Fortinet FortiExtender vs Ubiquiti Wireless comparison

Fortinet and Ubiquiti Networks are both solutions in the Wireless WAN category. Fortinet is ranked #8 with an average rating of 8.0, while Ubiquiti Networks is ranked #1 with an average rating of 7.6. Fortinet holds a 1.4% mindshare in Wireless WAN, compared to Ubiquiti Networks’s 39.8% mindshare. Additionally, 100% of Fortinet users are willing to recommend the solution, compared to 88% of Ubiquiti Networks users who would recommend it.

Fortinet FortiExtender

Read 8 Fortinet FortiExtender reviews

633 Views
177 Comparison Views

100% willing to recommend

Ubiquiti Wireless

Read 73 Ubiquiti Wireless reviews

8,962 Views
4,468 Comparison Views

88% willing to recommend

Fortinet FortiExtender

Ubiquiti Wireless

Comparison Buyer's Guide

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Executive Summary

We performed a comparison between Fortinet FortiExtender and Ubiquiti Wireless based on real PeerSpot user reviews.

Find out in this report how the two Wireless WAN solutions compare in terms of features, pricing, service and support, easy of deployment, and ROI.

To learn more, read our detailed Fortinet FortiExtender vs. Ubiquiti Wireless Report (Updated: October 2024).

Buyer's Guide

Fortinet FortiExtender vs. Ubiquiti Wireless

October 2024

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Categories and Ranking

Fortinet FortiExtender

Ranking in Wireless WAN

8th

Average Rating

8.2

Number of Reviews

Ranking in other categories

No ranking in other categories

Ubiquiti Wireless

Ranking in Wireless WAN

1st

Average Rating

8.0

Reviews Sentiment

6.6

Number of Reviews

Ranking in other categories

No ranking in other categories

Mindshare comparison

As of November 2024, in the Wireless WAN category, the mindshare of Fortinet FortiExtender is 1.4%, down from 1.6% compared to the previous year. The mindshare of Ubiquiti Wireless is 39.8%, down from 40.7% compared to the previous year. It is calculated based on PeerSpot user engagement data.

Wireless WAN

Featured Reviews

Mohammad Al-Zard

Technical Manager / Fortinet Product Owner at SPACE DATA SYSTEMS

Seamless with excellent integration capabilities and flexibility

What most of my clients are telling me is the price is a problem. That would be the best thing to start with. They agree on the value, and we have a very solid argument with the clients that proper service and value comes at a proper price. However, we hope to have more flexible pricing. That would be the first point to be mentioned. The product management team has asked to have a Multi-SIM device. We've had this for one year. Covid just drove everything towards working from home regarding teleworking and all of that stuff. The product is mature enough. Mainly, that would be the price. If they could therefore have some more, let's say, enhancements on it, then we can make more of a financial case. One feature that was discussed with the product management team of Fortinet FortiExtender was to have the ability to have the possibility to upload our own drivers. For example, the Extender itself could be dealing with the SIM card directly, where you install it, and then you're ready to go. Or, you may install a USB dongle into the Extender itself. Some mobile carriers here in Jordan do not allow users to relocate the SIM card from within their biscuit or USB dongle and install it in their own modem or their own Extender. However, with particular scenarios, we would appreciate having the possibility to upload a third-party driver for simplicity, integrating whatever sales provider facility we have into the Fortinet technology.

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Brian Massey

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

It's cheap and easy to use but isn't suitable for large deployments or complex use cases

Ubiquiti isn't as good for larger networks as any of the other wireless solutions. It lacks performance, coverage, and some of the advanced capabilities other solutions have. Take, for example, integration with FortiNAC. Cisco, HP, and the other big names can move devices from one wireless subnet to another with FortiNAC on the fly, but Ubiquiti cannot. When we connect them to this special network, I have to turn them off and on, disconnect them from the wireless, and then reconnect. Then, it can be put into the correct location, but that's it. It's a small thing, but it's noticeable, It's hard to describe it in terms an end user would understand, but on the back end, it lacks some of those capabilities. It's not a true large enterprise solution. They're fantastic for small and medium-sized businesses, especially for the price, and they perform well when needed. For my part, I would actually like to move to something more appropriate for the size of our network, but again, Ubiquiti is so cheap.

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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

"You don't need to have two different vendors to interoperate and get into comparability issues or inter-operability issues."

