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Fortinet FortiSwitch - Data Center vs MikroTik Cloud Router Switch comparison

Fortinet and MikroTik are both solutions in the Ethernet Switches category. Fortinet is ranked #15 with an average rating of 8.4, while MikroTik is ranked #16 with an average rating of 7.9. Fortinet holds a 2.9% mindshare in ES, compared to MikroTik’s 1.9% mindshare. Additionally, 95% of Fortinet users are willing to recommend the solution, compared to 96% of MikroTik users who would recommend it.
Fortinet FortiSwitch - Data...
Read 26 Fortinet FortiSwitch - Data Center reviews
  • 2,184 Views
  • 2,184 Comparison Views
95% willing to recommend
MikroTik Cloud Router Switch
Read 25 MikroTik Cloud Router Switch reviews
  • 2,228 Views
  • 1,649 Comparison Views
96% willing to recommend
 

Comparison Buyer's Guide

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Executive SummaryUpdated on Nov 3, 2024

MikroTik Cloud Router Switch and Fortinet FortiSwitch Data Center are competing in the networking space with distinct approaches to market needs. MikroTik offers advantages in pricing and customer support, while Fortinet's advanced features suggest it provides better value in security.

Features: MikroTik Cloud Router Switch is recognized for cost-effectiveness and comprehensive routing capabilities. It supports various protocols, enhances flexibility, and provides excellent throughput. Fortinet FortiSwitch Data Center delivers robust security features, integration with Fortinet products, and an intuitive graphical user interface that simplifies configuration.

Room for Improvement: MikroTik Cloud Router Switch can enhance its advanced security features, streamline customer service for complex issues, and improve scalability options. Fortinet FortiSwitch Data Center may benefit from reducing deployment complexity, improving cost-effectiveness, and expanding customer support to cater to less technically skilled users.

Ease of Deployment and Customer Service: MikroTik Cloud Router Switch provides straightforward deployment and reliable customer support, accessible to a wide audience. Fortinet FortiSwitch Data Center offers sophisticated deployment models for technical experts and excellent customer service for complex integrations.

Pricing and ROI: MikroTik Cloud Router Switch is affordable with a quick return on investment, targeting budget-conscious buyers. Fortinet FortiSwitch Data Center involves higher initial costs but offers enhanced security and long-term benefits, providing a higher lifetime ROI for those prioritizing performance and security.

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To learn more, read our detailed Fortinet FortiSwitch - Data Center vs. MikroTik Cloud Router Switch Report (Updated: March 2026).
Buyer's Guide
Fortinet FortiSwitch - Data Center vs. MikroTik Cloud Router Switch
March 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

Fortinet FortiSwitch - Data...
Ranking in Ethernet Switches
15th
Average Rating
8.0
Reviews Sentiment
6.4
Number of Reviews
26
Ranking in other categories
No ranking in other categories
MikroTik Cloud Router Switch
Ranking in Ethernet Switches
16th
Average Rating
8.0
Reviews Sentiment
6.3
Number of Reviews
25
Ranking in other categories
Routers (4th)
 

Mindshare comparison

As of March 2026, in the Ethernet Switches category, the mindshare of Fortinet FortiSwitch - Data Center is 2.9%, up from 1.7% compared to the previous year. The mindshare of MikroTik Cloud Router Switch is 1.9%, up from 1.2% compared to the previous year. It is calculated based on PeerSpot user engagement data.
Ethernet Switches Mindshare Distribution
ProductMindshare (%)
Fortinet FortiSwitch - Data Center2.9%
MikroTik Cloud Router Switch1.9%
Other95.2%
Ethernet Switches
 

Featured Reviews

Rutul SHah - PeerSpot reviewer
Rutul SHah
CXO at Aariha Enterprise Private Limited
Provides seamless traffic control and secure connectivity while minimizing downtime and optimizing resource allocation
There is always room for improvement in Fortinet FortiSwitch - Data Center because with this switch, they can reduce downtime due to broadcasting issues by denying specific traffic on particular ports. Currently, I am not identifying any weak points of Fortinet FortiSwitch - Data Center because it meets the customer's use case. However, the commercial aspect presents challenges, particularly with pricing, as customers often ask for Juniper or Cisco, brands they are more aware of, which makes awareness about Fortinet FortiSwitch - Data Center another weak point.
Read full review
Andriejus Artamonovas - PeerSpot reviewer
Andriejus Artamonovas
IT Specialist at a outsourcing company with 501-1,000 employees
Has supported deeper configuration through traffic mirroring and advanced VLAN setup
The main reason why MikroTik Cloud Router Switch is usually chosen is its raw performance to price ratio. In comparison to UniFi switches, MikroTik Cloud Router Switch can mirror all ports for traffic inspection for further traffic analysis, which UniFi cannot do. VLANs in MikroTik Cloud Router Switch are always useful. The way MikroTik implements VLAN-aware switching at the bridge level is hidden in the configuration. Making CRS work as a simple VLAN-aware switch requires deeper configuration, which is not intuitive. VLANs support individual interfaces not part of the bridge, allowing for double VLANing. You can create a VLAN interface in the interfaces context and also create a bridge interface, add physical ports, create VLANs for that bridge interface, and assign tagged and untagged ports and VLANs. Load balancing is one of the key components. The feature itself is quite efficient and works reliably on MikroTik Cloud Router Switch. The very basic setup is one of my favorites because they have their protocol where I can connect through the MAC address right on Layer 2, and I don't lose connectivity to the switch if I mess up with bridging or IP addressing.
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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

