Cisco Meraki MX vs Palo Alto Networks NG Firewalls comparison

Why PeerSpot?

Cisco and Palo Alto Networks are both solutions in the Firewalls category. Cisco is ranked #8 with an average rating of 8.7, while Palo Alto Networks is ranked #5 with an average rating of 8.9. Cisco holds a 3.8% mindshare in Firewalls, compared to Palo Alto Networks’s 5.3% mindshare. Additionally, 95% of Cisco users are willing to recommend the solution, compared to 96% of Palo Alto Networks users who would recommend it.

Cisco Meraki MX

Read 83 Cisco Meraki MX reviews

15,470 Views
14,542 Comparison Views

95% willing to recommend

Palo Alto Networks NG Firew...

Read 200 Palo Alto Networks NG Firewalls reviews

27,267 Views
26,176 Comparison Views

96% willing to recommend

Cisco Meraki MX

Palo Alto Networks NG Firew...

Comparison Buyer's Guide

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Executive SummaryUpdated on Feb 8, 2026

Cisco Meraki MX and Palo Alto Networks NG Firewalls compete in the network security and management category. Cisco Meraki MX holds the upper hand in ease of use and cloud management, while Palo Alto Networks NG Firewalls excel in comprehensive security features.

Features: Cisco Meraki MX offers easy deployment and configuration, centralized cloud management, and robust VPN capabilities. Palo Alto Networks NG Firewalls provide advanced security capabilities, application-level controls, and threat prevention.

Room for Improvement: Cisco Meraki MX could enhance load balancing, advanced enterprise features, and reduce licensing costs. Palo Alto Networks NG Firewalls could improve their reporting tools, scalability, and ease of initial setup.

Ease of Deployment and Customer Service: Cisco Meraki is praised for its seamless cloud-based deployment and excellent technical support, while Palo Alto Networks offers reliable hybrid deployment options and positively rated technical support.

Pricing and ROI: Cisco Meraki MX has high initial costs and licensing fees, but offers time and cost savings through ease of management, leading to favorable ROI for large-scale operations. Palo Alto Networks NG Firewalls are more expensive but ensure significant ROI through superior security capabilities, reducing potential security breach costs.

To learn more, read our detailed Cisco Meraki MX vs. Palo Alto Networks NG Firewalls Report (Updated: November 2026).

Buyer's Guide

Cisco Meraki MX vs. Palo Alto Networks NG Firewalls

November 2026

Download the complete report

Helped 920,929 peers since 2012

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

4.9

Cisco Meraki MX offers long-term cost-effectiveness through operational savings, improved efficiency, and reduced equipment and training expenses.

Sentiment score

6.5

Palo Alto Networks NG Firewalls offer ROI with dual ISPs, cost savings, enhanced security, reduced downtime, and data protection.

I have seen a return on investment with Cisco Meraki MX because of the time saved through cloud management.

Nader Elmansi

Presales System Engineer at Logicom Sales Inc

You can eliminate some positions because it manages itself.

Lester Perrin

Enterprise Networking Solutions Architect at a computer software company with 51-200 employees

It greatly helps out when I am moving away from the expensive MPLS circuits or MPLS hardware.

JasminPatel

Senior Manager Networking at David Yurman

For more quotes and insights, download the Cisco Meraki MX report

The solution helped reduce downtime, which is crucial in time-sensitive industries like manufacturing.

Venkatasubramanian Rajagopal

Director IT Infrastructure and Operations at a analyst firm with 51-200 employees

I have seen a return on investment as there are definitely clear cost reductions, resource savings, time savings, and improved risk detection.

Nitin Yadav

Network & Security Engineer at Arrow PC Network Pvt.Ltd.

Since we moved to Palo Alto Networks NG Firewalls, we enabled the ECMP, and we were able to move some traffic over the second ISP, with most of the traffic going via the primary ISP.

ChandanKumar

Network and security lead at Hughes systique pvt ltd

For more quotes and insights, download the Palo Alto Networks NG Firewalls report

Customer Service

Sentiment score

8.2

Cisco Meraki MX customer support is praised for responsiveness and effectiveness, despite occasional issues with Level 1 support.

Sentiment score

6.8

Palo Alto Networks NG Firewalls' customer service shows mixed reviews, with timely assistance but issues in response delays and regional inconsistencies.

The support is excellent, earning a rating of ten out of ten.

GireeshRamamurthy

Principal Consultant at Epitome Infotech Solutions (P) Ltd

Every time I got a hold of someone, I was always able to resolve my issues.

