Meraki Dashboard vs Observer GigaStor comparison

Why PeerSpot?

Cisco and Viavi Solutions are both solutions in the Network Monitoring Software category. Cisco is ranked #10 with an average rating of 8.6, while Viavi Solutions is ranked #88. Cisco holds a 0.8% mindshare in NMS, compared to Viavi Solutions’s 0.5% mindshare. Additionally, 98% of Cisco users are willing to recommend the solution, compared to 100% of Viavi Solutions users who would recommend it.

Meraki Dashboard

Read 68 Meraki Dashboard reviews

6,206 Views
4,717 Comparison Views

98% willing to recommend

Observer GigaStor

Read 7 Observer GigaStor reviews

3,243 Views
2,043 Comparison Views

100% willing to recommend

Meraki Dashboard

Observer GigaStor

Comparison Buyer's Guide

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Executive SummaryUpdated on Oct 10, 2024

Observer GigaStor and Meraki Dashboard compete in network performance monitoring and management. Observer GigaStor seems preferable for cost-effectiveness in pricing and support, while Meraki Dashboard offers superior features justified by their higher cost.

Features: Observer GigaStor provides deep packet capture, detailed analytics, and robust troubleshooting capabilities. Meraki Dashboard offers cloud-based management, easy network control, and comprehensive performance metrics.

Room for Improvement: Observer GigaStor could benefit from streamlined deployment, enhanced user interface, and broader integration capabilities. Meraki Dashboard might improve by offering lower cost options, increasing feature customization, and expanding offline functionalities.

Ease of Deployment and Customer Service: Observer GigaStor requires complex on-premises setup involving specific infrastructure and lengthy setup time. Meraki Dashboard provides a quicker, cloud-based deployment experience, with efficient customer service assisting smooth implementation.

Pricing and ROI: Observer GigaStor comes with a lower initial setup cost, appealing for budget-conscious organizations. Meraki Dashboard, despite a higher setup cost, potentially offers a better long-term return on investment due to its extensive features and easier management.

To learn more, read our detailed Meraki Dashboard vs. Observer GigaStor Report (Updated: September 2026).

Buyer's Guide

Meraki Dashboard vs. Observer GigaStor

September 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

Meraki Dashboard

Ranking in Network Monitoring Software

10th

Average Rating

8.6

Reviews Sentiment

6.1

Number of Reviews

Ranking in other categories

No ranking in other categories

Observer GigaStor

Ranking in Network Monitoring Software

88th

Average Rating

9.0

Reviews Sentiment

8.1

Number of Reviews

Ranking in other categories

Network Troubleshooting (15th), Network Packet Broker (NPB) (6th)

Mindshare comparison

As of October 2026, in the Network Monitoring Software category, the mindshare of Meraki Dashboard is 0.8%, down from 1.1% compared to the previous year. The mindshare of Observer GigaStor is 0.5%, up from 0.2% compared to the previous year. It is calculated based on PeerSpot user engagement data.

Network Monitoring Software Mindshare Distribution
Product	Mindshare (%)
Meraki Dashboard	0.8%
Observer GigaStor	0.5%
Other	98.7%

Network Monitoring Software

Featured Reviews

NicolasFigaro

IT Network Manager at a tech services company with 10,001+ employees

Cloud-based management has simplified global Wi-Fi operations and improved daily troubleshooting

What I would like to improve in Meraki Dashboard is the template part, which is really helping me to manage at large scale. Integration with AI or native AI functionality would be interesting depending on the price, how far it goes, and how far it shares the information I have. For the rest, it is quite straightforward. The next tool maybe to be integrated, which I do not know if it exists today within Meraki, is IPAM management for IP address management. I do not know if it is part of the roadmap, but it is something I have to use on a dedicated platform, so integrating this would be interesting as well. Finally, I would rate Meraki Dashboard overall as a 9 out of 10. There are still some missing features, but there are also some considerations. I am familiar with the Chinese situation where there is a dedicated portal for China, so if I need to deploy access points in China, I have to connect to a dedicated portal due to the regulations in that country. However, this is not due to Cisco or company policy.

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Jeroen-Dubbelman

Director at Bitrate

Aids significantly in the threat-hunting process and provides a score-based evaluation of user experience

There are many valuable features, but understanding end-user response times stands out. It provides a score-based evaluation of user experience, helping customers quickly pinpoint whether issues originate from the network, server, client, or application. Additionally, it facilitates in-depth analysis of application dependencies. The retrospective network analysis capability of Observer GigaStor has been beneficial. It's a pivotal feature for network performance solutions. However, I prefer to consider the entire solution suite - GigaStor, along with GigaFlow and Apex - for comprehensive network visibility and monitoring. So, I prefer to integrate all three solutions to provide the best visibility. They complement each other well, with Apex aggregating and correlating data from both GigaStor and GigaFlow to enhance environmental understanding and troubleshooting efficiency.

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

"The Meraki solution was easy to use and allowed us to separate the traffic."

"It's a scalable solution."

"The most valuable feature is their support, and they get better every day."

"I feel Meraki is one of the best at what it does even if it is not fitting to large enterprises."

