Try our new research platform with insights from 80,000+ expert users

Cisco Wireless vs Fortinet FortiAP comparison

 

Comparison Buyer's Guide

Executive SummaryUpdated on Jun 15, 2025

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 Wireless
Ranking in Wireless LAN
3rd
Average Rating
8.2
Reviews Sentiment
6.5
Number of Reviews
153
Ranking in other categories
No ranking in other categories
Fortinet FortiAP
Ranking in Wireless LAN
9th
Average Rating
8.4
Reviews Sentiment
7.6
Number of Reviews
15
Ranking in other categories
No ranking in other categories
 

Mindshare comparison

As of June 2025, in the Wireless LAN category, the mindshare of Cisco Wireless is 11.2%, down from 14.6% compared to the previous year. The mindshare of Fortinet FortiAP is 5.6%, up from 0.8% compared to the previous year. It is calculated based on PeerSpot user engagement data.
Wireless LAN
 

Featured Reviews

Theesula Majuwanagamage - PeerSpot reviewer
Bridging capabilities ensure network continuity and reliability in large-scale deployments
The most valuable feature of Cisco Wireless ( /products/cisco-wireless-reviews ) is the bridging capability. If one network fails, there is a link between different access points, which ensures network continuity. Additionally, Cisco offers significant discounts for large projects. The reliability and robust solution are also key aspects, as there have been no errors or failures. The implementation is straightforward, and the user interface connection is easy.
Brian M. - PeerSpot reviewer
Enterprise-level control simplifies wireless management and increases reliability
FortiAPs are an enterprise-level device capable of handling a large number of users and connections, ensuring quality. A benefit is their controllability by local firewalls, which simplifies management and eliminates the need to buy separate hardware or virtual appliances. The integration is efficient, allowing for management through the firewall. Firmware updates are also pushed to Fortinet access points. The lack of maintenance needs and their reliability means I almost never experience wireless problems in the campuses where they are deployed.

Quotes from Members

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

Pros

"Support is fantastic. They are helpful and responsive."
"Cisco Wireless products are easy to use."
"Cisco's support team is the best in the industry."
"You need to learn the technology but after that the setup is easy."
"We are using Cisco access point 2802, and they are very reliable."
"I like many of the features that Cisco Wireless has to offer."
"The main features are that it's secure and it's easy to distribute the SSID and control it. I also like the controller."
"It can provide support for real-time applications, such as VoIP and Video Conferencing over wireless infrastructure."
"Fortinet FortiAPs are useful for small to medium-scale companies where there are budget concerns."
"We really don't need to call technical support. Any time we have had to call, they've been great."
"The pricing is reasonable for what it offers."
"Fortinet FortiAP provides value for money, and I can quantify the savings at about 80%."
"The product's deployment phase is very easy since its documentation part is available in the public domain."
"FortiAP's integration using SSID configuration for the input/output makes deploying permission rules easier."
"The most valuable aspect of Fortinet FortiAP is the support."
"The setup was straightforward."
 

Cons

"In the future, it would be great if the solution had a GPS feature that could have the ability through access points to locate cell phone users inside a local wireless network, for example in a stadium."
"The solution doesn't have much coverage area."
"Requires a firewall body to improve security."
"It should be fully compatible with other devices."
"An expensive solution that small companies cannot afford."
"Most definitely the cost."
"I would like to see less dependency on other products such as ISE and Prime for certain implementations."
"Apple is definitely causing a lot of issues by turning on more security features on its equipment. It is causing more problems on the business side. One is what they call a randomized Mac address that Apple has put out. As far as I know, Cisco doesn't have a fix for that."
"The security integration between the network and firewall has room for improvement."
"The wireless functionality is not the best."
"There could be constraints where a product can't be scaled further without purchasing a new model."
"I would like to have automation capabilities that would help us reduce the configuration steps."
"The support offered by the solution has certain shortcomings, making it in areas where improvements are required."
"FortiAP could be a little cheaper."
"The product fails to offer default access points to deal with the areas revolving around configurations."
"The improvement factor could be in APs. Also, it could have a control, like MAC address."
 