ChrisYankajtis

Systems Engineer at a consultancy with 11-50 employees

When we raise a ticket with Meraki MX, they instantly become available to support us for configurations or troubleshooting.

MURALI NIDAMANURI

Managing Director at a manufacturing company with 10,001+ employees

For more quotes and insights, download the Cisco Meraki MX report

Palo Alto's network support is excellent, and I would rate it a ten out of ten.

reviewer2173242

Founder at a tech services company with 11-50 employees

They offer fast and competent assistance.

Valentyn Lytvynov

IP / Operations Support System Engineer; Pre-Sales Engineer at Avantguard.it

They provide fast response and rapid remediation of problems.

Adam-Brenner

Solution Architect at a retailer with 201-500 employees

For more quotes and insights, download the Palo Alto Networks NG Firewalls report

Scalability Issues

Sentiment score

6.6

Cisco Meraki MX is scalable for SMEs with easy deployment but may face limitations in high-bandwidth or large-scale scenarios.

Sentiment score

6.8

Palo Alto Networks NG Firewalls offer mixed scalability reviews, with cloud deployments and model choice impacting cost and performance.

When you have hundreds of thousands of people it is very difficult to scale in Meraki.

MURALI NIDAMANURI

Managing Director at a manufacturing company with 10,001+ employees

The scalability of Cisco Meraki MX is rated 10 out of 10; you can scale up and scale down with no effort.

Nader Elmansi

Presales System Engineer at Logicom Sales Inc

Cisco Meraki MX scales with my growing needs for my organization very well because they are easy to deploy.

reviewer2847897

Network Engineer at a non-profit with 1,001-5,000 employees

For more quotes and insights, download the Cisco Meraki MX report

It is important to assess the infrastructure size before choosing a model.

Valentyn Lytvynov

IP / Operations Support System Engineer; Pre-Sales Engineer at Avantguard.it

Palo Alto Networks NG Firewalls are scalable and reliable.

Hrushikesh Pandit

Senior Network Engineer L4 at a tech services company with 10,001+ employees

They are able to secure data centers consistently across all workplaces, from the smallest office to the largest data centers.

Ankar Aung

Network Security Engineer at a consultancy with 10,001+ employees

For more quotes and insights, download the Palo Alto Networks NG Firewalls report

Stability Issues

Sentiment score

8.2

Cisco Meraki MX is considered stable with high ratings, minor issues, and generally meets expectations despite some VPN concerns.

Sentiment score

8.5

Palo Alto Networks NG Firewalls offers reliable performance and stability, outperforming competitors in maintaining network integrity and handling resources.

There have been no outages, no stability issues, and we have not found any vulnerabilities during security audits.

Sanjay Gaiswal

Technical Presales at Vcom Technologies

I have had zero downtime at all with Cisco Meraki MX.

Lester Perrin

Enterprise Networking Solutions Architect at a computer software company with 51-200 employees

I assess the stability and the reliability of Cisco Meraki MX as good, and I have experienced no downtime, crashes, or performance issues.

reviewer2847897

Network Engineer at a non-profit with 1,001-5,000 employees

For more quotes and insights, download the Cisco Meraki MX report

With appropriately configured policies, these firewalls can provide robust network security.

Adam-Brenner

Solution Architect at a retailer with 201-500 employees

After the upgrade, we are experiencing performance issues.

reviewer1260276

Technical Engineer Technical Security at a tech services company with 10,001+ employees

I have not experienced any outages or issues.

Valentyn Lytvynov

IP / Operations Support System Engineer; Pre-Sales Engineer at Avantguard.it

For more quotes and insights, download the Palo Alto Networks NG Firewalls report

Room For Improvement

Cisco Meraki MX requires improvements in reporting, flexibility, cost, control, scalability, language support, connectivity, and setup complexity.

Palo Alto Networks NG Firewalls need improvements in management, pricing, scalability, support, interfaces, integration, VPN, and threat detection.

It should automatically remediate and find out the issue and then resolve it on its own without interrupting the work of the employees.

MURALI NIDAMANURI

Managing Director at a manufacturing company with 10,001+ employees

Data is the only path, so optimization is essential.

Mayur_Patel

Chief Commercial Officer at InnovAge Home Care

An improvement would be to use Cisco Meraki MX as a software solution as well, which might reduce the cost.

Sanjay Gaiswal

Technical Presales at Vcom Technologies

For more quotes and insights, download the Cisco Meraki MX report

When performance degrades due to full packet inspection, the solution should be to increase the computing power within the same firewall, not to recommend upgrading to a larger, more expensive model.

reviewer1260276

Technical Engineer Technical Security at a tech services company with 10,001+ employees

Further integration into a unified system could improve usability.

