Regarding the cost, Cisco Ethernet Switches have a competitive price. The exact cost per user for Cisco equipment is not known at present, but it's certainly a small cost.
Head of the Solutions Department at BIM Group of Companies
Real User
Top 10
May 28, 2025
We need to pay for the Cisco MDS services. We need to pay extra to open another port. We need to pay for the module. We need to pay for the subscription, as there are extra expenses after purchasing the product.
Senior Technical Director at National Informatics Center
Real User
Top 5
Mar 29, 2024
I would rate the pricing of the product as a seven out of ten in terms of costliness. While Cisco Ethernet Switches are expensive, they were chosen for their quality and worth the investment. Additional costs beyond standard licensing fees were fixed for two years, but afterward, negotiations depended on market fluctuations.
The product is very expensive. I would rate the pricing a nine out of ten. Switches from the vendor can cost from 9000 to 15000. For Cisco Ethernet Switches, the price is worth it.
The product is expensive. However, it is cost-effective, considering its durability. There is only a need for licensing in case of specific security requirements or advanced configurations where we need to activate certain modules. We need to buy licenses for wireless controllers or VPNs.
The solution’s pricing is reasonable. The solution has a lifetime license because we are not renewing the license every year. It is a one-time purchase.
The price depends on the license type and the number of devices. Each device is licensed. It could be cheaper, especially the DNA license. One DNA license is around $3,000 for a three-year contract.
Senior Manager - SBR Technical Services at Reliance Industries Ltd
Real User
Top 20
Jan 31, 2023
I cannot comment on pricing for Cisco Ethernet Switches because customers use the product continuously, which also depends on the requirement. If I need to multitask or use up 40 GB, I need to change the switches or use a new solution. It depends on the customer's requirements.
Senior Network Admin at a educational organization with 501-1,000 employees
Real User
Dec 2, 2022
Cisco makes enterprise switches at enterprise prices. Their pricing model means the reseller makes 60-80% profit on the switches they sell, and you can't get competitive quotes from vendors because Cisco makes you choose one supplier and get all the quotes from them. Cisco Catalyst switches are based on 90's technology and haven't changed much in the past 30 years, whereas other manufacturers have embraced the cloud and also driven down prices, improved size, power requirements, environmental considerations, etc etc. Just as a small example I wanted an 8-port managed POE switch, the Cisco price was three times that of a competitor. And twice as big.
Responsable Infrastructures, Réseaux & Télécoms at a university with 201-500 employees
Real User
Feb 23, 2022
The pricing of the solution is pretty high. Compared with other switches, such as Huawei or HPE, it's very, very expensive. ON top of that, the campus network, it's not an area that has a high budget. We have to have work towards minimizing this price.
Network Tech Leader at a aerospace/defense firm with 201-500 employees
Real User
Feb 18, 2022
The price of Cisco switches could be lower. The cost is growing compared to other products, and it's more segmented. A Cisco switch is more expensive than before. For example, stackable models used to be provided with stacking ports and stacking cable. Now it's split you have to buy stacking kit separately. I don't know if they are the only ones like this or if this is standard now.
We have a one-year license to have the Smart Net Total Care service. The license to use the Cisco Ethernet Switches comes with the initial purchase of the solution. I rate the price of Cisco Ethernet Switches a two out of five. The cost of Cisco Ethernet Switches is expensive.
General Manager at a import and exporter with 1,001-5,000 employees
Real User
Feb 6, 2022
They have changed over the years and now you need to purchase a three-year obligatory license and then after three years, you are free to use it or not. The model is a bit difficult for customers. This is why we have been shifting away from Cisco equipment. The price of hardware replacements can be expensive. I would rate the price of Cisco Ethernet Switches a two out of five.
Manager Infrastructure & Projects at Kinetic Pride
Real User
Jan 4, 2022
Quality comes at a price. I've been around the block a bit, and I know that good quality comes at a price. However, some of the organizations don't have big budgets, so you have to develop different solutions for them. They don't have the budget to get some of the high-end features. Cisco can consider providing entry-level hardware to suit SMBs.
First Assistant Vice President at a financial services firm with 1,001-5,000 employees
Real User
Dec 27, 2021
This is quite an expensive product. We do not pay on a monthly basis. The fees are included when you purchase the device. When we want an extra feature then we need to purchase another license bundle.
Senior Project Manager / Systems Engineer at a consultancy with 11-50 employees
Real User
Dec 16, 2021
Our clients purchase the license so we're not involved in that aspect. Cisco doesn't like to give out information unless you're a dealer. For smaller projects, the cost is an issue and organizations will often look for less expensive options. Cisco is the major player in the network environment, but there are numerous alternative products that may be less feature-rich but fit the bill from a cost perspective. In addition to licensing, there is likely to be an annual fee to enable access to support.
