Cisco Meraki Wireless LAN vs D-Link Wireless comparison

Cisco and D-Link are both solutions in the Wireless LAN category. Cisco is ranked #3 with an average rating of 8.3, while D-Link is ranked #13 with an average rating of 8.1. Cisco holds a 12.7% mindshare in Wireless LAN, compared to D-Link’s 2.4% mindshare. Additionally, 92% of Cisco users are willing to recommend the solution, compared to 93% of D-Link users who would recommend it.

Cisco Meraki Wireless LAN

Read 119 Cisco Meraki Wireless LAN reviews

15,495 Views
12,588 Comparison Views

92% willing to recommend

D-Link Wireless

Read 17 D-Link Wireless reviews

2,799 Views
2,337 Comparison Views

93% willing to recommend

Cisco Meraki Wireless LAN

D-Link Wireless

Comparison Buyer's Guide

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Executive SummaryUpdated on Mar 9, 2025

Cisco Meraki Wireless LAN and D-Link Wireless are prominent competitors in the wireless networking solutions category. Cisco Meraki appears to have the upper hand due to its advanced cloud management capabilities and extensive feature set that supports diverse organizational needs.

Features: Cisco Meraki Wireless LAN offers centralized cloud management with an intuitive dashboard, robust performance managing multiple networks, and comprehensive access point configurations including RADIUS and SSO. D-Link Wireless provides solutions with good speed and wide coverage, and its controllers manage the system centrally, integrating with VLANs and multiple SSIDs.

Room for Improvement: Cisco Meraki Wireless LAN could improve its logging capabilities and simplify complex features and licensing models which some users find challenging. D-Link Wireless needs to enhance its central management features and improve its support services to remain competitive, as well as advance its technology to match more sophisticated competitors.

Ease of Deployment and Customer Service: Cisco Meraki Wireless offers flexible deployment options, including cloud and hybrid setups. Its customer service is generally well-regarded, although some users experience varying support quality. D-Link provides consistent support mainly for standard on-premises setups but could benefit from improved technical support responsiveness.

Pricing and ROI: Cisco Meraki Wireless LAN is noted for its comprehensive feature set but is often criticized for high pricing and complex licensing which can hinder service continuity. However, many users still report a good ROI through enhanced operational efficiency. D-Link Wireless stands out with competitive pricing and no additional licensing fees, appealing to cost-conscious buyers looking for value in basic functionalities.

To learn more, read our detailed Cisco Meraki Wireless LAN vs. D-Link Wireless Report (Updated: April 2025).

Buyer's Guide

Cisco Meraki Wireless LAN vs. D-Link Wireless

April 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 Wireless LAN

Ranking in Wireless LAN

3rd

Average Rating

8.2

Reviews Sentiment

5.1

Number of Reviews

119

Ranking in other categories

No ranking in other categories

D-Link Wireless

Ranking in Wireless LAN

13th

Average Rating

8.0

Reviews Sentiment

6.9

Number of Reviews

Ranking in other categories

No ranking in other categories

Mindshare comparison

As of May 2025, in the Wireless LAN category, the mindshare of Cisco Meraki Wireless LAN is 12.7%, up from 12.2% compared to the previous year. The mindshare of D-Link Wireless is 2.4%, up from 2.3% compared to the previous year. It is calculated based on PeerSpot user engagement data.

Wireless LAN

Featured Reviews

RezaPradipta

Sr. Officer Network Managed Service Product Management at PT. Indosat Tbk

Streamline network management with a unified dashboard for seamless device integration

The primary use case for Cisco Meraki Wireless LAN is mostly for enterprise wireless, including guest Wi-Fi and enterprise Wi-Fi. I use it across various industries with a focus on retail Cisco Meraki Wireless LAN offers a single pane of glass management. It only comes with a controller on the…

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NadirShahzad

System Engineer at a tech services company with 201-500 employees

Wireless projects run smoothly with more access point support and competitive pricing

D-Link Wireless offers more supported APs to the WLC with the default license compared to other brands like Cisco. With Cisco, only four to five APs are connected with the default license, but D-Link Wireless provides more flexibility. Local support in Pakistan is necessary for those with limited budgets, creating a reach in the market.

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

"Multiple access ID capabilities, meshing, and the quality of the product itself are all valuable features."

