Fortinet FortiWLM vs SonicWall SonicWave Access Points comparison

Fortinet and SonicWall are both solutions in the Wireless LAN category. Fortinet is ranked #12 with an average rating of 8.7, while SonicWall is ranked #20 with an average rating of 10.0. Fortinet holds a 1.9% mindshare in Wireless LAN, compared to SonicWall’s 0.6% mindshare. Additionally, 96% of Fortinet users are willing to recommend the solution, compared to 100% of SonicWall users who would recommend it.

Fortinet FortiWLM

Read 29 Fortinet FortiWLM reviews

1,791 Views
1,648 Comparison Views

96% willing to recommend

SonicWall SonicWave Access ...

Read 4 SonicWall SonicWave Access Points reviews

510 Views
510 Comparison Views

100% willing to recommend

Fortinet FortiWLM

SonicWall SonicWave Access ...

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Executive SummaryUpdated on Oct 31, 2024

Fortinet FortiWLM and SonicWall SonicWave Access Points are competing in the network security space, focusing on secure wireless network management and access. Fortinet FortiWLM offers competitive pricing and excellent support, while SonicWall SonicWave provides superior features, making them worth the investment.

Features: Fortinet FortiWLM includes centralized Wi-Fi management, customizable reporting, and support for network analytics, providing comprehensive insights. SonicWall SonicWave Access Points offer advanced security protocols, seamless integration with SonicWall security services, and high-speed throughput ideal for demanding environments.

Ease of Deployment and Customer Service: SonicWall SonicWave enables straightforward deployment with cloud-based tools and efficient service for quick resolutions. Fortinet FortiWLM, while more complex with extensive configuration options, has a responsive support team to address setup challenges.

Pricing and ROI: Fortinet FortiWLM features an attractive price point with long-term efficiency and strong ROI due to lower maintenance costs. SonicWall SonicWave, despite higher initial costs, offers significant ROI through performance and security features that justify the investment.

To learn more, read our detailed Fortinet FortiWLM vs. SonicWall SonicWave Access Points Report (Updated: September 2025).

Buyer's Guide

Fortinet FortiWLM vs. SonicWall SonicWave Access Points

September 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

Fortinet FortiWLM

Ranking in Wireless LAN

12th

Average Rating

8.4

Reviews Sentiment

6.3

Number of Reviews

Ranking in other categories

No ranking in other categories

SonicWall SonicWave Access ...

Ranking in Wireless LAN

20th

Average Rating

10.0

Reviews Sentiment

7.4

Number of Reviews

Ranking in other categories

No ranking in other categories

Mindshare comparison

As of October 2025, in the Wireless LAN category, the mindshare of Fortinet FortiWLM is 1.9%, down from 2.1% compared to the previous year. The mindshare of SonicWall SonicWave Access Points is 0.6%, up from 0.4% compared to the previous year. It is calculated based on PeerSpot user engagement data.

Wireless LAN Market Share Distribution
Product	Market Share (%)
Fortinet FortiWLM	1.9%
SonicWall SonicWave Access Points	0.6%
Other	97.5%

Wireless LAN

Featured Reviews

LuayHlaleh

Information Technology Team Lead at TechnoPeak

Offers robust network management with cost considerations for large deployments

Large enterprises typically invest in FortiAnalyzer, though our company and SMB clients don't require this analysis tool. We use Ekahau for floor planning and Wi-Fi coverage analysis rather than Fortinet FortiWLM's built-in features. Ekahau helps us perform site surveys and plan access point placement. Fortinet FortiWLM is a flexible and common solution in Dubai. It's one of the best-selling products, with Etisalat, the largest ISP, installing Fortinet FortiGate for approximately 70-80% of their clients. The solution offers different series to accommodate various needs. The triple radio model costs around $1,000 (3,500 dirham) and supports 40-50 connected devices. The 231F model suits smaller deployments of 20-25 devices. I rate Fortinet FortiWLM a seven out of ten. While it's an excellent solution, Cisco remains the market leader.

