Aruba Instant vs Cisco Wireless comparison

HPE Aruba Networking and Cisco are both solutions in the Wireless LAN category. HPE Aruba Networking is ranked #7 with an average rating of 8.5, while Cisco is ranked #3 with an average rating of 8.5. HPE Aruba Networking holds a 2.0% mindshare in Wireless LAN, compared to Cisco’s 12.5% mindshare. Additionally, 97% of HPE Aruba Networking users are willing to recommend the solution, compared to 88% of Cisco users who would recommend it.

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Executive SummaryUpdated on Oct 31, 2024

Cisco Wireless and Aruba Instant are competitive solutions in the wireless networking domain, each offering distinct advantages. Cisco appears to have the edge in advanced security features and integration capabilities, while Aruba is more accessible and cost-effective, particularly suited for small to mid-sized businesses.

Features: Cisco Wireless is known for its advanced security capabilities, robust interference management through CleanAir technology, and configurability that eases integration with various security tools. It also supports multiple frequency management, enhancing flexibility. Conversely, Aruba Instant prioritizes cost-effectiveness, with centralized and cloud management solutions that enable scalable deployments. It is user-friendly, making it suitable for businesses with limited IT resources.

Room for Improvement: Cisco Wireless is often criticized for its high costs and complex licensing, which can be a deterrent for some users. Simplifying its interface and enhancing compatibility with third-party tools could improve user experience. Aruba Instant, while competitively priced, could improve its cloud management features and enhance connectivity in high-density environments, which users have identified as areas needing attention.

Ease of Deployment and Customer Service: Cisco Wireless delivers reliable on-premises solutions with robust technical support, although the initial setup may require significant expertise. Aruba Instant, by contrast, is easier to deploy with a cloud-friendly architecture, offering a straightforward setup process. While Aruba's customer service is solid, it does not match the responsiveness provided by Cisco's support.

Pricing and ROI: Cisco Wireless, despite being expensive, is valued for its extensive features and reliability, which many organizations see as providing good ROI due to its stability. Aruba Instant, however, offers a more cost-effective pricing model with many features included without extra licensing fees and is considered better for businesses seeking straightforward, scalable solutions with reasonable initial costs.

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

Buyer's Guide

Aruba Instant vs. Cisco Wireless

October 2024

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Categories and Ranking

Juniper Mist Wireless Acces...

Mindshare comparison

As of November 2024, in the Wireless LAN category, the mindshare of Juniper Mist Wireless Access Points is 5.6%, up from 2.3% compared to the previous year. The mindshare of Aruba Instant is 2.0%, down from 2.3% compared to the previous year. The mindshare of Cisco Wireless is 12.5%, down from 16.4% 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

Apr 17, 2024

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

Oct 23, 2023

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

We use the product in a very small setup where the customers require 10 to 20 access points. A controller will not be suitable for such a customer. So, we provide them with a solution without a controller AirMatch is a key feature. We do not need any extra licenses for it. If we had a controller…

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Michael Lees

Production Director at Whitespider

Feb 19, 2024

Affordable, resilient, and performs better than other solutions in the market

Assurance capabilities must be improved. There should be more Assurance features on the Wireless LAN Controller. A lot of it is bundled into the DNA Center. Having a little more Assurance regarding what the RF Spectrum looks like will be good. Juniper Mist has a lot of analytical data on the dashboard. The customers would be compelled to look at DNA Center as a longer-term and more comprehensive solution if Cisco were to give them an insight into some of the Assurance capabilities that might be available in DNA Center. The tool must provide something like RF Neighbor. It must enable organizations to receive signal strength and signal-to-noise ratio and see how clients perform in their wireless network. It must have a cap. If we want additional functionality to see our entire network, that's where DNA Center fits in.

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

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

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

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

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

"Overall, we've been very pleased with the performance."

"The solution is stable."

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

More Juniper Mist Wireless Access Points pros

"I like the Instant On switches and the AP22"

"Aruba Instant is easy to manage."

"The tool's most valuable feature is Captive Portal, which we employ for our guest network. It enables us to create a separate virtual subnet for guests, ensuring their network traffic remains isolated from our office network. Another valuable feature is its role-based access control. This functionality allows us to assign different access privileges to users based on their roles within the organization."

"This is a very solid product. It is very powerful."

"The most valuable features of Aruba Instant are management and performance."

"The solution provides a very good end-user experience."

"The deployment is easy."

"In terms of stability, Aruba Instant is the best on the market."

