Aruba Instant vs D-Link Wireless comparison

Hewlett Packard Enterprise and D-Link are both solutions in the Wireless LAN category. Hewlett Packard Enterprise is ranked #10 with an average rating of 8.5, while D-Link is ranked #13 with an average rating of 8.1. Hewlett Packard Enterprise holds a 2.1% mindshare in Wireless LAN, compared to D-Link’s 2.4% mindshare. Additionally, 97% of Hewlett Packard Enterprise users are willing to recommend the solution, compared to 93% of D-Link users who would recommend it.

Aruba Instant

Read 51 Aruba Instant reviews

2,947 Views
2,265 Comparison Views

97% willing to recommend

D-Link Wireless

Read 16 D-Link Wireless reviews

2,920 Views
2,497 Comparison Views

93% willing to recommend

Aruba Instant

D-Link Wireless

Comparison Buyer's Guide

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Executive SummaryUpdated on Oct 31, 2024

D-Link Wireless and Aruba Instant are competing products within the wireless networking market. D-Link Wireless has the upper hand in customer satisfaction due to its pricing and effective support services, while Aruba Instant leads with its advanced features that justify its higher cost.

Features: D-Link Wireless emphasizes user-friendly connectivity, reliable performance, and affordability. Aruba Instant offers cutting-edge technology, sophisticated network management, and robust security features, making it appealing to users seeking advanced technical capabilities.

Room for Improvement: D-Link Wireless could enhance its feature set to better compete with higher-end solutions, improve scalability options for larger deployments, and expand integration capabilities. Aruba Instant could offer more competitive pricing, simplify its setup process for less tech-savvy users, and provide basic features without requiring additional costs.

Ease of Deployment and Customer Service: D-Link Wireless provides straightforward setup and responsive support, ideal for basic deployments. Aruba Instant offers a comprehensive deployment experience with in-depth support, catered to complex networking environments, and excelling in customer service for demanding needs.

Pricing and ROI: D-Link Wireless offers a budget-friendly initial investment with a solid ROI for basic network requirements. Aruba Instant, while initially more expensive, provides higher ROI over time due to its enhanced capabilities and resilience, which are attractive to those seeking long-term value through advanced functionality.

To learn more, read our detailed Aruba Instant vs. D-Link Wireless Report (Updated: March 2025).

Buyer's Guide

Aruba Instant vs. D-Link Wireless

March 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

Aruba Instant

Ranking in Wireless LAN

10th

Average Rating

8.6

Reviews Sentiment

6.4

Number of Reviews

Ranking in other categories

No ranking in other categories

D-Link Wireless

Ranking in Wireless LAN

13th

Average Rating

8.0

Reviews Sentiment

6.8

Number of Reviews

Ranking in other categories

No ranking in other categories

Mindshare comparison

As of March 2025, in the Wireless LAN category, the mindshare of Aruba Instant is 2.1%, down from 2.2% compared to the previous year. The mindshare of D-Link Wireless is 2.4%, up from 2.2% compared to the previous year. It is calculated based on PeerSpot user engagement data.

Wireless LAN

Featured Reviews

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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Sivakumar V

Systems Manager at Tata Institute of Social Sciences

A tool that offers a good performance at a good price

Over a period of time, the technologies change, and users may not get the proper things. In general, there is a need to keep changing devices after a period of five years, especially considering that I operate in a university where we don't have closed offices, while the devices' performance level goes down in open spaces. Though in our institution, we tried to make some changes to the product, we know that nothing much is going to change. In our institution, we plan to have indoor and room-based APs, but even then, some of the rooms don't come in a dust-free environment, so there is a need for us to experiment with the product as the degrading of the devices and signals still keeps happening. In our institution, we are making some changes to adopt to an indoor-based system. For certain setups, D-Link Wireless works better and ensures that users get value for their money. If you know how to maintain a technology, then it can help you. I rate the overall tool an eight to nine 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

"When users want to migrate from one location to another, they face no problems with connectivity."

"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."

"The deployment is easy."

"What I like best about Aruba Instant is that it serves as a virtual controller, so you don't need to buy other equipment to manage all your access points. I also like that the solution is easy to use."

"The solution is stable, and we are satisfied."

"The central management of multiple devices is the solution's most valuable aspect."

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

"The most valuable feature of this product is that it is easily deployed."

More Aruba Instant pros

"The initial setup process was easy."

"The tool supports new technologies."

"The connectivity is good."

"The system simplifies network management."

"It is a scalable solution. Scalability-wise, I rate the solution a ten out of ten."

"This is an affordable product that offers good performance. This is why it is popular with our customers. It offers good speed and bandwidth."

"The setup process is very easy."

"D-Link is a good product that is quite affordable and I recommend it."

More D-Link Wireless pros

Cons

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

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

"There is an issue with flooding to the Aruba access point on the ports."