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Jasmit Singh Juneja

CEO & Technology Specialist at Karman Infotech Private Limited

Easy-to-deploy platform with prompt technical support services

The platform's most valuable feature is the ability to provide cloud access to configure and manage devices. It integrates with ETP solutions; thus, we don't need to run a firewall. They provide an online wireless line manager application. Its basic access point is Wi-Fi 621, which has 2.5 G connectivity. None of the competitors, including Fortinet, enables this facility on the most basic level.

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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

"This is the only product on the market currently that supports as many access points for wifi users."

"The most valuable features are central management and the many other features available."

"If you do have a FortiGate Firewall somewhere in the network, you can connect the wireless controller to that... You get 100 percent visibility from a single point... You can see everything that's connected to the FortiGate, whether it's a switch or a wireless AP or a wireless controller or any other Fortinet product."

"I use Fortinet FortiWLM for wireless communication and the internet."

"Seamless roaming by leveraging Virtual Cell is a major advantage which reduces roam times and issues related to roaming. Code stability has been excellent and the hardware quality is second to none."

"At the moment, particularly with the COVID-19 situation, the most valuable feature is probably the IPsec VPN, which is easy to implement with Fortinet."

"Fortinet FortiWLM is good for tracking assets, monitoring, and overall management."

"The most valuable features are the roaming profile, the mesh, and the performance."

More Fortinet FortiWLM pros

"The security features of SonicWall are highly valued."

"A good management tool that can be managed through the cloud or firewall."

"I rate SonicWall a nine out of ten."

"The platform's most valuable feature is the ability to provide cloud access to configure and manage devices."

"Unlike the Cisco solution that needs a dedicated wireless controller outside of a firewall, SonicWall has everything in one box. Fortinet is close to it."

Cons

"The range needs some improvement and also the stability."

"The pricing for the solution is expensive and can be improved."

"The roaming of Fortinet FortiWLM could improve when comparing it to other solutions. We are missing some of the functionality in the controller. Additionally, they should offer more logs instead of using FortiAnalyzer because all the users will not be using the same thing."

"The interface could certainly do with some improvement. We have other customers with WiFi networks, and they always use Ubiquiti. With Ubiquiti, it's a much better user interface, and it is much easier to configure."

"When using the FortiGate as the wireless controller, you cannot have automatic user registration, which is something that they should offer."

"There is very little publicly available information about Virtual Cell and Single Channel Architecture. Promotion of the overall technology is limited as well. Being more vocal about a product that has many advantages would go a long way to eliminating a lot of the confusion and negative perception about Virtual Cell and Single Channel Architecture."

"The solution should improve user capacity."

"There are currently issues with Fortinet's software quality. We have concerns regarding the frequent updates needed because of short software cycles."

More Fortinet FortiWLM cons

"They are sometimes difficult to manage from the end-user side because they are not yet familiar with the configuration."

"The main issue is the management of the access points. They are sometimes difficult to manage from the end-user side because they are not yet familiar with the configuration."

"Integrating with the firewall and management console was a little complex."

"We have a lot of overlapping wireless networks with a lot of cheap equipment that does not run on any rules or regulations. The best way to improve the wireless network, like in SonicWaves, is to defeat these networks by isolating, preventing them, or overcoming their wireless signal. We try to do that, but I live near an airport, and the AirPortRadar glitches my wireless network every nine seconds."

"The product's pricing is high and could be improved."

Pricing and Cost Advice

"Licensing costs are reasonable. There are so many different types of licenses with Fortinet, but the licensing and the 24/7/365 support are so reasonable that I automatically include it with every transaction. I never line item it without it. There are no additional costs."

"Fortinet would do something with their pricing model to attract smaller business users and eliminate the mandatory service contracts."

"For indoor access points, there is a one-time cost, upfront, whereas outdoor access points have an annual fee."

"Fortinet FortiWLM's pricing is regular and competitive."

"Support contracts typically cost approximately $100.00 per year."

"There is a perpetual license required for this solution and the price could be reduced."

"The price of Fortinet FortiWLM is reasonable compared to the other vendors. We are using a five-year license."

"The product is highly expensive. I rate the pricing a ten."

More Fortinet FortiWLM pricing and cost advice

"The platform offers yearly licenses."

