Cisco Secure Client (including AnyConnect) vs Ivanti Connect Secure comparison

Cisco Secure Client (including AnyConnect) vs. Ivanti Connect Secure

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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

Cisco Secure Client (includ...

Ranking in SSL VPN

1st

Ranking in Enterprise Infrastructure VPN

4th

Average Rating

8.4

Reviews Sentiment

6.6

Number of Reviews

Ranking in other categories

ZTNA as a Service (8th), Cisco Security Portfolio (5th)

Ivanti Connect Secure

Ranking in SSL VPN

3rd

Ranking in Enterprise Infrastructure VPN

10th

Average Rating

7.6

Reviews Sentiment

6.6

Number of Reviews

Ranking in other categories

No ranking in other categories

Mindshare comparison

As of December 2025, in the SSL VPN category, the mindshare of Cisco Secure Client (including AnyConnect) is 14.8%, up from 14.9% compared to the previous year. The mindshare of Ivanti Connect Secure is 17.8%, down from 22.5% compared to the previous year. It is calculated based on PeerSpot user engagement data.

SSL VPN Market Share Distribution
Product	Market Share (%)
Cisco Secure Client (including AnyConnect)	14.8%
Ivanti Connect Secure	17.8%
Other	67.4%

SSL VPN

Featured Reviews

AJAY SARPAL

Manager - Projects at airtel

Offers work-from-anywhere flexibility but navigates occasional proxy confusion

The analytics I downloaded from your site as a free download did not carry the information that was actually required. I was looking at the market segmentation and market share, along with some USPs which differentiated them from each other. The free download had two issues: many things were repetitive, and it was designed to not release any relevant information. Only headers were present, so I was not able to determine whether the final report would be worthwhile. I have not worked with enterprise tools that I could share feedback on for website publication. I see benefits from using Cisco Secure Client (including AnyConnect). However, I would not recommend it because future adoptions will be towards Zscaler, as SSC is a better model than VPN. On a scale of 1-10, I rate this solution a 7.

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Kaushlendra Singh

Manager - IT Infrastructure and Network at a manufacturing company with 1,001-5,000 employees

Provides secure and simple remote access but needs improved reporting capabilities

Ivanti Connect Secure is simple and secure, making it valuable for our organization. Ivanti Connect Secure's access control feature provides global protect, which allows country-wise blocking. There are many access controls available, and policies can be created on a host basis and on the MAC address of assets that will connect. Firewall versions and OS versions can be defined, and only devices meeting these criteria can connect to the VPN. These features are effective, along with MFA. Ivanti Connect Secure is a client-based, agent-based solution, so if the agent is installed, users are able to connect to the network. Ivanti Connect Secure utilizes identity-based LDAP authentication. Ivanti Connect Secure is very effective for remote access for remote workers.

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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

"It's fairly easy to set up."

"The solution is quite stable."

"The most valuable feature is AnyConnect's reliability."

"You don't have to think about it very much. It just works."

"On Cisco's side, the Secure Access Service Edge (SASE) story is quite valuable."

"This is a secure product that has had zero stability issues since I started using it in 2019."

"The installation process is not difficult."

"It is an easy system to set up."

More Cisco Secure Client (including AnyConnect) pros

"The initial setup is straightforward."

"The tool's most valuable feature is remote access."

"VPN tunneling is a very valuable feature of Pulse Connect Secure. I also like that it is straightforward to use, and you can see traffic logs on it."

"The best feature of Pulse Connect Secure is the good security it provides. It gives a secure connection to your network."

"The flexibility in their management is great."

"The most robust and reliable feature of Ivanti Connect Secure is the VPN tunneling, using both the Pulse and the Ivanti client."

"The new UI that they are providing right now is very good."

"The most valuable feature is being able to securely connect and use virtual desktops."

More Ivanti Connect Secure pros

Cons

"Even when your internet speed is good, once you connect to the VPN the speed gets automatically reduced, which is worrisome."

"There are some issues with connectivity and latency that should be improved."