"The most valuable features are the ease of use and a single-pane-of-glass that allows us to identify issues across the entire network from one dashboard."

"The ease-of-use and the analytics are really effective tools."

"It can analyze the traffic that it is picking up from what may be a rogue access point, and it is able to identify those and send relevant notifications."

"For small businesses, I would recommend Meraki over pretty much anything else on the market."

More Meraki Dashboard pros

"There are many valuable features, but understanding end-user response times stands out. It provides a score-based evaluation of user experience, helping customers quickly pinpoint whether issues originate from the network, server, client, or application. Additionally, it facilitates in-depth analysis of application dependencies."

"Enables us to go back in time to capture an issue and analyze it for a solution, and this after the fact analysis is key to overcoming the bump in the night issues."

"This solution allows us to see exactly what is going on in the network and we can very quickly solve issues with users."

"Industry-leading line rates, packet-capture technology and data-mining capabilities are the most valuable features."

"It's able to capture packets and, after a long time, you can come and use that information; to check, to analyze - everything you would want to do. So it's very good and helpful if you want to protect your data. It is stored in a certain place where you can access it every time you want to analyze it."

"Go take a look at it. It's a great product and has great capabilities."

"I have no regrets using this product, I am very satisfied for what I paid for it and for the things I am able to do with the product."

"It can help to write your rules, organize firewalls, your block, and also your protocols and IP address to come in or out of your network."

More Observer GigaStor pros

Cons

"The biggest problem is the absence of a VPN client like AnyConnect with the device."

"The MDM, however, is bad. We're using another MDM now because Meraki was so bad."

"More integration would be an improvement."

"They can improve the landing page in Meraki Dashboard. When I go into an organization, they can include a lot more infographics. They can also simplify it a bit and consolidate it. For example, if I've got five branches and I go into customer A's profile or organization, I'd like to see an infographic on the landing page providing a snippet of the entire network layout, that is, all branches in one snapshot. From there, I would like to go into the network that I want to work on or view."

"I think this product could be improved with a CLI for more directives."

"The coverage has been an issue for us."

"The client VPN could use some help, but that's probably partially Microsoft's fault because of the Windows client for VPNs, which keeps changing."

"There is a need for price reductions in developing countries, as the cost of Meraki is quite high."

More Meraki Dashboard cons

"Maybe the graphical user interface could be simplified to allow people to use it more easily. It's already good, but they can work more on it to make it even easier."

"The interface is pretty complex, so for the average user, it takes a while to get up to speed with it. I would like it to be more user-friendly."

"I would like to have more than 4TB of storage available in the portable version of this solution."

"Graphics need improvement. Because a lot of the information there you have to input first in some case to have full potential. It could be more automated."

"The Observer Console UI is consistent and stable, but could use some updating to be more modern."

"There are some issues, in our environment that puts processing restraints on the Gigastor when turning on trending data to be sent to APEX."

"GigaStor feeds into Apex. So, the area where there could be improvement would be in artificial intelligence. For example, the incorporation of more advanced machine learning or AI capabilities could enhance its functionality."

Pricing and Cost Advice

"The pricing for a small setup is only a few hundred dollars a year. The fee is subscription-based."

"The pricing of the tool is relatively high compared to other solutions. It comes with a premium that exceeds that of its competitors by approximately 25 percent."

"The Meraki Dashboard has more competitive pricing."

"Licensing fees are paid on a yearly basis."

"Licensing for Meraki Dashboard is paid every year, and it's on a per-device model that costs roughly $300 to $400 per device, but that comes with full support and troubleshooting, etc. Compared to similar products, Meraki Dashboard is quite high-end, but the costs you pay are all-in."

"Meraki Dashboard's pricing is reasonable. It is sold yearly, typically for one, three, or five years. I rate its pricing a five out of ten."

"I’m not sure of the exact cost, however, it’s my understanding the Meraki WiFi is around $800. That’s for a three-year license. It’s about $150 a year."

"From a pricing perspective, they are still expensive."

More Meraki Dashboard pricing and cost advice

"It depends on the requirements you have. There are three types of license. There's the updates license, the work group license, and the workstation license."

"It's quite expensive."

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Top Industries

By visitors reading reviews

Outsourcing Company

12%

Construction Company

Healthcare Company

Manufacturing Company

Construction Company

18%

Financial Services Firm

12%

Outsourcing Company

10%

Computer Software Company

Company Size

By reviewers

Large Enterprise

Midsize Enterprise

Small Business

By reviewers
Company Size	Count
Small Business	24
Midsize Enterprise	14
Large Enterprise	34

By reviewers
Company Size	Count
Small Business	5
Large Enterprise	3

Questions from the Community

What is your experience regarding pricing and costs for Meraki Dashboard?

Regarding their pricing, the company I work for, Akkodis, was acquired by Adecco in 2022, so I am using the same technologies and I am somehow on the contract regarding Meraki purchase and so on. P...

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What needs improvement with Meraki Dashboard?

The main aspect I would like to see improved in Meraki Dashboard is the dependency on cloud connectivity for centralized management. If the primary Internet or ISP connection goes down, access to t...

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What is your primary use case for Meraki Dashboard?

