Try our new research platform with insights from 80,000+ expert users

Aruba Instant vs Ubiquiti WLAN comparison

 

Comparison Buyer's Guide

Executive SummaryUpdated on Oct 31, 2024

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
11th
Average Rating
8.6
Reviews Sentiment
6.4
Number of Reviews
51
Ranking in other categories
No ranking in other categories
Ubiquiti WLAN
Ranking in Wireless LAN
7th
Average Rating
7.4
Reviews Sentiment
6.9
Number of Reviews
44
Ranking in other categories
No ranking in other categories
 

Mindshare comparison

As of April 2025, in the Wireless LAN category, the mindshare of Aruba Instant is 2.0%, down from 2.2% compared to the previous year. The mindshare of Ubiquiti WLAN is 5.1%, down from 6.7% 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.
Gabriele-Pizzigati - PeerSpot reviewer
Managing installations through one interface enhances efficiency but AI features improvement
Ubiquiti Wireless LAN is reliable and offers a good quality product. It provides one interface to manage all installations, allowing me to monitor all customers through the same web interface. The web interface in the controller allows for quick configuration of devices with just one click, which is a significant advantage.

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 features of Aruba Instant are management and performance."
"The quick setup and automatic code embedded in one access point is really useful."
"The most beneficial features for network management are the price and the cloud console."
"This is a very solid product. It is very powerful."
"The cost is low, and there is controller-less architecture."
"The most beneficial features for network management are the price and the cloud console."
"The integration with ClearPass is the most valuable feature."
"The most valuable feature is that it provides a redundant wireless connection for a client."
"Anyone can buy the product off the shelf and configure it."
"I use Ubiquiti WLAN because it's cheap and performs well. The range is its best feature for improving network performance."
"Ubiquiti WLAN has been stable and is easy to install."
"Great management interface."
"The web interface in the controller allows for quick configuration of devices with just one click, which is a significant advantage."
"The initial setup is easy."
"It is similar to the switches, where it is one of those things where it just works. They are very reliable."
"Ubiquiti WLAN has good performance."
 

Cons

"The product's high cost is an area where improvements are required."
"If you need to access the master access point the integration between the two becomes quite expensive."
"There was only ever one case in which an access point failed, but it was reintegrated. The issue was more of a matter of oversight. One part of the network had covered ten access points."
"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 captive portal through Facebook doesn't work."
"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."
"Aruba Instant should not have a limit on users for future releases."
"The product needs to improve the user interface in the migration from old to new versions."
"When I started to upgrade, the controller for Unbuntu was really struggling to start up, however, that has since been solved."
"There is room for improvement in providing the flexibility to change the default management VLAN from VLAN one to another for enhanced security."
"The solution is stable but could improve."
"The product must provide better warranties."
"The product's area of concern revolves around its lack of support."
"The solution needs to improve robustness, security, and stability."
"A potential improvement could be the addition of artificial intelligence features, similar to what Ruckus offers."
 

Pricing and Cost Advice

"The licensing cost is somewhere around $20,000."
"I rate the product’s pricing a two out of ten."
"We pay about $300 per access point."
"Aruba Instant is a free subscription with a limited lifetime warranty."
"We only pay for the support and the contract licenses from Aruba Instant."
"The product is competitively priced"
"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."
"The product is reasonably priced."
"Its cost is reasonable."
"Ubiquiti WLAN is fairly well priced and available as a one-time purchase."
"The software to control it is free. The license is when we buy the Cloud Key."
"Ubiquiti WLAN is less expensive than Ruckus, but its price could be improved to make it more affordable and accessible."
"This solution is reasonably priced."
"I rate the pricing an eight on a scale of one to ten, where one is cheap, and ten is expensive."
"Ubiquiti WLAN is a low-priced product."
"On a scale of one to ten, where one is expensive, and ten is cheap, I rate Ubiquiti WLAN's pricing a five to six out of ten."
report
Use our free recommendation engine to learn which Wireless LAN solutions are best for your needs.
849,190 professionals have used our research since 2012.
 

Top Industries

By visitors reading reviews
Computer Software Company
15%
Comms Service Provider
9%
Manufacturing Company
6%
Financial Services Firm
6%
Computer Software Company
12%
Comms Service Provider
9%
Manufacturing Company
8%
Educational Organization
7%
 

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...
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...
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...
Is Ubiquiti Wireless better than Ruckus Wireless WAN?
Ubiquiti Wireless is extremely easy to set up and is an excellent option for small businesses, offering enterprise features for a one-time fee and no ongoing licensing fees. Ubiquiti Wireless is ve...
What do you like most about Ubiquiti WLAN?
Anyone can buy the product off the shelf and configure it.
What is your experience regarding pricing and costs for Ubiquiti WLAN?
Ubiquiti is affordable, as it does not require recurring licensing fees. It only requires purchasing the appliance itself, making it a cost-effective solution for wireless deployment.
 

Overview

 

Sample Customers

Purdue University, Orlando Magic, Brussels Airport Company, Molecaten Holiday Parks
NASCAR Grand-AM, Maritime Parc, Outdoor Music Festival, One Republic Tour, British Armed Forces, Arcadia School District, Bartlett School District, Universidad del Azuay, Estelar Hotels, Intercontinental Bali, Moscow - Enforta, Miami - Sling Broadband, Manhattan - MST, Ecuador - Aire.EC
Find out what your peers are saying about Aruba Instant vs. Ubiquiti WLAN and other solutions. Updated: April 2025.
849,190 professionals have used our research since 2012.