Cisco Meraki Wireless LAN vs Cisco Wireless comparison

Cisco Meraki Wireless LAN and Cisco Wireless are both solutions in the Wireless LAN category. Cisco Meraki Wireless LAN is ranked #4 with an average rating of 8.3, while Cisco Wireless is ranked #2 with an average rating of 8.5. Cisco Meraki Wireless LAN holds a 12.9% mindshare in Wireless LAN, compared to Cisco Wireless’s 13.1% mindshare. Additionally, 92% of Cisco Meraki Wireless LAN users are willing to recommend the solution, compared to 88% of Cisco Wireless users who would recommend it.

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Executive SummaryUpdated on Sep 2, 2024

Cisco Meraki Wireless LAN and Cisco Wireless compete in the wireless networking solutions category. Cisco Wireless is considered to have the upper hand due to its advanced features and perceived value, despite Cisco Meraki's favorable pricing and support.

Features: Cisco Meraki Wireless LAN reviews highlight valuable features such as cloud-based management, simplified configuration, and comprehensive security. Cisco Wireless is appreciated for its extensive scalability options, advanced security measures, and detailed analytics capabilities.

Room for Improvement: Users of Cisco Meraki Wireless LAN suggest improvements in more advanced customization options and higher scalability. For Cisco Wireless, feedback points towards the need for a more intuitive setup process and enhanced integration with other platforms.

Ease of Deployment and Customer Service: Cisco Meraki Wireless LAN is praised for its straightforward deployment and reliable customer service, primarily due to its cloud-based management. Cisco Wireless is noted for its longer, more complex deployment but valued for its responsive and knowledgeable support team.

Pricing and ROI: Cisco Meraki Wireless LAN users appreciate the lower setup costs and faster ROI. Meanwhile, Cisco Wireless users are willing to invest more for the long-term benefits of advanced features and performance.

To learn more, read our detailed Cisco Meraki Wireless LAN vs. Cisco Wireless Report (Updated: October 2024).

Buyer's Guide

Cisco Meraki Wireless LAN vs. Cisco Wireless

October 2024

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Categories and Ranking

Juniper Mist Wireless Acces...

Mindshare comparison

As of October 2024, in the Wireless LAN category, the mindshare of Juniper Mist Wireless Access Points is 5.4%, up from 2.1% compared to the previous year. The mindshare of Cisco Meraki Wireless LAN is 12.9%, up from 12.5% compared to the previous year. The mindshare of Cisco Wireless is 13.1%, down from 16.4% 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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JoseAlmonte

Network Engineer at TechProc

Dec 8, 2023

Offers good mobility, stability and scalability

The main company is a hotel resort with around 120 rooms. They have approximately 90 devices deployed throughout the complex, and they haven't had any issues with the streamlined version or established information Cisco offers a service where they provide internet access to clients. This allows…

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Michael Lees

Production Director at Whitespider

Feb 19, 2024

Affordable, resilient, and performs better than other solutions in the market

Assurance capabilities must be improved. There should be more Assurance features on the Wireless LAN Controller. A lot of it is bundled into the DNA Center. Having a little more Assurance regarding what the RF Spectrum looks like will be good. Juniper Mist has a lot of analytical data on the dashboard. The customers would be compelled to look at DNA Center as a longer-term and more comprehensive solution if Cisco were to give them an insight into some of the Assurance capabilities that might be available in DNA Center. The tool must provide something like RF Neighbor. It must enable organizations to receive signal strength and signal-to-noise ratio and see how clients perform in their wireless network. It must have a cap. If we want additional functionality to see our entire network, that's where DNA Center fits in.

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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

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

"In terms of reporting, in terms of all the user reports, it's very rich."

"The solution is very secure."

"The solution is pretty generic and easy to use."

"The most valuable feature of Juniper Wireless Access Points (AP Series) is the ability to troubleshoot ports on the network. Additionally, when there is an update on the APs they are able to reboot quickly reducing downtime. Other solutions have a longer downtime when updates are done."

"The artificial intelligence feature is very good."

"You can easily monitor, manage, and cover all your IT equipment."

"The solution is stable."

More Juniper Mist Wireless Access Points pros

"The network security the solution provides is its most valuable aspect."

"The most valuable features are the management tools, including monitoring and reporting."

"Provided reliability and a good price."

"Its management is most valuable. It is the major feature of Meraki."

"There are many valuable features of Cisco Meraki, including the switches, stacking, and layer 3 routing."

"The product has been very stable over the years."

"What I like best about Meraki is that I can change it from anywhere."

"The solution is fast."

More Cisco Meraki Wireless LAN pros

"For me, there are two important features: 1) WLAN grouping – Allows us to have different groups and, within those groups, specific WLANs, so there is no overlapping. 2) FlexConnect – Enables us to have remote offices at different locations. We can have a central WLC to control all the locations."