Venkatasubramanian Rajagopal

Director IT Infrastructure and Operations at a analyst firm with 51-200 employees

Configurations related to different operating systems can be complex, and we have encountered issues with Linux systems.

Senthil Kumar Manian

Sr. Manager - Systems & Networks at Aspire Systems

For more quotes and insights, download the Palo Alto Networks NG Firewalls report

Setup Cost

Cisco Meraki MX pricing is valued for cloud management but is costly, with potential discounts available through negotiation.

Palo Alto Networks NG Firewalls are expensive but provide valuable security features that justify their cost for enterprise users.

I get it for $25,000, a device that can connect up to 75-100 users, whereas in Meraki MX, it goes to 75,000-80,000 per access point.

MURALI NIDAMANURI

Managing Director at a manufacturing company with 10,001+ employees

The price could be reduced by around 30% to make it more comfortable.

Sanjay Gaiswal

Technical Presales at Vcom Technologies

If Cisco can make the pricing less, customers can purchase more licenses.

Nader Elmansi

Presales System Engineer at Logicom Sales Inc

For more quotes and insights, download the Cisco Meraki MX report

Palo Alto Networks NG Firewalls are expensive.

reviewer1260276

Technical Engineer Technical Security at a tech services company with 10,001+ employees

Colleagues looking for the cheapest and fastest firewall can still use Palo Alto Networks NG Firewalls because they are affordable.

Senthil Kumar Manian

Director at Zuci Systems

Palo Alto Networks NG Firewalls is the most expensive solution without discussion.

OtokarFio

Presales Engineer at Vodafone

For more quotes and insights, download the Palo Alto Networks NG Firewalls report

Valuable Features

Cisco Meraki MX offers centralized management, security, easy configuration, and robust performance, enhancing usability, connectivity, and deployment efficiency.

Palo Alto Networks NG Firewalls offer robust threat protection, AI integration, and intuitive management, enhancing security and operational efficiency.

Meraki MX is among those top solutions in their exceptional approach towards VPN-less, Zero Trust client access to office private networks.

MURALI NIDAMANURI

Managing Director at a manufacturing company with 10,001+ employees

Advanced security is the second tier of Cisco Meraki MX. It brings you the main next-generation firewalling features such as URL filtering, advanced malware protection, and threat protection.

Nader Elmansi

Presales System Engineer at Logicom Sales Inc

Cisco Meraki MX API makes it really easy for me to automate a lot of changes over several thousand devices.

reviewer2847915

Technology Engineer at a computer software company with 201-500 employees

For more quotes and insights, download the Cisco Meraki MX report

The most valuable features of Palo Alto Networks NG Firewalls are DNS sync calls, enabled security features, and Wildfire.

reviewer1260276

Technical Engineer Technical Security at a tech services company with 10,001+ employees

Threat Vault allows us access to a comprehensive threat database, enabling us to get detailed information on threats and how to mitigate them.

Hrushikesh Pandit

Senior Network Engineer L4 at a tech services company with 10,001+ employees

The most valuable feature of Palo Alto Networks NG Firewalls is Cortex Data Lake.

Adam-Brenner

Solution Architect at a retailer with 201-500 employees

For more quotes and insights, download the Palo Alto Networks NG Firewalls report

Categories and Ranking

Cisco Meraki MX

Ranking in Firewalls

8th

Average Rating

8.4

Reviews Sentiment

6.9

Number of Reviews

Ranking in other categories

Unified Threat Management (UTM) (4th)

Palo Alto Networks NG Firew...

Ranking in Firewalls

5th

Average Rating

8.6

Reviews Sentiment

7.1

Number of Reviews

200

Ranking in other categories

No ranking in other categories

Mindshare comparison

As of November 2026, in the Firewalls category, the mindshare of Cisco Meraki MX is 3.8%, up from 3.5% compared to the previous year. The mindshare of Palo Alto Networks NG Firewalls is 5.3%, up from 4.2% compared to the previous year. It is calculated based on PeerSpot user engagement data.

