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Cisco Wireless WAN vs Ruckus Wireless WAN comparison

 

Comparison Buyer's Guide

Executive SummaryUpdated on Feb 4, 2025

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 Wireless WAN
Ranking in Wireless WAN
4th
Average Rating
8.2
Reviews Sentiment
7.3
Number of Reviews
73
Ranking in other categories
No ranking in other categories
Ruckus Wireless WAN
Ranking in Wireless WAN
2nd
Average Rating
8.2
Reviews Sentiment
7.2
Number of Reviews
56
Ranking in other categories
No ranking in other categories
 

Mindshare comparison

As of April 2025, in the Wireless WAN category, the mindshare of Cisco Wireless WAN is 2.8%, down from 3.3% compared to the previous year. The mindshare of Ruckus Wireless WAN is 37.5%, up from 37.1% compared to the previous year. It is calculated based on PeerSpot user engagement data.
Wireless WAN
 

Featured Reviews

LalanChowdhury - PeerSpot reviewer
Enhances network reliability, offers device longevity and offers open authentication
The device longevity is a factor. enhances network reliability. Specifically, the handoff feature for WAN, when a customer moves from one access point to another in a building or office, is much easier and more reliable if it's controller-based. So, in those cases, we recommend the traditional controller-based solution. Cisco is adding AI features; they've already started in SD-WAN. But in Bangladesh, people are still new to AI. Cisco is including AI capabilities in their devices, so people are gradually adopting them. If they need AI-driven devices for industrial purposes, they can use them. So, Cisco is forward-thinking with these features. Even though they're not being used extensively now, they may be used in the future for things like RFID or automation. That's why Cisco's solution is logical and adaptable.
Udit Narayan - PeerSpot reviewer
Offers robust outdoor connectivity, but signal strength and support need improvement
In Cisco, there is a configuration where it automatically switches from the 2.4 GHz to 5.2 GHz frequency. But with Ruckus, usually, we need to manually define whether we want to use the 2.4 GHz or 5.2 GHz. Another point is that its penetration power is low when we are using it in any location with more walls, as the signal strength diminishes. So, the signal strength and the penetration power of the signal should be improved. It is not like Cisco. We are using Cisco APs also, but Cisco APs perform better when we compare them with Ruckus. In future releases, I would like to see automatic switching between 2.4 GHz and 5.2 GHz frequencies. We should not have to set it manually. It should automatically change its frequency based on the load. For example, if the number of users increases, then its frequency should change automatically, switching to the less congested band.

Quotes from Members

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

Pros

"Wireless assurance has significantly improved network reliability."
"The most valuable features include checking logs and performing site surveys. These capabilities ensure that we can cover almost every location in the building and troubleshoot any errors we encounter."
"The initial setup is straightforward, and you need to spend around six to 10 weeks to set up one controller."
"I like that it has integrated the cost of our network access."
"Coverage for the access points is really good."
"Provides good visibility and insights into what is happening."
"This stability is one of the major reasons to stick with this product."
"We have found that the product scales well."
"The performance of this solution is amazing in terms of radiofrequency technology."
"Scalability is a valuable feature."
"One of the standout features is the ease of installation and commissioning, making the whole process very straightforward."
"There are numerous features, but what I like about Ruckus is that they have a good coverage range due to their BeamFlex technique."
"The most valuable aspect of the solution is the size of the outdoor access points. It's great and you can disguise them quite well."
"The solution is suitable for many types of environments, such as small businesses."
"Wireless six is the most valuable feature of this solution right now. It has supported the most recent laptop model."
"The analytic solution is good and should be improving further."
 

