Meraki MS Switches vs NETGEAR Switches comparison

Why PeerSpot?

Cisco and Netgear are both solutions in the Ethernet Switches category. Cisco is ranked #6 with an average rating of 8.5, while Netgear is ranked #7 with an average rating of 7.7. Cisco holds a 2.5% mindshare in ES, compared to Netgear’s 7.3% mindshare. Additionally, 96% of Cisco users are willing to recommend the solution, compared to 88% of Netgear users who would recommend it.

Meraki MS Switches

Read 101 Meraki MS Switches reviews

5,947 Views
5,888 Comparison Views

96% willing to recommend

NETGEAR Switches

Read 57 NETGEAR Switches reviews

11,518 Views
10,481 Comparison Views

88% willing to recommend

Meraki MS Switches

NETGEAR Switches

Comparison Buyer's Guide

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Executive SummaryUpdated on Nov 3, 2024

NETGEAR and Meraki MS Switches both compete in the network switch category. Based on the feature comparison, NETGEAR, known for affordability and ease of setup, fits small enterprises, while Meraki offers superior remote and cloud management ideal for larger scale deployments.

Features: NETGEAR Switches prioritize affordability, low power consumption, and ease of setup, with auto-sensing Ethernet and duplex mode support. Additional features like QoS and Insight Pro remote management support make them effective for smaller enterprise environments. Meraki MS Switches deliver cloud-based management, centralized orchestration, and traffic insights, integrating smoothly with Cisco's ecosystem, appealing to organizations needing robust remote capabilities.

Room for Improvement: NETGEAR can enhance security features, VLAN management, and compatibility with multicast packets. Developments in virtual stacking and remote management would boost their offerings. Meraki's high pricing and licensing model present limitations. Reducing cloud dependency and cost, along with better Layer 3 functionality and on-site management options, would enhance their competitive edge.

Ease of Deployment and Customer Service: NETGEAR offers easy on-premises deployments and reliable customer support, though improvements in responsiveness are suggested. Meraki's flexible deployment options, strong technical backing, and centralized cloud management streamline implementation but may need better customer support alignment.

Pricing and ROI: NETGEAR's competitive pricing offers strong price-to-performance value, supported by a straightforward cost structure and lifetime warranty, attracting small businesses. Meraki, with its comprehensive Cisco integration, justifies higher costs through advanced features and strong support, delivering value where advanced capabilities and cloud management are prioritized.

To learn more, read our detailed Meraki MS Switches vs. NETGEAR Switches Report (Updated: September 2026).

Buyer's Guide

Meraki MS Switches vs. NETGEAR Switches

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:

ROI

Sentiment score

3.3

Meraki MS Switches offer mixed ROI; manageability benefits contrast with slow cloud functions and unmet expectations for some users.

Sentiment score

6.9

NETGEAR Switches enhance efficiency and profitability through reliability, remote management, and long-term cost savings despite initial investment.

No quotes available

For more quotes and insights, download the Meraki MS Switches report

No quotes available

For more quotes and insights, download the NETGEAR Switches report

Customer Service

Sentiment score

7.1

Meraki MS Switches support is generally positive, praising responsiveness but noting some delays and language barriers.

Sentiment score

6.8

NETGEAR Switches support is generally effective, though some face challenges with documentation, quick assistance, and complex configurations.

If the devices are licensed, the support team will assist you depending on the severity level of the case.

MajidKhan

Network Engineer at Gaihab

The support is excellent and rated ten out of ten.

Ankur Desai

Sales Engineer at Phoenyx Commtech Pvt. Ltd.

I would rate the technical support by Cisco a nine because support-wise, we are comfortable.

Ananda Deb

Technical Manager at Ledorbis Solutions

For more quotes and insights, download the Meraki MS Switches report

There are issues distinguishing which switches support cloud features.

reviewer957801

Managing Director at a tech services company with 10,001+ employees

For more quotes and insights, download the NETGEAR Switches report

Scalability Issues

Sentiment score

7.1

Meraki MS Switches offer scalability ideal for small to medium businesses, but lack larger models suitable for enterprise-level growth.

Sentiment score

7.0

NETGEAR Switches provide scalable solutions with virtual stacking, supporting high performance and adaptability for diverse network environments.

They're quite scalable for my environment.

John Ntambi

Ag. Systems & Networks Head at UNBS

We can extend MS switches and have multiple plants using the same solution.

HemChander

Wireless Network Engineer at MSSL

For more quotes and insights, download the Meraki MS Switches report

The scalability of NETGEAR Switches is easy and very beneficial for us.

