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Fortinet FortiSwitch - Secure Access vs MikroTik Cloud Router Switch 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

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
MikroTik Cloud Router Switch
Ranking in Ethernet Switches
19th
Average Rating
7.8
Reviews Sentiment
6.9
Number of Reviews
22
Ranking in other categories
Routers (5th)
 

Mindshare comparison

As of June 2025, in the Ethernet Switches category, the mindshare of Fortinet FortiSwitch - Secure Access is 4.9%, down from 6.0% compared to the previous year. The mindshare of MikroTik Cloud Router Switch is 1.4%, up from 1.3% compared to the previous year. It is calculated based on PeerSpot user engagement data.
Ethernet Switches
 

Featured Reviews

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.
Anthony Quarshie - PeerSpot reviewer
Provides robust routing capability but needs simplified documentation
I am using it, and I recommend it to my customers in the financial sector The router power is the most valuable aspect. I have not tried AppSec. Everything, I do on my own with Sage or something similar. I do not rely on technical support. I have used the solution for a couple of years, like…

Quotes from Members

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

Pros

"The software is very stable."
"Integration is good, as well as price and technical support."
"The product is very secure."
"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."
"It can integrate well with other Fortinet products."
"What I actually use in this deployment are Forti APs (Fortinet Access Points). So, I can see all my office infrastructure from a single console, which is handy. One FortiGate, one FortiSwitch, and five access points, everything under good control. It's really nice to see it all together like this."
"It is a cheap and secure solution. The job switching and security features are better than other solutions."
"My advice those using a firewall Fortigate is: use their APs because they work very well."
"I like that it's quite flexible and addresses different issues. It's quite easy to use, and the pricing is great. We find them to be very capable switches."
"The router power is the most valuable aspect."
"This solution is very similar to the on-premises version making it easy to use for those who know the architect."
"It is easy to set up the solution."
"It's a well-rounded solution for routing."
"The router power is the most valuable aspect."
"The best aspect is that it remains affordable."
"The initial setup is easy."
 

Cons

"I would like Fortinet to make this product easier to configure."
"It could be simpler but compared to the competition, it's not so bad."
"They could provide integration with Fortinet Authenticator."
"It is always nice when something is cheaper."
"The pricing is considered high due to the currency exchange changes in our region."
"In Fortinet, the packet reconstruction in the SD-WAN solution needs a little bit of improvement. When it comes to the Secure Access to the switches or the mix of Fortinet solution, the very small ones do not have the capability to use fiber cables. So, the small FortiGates have to work with the copper cables and cannot use fiber cables. Even though they have the capacity and throughput on all technical connectors, they don't have the interfaces, which is one of the good things with Cisco. They just add models to it. You buy the independent models, and you add them."
"The central management needs improvement. The initial setup could be easier."
"The product's pricing needs improvement for small and medium businesses."
"In medium to large sectors, there's a necessity for managing aspects like proxy firewalls."
"The port isolation and VLAN need to be improved."
"Simplifying the documentation would be a good idea."
"The user interface could improve and they should allow a license for IBS."
"Most of the time, the MikroTik Cloud Router Switch is stable. If I were to rate the stability on a scale of 1 to 10 where 10 is the best, I would give it a 5."
"MikroTik Cloud Router Switch needs improvement in the area of security, although the recent models are addressing this."
"The bulk efficiencies and the control of traffic could be a bit better."
"The initial setup is complex."
 

Pricing and Cost Advice

"We have to pay for the solution's subscription."
"It's affordable compared to other switching products, like Cisco switches."
"We signed up for a three-year license for support and replacement."
"Price-wise, I find Fortinet FortiSwitch - Secure Access to be an okay product. It is not an expensive product."
"The pricing is cheap and only a yearly licensing cost needs to be paid."
"Licensing is easy: FortiCare and that's it."
"It's affordable and there are no additional costs, just regular support, and license fees."
"We have an annual licensing cost. There are no additional costs."
"In Pakistan, if you buy this cloud router, it's approximately $700 for the device."
"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."
"The price of the solution is fair and there is a one-time license purchase only."
"The price is competitive."
"They came with the licensing when we purchased them."
"This product has a one-time cost and there is no licensing fee."
"I consider it to be a cost-effective solution."
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Top Industries

By visitors reading reviews
Computer Software Company
13%
Manufacturing Company
8%
Financial Services Firm
8%
Government
8%
Computer Software Company
15%
Comms Service Provider
12%
Hospitality Company
8%
Healthcare Company
7%
 

Company Size

By reviewers
Large Enterprise
Midsize Enterprise
Small Business
 

Questions from the Community

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...
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.
What needs improvement with MikroTik Cloud Router Switch?
Regarding improvements in the MikroTik Cloud Router Switch, I am not sure as it is a good product. The performance could potentially be improved, but for this market segment, it is a good product. ...
 

Also Known As

No data available
MikroTik CRS Series
 

Overview

 

Sample Customers

Black Gold Regional Schools, Amadeus Hospitality, Jefferson County, Chunghwa Telecom, City of Boroondara, Dimension Data
Information Not Available
Find out what your peers are saying about Fortinet FortiSwitch - Secure Access vs. MikroTik Cloud Router Switch and other solutions. Updated: June 2025.
859,129 professionals have used our research since 2012.