D-Link Wireless vs Fortinet FortiWLM comparison

D-Link and Fortinet are both solutions in the Wireless LAN category. D-Link is ranked #15 with an average rating of 7.9, while Fortinet is ranked #13 with an average rating of 8.9. D-Link holds a 2.1% mindshare in Wireless LAN, compared to Fortinet’s 1.9% mindshare. Additionally, 93% of D-Link users are willing to recommend the solution, compared to 96% of Fortinet users who would recommend it.

D-Link Wireless

Read 17 D-Link Wireless reviews

2,146 Views
2,146 Comparison Views

93% willing to recommend

Fortinet FortiWLM

Read 29 Fortinet FortiWLM reviews

1,907 Views
1,754 Comparison Views

96% willing to recommend

D-Link Wireless

Fortinet FortiWLM

Comparison Buyer's Guide

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Executive SummaryUpdated on Oct 31, 2024

D-Link Wireless and Fortinet FortiWLM compete in the networking solutions sector. Fortinet FortiWLM stands out for advanced features, providing more value for its cost in feature, deployment, and ROI considerations.

Features: D-Link Wireless offers affordability, ease of integration, and basic connectivity, focusing on essential network functions. Fortinet FortiWLM provides robust security, comprehensive management, and superior scalability, making it suitable for complex network environments.

Room for Improvement: D-Link Wireless could enhance its security features, scalability, and network stability to better meet larger enterprises' needs. Fortinet FortiWLM might improve affordability, reduce the complexity of deployment, and optimize customer support accessibility to attract more budget-conscious consumers.

Ease of Deployment and Customer Service: D-Link Wireless is praised for simple deployment with straightforward configurations, ideal for smaller setups. Fortinet FortiWLM, while requiring more extensive setup, offers efficient troubleshooting and comprehensive service options. D-Link is quicker to deploy, whereas Fortinet provides stronger support for complex installations.

Pricing and ROI: D-Link Wireless is known for its economical pricing with low initial costs, providing a reasonable ROI for small networks. Fortinet FortiWLM, with higher initial investment, is geared towards long-term ROI through advanced management features and network stability. D-Link appeals to budget-conscious buyers, while Fortinet attracts large enterprises by justifying its costs with enhanced performance.

To learn more, read our detailed D-Link Wireless vs. Fortinet FortiWLM Report (Updated: September 2025).

Buyer's Guide

D-Link Wireless vs. Fortinet FortiWLM

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

D-Link Wireless

Ranking in Wireless LAN

15th

Average Rating

8.0

Reviews Sentiment

6.9

Number of Reviews

Ranking in other categories

No ranking in other categories

Fortinet FortiWLM

Ranking in Wireless LAN

13th

Average Rating

8.4

Reviews Sentiment

6.3

Number of Reviews

Ranking in other categories

No ranking in other categories

Mindshare comparison

As of September 2025, in the Wireless LAN category, the mindshare of D-Link Wireless is 2.1%, down from 2.3% compared to the previous year. The mindshare of Fortinet FortiWLM is 1.9%, down from 2.1% 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%
D-Link Wireless	2.1%
Other	96.0%

Wireless LAN

Featured Reviews

NadirShahzad

System Engineer at a tech services company with 201-500 employees

Wireless projects run smoothly with more access point support and competitive pricing

D-Link Wireless offers more supported APs to the WLC with the default license compared to other brands like Cisco. With Cisco, only four to five APs are connected with the default license, but D-Link Wireless provides more flexibility. Local support in Pakistan is necessary for those with limited budgets, creating a reach in the market.

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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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Quotes from Members

We asked business professionals to review the solutions they use. Here are some excerpts of what they said:

Pros

"The product's initial setup phase is easy."

"D-Link Wireless is a tool that is used since it is an easy and user-friendly product."

"Overall, I rate D-Link Wireless nine out of ten as a solution."

"It is a scalable solution. Scalability-wise, I rate the solution a ten out of ten."

"The system simplifies network management."

"D-Link is a good product that is quite affordable and I recommend it."

"The initial setup process was easy."

"The solution is extremely easy to install. You just add them and in a few clicks, they are ready to go."

More D-Link Wireless pros

"The most valuable feature of the solution is the management."

"Security is the feature we like most from Fortinet. In general, their security architecture is really great, because it involves everything: firewalls, wireless LANs, the user. Everything is really secure."

"Although there are a few steps, the initial setup is pretty straightforward."

"We're using SD-WAN at all of our locations now, which helps increase and aggregate and lower response time and improve application performance."

"The firewall integration is very important for the security of the connection."

"The most valuable features of this solution are its speed, reliability, and integration with the firewall."

"The most valuable feature is the ability to connect and broadcast to different networks without using a VLAN or a layer two switch, which allows you to easily create guest networks."

"The most valuable feature of Fortinet FortiWLM is the single management pane and integrated controller inside the firewall."

More Fortinet FortiWLM pros

Cons

"The support offered by the product needs to be faster with better technical personnel."

"Password restriction: Sometimes we set a password and it uses that password but, after some days/months, the password gets changed and a few laptops still use old the password while a few use the new password. The password restriction option needs to improve."

