Cisco Meraki Wireless LAN vs Fortinet FortiAP comparison

Cisco and Fortinet are both solutions in the Wireless LAN category. Cisco is ranked #3 with an average rating of 8.8, while Fortinet is ranked #5 with an average rating of 8.5. Cisco holds a 10.3% mindshare in Wireless LAN, compared to Fortinet’s 5.5% mindshare. Additionally, 92% of Cisco users are willing to recommend the solution, compared to 93% of Fortinet users who would recommend it.

Cisco Meraki Wireless LAN

Read 122 Cisco Meraki Wireless LAN reviews

10,406 Views
9,261 Comparison Views

92% willing to recommend

Fortinet FortiAP

Read 17 Fortinet FortiAP reviews

3,603 Views
3,603 Comparison Views

93% willing to recommend

Cisco Meraki Wireless LAN

Fortinet FortiAP

Comparison Buyer's Guide

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Executive SummaryUpdated on Dec 28, 2025

Cisco Meraki Wireless LAN and Fortinet FortiAP compete in the wireless networking solutions category. Cisco Meraki Wireless LAN has the advantage due to its centralized cloud-based management, which suits organizations with smaller IT teams, while Fortinet FortiAP offers seamless security integration with Fortinet's FortiGate firewalls.

Features: Cisco Meraki Wireless LAN distinguishes itself with cloud-based management, facilitating simple setup and centralized control. It provides Layer 7 protection, making it secure for managing extensive networks. The application visibility is a notable feature, providing an all-in-one networking solution. Fortinet FortiAP integrates seamlessly with other Fortinet products using a single console, offering strong security and efficient connectivity within enterprise environments.

Room for Improvement: Cisco Meraki Wireless LAN could benefit from enhancements in logging features, increased customization options, and better support channels. Users also mention its high cost and inflexible licensing as drawbacks. Fortinet FortiAP users desire better outdoor performance, scalability, and a more comprehensive configuration process along with improved radio band support.

Ease of Deployment and Customer Service: Cisco Meraki Wireless LAN is recognized for easy deployment in cloud and hybrid environments, accommodating public and private clouds. Customer service is generally well-received, though experiences with support can vary. Fortinet FortiAP focuses on on-premises deployment and offers consistently high-rated support, providing direct and knowledgeable assistance.

Pricing and ROI: Cisco Meraki Wireless LAN, while considered expensive, offers robust performance that justifies the cost. It provides significant ROI through operational efficiencies and reducing personnel needs. Fortinet FortiAP offers a more cost-effective solution compared to similar products in the market, though it is still high in price. Both products deliver ROI, but their pricing and value vary depending on organizational needs and integration requirements.

To learn more, read our detailed Cisco Meraki Wireless LAN vs. Fortinet FortiAP Report (Updated: February 2026).

Buyer's Guide

Cisco Meraki Wireless LAN vs. Fortinet FortiAP

February 2026

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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:

ROI

Sentiment score

1.0

Cisco Meraki Wireless LAN provides cost savings, ease of use, and management, though high costs may deter larger businesses.

Sentiment score

5.2

Fortinet FortiAP offers enhanced security, cost-effectiveness, and reliability, yielding an 80% savings and boosting productivity and operational efficiency.

No quotes available

For more quotes and insights, download the Cisco Meraki Wireless LAN report

I do not have to continuously manage them, and their reliability means they are consistently up and running.

Brian M.

Network Administrator at a educational organization with 501-1,000 employees

Fortinet FortiAP provides value for money, and I can quantify the savings at about 80%.

JayPrajapati

Senior Network Security Engineer at ITCG SOlutions Pvt Ltd

For more quotes and insights, download the Fortinet FortiAP report

Customer Service

Sentiment score

4.3

Meraki support is efficient and accessible, yet users note inconsistent assistance and desire enhanced knowledge base resources.

Sentiment score

7.4

Fortinet FortiAP's customer service is efficient for some, but regional and service tier disparities affect user satisfaction.

I would rate Cisco support a 10, as the response time and process via the dashboard are easy, and response times are always within the SLA.

MiguelDe Bique

Independent Information Technology and Services Professional at a non-profit with 1-10 employees

It would be better if the SLA of technical support was less than four hours.

RezaPradipta

Sr. Officer Network Managed Service Product Management at PT. Indosat Tbk

There are some problems with their technical support when it comes to the whole Meraki system.