"The logout should be automized and it should have a reminder that you have logged in into a private network."

"The various licensing options make it challenging to manage, and the cost is a significant issue for customers."

"If they could simplify connections via other machines, like Linux or Mac OS X, it would be helpful."

"Sometimes if we're always having some network issues, or maybe the client is having some network issues, we might get disconnected."

"The hotspots give me connectivity issues occasionally. It could be easier to use if it allowed me to choose the hotspot."

"At times, the login process takes a lot of time."

More Cisco Secure Client (including AnyConnect) cons

"The product could use additional dashboards."

"I don't have any downsides to report about the product at this time."

"The product's price is an area where improvements are required."

"Pulse Connect Secure could improve the reporting, it is lacking in detail and should take the report automatically."

"The support team of the product needs improvement. Sometimes we have issues with multiple authentications, but there is no help from the support team."

"Pulse Connect Secure could improve by having better integration with NAC solutions, such as Cisco ClearPass integration with Pulse Connect Secure. Additionally, they need better integration with Microsoft Azure AD and Azure Authenticator."

"We need to know how many live active users there are and we can't. We even updated the server, however, we still can't see the proper level of live connections. Right now, it's showing as 300 users and my customer does not have that many users in his organization."

"The solution can be improved by addressing the failure to connect on public 2-step networks."

More Ivanti Connect Secure cons

Pricing and Cost Advice

"I am using a paid version of Cisco AnyConnect Secure Mobility Client."

"The solution is reasonably priced and costs $600 for a five-year license in our scenario."

"The licensing costs are reasonable."

"It is not a free solution and the user needs to buy license."

"It costs around 80,000 Indian rupees for a hundred licenses, so approximately $1,020 USD."

"I would rate the pricing for the license of Cisco AnyConnect Secure Mobility Client around four to five out of ten. It's not the cheapest option, but it's also not overly expensive."

"My company has a three-year or a four-year license. In scenarios attached to a solution where the product may be reaching an end-of-support or end-of-life phase, Cisco provides OS support in such environments."

"Sometimes there is a problem with the number of licenses for the end-user. The number of concurrent users is limited due to a valid license."

More Cisco Secure Client (including AnyConnect) pricing and cost advice

"A license is required for you to use Pulse Connect Secure, but I'm not aware of how much it costs."

"I rate the product price a six to seven on a scale of one to ten, where one is a low price, and ten is a high price."

"The cost of the product is high, but worth it because of the utility and great product support."

"The pricing for Pulse Connect Secure is not low and not high, so it's good. It's a six out of ten for me, price-wise."

"The price of Pulse Connect Secure is expensive."

"The pricing is quite nominal. We pay on a yearly basis."

"Pulse Connect Secure is relatively cost-effective."

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Top Industries

By visitors reading reviews

Computer Software Company

31%

Financial Services Firm

Manufacturing Company

Government

Computer Software Company

13%

Financial Services Firm

11%

Manufacturing Company

Government

Company Size

By reviewers

Large Enterprise

Midsize Enterprise

Small Business

By reviewers
Company Size	Count
Small Business	27
Midsize Enterprise	10
Large Enterprise	45

By reviewers
Company Size	Count
Small Business	6
Midsize Enterprise	5
Large Enterprise	19

Questions from the Community

What do you like most about Cisco AnyConnect Secure Mobility Client?

The tool is user-friendly, robust and easy to use in any environment.

What is your experience regarding pricing and costs for Cisco AnyConnect Secure Mobility Client?

Cisco Secure Client (including AnyConnect) is somewhat expensive compared to others such as Fortinet or Palo Alto, which provide free VPN when the firewall is purchased. Palo Alto and Fortinet prov...

What needs improvement with Cisco AnyConnect Secure Mobility Client?

At times there is confusion regarding when to keep the proxy on or off, a problem faced by some users.

What do you like most about Pulse Connect Secure?

From an end-user perspective, the setup phase is easy.

What is your experience regarding pricing and costs for Pulse Connect Secure?