Umang Shah

Assistant Manager ICT at IHS

NETGEAR's scalability through its Insight Cloud system is on par with Ubiquiti's, although it must offer features beyond its competitors.

reviewer957801

Managing Director at a tech services company with 10,001+ employees

We used to use a lot of the 4300 switches and they're not completely compatible with the new AV line.

Tomas Devriese

Teamleader Av Installers at solufak

For more quotes and insights, download the NETGEAR Switches report

Stability Issues

Sentiment score

8.2

Meraki MS Switches are stable and reliable, with minor issues often due to external factors, ensuring user satisfaction.

Sentiment score

7.8

NETGEAR Switches are reliable and efficient, offering high stability with minor glitches easily fixed through firmware updates.

If something happens to the device or hardware, Cisco will automatically change the device by the next business day.

MajidKhan

Network Engineer at Gaihab

There is zero downtime; Meraki MS Switches are reliable and stable.

HemChander

Wireless Network Engineer at MSSL

We faced issues following firmware updates, which we now handle by performing updates outside of working hours.

JulienMillet

Chief Technologies Officer at ASTORG PARTNERS

For more quotes and insights, download the Meraki MS Switches report

We've experienced failures such as a 16-port dying after three to four years.

reviewer957801

Managing Director at a tech services company with 10,001+ employees

I rarely see glitches, but we had some minor glitches over the past years, and they were easily resolved.

Tomas Devriese

Teamleader Av Installers at solufak

For more quotes and insights, download the NETGEAR Switches report

Room For Improvement

Meraki MS Switches face criticism for lacking advanced features, high costs, cloud reliance, and complex management and ordering processes.

NETGEAR Switches need enhanced security, improved management, better performance, and more intuitive interfaces, addressing cost and support concerns.

Meraki should also consider improvements in stacking features, particularly in the lower-end models like NS130, where stacking isn't supported, unlike with Cisco traditional switching.

Ravi Ramachandran

Senior Manager at a comms service provider with 51-200 employees

There are compatibility issues with certain Power over Ethernet (PoE) devices, which we would like to see resolved.

JulienMillet

Chief Technologies Officer at ASTORG PARTNERS

Most people are familiar with the Cisco commands, and it would be beneficial if the switch could be accessed by GUI configuration and by normally accessing the console.

MajidKhan

Network Engineer at Gaihab

For more quotes and insights, download the Meraki MS Switches report

They should introduce features like dual firmware or dual boot that allow systems to be updated without downtime.

reviewer957801

Managing Director at a tech services company with 10,001+ employees

Real-time analytics would be helpful regarding the analytics aspect, and this feature is not yet present and would be an improvement regarding analytics.

Tomas Devriese

Teamleader Av Installers at solufak

They can improve on the commercial part, specifically the cost, as it is higher than other brands.

Umang Shah

Assistant Manager ICT at IHS

For more quotes and insights, download the NETGEAR Switches report

Setup Cost

Meraki MS Switches are costly but valued for features, cloud management, and stability, with discounts on longer licensing terms.

NETGEAR Switches offer excellent value and advanced features, making them ideal for budget-conscious buyers like schools and municipalities.

Meraki MS Switches, including their licensing, are somewhat expensive, particularly when compared with competitor solutions like HP.

Ibrahim Sherif

IT System Administrator at Bouri

The cost of the support and maintenance bundle is quite costly for Cisco.

Boaz Katabazi

Network &Security Engineer at Natioanal Drug Authority Uganda

Meraki MS Switches are somewhat expensive.

HemChander

Wireless Network Engineer at MSSL

For more quotes and insights, download the Meraki MS Switches report

Some high-end switches required for specific advanced features, like precision time protocols, can be more expensive.

reviewer957801

Managing Director at a tech services company with 10,001+ employees

It is an expensive product.

Tomas Devriese

Teamleader Av Installers at solufak

For more quotes and insights, download the NETGEAR Switches report

Valuable Features

Meraki MS Switches offer scalable, reliable cloud management with easy setup, central control, and robust security, ideal for businesses.

NETGEAR Switches provide affordable, easy-to-manage, energy-efficient networking with diverse models and strong security, ideal for small businesses.

The control plane is in the cloud, and the data plane is local, allowing manageability from anywhere.

Ravi Ramachandran

Senior Manager at a comms service provider with 51-200 employees

One of the most valuable features of Meraki MS Switches is its precise traffic analytics capabilities, allowing us to query the system for any place at any time.

