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Aruba Instant On Access Points vs Aruba Wireless comparison

 

Comparison Buyer's Guide

Executive SummaryUpdated on Oct 31, 2024

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
2.5
Aruba Instant On Access Points offer strong ROI potential through stability, ease of setup, no fees, and user satisfaction.
Sentiment score
8.4
Aruba Wireless offers increased production, cost savings, and flexibility, despite varying ROI assessments and evaluation challenges.
There is no need to buy additional controllers for managing access points.
There are significant time savings, around thirty to forty percent, due to minimal disconnections.
 

Customer Service

Sentiment score
9.5
Aruba Instant On Access Points support receives mixed reviews, with efficient service praised, but delays and response quality criticized.
Sentiment score
7.5
Aruba Wireless customer service is highly rated for responsiveness and professionalism, but complex issue resolution can be challenging.
There are still issues with the language barrier and the overall quality of support.
I only needed support once or twice for a replacement, and it was handled smoothly without any difficulty.
I would rate their technical support nine out of ten.
The customer support is good.
 

Scalability Issues

Sentiment score
6.9
Aruba Instant On Access Points are ideal for small to medium businesses but not suitable for large enterprise installations.
Sentiment score
8.0
Aruba Wireless offers strong scalability with cloud capabilities, supporting various configurations for large-scale deployments despite some model limitations.
The solution is scalable, as multiple sites connect seamlessly.
 

Stability Issues

Sentiment score
9.4
Aruba Instant On Access Points are stable for up to 25 users but may vary with larger deployments and outdoor use.
Sentiment score
8.9
Aruba Wireless is highly reliable and stable, widely used by enterprises, with excellent support resolving minor issues swiftly.
I have been using the product for the last nine years without facing any issues post-installation.
I don't remember it going down during the years it existed.
 

Room For Improvement

Aruba Instant On Access Points face scalability, pricing, and connectivity challenges, with users seeking better features and integrations.
Aruba Wireless needs improvements in stability, usability, support, pricing, documentation, integration, and feature enhancement for better performance.
In future updates, more AI for intelligence and the option for a separate network could be beneficial.
There is not enough focus on security across networking vendors, and they often add features without testing them thoroughly.
Zero-touch provisioning is needed, and although a cloud version is available, like Aruba Central, easier provisioning and configuration would be beneficial in the future.
While the technical specifications are satisfactory, the access points are expensive.
At the time of purchase, the prices were moderate, but now they are quite expensive.
 

Setup Cost

Aruba Instant On Access Points offer competitive pricing under $200 with no recurring fees, appealing for efficient budgeting.
Aruba Wireless offers competitive pricing with low maintenance costs, centralized licensing, and potential discounts, despite high initial setup costs.
The pricing of Aruba Instant On Access Points is competitive compared to Cisco, and they are actually cheaper.
Aruba Instant On Access Points work without a list price, suggesting that they are open source and no additional licensing costs are incurred.
It is very high compared to other products.
The initial prices were more affordable compared to the current high prices.
The pricing seems reasonable compared to other brands; however, it is too expensive for smaller businesses.
 

Valuable Features

Aruba Instant On Access Points provide easy management, robust security, and scalability for efficient connectivity in small to medium environments.
Aruba Wireless provides secure, scalable, and cost-effective Wi-Fi solutions with excellent performance, management, and integration features, including Wi-Fi 6.
They are very simple to install, and the deployment was straightforward, requiring only a few minutes.
The virtual controller feature is very beneficial because it removes the need for a physical controller.
It has many features and is integrated with Azure AD and multiple active directories, making authentication easy.
I do not need to buy a controller for the access point since the Aruba Access Point has a built-in virtual controller.
I am very satisfied with the roaming feature, as it ensures connectivity when moving from one location to another.
 

