Aruba Access Points vs Cisco Meraki Wireless LAN comparison

Hewlett Packard Enterprise and Cisco are both solutions in the Wireless LAN category. Hewlett Packard Enterprise is ranked #5 with an average rating of 8.7, while Cisco is ranked #4 with an average rating of 8.3. Hewlett Packard Enterprise holds a 0.7% mindshare in Wireless LAN, compared to Cisco’s 13.0% mindshare. Additionally, 93% of Hewlett Packard Enterprise users are willing to recommend the solution, compared to 92% of Cisco users who would recommend it.

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Executive SummaryUpdated on Oct 31, 2024

Cisco Meraki Wireless LAN and Aruba Access Points compete in the wireless networking category. Cisco Meraki holds the advantage for users needing a simple, cloud-based solution, while Aruba's robust security and integration make it preferable for enterprise-level deployments.

Features: Cisco Meraki offers intuitive cloud management, easy configuration, and solid security capabilities ideal for smaller organizations. Users enjoy the comprehensive dashboard for monitoring and reporting, making management straightforward even for limited IT resources. Cisco's cloud integration supports seamless updates and central management. Aruba Access Points provide exceptional network mobility, reliable connectivity, and compatibility with third-party technologies. Users can expect strong security features, including advanced multi-device configuration options and manageable guest portals. Aruba's deployment flexibility and integration with the broader network infrastructure make it suitable for enterprises seeking an enhanced wireless experience.

Room for Improvement: Cisco Meraki's licensing model is a concern, as non-renewal causes functionality loss, challenging for management. More advanced routing features and enhanced third-party integration are desirable. Aruba could improve scalability, accelerate technical support responsiveness, and address pricing concerns for more extensive deployments.

Ease of Deployment and Customer Service: Cisco Meraki offers versatile deployment options through its emphasis on cloud solutions, accommodating both public and private cloud environments. Its customer service has mixed reviews, although support responsiveness is generally appreciated. Aruba focuses on on-premises setups with available hybrid cloud solutions, catering to enterprise needs. Customer feedback highlights Aruba's accessible and supportive service team, enhancing user satisfaction.

Pricing and ROI: Cisco Meraki is priced higher due to its robust cloud capabilities, offering clear ROI for smaller setups by lowering operational costs despite recurring licensing fees. Aruba Access Points are competitively priced, with some models including lifetime licenses, balancing features at a slightly better price point. Both solutions promise significant ROI, though the value is contingent on the organization size and specific requirements.

To learn more, read our detailed Aruba Access Points vs. Cisco Meraki Wireless LAN Report (Updated: December 2024).

Buyer's Guide

Aruba Access Points vs. Cisco Meraki Wireless LAN

December 2024

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Categories and Ranking

Juniper Mist Wireless Acces...

Mindshare comparison

As of December 2024, in the Wireless LAN category, the mindshare of Juniper Mist Wireless Access Points is 5.7%, up from 2.6% compared to the previous year. The mindshare of Aruba Access Points is 0.7%, up from 0.0% compared to the previous year. The mindshare of Cisco Meraki Wireless LAN is 13.0%, up from 12.3% compared to the previous year. It is calculated based on PeerSpot user engagement data.

Wireless LAN

Featured Reviews

Gyan Sharma

Assistant Programmer at Shri Lal Bahadur Shastri Rashtriya Sanskrit Vidyapeetha

Offers good performance, good solution and smooth implementation

I do have a suggestion: it would be helpful to have even stronger security features to help protect against interference from other nearby access points that aren't part of our network. If there are access points from other brands installed nearby; they can cause interference and disrupt the range of our Mist access points. So, the security features could be stronger, especially in terms of authentication. The connectivity is excellent, but security needs improvement. In future releases, integrating more AI features would be beneficial. If Mist had stronger AI features, it could provide better security against network threats and cyberattacks. So, this solution still needs to improve its AI capabilities. It would be great if the AI could improve the range of the access points, and auto-protect functionality should be there to avoid interference by other nearby access points and enhance threat detection. In the future, I'd like to see stronger threat detection features integrated with Mist, as well as better detection of nearby access points that might cause interference.

