Aruba Instant vs Cisco Meraki Wireless LAN comparison

Hewlett Packard Enterprise and Cisco are both solutions in the Wireless LAN category. Hewlett Packard Enterprise is ranked #7 with an average rating of 8.5, while Cisco is ranked #4 with an average rating of 8.3. Hewlett Packard Enterprise holds a 2.1% mindshare in Wireless LAN, compared to Cisco’s 13.0% mindshare. Additionally, 97% 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 Dec 8, 2024

Cisco Meraki Wireless LAN and Aruba Instant compete in the wireless network solutions category. Cisco Meraki seems to have an upper hand due to its cloud-based management that simplifies network monitoring and configuration, despite higher costs.

Features: Cisco Meraki offers a cloud-based management system that integrates with other Cisco products, prioritizing simplicity and remote management. It boasts high-level security features and is ideal for smaller IT teams. Aruba Instant utilizes a virtual controller for central management, requiring no additional hardware. It provides high performance and flexibility, integrating easily with mobile devices and ensuring robust security.

Room for Improvement: Cisco Meraki users suggest improvements in error logs and request more advanced enterprise features. Its licensing model is a concern, rendering products unusable if not renewed. Aruba Instant's Central management is less feature-rich, with documentation and multi-user support needing enhancements. Feedback also indicates issues with auto-channeling and roaming.

Ease of Deployment and Customer Service: Cisco Meraki is noted for its flexibility and ease of deployment in cloud environments, with a streamlined integration process. Reviews of its customer service are mixed, with some praising quick responses. Aruba Instant is recognized for easy on-premises deployment and reliable technical support, often requiring fewer complex configurations.

Pricing and ROI: Cisco Meraki is a premium solution with a challenging licensing structure, but the ROI is often seen as justifiable through effective network management. Although it is more expensive, users appreciate the cost-performance value. Aruba Instant is favored for its cost-effectiveness, absent of licensing fees, offering a compelling ROI through lower initial and operational costs, making it attractive for SMBs and budget-conscious enterprises.

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

Buyer's Guide

Aruba Instant 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 Instant is 2.1%, down from 2.2% 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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Prashant-Patel

Senior Presales Consultant - Networking Solutions at Mannai

A highly stable and easy-to-deploy solution that is free and provides excellent deployment guides

The setup is very straightforward. There is no complexity at all. It took us 15 minutes. We need IP address details, DNS, a gateway, DHCP servers, and SSIDs. Single access points can act as controller-based, controller-less, and cloud-based solutions. That is the beauty of Aruba. If I have an on-premise solution and want to move to the cloud, I don't need separate hardware. The same hardware can be utilized in the cloud. The deployment guides that we get from Aruba are excellent. We have every piece of detail.

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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."

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

"It's well-detailed in terms of troubleshooting logs."

"The simplicity is great."

"For the most part, it does what it's supposed to do, and I like it. It's a great product."

"You can easily monitor, manage, and cover all your IT equipment."

"It provides private network access, helping us protect our company’s devices."

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

More Juniper Mist Wireless Access Points pros

"Aruba Instant is cloud-based, and thus, it improves wireless network performance on cloud platforms. The solution allows network monitoring through devices like mobiles and desktops, which is a feasible option. The tool also has Bluetooth settings so a user can deploy Aruba Instant through a serial number or the Bluetooth option."

"I've worked with other products, but I prefer Aruba because of its cost and simplicity."

"The access it grants to wifi is the solution's most valuable feature."

"Aruba Instant is easy to manage."

"The simplicity of the dashboard is one of the most valuable features. It's easy to use, and manage and the security features are robust. We can block unauthorized connections and create secure SSIDs."

"Aruba's mobility features, which facilitate seamless switching between wireless access points, are also quite impressive. Users don't even notice the transition, ensuring a smooth and uninterrupted experience."

"It's practical. It does what it needs to do."

"The cost is low, and there is controller-less architecture."

More Aruba Instant pros

"The monitoring device enables you to see the network health."

"The fact that Cisco Meraki is cloud based and is reasonably priced has been most valuable."

"It is a scalable solution."

"The most valuable feature is cloud management."

"The cloud manageability feature is valuable."

"The most valuable feature of this solution is the application visibility, which is one of the main features."

"Great architecturally based dashboard and the solution is accessible from anywhere."

"The solution is easy to install."

More Cisco Meraki Wireless LAN pros

Cons

"Juniper Wireless Access Points (AP Series) could improve if the MIST platform had a built-in master key. This would be an advantage."

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

"Supporting multiple protocols would be beneficial."

"The solution is expensive."

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

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

"Enrolling into the tool is a tedious process."

"Juniper Wireless AP can improve by continually improving its reporting and integration with other systems."

