AirMagnet Survey vs Ekahau Site Survey comparison

NetAlly and Ekahau are both solutions in the Network Modeling and Simulation category. NetAlly is ranked #2 with an average rating of 6.7, while Ekahau is ranked #1 with an average rating of 7.9. NetAlly holds a 19.7% mindshare in NM, compared to Ekahau’s 27.4% mindshare. Additionally, 86% of NetAlly users are willing to recommend the solution, compared to 96% of Ekahau users who would recommend it.

AirMagnet Survey

Read 39 AirMagnet Survey reviews

3,146 Views
1,714 Comparison Views

86% willing to recommend

Ekahau Site Survey

Read 35 Ekahau Site Survey reviews

4,210 Views
2,257 Comparison Views

96% willing to recommend

AirMagnet Survey

Ekahau Site Survey

Comparison Buyer's Guide

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Executive SummaryUpdated on Apr 20, 2025

AirMagnet Survey and Ekahau Site Survey are prominent tools in the wireless network planning and analysis category. Ekahau appears to have an advantage due to its user-friendly features and frequent updates based on user feedback.

Features: AirMagnet Survey integrates spectrum analysis and supports multiple wireless adapters, enabling efficient dual-band data collection and CAD drawing manipulation. Ekahau Site Survey provides customization, dual-band analysis, and a mature planning module. Its Sidekick tool enhances compatibility and accuracy.

Room for Improvement: AirMagnet Survey could improve cloud service integration and report customization, addressing hardware compatibility and user interface issues. Ekahau could enhance support for multiple file operations, distinguish device types in reports, and improve report details and rendering speed.

Ease of Deployment and Customer Service: Both tools primarily deploy on-premises, with Ekahau offering hybrid cloud support. AirMagnet's support is praised for quick responses, while Ekahau's service is noted for excellence, albeit with occasional technical advisory inconsistencies.

Pricing and ROI: AirMagnet Survey, initially competitively priced, can become costly over time due to maintenance and licensing. Ekahau Site Survey is significantly more expensive than AirMagnet but is valued for comprehensive features and ease of use. Both are seen as worthy investments, especially for medium to large-scale deployments.

To learn more, read our detailed AirMagnet Survey vs. Ekahau Site Survey Report (Updated: April 2025).

Buyer's Guide

AirMagnet Survey vs. Ekahau Site Survey

April 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

AirMagnet Survey

Ranking in Network Modeling and Simulation

2nd

Average Rating

8.2

Reviews Sentiment

6.7

Number of Reviews

Ranking in other categories

Network Troubleshooting (8th)

Ekahau Site Survey

Ranking in Network Modeling and Simulation

1st

Average Rating

8.6

Reviews Sentiment

6.9

Number of Reviews

Ranking in other categories

No ranking in other categories

Mindshare comparison

As of April 2025, in the Network Modeling and Simulation category, the mindshare of AirMagnet Survey is 19.7%, down from 32.6% compared to the previous year. The mindshare of Ekahau Site Survey is 27.4%, down from 41.1% compared to the previous year. It is calculated based on PeerSpot user engagement data.

Network Modeling and Simulation

Featured Reviews

David Olofson

Manager at DD&P Services LLC

It fixes so many problems quickly that we don't regret spending more on high-end tools than most companies

It would be nice to have some more training resources for younger techs. We can use them if we need some assistance, but that usually requires one of us who knows what we're doing to calibrate the programs properly. There's one thing our nXG handhelds do that AirMagnet doesn't do out of the box. The nXG devices can analyze the wired and wireless networks simultaneously and map the networks out. We find it handy. However, if I have that plugged into our older OptiView XG tablets or our laptops, I have no way to analyze both the WiFi and the wired network at the same time and build a single picture with all that data. So far, that's something only our nXG handhelds can do. It would be nice if there were a way to integrate all the network discovery, troubleshooting, and mapping of the WiFi and the wired at the same time. There are almost no products that do that currently. If they managed to do that, they'd probably open up their market pretty quickly.

