Exinda vs Fortinet FortiWLC comparison

Why PeerSpot?

The compared GFI and Fortinet solutions aren't in the same category. GFI is ranked #5 in WO , and holds a 6.7% mindshare in the category. Fortinet is ranked #27 in Wireless LAN , and holds a 1.1% mindshare. Additionally, 87% of GFI users are willing to recommend the solution, compared to 100% of Fortinet users who would recommend it.

Exinda

Read 9 Exinda reviews

1,489 Views
1,400 Comparison Views

87% willing to recommend

Fortinet FortiWLC

Read 3 Fortinet FortiWLC reviews

979 Views
901 Comparison Views

100% willing to recommend

Exinda

Fortinet FortiWLC

Comparison Buyer's Guide

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Executive Summary

We performed a comparison between Exinda and Fortinet FortiWLC based on real PeerSpot user reviews.

Find out what your peers are saying about Riverbed, Hewlett Packard Enterprise, Cato Networks and others in WAN Optimization.

To learn more, read our detailed WAN Optimization Report (Updated: August 2026).

Buyer's Guide

WAN Optimization

August 2026

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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

Exinda

Average Rating

8.8

Number of Reviews

Ranking in other categories

WAN Optimization (5th)

Fortinet FortiWLC

Average Rating

9.0

Reviews Sentiment

8.4

Number of Reviews

Ranking in other categories

Wireless LAN (27th)

Mindshare comparison

While both are Enterprise Networking solutions, they serve different purposes. Exinda is designed for WAN Optimization and holds a mindshare of 6.7%, up 5.9% compared to last year.
Fortinet FortiWLC, on the other hand, focuses on Wireless LAN, holds 1.1% mindshare, up 0.3% since last year.

WAN Optimization Mindshare Distribution
Product	Mindshare (%)
Exinda	6.7%
Steelhead	15.5%
Aruba EdgeConnect SD-WAN Platform	14.2%
Other	63.6%

WAN Optimization

Wireless LAN Mindshare Distribution
Product	Mindshare (%)
Fortinet FortiWLC	1.1%
Aruba Wireless	12.7%
Ruckus Wireless	10.1%
Other	76.1%

Wireless LAN

Featured Reviews

Marek Jaworski

Senior Engineer, Team Lead, Network Operations at a comms service provider with 1,001-5,000 employees

Allows us to have better control over our network by shaping traffic more gently

There might be room for improvement in the speed and throughput of some of their devices. They're getting a bit slow on some of the bigger devices. It would be helpful if there were some sort of an ISP model. Also, while I don't think it would be possible for them to do, it would be better if they had the Citrix support and the visualization to visualize your network. Besides that, it fits its purpose as a shaper and accelerator. Some people would say things like, "Add a firewall to it," but I disagree. I think a firewall's a firewall, and Exinda's a shaper and accelerator.

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Md.Mehedi Hassan

Team Lead Manager at Blue Pill Ltd

Offers a seamless and secure WiFi experience with outstanding customer support

FortiWLC is valuable due to its security features and the seamless WiFi experience it provides. Our customers benefit greatly from the security aspect, especially since they are already using Fortinet for Firewall services. The security features are crucial for their requirements. The stability and ease of use of FortiWLC also add to its effectiveness.

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

"Getting Exinda was a life saver for our voice traffic"

"One of the great things for us is that the solution works, and it works whether you're looking at it or not."

"Customer Service: Top notchTechnical Support: Top notch"

"The most valuable features are the shaper, accelerator, and the reporting... it will shape the traffic better than, for example, a Cisco, because it's more gentle on the shaping side of things. Suppose you were selling a 20-meg link. Because you can shape to the nth degree of traffic, the 20-meg link feels like about a 30 to 40-meg link."

"Compared to some of the stuff that I've used a decade ago, the Exinda solution is night and day."

"A customer can either buy 50 Mb with us or 50 Mb with somebody else, but they'll get a 70 Mb feel with us because we can shape it a little bit better."