Cisco is quite expensive. In our market, a lot of customers are forced to go with something else because they cannot afford a brand-new Cisco even though they know a Cisco switch will be more reliable. They'll for a Linksys switches because that is what they can afford. It's mainly an issue for medium-sized businesses. Pricing is negotiable and if you are a large enterprise, you're less worried about the price.
ICT Manager/Systems Administrator at a university with 201-500 employees
Real User
Jun 22, 2021
The product is not cheap. It's quite expensive when you look at it as compared to other options on the market. You have to pay for smart account licensing when you use this product.
The price of this solution is high. There could be an improvement in the licensing by reducing the price of the different types, such as essential, advantage, and premium.
Network Engineer at a educational organization with 1,001-5,000 employees
Real User
Mar 19, 2021
The licensing model is difficult to understand. We get the SMARTnet and one of the switches has that Cisco ONE licensing. It's probably running about $12,000 a year right now. There aren't any add-on costs on top of that that I am aware of.
This is a very expensive product. Without a license, part of the switch will not function. In some of the latest switches, the warranty is not included in the pricing and we have to purchase it separately.
Senior Information Technology Manager at FAP Marine Terminals Ltd
Real User
Jan 4, 2021
The price could be reduced. Cisco is costly. Price is a major concern with Cisco. Companies tend to move away from Cisco because the price is on the higher side. In addition to the fees being high, you pay for support which is also on the higher side. Many companies tend to go with other options because of pricing.
IT Manager at a construction company with 10,001+ employees
Real User
Dec 30, 2020
The price of the product is on the higher side, I feel you pay for the name of the product as well but it's still manageable for corporate customers. Licensing is simple and straight forward which is something going well for cisco switches.
Network Delivery Lead at a tech services company with 10,001+ employees
Real User
Dec 23, 2020
I you have a big client or if you have a big project and register it, the discount is good. In the companies that I have worked for, mostly for switching, we had a 55% discount or more. So with that good discount, who cares? It's cheap enough.
Price is a pain point for us. We've lost a lot of bids, and the reason has been that we majorly quoted Cisco devices. Some of our competitors quoted other devices like Ubiquity or Microchip. Some even quoted this Chinese product TP-Link, and they won the bid over us because we quoted Cisco. Meanwhile, the major reason why we quoted Cisco is reliability and stability from day one. They also last longer. The prices could be worked on so that they become more affordable. We had to deploy a city-wide WiFi network, and we were working in conjunction with Google. Because of the price, even Google recommended a product called Ruckus, so we used Ruckus over Cisco. Its price and license were the main reasons. You have to pay to renew the license every year. Even though you also renew the licenses for Ruckus, but they are much cheaper than Cisco. So, while I would recommend Cisco any time, the trouble remains with the pricing.
The price is a bit on the high side. Normally what they do is go case by case and give discounts based on the customer's budget, and on the competition.
ICT Manager at a wholesaler/distributor with 1,001-5,000 employees
Real User
Jun 15, 2020
I don't handle the licensing aspect of the solution, so I can't speak to the exact pricing. However, I am aware it's one of the more expensive options on the market. The last time I bought a 24-port switch, which was a while ago, I paid about five or six thousand Euros. In this part of the world, that's quite expensive for us.
Find a Cisco partner that has a lot of volume and pressure them for a better price. There is a lot of markup on the higher end devices. Plan for support contract expenses for the life of the device. Also check the EOL details prior to purchase so you don’t purchase an older device that will not get the years of software updates and security patches you need.
Network and Service Development Manager at a comms service provider with 51-200 employees
Real User
Oct 16, 2019
The equipment we bought with a perpetual license. We're not using a monthly or yearly licensing model. Any additional costs are reasonable. The hardware and software support came with additional costs.
Regarding the cost, Cisco Ethernet Switches have a competitive price. The exact cost per user for Cisco equipment is not known at present, but it's certainly a small cost.
We need to pay for the Cisco MDS services. We need to pay extra to open another port. We need to pay for the module. We need to pay for the subscription, as there are extra expenses after purchasing the product.
The tool is quite expensive. I don't know specific details but am aware of the high cost.
Cisco Ethernet switches are priced at a rating of nine, indicating they are expensive.
Cisco is more expensive in my country. It is usually just one payment, and I do not need to pay for maintenance or support.
The product is expensive.
I would rate the pricing of the product as a seven out of ten in terms of costliness. While Cisco Ethernet Switches are expensive, they were chosen for their quality and worth the investment. Additional costs beyond standard licensing fees were fixed for two years, but afterward, negotiations depended on market fluctuations.
