Aruba Instant vs Omada Access Points comparison

Hewlett Packard Enterprise and TP-Link are both solutions in the Wireless LAN category. Hewlett Packard Enterprise is ranked #9 with an average rating of 8.4, while TP-Link is ranked #14 with an average rating of 7.9. Hewlett Packard Enterprise holds a 2.0% mindshare in Wireless LAN, compared to TP-Link’s 3.8% mindshare. Additionally, 97% of Hewlett Packard Enterprise users are willing to recommend the solution, compared to 100% of TP-Link users who would recommend it.

Aruba Instant

Read 51 Aruba Instant reviews

2,580 Views
1,987 Comparison Views

97% willing to recommend

Omada Access Points

Read 15 Omada Access Points reviews

4,118 Views
3,301 Comparison Views

100% willing to recommend

Aruba Instant

Omada Access Points

Comparison Buyer's Guide

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Executive SummaryUpdated on Oct 31, 2024

Aruba Instant and Omada Access Points compete in the wireless networking category, with Aruba having an edge in advanced features for larger infrastructures and Omada preferred for its affordability and ease of use for small to medium businesses.

Features: Aruba Instant offers a built-in firewall, application control, and flexible deployment options. Users appreciate its ease of installation and robust performance, highlighting its central management and scalability. Omada Access Points are reliable and simple, offering budget-friendly solutions and effective network control with centralized management.

Room for Improvement: Aruba Instant needs better documentation, improved troubleshooting tools, and stronger technical support. Its cloud management is less robust than some competitors, and it faces challenges with scalability and user compatibility. Omada users suggest enhancements in speed, security, and advanced management features to improve scalability.

Ease of Deployment and Customer Service: Aruba Instant supports on-premises, public, private, and hybrid cloud deployments, offering versatility. However, it receives mixed reviews for customer service, with some delays reported. Omada is easier to deploy on-premises but is rated less favorably for large-scale enterprises. Its customer service is generally satisfactory, though response times could improve.

Pricing and ROI: Aruba Instant is more expensive, justified by its advanced features and often requires ongoing support contracts, affecting affordability. However, users report a positive ROI due to its robust performance. Omada Access Points are praised for cost-effectiveness, particularly for small to medium businesses, with straightforward pricing and no licensing fees.

To learn more, read our detailed Aruba Instant vs. Omada Access Points Report (Updated: April 2025).

Buyer's Guide

Aruba Instant vs. Omada Access Points

April 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

9th

Average Rating

8.6

Reviews Sentiment

6.4

Number of Reviews

Ranking in other categories

No ranking in other categories

Omada Access Points

Ranking in Wireless LAN

14th

Average Rating

7.8

Reviews Sentiment

7.2

Number of Reviews

Ranking in other categories

No ranking in other categories

Mindshare comparison

As of May 2025, in the Wireless LAN category, the mindshare of Aruba Instant is 2.0%, down from 2.1% compared to the previous year. The mindshare of Omada Access Points is 3.8%, up from 3.2% 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.

Read full review

Prasad Wijesooriya

IT Manager at Hala Equipment Trading LLC

Well-suited for mobile and portable device usage but issues with stability

The problem is that when the number of users increases, TP-Link automatically drops the speed, and in terms of coverage, it falls short. We are not using any industrial-level equipment or accuracy. We are looking for something at the industrial level, advanced Access Points, not the basic ones from TP-Link. Omada Access Points could be improved in terms of connectivity and speed. That is the main thing. The other thing is security. Currently, most people are sharing their passwords, allowing unauthorized users to access Wi-Fi networks. So, the main areas for improvement are security, accessibility, and speed.

Read full review

Quotes from Members

We asked business professionals to review the solutions they use. Here are some excerpts of what they said:

Pros

"It is easy to use, manage, and implement."

"I like the notifications. I really like that it gives me those reports in terms of whether those access points are on or off."

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

"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 most valuable features of the solution are in the areas like routing and VLAN."

"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."

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

"The product's initial setup phase was straightforward, considering that the tool offers a ZTP feature."

More Aruba Instant pros

"The most valuable feature of TP-Link Auranet EAP is its high performance."

"The solution's most valuable feature is its price."

"Omada is easy to manage, has cloud management features, and is easy to set up."

"Omada is a good solution that I would recommend, and it is less expensive while providing good results."

"The initial setup is not complicated."

"Omada Access Points are very good in terms of wired technologies and wired connectivity."

"The pricing is reasonable."

"Its sturdiness and cost-effectiveness are the most valuable features."

More Omada Access Points pros

Cons

"The tool's support quality has changed since HPE acquired it. It is also impossible to tell the log dates."

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

"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)."

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

"They could provide a centralized system to manage switches incorporated into multiple branches."