"The ability to manage it remotely is the most valuable. If it has an internet connection, you can get to it. It is a great product for remote clinics. We kind of thought about doing this kind of standalone technology. Meraki is easy to manage. From a management perspective, it is the easiest to use, especially in the cloud. I like Meraki. I even have it in my home."

"The flexibility, since it's a cloud service, is the most valuable feature of this solution."

"The interface makes it easy to manage."

"It is more robust for me to deploy networks. And because of the field we are in where offices open up and others close, it helps my turnaround time to deploy these networks for the customers."

"The cloud manageability feature is valuable."

"It is cloud-based. You can manage it remotely from anywhere in the world, and you don't have to be on-site, which is a very big advantage."

"It enables quick deployment within all branches for the users."

More Cisco Meraki Wireless LAN pros

"The setup process is very easy."

"It is a scalable solution. Scalability-wise, I rate the solution a ten out of ten."

"The most valuable feature of D-Link Wireless is its durability."

"The solution is extremely easy to install. You just add them and in a few clicks, they are ready to go."

"D-Link is a good product that is quite affordable and I recommend it."

"I like the product's signal continuity and range. We can receive the signal up to 20-30 meters from the wireless antenna."

"The product's initial setup phase is easy."

"Overall, I rate D-Link Wireless nine out of ten as a solution."

More D-Link Wireless pros

Cons

"Its price should be reduced."

"In the next release, I would like to see the central control plane have the flexibility to control and distribute policies to all LAN networks, balance the traffic, and the performance based on application monitoring."

"In some cases, they could include enhanced features in the product, such as a firewall console and traffic analysis."

"The product doesn't effectively do its job anymore since some issues crop up in it once you run out of your subscription licensing...Improvements are needed in the licensing part of the tool."

"Overall the solution needs to have more time to mature."

"There is only one particular thing that needs improvement. Sometimes, for example, when you need to open a ticket, although it's under the umbrella of Cisco, you still need to go to the Meraki support."

"An area for improvement would be that Meraki doesn't work well in a warehouse environment. The device is too sensitive to other wireless devices, which provokes noise and can require a reboot to erase this."

"Initially, I liked some of the filtering features, but that's one of the components that we ran into problems with."

More Cisco Meraki Wireless LAN cons

"In future releases, it can keep improving on countering the new patterns of security attacks."

"Sometimes we configure the SSID with a password but the same AP shows two WiFi connections with the same SSID name (one is protected by a password and another one give access without a password)."

"The performance offered by D-Link Wireless can be a bit problematic at times, owing to which it is an area that can be considered for improvement."

"D-Link Wireless should include the 'cleaner' feature similar to Cisco's APs. This feature reduces signal interference with access points."

"The support offered by the product needs to be faster with better technical personnel."

"In future, it would also be good to have a switch within D Link that works as well as the Cisco 9200 Switch."

"The only issue is with the controller visibility of the devices connecting to the network."

"Sometimes, the solution needs to be restarted."

More D-Link Wireless cons

Pricing and Cost Advice

"Negotiate the deal put in front of you!"

"Cisco products are generally recognized for their performance and quality, which may justify the higher price point compared to other options on the market."

"It is expensive, but it is a good product."

"Higher subscription fee may be necessary if extra features are required."

"If you are wondering if Meraki can work for you, contact one of their representatives because they will do onsite trials where you can set up their system. If it does not work, you can send it back to them for no charge."

"The solution is overpriced and more expensive than Hauwei."

"You have to renew your contract every year, or for three or for five years. If you do not pay right away they will suspend your subscription."

"On a scale from one to ten, where one is cheap and ten is expensive, I rate the solution's pricing a seven out of ten."

More Cisco Meraki Wireless LAN pricing and cost advice

"D-Link Wireless' price is the same as Aruba's. You need to pay one-time costs for the product."

"This solution is more affordable than others on the market."

"The cost can range from $100 to $400."

"There is no licensing fee for the solution."

"D-Link Wireless is cheaper than Ruckus or Cisco."

"The product is affordable."

"D-Link pricing is very competitive when you consider other OEMs."

"On a scale of one to ten, where one is very cheap and ten is very expensive, I rate the pricing an eight out of ten."

