ExtremeCloud IQ vs Ruckus Cloudpath comparison

Extreme and Ruckus are both solutions in the Network Access Control (NAC) category. Extreme is ranked #10 with an average rating of 8.3, while Ruckus is ranked #11 with an average rating of 7.3. Extreme holds a 0.8% mindshare in NAC, compared to Ruckus’s 2.1% mindshare. Additionally, 97% of Extreme users are willing to recommend the solution, compared to 100% of Ruckus users who would recommend it.

ExtremeCloud IQ

Read 76 ExtremeCloud IQ reviews

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133 Comparison Views

97% willing to recommend

Ruckus Cloudpath

Read 9 Ruckus Cloudpath reviews

1,100 Views
604 Comparison Views

100% willing to recommend

ExtremeCloud IQ

Ruckus Cloudpath

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Executive SummaryUpdated on Nov 5, 2024

ExtremeCloud IQ and Ruckus Cloudpath are competitors in the cloud-based networking solutions category. ExtremeCloud IQ appears to have an upper hand due to its feature-rich offerings and strong customer service, though it comes at a higher cost.

Features: ExtremeCloud IQ provides a robust security framework, a controller-less architecture, and extensive scalability. It also offers strong monitoring and management capabilities. Ruckus Cloudpath, on the other hand, is notable for its seamless integration with existing infrastructure, user-based licensing, and ease in onboarding multiple users.

Room for Improvement: ExtremeCloud IQ faces challenges with high pricing, occasional technical support delays, and a complex initial setup. Its learning curve is also seen as steep by users. Ruckus Cloudpath could improve its licensing costs, integration with non-Ruckus platforms, and detailed logging and analysis tools are needed.

Ease of Deployment and Customer Service: ExtremeCloud IQ stands out for its availability across cloud-based environments, alongside its responsive customer service and excellent technical support. Ruckus Cloudpath is effective, especially in on-premises deployments, and has commendable but occasionally critiqued support services compared to the elaborate network of support offered by ExtremeCloud IQ.

Pricing and ROI: ExtremeCloud IQ is considered expensive but offers good ROI due to its fewer operational issues and reduced management overhead. Ruckus Cloudpath offers a flexible user-based pricing model, though some users find its pricing high. Its ROI benefits from efficient device management, but licensing costs can be a challenge.

To learn more, read our detailed ExtremeCloud IQ vs. Ruckus Cloudpath Report (Updated: June 2025).

Buyer's Guide

ExtremeCloud IQ vs. Ruckus Cloudpath

June 2025

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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

ExtremeCloud IQ

Ranking in Network Access Control (NAC)

10th

Average Rating

8.8

Reviews Sentiment

7.3

Number of Reviews

Ranking in other categories

Network Management Applications (11th), Intrusion Detection and Prevention Software (IDPS) (17th)

Ruckus Cloudpath

Ranking in Network Access Control (NAC)

11th

Average Rating

7.8

Reviews Sentiment

6.4

Number of Reviews

Ranking in other categories

No ranking in other categories

Mindshare comparison

As of June 2025, in the Network Access Control (NAC) category, the mindshare of ExtremeCloud IQ is 0.8%, up from 0.2% compared to the previous year. The mindshare of Ruckus Cloudpath is 2.1%, up from 1.8% compared to the previous year. It is calculated based on PeerSpot user engagement data.

Network Access Control (NAC)

Featured Reviews

KristianLarsen

Senior Consultant at Mikla IT

Helps resolve network-related issues quickly and is reasonably priced

The tool has both advantages and weaknesses because it has several pieces of software on which it has been working because of buyouts. The tool has several branches of software versions, and you can consolidate it into ExtremeCloud, but it also has the disadvantage that sometimes people can get issues because the software on the hardware is different than they expected, especially if it is not converted to the tool used. The tool has simplified things, but it also adds a complexity that sometimes stumps some users. In the future, I think the tool’s onboarding setup of a new tenant could be smoother or faster. I also think that they could provide a simpler setup for first-level support so that it can be easier for them to have a support dashboard that would help them. I am talking about customer support organizations, so you usually have a high turnaround, but you need to have something that is easier to use and where you don't need so much training.

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Mohammad Abdur Rahim Sarker

Technical Consultant - Bangladesh, Nepal & Bhutan at Redington Distribution Pte Ltd.

Long-range capabilities and robust security have empowered seamless and reliable connections in diverse environments

Our primary use case for Ruckus Cloudpath is within the hospitality industry and educational institutions, such as large hotels and universities. We implemented the solution in the infrastructure to provide services to customers and students. Specifically, we use it in premises like student labs…

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Quotes from Members

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

Pros

"It's extremely easy to deploy. Even our access points are behind the net, not using real, public IP. We can easily add to the cloud. For deployment, we just need to let the access point take the DSCP from IP and then, even if it's not a requirement, we can see the serial number from the access points and add the serial number to the cloud directly."