"The pricing of the SonicWave Access Points solution is different in the US and Brazil. In the US, the solution is priced more competitively than other vendors. In Brazil, the exchange rate is a problem. To address this, SonicWall managers in Brazil are running several sales promotions and improving the price of new units."

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Top Industries

By visitors reading reviews

Computer Software Company

14%

Comms Service Provider

Manufacturing Company

Healthcare Company

Computer Software Company

17%

Manufacturing Company

Financial Services Firm

Educational Organization

Company Size

By reviewers

Large Enterprise

Midsize Enterprise

Small Business

By reviewers
Company Size	Count
Small Business	19
Midsize Enterprise	3
Large Enterprise	5

No data available

Questions from the Community

What do you like most about Fortinet FortiWLM?

The security is a valuable feature.

See all answers

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

Regarding functionality, a lower price for Fortinet FortiWLM would be better, but it's difficult. Regarding the integration with other vendors, we try to buy only products from a single vendor to a...

See all answers

What needs improvement with Fortinet FortiWLM?

The price could be reduced by 20%. In Dubai, UniFi costs 700 dirham for the UniFi Pro 7th generation. For Fortinet FortiWLM, a similar model would cost around 1,300 dirham. If this price was reduce...

See all answers

What do you like most about SonicWall SonicWave Access Points?

The platform's most valuable feature is the ability to provide cloud access to configure and manage devices.

See all answers

What is your experience regarding pricing and costs for SonicWall SonicWave Access Points?

The platform offers yearly licenses. We receive all the support services through our partners. Thus, there are no extra costs involved. However, some partners might charge for deployment services.

See all answers

What needs improvement with SonicWall SonicWave Access Points?

The main issue is the management of the access points. They are sometimes difficult to manage from the end-user side because they are not yet familiar with the configuration.

See all answers

Comparisons

Aruba Wireless vs Fortinet FortiWLM

Compared 26% of the time

Cisco Wireless vs Fortinet FortiWLM

Compared 18% of the time

Cambium Networks Wireless LAN vs Fortinet FortiWLM

Compared 12% of the time

Cisco Meraki Wireless LAN vs Fortinet FortiWLM

Compared 11% of the time

Ruckus Wireless vs Fortinet FortiWLM

Compared 10% of the time

More Fortinet FortiWLM Competitors

Ruckus Wireless vs SonicWall SonicWave Access Points

Compared 33% of the time

Ubiquiti WLAN vs SonicWall SonicWave Access Points

Compared 28% of the time

Cisco Meraki Wireless LAN vs SonicWall SonicWave Access Points

Compared 14% of the time

Cisco Wireless vs SonicWall SonicWave Access Points

Compared 13% of the time

Aruba Wireless vs SonicWall SonicWave Access Points

Compared 13% of the time

More SonicWall SonicWave Access Points Competitors

Product Reports

Buyer's Guide

Fortinet FortiWLM

October 2025

Download Fortinet FortiWLM product report

Buyer's Guide

Wireless LAN

October 2025

SonicWall SonicWave Access Points report

Download SonicWall SonicWave Access Points product report

Also Known As

FortiWLM, FortiAP, Fortinet AP/OAP, Meru Wireless LAN

SonicWave 200 Series, SonicWave 200 Series Access Points, SonicWave 400 Series, SonicWave 400 Series Access Points

Overview

Consolidate security and wireless LAN management with our integrated wireless solutions. Single-pane-of-glass management for security and access without the need to add point products simplifies deployment and reduces management complexity. These solutions are highly scalable to support even the largest organizations and distributed enterprises.

Fortinet

SonicWall SonicWave series wireless access points (APs) combine high-performance IEEE 802.11ac Wave 2 wireless technology with flexible deployment options. These APs can be managed via the cloud using SonicWall WiFi Cloud Manager (WCM) or through SonicWall's industry-leading next-generation firewalls.

SonicWall

Sample Customers

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

St. Dominic's School for Girls

Buyer's Guide

Fortinet FortiWLM vs. SonicWall SonicWave Access Points

September 2025

Free Report: Fortinet FortiWLM vs. SonicWall SonicWave Access Points

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