The product is very expensive. I would rate the pricing a nine out of ten. Switches from the vendor can cost from 9000 to 15000. For Cisco Ethernet Switches, the price is worth it.
The product is expensive. However, it is cost-effective, considering its durability. There is only a need for licensing in case of specific security requirements or advanced configurations where we need to activate certain modules. We need to buy licenses for wireless controllers or VPNs.
The solution’s pricing is reasonable. The solution has a lifetime license because we are not renewing the license every year. It is a one-time purchase.
There are certain modules for L3 switches. Customers have to pay for some of the L3 switches licenses, which are expensive.
The pricing depends on the model. The C-1000's are okay. They are not cheap yet not expensive. I'd rate the pricing seven out of ten.
The price is very high though it is priced right for the level of quality.
Cisco offers annual and three-year license options.
The price of Cisco Ethernet Switches is expensive.
The pricing is reasonable so I rate it a six out of ten.
The pricing is comparatively expensive.
The price depends on the license type and the number of devices. Each device is licensed. It could be cheaper, especially the DNA license. One DNA license is around $3,000 for a three-year contract.
I cannot comment on pricing for Cisco Ethernet Switches because customers use the product continuously, which also depends on the requirement. If I need to multitask or use up 40 GB, I need to change the switches or use a new solution. It depends on the customer's requirements.
I rate Cisco Ethernet switches three out of 10 for affordability. They are expensive, but they're worth it. I believe in quality over quantity.
Cisco makes enterprise switches at enterprise prices. Their pricing model means the reseller makes 60-80% profit on the switches they sell, and you can't get competitive quotes from vendors because Cisco makes you choose one supplier and get all the quotes from them. Cisco Catalyst switches are based on 90's technology and haven't changed much in the past 30 years, whereas other manufacturers have embraced the cloud and also driven down prices, improved size, power requirements, environmental considerations, etc etc. Just as a small example I wanted an 8-port managed POE switch, the Cisco price was three times that of a competitor. And twice as big.
The pricing for individual use is expensive but partners receive discounts of 70-80 percent for high-end use.
Cisco Ethernet Switches are more expensive than Huawei Ethernet Switches.
The pricing of the solution is pretty high. Compared with other switches, such as Huawei or HPE, it's very, very expensive. ON top of that, the campus network, it's not an area that has a high budget. We have to have work towards minimizing this price.
The price of Cisco switches could be lower. The cost is growing compared to other products, and it's more segmented. A Cisco switch is more expensive than before. For example, stackable models used to be provided with stacking ports and stacking cable. Now it's split you have to buy stacking kit separately. I don't know if they are the only ones like this or if this is standard now.
We have a one-year license to have the Smart Net Total Care service. The license to use the Cisco Ethernet Switches comes with the initial purchase of the solution. I rate the price of Cisco Ethernet Switches a two out of five. The cost of Cisco Ethernet Switches is expensive.
The cost of the solution is by unit.
They have changed over the years and now you need to purchase a three-year obligatory license and then after three years, you are free to use it or not. The model is a bit difficult for customers. This is why we have been shifting away from Cisco equipment. The price of hardware replacements can be expensive. I would rate the price of Cisco Ethernet Switches a two out of five.
Quality comes at a price. I've been around the block a bit, and I know that good quality comes at a price. However, some of the organizations don't have big budgets, so you have to develop different solutions for them. They don't have the budget to get some of the high-end features. Cisco can consider providing entry-level hardware to suit SMBs.
This is quite an expensive product. We do not pay on a monthly basis. The fees are included when you purchase the device. When we want an extra feature then we need to purchase another license bundle.
Our clients purchase the license so we're not involved in that aspect. Cisco doesn't like to give out information unless you're a dealer. For smaller projects, the cost is an issue and organizations will often look for less expensive options. Cisco is the major player in the network environment, but there are numerous alternative products that may be less feature-rich but fit the bill from a cost perspective. In addition to licensing, there is likely to be an annual fee to enable access to support.
It is expensive. There are additional costs besides the license cost.
Cisco switches are very highly-priced in comparison to other similar products.
The price of Cisco Ethernet Switches here in India is too high. There are other cheaper solutions available.
Cisco is quite expensive. In our market, a lot of customers are forced to go with something else because they cannot afford a brand-new Cisco even though they know a Cisco switch will be more reliable. They'll for a Linksys switches because that is what they can afford. It's mainly an issue for medium-sized businesses. Pricing is negotiable and if you are a large enterprise, you're less worried about the price.
We pay an annual license fee and there are no additional costs other than when there is hardware failure.
The pricing is high. It's expensive, however, you get what you pay for and it is an excellent solution.
I pay a fixed price on it. I'm not the person on the pursing, so I don't really compare.