"We appreciate that this solution can be used as an active secondary link as well as a backup."

"The solution is extremely user-friendly."

"The product is easy to use and easy to integrate."

"For me, the best feature of Fortinet FortiExtender is its integration with an external solution such as a 5G LTE broadband modem, wired modem, and cellular network. I also like that the product can be integrated into one device or a unified device, and that is one of its best features because it allows you to manage and centralize the control of every device."

"The initial setup was was just beautiful. It was straightforward."

"The most valuable feature will be that it works."

"Management can be carried out from a central point."

"Ubiquiti Wireless is easy to use, it's stable and flexible, and the performance is great. It is scalable as well."

"They are reliable in terms of wireless connectivity."

"The most valuable feature of Ubiquiti Wireless is the ease of configuration."

"The most valuable feature of the solution is that it is a simple and useful tool that offers good performance."

"The indoor WiFi connection works well."

"This access point provides internet to every lab on campus, including the computer laboratory"

"I have found the most valuable features to be how user-friendly it is and how simple it is to do the configurations."

"It's an excellent option for small businesses."

More Ubiquiti Wireless pros

Cons

"The engineering of the solution has some negative points, especially in terms of troubleshooting. It's difficult to troubleshoot when we have a problem. It's not like other products like Cisco or Palo Alto which make troubleshooting much easier."

"There is a huge downside because we need to remove and insert the SIM to get it working."

"What most of my clients are telling me is the price is a problem."

"The support could be faster and more responsive."

"We would like to see some improvement in the price for 5G models, as they are currently very expensive."

"Though Fortinet FortiExtender has some security features, the product could still be improved by adding features similar to those in FortiGuard, such as antivirus, intrusion, prevention, and detection, as well as web filtering features. The product is also not as user-friendly, so that's another area for improvement. In the FortiGate UTM solution of Fortinet, there's software-defined or SD-WAN, and in the next release of Fortinet FortiExtender, I'd like to see SD-WAN embedded in the product. Most of the communication in Fortinet FortiExtender is related to WAN and Edge, so having an SD-WAN function in the product would be useful for integrating and controlling WAN communication."

"I would like to see them make it smaller in the next release so that it has a smaller footprint for mobile clients."

"The solution would be a lot better if it was a little bit more intuitive. Additionally, the help menu would be a lot better if it was easier to identify the items that I was looking for. I find the graphical interface a little bit difficult to navigate. And I find the font that is used on the HTML interface not conducive to being able to be read in low light situations."

"My company has to wait for a response from the product's support team. From an improvement perspective, the product's support team should be quicker to respond."

"Ubiquiti Wireless does not have local support."

"Better third-party integration would be helpful because often, Ubiquity is a product that customers choose after they already have something else from another vendor like HPE."

"The external devices, the outdoor devices, are not so rugged. For example, for the weather that we have here in Florida, it doesn't hold up well even though it is supposed to be designed for outdoor use."

"Everything needs to be professionally done."

"Performance could be improved in the solution because when I compare it with Ruckus and other APs, some of those APs are better performing, so you don't have to deploy too many APs to get the same level of Wi-Fi coverage and stability. It's not about how many clients the solution can handle, but it is more about stability and coverage. Another room for improvement in Ubiquiti Wireless, compared to other brands, is that it doesn't do well when used in an office network. It has a limitation on how reliable the AP of the system is."

"The control system can be improved by making it easier."

"Better security is important because we need to have some degree of control over who is connected and how we can restrict the level of connectivity."

More Ubiquiti Wireless cons

Pricing and Cost Advice

"I've only used the open-source version of Fortinet FortiExtender, but I know that it has some features that require you to pay for a license."

"The solution is not that expensive."

"I'm not sure what the cost is. However, I anticipate that the purchase price will range between $2,500 and $5,000."

"The platform offers a one-time purchase cost. It has competitive pricing."

"The price of the solution is high and could be cheaper."

"The product is neither expensive nor cheap. It is an averagely priced product."

"We don't have any licensing costs in our use-case. It's low cost, perhaps not the leading edge in the industry, but for the type of industry we work in, the cost suits us perfectly. It's aggressive on price so we can make a margin deploying it, and we can make money managing it for our clients."

"The price of this solution is ok."

"There aren't any license costs attached to the product."

"Its pricing ranges from 1,000 euros to 30,000 euros. The average price might be 10,000 euros."