"It has the ability to prioritize, providing an automatic optimization. I can put it in a hierarchy and know that certain devices will be prioritized over others. It is able to identify the traffic. It can pick out whether if its a Zoom meeting (or something like that), then it's able to put that somewhere in the hierarchy based on the traffic type."

"The benefit that we have seen is that if we turn it off, people notice that the applications are running slowly."

More Exinda pros

"I rate the overall solution a ten out of ten."

"The most valuable feature of Fortinet FortiWLC is the overall high quality."

"It's easy to set everything up during implementation."

"FortiWLC is valuable due to its security features and the seamless WiFi experience it provides."

"The security within the access point and the controller is the solution's most valuable aspect."

Cons

"It should improve the quality of service. It can improve their connection to the internet and your IP."

"One of the concerns that we've had with Exinda is the fact that ever since GFI took over Exinda, they haven't really put in much time into actually developing the product."

"More free training on the website for those just getting started."

"The stability was terrible in version 7.0 but it's been good since version 7.2."

"A lot of working with this solution is really intuitive. I have picked it up mostly on my own. I'm sure that there are some things that maybe I hadn't thought of or really hadn't considered, and I think it would be good just to promote some day courses. I don't really see a whole lot that comes out for Exinda as far as training or informational sessions through our normal resellers. It would be cool to know more about the solution by utilizing educational resources or even have Exinda promoted a bit better."

"The updating of applications that the system knows about could be a little quicker. For example, Zoom had been out for a while, but it took a while for it to show up as an application that Exinda could natively handle. We had to write some things in order to handle Zoom, initially."

"Fundamentally sound with WAN acceleration, but needs to expand the range of accelerated applications."

"What I don't like is the fact that I haven't purchased the overall management interface. That is the interface that allows you to manage multiple Exindas. Personally, I think Exinda should provide that for free. I think that if you buy more and more Exinda boxes, you shouldn't then have to incur a charge for the overall management software. While I can manage each Exinda separately, if they provided me with the overall management platform for free that would probably encourage me to buy more appliances."

More Exinda cons

"However, for massive implementations, Fortinet should consider reducing the price to make it more affordable."

"Fortinet FortiWLC is not simple to configure when compared to other solutions. The design could be better."

"One thing that is lacking is, compared with some other brands, the signal is a bit weaker. Ruckus has much wider signal coverage."

"The price of Fortinet FortiWLC is high. The solution will be out of the market for us because the price is too high for the features it provides."

Pricing and Cost Advice

"The pricing and licensing are pretty fair and really competitive. There are other SD-WAN solutions that are pretty costly because they build in a service where they'll manage it for you, which is really great. I don't know if Exinda has that option as well. However, we are a small shop and cost-conscious. For things like this, we are accustomed to self-managing and this solution suits us just fine. For a tool that gives you, like the graphs and reporting, it has a fair price point."

"It is priced well for the market, for what it needs to do."

"The price of Fortinet FortiWLC is high. The solution will be out of the market for us because the price is too high for the features it provides."

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Top Industries

By visitors reading reviews

Outsourcing Company

16%

Computer Software Company

15%

Construction Company

12%

Financial Services Firm

No data available

Company Size

By reviewers

Large Enterprise

Midsize Enterprise

Small Business

By reviewers
Company Size	Count
Small Business	1
Midsize Enterprise	4
Large Enterprise	4

No data available

Questions from the Community

Ask a question

Earn 20 points

What is your experience regarding pricing and costs for Fortinet FortiWLC?

I cannot disclose the license price, however, I recommend Fortinet reduce its pricing for massive implementations.

See all answers

What needs improvement with Fortinet FortiWLC?

Until now, I have not observed any issues. However, for massive implementations, Fortinet should consider reducing the price to make it more affordable.

See all answers

What is your primary use case for Fortinet FortiWLC?

We are resellers of FortiWLC, and our customers mainly use it in enterprise settings, particularly for chemical companies.

