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Cisco Catalyst Switches vs D-Link Ethernet Switches comparison

 

Comparison Buyer's Guide

Executive SummaryUpdated on Nov 3, 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

Cisco Catalyst Switches
Ranking in Ethernet Switches
7th
Average Rating
8.6
Reviews Sentiment
6.9
Number of Reviews
175
Ranking in other categories
LAN Switching (1st), Data Center Networking (1st), AV Over IP Switching (1st)
D-Link Ethernet Switches
Ranking in Ethernet Switches
12th
Average Rating
7.8
Reviews Sentiment
7.4
Number of Reviews
29
Ranking in other categories
No ranking in other categories
 

Mindshare comparison

As of March 2025, in the Ethernet Switches category, the mindshare of Cisco Catalyst Switches is 1.6%, down from 3.2% compared to the previous year. The mindshare of D-Link Ethernet Switches is 6.2%, up from 5.1% compared to the previous year. It is calculated based on PeerSpot user engagement data.
Ethernet Switches
 

Q&A Highlights

MW
May 02, 2021
 

Featured Reviews

Joshua Odunsi - PeerSpot reviewer
Ensures efficient performance and supports network growth with optimal speed
Catalyst Switches are efficient and swift, which is valuable for my organization. I experience optimal speed and effective configuration, making them stand out compared to other switches. The PoE switches offer more ports on SFP, and it is efficient in use. Overall, the switches provide me with the value I expect in terms of speed and efficiency.
MichaelNdwiga - PeerSpot reviewer
Enhanced network efficiency through features and demonstrate minimal downtime
One of the issues is the range of their products. They need to increase it. For example, if I want a 12-port switch that is fully managed, it's not easy to find. So, I have to opt for a 24-port switch that is fully managed, which might not be necessary as I only need 12 ports. So if they could increase the range of the switches in regards to the features, and the number of ports, that would be beneficial. So, that's the only potential improvement. The switches are perfect otherwise. Ideally, I'd like to see a central management system included as part of their license, not as a separate purchase. Currently, we have to manage switches independently. A central portal for managing all switches and providing visibility would be great.

Quotes from Members

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

Pros

"Catalyst Switches are reliable. We don't have major problems like lost connections, and we only have a minor issue with something every few months. In the last five years, a switch broke down once, and that was due to human error."
"The solution is extremely flexible."
"The most valuable feature of Cisco equipment is reliability."
"The most valuable feature is the ease of configuring a switch."
"The configuration and command set are user-friendly."
"The solution offers great scalability."
"The availability of resources for learning about the product and doing evaluation of any issues is excellent."
"One good feature is UPOE. Another is having a built-in controller, the customer doesn't have to ask for another controller. For example, you get a built-in controller with the C650. And two-port is one of the premium factors from Cisco."
"These switches are simple and easy to configure."
"The initial setup was very easy and user-friendly."
"The management interface makes network management very easy."
"The tool's fault frequency is very less."
"I have no complaints about the stability or reliability of D-Link Ethernet Switches."
"Its integration is the most valuable."
"These switches are very easy to install because there is no configuration."
"The product is simple to manage."
 

Cons

"Out of the competition, Cisco switches are easily the most expensive."
"Compared to other switches, the Cisco products are expensive."
"The GUI should be addressed."
"The support team’s response and resolution time must be faster."
"Cisco forces end-users to accept billing for some capabilities or services that they may not want."
"The user interface needs improvement. Meraki has a much nicer UI. Cisco could learn a lot by looking at them. It might make them a bit more user friendly."
"Installing and configuring these switches requires the proper training."
"It would be good if they added some machine learning which would allow us to abandon the rigid rules for processing traffic priorities and, at the same time, save money, because equipment with similar logic (like DPI) is much more expensive."
"For high-end switches, the price could be 5% to 10% cheaper. Improvements in the voltage facility, like increasing from 360 watts to 400 or 450 watts, would make them more competitive with other vendors."
"The solution's web filtering feature could be improved."
"The solution could be cheaper."
"I'd like to see a central management system included as part of their license, not as a separate purchase. Currently, we have to manage switches independently. A central portal for managing all switches and providing visibility would be great."
"It should be more stable, and it should have good integration with the cloud. It should support configuration, supervision, and control through the cloud."
"For high-end switches, the price could be 5% to 10% cheaper."
"We have issues with the stability."
"The technical support needs a lot of improvement."
 

