Aruba Wireless vs WatchGuard Secure Wi‑Fi comparison

HPE Aruba Networking and WatchGuard are both solutions in the Wireless LAN category. HPE Aruba Networking is ranked #1 with an average rating of 8.3, while WatchGuard is ranked #24 with an average rating of 6.0. HPE Aruba Networking holds a 20.4% mindshare in Wireless LAN, compared to WatchGuard’s 0.5% mindshare. Additionally, 86% of HPE Aruba Networking users are willing to recommend the solution, compared to 80% of WatchGuard users who would recommend it.

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Executive SummaryUpdated on Oct 8, 2024

Aruba Wireless and WatchGuard Secure Wi-Fi compete in the wireless networking space. Aruba Wireless is favored for its cost-effectiveness and ease of deployment, while WatchGuard Secure Wi-Fi has the advantage in security features.

Features: Aruba Wireless offers intuitive management, strong mobility, and seamless integration with existing infrastructure. WatchGuard Secure Wi-Fi is valued for its comprehensive security features, including intrusion detection and prevention.

Room for Improvement: Aruba Wireless users suggest improvements in scalability options, security protocols, and flexibility. WatchGuard Secure Wi-Fi users report a need for better system flexibility, throughput in high-demand environments, and performance adaptability.

Ease of Deployment and Customer Service: Aruba Wireless is known for its straightforward deployment and effective customer service, ensuring quick technical issue resolution. WatchGuard Secure Wi-Fi shows complexity in deployment but is praised for its excellent customer support once the system is operational.

Pricing and ROI: Aruba Wireless offers a cost-effective setup and strong ROI with affordable licensing. WatchGuard Secure Wi-Fi has a higher upfront cost but delivers substantial value through enhanced security, representing good long-term ROI.

To learn more, read our detailed Aruba Wireless vs. WatchGuard Secure Wi‑Fi Report (Updated: October 2024).

Buyer's Guide

Aruba Wireless vs. WatchGuard Secure Wi‑Fi

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 Wireless is 20.4%, down from 23.9% compared to the previous year. The mindshare of WatchGuard Secure Wi‑Fi is 0.5%, up from 0.4% 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 stable solution that gives wireless network coverage to users without connecting PCs or laptops to the network

We use Aruba Wireless to give wireless network coverage to users without any requirement of connecting PCs or laptops to the network The most valuable feature of Aruba Wireless is multi-tenancy. You can have a multi-tenancy setup with the same setup, and the same access points can be used for…

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WarrenWilliams

Senior Account Manager at Bralin Technology Solutions

Aug 18, 2023

A solution that offers excellent support and makes it easy to manage networks

To utilize the solution properly, you need some training and guidance on that. Getting it working is easy, but if you're going to use it with feature sets that make WatchGuard worthwhile to use, it's probably not the easiest to set up. I'd rate the initial setup a seven out of ten. The time taken to deploy the solution depends on the project scope you're doing. Do you need ten WiFi access points or one? You could deploy the solution in an hour. We need one person to deploy the solution. But the number of people required for deployment depends on where the access points are deployed. Like, if it's the ceiling or whatever. The way we do it, we usually have an on-site technician who sets up the backend. We usually have two people when deploying the solution, but you can do it with one person. We have a team that manages the solution. But if you have ten people on a site to manage the solution, 15 minutes daily is enough.

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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."

"The most valuable feature of Juniper Mist is the Virtual Network Assistant, powered by artificial intelligence."

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

"The AI capabilities of Mist Wireless are superior to other OEMs."

"The solution is very secure."

"Mist AI is a very powerful feature. Juniper is the only company that has introduced AI into networking."

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

"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

"Initial setup was very straightforward. We set up the switches and APs, then took it from there. "

"The Aruba Central portal is a good interface that helps us monitor the wireless devices extensively. Furthermore, the access points we use, mainly API nine zero five, are working well."

"This is the second time I've implemented and installed this solution and I think it is outstanding. The support is excellent and so is the hardware. We don't need much support because nothing really goes wrong."

"The coverage, concurrent user life, and visualization are the most valuable features of these solutions."

"I have not experienced any bugs, software, or hardware issues with Aruba."

"The functionality is very high and we can properly meet the clients' requirements."

"It helps the user to have a better vision of what is happening in their network."

"The most important feature is all about the two wavelengths, the 2.4GHz and the 5GHz, and the access points which are connected to this wireless controller."

More Aruba Wireless pros

"It makes it easy to obtain all information about the client experience."

"We like that WatchGuard works and integrates directly with the firewalls we use."

"The solution has been stable."

"They're very easy to set up and get running."

"The Wi-Fi security features of this solution have been great for our customers who need to strictly control access to their network."

"Cloud analytics that provide all its attributes."

