Cisco Meraki Wireless LAN vs iBwave Wi-Fi comparison

The compared Cisco and iBwave solutions aren't in the same category. Cisco is ranked #3 in Wireless LAN , with an average rating of 8.3, and holds a 12.9% mindshare in the category. iBwave is ranked #3 in NM , with an average rating of 8.5, and holds a 10.9% mindshare. Additionally, 92% of Cisco users are willing to recommend the solution, compared to 89% of iBwave users who would recommend it.

Cisco Meraki Wireless LAN

Read 119 Cisco Meraki Wireless LAN reviews

15,495 Views
12,588 Comparison Views

92% willing to recommend

iBwave Wi-Fi

Read 12 iBwave Wi-Fi reviews

1,289 Views
772 Comparison Views

89% willing to recommend

Cisco Meraki Wireless LAN

iBwave Wi-Fi

Comparison Buyer's Guide

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Executive SummaryUpdated on Mar 9, 2025

Cisco Meraki Wireless LAN and iBwave Wi-Fi are competitors in the wireless networking space. Cisco Meraki has the advantage with streamlined management, while iBwave Wi-Fi is preferred for detailed network planning in complex deployments.

Features: Cisco Meraki Wireless LAN offers cloud-based management, scalability, and robust security. It ensures seamless integration with other Meraki products and provides a simplified management dashboard. iBwave Wi-Fi stands out with advanced RF planning tools, detailed signal coverage predictions, and multi-floor network optimization, ideal for dense environments.

Room for Improvement: Cisco Meraki could enhance its RF planning capabilities and improve its compatibility with non-Meraki products. It might also benefit from more advanced heatmapping features. iBwave Wi-Fi could improve user interface simplicity for easier use, offer better support for cloud management, and enhance integration with third-party solutions.

Ease of Deployment and Customer Service: Cisco Meraki offers a straightforward deployment model with intuitive cloud management and responsive customer service, making it suitable for widespread deployments. iBwave Wi-Fi, while providing comprehensive planning tools, requires depth in expertise and offers detailed support for complex projects, catering to intricate configurations.

Pricing and ROI: Cisco Meraki’s premium costs reflect its strong ROI due to efficient management and reduced maintenance expenses. iBwave Wi-Fi's pricing aligns with its advanced features, offering significant ROI in specialized network environments, justifying the cost for high-density and tailored installations.

To learn more, read our detailed Wireless LAN Report (Updated: March 2025).

Buyer's Guide

Wireless LAN

March 2025

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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 Meraki Wireless LAN

Average Rating

8.2

Reviews Sentiment

5.1

Number of Reviews

119

Ranking in other categories

Wireless LAN (3rd)

iBwave Wi-Fi

Average Rating

8.6

Reviews Sentiment

7.2

Number of Reviews

Ranking in other categories

Network Modeling and Simulation (3rd)

Mindshare comparison

Cisco Meraki Wireless LAN and iBwave Wi-Fi aren’t in the same category and serve different purposes. Cisco Meraki Wireless LAN is designed for Wireless LAN and holds a mindshare of 12.9%, up 12.2% compared to last year.
iBwave Wi-Fi, on the other hand, focuses on Network Modeling and Simulation, holds 10.9% mindshare, down 12.1% since last year.

Wireless LAN

Network Modeling and Simulation

Featured Reviews

RezaPradipta

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

Streamline network management with a unified dashboard for seamless device integration

The primary use case for Cisco Meraki Wireless LAN is mostly for enterprise wireless, including guest Wi-Fi and enterprise Wi-Fi. I use it across various industries with a focus on retail Cisco Meraki Wireless LAN offers a single pane of glass management. It only comes with a controller on the…

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Gopi R S

Senior Radio Frequncy DAS Design Engineer at a comms service provider with 51-200 employees

Enhanced accuracy in design projects with advanced three-dimensional modeling and great support

I am using iBwave Wi-Fi for a project where we are designing on campus. It is used for large venue designs such as a university campus, and my work involves optimizing and validating the designs for accuracy before site surveys Using iBwave Wi-Fi, I am able to provide more accurate results for…

Read full review

Quotes from Members

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

Pros

"What I liked about these is that they worked. I didn't touch them or do anything with them. They were up and running when I came here. Once they are set up and running, you don't have to worry about them."

"It is very handy to have a support number to call."

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

"The product's most beneficial feature impacting network security is the ability to provide centralized security management."

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

"The solution provides good coverage and identity management. Additionally, the user interface is straightforward."

"Multiple access ID capabilities, meshing, and the quality of the product itself are all valuable features."

"Meraki is a decent solution for a small company, and we use it in a pretty typical way. We need Teams and Zoom to work, and we need a high level of security because we want our business to remain confidential."

More Cisco Meraki Wireless LAN pros

"Compared to other tools, iBwave Wi-Fi provides 95% accuracy and generates heatmaps."

"The most valuable features of iBwave Wi-Fi include the critical three dimensional modeling capabilities, which are necessary for tasks like locating access points, determining their height, and cable routing."

"iBwave Wi-Fi's tech support is great. They pick up their phones. I have no complaints."

"It can speed up design."

"I find the high-quality Heatmap generation, multi-floor, and wire mapping features to be most valuable."

"The solution's 3D imaging is amazing."

"The stability and feature set of the application are top notch and can't be matched."

"The 3D Coverage is a good feature that shows the signal propagation in three dimensions."