Pricing and Cost Advice

"Cisco Wireless solutions should have a price reduction for educations centers. Education centers are there to help people grow and there are not large budgets. The solution tends to be expensive and it can cause difficulties when purchasing them here in Africa."
"The pricing is high. It could be cheaper."
"The price of Cisco Wireless is in the high range compared to other solutions. The solution could be less expensive."
"Cisco Wireless is a little bit expensive when compared to other solutions."
"This product's pricing is good. It's not too expensive."
"We have to pay for the hardware and support is extra and we do pay for the support."
"It is expensive, and there are some costs in addition to the standard licensing fee. Its licensing model and cost should be improved."
"Its price is a bit high. It is more expensive than its competitors, but when I look at the return on investment, it is worth it."
"The devices under Fortinet are not expensive. The solution's licensing part is expensive."
"FortiAP is more expensive than some other options."
"The product is available at a very comfortable price for my company compared to the other products available in the market. The prices of products from Meraki and Aruba are high compared to those of Fortinet."
"On a scale of one to ten with ten being the most expensive, I would rate FortiAP a six."
"We purchased perpetual licensing, and additional costs may vary depending on the services acquired from Fortinet."
"If I compare it with the other enterprise products, the price is good."
"Fortinet FortiAP offers a more cost-effective solution compared to Palo Alto and Check Point."
report
Use our free recommendation engine to learn which Wireless LAN solutions are best for your needs.
856,873 professionals have used our research since 2012.
 

Comparison Review

it_user212721 - PeerSpot reviewer
Mar 24, 2015
Cisco vs. Aruba Wireless Solutions
Cisco or Aruba Networks? If you are considering wireless access solutions, this is a common question that you are probably asking. You probably have sales people knocking at your door. How do you make sense of all the stories that you are presented with. If you have done any research, you are…
 

Top Industries

By visitors reading reviews
Computer Software Company
15%
Manufacturing Company
8%
Financial Services Firm
7%
Educational Organization
7%
Computer Software Company
11%
Government
10%
Comms Service Provider
9%
Manufacturing Company
7%
 

Company Size

By reviewers
Large Enterprise
Midsize Enterprise
Small Business
 

Questions from the Community

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...
Which is better - Ruckus Wireless or Cisco Wireless?
Ruckus Wireless offers users the benefit of being both easy to set up and get running as well as being very user friendly. This user-friendly quality also renders it easy to learn how to use and ma...
How does Cisco Wireless compare with Aruba Wireless?
On the most basic level, Cisco Wireless can offer a rather straightforward initial setup. In the span of about three hours, the basic framework can be set up. Step-by-step instructions are availabl...
What do you like most about FortiAP?
If we have FortiClient installed on multiple devices, it is seamless to connect with FortiAP. It supports passwordless authentication as well. That is a great thing about it.
What is your experience regarding pricing and costs for FortiAP?
Fortinet solutions are more cost-effective compared to Cisco. The license costs for Fortinet are more affordable when considering licensing costs with other leaders like Cisco.
What needs improvement with FortiAP?
I cannot pinpoint the exact improvements needed at the moment. However, security is always a concern for any business, and the network should not be compromised easily. There should be alerts to in...
 

Also Known As

Cisco WLAN Controller
No data available
 

Overview

 

Sample Customers

Aegean Motorway, Baylor Scott & White Health, Beachbody, Bellevue, Brunel University London, Bucks County Intermediate Unit , Chartwell School, Children's Hospital Colorado, Cisco Live Milan, City of Biel, City of Mississauga, Dundee Precious Metals, Electricity Authority of Cyprus, Erickson Living, Goldcorp, Great Ormond Street Hospital, Grupo Industrial Saltillo (GIS)
Information Not Available
Find out what your peers are saying about Cisco Wireless vs. Fortinet FortiAP and other solutions. Updated: June 2025.
856,873 professionals have used our research since 2012.