"The interface is very straightforward."
"It integrates well."
"Based on my use cases, Fortinet FortiSwitch - Data Center was a great product that was easy to manage and work with while being a powerful tool."
"The most valuable feature is the port analytics."
"Fortinet FortiSwitch - Data Center's scalability is good."
"The solution has made configuration and setup very, very easy."
"We are able to monitor everything that is happening on our network."
"Configurations between FortiGate and FortiSwitch have to link to each other. We need configuration. The configuration is not like a Cisco switch. It has a unique configuration."
More Fortinet FortiSwitch - Data Center pros
"The main reason why MikroTik Cloud Router Switch is usually chosen is its raw performance to price ratio."
"There are a lot of features to control permitting or stopping packets in the network."
"Regarding security and visibility in monitoring, it is very good, the GUI is very intuitive, and it has many more features than those from major vendors."
"It is user-friendly, reliable, and cheap."
"Some of the most valuable features are the simplicity, cost, usability, and power. As a package, it's extremely effective."
"The GUI is easy to use."
"The router power is the most valuable aspect."
"The technical support for MikroTik Cloud Router Switch is superb."
More MikroTik Cloud Router Switch pros
 

Cons

"The solution can improve by upgrading QSFP+, it is very limited and must be supported more than it is now. If we need FortiSwitches to support all the QSFP ports our budgets would have to be very large."
"Fortinet could have the ability to authenticate users like Aruba offers because managing ten or twelve SSIDs for different clients is complicated."
"Managing the VLANs is an area where the solution lacks and needs to improve."
"When there are many switches being used, the speed declines noticeably."
"The performance is basic only, and we cannot compare Fortinet FortiSwitch - Data Center with Aruba or Cisco switches."
"Fortinet FortiSwitch - Data Center needs to improve its UI and stability."
"The solution could always benefit from more security. It's of critical importance to organizations right now."
"The commercial aspect presents challenges, particularly with pricing, as customers often ask for Juniper or Cisco, brands they are more aware of, which makes awareness about Fortinet FortiSwitch - Data Center another weak point."
More Fortinet FortiSwitch - Data Center cons
"MikroTik needs to add some features like IPS, mail security, or antivirus, et cetera."
"The area for improvement is security. MikroTik is mostly used by medium and small businesses, so the security is not as robust as Cisco."
"The RAM capacity offered by the product needs to be increased, as it is one area where the tool currently has some shortcomings."
"It can be difficult to identify key functions for MikroTik Cloud Router Switch. I experience functionality limitations, particularly when trying to find specific features."
"The packet filtering, user log data, and user access log could all be improved."
"The user interface could improve and they should allow a license for IBS."
"Aspects such as zero trust, security, and management interface could be improved, which would be useful."
"There has to be more development in the OS. It's complex for this switch as compared to others like Cisco. For NetGear and Cisco, it's easy to adapt the VLAN concept but it should be simplified for MikroTik."
More MikroTik Cloud Router Switch cons
 

Pricing and Cost Advice

"Fortinet FortiSwitch - Data Center is expensive."
"This solution is expensive but it does not require a license."
"The solution is not expensive."
"The tool's pricing is lower than Cisco's."
"The product has a mid-range price."
"It is reasonably priced."
"Cost-wise, Fortinet solutions are cheaper than those offered by Cisco."
"The solution's pricing is a little high. The solution deserves the current price it receives from its users."
More Fortinet FortiSwitch - Data Center pricing and cost advice
"They came with the licensing when we purchased them."
"This product has a one-time cost and there is no licensing fee."
"The price is competitive."
"MikroTik is really cheap compared to the competitors."
"The price of the solution is fair and there is a one-time license purchase only."
"The licensing for MikroTik is great. It's easy to enter, especially for small businesses. Their model is great."
"I believe the price of the tool is high, but it is okay for the services we get from it."
"In Pakistan, if you buy this cloud router, it's approximately $700 for the device."
More MikroTik Cloud Router Switch pricing and cost advice
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Top Industries

By visitors reading reviews
Government
14%
Manufacturing Company
9%
Computer Software Company
7%
Retailer
7%
Comms Service Provider
14%
Educational Organization
12%
Marketing Services Firm
8%
Computer Software Company
7%
 