More Aruba Instant pros

"It is good, and it works."

"The initial setup is easy. It's fairly quick to deploy."

"The technical support from Cisco is good."

"It gave us the ability to view wireless traffic, unwanted devices on the network, and how they affected overall network performance."

"The solution is easy to use and its stable."

"It is an extremely stable and scalable solution. Its documentation and support are also very good."

"The solution offers very good application visibility and control integration for other analysis software."

"The initial setup was quite easy. We have a very good relationship with our integrator and our integrator has a good relationship with Cisco. The integrator that installs Cisco is quite knowledgeable about the technology. They are trained and have a good relationship with their tech. We cannot be experts in each domain and we have to be supported by an integrator."

More Cisco Wireless pros

Cons

"Juniper Mist Wireless Access Points’ support services need improvement."

"They should include SD-WAN features to it."

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

"Juniper should make the products more affordable."

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

"The pricing should be made cheaper."

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

"Enrolling into the tool is a tedious process."

More Juniper Mist Wireless Access Points cons

"The captive portal through Facebook doesn't work."

"Embedding a heatmap tool within the product would make it easier to conduct a wireless survey."

"They should enhance reporting and add more features."

"The product can be improved by adding a clear interface."

"Aruba Instant can improve by increasing the gigabit range of the switch or by adding additional management features and tools. It can be helpful."

"Doesn't support enough access points in one cluster."

"Aruba Instant should not have a limit on users for future releases."

"The Central cloud management (optional) is far behind the competition in features, ease of use, and dependability. I have tried Aruba Central a few times over the years and, in my option, it is not where it needs to be for serious consideration in production environments."

More Aruba Instant cons

"The interface could be better."

"I would like to see less dependency on other products such as ISE and Prime for certain implementations."

"They should introduce zero interference capabilities."

"Sometimes I've seen some issues come up with the interference. That's an issue users face at times. It becomes very complex when you have a lot of wireless interference in the area, or in your office. It's because of the environment of Cisco. Maybe, in the future, they can work on this area, and fix this issue."

"The price could be improved."

"We've recently had hardware issues which have caused us some problems."

"Sometimes our customers do not get proper IP addresses from the DHCP pool."

"The security must be improved."

More Cisco Wireless cons

Pricing and Cost Advice

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

"The solution is expensive."

"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 fair."

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

"The pricing is too high."

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

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

More Juniper Mist Wireless Access Points pricing and cost advice

"Aruba Instant is affordable."

"It's a one time cost, including the upgrades, but you have to pay on a yearly basis if you want support. The price is in the middle in comparison to that of competitors' products."

"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."

"I would rate the pricing a five out of ten, where one is cheap and ten is expensive."

"We pay about $300 per access point."

"The product is competitively priced"

"Some aspect of the price of Aruba Instant is very economical because if the customer is requiring more features the customer needs to pay a higher amount."

"I personally would rather pay that little bit more and get what I need because I know what I'm getting, as opposed to going for something cheaper that's not as manageable and doesn't give as much."

More Aruba Instant pricing and cost advice

"This solution is expensive, but you get value for your money."

"Its price is a bit high. It is more expensive than its competitors, but when I look at the return on investment, it is worth it."

"The pricing is reasonable."

"The license is a one-time purchase."

"I rate the tool's pricing a nine out of ten."

"We have to pay for the hardware and support is extra and we do pay for the support."

"Its licensing is hard to understand."

"The cost model is expensive."

More Cisco Wireless pricing and cost advice

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Comparison Review

it_user212721

President at a tech services company with 51-200 employees

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…

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Top Industries

By visitors reading reviews

Computer Software Company

18%

Manufacturing Company

Educational Organization

Government

Computer Software Company

16%

Manufacturing Company

Government

Construction Company

Computer Software Company

17%

Manufacturing Company

Financial Services Firm

Educational Organization

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.

See all answers

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

If a customer has a budget of around five lakhs in Indian currency, they can afford Juniper products. But for a new c...

See all answers

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

HP recently acquired Juniper, and I'm not happy about that. Juniper is a brand, and HP acquired them because of Junip...

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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?

At the end of the day, that is obviously a big thing in the industry where, for some people, price is a concern. That...

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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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Which is better - Ruckus Wireless or Cisco Wireless?

Ruckus Wireless offers users the benefit of being both easy to set up and get running as well as being very user frie...

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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 ...