DolfKrikke

Senior Network Architect at Previder

For more quotes and insights, download the Cisco Meraki Wireless LAN report

We keep a support contract open with Fortinet, so we have instantaneous response from them.

reviewer2677554

Network Engineer III at a energy/utilities company with 1,001-5,000 employees

The RMA process is very good, with same-day replacement in our case.

Shahnawaz Nusrat

Head Of Technical Operations at ITE

I am not satisfied with Fortinet FortiAP's technical support in India.

JayPrajapati

Senior Network Security Engineer at ITCG SOlutions Pvt Ltd

For more quotes and insights, download the Fortinet FortiAP report

Scalability Issues

Sentiment score

4.2

Cisco Meraki Wireless LAN is praised for its scalable cloud-based system, despite cost and configuration challenges.

Sentiment score

6.5

Fortinet FortiAP is praised for scalability, handling large volumes well, though it faces challenges, enhanced by ISPs and FortiManager.

Meraki is not scalable enough since it straightforwardly maps its products to segmented specifications.

RezaPradipta

Sr. Officer Network Managed Service Product Management at PT. Indosat Tbk

For more quotes and insights, download the Cisco Meraki Wireless LAN report

There could be constraints where a product can't be scaled further without purchasing a new model.

reviewer2647713

Senior IT System Engineer at a tech services company with 1-10 employees

We have good scalability with Fortinet FortiAP because we have multiple ISPs connected to it through FortiManager.

reviewer2677554

Network Engineer III at a energy/utilities company with 1,001-5,000 employees

For more quotes and insights, download the Fortinet FortiAP report

Stability Issues

Sentiment score

4.4

Cisco Meraki Wireless LAN is stable with high user satisfaction, though firmware updates and outages may occasionally cause issues.

Sentiment score

6.8

Fortinet FortiAP's stability receives mixed reviews, with users noting both reliable performance and occasional issues after updates.

Stability is not an issue for me because it comes with Cisco's proven manufacturer quality.

RezaPradipta

Sr. Officer Network Managed Service Product Management at PT. Indosat Tbk

We have experienced many instances where we have experienced a lag in our network, and I am not sure if it is due to their devices or our network.

Ken Dishon

Manager, Information Technology at a performing arts with 11-50 employees

For more quotes and insights, download the Cisco Meraki Wireless LAN report

I have not experienced any issues, outages, or problems and have not had to interfere with them at all.

Brian M.

Network Administrator at a educational organization with 501-1,000 employees

The stability of the solution is very high.

reviewer2677554

Network Engineer III at a energy/utilities company with 1,001-5,000 employees

For more quotes and insights, download the Fortinet FortiAP report

Room For Improvement

Cisco Meraki Wireless LAN users seek improved error logs, advanced features, better support, competitive pricing, and enhanced third-party integration.

Fortinet FortiAP needs improvement in integration, wireless functionality, automation, support, easy deployment, and enhanced configuration for better performance.

The most important improvement needed is to eliminate the limitation of uplinks.

RezaPradipta

Sr. Officer Network Managed Service Product Management at PT. Indosat Tbk

Some of the newer models of the Cisco Meraki Wireless LAN access point have encompassed the new wireless protocols and increased the strength of their antennas.

Ken Dishon

Manager, Information Technology at a performing arts with 11-50 employees

The solution supports Wi-Fi 6.

DolfKrikke

Senior Network Architect at Previder

For more quotes and insights, download the Cisco Meraki Wireless LAN report

Security is always a concern for any business, and the network should not be compromised easily.

reviewer2647713

Senior IT System Engineer at a tech services company with 1-10 employees

I know they're going up to six soon, which will enhance reliability.

reviewer2677554

Network Engineer III at a energy/utilities company with 1,001-5,000 employees

We earlier expected that Fortinet FortiAP could be managed through the cloud, which would be very good, but nowadays, FortiNet is providing FortiAPs with cloud management also.

JayPrajapati

Senior Network Security Engineer at ITCG SOlutions Pvt Ltd

For more quotes and insights, download the Fortinet FortiAP report

Setup Cost

Cisco Meraki Wireless LAN is stable but expensive; negotiate with resellers for trials and discounts, especially for SMBs.

Fortinet FortiAP is competitively priced, with varied opinions on affordability compared to Cisco, Palo Alto, Meraki, and Aruba.

The pricing of Cisco Meraki Wireless LAN is not competitive enough for the SMB market compared to other brands.

RezaPradipta

Sr. Officer Network Managed Service Product Management at PT. Indosat Tbk

Cisco Meraki Wireless LAN is on par with other devices in that category, offering competitive pricing.

