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Cisco Meraki Wireless LAN vs D-Link Wireless vs ExtremeCloud IQ comparison

 

Comparison Buyer's Guide

Executive Summary

Review summaries and opinions

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

Mindshare comparison

Wireless LAN Mindshare Distribution
ProductMindshare (%)
Cisco Meraki Wireless LAN10.2%
Aruba Wireless13.2%
Ruckus Wireless12.0%
Other64.6%
Wireless LAN
Wireless LAN Mindshare Distribution
ProductMindshare (%)
D-Link Wireless2.1%
Aruba Wireless13.2%
Ruckus Wireless12.0%
Other72.7%
Wireless LAN
Network Management Applications Mindshare Distribution
ProductMindshare (%)
ExtremeCloud IQ2.8%
Cisco DNA Center12.3%
Cisco Catalyst Center6.8%
Other78.1%
Network Management Applications
 

Featured Reviews

DolfKrikke - PeerSpot reviewer
Senior Network Architect at Previder
Centralized management has simplified remote branch control and improved network visibility
Cisco Meraki Wireless is very powerful and very easy to manage. The solution is also integrating Cisco Catalyst Wireless products into their portfolio, and they are managing the Catalyst switches as well. The seamless roaming capabilities function well. I monitor network performance with Meraki's real-time analytics. The most useful metrics to my team are the internet performance metrics, as there is a lot of information in the dashboard that I can access. All auditing and event logs are centralized in the dashboard. When I need to apply to compliance requirements or other regulatory needs, I can have my auditing in one place, which is an advantage. I use Cisco Meraki Wireless's Layer 7 application traffic shaping with the MX and the Meraki MX Firewalls.
NadirShahzad - PeerSpot reviewer
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.
José Roldan - PeerSpot reviewer
Ingeniero De Preventa at a tech services company with 51-200 employees
Has improved network monitoring with AI-driven insights and centralized device management
The best features of ExtremeCloud IQ include the integration of different vendors in one dashboard, the evolution of the manager, and any devices in networking. The impact of ExtremeCloud IQ on my organization is positive as the deployment is for a hybrid solution, using third-party vendors and cloud solutions for Extreme devices, switches, IP, and access points or SD-WAN solution devices. My IT team is occupied with other jobs, and ExtremeCloud IQ helps with monitoring networking at low costs. For networking and access points, it acts as a controller in a cloud environment, eliminating the need for an appliance controller or wireless LAN controller, thus saving on investment and reducing TCO costs.

Quotes from Members

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

Pros

"The fact that Cisco Meraki is cloud based and is reasonably priced has been most valuable."
"Cloud management, wireless infrastructure, and implementation are all valuable features."
"The initial setup is pretty straightforward."
"Tracking the usage of staff, access points, switches and routers becomes an insanely easy thing and so do producing reports for your Exec team."
"The most valuable features in Cisco Meraki Wireless LAN are that we were able to see all the registered users for each particular WAP, which is a big help. The roaming allows us to have continuous wireless throughout the building. The signal can carry over from one WAP to another. Which is probably the most important feature."
"The solution is easy to use."
"Cisco Meraki Wireless LAN has helped our organization because we are able to be connected to the network while moving around."
"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."
"I like the product's signal continuity and range. We can receive the signal up to 20-30 meters from the wireless antenna."
"For small businesses, this is definitely a product that I recommend."
"Technical support is quite good. We also have a local team and engineers trained by D-Link."
"The initial setup is super straightforward; you just add them and in a few clicks, they are ready to go."
"The setup process is very easy."
"It's scalable, user friendly, and easy to manage."
"We have 200 to 250 users and the solution can scale without any problem."
"The connectivity is good."
"The Aerohive solution appeared to be price competitive, however lack of training and support in the region has made it more expensive than other solutions."
"When we deployed the new IP that is managed wirelessly in the cloud, it fixed the problems. Now, we don't have any more reports, and everything works fine."
"HiveManager is extremely easy to use for anyone with little network experience."
"The most valuable feature is that you can assign zero trust policies from the user, as a result policy enforcement is very good, it's simple to use and it can traverse multiple switches."
"What's most valuable for me in ExtremeCloud IQ is easy management. It also has centralized administration, so you don't have to go to the customer site to program it. It can be programmed remotely."
"Since we started to work with this product, we have been able to save a lot of time, money, and support costs for our customers."
"The way it is now is still do-able and much better than it was."
"I never worry about the WiFi being down."
 