More Juniper Mist Wireless Access Points cons

"The network planner could be improved. You should be able to import a floor plan, and the application should suggest the optimal placement of your devices."

"The security features must be improved."

"It uses a different portal and has limitations from the customer side as it's not refined for MSP."

"The connectivity of the solution can use some improvement."

"It is a software characteristic, and it is during the reboot. During the startup of the AP, the AP tells you that you are using the wrong password. However, I have realized that this is not true."

"The reach of the solution could be improved. It could be a bit stronger."

"An important missing feature is the console port, which allows direct management without the cloud."

"Although built-in troubleshooting tools are available, they are not at all intuitive to use. Aruba Instant lacks decent documentation to use for troubleshooting wireless issues (fortunately there aren’t many)."

More Aruba Instant cons

"The throughput of the switches for wireless could be improved."

"if there is a better feature, they write it as beta so you have to be careful."

"The initial setup of the solution can be improved and made easier."

"We're are not fully utilizing the features of Cisco Meraki Wireless LAN to know a more in-depth analysis of what areas need to be improved. However, the security could improve. It would be a benefit to be able to lock out particular clients that are trying to connect from outside the building."

"The issue primarily revolves around failure to renew the license on time, leading to service termination."

"Licensing is, in my opinion, the least appealing component. It can be difficult to keep licenses up to date in order for the system to function properly."

"An area for improvement would be that Meraki doesn't work well in a warehouse environment. The device is too sensitive to other wireless devices, which provokes noise and can require a reboot to erase this."

"The customization needs to be improved because it's pretty locked down."

More Cisco Meraki Wireless LAN cons

Pricing and Cost Advice

"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."

"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."

"The pricing is fair."

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

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

"The pricing is too high."

More Juniper Mist Wireless Access Points pricing and cost advice

"We only pay for the support and the contract licenses from Aruba Instant."

"The product is competitively priced"

"I rate the product’s pricing a two out of ten."

"Avoid the Central cloud license if you can."

"I purchased the hardware and there are no monthly or yearly licenses to buy."

"In terms of costs, Aruba Instant is cheap because it doesn't require a license, but you'll incur charges for the access points. Access point charges could be more affordable."

"The licensing cost is somewhere around $20,000."

"Aruba Instant is affordable."

More Aruba Instant pricing and cost advice

"Since it's been acquired by Cisco, it's an even higher cost."

"Having a good price is important when we are providing quotations for projects."

"The pricing is on the higher side."

"Cisco products are generally recognized for their performance and quality, which may justify the higher price point compared to other options on the market."

"We pay licensing fees."

"There are multiple licensing options including three months, six months, and one year."

"The platform is expensive."

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

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

16%

Manufacturing Company

Financial Services Firm

Government

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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Which is better - Ubiquiti WLAN or Aruba Instant?

We researched Ubiquiti and Aruba when looking for a WLAN solution. Ubiquiti offers good WLAN access both indoors and ...

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What do you like most about Aruba Instant?

I find network management features related to monitoring Wi-Fi usage and visited sites particularly valuable. Content...

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What is your experience regarding pricing and costs for Aruba Instant?

The licensing costs depend on the product. The smaller switch is around one hundred and twenty euros. We do not sell ...

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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

Aruba Instant On Access Points vs Juniper Mist Wireless Access Points

Compared 1% of the time

More Juniper Mist Wireless Access Points Competitors

Omada Access Points vs Aruba Instant

Compared 31% of the time

Ruckus Wireless vs Aruba Instant

Compared 16% of the time

Huawei Wireless vs Aruba Instant

Compared 10% of the time

Aruba Wireless vs Aruba Instant

Compared 5% of the time

Cambium Networks Wireless LAN vs Aruba Instant

Compared 2% of the time

More Aruba Instant 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

Fortinet FortiWLM vs Cisco Meraki Wireless LAN

Compared 2% 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 Instant

December 2024

Download Aruba Instant 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

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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 Instant delivers the only controllerless Wi-Fi solution that is easy to set-up, and loaded with security and smarts needed to accelerate your business without breaking your budget.

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

Purdue University, Orlando Magic, Brussels Airport Company, Molecaten Holiday Parks

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 Instant vs. Cisco Meraki Wireless LAN

December 2024

Free Report: Aruba Instant vs. Cisco Meraki Wireless LAN

Find out what your peers are saying about Aruba Instant vs. Cisco Meraki Wireless LAN and other solutions. Updated: December 2024.

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We monitor all Wireless LAN reviews to prevent fraudulent reviews and keep review quality high. We do not post reviews by company employees or direct competitors. We validate each review for authenticity via cross-reference with LinkedIn, and personal follow-up with the reviewer when necessary.