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Trevor Fernandes

Team Lead at a manufacturing company with 5,001-10,000 employees

This is a reliable product that is easy to scale thanks to its virtual controller

Aruba's virtual controller is the most important feature. I also have TP-Link, Huawei, and D-Link access points, and normally those solutions have a controller, which is a separate software or hardware used to control all of these. But Aruba's virtual controller basically sits in one of the access points, and if that particular access point goes down, the controller automatically migrates to the next available access point. With this feature, I firstly don't need any additional hardware for a controller. Secondly, I don't need maintenance for it. A virtual controller that roams around from one device to another automatically makes life very easy for me. My access points are nearly ten years old, so though they now have 2.4 and 5 GHz options, features like the captive portal for the guest Wi-Fi, avoiding sticky clients between two Aruba devices, reduced authentication, and the ability to look at the IDS are all still very advanced.

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Danila Fradeani

Strategie, Innovazione e Customer Experience â€“ Analytics & Customer Experience (CEX) Manager at Telecom Italia

Simple-to-use platform with a centralized management system

Deploying Cisco Meraki Wireless LAN is relatively easy for our colleagues in the delivery department. They face challenges in planning, learning critical issues, and finding solutions during deployment. However, our team has gained valuable experience handling such deployments over the past three to four years. Currently, I am not directly involved in the configuration, design, or delivery analysis. However, maintenance may present more challenges for us. Our primary proposal for network solutions typically involves Cisco Meraki because our team has a long-standing familiarity and confidence in Cisco technologies. However, we also work with Fortinet, depending on the specific requirements of our customers. We offer both options to ensure we meet the diverse needs of our clients. I rate it an eight out of ten.

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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

"In terms of reporting, in terms of all the user reports, it's very rich."

"With Mist, every Wednesday they roll out new features."

"The most valuable feature of the solution is Marvis, the AI-driven network management system."

"The most valuable feature of Juniper Mist is the Virtual Network Assistant, powered by artificial intelligence."

"The AI capabilities of Mist Wireless are superior to other OEMs."

"The product is quite user-friendly and easy to deploy, so one should definitely consider buying it."

"Juniper Mist offers valuable features like comprehensive network insight, granular policy control, fast device setup, strong security, and efficient SSL traffic management."

"The solution is pretty generic and easy to use."

More Juniper Mist Wireless Access Points pros

"The manageability of both on-premise and cloud versions is valuable."

"Aruba Access Points are reliable and easy to implement."

"It has been a stable solution since its installation."

"The product’s most valuable feature is its ability to offer wireless connectivity to any service provider."

"After we installed the Aruba switches, the work became faster because the network speed improved."

"Aruba is a controller-based solution. We have some multi-story buildings. We only need to maintain one controller, and we can manage it from a single IP address."

"Aruba's virtual controller is the most important feature."

"The integration with robust network switches is valuable."

More Aruba Access Points pros

"It's a stable product."

"The automatic VMware update is very useful because you don't have to worry about outages and planning for VMware updates. It is very advantageous from a management point of view. The ability to restrict and review the clients connected to each of our segments. Additionally, the solution is easy to use."

"The network security the solution provides is its most valuable aspect."

"The solution ensures seamless connectivity as users move within the office. Six installed Meraki APs provide excellent coverage for around three hundred users, offering reliable speeds. Additionally, the system allows guests and users with priority devices to connect using their SAP ID. The traffic is managed through D and G controllers to meet the specified requirements for continuous connection and speed."

"The single dashboard of Cisco Meraki Wireless LAN is the most valuable feature for me."

"I have found it to be stable."

"It is a scalable solution."