"What our customers like the most is that this device is so rugged. It has very good performance and throughput. Its console is very easy to use and has many features, which makes it different from its competitors. Cloud IQ has all the features built into the console, whereas other solutions require you to integrate multiple solutions with their consoles. You don't need to add anything extra with Cloud IQ. With this single solution, you can do almost everything."

"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."

"It is more cost effective and gives more flexibility."

"Another valuable feature is the automation of Wi-Fi configurations, which allows the wireless network to auto-reconfigure in case of problems."

"Our transaction polling is now way more secure."

"The cloud-based management interface allows us to fully manage all our wireless radios, ensuring consistency and ease of access."

"Integrated Firewall in every AP (with DPI inspection) is a killer feature and it is included already in the price of licence (with others, this feature is an add-on licence)."

More ExtremeCloud IQ pros

"The ease of use is great, and the automation wizards can do a lot."

"The solution is easy to use, well designed, robust, and has good traffic capacity."

"The wireless devices are used to control access, transmit messages, and integrate with the main system."

"The most valuable features of Ruckus Cloudpath include its long-range capabilities, smooth and uninterrupted service, and reliability."

"I find the solution to be very rich in features."

"Ruckus Cloudpath is effective for network security since it points out errors, especially when working with APIs."

"Ruckus technical support is very good and helpful whenever we need them."

"I have found it easy to use with no significant issues once the small initial problems were resolved."

More Ruckus Cloudpath pros

Cons

"The solution will show us that there are some issues, but when we try to find those issues, we can't see them."

"Browser load time for the cloud is long and needs improvement."

"For me, the only issue is the potential delay in the tool statistics updating in real time after making changes."

"The product could support multi-vendor infrastructures."

"Integrating the network access control solution can be complex, as it essentially combines two separate products."

"I struggled with the documentation."

"A room for improvement in ExtremeCloud IQ is roaming. My team is facing roaming issues with the solution, particularly when using VoIP over WiFi. For example, VoIP sometimes breaks when you walk around the customer site. In terms of what I'd like to see in the next release of the solution, right now, the inventory for ExtremeCloud IQ is awful. There's no stock, and you must wait a year and a half for new stocks. It's awful."

"Its price could be lower. It is a simplified solution, but it has price challenges. It is costly as compared to other solutions. It has almost everything. The only thing is that MAC is not possible on the cloud, and it has to be on-premises."

More ExtremeCloud IQ cons

"The hardest part we've had to deal with is trying to find some physical product recently as everything is going like hotcakes."

"The scalability could be better."

"There is room for improvement in deployment."

"The setup had a few initial small problems, however, everything was resolved and it is very good now."

"The tool needs to support multi-vendor environments. Currently, my experience with it has been primarily within Ruckus environments. However, I haven't explored it for multi-vendor scenarios. It would be great to see newer builds that are multi-vendor capable of full integration."

"I believe the solution is missing some great features which are present in other solutions like Aruba, UiPath, and Cisco ISE."

"There is room for improvement in deployment. I would like to see more effort put into troubleshooting."

"The setup process is a bit complex."

More Ruckus Cloudpath cons

Pricing and Cost Advice

"Customers need to pay a yearly licensing fee for ExtremeCloud IQ, which is a little bit expensive."

"Previously, ExtremeCloudIQ provided free licensing for all the basic requirements of their customers. An advanced cloud user had to purchase advanced licenses for automation and advanced country features at the enterprise level. They have restricted the licensing, allowing only up to ten units for testing, which is challenging. This limitation becomes problematic, especially in countries like Sri Lanka or other Asian countries, where customers face economic challenges and have limited budgets. The previous free option was beneficial, but it has become tougher to manage with these new changes. They should revise their pricing structure, offering the basic features free of charge for up to 50 AP. Larger entities with more than 50 APs have the budget to support them. Still, it becomes more difficult for small and medium-sized businesses with less than 50 APs to allocate a significant budget for control and management features."

"Extreme is twice as cheap compared to Cisco due to the currency exchange. Normally, I think Cisco would be a little bit more expensive, but there wouldn't be that much of a difference."

"For example, if you compare Aruba vs Aerohive, you need to check which licences from Aruba you need to match the functionality of Aerohive (usually you need at least three types of licences and a controller with redundancy). The same goes with Cisco, where you need buy additional licences for central management, firewall, spectral analysis, WIPS, PPSK, etc. Aerohive has a very simple model - one licence for all the functionalities - and you can believe that there are many. One licence makes it easy to maintain, scale, renew and you can plan your costs 10 years in advance."

