Cisco Meraki Wireless LAN vs Ubiquiti WLAN comparison

Cisco Meraki and Ubiquiti are key competitors in the Wireless LAN market. Cisco Meraki has an edge with its advanced cloud-based management and security features, whereas Ubiquiti stands out for cost-effectiveness and solid performance.

Features: Cisco Meraki offers cloud-based centralized management, enabling simple configuration, comprehensive monitoring, and robust report generation. It excels in network segmentation, ease of deploying access points, and offers strong security capabilities. In contrast, Ubiquiti provides strong performance and ease of configuration at a more affordable price. Its extensive signal reach and efficient management of access points are significant advantages.

Room for Improvement: Cisco Meraki needs to address advanced configuration flexibility and its licensing model, which stops service upon non-renewal. Users also look for better error logging, quality support, and enhanced dashboard security. Ubiquiti faces connectivity issues and complex support systems and requires better troubleshooting tools and cloud integration, with its enterprise features lagging behind more advanced systems like Meraki.

Ease of Deployment and Customer Service: Cisco Meraki offers diverse deployment options across public, private, and on-premises environments. However, customer service feedback is mixed, focusing on responsiveness but noting slow problem resolution and the need for a better knowledge base. Ubiquiti primarily supports on-premises deployments with limited cloud integration. Users value its straightforward installation but wish for more straightforward support and integration information.

Pricing and ROI: Cisco Meraki is perceived as expensive due to its licensing model requiring annual renewals, albeit balanced by strong features and support efficiency. Ubiquiti provides a more budget-friendly option with a one-time purchase model eliminating ongoing fees, appealing to cost-conscious users and promising a solid return on investment despite lacking some advanced features.