Ivanti has always been known to be pricey, making it a rather high-cost solution.

What needs improvement with Pulse Connect Secure?

The reporting capabilities of Ivanti Connect Secure are not strong; the format is simple, and obtaining a detailed report is difficult and requires manual work. Regarding points for improvement, th...

OpenVPN Access Server vs Cisco Secure Client (including AnyConnect)

Comparisons

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Zscaler Zero Trust Exchange Platform vs Cisco Secure Client (including AnyConnect)

Compared 6% of the time

Check Point Remote Access VPN vs Cisco Secure Client (including AnyConnect)

Compared 6% of the time

Prisma Access by Palo Alto Networks vs Cisco Secure Client (including AnyConnect)

Compared 5% of the time

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Ivanti Secure Access vs Ivanti Connect Secure

Compared 18% of the time

OpenVPN Access Server vs Ivanti Connect Secure

Compared 15% of the time

Fortinet FortiClient vs Ivanti Connect Secure

Compared 12% of the time

F5 BIG-IP Access Policy Manager (APM) vs Ivanti Connect Secure

Compared 6% of the time

Prisma Access by Palo Alto Networks vs Ivanti Connect Secure

Compared 5% of the time

More Ivanti Connect Secure Competitors

Product Reports

Cisco Secure Client (including AnyConnect)

Download Cisco Secure Client (including AnyConnect) product report

Cisco Secure Client (including AnyConnect) report

Ivanti Connect Secure

Download Ivanti Connect Secure product report

Also Known As

Cisco AnyConnect Secure Mobility Client

Pulse Connect Secure

Overview

Cisco Secure Client (including AnyConnect) delivers reliable, stable connectivity and seamless integration with Active Directory, ensuring secure remote access through a one-click VPN capability. It's lightweight, user-friendly, and supports major operating systems, enhancing remote work flexibility.

Cisco Secure Client, including AnyConnect, is designed for secure remote connectivity, offering multi-factor authentication, advanced malware protection, and automatic error diagnostics. Compatible with Windows, Mac, and Linux, it provides an intuitive setup and a clean interface. While it excels in ease of use, issues such as the outdated Linux build and the need for modern UI enhancements persist. Users also face connectivity challenges with frequent updates and high prices, alongside the need for better endpoint security and system integration. Popular for remote work, it facilitates secure access to corporate networks, allowing seamless interactions with resources like emails, documents, and applications.

What key features does Cisco Secure Client offer?

Reliable Connectivity: Provides stable, dependable VPN access with a one-click connection.
Multi-Factor Authentication: Enhances security through additional user verification steps.
Advanced Malware Protection: Safeguards against threats with proactive protection measures.
Automatic Error Diagnostics: Identifies and fixes errors promptly.
Cross-Platform Support: Compatible with Windows, Mac, and Linux for broad accessibility.

What benefits or ROI can users expect?

Increased Remote Work Efficiency: Facilitates secure, fast access to necessary resources.
Improved Network Security: Provides robust protection against external threats.
Ease of Use: Features simple setup and user-friendly interface for quick deployment.
Enhanced Data Protection: Keeps sensitive information secure through encryption and authentication.
Cost-Effectiveness: Offers a good balance of features against pricing, though further improvements could enhance value.

Cisco Secure Client is widely implemented across industries for secure remote connectivity, especially in sectors requiring constant access to servers, data centers, and research labs. It supports remote work by enabling employees in diverse fields to access internal resources efficiently, maintaining productivity and security.

Cisco

Ivanti Connect Secure provides a seamless, cost-effective SSL VPN solution for remote and mobile users from any web-enabled device to corporate resources— anytime, anywhere.

Ivanti

Sample Customers

MST, Molina Healthcare, Ritchie Bros. Auctioneers, Arup, New South Wales Rural FireService

Axcient, Baloise Group, Cygate, Catholic University of America, Datec Inc, Revlon, Santa Monica Networks, 7-Eleven

Cisco Secure Client (including AnyConnect) vs. Ivanti Connect Secure