"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 captive portal through Facebook doesn't work."

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

"My biggest problem with Aruba Instant was the DHCP implementation. The DHCP server needs to ping an IP address to connect to the internet. In some cases, we don't have a DHCP server in the network, and it was really a problem."

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

More Aruba Instant cons

"It would definitely help if we had more advanced features for distributing bandwidth."

"The tool's technical support can get difficult sometimes. We got a technician only after complaining for 10-15 days. The tool's technicians need to be made available everywhere."

"In future releases, it can keep improving on countering the new patterns of security attacks."

"The performance offered by D-Link Wireless can be a bit problematic at times, owing to which it is an area that can be considered for improvement."

"The support offered by the product needs to be faster with better technical personnel."

"Its interface and support system need much improvement. Sometimes, when we use the interface to reset the password and configure SSIDs, or some other changes, the "Save" option does not show and we have to go to some internal setting and then we can "save" the setting. The “Save” option should be in front of or below of the settings."

"The solution doesn't have hotspots. Users can't set it up so that visitors can log in via Facebook or social media as they can at, for example, airports. D-Link should include hotspots that offer integration with social media. That way, visitors don't need to be asking people for passwords. They can just use Facebook."

"D-Link Wireless’s stability needs improvement."

More D-Link Wireless cons

Pricing and Cost Advice

"Aruba Instant is affordable."

"The setup cost varies based on each organization's requirements but it is within reason."

"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."

"Some in the hospitality industry use the solution because it's cheaper and doesn't require licenses."

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

"In my region right now, Aruba Instant comes with a default two-year cloud access license."

"The solution's pricing is reasonable."

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

More Aruba Instant pricing and cost advice

"D-Link pricing is very competitive when you consider other OEMs."

"This solution is more affordable than others on the market."

"There is no licensing fee for the solution."

"On a scale of one to ten, where one is very cheap and ten is very expensive, I rate the pricing an eight out of ten."

"D-Link Wireless' price is the same as Aruba's. You need to pay one-time costs for the product."

"D-Link Wireless is cheaper than Ruckus or Cisco."

"The product is affordable."

"The cost can range from $100 to $400."

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Top Industries

By visitors reading reviews

Computer Software Company

15%

Comms Service Provider

Manufacturing Company

Construction Company

Computer Software Company

16%

Comms Service Provider

10%

Educational Organization

Manufacturing Company

Company Size

By reviewers

Large Enterprise

Midsize Enterprise

Small Business

Questions from the Community

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 outdoors. It provides an enterprise-level WIFI while remaining cost-effective. U...

See all answers

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 filtering is also important to prevent access to malicious or inappropriate web...

See all answers

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 very expensive devices as we move to other products.

See all answers

Which wireless solution would you choose - Huawei or D-Link?

Huawei wireless is a strong and solid product that has a lot of features - and for all that it offers, it happens to be very cost effective. As a wireless solution, it is simple and its user interf...

See all answers

What do you like most about D-Link Wireless?

The tool supports new technologies.

See all answers

What is your experience regarding pricing and costs for D-Link Wireless?

The tool’s pricing is good for the functionality it provides. It is a one-time purchase. The cost can range from $100 to $400. The higher-end devices might cost $400.

See all answers

Comparisons

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Compared 38% of the time

Ruckus Wireless vs Aruba Instant

Compared 13% of the time

Cisco Meraki Wireless LAN vs Aruba Instant

Compared 13% of the time

Huawei Wireless vs Aruba Instant

Compared 10% of the time

ExtremeCloud IQ vs Aruba Instant

Compared 5% of the time

More Aruba Instant Competitors

Huawei Wireless vs D-Link Wireless

Compared 57% of the time

Aruba Wireless vs D-Link Wireless

Compared 12% of the time

Ubiquiti WLAN vs D-Link Wireless

Compared 11% of the time

Omada Access Points vs D-Link Wireless

Compared 7% of the time

Ruckus Wireless vs D-Link Wireless

Compared 7% of the time

More D-Link Wireless Competitors

Product Reports

Buyer's Guide

Aruba Instant

March 2025

Download Aruba Instant product report

Buyer's Guide

D-Link Wireless

March 2025

Download D-Link Wireless product report

Also Known As

No data available

D-Link WLAN

Overview

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.

Hewlett Packard Enterprise

D-Link Wireless offers a wide range of robust wireless Access Points (APs) operating in both the 2.4GHz and 5GHz frequency bands, supporting the latest wireless standards including 802.11ac and 802.11n. These access points can be managed independently as standalone devices, or collectively by using Central Wi-Fi Manager, a free centralized controller software that can be installed on a Windows server or PC.

D-Link

Sample Customers

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

Metropolitan Public Defender, Mission Motorcycles

Buyer's Guide

Aruba Instant vs. D-Link Wireless

March 2025

Free Report: Aruba Instant vs. D-Link Wireless

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