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Comparisons

Cisco Meraki Wireless LAN vs Juniper Mist Wireless Access Points

Compared 45% of the time

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

Ubiquiti WLAN vs Juniper Mist Wireless Access Points

Compared 4% of the time

Cambium Networks Wireless LAN 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

Cisco Meraki Wireless LAN vs Aruba Instant

Compared 15% of the time

Huawei Wireless vs Aruba Instant

Compared 9% of the time

Cambium Networks Wireless LAN vs Aruba Instant

Compared 3% of the time

More Aruba Instant Competitors

Aruba Wireless vs Cisco Wireless

Compared 37% of the time

Ruckus Wireless vs Cisco Wireless

Compared 25% of the time

Huawei Wireless vs Cisco Wireless

Compared 6% of the time

Cisco Meraki Wireless LAN vs Cisco Wireless

Compared 6% of the time

Alcatel-Lucent OmniAccess Stellar vs Cisco Wireless

Compared 1% of the time

More Cisco Wireless Competitors

Product Reports

Buyer's Guide

Juniper Mist Wireless Access Points

October 2024

Juniper Mist Wireless Access Points report

Download Juniper Mist Wireless Access Points product report

Buyer's Guide

Aruba Instant

November 2024

Download Aruba Instant product report

Buyer's Guide

Cisco Wireless

November 2024

Download Cisco Wireless product report

Also Known As

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

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Cisco WLAN Controller

Learn More

Juniper

HPE Aruba Networking

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 Wireless is a comprehensive suite of wireless solutions designed to deliver secure, high-performance connectivity for enterprises of all sizes. Offering a range of access points, controllers, and advanced management tools, Cisco Wireless ensures seamless and reliable network access, enhancing mobility and productivity.

Cisco Wireless solutions provide robust, scalable wireless networks capable of supporting high-density environments and diverse applications. With features such as seamless roaming, advanced security protocols, and detailed analytics, Cisco Wireless addresses the needs of modern businesses. The solutions include the Cisco Catalyst and Aironet series access points, wireless LAN controllers, and the Cisco DNA Center for centralized management and automation.

What are the key features of Cisco Wireless?

High-Density Performance: Optimized for environments with a high number of devices, ensuring reliable connectivity and performance.
Advanced Security: Incorporates robust security measures such as WPA3, Secure Boot, and segmentation to protect data and devices.
Seamless Roaming: Enables uninterrupted connectivity as users move across different areas within the network.
Centralized Management: Cisco DNA Center provides a single pane of glass for managing and automating wireless networks, enhancing operational efficiency.
Flexible Deployment Options: Supports various deployment models, including on-premises, cloud-managed, and hybrid solutions.

What benefits should users look for in reviews when evaluating Cisco Wireless?

Improved Mobility and Productivity: Users often highlight how Cisco Wireless enhances user mobility and productivity through reliable and consistent connectivity.
Scalability: Reviews frequently mention the scalability of Cisco Wireless, making it suitable for growing businesses.
Ease of Management: Many users appreciate the centralized management capabilities, which simplify network administration and troubleshooting.
Enhanced Security: The advanced security features are often noted for providing peace of mind and compliance with industry standards.
User Experience: The overall user experience, including ease of use and seamless integration with other Cisco products, is a common point of praise.

Cisco Wireless solutions are implemented across various industries, including healthcare, education, retail, and manufacturing. In healthcare, they support critical applications like patient monitoring and electronic health records. Educational institutions use Cisco Wireless to provide reliable internet access for students and staff. Retailers benefit from enhanced customer experiences through in-store connectivity, while manufacturers use wireless networks to improve operational efficiency and automation.

Pricing and licensing for Cisco Wireless solutions are typically based on the scale of deployment and specific product selections. Cisco offers various support plans, including 24/7 customer service, technical support, and access to software updates and patches.

In summary, Cisco Wireless provides robust, scalable wireless networking solutions that enhance connectivity, security, and management for diverse enterprise environments.

Sample Customers

Information Not Available

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

Aegean Motorway, Baylor Scott & White Health, Beachbody, Bellevue, Brunel University London, Bucks County Intermediate Unit , Chartwell School, Children's Hospital Colorado, Cisco Live Milan, City of Biel, City of Mississauga, Dundee Precious Metals, Electricity Authority of Cyprus, Erickson Living, Goldcorp, Great Ormond Street Hospital, Grupo Industrial Saltillo (GIS)

Buyer's Guide

Aruba Instant vs. Cisco Wireless

October 2024

Free Report: Aruba Instant vs. Cisco Wireless

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

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