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Aruba Instant vs SonicWall SonicWave Access Points comparison

Hewlett Packard Enterprise and SonicWall are both solutions in the Wireless LAN category. Hewlett Packard Enterprise is ranked #10 with an average rating of 8.4, while SonicWall is ranked #19 with an average rating of 10.0. Hewlett Packard Enterprise holds a 2.1% mindshare in Wireless LAN, compared to SonicWall’s 0.4% mindshare. Additionally, 97% of Hewlett Packard Enterprise users are willing to recommend the solution, compared to 100% of SonicWall users who would recommend it.
Aruba Instant
Read 50 Aruba Instant reviews
  • 3,040 Views
  • 2,366 Comparison Views
97% willing to recommend
SonicWall SonicWave Access ...
Read 4 SonicWall SonicWave Access Points reviews
  • 584 Views
  • 451 Comparison Views
100% willing to recommend
 

Comparison Buyer's Guide

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Executive SummaryUpdated on Oct 31, 2024

Aruba Instant and SonicWall SonicWave Access Points compete in wireless network solutions. While Aruba Instant has advantages in pricing and customer support, SonicWave Access Points offers robust features, making it a worthwhile investment.

Features: Aruba Instant supports seamless scalability, intelligent app visibility, and integrated security features. SonicWall SonicWave provides advanced threat prevention, superior Wi-Fi signal strength, and compatibility with various security standards.

Ease of Deployment and Customer Service: Aruba Instant is easy to deploy with auto-configuration and has user-friendly support. SonicWave Access Points requires more setup but offers extensive documentation and reliable service.

Pricing and ROI: Aruba Instant offers competitive pricing with lower setup costs, appealing to budget-conscious buyers. SonicWall SonicWave, while more expensive, offers a comprehensive feature set that may justify the investment.

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To learn more, read our detailed Aruba Instant vs. SonicWall SonicWave Access Points Report (Updated: January 2025).
Buyer's Guide
Aruba Instant vs. SonicWall SonicWave Access Points
January 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
6.1
Number of Reviews
50
Ranking in other categories
No ranking in other categories
SonicWall SonicWave Access ...
Ranking in Wireless LAN
19th
Average Rating
10.0
Reviews Sentiment
7.4
Number of Reviews
4
Ranking in other categories
No ranking in other categories
 

Mindshare comparison

As of February 2025, in the Wireless LAN category, the mindshare of Aruba Instant is 2.1%, up from 2.1% compared to the previous year. The mindshare of SonicWall SonicWave Access Points is 0.4%, down from 0.4% compared to the previous year. It is calculated based on PeerSpot user engagement data.
Wireless LAN
 

Featured Reviews

Prashant-Patel - PeerSpot reviewer
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
Winsley De Oliveira - PeerSpot reviewer
An industry-leading security and wireless solution packaged in one box
We make our customers SonicWall clients. We have a solution package: If you have a contract to network with us, we will deliver SonicWall firewalls, access points, VPN clients, and all the other equipment with the SonicWall solution. We have been selling this solution for the past 30 years. We had a customer three months ago struggling with a Fortinet solution. We convinced them that the Fortinet solution would not work perfectly during renewal. We made a bet and delivered SonicWall equipment for free for one week, and if they had no more issues, they would buy it. That's precisely what happened. The customer ended up purchasing an $80,000 SonicWall solution. The SonicWall SonicWave Access Points are a good product compared to Cisco, Sophos, and Fortinet. In Brazil, Ruckus is taking market share in some key areas, such as hotels and hospitals. They are into big solutions with thousands of access points. Overall, I rate the solution a ten 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

"The product's initial setup phase was straightforward, considering that the tool offers a ZTP feature."
"I like the Instant On switches and the AP22"
"The most valuable features of Aruba Instant are management and performance."
"We like being able to merge Aruba Instant to mobile via Bluetooth. You are also able to perform a lot of functions remotely such as creating an SSID IP."
"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 product is easy to configure."
"Aruba Instant's best feature is the ability to manage it in the cloud."
"The solution is stable, and we are satisfied."
More Aruba Instant pros
"A good management tool that can be managed through the cloud or firewall."
"I rate SonicWall a nine out of ten."
"Unlike the Cisco solution that needs a dedicated wireless controller outside of a firewall, SonicWall has everything in one box. Fortinet is close to it."
"The platform's most valuable feature is the ability to provide cloud access to configure and manage devices."
"The security features of SonicWall are highly valued."
 