Cons

"Cisco offers pretty expensive devices."
"Its licensing can be better."
"I would like to see integration with sensors."
"It would be better if they enable full integration with Cisco's cloud-based network in the next release."
"The initial setup of the solution can be improved and made easier."
"The product's coverage area could be expanded. It would help ensure better connectivity."
"It's performing well, really well. We don't have any issues. We only have issues if there is a lot of rogue APs in the neighborhood and that not Meraki's fault."
"The commercial version of the solution could be cheaper."
"The stability could be a bit better."
"The tool's technical support can get difficult sometimes. We got a technician only after complaining for 10-15 days. The tool's technicians need to be made available everywhere."
"The solution doesn't have hotspots. Users can't set it up so that visitors can log in via Facebook or social media as they can at, for example, airports. D-Link should include hotspots that offer integration with social media. That way, visitors don't need to be asking people for passwords. They can just use Facebook."
"It would definitely help if we had more advanced features for distributing bandwidth."
"In future releases, it can keep improving on countering the new patterns of security attacks."
"Password restriction: Sometimes we set a password and it uses that password but, after some days/months, the password gets changed and a few laptops still use old the password while a few use the new password. The password restriction option needs to improve."
"D-Link Wireless’s stability needs improvement."
"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."
"For me, the only issue is the potential delay in the tool statistics updating in real time after making changes."
"Aerohive configuration management can be little hard to understand for someone who has never worked with it."
"We'd like to have a cloud dashboard from which we can see all devices."
"A mobile app would be awesome."
"There could be better alerts setup for the access points."
"The product could support multi-vendor infrastructures."
"Pricing could be improved. It could be lower."
"First time users may find it difficult to get going into the right direction."
 

Pricing and Cost Advice

"It's a pretty good value, but not great. Pricing is on a yearly basis for the Meraki solution."
"Its price is high and should be reduced."
"The pricing is based on a subscription and is a bit high at the moment."
"It is a relatively expensive solution compared to traditional network alternatives."
"It could be more affordable than other solutions."
"It is expensive, but it is a good product."
"There are multiple licensing options including three months, six months, and one year."
"Higher subscription fee may be necessary if extra features are required."
"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."
"There is no licensing fee for the solution."
"D-Link pricing is very competitive when you consider other OEMs."
"This solution is more affordable than others on the market."
"D-Link Wireless is cheaper than Ruckus or Cisco."
"The product is affordable."
"The cost can range from $100 to $400."
"D-Link Wireless' price is the same as Aruba's. You need to pay one-time costs for the product."
"The product pricing is reasonable."
"There are probably cheaper solutions but we invest for stability and performance for the longer haul."
"Price-wise, it is a reasonable tool."
"It is not the cheapest product but I think that the price is reasonable because you get a lot of support of it's needed."
"I would advise that you be sure to compare apples with apples. Many customers just look at the price per AP and licences, and compare that against other solutions. But, they do not look at the complete picture such as: TCO - how much the equipment will cost you over, say, seven years? Will the customer need to change complete infrastructure when they want to buy the newest hardware? Does support include a lifetime warranty and RMA?"
"Bring the cost down."
"Customers need to pay a yearly licensing fee for ExtremeCloud IQ, which is a little bit expensive."
"It is easy for customers to use this product because they are able to interchange the license depending on their usage rather than having to buy individual licenses for each asset."
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Top Industries

By visitors reading reviews
Computer Software Company
10%
Manufacturing Company
10%
Comms Service Provider
9%
Financial Services Firm
7%
Construction Company
14%
Comms Service Provider
10%
Financial Services Firm
9%
Manufacturing Company
9%
Financial Services Firm
12%
Manufacturing Company
8%
Comms Service Provider
8%
Construction Company
8%
 

Company Size

By reviewers
Large Enterprise
Midsize Enterprise
Small Business
By reviewers
Company SizeCount
Small Business69
Midsize Enterprise27
Large Enterprise31
By reviewers
Company SizeCount
Small Business8
Midsize Enterprise7
Large Enterprise2
By reviewers
Company SizeCount
Small Business45
Midsize Enterprise14
Large Enterprise24
 

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 h...
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...
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...
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 ...
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...
What is your experience regarding pricing and costs for ExtremeCloud IQ?
The licensing was a challenge due to budget constraints, and I used ExtremeCloud IQ without a license for a period. T...
What advice do you have for others considering ExtremeCloud IQ?
I use ExtremeCloud IQ's real-time analytics. In the cloud solution, I get reports, and it works together with machine...
What needs improvement with ExtremeSecurity?
To improve ExtremeCloud IQ, integrating machine learning and AI generative chat in the new version, now called Extrem...
 

Also Known As

MR18, MR26, MR32, MR34, MR66, MR72, Meraki Wireless LAN, Meraki WLAN
D-Link WLAN
Aerohive Networks, Aerohive HiveManager, HiveManager, ExtremeCloud , ExtremeSecurity
 

Overview

 

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
Henry Ford Health System, Baltimore Ravens, Brandili, Federal University of Alagoas, CEDAE, Caxias do Sul, UNISC Concurrency, CenturyLink Field, Louisiana College, Cricket Tasmania Stadium, Moscow Internet Exchange
Find out what your peers are saying about Ruckus, Hewlett Packard Enterprise, Cisco and others in Wireless LAN. Updated: March 2026.
885,789 professionals have used our research since 2012.