"I believe there's room for improvement in monitoring, especially when troubleshooting issues. Currently, there's limited intelligence around monitoring. It needs to improve stability and scalability."

"The product is a little expensive."

"Aruba Instant's visibility, firewalling, L3 functionality, and DHCP services could all be improved."

More Aruba Instant cons

"It is less affordable for smaller businesses."

"The technical support could be improved."

"It's better for smaller organizations. This would not work for enterprises. It is not very scalable."

"Omada could add some API integrations that would help with our automated solution. We're trying to integrate, and we're having some issues because some of the calls are not there. The API still needs some development."

"Omada needs improvement in the distance it can cover."

"Upgrading the hardware capabilities to newer versions like Wi-Fi 6 or Wi-Fi 7 would be a helpful improvement."

"TP-Link Auranet EAP is not very efficient, they need to improve it."

"Aruba has better scaling capabilities."

More Omada Access Points cons

Pricing and Cost Advice

"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."

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

"The pricing is reasonable."

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

"The tool's pricing is neither cheap nor expensive."

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

"Avoid the Central cloud license if you can."

More Aruba Instant pricing and cost advice

"TP-Link is a good price. They have a good price. But technology-wise, it has to be better."

"The price is affordable, and we haven't had any additional costs due to having a limited number of users."

"The price of the solution is not a lot for five people to use it."

"We don't have to pay for the license because the solution has no subscription cost."

"TP-Link provides solutions that are more cost-effective than other well-known brands."

"The cost of Omada is much better than Aruba and Cisco, and it does what we need it to do in most cases. Around 10 percent of our clients need a more carrier-grade solution for mobile platforms."

"There is no need to pay for the licensing costs since my company is in South Africa. Omada Access Points can be termed as a medium-priced product."

"On a scale of one to ten for pricing, with one being cheap and ten being expensive, I would rate Omada Access Points at a one for its cost-effectiveness."

More Omada Access Points pricing and cost advice

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Top Industries

By visitors reading reviews

Computer Software Company

15%

Comms Service Provider

Manufacturing Company

Financial Services Firm

Computer Software Company

11%

Comms Service Provider

10%

Government

Educational Organization

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?

In my experience, Aruba Instant's price is reasonable compared to premium products like Ruckus, Cisco, or Juniper. However, when compared to entry-level market segments, the price is higher. Overal...

See all answers

What do you like most about TP-Link Auranet EAP?

We don't have any issues 90 percent of the time. It works fine in most situations. It has been a success story for delivering WiFi services in Romania. Our customers are happy, and I've been satisf...

See all answers

What needs improvement with Omada Access Points?

Omada needs improvement in the distance it can cover. I am looking for an access point that can cover long distances.

See all answers

What is your primary use case for Omada Access Points?

I am trying to design a wireless network with Omada equipment. I have deployed Omada in office areas, and now I want to deploy it in a hotel. The company size where I usually deploy is medium-sized...

See all answers

Comparisons

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Compared 12% of the time

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Compared 12% of the time

Huawei Wireless vs Aruba Instant

Compared 10% of the time

ExtremeCloud IQ vs Aruba Instant

Compared 5% of the time

Aruba Instant On Access Points vs Aruba Instant

Compared 5% of the time

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Ruckus Wireless vs Omada Access Points

Compared 18% of the time

Cisco Wireless vs Omada Access Points

Compared 10% of the time

Ubiquiti WLAN vs Omada Access Points

Compared 9% of the time

Aruba Wireless vs Omada Access Points

Compared 9% of the time

Cisco Meraki Wireless LAN vs Omada Access Points

Compared 8% of the time

More Omada Access Points Competitors

Product Reports

Buyer's Guide

Aruba Instant

May 2025

Download Aruba Instant product report

Buyer's Guide

Omada Access Points

April 2025

Download Omada Access Points product report

Also Known As

No data available

TP-Link Auranet EAP, TP-Link EAP, Auranet EAP, Auranet

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

Omada access points provide a business-class wireless network solution that’s flexible, manageable, secure, and easy-to-deploy. The free EAP Controller software allows users to manage hundreds of EAPs at multiple sites, all from a single location. The ability to control, adjust and visualize the entire network from any connected PC makes centralized business Wi-Fi management more efficient than ever before. Omada EAPs also feature captive portal and advanced RF management functions, which make them ideal for demanding, high-traffic environments such as campuses, hotels, malls and offices.

TP-Link

Sample Customers

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

Reflections Resort,Sim Lim Square, Hotel Mary Colombia, Peru WISP, Chase Grammer School

Buyer's Guide

Aruba Instant vs. Omada Access Points

April 2025

Free Report: Aruba Instant vs. Omada Access Points

Find out what your peers are saying about Aruba Instant vs. Omada Access Points and other solutions. Updated: April 2025.

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