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Top Industries

By visitors reading reviews

Computer Software Company

19%

Manufacturing Company

Financial Services Firm

Comms Service Provider

Computer Software Company

14%

Comms Service Provider

11%

Educational Organization

University

Company Size

By reviewers

Large Enterprise

Midsize Enterprise

Small Business

Questions from the Community

What are pros and cons of Aruba 515 Series AP vs. Cisco Meraki or Extreme Networks?

Depends. I have personally used both Cisco and Aruba so I am familiar with them. Extreme I am not, so unless they have some feature that I need or want, I wouldn't consider them. Do you have expe...

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Which is better - Cisco Wireless or Cisco Meraki Wireless LAN?

Cisco Wireless is very robust, very rugged, and can handle indoor and outdoor coverage extremely well. We found it to be very reliable and to consistently run very efficiently. Cisco Wireless helpe...

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How does Ruckus Wireless compare to Cisco Meraki Wireless LAN?

Cisco’s Meraki Virtual MX is a virtual instance of the Meraki SD-WAN appliance. We liked the Meraki. The Wifi APs are a great feature. The dashboard is a simple interface and easy to learn. It feat...

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Which wireless solution would you choose - Huawei or D-Link?

Huawei wireless is a strong and solid product that has a lot of features - and for all that it offers, it happens to be very cost effective. As a wireless solution, it is simple and its user interf...

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What do you like most about D-Link Wireless?

The tool supports new technologies.

See all answers

What is your experience regarding pricing and costs for D-Link Wireless?

D-Link Wireless is notably more affordable than Cisco and Juniper. It suits SMB needs without the financial burden of purchasing additional licenses for extended APs.

See all answers

Comparisons

Aruba Wireless vs Cisco Meraki Wireless LAN

Compared 32% of the time

Juniper Mist Wireless Access Points vs Cisco Meraki Wireless LAN

Compared 15% of the time

Ruckus Wireless vs Cisco Meraki Wireless LAN

Compared 11% of the time

Ubiquiti Wireless vs Cisco Meraki Wireless LAN

Compared 7% of the time

Mist AI and Cloud vs Cisco Meraki Wireless LAN

Compared 5% of the time

More Cisco Meraki Wireless LAN Competitors

Huawei Wireless vs D-Link Wireless

Compared 56% of the time

Aruba Wireless vs D-Link Wireless

Compared 12% of the time

Ubiquiti WLAN vs D-Link Wireless

Compared 11% of the time

Omada Access Points vs D-Link Wireless

Compared 9% of the time

More D-Link Wireless Competitors

Product Reports

Buyer's Guide

Cisco Meraki Wireless LAN

April 2025

Download Cisco Meraki Wireless LAN product report

Buyer's Guide

D-Link Wireless

April 2025

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Also Known As

MR18, MR26, MR32, MR34, MR66, MR72, Meraki Wireless LAN, Meraki WLAN

D-Link WLAN

Overview

Cisco Meraki access points are built from the highest grade components and carefully optimized for a seamless user experience. The outcome: faster connections, greater user capacity, more coverage, and fewer support calls. The Cisco Meraki dashboard gives visibility into the network users, their devices, and their applications. Armed with rich analytics, administrators can quickly create access control and application usage policies, optimizing both the end-user experience and network security.

Cisco

D-Link Wireless offers a wide range of robust wireless Access Points (APs) operating in both the 2.4GHz and 5GHz frequency bands, supporting the latest wireless standards including 802.11ac and 802.11n. These access points can be managed independently as standalone devices, or collectively by using Central Wi-Fi Manager, a free centralized controller software that can be installed on a Windows server or PC.

D-Link

Sample Customers

Advanced Medical Transport, Banco de Guayaquil, Baylor Scott & White Health, BH Telecom, Bowling Green State University, Calligaris, Children's Hospital Colorado, City of Biel, Del Papa Distributing, Department of Justice, Dimension Data, Dualtec Cloud Builders, Electricity Authority of Cyprus, Grupo Industrial Saltillo (GIS), Hertz, K&L Gates , LightEdge, Lone Star College System, Management Science Associates, Mindtree, NBC Olympics, Quest, Sony Corporation, The Department of Education in Western Australia, Valley Proteins

Metropolitan Public Defender, Mission Motorcycles

Buyer's Guide

Cisco Meraki Wireless LAN vs. D-Link Wireless

April 2025

Free Report: Cisco Meraki Wireless LAN vs. D-Link Wireless

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