We have deployed the Meraki Dashboard for centralized management and monitoring of all devices, appliances, and sensors across two shopping malls. The shopping malls are connected across different ...

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Comparisons

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Compared 3% of the time

SolarWinds User Device Tracker vs Meraki Dashboard

Compared 3% of the time

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Compared 11% of the time

SolarWinds NPM vs Observer GigaStor

Compared 6% of the time

NETSCOUT nGeniusONE vs Observer GigaStor

Compared 6% of the time

Gigamon Deep Observability Pipeline vs Observer GigaStor

Compared 5% of the time

Viavi Observer Platform vs Observer GigaStor

Compared 5% of the time

More Observer GigaStor Competitors

Product Reports

Buyer's Guide

Meraki Dashboard

September 2026

Download Meraki Dashboard product report

Buyer's Guide

Observer GigaStor

September 2026

Download Observer GigaStor product report

Overview

Meraki Dashboard offers intuitive, cloud-based network management, simplifying tasks with centralized control, real-time monitoring, and comprehensive security.

Offering ease of use and a single-pane-of-glass view, Meraki Dashboard enhances network management through centralized monitoring and configuration. Its intuitive interface allows remote device management, policy configuration, and real-time alerts. Cloud-based access provides scalability and automatic updates, while detailed analytics and security measures ensure robust control over networks. Though some users mention complexity in certain configurations and third-party integration gaps, its continuous improvement and network management efficiency accommodate extensive business requirements.

What are the Key Features of Meraki Dashboard?

Ease of Use: Simplified interface that allows easy navigation and operations.
Single-Pane-of-Glass View: Centralized management of all network components from one platform.
Real-Time Monitoring: Provides up-to-date insights for proactive network management.
Cloud-Based Access: Accessible from anywhere, enabling remote management and updates.
Automatic Updates: Ensures the system is always up-to-date with the latest features and security patches.
Detailed Analytics: Offers insights into network performance and security analytics.
Comprehensive Security Measures: Features built-in security protocols and tools for enhanced protection.

What Benefits and ROI Should Users Consider?

Centralized Control: Streamlines network management across multiple sites.
Scalability: Grows with business needs, supporting a wide range of devices and configurations.
Integration Capabilities: Merges easily with existing systems, though improvements are desired for third-party devices.
Improved Network Efficiency: Enhances visibility and control, reducing downtime and improving performance.
Remote Management: Facilitates convenient configuration and monitoring from any location.

Enterprises deploy Meraki Dashboard for diverse network management purposes, including monitoring, access point deployment, security configuration, and VLAN and LAN management. In education, it provides centralized Wi-Fi management and ensures secure student access. Retail businesses utilize it for seamless device integration and analytics, while healthcare facilities employ its robust security and real-time monitoring to safeguard patient data and maintain network efficiency. Its cloud-based interface enhances control and visibility across numerous sites, simplifying management and configurations.

Cisco

Observer GigaStor provides detailed network visibility and data capture for efficient troubleshooting and analysis. It's a robust tool designed to manage today’s complex network environments, offering reliability and performance insights.

Observer GigaStor specializes in long-term network traffic capture, delivering comprehensive forensic analysis capabilities. It stands as a trusted resource for IT departments aiming to resolve network performance issues swiftly. By capturing and storing packets with high precision, it aids in identifying both current and past anomalies, ensuring network health and performance continuity through proactive monitoring.

What are the key features of Observer GigaStor?

Long-term Data Capture: Enables storage of vast amounts of data for extensive historical analysis.
Comprehensive Protocol Support: Offers support for diverse protocols, enhancing troubleshooting accuracy.
Retrospective Analysis: Provides the ability to trace issues back to their origin point, improving issue resolution speed.
Scalability: Adapts to network growth without sacrificing performance capabilities.

What benefits and ROI can be expected from reviews?

Increased Troubleshooting Efficiency: Provides quicker resolution times, reducing network downtime.
Enhanced Network Visibility: Improves understanding of network performance and traffic patterns.
Reduced Operational Costs: Limits the need for manual troubleshooting, saving on labor costs.
Improved Decision Making: Data insights aid in strategic planning for infrastructure improvements.

Observer GigaStor's implementation spans across various industries, from telecommunications to finance, where maintaining robust and secure network performance is crucial. Its ability to analyze and retrieve historical network data supports compliance and operational stability demands in these sectors.

Viavi Solutions

Sample Customers

Coop eG, Peet's Coffee & Tea, Priefert Manufacturing, Century Care Management, Clifton College, Zürs Ski Resort, Capital FM Arena, MAXI Autohöfe

Cisco Systems, Hawaiian Telecom, Renown Health, State of Nevada, U.S. Department of Veteran Affairs, Allstate Insurance, Jack Henry & Associates, United States Airforce, US Bank, Blue Cross Blue Shield of Minnesota, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, Chicago Board Options Exchange

Buyer's Guide

Meraki Dashboard vs. Observer GigaStor

September 2026

Free Report: Meraki Dashboard vs. Observer GigaStor

Find out what your peers are saying about Meraki Dashboard vs. Observer GigaStor and other solutions. Updated: September 2026.

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