Cost concerns are noted, alongside desires for better security analytics and improved customer support.

What are the key features of Cisco Meraki MX?

Centralized Dashboard: Provides real-time network insights.
User-friendly Cloud Management: Simplifies network administration.
Advanced Threat Protection: Ensures consistent policy enforcement.
AutoVPN: Simplifies secure remote connections.
Easy Configuration and Deployment: Enhances operational efficiency.

What benefits should be expected from Cisco Meraki MX?

Efficient Network Control: Streamlines management across sites.
Secure Internet Access: Provides advanced protection features.
Seamless Integration: Enhances user experience with other Cisco products.
Improved Connectivity: Facilitates remote troubleshooting and secure connections.

Cisco Meraki MX is implemented in industries like telecommunications and healthcare for secure network management and centralized control. It supports zero-touch deployment, dynamic routing, and traffic shaping, making it ideal for ISPs and multi-site environments, as well as managing Wi-Fi networks and guest security for wireless users.

Cisco

OPNsense is a robust open-source platform known for its intuitive GUI, firewall capabilities, and seamless network management. It provides essential security features such as VPN and IDS/IPS, catering to organizations looking for reliable and custom-configurable solutions.

Renowned for its user-centric approach, OPNsense integrates functionality with scalability, making it a preferred choice for both on-premises and cloud deployments. Employing regular updates, OPNsense enhances security and offers modular configurations, DNS-level filtering, content control, and load balancing. Users value the platform's resilience and its ability to support features like WireGuard and Zenarmor for improved security management, especially appreciated by budget-conscious entities. However, complexity in its interface and reporting, along with challenges in cloud integration and API, require attention. Users also suggest improvements in VPN and firewall customization and seek better documentation and tools, considering the current pricing structure.

What are the key features of OPNsense?

GUI: Simplifies navigation and configuration tasks.
Firewall: Provides strong protection against network threats.
VPN: Ensures secure remote connectivity.
IDS/IPS: Detects and prevents intrusions effectively.
Modular Design: Allows for tailored configuration.
WireGuard: Enhances VPN speed and security.
Zenarmor: Offers advanced traffic analysis.

Why should users consider OPNsense?

Security: Frequent updates ensure robust protection.
Scalability: Adaptable for both small and large networks.
Cost-Effectiveness: Balances features with budget constraints.
Integration: Supports various third-party applications.
Flexibility: Suitable for diverse business environments.

In industries ranging from corporate enterprises to home offices, OPNsense is implemented for securing server data, managing VPN links, and enforcing firewall policies. It is particularly favored for providing secure remote access, efficient network management, and the flexibility needed for specific business requirements, whether deployed in cloud environments or traditional setups.

Sample Customers

Hyatt, ONS

1. Deciso B.V. 2. iXsystems, Inc. 3. EuroBSDCon 4. Netgate 5. Claranet 6. Voleatech 7. Open Systems AG 8. Securebit AG 9. Proxmox Server Solutions GmbH 10. AVM Computersysteme Vertriebs GmbH Additional customers include: T-Systems International GmbH, Deutsche Telekom AG, Vodafone GmbH, 1&1 IONOS SE, OVHcloud, Hetzner Online GmbH, Strato AG, PlusServer GmbH, Host Europe GmbH, United Internet AG, 1&1 Versatel Deutschland GmbH, QSC AG, Bechtle AG, Cancom SE, Computacenter AG & Co. oHG, T-Systems Multimedia Solutions GmbH, Atos SE, Capgemini SE, Accenture plc, IBM Corporation, Hewlett Packard Enterprise Company, Cisco Systems, Inc.