"The most important thing for me is that all the access points are in one group and use one access code. So, when you move from one area to another, you don't disconnect and reconnect again. The device is also very easy to install and control."

"It is a stable solution. The performance was good."

"The Guest feature is pretty good."

"The most valuable feature of the solution stems from the fact that it can be integrated into other solutions in a particular environment, including where there are wired and wireless connections."

"The stability is great. It's very reliable."

"The support is very good. Technical support is very helpful."

"This product has a long life and you don't have any issues with it."

More Cisco Wireless pros

Cons

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

"The pricing should be made cheaper."

"The pricing is very high in the Indian market."

"Juniper should make the products more affordable."

"They should include SD-WAN features to it."

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

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

"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."

More Juniper Mist Wireless Access Points cons

"Cisco Meraki Wireless LAN's management tools need enhancement."

"It could be slightly cheaper but it's fine."

"We'd like to have better mapping to showcase low-coverage areas."

"The technical support from Cisco is good, but they can improve themselves in some areas. Sometimes it takes a while to provide a solution or an answer to our problem."

"The licensing could be a bit better."

"It is expensive. Juniper seems to have a lot more to offer for future expansion. Juniper has some features that are not there in this solution."

"Its price should be reduced."

"There could be more functionality."

More Cisco Meraki Wireless LAN cons

"It would be better if some utility lets us know the best place to install the system. Every time we install it, we have to change it, and we have to add more access points. This is a problem we have all the time. It would be better if it integrated seamlessly with products from other vendors. It'll also help if they included a device diagnostics feature in the next release."

"Apple is definitely causing a lot of issues by turning on more security features on its equipment. It is causing more problems on the business side. One is what they call a randomized Mac address that Apple has put out. As far as I know, Cisco doesn't have a fix for that."

"For pricing, Cisco has to make an effort, or Cisco has to improve the distribution channel."

"This solution is very expensive, which means we often have to go for cheaper options instead."

"Even though the tool offers a cloud-based central management option, the product needs to work on improving the security part a bit since it is an area of concern."

"The web interface for Cisco controllers could be better. It could be more user-friendly. Sometimes I have to remember how to access some functionalities or how to enable or execute some functions. If it were more user-friendly it would save time."

"It was expensive. Considering the challenges faced in third-world countries like Pakistan or India, cheaper solutions are preferred."

"It's expensive."

More Cisco Wireless cons

Pricing and Cost Advice

"If a customer has a budget of around five lakhs in Indian currency, they can afford Juniper products."

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

"Juniper Wireless AP's price is a little more expensive than other solutions, but you get what you pay for."

"I rate Juniper Mist's pricing a ten out of ten since it is expensive."

"The solution is expensive."

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

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

More Juniper Mist Wireless Access Points pricing and cost advice

"The solution's pricing is a little higher."

"Its price is higher than other products. It is above the expectation of customers. So, every time we need to fight for a good price."

"The pricing is on the higher side."

"The price of Cisco Meraki Wireless LAN could be improved, it is too expensive. We pay for the solution on an annual basis."

"We pay licensing fees."

"It could be more affordable than other solutions."

"You have to renew your contract every year, or for three or for five years. If you do not pay right away they will suspend your subscription."

"Cost could be better."

More Cisco Meraki Wireless LAN pricing and cost advice

"Pricing is a bit on the high side compared to its competitors but we have to consider the support and usages of the solution. Licensing is now RTU and smart licensing. We need three types of licenses. One for each of the: APs, HA, controller."

"It's expensive because a lot of the controls come with licenses."

"The pricing is a bit high."

"The price is a little high. However, you get what you pay for. The quality of the product is high, you will find it is worth the money. There is some additional cost, for example, customer support."

"As far as I know Cisco is very competitive, price-wise. Talk to your third-party vendor. It all depends on the company size - how many employees, how big the building is. If it's wireless, and you have only 50 employees but you're using a large building floor, in that case you need many access points. But if you have 50 employees using two or three rooms, then you probably don't need it and it's going to be high density, so there is a different design. So you need to talk to a subject matter expert. Talk to them and design accordingly."

"Cisco Wireless is a little bit expensive when compared to other solutions."

"I feel the product's pricing is a good value."

"It is an expensive solution."

More Cisco Wireless pricing and cost advice

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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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Answers from the Community

Netanya Carmi

Content Manager at PeerSpot (formerly IT Central Station)

Nov 10, 2021

Which is better - Cisco Wireless or Cisco Meraki Wireless LAN?