Cons

"If there are advanced features that you can have enabled, they should allow users access to that in an easier manner."

"The way Cisco Meraki Wireless LAN groups certain things, as far as the devices for either monitoring and or configuring them should be done better. They should be grouped a little bit differently because if I want to configure something, a different setting on an SSID, I have to go to their specific area where I would have thought it should be clumped as a dropdown menu in another area."

"There is a processing limitation when you have multiple SSIDs, above three or four."

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

"The solution should be more secure."

"It would be useful to have a service management platform integrated within this solution where we can measure the customer experience."

"This solution could benefit from a heat mapping ability so that you can tell where the hotspots are, and where the good signals are."

"It would be good to integrate with ISE in the future."

More Cisco Meraki Wireless LAN cons

"The cost of the solution could be improved. It's extraordinarily expensive."

"I would like to be able to see two buildings at the same time so that you can create a campus view."

"Areas of improvement would include more functionality in the Mobile App, expanded reporting features, and some shortcut features."

"It would do iBwave well to become more involved with their clients."

"iBwave Wi-Fi could be improved by adding a plot for overall improvement, allowing us to see where we are failing in design parameters, similar to features in Ekahau."

"iBwave Wi-Fi doesn't have a distributor feed platform."

"It would be good if we could involve a visual while designing the backhaul."

"I am currently looking for an alternative due to my reluctance with the reliability of this product."

Pricing and Cost Advice

"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."

"Negotiate the deal put in front of you!"

"The price is negotiable."

"Pricing could be better."

"The solution is pretty expensive."

"Its licensing is on a yearly basis. It can be for three, five, or ten years. I'm happy with the pricing. You basically pay for what you get. It is that simple. When you look at Ubiquiti or Aruba, Cisco Meraki Wireless LAN far outweighs what you get. If you're in the UK, Ubiquiti gives a three-year or five-year warranty, whereas here in the UAE, they only give a one-year warranty, which is no good to me. Who buys a piece of equipment with only one year warranty on it? It doesn't make sense."

"We pay a yearly license fee for the solution."

"Cisco Meraki requires either a one year or three year license for a standard enterprise license."

More Cisco Meraki Wireless LAN pricing and cost advice

"I advise others to treat the cost as you would any tooling cost and use the monthly option as needed."

"iBwave Wi-Fi is an expensive solution, but it is worth the cost."

"The solution's pricing is cheap."

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Top Industries

By visitors reading reviews

Computer Software Company

19%

Manufacturing Company

Financial Services Firm

Educational Organization

13%

Construction Company

10%

Computer Software Company

10%

Government

Company Size

By reviewers

Large Enterprise

Midsize Enterprise

Small Business

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...

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

See all answers

What do you like most about iBwave Wi-Fi?

Compared to other tools, iBwave Wi-Fi provides 95% accuracy and generates heatmaps.

See all answers

What is your experience regarding pricing and costs for iBwave Wi-Fi?

Both iBwave Wi-Fi and Ekahau are costly tools. They're considered high in cost because the license needs to be renewed yearly.

See all answers

What needs improvement with iBwave Wi-Fi?

iBwave Wi-Fi could be improved by adding a plot for overall improvement, allowing us to see where we are failing in design parameters, similar to features in Ekahau.

See all answers

Comparisons

Aruba Wireless vs Cisco Meraki Wireless LAN

Compared 31% of the time

Juniper Mist Wireless Access Points vs Cisco Meraki Wireless LAN

Compared 16% of the time

Ruckus Wireless vs Cisco Meraki Wireless LAN

Compared 11% 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 6% of the time

More Cisco Meraki Wireless LAN Competitors

Ekahau Site Survey vs iBwave Wi-Fi

Compared 70% of the time

Forsk Atoll vs iBwave Wi-Fi

Compared 12% of the time

AirMagnet Survey vs iBwave Wi-Fi

Compared 10% of the time

RedSeal vs iBwave Wi-Fi

Compared 9% of the time

More iBwave Wi-Fi Competitors

Product Reports

Buyer's Guide

Cisco Meraki Wireless LAN

March 2025

Download Cisco Meraki Wireless LAN product report

Buyer's Guide

Network Modeling and Simulation

March 2025

Download iBwave Wi-Fi 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

iBwave has been the industry standard software for designing indoor wireless network for over 13 years. Used by hundreds of operators, OEMs, enterprises and system integrators around the world. The iBwave Wi-Fi Suite is a powerful Wi-Fi network design solution that gives you a significantly more productive way to design carrier-grade indoor Wi-Fi networks. Consisting of a mobile app, a powerful PC based software and 10GB of cloud connectivity to easily share and synchronize project information.

Key Features include:

Advanced 3D Predictive design
Advanced capacity planning
Calibrated prediction for extremely accurate prediction results
Ability to model incline surfaces
Comprehensive reporting
Cloud connectivity to easily share and access projects anytime
Free read-only project viewer for customers and project partners

iBwave

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

ARRIS

Find out what your peers are saying about Hewlett Packard Enterprise, Ruckus, Cisco and others in Wireless LAN. Updated: March 2025.

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We monitor all Wireless LAN reviews to prevent fraudulent reviews and keep review quality high. We do not post reviews by company employees or direct competitors. We validate each review for authenticity via cross-reference with LinkedIn, and personal follow-up with the reviewer when necessary.