Cons

"The solution is expensive."

"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."

"Improving third-party integration is key for Juniper Mist's next release."

"I need a bit more time with it before criticizing the features."

"The product should include adaptive Wi-Fi to show a more accurate location."

"Juniper should make the products more affordable."

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

"The pricing should be made cheaper."

More Juniper Mist Wireless Access Points cons

"Improvements to the GUI, such as being able to search in the Mobility Master, would be nice."

"The solution could be more user-friendly."

"The Return Material Authorization procedure is time-consuming and needs improvement."

"There is a lot of information for users about the product, but it needs to be better organized so that solutions are easier to find."

"Most of the access points don't include the chargers."

"Because it's cloud-based, it takes time for the floor maps and the heat map to load."

"Better integration with equipment from other vendors would ease the deployment process in some cases."

"The dashboards that represent the network access control in Aruba Wireless could improve."

More Aruba Wireless cons

"The solution can be scaled but it has limitations from my experience."

"One of the things is if you buy it with a certain subscription, you can't easily change the subscription level."

"I don't think they're available at the best price."

"Inability to import a user with one click."

"If a client device had issues with authentication due to out of date browser or similar difficulties, it would be nice to have the ability to migrate the client onto the portal via one click."

"The price of this solution needs to reviewed, as it is currently high enough to deter customers from trying it."

Pricing and Cost Advice

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

"The pricing is something Juniper Wireless Access Points (AP Series) can work on. The pricing is very high compared to the competition."

"The pricing is fair."

"The pricing is too high."

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

"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 solution is expensive."

"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

"The price is reasonable."

"The price of Aruba Wireless is fairly reasonable. It was within our budget."

"The price of Aruba Wireless could improve. It is expensive. However, I am able to reduce my costs because I do not use all the features in the controller, such as the AD integration and other enterprise features."

"Partner had been using Cisco. They switched to Aruba, because of price and functionality, also with an option for adding a SW, like AirWave, Meridian, ClearPass, and Central."

"In terms of pricing, the pricing for Aruba Wireless is not bad for large-sized companies, but for medium-sized companies, it's on the higher end, but because Aruba has a good company image, medium-sized companies still go with Aruba Wireless."

"Aruba is comparable to competing solutions when it comes to price."

"I would rate the pricing a five out of ten"

"The price point is pretty high compared to Ubiquiti and other equipment."

More Aruba Wireless pricing and cost advice

"Your licensing and cost, as would be required for many other solutions, being considered for eighty to two hundred and eighty different physical locations, is just about the same amount per access point."

"WatchGuard is on the upper scale for pricing."

"The solution is priced high compared to competitors. However, for the features that are included in the solution, the price becomes more reasonable."

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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

18%

Manufacturing Company

Government

Educational Organization

Retailer

12%

Computer Software Company

11%

Government

Comms Service Provider

Company Size

By reviewers

Large Enterprise

Midsize Enterprise

Small Business

No data available

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...

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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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What are pros and cons of Aruba 515 Series AP vs. Cisco Meraki or Extreme Networks?

Depends. I have personally used both Cisco and Aruba so I am familiar with them. Extreme I am not, so unless they h...

See all answers

Aruba Wireless or Ruckus Wireless?

At my organization, we researched Ruckus Wireless among other solutions but ultimately chose Aruba wireless. What di...

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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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What do you like most about WatchGuard Secure Wi‑Fi?

We like that WatchGuard works and integrates directly with the firewalls we use.

See all answers

What is your experience regarding pricing and costs for WatchGuard Secure Wi‑Fi?

WatchGuard is on the upper scale for pricing.

See all answers

What needs improvement with WatchGuard Secure Wi‑Fi?

One of the things is if you buy it with a certain subscription, you can't easily change the subscription level. For e...

See all answers

Comparisons

Cisco Meraki Wireless LAN vs Juniper Mist Wireless Access Points

Compared 45% of the time

Ruckus Wireless vs Juniper Mist Wireless Access Points

Compared 15% of the time

Cisco Wireless vs Juniper Mist Wireless Access Points

Compared 4% of the time

Ubiquiti WLAN vs Juniper Mist Wireless Access Points

Compared 4% of the time

Fortinet FortiAP vs Juniper Mist Wireless Access Points

Compared 3% of the time

More Juniper Mist Wireless Access Points Competitors

Cisco Meraki Wireless LAN vs Aruba Wireless

Compared 22% of the time

Cisco Wireless vs Aruba Wireless

Compared 21% of the time

Ruckus Wireless vs Aruba Wireless

Compared 19% of the time

Ubiquiti WLAN vs Aruba Wireless

Compared 5% of the time

Huawei Wireless vs Aruba Wireless

Compared 4% of the time

More Aruba Wireless Competitors

Ubiquiti WLAN vs WatchGuard Secure Wi‑Fi

Compared 33% of the time

Ruckus Wireless vs WatchGuard Secure Wi‑Fi

Compared 26% of the time

Aruba Instant vs WatchGuard Secure Wi‑Fi

Compared 22% of the time

More WatchGuard Secure Wi‑Fi 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 Wireless