See 2 answers

Aws Al-Dabbagh

IT Manager at a tech vendor with 51-200 employees

Sep 7, 2021

The standard answer to such a question is: it depends. The pricing for both solutions is very similar: per-AP, Meraki is more expensive than Cisco Wireless. Cisco APs are cheaper, but the controller raises the solution price to be almost equal to Meraki. Meraki is subscription-based and requires constant internet access to manage the system. If the annual license expires, the APs will work, but you can't manage them or read reports of the Meraki portal. Cisco Wireless is a one-time payment for the hardware with annual support payments. if you have a small office with only a few APs needed, you can use the Cisco Mobility Express Controller (which uses one of the APs or a Catalyst Switch as the controller) but that has a limit of 100 APs.

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reviewer1650858

Works

Nov 10, 2021

Cisco Wireless is very robust, very rugged, and can handle indoor and outdoor coverage extremely well. We found it to be very reliable and to consistently run very efficiently. Cisco Wireless helped us get more network access to more people wirelessly across some very large spaces. It is expensive, though. The Cisco Wireless portal, like many Cisco products, can be very complex. The flexibility of the controllers needs fixing and Cisco Wireless requires a bit of tweaking to get the stability right. We would also like to see the reporting improved - this would help make troubleshooting easier. Cisco Meraki Wireless LAN is very user-friendly. You don’t have to be a wireless engineer to set it up. Cisco Meraki Wireless LAN is cloud-based, which is very convenient as you don’t have to have a physical controller, saving valuable space, power, and redundancy. This solution offers advanced configurations that are a great fit for small to medium-sized businesses that can’t employ an advanced tech team. Cisco Meraki Wireless LAN is high-performance, stable, scalable, and very easy to deploy, and offers a dashboard that makes managing the solution very easy. Some of the built-in capabilities and filtering with Cisco Meraki Wireless LAN needs to be made easier to use. Cisco Meraki Wireless LAN needs to better identify devices, and the TAC reading and interpretation capabilities are not always accurate. There are also some processing limitations when you have multiple SSIDs. Conclusion As these are both Cisco products, they offer brand recognition you can trust, great quality, and good durability. We found that Cisco Wireless offered slightly better access points and improved coverage, allowing the creation of better networks. Cisco Wireless takes a one-time payment for the hardware, and then annual payments. If you employ Cisco’s knowledgeable team members, this will be a good fit for you. The huge selling point for Cisco Meraki Wireless LAN is its ease of use. You don’t need to have a lot of knowledge to deploy or manage processes, which makes this a great product for smaller businesses with a less tech-savvy team.

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Top Industries

By visitors reading reviews

Computer Software Company

18%

Manufacturing Company

Educational Organization

Government

Computer Software Company

21%

Manufacturing Company

Educational Organization

Government

Computer Software Company

17%

Manufacturing Company

Financial Services Firm

Educational Organization

Company Size

By reviewers

Large Enterprise

Midsize Enterprise

Small Business

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...

See all answers

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...

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Which is better - Cisco Wireless or Cisco Meraki Wireless LAN?

Cisco Wireless is very robust, very rugged, and can handle indoor and outdoor coverage extremely well. We found it to...

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How does Ruckus Wireless compare to Cisco Meraki Wireless LAN?

Cisco’s Meraki Virtual MX is a virtual instance of the Meraki SD-WAN appliance. We liked the Meraki. The Wifi APs are...

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Which is better - Ruckus Wireless or Cisco Wireless?

Ruckus Wireless offers users the benefit of being both easy to set up and get running as well as being very user frie...

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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 Cisco Wireless?

Cisco Wireless improves mobility and flexibility. The only case we are working on is with hospitals, focusing on the ...

See all answers

Comparisons

Aruba Wireless vs Juniper Mist Wireless Access Points

Compared 18% of the time

Ruckus Wireless vs Juniper Mist Wireless Access Points

Compared 15% 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

Fortinet FortiWLC vs Juniper Mist Wireless Access Points

Compared 2% of the time

More Juniper Mist Wireless Access Points Competitors

Aruba Wireless vs Cisco Meraki Wireless LAN

Compared 32% of the time

Ruckus Wireless vs Cisco Meraki Wireless LAN

Compared 10% of the time

Ubiquiti Wireless vs Cisco Meraki Wireless LAN

Compared 7% of the time

Mist AI and Cloud vs Cisco Meraki Wireless LAN

Compared 7% of the time

Huawei Wireless vs Cisco Meraki Wireless LAN

Compared 4% of the time

More Cisco Meraki Wireless LAN Competitors

Aruba Wireless vs Cisco Wireless

Compared 38% of the time

Ruckus Wireless vs Cisco Wireless

Compared 24% of the time

Huawei Wireless vs Cisco Wireless

Compared 6% of the time

Ubiquiti WLAN vs Cisco Wireless

Compared 5% of the time

Fortinet FortiAP vs Cisco Wireless

Compared 2% of the time

More Cisco Wireless 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

Cisco Meraki Wireless LAN

October 2024

Download Cisco Meraki Wireless LAN product report

Buyer's Guide

Cisco Wireless

October 2024

Download Cisco Wireless product report

Also Known As

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

MR18, MR26, MR32, MR34, MR66, MR72, Meraki Wireless LAN, Meraki WLAN

Cisco WLAN Controller

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Juniper

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Cisco

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.