"We don't buy directly. We have our finance department that buys things. My speculation on the price is that because we buy from private companies and because the product is imported, people tend to give us at higher prices. This is due to the fact that it is government procurement. So, sometimes, they are not paid directly, and they have to go through the whole administrative process before they are paid. So, they tend to compensate by increasing the price, but I won't be able to say what is the exact price."

More Ubiquiti Wireless pricing and cost advice

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Top Industries

By visitors reading reviews

Computer Software Company

30%

Insurance Company

10%

Government

Media Company

Computer Software Company

11%

Comms Service Provider

Manufacturing Company

Educational Organization

Company Size

By reviewers

Large Enterprise

Midsize Enterprise

Small Business

Questions from the Community

What do you like most about Fortinet FortiExtender?

The product is easy to use and easy to integrate.

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What is your experience regarding pricing and costs for Fortinet FortiExtender?

The solution is not that expensive. I rate pricing a six out of ten. The product has a yearly subscription. The clients must pay only for the license. They need not pay any additional costs.

See all answers

What needs improvement with Fortinet FortiExtender?

The support could be faster and more responsive.

See all answers

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...

See all answers

Which is better - Cambium or Ubiquiti Wireless?

For me, Ubiquiti was easy to install, configure, set up, and maintain, while also providing solid coverage and better handoffs between APs. This is especially relevant if you are using Apple produc...

See all answers

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

Ubiquiti Wireless offers a wide range of WLAN products. We tested their devices before ultimately choosing Cisco Meraki. Ubiquiti devices have good outdoor performance and the connection is very st...

See all answers

Comparisons

Cisco Wireless WAN vs Fortinet FortiExtender

Compared 100% of the time

More Fortinet FortiExtender Competitors

Ruckus Wireless WAN vs Ubiquiti Wireless

Compared 45% of the time

Cisco Meraki Wireless LAN vs Ubiquiti Wireless

Compared 21% of the time

Aruba Wireless vs Ubiquiti Wireless

Compared 16% of the time

Cambium Networks Wireless WAN vs Ubiquiti Wireless

Compared 8% of the time

ExtremeCloud IQ vs Ubiquiti Wireless

Compared 5% of the time

More Ubiquiti Wireless Competitors

Product Reports

Buyer's Guide

Fortinet FortiExtender

November 2024

Download Fortinet FortiExtender product report

Buyer's Guide

Ubiquiti Wireless

October 2024

Download Ubiquiti Wireless product report

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Fortinet

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Ubiquiti Networks

Overview

Fortinet FortiExtender is a cost-effective hardware WAN device that is robust, easily scales, and delivers 5G, LTE, and Ethernet options. FortiExtender is designed using Fortinet’s trademark security-focused networking. The solution enables organizations to have enhanced secure network connectivity with cellular and wired broadband network options.

FortiExtender can be used for secure point of sale (POS) systems to transport fleet communications. The device delivers dependable broadband access to the internet and increases the usefulness of the Fortinet Security Fabric integration to enhance seamless business processes that rely heavily on remote device connectivity to get the job done.

FortiExtender delivers super-fast 5G and LTE wireless to connect and quickly scale any WAN edge. Users get 5G/LTE cellular, out-of-band management (OBM), high availability (HA), and dynamic risk security in one comprehensive, reliable solution.

Fortinet FortiExtender Benefits

Failover protection: Users get secure network failover protection with dual SIM, dual modem, and out of band management (OBM) functionalities.
Cloud-based processes: Organizations with a global reach can easily manage processes in the cloud from anywhere. Users can use FortiGate, FortiManager, or FortiExtender Cloud Dashboard to view and easily manage security controls, network changes, and policy and protocol automation.
Integration: Seamlessly integrates with Fortinet Secure SD-WAN for simplified deployment, security, and management.
Improves TCO: FortiExtender is a very cost-effective option when integrated with FortiGate Network Security Platform. FortiExtender implements processes that save money and improve connectivity, functionality, and profitability.