Pricing and Cost Advice

"The licensing, and maintenance fees are paid on a yearly basis."
"Highly priced"
"The solution is probably the most expensive, but users who want the best need to pay the premium."
"Catalyst Switches are costly. When I started working with them 25 years ago, prices were a problem too."
"The cost of a license before COVID and before the lockdown was approximately three lakh 70,000 in Indian Rupees. After this COVID situation, the cost has gone down to two lakh 46,000 rupees."
"This is expensive, even when compared to competitors' products."
"We pay the licensing fees annually because we have an enterprise license agreement."
"It is very pricey. You have to pay for support."
"The D-Link Switches are cheaper than Cisco."
"The solution's pricing is reasonable."
"This product is very affordable, especially compared to Cisco."
"There is not a license required for this solution and it is priced well."
"It has a good return on investment. It has indeed saved us resources significantly."
"They were cheap. We were not paying for any license."
"The price of D-Link Ethernet Switches is in the 4,000 to 5,000 rupees or 65 to 100 USD range. The price of the solution is not expensive."
"These units vary in price from $200 to one thousand dollars. They're available for a one-time purchase."
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Answers from the Community

MW
May 2, 2021
May 2, 2021
Hello Mesfin It depends on the real scenario, the cisco 2960 is a very good device and they usually have routing functions but there are many different models within the same 2960 line, and on the other hand, which model of the Dlink brand do you want to use?1) is equivalent in functions?2) are all the functions of the Cisco equipment used?3) Do you already have the IT expert to install and con...
2 out of 5 answers
EB
Apr 28, 2021
Hi @Manish Nalawade , @Phillip Peerman ​and @Devanand PR. Could you assist @Mesfin Workneh?
Luis Apodaca - PeerSpot reviewer
Apr 28, 2021
Hello Mesfin It depends on the real scenario, the cisco 2960 is a very good device and they usually have routing functions but there are many different models within the same 2960 line, and on the other hand, which model of the Dlink brand do you want to use?1) is equivalent in functions?2) are all the functions of the Cisco equipment used?3) Do you already have the IT expert to install and configure it?4) Will the new equipment suggested in Dlink use all the functions you need?Most of the time, the consideration of changing the equipment is because its useful life has come to an end, the technology is no longer the best available, or it broke down due to some overload, in these cases the first criterion to decide is always the cost economic, but the ideal is to see the big picture and look at the overall cost-benefitIt does not matter that the Dlink equipment is more economical, in these times many brands have economic equipment and that rival in capabilities with the leading brands you can have confidence in itAs a result of this, the same Cisco brand already has a line (Catalyst 1000) that presents the same cost benefit as the equipment of the others with lower price rangesfinally my personal recommendation is any brand of the followinga) Ubiquiti Edge or ubiquiti Unifib) Cisco Catalyst 1000c) TPLink Omadad) Aruba instant onGood luck.
 

Top Industries

By visitors reading reviews
Educational Organization
67%
Computer Software Company
6%
Manufacturing Company
3%
Government
3%
Computer Software Company
15%
Healthcare Company
9%
Comms Service Provider
8%
Manufacturing Company
8%
 

Company Size

By reviewers
Large Enterprise
Midsize Enterprise
Small Business
 

Questions from the Community

Would you recommend replacing a Cisco Catalyst Switch by a D-link one?
Hello Mesfin It depends on the real scenario, the cisco 2960 is a very good device and they usually have routing functions but there are many different models within the same 2960 line, and on the ...
What do you like most about Cisco Catalyst Switches?
We are a vendor for the healthcare sector, especially hospitals, and normally, we use a full Cisco solution for stability, especially for the stability of the Access Points and the security of swit...
What is your experience regarding pricing and costs for Cisco Catalyst Switches?
Although Juniper is cheaper, Cisco provides unique features that justify their pricing.
What do you like most about D-Link Ethernet Switches?
D-Link has a good VPN feature and quality of service.
What is your experience regarding pricing and costs for D-Link Ethernet Switches?
The pricing of D-Link Ethernet Switches is cost-effective. For small data centers, it is good to have D-Link switches as the cost is less compared to other features.
What needs improvement with D-Link Ethernet Switches?
Areas of the solution that have room for improvement include scalability, as it should improve both scaling and security. Currently, D-Link Ethernet Switches are often not used in large data center...
 

Also Known As

Cisco Catalyst, Catalyst
No data available
 

Overview

 

Sample Customers

Afni, Anilana Hotels and Resorts, Baylor Scott & White Health, Beachbody, Bellevue, Del Papa Distributing, Explorer Pipeline, Mindtree, Omaha World Herald, Radio 538, Sony Corporation, Telecom Italia, Telenor Arena
George Mason University, Somerville House, Hiperwall, New Brunswick School District 16, The Fulcrum Group, Bremond Independent School District, University of Texas Health Science Center, Grand Canyon Skywalk, SUN Area Career & Technology Center, Abington Senior High School
Find out what your peers are saying about Cisco Catalyst Switches vs. D-Link Ethernet Switches and other solutions. Updated: March 2025.
842,592 professionals have used our research since 2012.