Ken Dishon

Manager, Information Technology at a performing arts with 11-50 employees

My experience with the pricing of Cisco Meraki Wireless LAN is that it is competitive with other providers offering paid subscriptions.

MiguelDe Bique

Independent Information Technology and Services Professional at a non-profit with 1-10 employees

For more quotes and insights, download the Cisco Meraki Wireless LAN report

The license costs for Fortinet are more affordable when considering licensing costs with other leaders like Cisco.

reviewer2647713

Senior IT System Engineer at a tech services company with 1-10 employees

The pricing is a little bit high, and I would rate it a ten on the scale where ten is the highest price.

Brian M.

Network Administrator at a educational organization with 501-1,000 employees

The pricing is much better than Cisco pricing.

reviewer2677554

Network Engineer III at a energy/utilities company with 1,001-5,000 employees

For more quotes and insights, download the Fortinet FortiAP report

Valuable Features

Cisco Meraki Wireless LAN simplifies cloud management with robust features enhancing network operations, integration, and analytics for enterprises.

Fortinet FortiAP offers seamless integration, strong security, and simplified management with Zero-Touch Deployment and passwordless authentication for enterprises.

It also manages security clients and switches, providing a single dashboard to manage multiple network infrastructures.

RezaPradipta

Sr. Officer Network Managed Service Product Management at PT. Indosat Tbk

Cisco Meraki Wireless LAN has helped optimize network traffic very effectively, as we do prioritization for streaming and web conferencing apps, resulting in a clear, visible improvement in performance.

MiguelDe Bique

Independent Information Technology and Services Professional at a non-profit with 1-10 employees

The ability to program all access points from the Cisco Meraki Wireless LAN dashboard, view the status of all of them, and examine the individual devices connected to each access point is very valuable.

Ken Dishon

Manager, Information Technology at a performing arts with 11-50 employees

For more quotes and insights, download the Cisco Meraki Wireless LAN report

Compatibility with Fortinet firewalls allows clients to set up new businesses with integrated firewalls and access points, offering a cost-effective solution while providing excellent wireless coverage.

reviewer2647713

Senior IT System Engineer at a tech services company with 1-10 employees

Fortinet FortiAP is effective in protecting against wireless threats.

JayPrajapati

Senior Network Security Engineer at ITCG SOlutions Pvt Ltd

Unlike other wireless controllers, the firewall is controlling the AP, so you have a much higher level of security.

StaffordSlater

Co Founder And Consultant at a tech services company with 1-10 employees

For more quotes and insights, download the Fortinet FortiAP report

Categories and Ranking

Cisco Meraki Wireless LAN

Ranking in Wireless LAN

3rd

Average Rating

8.2

Reviews Sentiment

4.4

Number of Reviews

122

Ranking in other categories

No ranking in other categories

Fortinet FortiAP

Ranking in Wireless LAN

5th

Average Rating

8.4

Reviews Sentiment

7.2

Number of Reviews

Ranking in other categories

No ranking in other categories

Mindshare comparison

As of February 2026, in the Wireless LAN category, the mindshare of Cisco Meraki Wireless LAN is 10.3%, down from 13.1% compared to the previous year. The mindshare of Fortinet FortiAP is 5.5%, up from 3.8% compared to the previous year. It is calculated based on PeerSpot user engagement data.

Wireless LAN Market Share Distribution
Product	Market Share (%)
Cisco Meraki Wireless LAN	10.3%
Fortinet FortiAP	5.5%
Other	84.2%

Wireless LAN

Featured Reviews

DolfKrikke

Senior Network Architect at Previder

Centralized management has simplified remote branch control and improved network visibility

Cisco Meraki Wireless is very powerful and very easy to manage. The solution is also integrating Cisco Catalyst Wireless products into their portfolio, and they are managing the Catalyst switches as well. The seamless roaming capabilities function well. I monitor network performance with Meraki's real-time analytics. The most useful metrics to my team are the internet performance metrics, as there is a lot of information in the dashboard that I can access. All auditing and event logs are centralized in the dashboard. When I need to apply to compliance requirements or other regulatory needs, I can have my auditing in one place, which is an advantage. I use Cisco Meraki Wireless's Layer 7 application traffic shaping with the MX and the Meraki MX Firewalls.

Read full review

Shahnawaz Nusrat

Head Of Technical Operations at ITE

Has simplified wireless integration while needing better throughput and captive portal features

The product can be improved depending on the model selected as per requirements. Support is good and throughput is good. What we need to do is select a better product as per our requirement and environment. If proper working is done in terms of wireless heat map or radio connectivity in our environment, I believe it's good. There is always a chance to improve. Throughput can be better in terms of other vendors, but currently, it's working fine. One feature that I still need to explore is the captive portal. When we deploy a unit in a public environment, users need to sign in with a pop-up box to connect.