Company Size

By reviewers
Large Enterprise
Midsize Enterprise
Small Business
By reviewers
Company SizeCount
Small Business17
Midsize Enterprise5
Large Enterprise4
By reviewers
Company SizeCount
Small Business19
Midsize Enterprise5
Large Enterprise2
 

Questions from the Community

What do you like most about Fortinet FortiSwitch - Data Center?
The initial setup was simple.
See all answers
What is your experience regarding pricing and costs for Fortinet FortiSwitch - Data Center?
The Fortinet switches come with no additional cost as they are open source, with only hardware warranties applicable.
See all answers
What needs improvement with Fortinet FortiSwitch - Data Center?
The performance is basic only, and we cannot compare Fortinet FortiSwitch - Data Center with Aruba or Cisco switches. Regarding security policies, I did not configure that many policies in Fortinet...
See all answers
What do you like most about MikroTik Cloud Router Switch?
The tool has impacted our company's network costs and productivity in a perfect manner and percentage-wise, I can say it is 120 percent.
See all answers
What is your experience regarding pricing and costs for MikroTik Cloud Router Switch?
The Python solution pricing is on the lower side.
See all answers
What needs improvement with MikroTik Cloud Router Switch?
It can be difficult to identify key functions for MikroTik Cloud Router Switch. I experience functionality limitations, particularly when trying to find specific features. It would be beneficial to...
See all answers
 

Comparisons

Aruba Switches vs Fortinet FortiSwitch - Data Center Logo
Aruba Switches vs Fortinet FortiSwitch - Data Center
Compared 33% of the time
HPE Ethernet Switches vs Fortinet FortiSwitch - Data Center Logo
HPE Ethernet Switches vs Fortinet FortiSwitch - Data Center
Compared 17% of the time
Cisco Ethernet Switches vs Fortinet FortiSwitch - Data Center Logo
Cisco Ethernet Switches vs Fortinet FortiSwitch - Data Center
Compared 8% of the time
Cisco Catalyst Switches vs Fortinet FortiSwitch - Data Center Logo
Cisco Catalyst Switches vs Fortinet FortiSwitch - Data Center
Compared 6% of the time
NoviFlow NoviSwitch vs Fortinet FortiSwitch - Data Center Logo
NoviFlow NoviSwitch vs Fortinet FortiSwitch - Data Center
Compared 2% of the time
More Fortinet FortiSwitch - Data Center Competitors
TP-Link Omada Switches vs MikroTik Cloud Router Switch Logo
TP-Link Omada Switches vs MikroTik Cloud Router Switch
Compared 14% of the time
MikroTik Routers and Switches vs MikroTik Cloud Router Switch Logo
MikroTik Routers and Switches vs MikroTik Cloud Router Switch
Compared 9% of the time
Huawei Enterprise Routers vs MikroTik Cloud Router Switch Logo
Huawei Enterprise Routers vs MikroTik Cloud Router Switch
Compared 6% of the time
Cisco Catalyst Switches vs MikroTik Cloud Router Switch Logo
Cisco Catalyst Switches vs MikroTik Cloud Router Switch
Compared 5% of the time
Juniper MX Series Routers vs MikroTik Cloud Router Switch Logo
Juniper MX Series Routers vs MikroTik Cloud Router Switch
Compared 5% of the time
More MikroTik Cloud Router Switch Competitors
 

Product Reports

Buyer's Guide
Ethernet Switches
March 2026
Fortinet FortiSwitch - Data Center reportDownload Fortinet FortiSwitch - Data Center product report
Buyer's Guide
MikroTik Cloud Router Switch
February 2026
MikroTik Cloud Router Switch reportDownload MikroTik Cloud Router Switch product report
 

Also Known As

No data available
MikroTik CRS Series
 

Overview

With 10 or 40 GE access ports and a high-throughput backbone, FortiSwitch Data Center Switches are ideal for the top-of-rack (ToR) server or firewall-aggregation applications. The high-speed switching fabric is also well suited for enterprise network core or backbone network installations.

Fortinet
MikroTik Cloud Router Switch is a new Smart Switch series. It combines the best features of a fully functional router and a Layer 3 switch, is powered by the familiar RouterOS. All the specific Switch configuration options are available in a special Switch menu, also ports can be removed from the switch configuration, and used for routing purposes.
MikroTik
 

Sample Customers

Black Gold Regional Schools, Amadeus Hospitality, Jefferson County, Chunghwa Telecom, City of Boroondara, Dimension Data
Information Not Available
Buyer's Guide
Fortinet FortiSwitch - Data Center vs. MikroTik Cloud Router Switch
March 2026
Free Report: Fortinet FortiSwitch - Data Center vs. MikroTik Cloud Router Switch
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