"Extreme licensing is based on the number of access points. When you buy the license for the first year, everything is included, such as access to mapping, etc. If you don't renew your software assurance for the second year, the access points will still work, but you can't use the cloud management tools."

"Start small and grow big. You can choose the basic Aerohive Connect free subscription solution and, later, if needed (in terms of functionality) you can upgrade to Aerohive Select."

"ExtremeCloud IQ's pricing is medium, but its support contract costs more."

"Price-wise, it is a reasonable tool."

More ExtremeCloud IQ pricing and cost advice

"I would rate the tool's pricing as a seven on a scale of one to ten. Compared to others, it's not overly expensive, but it does come with a cost. Since it's a licensed-based product, it can become expensive, especially if there is a need for additional licenses."

"The pricing is a little bit high."

"The cost was somewhere around $700 for the access points, however, there was a discount."

"The licensing of the solution is user-based and the price is good."

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Top Industries

By visitors reading reviews

Computer Software Company

13%

Comms Service Provider

Educational Organization

Manufacturing Company

Comms Service Provider

16%

Computer Software Company

10%

Construction Company

Financial Services Firm

Company Size

By reviewers

Large Enterprise

Midsize Enterprise

Small Business

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 have some feature that I need or want, I wouldn't consider them. Do you have expe...

See all answers

What do you like most about ExtremeCloud IQ?

The Client 360 feature provides a comprehensive view of your clients and their activities, including the devices they use. Additionally, a feature called Network 360 offers a 360-degree view of the...

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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. The documentation and training courses were also costly, impacting how easily I c...

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What do you like most about Ruckus Cloudpath?

The tool's most valuable features include the phenomenal functionality of DPSK. The ease of use, particularly when it is correctly set up, is remarkably simple. Tracking users is straightforward an...

See all answers

What is your experience regarding pricing and costs for Ruckus Cloudpath?

The pricing of Ruckus Cloudpath is on the expensive side. I would rate the pricing as an eight out of ten, with ten being very expensive.

See all answers

What needs improvement with Ruckus Cloudpath?

Ruckus Cloudpath needs more API features and enhanced automation capabilities. I would like to improve the automation aspect, ensuring that if any issues arise or alerts are detected, the cloud pla...

See all answers

Comparisons

Cisco Meraki Wireless LAN vs ExtremeCloud IQ

Compared 15% of the time

Ruckus Wireless vs ExtremeCloud IQ

Compared 12% of the time

Ubiquiti Wireless vs ExtremeCloud IQ

Compared 9% of the time

Cisco DNA Center vs ExtremeCloud IQ

Compared 9% of the time

Fortinet FortiGate Cloud vs ExtremeCloud IQ

Compared 7% of the time

More ExtremeCloud IQ Competitors

Aruba ClearPass vs Ruckus Cloudpath

Compared 63% of the time

Cisco Identity Services Engine (ISE) vs Ruckus Cloudpath

Compared 24% of the time

Fortinet FortiNAC vs Ruckus Cloudpath

Compared 13% of the time

More Ruckus Cloudpath Competitors

Product Reports

Buyer's Guide

ExtremeCloud IQ

June 2025

Download ExtremeCloud IQ product report

Buyer's Guide

Network Access Control (NAC)

June 2025

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Also Known As

Aerohive Networks, Aerohive HiveManager, HiveManager, ExtremeCloud , ExtremeSecurity

No data available

Overview

ExtremeCloud is a resilient and scalable cloud-based network management solution offered by Extreme Networks as a subscription service.

The network is your platform of engagement for clients and staff. We have designed ExtremeCloud to provide superior user experience by empowering you and the applications that drive your business. The combination of Extreme Networks’ smart wired and wireless edges and the elasticity, resilience and scalability provided via state-of-the-art datacenters distributed strategically for worldwide availability allows you to respond to the changing needs of your business, at the speed of cloud, through a simple, multi-site aware user interface.

Extreme

Cloudpath Enrollment System is a software/SaaS platform that delivers secure wired and wireless network access for BYOD, guest users and IT-owned devices. It streamlines getting devices on the network and secures every connection with powerful encryption. Cloudpath software gives you granular policy control over what network resources users can access. It lets you deliver a great end-user experience and virtually eliminates helpdesk tickets related to network access. Choose from cloud-based or virtualized on-premises deployment. Cloudpath software supports any user, any device, and any network infrastructure.

Ruckus

Sample Customers

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

Information Not Available

Buyer's Guide

ExtremeCloud IQ vs. Ruckus Cloudpath

June 2025

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