Fortinet FortiExtender Features

Plug-and-play: Out of the box and ready to go, once FortiExtenders are connected to the FortiGate, they are available on the FortiOS management platform. Additionally, FortiOS provides complete visibility, monitoring data usage to ensure limits are not exceeded, resulting in significant cost savings.
Flexible connectivity options:
- LTE/5G : The FortiExtender devices provide dual SIM and dual modem options for four different ISPs. Dual SIM allows for active/passive cellular link for fast failover. Dual modem options provide two active/passive links for super-fast failover and disaster recovery. ISPs can be set for data usage limits and seamlessly switch to other ISPs to balance connectivity and reduce costs.
- WAN connectivity: Using an Ethernet WAN port, users can connect cable, DSL, or another modem. Load balancing and failover options available.
- Hybrid WAN-LAN connectivity: Four LAN ethernet ports enable users to have numerous connections to the LTE connection. Works well for high availability (HA) pairs of FortiGates to connect to FortiExtender. FortiGates then will run in failover or load balancing mode and receive WAN connectivity from the FortiExtender device.

Reviews from Real Users

“Fortinet FortiExtender helps facilitate Fortinet connectivity. When it comes to cell phone towers, you never know what you'll get with global configurations. We use this solution to mitigate switching cell phone towers. The scalability is limitless based on your cell and your internet or your cloud connectivity. It's similar to any other VPN in terms of how simple it is to set up in a global or extended environment with a large number of clients.” - Clement J., Chief Executive Officer at Clemtech LLC

Ubiquiti Wireless refers to the wireless networking solutions provided by Ubiquiti Networks, a leading technology company specializing in networking and wireless communication products. Ubiquiti Wireless offers a range of innovative and cost-effective wireless networking solutions designed for various applications, including enterprise networks, service providers, small and medium-sized businesses, and home users.

Ubiquiti Wireless products are known for their reliability, performance, and ease of use. They encompass a wide range of devices and technologies, including wireless access points, wireless routers, antennas, bridges, mesh networks, and point-to-point or point-to-multipoint wireless links.

Ubiquiti Wireless Features:

Scalability: Ubiquiti Wireless products are designed to scale easily, allowing organizations to expand their wireless networks as needed without significant infrastructure changes.
Flexibility: Ubiquiti Wireless offers a range of products suitable for various deployment scenarios, including indoor and outdoor environments, long-range connectivity, and mesh networks.
Centralized Management: Ubiquiti provides a centralized management platform called the UniFi Controller, which allows administrators to configure, monitor, and manage their entire wireless network from a single interface.
Seamless Roaming: Ubiquiti Wireless solutions support seamless roaming, allowing wireless devices to maintain connectivity while moving across different access points within a network.
Advanced Security: Ubiquiti incorporates security features such as encryption, authentication, and firewall capabilities to protect wireless networks and data transmissions.
Cost-Effective: Ubiquiti Wireless products are known for their affordability without compromising performance, making them an attractive option for organizations with budget constraints.
Community Support: Ubiquiti has a vibrant community of users and enthusiasts who actively contribute to knowledge sharing, troubleshooting, and expanding the capabilities of Ubiquiti Wireless products.

Ubiquiti Wireless Components:

Ubiquiti Wireless encompasses a range of components that work together to provide reliable and scalable wireless networking solutions. Here are some key components commonly found in Ubiquiti Wireless deployments:

Wireless Access Points (APs) for providing wireless connectivity.
Wireless Routers as central network hubs for managing traffic.
Wireless Bridges for creating wireless connections between networks.
Antennas to enhance wireless range and coverage.
Mesh Networking Devices for seamless coverage across large areas.
Network Switches for wired connectivity within the network.
Management Software like the UniFi Controller for centralized management and monitoring.

Reviews from Real Users

George Ferns, Solution Architect - Networking and IoT at a wholesaler & distributor, states that Ubiquiti Wireless has "Attractive pricing and good for home use and small businesses, but it is not easily scalable and lacks security features".

Walter Shelver, Owner at CableWeb, writes that "The most valuable aspect of Ubiquiti is the ease of setup. It's easy to set up, secure, and use. It works on an adoption basis. I can pull the system up, design a network, and pull 20 different Ubiquiti units into it".

ThomasWilke, CEO at CITOM, says that “You can almost do everything with Cisco products for a much better price with a significantly lower learning curve”.

Sample Customers

Black Gold Regional Schools, Amadeus Hospitality, Jefferson County, Chunghwa Telecom, City of Boroondara, Dimension Data

NASCAR Grand-AM, Maritime Parc, Outdoor Music Festival, British Armed Forces, Arcadia School District, Moscow - Enforta

Buyer's Guide

Fortinet FortiExtender vs. Ubiquiti Wireless

October 2024

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