Cisco Meraki access points are built from the highest grade components and carefully optimized for a seamless user experience. The outcome: faster connections, greater user capacity, more coverage, and fewer support calls. The Cisco Meraki dashboard gives visibility into the network users, their devices, and their applications. Armed with rich analytics, administrators can quickly create access control and application usage policies, optimizing both the end-user experience and network security.

Cisco Wireless is a comprehensive suite of wireless solutions designed to deliver secure, high-performance connectivity for enterprises of all sizes. Offering a range of access points, controllers, and advanced management tools, Cisco Wireless ensures seamless and reliable network access, enhancing mobility and productivity.

Cisco Wireless solutions provide robust, scalable wireless networks capable of supporting high-density environments and diverse applications. With features such as seamless roaming, advanced security protocols, and detailed analytics, Cisco Wireless addresses the needs of modern businesses. The solutions include the Cisco Catalyst and Aironet series access points, wireless LAN controllers, and the Cisco DNA Center for centralized management and automation.

What are the key features of Cisco Wireless?

High-Density Performance: Optimized for environments with a high number of devices, ensuring reliable connectivity and performance.
Advanced Security: Incorporates robust security measures such as WPA3, Secure Boot, and segmentation to protect data and devices.
Seamless Roaming: Enables uninterrupted connectivity as users move across different areas within the network.
Centralized Management: Cisco DNA Center provides a single pane of glass for managing and automating wireless networks, enhancing operational efficiency.
Flexible Deployment Options: Supports various deployment models, including on-premises, cloud-managed, and hybrid solutions.

What benefits should users look for in reviews when evaluating Cisco Wireless?

Improved Mobility and Productivity: Users often highlight how Cisco Wireless enhances user mobility and productivity through reliable and consistent connectivity.
Scalability: Reviews frequently mention the scalability of Cisco Wireless, making it suitable for growing businesses.
Ease of Management: Many users appreciate the centralized management capabilities, which simplify network administration and troubleshooting.
Enhanced Security: The advanced security features are often noted for providing peace of mind and compliance with industry standards.
User Experience: The overall user experience, including ease of use and seamless integration with other Cisco products, is a common point of praise.

Cisco Wireless solutions are implemented across various industries, including healthcare, education, retail, and manufacturing. In healthcare, they support critical applications like patient monitoring and electronic health records. Educational institutions use Cisco Wireless to provide reliable internet access for students and staff. Retailers benefit from enhanced customer experiences through in-store connectivity, while manufacturers use wireless networks to improve operational efficiency and automation.

Pricing and licensing for Cisco Wireless solutions are typically based on the scale of deployment and specific product selections. Cisco offers various support plans, including 24/7 customer service, technical support, and access to software updates and patches.

In summary, Cisco Wireless provides robust, scalable wireless networking solutions that enhance connectivity, security, and management for diverse enterprise environments.

Sample Customers

Information Not Available

Advanced Medical Transport, Banco de Guayaquil, Baylor Scott & White Health, BH Telecom, Bowling Green State University, Calligaris, Children's Hospital Colorado, City of Biel, Del Papa Distributing, Department of Justice, Dimension Data, Dualtec Cloud Builders, Electricity Authority of Cyprus, Grupo Industrial Saltillo (GIS), Hertz, K&L Gates , LightEdge, Lone Star College System, Management Science Associates, Mindtree, NBC Olympics, Quest, Sony Corporation, The Department of Education in Western Australia, Valley Proteins

Aegean Motorway, Baylor Scott & White Health, Beachbody, Bellevue, Brunel University London, Bucks County Intermediate Unit , Chartwell School, Children's Hospital Colorado, Cisco Live Milan, City of Biel, City of Mississauga, Dundee Precious Metals, Electricity Authority of Cyprus, Erickson Living, Goldcorp, Great Ormond Street Hospital, Grupo Industrial Saltillo (GIS)

Buyer's Guide

Cisco Meraki Wireless LAN vs. Cisco Wireless

October 2024

Free Report: Cisco Meraki Wireless LAN vs. Cisco Wireless

Find out what your peers are saying about Cisco Meraki Wireless LAN vs. Cisco Wireless and other solutions. Updated: October 2024.

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