Firewalls Mindshare Distribution
Product	Mindshare (%)
Palo Alto Networks NG Firewalls	5.3%
Cisco Meraki MX	3.8%
Other	90.9%

Firewalls

Featured Reviews

ChrisYankajtis

Systems Engineer at a consultancy with 11-50 employees

Cloud-managed firewalls have simplified clinic networks and have empowered rapid remote deployment

If there was anything I can say I don't about it, I wish the automation was a little bit more friendly. If someone doesn't know too much about automations, I wish it had the ability within the platform to say, 'I want to run this automation within this network. Here's the new network that's coming on board. I'm utilizing the same firewalls, the same switches, same MVs. Here's the subnet that I'm going to use. Here are the IPs for the devices.' It should be able to give me that run book and configure it. That would be my main thing within the automation. I don't have much else to complain about. Everything is pretty straightforward. Back in the day, about five years ago, I tried to run 10 terabytes of data on an MX95 with a gig fiber coming in. The firewall was doing all the routing at the time and all the Layer 3. I did see some degraded performance trying to push that data through my MS350 10 gig switch. Once I moved the Layer 3 off the firewall and placed it on my core switch, I saw a better improvement. However, that was five years ago, and I'm not pushing that type of data out now. If the splash page was a little bit more appealing and more configurable, I think that would be nice.

Read full review

Nitin Yadav

Network & Security Engineer at Arrow PC Network Pvt.Ltd.

Strong threat prevention has reduced phishing and malware while I monitor traffic in depth

Palo Alto Networks NG Firewalls offers application and user awareness, which allow me to control traffic based on threats. The product includes threat prevention, advanced threat prevention, and deep packet inspection that really helps prevent issues in our network. Deep packet inspection inspects full traffic content, even inside applications and encrypted sessions. Deep packet inspection makes a very practical difference day to day because it lets me see and control what is actually inside the traffic, not just the open port or IP. I have real visibility of which application is running instead of just seeing HTTPS. Palo Alto Networks NG Firewalls WildFire sandboxing is really good at detecting and blocking zero-day malware automatically, along with its GlobalProtect and DNS security features. Using Palo Alto Networks NG Firewalls positively impacts my organization by providing strong security, better visibility, faster response, and simplified operations. After deploying Palo Alto Networks NG Firewalls in our network, it blocks malicious traffic and prevents compromises that occurred before Palo Alto Networks NG Firewalls. I can now block outside IPs to prevent issues. After Palo Alto Networks NG Firewalls installation, I reduced 60 to 70 percent of malware and phishing attacks. Its threat prevention and DNS security features detect these attacks, block malicious domains, and reduce manual efforts for the security team.

Read full review

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Top Industries

By visitors reading reviews

Manufacturing Company

10%

Outsourcing Company

Computer Software Company

Construction Company

Outsourcing Company

11%

Manufacturing Company

11%

Financial Services Firm

Computer Software Company

Company Size

By reviewers

Large Enterprise

Midsize Enterprise

Small Business

By reviewers
Company Size	Count
Small Business	50
Midsize Enterprise	23
Large Enterprise	20

By reviewers
Company Size	Count
Small Business	77
Midsize Enterprise	56
Large Enterprise	89

Questions from the Community

Fortigate 60d vs. Meraki MX67 for a small company without a dedicated IT Department

We have Meraki Mx devices now, we are looking to replace them. But that is because the Meraki MX platform lacks SSL Inspection, Granular Firewall rules (Block only, no allow setting), client vpn re...

See all answers

Which is better - Meraki MX or Cisco ASA Firewall?

Cisco Adaptive Security Appliance (ASA) software is the operating software for the Cisco ASA suite. It supports network security and firewall options. We researched both Meraki and ASA. We liked t...

See all answers

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

I find the pricing for Cisco Meraki MX reasonable and competitive given the features provided and the target market. I believe it is acceptable.

See all answers

What is a better choice, Azure Firewall or Palo Alto Networks NG Firewalls?

Azure Firewall Vs. Palo Alto Network NG Firewalls Both solutions provide stellar stability and security. Azure Firewall is easy to use and provides excellent support. Valuable features include int...

See all answers

Features comparison between Palo Alto and Fortinet firewalls

In the best tradition of these questions, Feature-wise both are quite similar, but each has things it's better at, it kind of depends what you value most. PA is good at app control, web filtering a...

See all answers

Which is better - Palo Alto Networks NG Firewalls or Sophos XG?

Palo Alto Networks NG Firewalls have both great features and performance. I like that Palo Alto has regular threat signatures and updates. I also appreciate that I can just import addresses and URL...