Cons

"The console interface is not very user-friendly. It's a bit complex and difficult to navigate."
"There is no centralized management for multiple wireless control deployments or a user tracking feature."
"The initial setup and deployment should be easier."
"We did have issues with the product that made us concerned about the overall stability."
"I hope Cisco can improve the capacity to service a high density of users in a small area, as currently we have difficulties with this."
"The pricing of the solution could always be better."
"You cannot go to different versions or different access points. 9115s cannot interact with 9120s, and 9130s can interact with 9115s. You can add or remove as many subordinates as you want."
"The DNA space is a separate license cost, which should be included in the license."
"Sometimes, you can't do everything you need on the GUI."
"There is a significant issue with wireless functionality in Apple devices, particularly during video calls."
"Integration with AirMagnet, the design software, would be good because it takes the layout of a building and positions the access points accordingly, based on the areas and the construction materials."
"The initial setup is complex."
"The technical support in our region is lacking. When we seek support, the service we expect is not promptly delivered, which can be time-consuming."
"They could include a firewall feature in the next release but even there it's not really necessary"
"Ruckus Unleashed App has areas with certain shortcomings where improvements are required."
"Technical support is something that needs to be improved."
 

Pricing and Cost Advice

"Cisco is much more expensive than the other vendor solutions."
"We pay the licensing fees on a yearly basis."
"Cisco's pricing is quite costly and should be cheaper for both licensing and hardware."
"The tool is expensive."
"Cisco Wireless WAN is fairly expensive."
"Cisco's pricing is reasonable."
"There is a license that is needed for the use of this solution."
"I rate the product price a six on a scale of one to ten, where one is low price and ten is high price."
"The price of Ruckus Wireless WAN is in the middle price range compared to competitors. You will find Cisco is the most expensive, the second is HPE and Aruba, and the third is Ruckus Wireless WAN. You then have all the follower solutions."
"I am not satisfied with the pricing of the solution."
"It's expensive but you get more coverage."
"Licensing for Ruckus Wireless WAN when you compare it to other vendors, it's on par and not expensive. For me, all licensing is expensive by default, but you do get lifelong licenses, and what's cool about it is the license for Ruckus Wireless WAN, especially on the LAN controller, is not linked to an access point. It's just a quantity access point deployment, so you can rip out old APs, and put new ones in and they'll work on the wireless LAN because the license is not linked to a specific access point which is much easier to work with."
"Compared with Cisco Wireless WAN, the pricing for Ruckus Wireless WAN is two out of five. Ruckus Wireless WAN is twice the price of Cisco Wireless WAN."
"We have to pay annually for the cloud licenses, so I think it'll be about 5,000 pounds a year moving forwards."
"The cost is quite high, and over the past year, there has been a substantial increase, nearly reaching around seventy percent."
"The product is available at a very good price, but it is not cheap compared to tools like Unifi. I believe it is a very good product for the price that it is offered to users."
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Top Industries

By visitors reading reviews
Computer Software Company
17%
Manufacturing Company
11%
Real Estate/Law Firm
10%
Government
8%
Comms Service Provider
15%
Computer Software Company
11%
Financial Services Firm
8%
Educational Organization
6%
 

Company Size

By reviewers
Large Enterprise
Midsize Enterprise
Small Business
 

Questions from the Community

What do you like most about Cisco Wireless WAN?
Stability-wise, I rate the solution a ten out of ten.
What is your experience regarding pricing and costs for Cisco Wireless WAN?
The price point is the main challenge as it seems complicated and unclear. We pay a premium for features we do not use.
What needs improvement with Cisco Wireless WAN?
The graphical user interface is okay, however, the CLI type is not very user-friendly. The GUI is okay, yet it needs more strength in the CLI mode as well. Sometimes, issues are not fully addressed...
Is Ubiquiti Wireless better than Ruckus Wireless WAN?
Ubiquiti Wireless is extremely easy to set up and is an excellent option for small businesses, offering enterprise features for a one-time fee and no ongoing licensing fees. Ubiquiti Wireless is ve...
What do you like most about Ruckus Wireless WAN?
Ruckus Wireless WAN is an easy-to-use solution.
What is your experience regarding pricing and costs for Ruckus Wireless WAN?
The price is always on the higher side, which impacts the perception of return on investment.
 

Overview

 

Sample Customers

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)
American University of Sharjah, Dordt College, Drew University, Lamar University, Raroa School
Find out what your peers are saying about Cisco Wireless WAN vs. Ruckus Wireless WAN and other solutions. Updated: March 2025.
845,406 professionals have used our research since 2012.