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D-Link Ethernet Switches vs Fortinet FortiSwitch - Secure Access comparison

 

Comparison Buyer's Guide

Executive SummaryUpdated on Nov 3, 2024

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

D-Link Ethernet Switches
Ranking in Ethernet Switches
13th
Average Rating
7.8
Reviews Sentiment
7.4
Number of Reviews
29
Ranking in other categories
No ranking in other categories
Fortinet FortiSwitch - Secu...
Ranking in Ethernet Switches
6th
Average Rating
8.2
Reviews Sentiment
7.7
Number of Reviews
48
Ranking in other categories
No ranking in other categories
 

Mindshare comparison

As of June 2025, in the Ethernet Switches category, the mindshare of D-Link Ethernet Switches is 5.6%, up from 5.6% compared to the previous year. The mindshare of Fortinet FortiSwitch - Secure Access is 4.9%, down from 6.0% compared to the previous year. It is calculated based on PeerSpot user engagement data.
Ethernet Switches
 

Featured Reviews

Daniel Kivuthi - PeerSpot reviewer
Fits well in networks, integrate well but initial setup needs trained people
I did not face any major challenges, but the only thing is that D-Link has to invest in training technicians or engineers who install their products. They have to keep training them. D-Link can offer free training, or maybe even if they are charged, it's some fair charge. That way, D-Link encourages many technicians to take that training. And when the team has trained technicians or trained engineers, then it becomes very easy to install the devices and put them in the network. The solution integrates very well with our existing network infrastructure. The initial setup is straightforward. But, again, I will insist: If it is handled by trained personnel, then you find that the integration and installation are easy. But when people try to install the switches or the solutions and they do not have the technical know-how, then it becomes a challenge. People start saying that it's not a good solution, that they are not working. Yet, it is the technician who does not know how to handle them.
Uri Harf - PeerSpot reviewer
Integration with cloud management simplifies network expansion
Fortinet FortiSwitch - Secure Access is expensive, and this initial cost can be a barrier, especially for new businesses setting up from scratch. Although the machine is robust and lasts for years with rare technical issues, the initial price can be high. Sometimes, I have to offer alternatives like Aruba or HP, which might be cheaper.

Quotes from Members

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

Pros

"The solution is easy to use."
"It is very stable and reliable."
"The initial setup is straightforward."
"There are no stability issues with D-Link Ethernet switches."
"The overall solution is best for any low-cost environment because of its cost-effectiveness."
"Its integration is the most valuable."
"The product is simple to manage."
"The tool's fault frequency is very less."
"The most valuable feature of FortiSwitch is its user-friendly interface, which facilitates easy management and propagation of rules throughout the network."
"I rate Fortinet support 10 out of 10. Their support is excellent and inexpensive. They respond immediately."
"The integration with the whole platform, so there's one dashboard for everything. It is one of the most valuable features."
"Stability and scalability for this product are very good. Setup is easy and deployment can be completed within minutes. The technical support for Fortinet FortiSwitch - Secure Access is good."
"The policies are very good."
"The tool provides a firewall and good performance."
"The powerful integration capabilities allow us to manage all devices from a single interface through the firewall."
"Having a single dashboard to manage everything simplifies the process."
 

Cons

"I would like an option to create different networks within the switch."
"It should be more stable, and it should have good integration with the cloud. It should support configuration, supervision, and control through the cloud."
"The technical support needs a lot of improvement."
"In a future release, the solution could improve by being more secure and allowing the configuration of each port."
"In future releases, I would like to see improved security and an improved CLI (Command-Line Interface)."
"For high-end switches, the price could be 5% to 10% cheaper. Improvements in the voltage facility, like increasing from 360 watts to 400 or 450 watts, would make them more competitive with other vendors."
"Its security features need improvement."
"This solution is not good for distribution at the core."
"It is always nice when something is cheaper."
"The product must improve its prices."
"They could provide integration with Fortinet Authenticator."
"More integration would be helpful, especially since we sometimes have devices from other companies. Improved interoperability would be very beneficial."
"The product's pricing needs improvement for small and medium businesses."
"The range of products could improve from Fortinet FortiSwitch - Secure Access."
"The installation is not difficult. However, some features have to be activated from the CLI."
"The solution has SD-WAN but it doesn't have SDN. This should be added."
 

Pricing and Cost Advice

"The price of D-Link Ethernet Switches is in the 4,000 to 5,000 rupees or 65 to 100 USD range. The price of the solution is not expensive."
"The solution's pricing is reasonable."
"It is an affordable solution."
"This product is very affordable, especially compared to Cisco."
"These units vary in price from $200 to one thousand dollars. They're available for a one-time purchase."
"The solution is budget-friendly"
"They were cheap. We were not paying for any license."
"There is not a license required for this solution and it is priced well."
"The pricing is cheap and only a yearly licensing cost needs to be paid."
"Fortinet FortiSwitch is a pricey solution."
"The price of the solution could improve, it is expensive."
"The pricing for Fortinet FortiSwitch is not expensive."
"I rate the product's pricing an eight out of ten."
"It's affordable and there are no additional costs, just regular support, and license fees."
"The solution is cheaper than Cisco but more expensive than Huawei."
"The price is good."
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Top Industries

By visitors reading reviews
Computer Software Company
13%
Comms Service Provider
9%
Healthcare Company
9%
Manufacturing Company
8%
Computer Software Company
13%
Manufacturing Company
8%
Financial Services Firm
8%
Government
8%
 

Company Size

By reviewers
Large Enterprise
Midsize Enterprise
Small Business
 

Questions from the Community

Would you recommend replacing a Cisco Catalyst Switch by a D-link one?
Hello Mesfin It depends on the real scenario, the cisco 2960 is a very good device and they usually have routing functions but there are many different models within the same 2960 line, and on the ...
What do you like most about D-Link Ethernet Switches?
D-Link has a good VPN feature and quality of service.
What is your experience regarding pricing and costs for D-Link Ethernet Switches?
D-Link Ethernet Switches are 30% cheaper than Cisco switches. Pricing has not been a concern since it is already included in the capex.
Which would you choose - Fortinet Fortiswitch secure access or Cisco Ethernet Switches?
We researched Cisco but ultimately chose Fortinet FortiSwitch Secure Access, mostly because of the price. Fortinet FortiSwitch is an ethernet switch solution that provides security and performance...
What do you like most about Fortinet FortiSwitch - Secure Access?
With FortiSwitch, you can easily identify who is connected to each port, disable ports as needed, and retrieve configurations from FortiGate when required.
What is your experience regarding pricing and costs for Fortinet FortiSwitch - Secure Access?
The initial cost of Fortinet FortiSwitch - Secure Access is high compared to other options. Although robust and rarely needs replacement, it can be overqualified for some jobs, which affects the re...
 

Overview

 

Sample Customers

George Mason University, Somerville House, Hiperwall, New Brunswick School District 16, The Fulcrum Group, Bremond Independent School District, University of Texas Health Science Center, Grand Canyon Skywalk, SUN Area Career & Technology Center, Abington Senior High School
Black Gold Regional Schools, Amadeus Hospitality, Jefferson County, Chunghwa Telecom, City of Boroondara, Dimension Data
Find out what your peers are saying about D-Link Ethernet Switches vs. Fortinet FortiSwitch - Secure Access and other solutions. Updated: June 2025.
859,579 professionals have used our research since 2012.