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Comparisons

Fortinet FortiGate vs Cisco Meraki MX

Compared 9% of the time

Cisco Secure Firewall vs Cisco Meraki MX

Compared 6% of the time

Sophos Firewall vs Cisco Meraki MX

Compared 4% of the time

Sophos UTM vs Cisco Meraki MX

Compared 3% of the time

WatchGuard Firebox vs Cisco Meraki MX

Compared 3% of the time

More Cisco Meraki MX Competitors

Fortinet FortiGate vs Palo Alto Networks NG Firewalls

Compared 22% of the time

Cisco Secure Firewall vs Palo Alto Networks NG Firewalls

Compared 10% of the time

Check Point Quantum Force (NGFW) vs Palo Alto Networks NG Firewalls

Compared 7% of the time

Check Point Cloud Firewall (formerly CloudGuard Network Security) vs Palo Alto Networks NG Firewalls

Compared 4% of the time

Azure Firewall vs Palo Alto Networks NG Firewalls

Compared 3% of the time

More Palo Alto Networks NG Firewalls Competitors

Product Reports

Buyer's Guide

Cisco Meraki MX

November 2026

Download Cisco Meraki MX product report

Buyer's Guide

Palo Alto Networks NG Firewalls

October 2026

Download Palo Alto Networks NG Firewalls product report

Also Known As

MX64, MX64W, MX84, MX100, MX400, MX600

Palo Alto NGFW, Palo Alto Networks Next-Generation Firewall

Overview

Cisco Meraki MX offers centralized management for network security and SD-WAN, featuring advanced threat protection, VPN capabilities, and seamless integration with other Cisco products. It enhances operational efficiency through cloud management and intuitive interface.

Cisco Meraki MX is designed for ease of use with a user-friendly cloud management platform that provides real-time insights through a centralized dashboard. It includes AutoVPN for secure remote connections and advanced threat protection to ensure consistent policy enforcement. Its integration capabilities with Cisco products streamline network administration. Users highlight the need for improvements in advanced reporting, detailed alerts, and enhanced API flexibility. Cost concerns are noted, alongside desires for better security analytics and improved customer support.

What are the key features of Cisco Meraki MX?

Centralized Dashboard: Provides real-time network insights.
User-friendly Cloud Management: Simplifies network administration.
Advanced Threat Protection: Ensures consistent policy enforcement.
AutoVPN: Simplifies secure remote connections.
Easy Configuration and Deployment: Enhances operational efficiency.

What benefits should be expected from Cisco Meraki MX?

Efficient Network Control: Streamlines management across sites.
Secure Internet Access: Provides advanced protection features.
Seamless Integration: Enhances user experience with other Cisco products.
Improved Connectivity: Facilitates remote troubleshooting and secure connections.

Cisco Meraki MX is implemented in industries like telecommunications and healthcare for secure network management and centralized control. It supports zero-touch deployment, dynamic routing, and traffic shaping, making it ideal for ISPs and multi-site environments, as well as managing Wi-Fi networks and guest security for wireless users.

Cisco

Palo Alto Networks NG Firewalls provide advanced security with features like machine learning threat prevention and centralized management, ensuring protection across network environments.

Palo Alto Networks NG Firewalls are structured to enhance security by engaging users with machine learning for real-time threat prevention, comprehensive application and user visibility, and secure VPN connections. They work seamlessly with SIEMs and cloud services, providing centralized management through Panorama for diverse environments. Despite high pricing and configuration complexity, they are instrumental for organizations aiming to secure network perimeters, data centers, and cloud environments effectively.

What key features define Palo Alto Networks NG Firewalls?

Machine Learning: Provides real-time attack prevention.
Application Visibility: Enhances visibility into user and application activity.
WildFire Sandboxing: Offers advanced threat sandboxing techniques.
Panorama Management: Centralized management for consistent security policies.
Advanced Threat Prevention: Incorporates URL filtering and threat intelligence for comprehensive protection.

What benefits should users expect in reviews?

Integrated Security: Seamless integration with SIEMs and other tools enhances system protection.
Zero Trust Models: Effective for controlling east-west traffic and implementing zero trust security models.
Comprehensive Protection: Secures internal network segmentation and provides advanced threat prevention.

Organizations across industries rely on Palo Alto Networks NG Firewalls to secure network perimeters with advanced threat prevention features. They are deployed extensively for application-level visibility, managing internal network segmentation, and securing VPN connections. These firewalls play a crucial role in implementing zero trust security and integrating with other security tools to offer comprehensive protection.

Palo Alto Networks

Sample Customers

Hyatt, ONS

SkiStar AB, Ada County, Global IT Services PSF, Southern Cross Hospitals, Verge Health, University of Portsmouth, Austrian Airlines, The Heinz Endowments

Buyer's Guide

Cisco Meraki MX vs. Palo Alto Networks NG Firewalls

November 2026

Free Report: Cisco Meraki MX vs. Palo Alto Networks NG Firewalls

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