"What I liked about these is that they worked. I didn't touch them or do anything with them. They were up and running when I came here. Once they are set up and running, you don't have to worry about them."

More Cisco Meraki Wireless LAN pros

Cons

"The pricing is very high in the Indian market."

"The product should include adaptive Wi-Fi to show a more accurate location."

"Improvement is needed in the user-friendliness of Juniper Mist, particularly in enhancing the interaction with AI features."

"It would be helpful to have even stronger security features to help protect against interference from other nearby access points that aren't part of our network."

"If you want to do more specific stuff, it's a bit limited."

"There is room for improvement in terms of support and installation."

"Though certain security features are integrated into the product, my company has to always look forward to tightening certain security functionalities in the solution."

"Enrolling into the tool is a tedious process."

More Juniper Mist Wireless Access Points cons

"The licensing models lack clarity."

"They should reduce the prices as an advanced marketing tool."

"The ICT dynamic is important. Every other vendor is innovating with new features and ideas. They need to compete and implement these things to stay ahead. So, I would suggest Aruba continue to gain the competitive edge."

"I have to go via HP's process, which is not as good as Aruba's used to be."

"The product should provide more coverage."

"There should be enhancements to support open Wi-Fi technology for seamless authentication across different access points."

"I would appreciate for the higher-end models to offer the same signal strength as the older, smaller models, even while maintaining the latest standards, as this would enhance the overall network performance and coverage."

"The delivery timeline is a major problem. There are also configuration and integration issues since not many engineers are available in the market who has expertise with the product. Some of our customers also experience network slowness."

More Aruba Access Points cons

"We have used technical support for some issues but not many times."

"There needs to be some work done on security because, with time, some viruses may emerge that one may not know about."

"Unfortunately, we have to deal with European privacy laws and as far as we can see, the solution is not compliant with these. It's why we're not able to continue with Cisco Meraki. They need to become compliant with GDPR laws."

"It would be nice to have licensing that stays in place while the system is being renovated or changed."

"Currently, only a limited number of clients can connect to these devices."

"There is a processing limitation when you have multiple SSIDs, above three or four."

"They're great. If there's anything that they need to change, it is just simplifying the site to which you go to make changes on the admin side."

"Meraki is still very much a small office type of solution. It is not a fit for large enterprise networks, as it doesn't have tunneling functionalities."

More Cisco Meraki Wireless LAN cons

Pricing and Cost Advice

"The pricing is too high."

"I rate the pricing an eight out of ten."

"The pricing is something Juniper Wireless Access Points (AP Series) can work on. The pricing is very high compared to the competition."

"We pay maybe 1000 SEK per year, per access point."

"I rate Juniper Mist's pricing a ten out of ten since it is expensive."

"If a customer has a budget of around five lakhs in Indian currency, they can afford Juniper products."

"I rate the product price as a six on a scale of one to ten, where one is inexpensive, and ten is expensive. It is a reasonably priced tool."

"Juniper Wireless AP's price is a little more expensive than other solutions, but you get what you pay for."

More Juniper Mist Wireless Access Points pricing and cost advice

"Aruba Central is a bit overpriced for some customers."

"The product's pricing could be better than one of its competitors."

"The tool is available in the market at a reasonable price"

"The product is more expensive than two of its competitors."

"The cost of Aruba Access Points has been on the rise, which may be due to market dynamics or regional factors, such as in Egypt. Additionally, the availability of Aruba products is a concern, with a lead time of approximately twelve months. This prolonged waiting period and a lack of responsiveness from HP, the parent company of Aruba, have led to the cancellation of some orders. The supply chain for Aruba appears to face challenges, impacting product delivery timelines."

"Users have to pay a licensing fee for Aruba Access Points, which could be cheaper."

"I rate the pricing a six out of ten because it's not cheap or expensive."

"My company needs to pay yearly for the licensing costs attached to the product. There are no additional payments towards the solution apart from its licensing costs."