JulienMillet

Chief Technologies Officer at ASTORG PARTNERS

The most valuable feature is the ability to access devices from anywhere in the world through the cloud.

MajidKhan

Network Engineer at Gaihab

For more quotes and insights, download the Meraki MS Switches report

The most valuable features are routing and access control.

Umang Shah

Assistant Manager ICT at IHS

The precision time protocol feature caught our interest for future use in specific settings like churches, where low latency is required.

reviewer957801

Managing Director at a tech services company with 10,001+ employees

The best things about NETGEAR Switches are the support they provide and the ease of implementation.

Tomas Devriese

Teamleader Av Installers at solufak

For more quotes and insights, download the NETGEAR Switches report

Categories and Ranking

Meraki MS Switches

Ranking in Ethernet Switches

6th

Average Rating

8.4

Reviews Sentiment

6.5

Number of Reviews

101

Ranking in other categories

No ranking in other categories

NETGEAR Switches

Ranking in Ethernet Switches

7th

Average Rating

8.2

Reviews Sentiment

6.9

Number of Reviews

Ranking in other categories

LAN Switching (8th), AV Over IP Switching (2nd)

Mindshare comparison

As of September 2026, in the Ethernet Switches category, the mindshare of Meraki MS Switches is 2.5%, down from 3.1% compared to the previous year. The mindshare of NETGEAR Switches is 7.3%, down from 8.4% compared to the previous year. It is calculated based on PeerSpot user engagement data.

Ethernet Switches Mindshare Distribution
Product	Mindshare (%)
Meraki MS Switches	2.5%
NETGEAR Switches	7.3%
Other	90.2%

Ethernet Switches

Featured Reviews

Boaz Katabazi

Network &Security Engineer at Natioanal Drug Authority Uganda

Cloud-managed switches have simplified remote branch access while maintaining strong performance

Cisco is a very stable platform. Even though we haven't upgraded firmware and all that for a long time, it can still perform. Unlike the other switches in the infrastructure where you find you have to constantly upgrade, they will warn you about vulnerability and all those. When you're scanning, it will tell you that there's a lot. For Cisco, once there's a release of firmware and all that, it's always very stable for a period of time. We have not replaced Cisco switches, apart from issues to do with product or power failure and maybe other reasons. We have not replaced them quite often compared to these other products. They are quite resilient.

Read full review

Tomas Devriese

Teamleader Av Installers at solufak

VLAN support has improved audiovisual installations and secures network traffic for our projects

Our major use cases include audiovisual installations and we mainly use the AV line for that. We work with the VLAN support feature The best things about NETGEAR Switches are the support they provide and the ease of implementation. The ease of installation helps with network performance. It helps…

Read full review

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Top Industries

By visitors reading reviews

Financial Services Firm

14%

Manufacturing Company

Construction Company

Outsourcing Company

Manufacturing Company

10%

Construction Company

Outsourcing Company

University

Company Size

By reviewers

Large Enterprise

Midsize Enterprise

Small Business

By reviewers
Company Size	Count
Small Business	56
Midsize Enterprise	20
Large Enterprise	23

By reviewers
Company Size	Count
Small Business	43
Midsize Enterprise	4
Large Enterprise	11

Questions from the Community

What is your experience regarding pricing and costs for Meraki MS Switches?

The price of Meraki MS Switches is reasonable.

See all answers

What needs improvement with Meraki MS Switches?

Price-wise, Meraki MS Switches is high, but since our customer's acceptance is good, that works for us. The only thing is if the price was slightly lower, then it could have been more affordable to...

See all answers

What is your primary use case for Meraki MS Switches?

We do work on other Cisco products at the moment besides Secure Access and XDR, including Catalyst switches, SD-WAN, and Meraki. We work extensively on Meraki switching and routing with the switche...

See all answers

How do NETGEAR switches compare with Cisco ethernet switches?

NetGear switches have a lot to offer. They have high availability, zero-downtime stacking, L2 and L3 functionality, and are AV-over-IP ready. NetGear switches also have a command line interface and...

See all answers

Which switches are better - Ubiquiti Unifi or Netgear?

Ubiquiti Unifi offers a great set of features. For starters, it is easy to configure and implement, and also doesn’t require a learning curve because it is easy to use. It is also simple to reconfi...

See all answers

What is your experience regarding pricing and costs for NETGEAR Switches?

If I were to rate price, I would give it eight or nine points. It is an expensive product.