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ALEXANDRE VIANNA

CTO at Redeswirelessbrasil

Good optimization capabilities, automatic network planning tool and saves time

Ekahau needs to enhance the view of materials and make some adjustments to the reports. Currently, it's possible to make changes to the Word report using Python, but it could be improved. For example, when I create an AP on a survey report, information like the cable view, distance, and support assessments could be enhanced. Only one comment about Ekahau Optimizer. It needs improvement. I tried to upload site products, and for five products, I needed to involve Ekahau's supply chain. When I try to solve that, it's not possible. For example, I uploaded one product for a large bank, and the optimizer didn't finish. I needed to involve Ekahau support, and they sent me the file two or three days after I opened the case.

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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

"Using the products to ensure the safety of our equipment that we have a lot invested in."

"I would like to rate the product as eight of ten."

"The heat maps are quite good, and some features are easy to use."

"The most valuable features are the survey, spectrum analysis, and reporting."

"The predictive survey is the most valuable feature. I use it quite often."

"The AirMagnet Survey allows you to see the list of APs in the live view. It only supports certain adapters, which can be limiting, but it's also beneficial because these adapters are more comparable to real-life devices like laptops. With Ekahau, Sidekick needs to be used for full features, but I find the Sidekick too strong, which can hamper results. Therefore, I prefer AirMagnet's approach because the adapters provide more realistic readings."

"The benefit is with the ease of use of the software, I am able to show the customer, "Here is what your wireless coverage looks like." It is set up in a fashion that non-technical people can understand it."

"Customer service is great."

More AirMagnet Survey pros

"The spectrum analysis capability is very good. It provides deep insights into the Wi-Fi environment. It's not just about troubleshooting interference but also optimizing access points and modifying power levels and channels."

"I like Ekahau's interface and the reports it can generate."

"The troubleshooting tools are the most valuable feature of the solution."

"We reviewed the maps as a team and determined if any changes needed to be made or if we could just replace APs as they are. We got into this by upgrading our access points to Meraki, and we wanted to make sure that we weren't leaving trouble behind us as we were doing it."

"I don't handle the software that much. I'll do some of the testing with our CTO. It is primarily him and I. He has commented before that he likes the fact that with two licenses, we can set it up so that when we're on a large facility, he can see where I am and I can see where he is. That's for sure is very handy in large venues."

"The OEM dashboard has a lot of useful features to troubleshoot the Wi-Fi."

"The most valuable feature of Ekahau Site Survey is the predictive survey."

"The ability to perform dual-band spectrum analysis while conducting the standard WiFi site survey is a tremendous time saver."

More Ekahau Site Survey pros

Cons

"Less time consumed doing the real surveys."

"I would say some of our newer techs that are going out to job sites can be a little bit intimidated by the interface."

"It would be nice to have some more training resources for younger techs. We can use them if we need some assistance, but that usually requires one of us who knows what we're doing to calibrate the programs properly."

"When you conduct an active survey and then want to use it for design work, it's actually not very useful."

"The surveying features are in need of improvement, along with general usability."

"The user interface needs a lot of improvement. The auto-placement of access points is not accurate."

"AirMagnet Survey doesn't cover certain devices in the system."

"But it's definitely a more expensive solution than other ones."

More AirMagnet Survey cons

"Ekahau Site Survey is an expensive solution, and its pricing should be improved."

"The only issue is the price. The overall price is a bit high, especially compared to our other vendor. Ekahau is considered expensive."

"I would say that the indoor site accuracy is pretty good but the outdoor one should be improved. I would say if there was a way to put trees in there and canopies, that would be great."

"Most features are there, but the network adapter support should be better. Ekahau should support all laptops and versions. There's an issue with the driver too."

"The new Sidekick is going to support Wi-Fi 6 and Wi-Fi 6E."

"The cloud takes a lot of time to upload the site survey, and we regularly face issues with syncing to the optimizer."

"I wish the solution was better at making different survey modes."

"Ekahau would benefit by making improvements to lag time."

More Ekahau Site Survey cons

Pricing and Cost Advice

"There is an annual cost of the solution. There are some additional charges, such as support and maintenance."

"The pricing needs improvement."

"The moment we began needing more of the vendor's support, the cost became very high; we switched to another solution."