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Top Industries

By visitors reading reviews

Computer Software Company

12%

Manufacturing Company

Comms Service Provider

Educational Organization

Computer Software Company

11%

Manufacturing Company

10%

Government

Comms Service Provider

Company Size

By reviewers

Large Enterprise

Midsize Enterprise

Small Business

By reviewers
Company Size	Count
Small Business	69
Midsize Enterprise	27
Large Enterprise	31

By reviewers
Company Size	Count
Small Business	12
Midsize Enterprise	2
Large Enterprise	3

Questions from the Community

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 have some feature that I need or want, I wouldn't consider them. Do you have expe...

See all answers

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 be very reliable and to consistently run very efficiently. Cisco Wireless helpe...

See all answers

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 a great feature. The dashboard is a simple interface and easy to learn. It feat...

See all answers

What do you like most about FortiAP?

If we have FortiClient installed on multiple devices, it is seamless to connect with FortiAP. It supports passwordless authentication as well. That is a great thing about it.

See all answers

What is your experience regarding pricing and costs for FortiAP?

Fortinet FortiAP is affordable, not expensive.

See all answers

What needs improvement with FortiAP?

A point for improvement for Fortinet FortiAP would be improvements in the GUI, which is adequate but could be improved. Additionally, wireless coverage and the mapping area are fairly static and co...

See all answers

Comparisons

Aruba Wireless vs Cisco Meraki Wireless LAN

Compared 34% of the time

Ruckus Wireless vs Cisco Meraki Wireless LAN

Compared 11% of the time

Juniper Mist Wireless Access Points vs Cisco Meraki Wireless LAN

Compared 9% of the time

Cisco Wireless vs Cisco Meraki Wireless LAN

Compared 4% of the time

Ubiquiti Wireless vs Cisco Meraki Wireless LAN

Compared 4% of the time

More Cisco Meraki Wireless LAN Competitors

Aruba Access Points vs Fortinet FortiAP

Compared 21% of the time

Ruckus Wireless vs Fortinet FortiAP

Compared 17% of the time

Cisco Wireless vs Fortinet FortiAP

Compared 11% of the time

Ubiquiti WLAN vs Fortinet FortiAP

Compared 10% of the time

Juniper Mist Wireless Access Points vs Fortinet FortiAP

Compared 4% of the time

More Fortinet FortiAP Competitors

Product Reports

Buyer's Guide

Cisco Meraki Wireless LAN

February 2026

Download Cisco Meraki Wireless LAN product report

Buyer's Guide

Fortinet FortiAP

February 2026

Download Fortinet FortiAP product report

Also Known As

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

No data available

Overview

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

Fortinet FortiAP provides wireless network access for industries such as banking, healthcare, and logistics. It enhances connectivity with FortiGate and FortiSwitch, ensuring secure data exchange in settings like offices and malls.

Fortinet FortiAP is integral for managing connected devices across sectors. It integrates seamlessly with Fortinet products, enhancing security and connectivity. Users benefit from a unified console that simplifies configuration and monitoring without additional controllers. The support for passwordless authentication and cloud visibility adds value, while its use in environments like shopping centers and offices facilitates secure data sharing and access.

What are the key features of Fortinet FortiAP?

Integration with FortiGate and FortiAnalyzer: Simplifies network management and monitoring.
Passwordless Authentication: Enhances security and accessibility.
Cloud Dashboard: Provides comprehensive visibility over network activities.
Direct Control from FortiGate: Eliminates the need for separate controllers.
SSID Customization: Supports tailoring of wireless access.

What benefits should users expect from Fortinet FortiAP?

Efficient Network Management: Centralized control and configuration simplify operations.
Comprehensive Reporting: Transparent insights for improved decision-making.
Secure Access: Protects data through advanced security measures.
Seamless Connectivity: Improves user experience with simplified networking.

In industries like banking and healthcare, Fortinet FortiAP is deployed to enhance network security and provide reliable access. Retailers leverage its capabilities in shopping centers, while warehouses benefit from its reliable connectivity to support seamless operations. Managed service providers use it to deliver tailored solutions, ensuring effective network segmentation and coverage.

Fortinet

Sample Customers

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

Information Not Available

Buyer's Guide

Cisco Meraki Wireless LAN vs. Fortinet FortiAP

February 2026

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