See all answers

Comparisons

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Arista Networks Platform vs Meraki MS Switches

Compared 6% of the time

Datto Networking Switches vs Meraki MS Switches

Compared 5% of the time

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Cisco Linksys Ethernet Switches vs NETGEAR Switches

Compared 36% of the time

Ubiquiti UniFi Switches vs NETGEAR Switches

Compared 8% of the time

D-Link Ethernet Switches vs NETGEAR Switches

Compared 7% of the time

Cisco Ethernet Switches vs NETGEAR Switches

Compared 5% of the time

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Product Reports

Buyer's Guide

Meraki MS Switches

August 2026

Download Meraki MS Switches product report

Buyer's Guide

NETGEAR Switches

August 2026

Download NETGEAR Switches product report

Also Known As

MS220, MS320, MS420

NETGEAR Insight Managed Switches, NETGEAR GC Series, NETGEAR M Series

Overview

Meraki MS Switches offer scalable cloud-managed networking with intuitive dashboards, security, and easy deployment. They provide reliable remote management and comprehensive analysis, ideal for enterprises seeking centralized control.

Meraki MS Switches deliver cloud-managed networking solutions, simplifying configuration and management with a user-friendly GUI. They are known for their scalability, security features, and zero-touch deployment capabilities. With remote switch management and deployment, the creative cloud interface simplifies setup and maintenance while offering comprehensive network traffic analysis and device tracking. However, there are areas for improvement, such as quoting processes and price reductions. Users often note the need for more configuration options, better third-party system integration, and concerns around cloud dependency. Stack features and security enhancements are also desirable, as well as improved performance and support.

What are the key features of Meraki MS Switches?

Cloud Management: Enables centralized control and simplifies setup.
User-Friendly Dashboards: Offers easy configuration and network visibility.
Scalability: Supports expanding network environments.
Security Features: Provides enhanced protection against threats.
Zero-Touch Deployment: Allows immediate management and deployment.

What benefits should users look for in Meraki MS reviews?

Remote Management: Streamlines administration and deployment processes.
Comprehensive Traffic Analysis: Offers detailed insights into network usage.
Device Tracking: Simplifies monitoring and management of network devices.
Reliability: Delivers consistent performance across networks.

Meraki MS Switches are widely implemented across educational institutions, government agencies, and small to mid-sized businesses. They provide a unified platform for access points and switches, facilitating remote configuration and monitoring. Users appreciate their ability to handle VLANs and LAN access points while connecting end-users with features like PoE and integration with Meraki's cloud infrastructure.

Cisco

NETGEAR Switches offer ease of setup, low cost, and power efficiency. With robust remote management and modular designs, they are ideal for small businesses and large enterprises, ensuring reliable performance and flexible connectivity solutions.

NETGEAR Switches provide intuitive interfaces with both GUI and CLI options, supporting VLANs, multicast, and stackable configurations. Their competitive pricing, lifetime warranty, and powerful AV-over-IP capabilities make them a preferred choice. Despite their strengths, there is room for improvement in virtual stacking compatibility, feature expansion on the Insight portal, and consistent firmware management. A more refined remote management tool and enhancements in scalability and security are also needed. NETGEAR Switches' scalability serves sectors such as audiovisual, education, and healthcare.

What are the key features of NETGEAR Switches?

Ease of Setup: Simple installation process with user-friendly interfaces.
Cost Efficiency: Competitive pricing with valuable features for investment.
Power Efficiency: Designed to minimize energy consumption.
Remote Management: Offers robust remote and cloud-based control capabilities.
Modular Design: Flexible structures for easier network customization.
AV-over-IP Capabilities: Supports audiovisual transmission over IP networks.
VLAN and Multicast Support: Enhanced network segmentation and data transmission.

What benefits should be considered in reviews?

Competitive Pricing: Provides great value for a wide range of features.
Lifetime Warranty: Peace of mind with long-term support and coverage.
Reliable Performance: Consistent and stable network operations.
Scalability: Easily adjustable to fit growing business needs.
Excellent Technical Support: Backed by a knowledgeable support team to assist users.

IT service providers utilize NETGEAR Switches for small to medium business infrastructures, enabling 10GB internet and office network expansion. Models like M4300, GC728XP, and GC752XP are deployed for enterprise connectivity and Pro AV tasks in audiovisual, educational, and medical sectors, offering robust performance and management.

Netgear

Sample Customers

Cisco Live Milan, Hyatt

Blaze Networks

Buyer's Guide

Meraki MS Switches vs. NETGEAR Switches

September 2026

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