"The licensing of AirMagnet Survey is different when compared to Ekahu. It is a third of the cost of Ekahau but there are no dedicated laptops to the Sidekick. AirMagnet allows you to license an adapter and share that adapter."

"This product is very expensive."

"For technical support, you need an annual license, but it is not worth it."

"The tool's pricing is medium."

"The pricing could be lower because the Huawei radial planning is free for the partner. When I asked my boss about buying Ekahau and the USB key, it was complicated because of the high cost, which is €5,000."

"We pay a licensing fee."

"The pricing is high."

"The solution is less costly than one of its competitors."

"The solution is priced fairly for the features that you receive."

"We pay $6,000 yearly for the licensing, but each piece of hardware, the Ekahau Sidekick, is $5,000."

"I believe that it is approximately $2,000 per year for us. I know we pay for it on an annual basis."

"9,000 Euro per year."

More Ekahau Site Survey pricing and cost advice

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Top Industries

By visitors reading reviews

Computer Software Company

15%

Educational Organization

Government

Manufacturing Company

Computer Software Company

14%

Educational Organization

10%

Manufacturing Company

Government

Company Size

By reviewers

Large Enterprise

Midsize Enterprise

Small Business

Questions from the Community

What do you like most about AirMagnet Survey?

We use the solution for Wi-Fi and networks.

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What needs improvement with AirMagnet Survey?

AirMagnet Survey needs to support Wi-Fi 6E otherwise they can lose to the competition. They also need to allow better grouping of SSIDs to one AP, removing the need to filter manually. At the momen...

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What is your primary use case for AirMagnet Survey?

We use AirMagnet Survey, for site verifications after the wireless system has been installed. We conduct pre and post-install surveys with it. We have reduced the use since now our customers requir...

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What do you like most about Ekahau Site Survey?

We reviewed the maps as a team and determined if any changes needed to be made or if we could just replace APs as they are. We got into this by upgrading our access points to Meraki, and we wanted ...

See all answers

What is your experience regarding pricing and costs for Ekahau Site Survey?

The pricing and licensing of Ekahau are costly.

See all answers

What needs improvement with Ekahau Site Survey?

Ekahau could be improved by adding three-dimensional modeling, as we currently cannot view APIs in a three-dimensional perspective. They need to include backhaul features and improve the ease of in...

See all answers

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NetAlly EtherScope nXG vs AirMagnet Survey

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Compared 4% of the time

Cisco Meraki Wireless LAN vs Ekahau Site Survey

Compared 4% of the time

More Ekahau Site Survey Competitors

Product Reports

Buyer's Guide

AirMagnet Survey

April 2025

Download AirMagnet Survey product report

Buyer's Guide

Ekahau Site Survey

April 2025

Download Ekahau Site Survey product report

Overview

AirMagnet Survey PRO enables network professionals to design, deploy, and validate Wi-Fi 6 networks for optimal performance, security, and compliance. It also calculates the ideal quantity, placement, and configuration of APs for a successful wireless LAN deployment. AirMagnet Survey PRO goes beyond simply verifying RF coverage by plotting actual end-user network performance in terms of connection speed, throughput, and packet statistics by allowing you to use any Wi-Fi adapter or AirMapper™ Site Survey on the AirCheck™ G2 and EtherScope® nXG. Survey PRO helps you get Wi-Fi installations right the first time, preventing costly rework and user complaints.

NetAlly

Over 12 years in the making, ESSTM maintains its reputation as the easiest to use, enterprise-grade Wi-Fi design and maintenance tool for Wi-Fi professionals. With crystal clear heat maps and easy-to-use reports, ESS makes it simple to optimize Wi-Fi.

ESS allows you to plan and create Wi-Fi networks according to your performance and capacity requirements—taking into consideration the increasing amount of wireless clients and applications such as VoIP, HD video streaming and web browsing.

Ekahau

Sample Customers

Houston Methodist Hospital, Love's Travel Stops

Presidio, Planet Earth, Ruckus

Buyer's Guide

AirMagnet Survey vs. Ekahau Site Survey

April 2025

Free Report: AirMagnet Survey vs. Ekahau Site Survey

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