See all answers

Comparisons

Aruba EdgeConnect SD-WAN Platform vs Exinda

Compared 26% of the time

Steelhead vs Exinda

Compared 22% of the time

Noction IRP vs Exinda

Compared 17% of the time

Sangfor WANO vs Exinda

Compared 16% of the time

More Exinda Competitors

Fortinet FortiWLM vs Fortinet FortiWLC

Compared 19% of the time

Juniper Mist Wireless Access Points vs Fortinet FortiWLC

Compared 14% of the time

Aruba Instant vs Fortinet FortiWLC

Compared 9% of the time

Fortinet FortiAP vs Fortinet FortiWLC

Compared 6% of the time

Mojo Networks vs Fortinet FortiWLC

Compared 3% of the time

More Fortinet FortiWLC Competitors

Product Reports

Buyer's Guide

Exinda

September 2026

Download Exinda product report

Buyer's Guide

Wireless LAN

September 2026

Download Fortinet FortiWLC product report

Overview

Exinda provides granular traffic management and application performance monitoring with policy-based traffic shaping for prioritizing critical applications.

Exinda offers a user-friendly interface for managing bandwidth, ensuring business-critical applications receive priority while controlling non-essential traffic. Real-time monitoring offers network visibility, identifies bottlenecks, and suggests policy adjustments. It supports WAN optimization, satellite link management, and bandwidth control, aiding entities from corporate offices to remote locations.

What are Exinda's key features?

Granular Traffic Management: Provides precise control over network traffic.
Application Performance Monitoring: Monitors and analyzes application performance.
Policy-Based Traffic Shaping: Prioritizes critical applications efficiently.
Real-Time Monitoring Dashboard: Offers network visibility and identifies issues.
User-Friendly Interface: Simplifies bandwidth and traffic control.

What benefits or ROI should users look for?

Efficient Resource Utilization: Ensures critical applications receive necessary bandwidth.
Improved Network Performance: Identifies and resolves network bottlenecks.
Enhanced Traffic Control: Balances and limits non-critical traffic efficiently.
Actionable Insights: Provides recommendations for policy optimization.

Exinda is implemented in industries for WAN optimization, helping manage satellite links and control bandwidth on campuses and remote locations. It aids troubleshooting by monitoring satellite services and prioritizes network traffic for customers.

GFI

Fortinet FortiWLC enhances wireless networking with robust control and management capabilities tailored for businesses seeking efficient and secure network infrastructure.

Fortinet FortiWLC delivers a high-performance wireless LAN controller designed to support seamless connectivity and comprehensive network management. With its powerful platform, it efficiently handles complex wireless environments, ensuring optimal performance and security. FortiWLC is tailored to respond to challenging operational requirements, providing businesses with the technological backbone needed for reliable wireless communication.

What are the core features of Fortinet FortiWLC?

Advanced RF Management: Dynamically adjusts radio frequencies for optimal network performance.
Seamless Roaming: Ensures uninterrupted connections across different access points.
Comprehensive Security: Offers integrated security features to protect wireless traffic.
Scalable Architecture: Accommodates growth and network expansion effortlessly.

What benefits should be expected from Fortinet FortiWLC?

Improved Network Performance: Ensures consistent connectivity and reduces downtime.
Enhanced Security: Integrates advanced security measures to protect data.
Cost Efficiency: Minimizes operational costs with efficient management tools.
Scalability for Growth: Supports business expansion without compromising quality.

Fortinet FortiWLC is implemented in industries such as healthcare, education, and retail, where reliable wireless access and high security standards are essential. These sectors benefit from its ability to handle large numbers of devices, ensuring uninterrupted service and safeguarding sensitive information.

Fortinet

Sample Customers

UMass Dartmouth, MLB Network, R&R Ice Cream, Savills, Manhattan School of Music, Blum Shapiro, Cincinnati Public Schools, City of Richmond, Genting Casinos, The Salvation Army, VoIP Unlimited, Frontier Silicon, Lakeshore Toltest, CTI Foods

Black Gold Regional Schools, Amadeus Hospitality, Jefferson County, Chunghwa Telecom, City of Boroondara, Dimension Data

Find out what your peers are saying about Riverbed, Hewlett Packard Enterprise, Cato Networks and others in WAN Optimization. Updated: August 2026.

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