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Fortinet FortiSwitch - Data Center vs MikroTik Cloud Router Switch comparison

 

Comparison Buyer's Guide

Executive SummaryUpdated on Nov 3, 2024

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

Fortinet FortiSwitch - Data...
Ranking in Ethernet Switches
15th
Average Rating
8.2
Reviews Sentiment
7.4
Number of Reviews
24
Ranking in other categories
No ranking in other categories
MikroTik Cloud Router Switch
Ranking in Ethernet Switches
22nd
Average Rating
8.0
Reviews Sentiment
6.8
Number of Reviews
20
Ranking in other categories
Routers (5th)
 

Mindshare comparison

As of March 2025, in the Ethernet Switches category, the mindshare of Fortinet FortiSwitch - Data Center is 1.7%, up from 1.0% compared to the previous year. The mindshare of MikroTik Cloud Router Switch is 1.2%, down from 1.3% compared to the previous year. It is calculated based on PeerSpot user engagement data.
Ethernet Switches
 

Featured Reviews

Rias Majeed - PeerSpot reviewer
Enables easy management of traffic and enhances security
FortiSwitch Data Center allows for centralized management of both Fortinet switches and firewalls from a single interface. This integration makes network management streamlined and secure. Additionally, the controllers are built into the firewall, which enables easy management of traffic and enhances security. Unlike some solutions, a Fortinet firewall is not just a firewall; it also acts as a full-fledged router.
Josephat Magesa - PeerSpot reviewer
Easy to set up, user-friendly, and reliable
I'm also familiar with Cisco which I used at another company. Cisco is a little bit expensive to acquire. With MikroTik, came with the same solution and you can use so many features. In MikroTik, you can use maybe two routers or one router to cover all your requirements, which you can also do on Cisco. This product is also cheaper than Cisco. Cisco has a lot of complications even with the configurations. On the price issues or even support issues, you may need to have so many routers when using Cisco for a simple solution. If you can use only one switch to clear your solution, why don't you use MikroTik? You don't have to use Cisco to have more than one switch to solve your problem.

Quotes from Members

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

Pros

"An affordable and stable solution for small-medium companies."
"FortiSwitch Data Center allows for centralized management of both Fortinet switches and firewalls from a single interface."
"Configurations between FortiGate and FortiSwitch have to link to each other. We need configuration. The configuration is not like a Cisco switch. It has a unique configuration."
"Fortinet FortiSwitch - Data Center's scalability is good."
"The most valuable feature is the port analytics."
"What I like about the solution is that it can be accessed anywhere."
"The product's most valuable feature is its ability to manage switches from one central point."
"We are able to monitor everything that is happening on our network."
"The router power is the most valuable aspect."
"The best aspect is that it remains affordable."
"I like that it's quite flexible and addresses different issues. It's quite easy to use, and the pricing is great. We find them to be very capable switches."
"The initial setup is easy."
"The GUI is easy to use."
"A valuable aspect is its user-friendly configuration, making it accessible even for individuals with basic technical knowledge."
"The interface management and the user access management is pretty good."
"The most valuable feature is that it has better throughput than its competitors."
 

Cons

"The solution’s pricing could be improved."
"The UI of the firewall and reporting could be improved."
"Managing the VLANs is an area where the solution lacks and needs to improve."
"Does not have as many features as other solutions, such as segmentation and analytics engines."
"There could be more porting software options for easy deployment in the product."
"The product must improve the latency in the management center."
"Fortinet FortiSwitch - Data Center needs to improve its UI and stability."
"The FortiSwitch product was initially quite complex."
"Improvements are needed with respect to some of the security, especially for VPN links between vendors other than Cisco."
"Antispam and antivirus features should be included in the future."
"The solution does not yet offer a SaaS version."
"The port isolation and VLAN need to be improved."
"If MikroTik had a marketing team and support team in India then it would be much easier for us to get the product, as well as support."
"MikroTik is mostly used by medium and small businesses, so the security is not as robust as Cisco."
"Technical support could be better."
"Stuff that I'd like to be improved is really just training and documentation because I think the feature set is full. Another improvement I'd suggest is that their new, bigger releases should be a bit more stable."
 

Pricing and Cost Advice

"It is reasonably priced."
"We pay a yearly licensing fee for the solution, which is expensive."
"The product has a mid-range price."
"This solution is expensive but it does not require a license."
"Cost-wise, Fortinet solutions are cheaper than those offered by Cisco."
"Fortinet FortiSwitch - Data Center is expensive."
"The solution's pricing is a little high. The solution deserves the current price it receives from its users."
"The solution is not expensive."
"In Pakistan, if you buy this cloud router, it's approximately $700 for the device."
"The price of the solution is fair and there is a one-time license purchase only."
"The licensing for MikroTik is great. It's easy to enter, especially for small businesses. Their model is great."
"MikroTik is really cheap compared to the competitors."
"I believe the price of the tool is high, but it is okay for the services we get from it."
"The price is competitive."
"They came with the licensing when we purchased them."
"I consider it to be a cost-effective solution."
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Top Industries

By visitors reading reviews
Computer Software Company
19%
Government
10%
Financial Services Firm
8%
Comms Service Provider
5%
Computer Software Company
14%
Comms Service Provider
13%
Media Company
7%
Hospitality Company
7%
 

Company Size

By reviewers
Large Enterprise
Midsize Enterprise
Small Business
 

Questions from the Community

What is your experience regarding pricing and costs for Fortinet FortiSwitch - Data Center?
The Fortinet switches come with no additional cost as they are open source, with only hardware warranties applicable.
What needs improvement with Fortinet FortiSwitch - Data Center?
Compatibility with infrastructure from other vendors like Cisco and Sophos can be further improved. Sometimes there are bugs when integrating with Sophos and other products.
What do you like most about MikroTik Cloud Router Switch?
The tool has impacted our company's network costs and productivity in a perfect manner and percentage-wise, I can say it is 120 percent.
What needs improvement with MikroTik Cloud Router Switch?
I have not tried AppSec. Everything, I do on my own with Sage or something similar. I do not rely on technical support.
 

Also Known As

No data available
MikroTik CRS Series
 

Overview

 

Sample Customers

Black Gold Regional Schools, Amadeus Hospitality, Jefferson County, Chunghwa Telecom, City of Boroondara, Dimension Data
Information Not Available
Find out what your peers are saying about Fortinet FortiSwitch - Data Center vs. MikroTik Cloud Router Switch and other solutions. Updated: March 2025.
841,431 professionals have used our research since 2012.