Cons

"The product's high cost is an area where improvements are required."
"The meshing could use improvement but aside from that nothing else really needs improvement."
"Aruba Instant does not currently offer a multi-gig switch or product, making it an area that requires improvement. Aruba Instant's competitors have multi-gig switches or products."
"Embedding a heatmap tool within the product would make it easier to conduct a wireless survey."
"The reach of the solution could be improved. It could be a bit stronger."
"The tool's support quality has changed since HPE acquired it. It is also impossible to tell the log dates."
"There is an issue with flooding to the Aruba access point on the ports."
"The security features must be improved."
More Aruba Instant cons
"We have a lot of overlapping wireless networks with a lot of cheap equipment that does not run on any rules or regulations. The best way to improve the wireless network, like in SonicWaves, is to defeat these networks by isolating, preventing them, or overcoming their wireless signal. We try to do that, but I live near an airport, and the AirPortRadar glitches my wireless network every nine seconds."
"They are sometimes difficult to manage from the end-user side because they are not yet familiar with the configuration."
"Integrating with the firewall and management console was a little complex."
"The product's pricing is high and could be improved."
"The main issue is the management of the access points. They are sometimes difficult to manage from the end-user side because they are not yet familiar with the configuration."
 

Pricing and Cost Advice

"The cost was affordable."
"I rate the product's price a five on a scale of one to ten, where one is cheap and ten is expensive."
"Avoid the Central cloud license if you can."
"The solution's pricing is reasonable."
"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."
"Two years ago, I paid INR 12,000 for access points, but now, I will have to pay double the amount, which comes up to INR 24,000, making it a costly product."
"There’s no licensing required to use the tool."
"I rate the product’s pricing a two out of ten."
More Aruba Instant pricing and cost advice
"The platform offers yearly licenses."
"The pricing of the SonicWave Access Points solution is different in the US and Brazil. In the US, the solution is priced more competitively than other vendors. In Brazil, the exchange rate is a problem. To address this, SonicWall managers in Brazil are running several sales promotions and improving the price of new units."
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Top Industries

By visitors reading reviews
Computer Software Company
16%
Manufacturing Company
8%
Comms Service Provider
8%
Government
6%
Computer Software Company
15%
Government
11%
Educational Organization
8%
Manufacturing Company
7%
 

Company Size

By reviewers
Large Enterprise
Midsize Enterprise
Small Business
No data available
 

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
What do you like most about SonicWall SonicWave Access Points?
The platform's most valuable feature is the ability to provide cloud access to configure and manage devices.
See all answers
What is your experience regarding pricing and costs for SonicWall SonicWave Access Points?
The platform offers yearly licenses. We receive all the support services through our partners. Thus, there are no extra costs involved. However, some partners might charge for deployment services.
See all answers
What needs improvement with SonicWall SonicWave Access Points?
The main issue is the management of the access points. They are sometimes difficult to manage from the end-user side because they are not yet familiar with the configuration.
See all answers
 

Comparisons

Omada Access Points vs Aruba Instant Logo
Omada Access Points vs Aruba Instant
Compared 36% of the time
Ruckus Wireless vs Aruba Instant Logo
Ruckus Wireless vs Aruba Instant
Compared 15% of the time
Cisco Meraki Wireless LAN vs Aruba Instant Logo
Cisco Meraki Wireless LAN vs Aruba Instant
Compared 13% of the time
Huawei Wireless vs Aruba Instant Logo
Huawei Wireless vs Aruba Instant
Compared 11% of the time
ExtremeCloud IQ vs Aruba Instant Logo
ExtremeCloud IQ vs Aruba Instant
Compared 5% of the time
More Aruba Instant Competitors
Ruckus Wireless vs SonicWall SonicWave Access Points Logo
Ruckus Wireless vs SonicWall SonicWave Access Points
Compared 48% of the time
Aruba Wireless vs SonicWall SonicWave Access Points Logo
Aruba Wireless vs SonicWall SonicWave Access Points
Compared 27% of the time
Ubiquiti WLAN vs SonicWall SonicWave Access Points Logo
Ubiquiti WLAN vs SonicWall SonicWave Access Points
Compared 25% of the time
More SonicWall SonicWave Access Points Competitors
 

Product Reports

Buyer's Guide
Aruba Instant
February 2025
Aruba Instant reportDownload Aruba Instant product report
Buyer's Guide
Wireless LAN
February 2025
SonicWall SonicWave Access Points reportDownload SonicWall SonicWave Access Points product report
 

Also Known As

No data available
SonicWave 200 Series, SonicWave 200 Series Access Points, SonicWave 400 Series, SonicWave 400 Series Access Points
 

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

SonicWall SonicWave series wireless access points (APs) combine high-performance IEEE 802.11ac Wave 2 wireless technology with flexible deployment options. These APs can be managed via the cloud using SonicWall WiFi Cloud Manager (WCM) or through SonicWall's industry-leading next-generation firewalls.

SonicWall
 

Sample Customers

Purdue University, Orlando Magic, Brussels Airport Company, Molecaten Holiday Parks
St. Dominic's School for Girls
Buyer's Guide
Aruba Instant vs. SonicWall SonicWave Access Points
January 2025
Free Report: Aruba Instant vs. SonicWall SonicWave Access Points
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