More Aruba Access Points pricing and cost advice

"We pay a yearly license fee for the solution."

"I haven't conducted a price comparison yet, but based on information, it appears to be more affordable than the current environment. Therefore, I consider the price to be reasonable."

"This solution is quite costly and there are costs in addition to the licensing fees."

"It is super expensive for what you get. You also have to buy a license every year. Otherwise, it stops working."

"You have to renew your contract every year, or for three or for five years. If you do not pay right away they will suspend your subscription."

"It is expensive."

"Cisco Meraki Wireless LAN's pricing is high."

"Its licensing is on a yearly basis. It can be for three, five, or ten years. I'm happy with the pricing. You basically pay for what you get. It is that simple. When you look at Ubiquiti or Aruba, Cisco Meraki Wireless LAN far outweighs what you get. If you're in the UK, Ubiquiti gives a three-year or five-year warranty, whereas here in the UAE, they only give a one-year warranty, which is no good to me. Who buys a piece of equipment with only one year warranty on it? It doesn't make sense."

More Cisco Meraki Wireless LAN pricing and cost advice

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Top Industries

By visitors reading reviews

Computer Software Company

17%

Manufacturing Company

Educational Organization

Comms Service Provider

Computer Software Company

13%

Manufacturing Company

10%

Comms Service Provider

Non Profit

Computer Software Company

20%

Manufacturing Company

Educational Organization

Financial Services Firm

Company Size

By reviewers

Large Enterprise

Midsize Enterprise

Small Business

Questions from the Community

What do you like most about Juniper Wireless Access Points (AP Series)?

The solution is very secure.

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What is your experience regarding pricing and costs for Juniper Wireless Access Points (AP Series)?

Juniper Mist is cheaper than Meraki, placing it in the middle of the pack.

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What needs improvement with Juniper Wireless Access Points (AP Series)?

Supporting multiple protocols would be beneficial.

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What do you like most about Aruba Access Points?

After we installed the Aruba switches, the work became faster because the network speed improved.

See all answers

What is your experience regarding pricing and costs for Aruba Access Points?

Here, many owners look at the lump sum figure of the deal, comparing overall costs. Our company contacts Aruba's coun...

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What needs improvement with Aruba Access Points?

Some customers comment that the shape and size of the access point is a little big, especially the one installed in t...

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What are pros and cons of Aruba 515 Series AP vs. Cisco Meraki or Extreme Networks?

Depends. I have personally used both Cisco and Aruba so I am familiar with them. Extreme I am not, so unless they h...

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Which is better - Cisco Wireless or Cisco Meraki Wireless LAN?

Cisco Wireless is very robust, very rugged, and can handle indoor and outdoor coverage extremely well. We found it to...

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How does Ruckus Wireless compare to Cisco Meraki Wireless LAN?

Cisco’s Meraki Virtual MX is a virtual instance of the Meraki SD-WAN appliance. We liked the Meraki. The Wifi APs are...