November 2024

Download Aruba Wireless product report

Buyer's Guide

WatchGuard Secure Wi‑Fi

October 2024

Download WatchGuard Secure Wi‑Fi product report

Also Known As

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

Aruba WLAN, HP WLAN, HP Wireless, Aruba Instant On AP Series Access Point

No data available

Learn More

Juniper

HPE Aruba Networking

WatchGuard

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 Wireless is a secure, high-performance, multi-user wireless LAN supporting Wi-Fi 6. As workplaces and user expectations change, users can now maintain hybrid workplaces and IoT without compromising performance, reliability, or security. Aruba Wireless delivers better performance and capacity and greater AIOps visibility throughout all devices and users. In addition, through built-in network intelligence, network operations are made simpler while keeping everything secure through user and guest encryption.

Aruba Wireless, offered through Aruba Networks, is helping achieve digital transformation and IoT with seamless connectivity through multiple Wi-Fi access points. For the user’s convenience, Aruba Wireless provides indoor, outdoor, and remote access points to help boost faster and safer connectivity.

Choosing Aruba Wireless can help improve your organization’s user experience with wireless LAN in many ways, including:

Transforming hybrid workplaces: Employees can move seamlessly between home and office, with reliable internet and without compromising security.
Connect and protect IoT: With built-in AP support for BLE, Zigbee, and USB-port extensions, users can extend visibility, control, and connectivity to IoT devices and applications.
Expand the 5G experience to the enterprise network: Empower users to experience 5G with Wi-Fi 6 by automatically enabling cellular devices to join Aruba Wireless LAN securely and reliably.

Aruba Gateways and Controllers

Small organizations as well as large enterprises require excellent performance and security for cloud, mobility, and digital transformation. Therefore, in addition to the access points, Aruba Wireless also offers a variety of gateways and controllers, including:

9000 Series: With SD-WAN capabilities, it’s excellent for small campus networks looking for enhanced Wi-Fi scalability and security.
7200 Series: Perfect for campus WLAN scalability or branch SD-WAN and VPN Concentrator capabilities, the 7200 Series optimizes Wi-Fi performance to guarantee smooth roaming.
7000 Series: Acting as a controller or gateway to provide WAN intelligence, the 7000 Series is a policy-based router and an excellent solution for small to mid-sized campuses.
Mobility Controller Virtual Appliance: Maximizes Wi-Fi and network services in an economical, virtualized environment.
SD-WAN Virtual Gateways: Orchestrate virtual gateways in public cloud infrastructure, like Amazon Web Services (AWS).
Mobility Conductor Hardware Appliance: While enhancing the scalability and reliability for large campus WLANs, Aruba Mobility Conductors bring the full capability of ArubaOS.
Mobility Conductor Virtual Appliance: To scale large campus deployments, Aruba Mobility Conductors simplify the deployment and management of up to 1,000 Mobility Controllers.
ArubaOS Network Operating System: Great for remote workers in mid-sized and large companies who need seamless connectivity to and security over Wi-Fi.

Reviews from Real Users

Aruba Networks is aiding organizations in transforming to a hybrid work environment with Aruba Wireless. Users especially love its ability to work with many devices and its ability to group and manage access points.

A senior IT solutions architect at a manufacturing company says, "The most valuable feature is the fact that it can work with many devices. It supports everything that we need it to."

Gary F., a network administrator at wireless at Abilene Christian, notes, "I like the way it groups and manages access points."

WatchGuard is a global leader in network security, secure Wi-Fi, and network intelligence products and services for SMBs and Distributed Enterprises worldwide. Our mission is to make enterprise-grade security accessible to companies of all types and sizes through simplicity, making WatchGuard an ideal solution for distributed enterprises and SMBs. WatchGuard is headquartered in Seattle, Washington, with offices throughout North America, Europe, Asia Pacific, and Latin America.

Sample Customers

Information Not Available

Consulate Health Care, Los Angeles Unified School District, Science Applications International Corp (SAIC), San Diego State University, KFC, ACTS Retirement-Life Communities

Portsmouth Grammar School, HILOTEC

Buyer's Guide

Aruba Wireless vs. WatchGuard Secure Wi‑Fi

October 2024

Free Report: Aruba Wireless vs. WatchGuard Secure Wi‑Fi

Find out what your peers are saying about Aruba Wireless vs. WatchGuard Secure Wi‑Fi and other solutions. Updated: October 2024.

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