Categories and Ranking

Aruba Instant On Access Points
Ranking in Wireless LAN
11th
Average Rating
8.6
Reviews Sentiment
6.8
Number of Reviews
31
Ranking in other categories
No ranking in other categories
Aruba Wireless
Ranking in Wireless LAN
1st
Average Rating
8.4
Reviews Sentiment
7.3
Number of Reviews
147
Ranking in other categories
No ranking in other categories
 

Mindshare comparison

As of January 2025, in the Wireless LAN category, the mindshare of Aruba Instant On Access Points is 0.9%, down from 1.1% compared to the previous year. The mindshare of Aruba Wireless is 19.1%, down from 23.7% compared to the previous year. It is calculated based on PeerSpot user engagement data.
Wireless LAN
 

Featured Reviews

Ricardo Quintero - PeerSpot reviewer
Affordable and offers an easy setup phase
I was working on the on-premises solutions, like IronNet, Aironet, and some other tools from Cisco, but not with Meraki. The last Aironet model that we have here in Mexico, in the corporate office, and in some of the other regions of Mexico is Cisco Aironet 3700 and Cisco Aironet 3800, so it is just two or three devices. Aruba Instant On Access Points was working with Aruba 2540 and Cisco 3850 In Cisco, I found some issues. I was working well with a vendor. I was working with Cisco Catalyst 9200 and Cisco Catalyst 9300, along with Cisco Catalyst 2916M XL Switch. With all devices, we got a report. During the immigration, we choose another vendor, which Aruba. We have some issues with Aruba Instant On Access Points in iOS that are targeting the devices, and I have seen some problems with the DHCP solution.
Muhammad_Faisal - PeerSpot reviewer
Experience seamless connectivity with top-notch roaming capabilities
The Aruba Wireless solution has excellent roaming capabilities, ensuring seamless connectivity. Once installed, Aruba Wireless works robustly without overheating issues. This is particularly effective compared to other products I've used, like FortiMonitor and FortiAPs, which sometimes heat up. I am very satisfied with the roaming feature, as it ensures connectivity when moving from one location to another. The product's stability, after setting it up, adds to its value.
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Comparison Review

it_user212721 - PeerSpot reviewer
Mar 24, 2015
Cisco vs. Aruba Wireless Solutions
Cisco or Aruba Networks? If you are considering wireless access solutions, this is a common question that you are probably asking. You probably have sales people knocking at your door. How do you make sense of all the stories that you are presented with. If you have done any research, you are…
 

Top Industries

By visitors reading reviews
Educational Organization
64%
Computer Software Company
5%
Manufacturing Company
4%
Financial Services Firm
3%
Computer Software Company
18%
Manufacturing Company
7%
Government
6%
Educational Organization
6%
 

Company Size

By reviewers
Large Enterprise
Midsize Enterprise
Small Business
 

Questions from the Community

What do you like most about Aruba Instant On Access Points?
It's really easy to set up. And, you don't have to pay for the cloud solution. That's really interesting for our clients. And the other thing is, the roaming is also quite good.
What is your experience regarding pricing and costs for Aruba Instant On Access Points?
Aruba Instant On Access Points work without a list price, suggesting that they are open source and no additional licensing costs are incurred.
What needs improvement with Aruba Instant On Access Points?
All features already exist in Aruba Instant On Access Points. However, in future updates, more AI for intelligence and the option for a separate network could be beneficial.
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 have some feature that I need or want, I wouldn't consider them. Do you have expe...
Aruba Wireless or Ruckus Wireless?
At my organization, we researched Ruckus Wireless among other solutions but ultimately chose Aruba wireless. What did we like about Ruckus? First, it was very easy to use, and anybody with minimal...
How does Cisco Wireless compare with Aruba Wireless?
On the most basic level, Cisco Wireless can offer a rather straightforward initial setup. In the span of about three hours, the basic framework can be set up. Step-by-step instructions are availabl...
 

Also Known As

No data available
Aruba WLAN, HP WLAN, HP Wireless, Aruba Instant On AP Series Access Point
 

Overview

 

Sample Customers

Information Not Available
Consulate Health Care, Los Angeles Unified School District, Science Applications International Corp (SAIC), San Diego State University, KFC, ACTS Retirement-Life Communities
Find out what your peers are saying about Aruba Instant On Access Points vs. Aruba Wireless and other solutions. Updated: January 2025.
831,683 professionals have used our research since 2012.