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Comparisons

Aruba Wireless vs Juniper Mist Wireless Access Points

Compared 18% of the time

Ruckus Wireless vs Juniper Mist Wireless Access Points

Compared 15% of the time

Cisco Wireless vs Juniper Mist Wireless Access Points

Compared 4% of the time

Fortinet FortiAP vs Juniper Mist Wireless Access Points

Compared 4% of the time

Ubiquiti WLAN vs Juniper Mist Wireless Access Points

Compared 4% of the time

More Juniper Mist Wireless Access Points Competitors

Fortinet FortiAP vs Aruba Access Points

Compared 79% of the time

Ruckus Wireless vs Aruba Access Points

Compared 16% of the time

More Aruba Access Points Competitors

Aruba Wireless vs Cisco Meraki Wireless LAN

Compared 32% of the time

Ruckus Wireless vs Cisco Meraki Wireless LAN

Compared 10% of the time

Mist AI and Cloud vs Cisco Meraki Wireless LAN

Compared 7% of the time

Ubiquiti Wireless vs Cisco Meraki Wireless LAN

Compared 7% of the time

Cisco Wireless vs Cisco Meraki Wireless LAN

Compared 5% of the time

More Cisco Meraki Wireless LAN Competitors

Product Reports

Buyer's Guide

Juniper Mist Wireless Access Points

December 2024

Juniper Mist Wireless Access Points report

Download Juniper Mist Wireless Access Points product report

Buyer's Guide

Aruba Access Points

December 2024

Download Aruba Access Points product report

Buyer's Guide

Cisco Meraki Wireless LAN

December 2024

Download Cisco Meraki Wireless LAN product report

Also Known As

Juniper Wireless Access Points (AP Series), Mist Access Points

No data available

MR18, MR26, MR32, MR34, MR66, MR72, Meraki Wireless LAN, Meraki WLAN

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Juniper

Hewlett Packard Enterprise

Video not available

Cisco

Overview

Juniper Wireless Access Points work in conjunction with Juniper Mist Cloud Services and Mist AI to deliver premier wireless access capabilities. The Juniper Mist Edge extends microservices to the campus to bring agility and scale while enabling new applications at the edge.

Aruba Access Points are a preferred choice for enterprises, providing efficient wireless connectivity across corporate settings, educational institutions, and healthcare facilities with both indoor and outdoor deployment options.

Aruba Access Points deliver reliable Wi-Fi and network access tailored for enterprise and guest connectivity, supporting IoT devices in diverse environments such as warehouses and offices. They ensure secure connections with features like VPN management and 802.1x authentication, along with flexibility in deployment. Users can benefit from their robust warranty, ease of use, and seamless integration possibilities. The devices facilitate convenient management through both on-premise and cloud solutions, although there is a need for improved coverage, security, and integration features.

What are the standout features of Aruba Access Points?

Virtual Controller: Manages multiple Access Points without additional hardware.
Client Match: Ensures devices connect to the best access point available.
Seamless Roaming: Provides uninterrupted connectivity without drop-offs.
Integration Capabilities: Allows easy incorporation of enterprise wireless solutions.
Advanced Authentication: Offers 802.1x and secure guest access.

What benefits or ROI can users look for?

High Stability: Consistent performance minimizes downtime.
Simple Configuration: Easy setup saves time and resources.
Network Mobility: Supports movement with uninterrupted access.
Visibility: Provides network insights for better management.
Warranty and Support: Offers robust warranty terms.

In specific industries, Aruba Access Points are implemented to enhance patient record access and guest connectivity in healthcare, support interactive learning environments in education, and streamline operations in warehouses with IoT integration. Their deployment aligns with industry-specific requirements, ensuring reliable connectivity and secure access to critical applications.

Cisco Meraki access points are built from the highest grade components and carefully optimized for a seamless user experience. The outcome: faster connections, greater user capacity, more coverage, and fewer support calls. The Cisco Meraki dashboard gives visibility into the network users, their devices, and their applications. Armed with rich analytics, administrators can quickly create access control and application usage policies, optimizing both the end-user experience and network security.

Sample Customers

Information Not Available

Advanced Medical Transport, Banco de Guayaquil, Baylor Scott & White Health, BH Telecom, Bowling Green State University, Calligaris, Children's Hospital Colorado, City of Biel, Del Papa Distributing, Department of Justice, Dimension Data, Dualtec Cloud Builders, Electricity Authority of Cyprus, Grupo Industrial Saltillo (GIS), Hertz, K&L Gates , LightEdge, Lone Star College System, Management Science Associates, Mindtree, NBC Olympics, Quest, Sony Corporation, The Department of Education in Western Australia, Valley Proteins

Buyer's Guide

Aruba Access Points vs. Cisco Meraki Wireless LAN

December 2024

Free Report: Aruba Access Points vs. Cisco Meraki Wireless LAN

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