"Its interface and support system need much improvement. Sometimes, when we use the interface to reset the password and configure SSIDs, or some other changes, the "Save" option does not show and we have to go to some internal setting and then we can "save" the setting. The “Save” option should be in front of or below of the settings."

"The cloud managed solution needs improvement, and they should focus on the SD-WAN segment with regard to integration."

"In future releases, it can keep improving on countering the new patterns of security attacks."

"Sometimes we configure the SSID with a password but the same AP shows two WiFi connections with the same SSID name (one is protected by a password and another one give access without a password)."

"The solution doesn't have hotspots. Users can't set it up so that visitors can log in via Facebook or social media as they can at, for example, airports. D-Link should include hotspots that offer integration with social media. That way, visitors don't need to be asking people for passwords. They can just use Facebook."

"In future, it would also be good to have a switch within D Link that works as well as the Cisco 9200 Switch."

More D-Link Wireless cons

"Areas for improvement would be the compatibility with Apple products and cross-platform integration."

"The solution should improve user capacity."

"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."

"Improving support and firmware upgrades is necessary. Firmware upgrades and bug improvements need to be tested well."

"The guest management features need to be improved by adding automation."

"In the next release, they could improve by adding a controller-less server, or architecture that is provided in other solutions, such as Aruba. This would be a great benefit for customers."

"There are currently issues with Fortinet's software quality."

"The initial setup is complex and has room for improvement."

More Fortinet FortiWLM cons

Pricing and Cost Advice

"This solution is more affordable than others on the market."

"D-Link pricing is very competitive when you consider other OEMs."

"There is no licensing fee for the solution."

"D-Link Wireless' price is the same as Aruba's. You need to pay one-time costs for the product."

"On a scale of one to ten, where one is very cheap and ten is very expensive, I rate the pricing an eight out of ten."

"The cost can range from $100 to $400."

"The product is affordable."

"D-Link Wireless is cheaper than Ruckus or Cisco."

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

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

"The solution is fairly priced."

"To save yourself from increased setup and maintenance costs, I highly recommend undertaking a proper site survey from the beginning."

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

"Licensing has become easier. There is no longer a per-AP license needed on the controller."

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

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

More Fortinet FortiWLM pricing and cost advice

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Top Industries

By visitors reading reviews

Educational Organization

13%

Comms Service Provider

12%

Computer Software Company

10%

Construction Company

Computer Software Company

15%

Manufacturing Company

Comms Service Provider

Healthcare Company

Company Size

By reviewers

Large Enterprise

Midsize Enterprise

Small Business

By reviewers
Company Size	Count
Small Business	8
Midsize Enterprise	7
Large Enterprise	2

By reviewers
Company Size	Count
Small Business	18
Midsize Enterprise	3
Large Enterprise	6

Questions from the Community

Which wireless solution would you choose - Huawei or D-Link?

Huawei wireless is a strong and solid product that has a lot of features - and for all that it offers, it happens to be very cost effective. As a wireless solution, it is simple and its user interf...

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What do you like most about D-Link Wireless?

The tool supports new technologies.

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What is your experience regarding pricing and costs for D-Link Wireless?

D-Link Wireless is notably more affordable than Cisco and Juniper. It suits SMB needs without the financial burden of purchasing additional licenses for extended APs.

See all answers

What do you like most about Fortinet FortiWLM?

The security is a valuable feature.

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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?

I don't know about potential areas for improvement for Fortinet FortiWLM. Regarding functionality, a lower price for Fortinet FortiWLM would be better, but it's difficult. Regarding the integration...

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Comparisons

Huawei Wireless vs D-Link Wireless

Compared 53% of the time

Ubiquiti WLAN vs D-Link Wireless

Compared 11% of the time

Aruba Wireless vs D-Link Wireless

Compared 10% of the time

Omada Access Points vs D-Link Wireless

Compared 9% of the time

Ruckus Wireless vs D-Link Wireless

Compared 6% of the time

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Aruba Wireless vs Fortinet FortiWLM

Compared 25% of the time

Cisco Wireless vs Fortinet FortiWLM

Compared 16% of the time

Cisco Meraki Wireless LAN vs Fortinet FortiWLM

Compared 12% of the time

Ruckus Wireless vs Fortinet FortiWLM

Compared 10% of the time

Cambium Networks Wireless LAN vs Fortinet FortiWLM

Compared 10% of the time

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Product Reports

Buyer's Guide

D-Link Wireless

September 2025

Download D-Link Wireless product report

Buyer's Guide

Fortinet FortiWLM

September 2025

Download Fortinet FortiWLM product report

Also Known As

D-Link WLAN

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

Overview

D-Link Wireless offers a wide range of robust wireless Access Points (APs) operating in both the 2.4GHz and 5GHz frequency bands, supporting the latest wireless standards including 802.11ac and 802.11n. These access points can be managed independently as standalone devices, or collectively by using Central Wi-Fi Manager, a free centralized controller software that can be installed on a Windows server or PC.

D-Link

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

Sample Customers

Metropolitan Public Defender, Mission Motorcycles

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

Buyer's Guide

D-Link Wireless vs. Fortinet FortiWLM

September 2025

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