Its price is a bit higher than other brands. Indian customers are price-conscious. They should improve its price.
The solution does not require a license. However, it is expensive and the price could improve.
The product is not cheap. It's quite expensive when you look at it as compared to other options on the market. You have to pay for smart account licensing when you use this product.
It is a very expensive solution.
The solution can be comparatively cheaper.
The price of this solution is high. There could be an improvement in the licensing by reducing the price of the different types, such as essential, advantage, and premium.
The price of this solution is fair.
There is a license required for this solution and the price could be better.
It's a little expensive.
The licensing model is difficult to understand. We get the SMARTnet and one of the switches has that Cisco ONE licensing. It's probably running about $12,000 a year right now. There aren't any add-on costs on top of that that I am aware of.
The costs and licensing aren't part of my job and therefore I don't know anything of exact pricing.
We think the pricing could be cheaper for these switches and that would be a reason we would consider looking at another vendor.
The solution does not come cheap. It's quite pricey. You do need a license in order to use the solution.
Its price is very high, but it is a good device. Cisco must work on its price. Other solutions provide a better price for similar functionalities.
There are other manufacturers that may offer better pricing. The price is important. It may be a deciding factor for some.
Cisco is an industry leader, but the price is very high.
It tends to be a bit pricey, but competitive. When you compare with other products, they are more or less the same price.
This is a very expensive product. Without a license, part of the switch will not function. In some of the latest switches, the warranty is not included in the pricing and we have to purchase it separately.
It could be cheaper.
The cost of this solution is expensive. However, it is not difficult to sell the product.
While normal switches are not too expensive, Meraki switches are pricier.
Cisco products are not cheap, which is something that can be improved.
There are different licensing based on the model of the solution.
It is an expensive product.
The price could be reduced. Cisco is costly. Price is a major concern with Cisco. Companies tend to move away from Cisco because the price is on the higher side. In addition to the fees being high, you pay for support which is also on the higher side. Many companies tend to go with other options because of pricing.
The price of the product is on the higher side, I feel you pay for the name of the product as well but it's still manageable for corporate customers. Licensing is simple and straight forward which is something going well for cisco switches.
The pricing of the solution is quite high. There are lots of comparable products out there that are nowhere near the cost.
I you have a big client or if you have a big project and register it, the discount is good. In the companies that I have worked for, mostly for switching, we had a 55% discount or more. So with that good discount, who cares? It's cheap enough.
Price is a pain point for us. We've lost a lot of bids, and the reason has been that we majorly quoted Cisco devices. Some of our competitors quoted other devices like Ubiquity or Microchip. Some even quoted this Chinese product TP-Link, and they won the bid over us because we quoted Cisco. Meanwhile, the major reason why we quoted Cisco is reliability and stability from day one. They also last longer. The prices could be worked on so that they become more affordable. We had to deploy a city-wide WiFi network, and we were working in conjunction with Google. Because of the price, even Google recommended a product called Ruckus, so we used Ruckus over Cisco. Its price and license were the main reasons. You have to pay to renew the license every year. Even though you also renew the licenses for Ruckus, but they are much cheaper than Cisco. So, while I would recommend Cisco any time, the trouble remains with the pricing.
Cisco now has more products that are priced for small businesses, so they do have some cheaper models.
The price is a bit on the high side. Normally what they do is go case by case and give discounts based on the customer's budget, and on the competition.
Cisco's pricing is quite high. It's on the higher end of the spectrum in comparison to other options on the market.
We are happy with the pricing from Cisco.
These switches are expensive, but they are an excellent buy and definitely have value for the investment.
I don't handle the licensing aspect of the solution, so I can't speak to the exact pricing. However, I am aware it's one of the more expensive options on the market. The last time I bought a 24-port switch, which was a while ago, I paid about five or six thousand Euros. In this part of the world, that's quite expensive for us.
Find a Cisco partner that has a lot of volume and pressure them for a better price. There is a lot of markup on the higher end devices. Plan for support contract expenses for the life of the device. Also check the EOL details prior to purchase so you don’t purchase an older device that will not get the years of software updates and security patches you need.
The cost of licensing is very expensive, especially if you compare it to Fortigate.
The solution is very expensive.
This is an expensive solution, but you are paying for stability.
The price of this solution is good.
The equipment we bought with a perpetual license. We're not using a monthly or yearly licensing model. Any additional costs are reasonable. The hardware and software support came with additional costs.
The pricing varies widely depending on the support contract term and the type and number of the devices. The product is on the expensive side.
The pricing is reasonable, and for small business it is acceptable. Aruba and HPE are competitors that have a lower price than Cisco.
It is certainly not the least expensive product for switching, but I think it is the best and if you have the budget it is worth it.