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Fortinet FortiSwitch - Secure Access vs MikroTik Routers and Switches 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 - Secu...
Ranking in Ethernet Switches
6th
Average Rating
8.2
Reviews Sentiment
7.5
Number of Reviews
47
Ranking in other categories
No ranking in other categories
MikroTik Routers and Switches
Ranking in Ethernet Switches
5th
Average Rating
7.8
Reviews Sentiment
7.5
Number of Reviews
65
Ranking in other categories
Routers (1st)
 

Mindshare comparison

As of March 2025, in the Ethernet Switches category, the mindshare of Fortinet FortiSwitch - Secure Access is 5.4%, down from 6.0% compared to the previous year. The mindshare of MikroTik Routers and Switches is 6.0%, up from 4.7% compared to the previous year. It is calculated based on PeerSpot user engagement data.
Ethernet Switches
 

Featured Reviews

SherifAbdelrahman - PeerSpot reviewer
Efficient integration allows streamlined network management with a straightforward setup
I use it for retail business. We are using the FortiSwitch solution for our voice switches and access points as well It has helped us by providing easy management from a single platform through the firewall interface. It's very easy to manage and provides all the insights and vulnerabilities,…
AnikIslam - PeerSpot reviewer
Cost-effective protocol support and a straightforward setup with room for login enhancements
In the network operations center, I manage our client's bandwidth. We connect with our clients through BGP and OSPF based on client demands. We also manage routing protocols, policies, internal firewalls, and other details like QE bandwidth, client manage bandwidth management, PoE, PPPoE, and DNS…

Quotes from Members

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

Pros

"I can say that the product is easy to use...The initial setup of the product was easy."
"Having a single dashboard to manage everything simplifies the process."
"This device is easy to use."
"It works really well, I think the equipment is solid, and the help is great."
"The solution is easy to scale."
"The tool provides a firewall and good performance."
"My advice those using a firewall Fortigate is: use their APs because they work very well."
"The solution has enhanced network security by integrating access control more seamlessly, reducing overhead, and simplifying the network environment by removing the need for interfaces with other vendors."
"I have found one of the most valuable features to be the hotspot network."
"We have use cases like providing power over ethernet, as an access controller for Wi-Fi, and normal networking."
"MikroTik routers are very user-friendly and easy to manage"
"Load balancing is one of the valuable features of the solution...In short, MikroTik provides a very user-friendly GUI option."
"We've enjoyed the fact that it has very good performance."
"This is a good solution."
"The most valuable aspect of this solution is the combination of value for money. They're extremely cost effective, yet they provide you with an extensive feature set of things you can do across the board. Also, they're pretty reliable, as far as equipment goes."
"The most valuable feature is the price because it's highly cost-effective concerning the functionalities provided within the box. The solution is stable. The solution is scalable. The initial setup is straightforward. I would recommend the solution because it provides value for money."
 

Cons

"It would be easier if Fortinet FortiSwitch - Secure Access could be managed via cloud, and this is something that could be improved in this product. Bandwidth display could also be better."
"The product must improve its prices."
"While Fortinet is good for school boards and mid-sized businesses, enterprise-class networks require a zero-trust solution. If you're building a zero-trust network with end-to-end security, that's where Fortinet falls behind Cisco, HPE, and Aruba."
"The solution has SD-WAN but it doesn't have SDN. This should be added."
"FortiSwitch requires periodic firmware updates. It can be a little difficult because the switches aren't connected to the internet, so you cannot upgrade the firmware remotely. You need to go to the site and do it manually because it's a closed network."
"We had experienced downtime. I would like to see it to be improved."
"The pricing is considered high due to the currency exchange changes in our region."
"I don't like the way it's managed."
"There needs to be better support for this solution in India. We have no local support."
"They could improve their product if they set, for instance, a controller for wireless LAN. That would allow them to really have something more than an access point."
"I think the documentation of specific features could probably be improved. Especially if you want to try a new feature, sometimes you must test it thoroughly before implementing it with the client because the documentation doesn't give you the full background."
"The initial setup could be easier."
"Better security is always better. If they can continue to improve in this area, that would be ideal."
"It would be very good if these products are accessible via different kinds of shells and GUI. It will make these solutions very usable."
"Troubleshooting can be complex."
"The ports could be improved, as certain areas may need to be terminated with a greater number of Ethernet ports. We initially faced challenges that hindered our network usage, especially with third-party applications that were not certified or supported. It took some time to streamline and resolve these issues."
 

Pricing and Cost Advice

"The product is costly for SMB customers compared to other brands available in the market."
"The product's pricing is less compared to other enterprise solutions."
"The product's pricing is good."
"Fortinet FortiSwitch is a pricey solution."
"The pricing for Fortinet FortiSwitch is not expensive."
"The solution is cheaper than Cisco but more expensive than Huawei."
"I rate the product's pricing an eight out of ten."
"Price-wise, I find Fortinet FortiSwitch - Secure Access to be an okay product. It is not an expensive product."
"This product is a one-time purchase."
"When I compare the price of this solution to competitors it is priced a little high. There is not a license required for this solution."
"Pricing is not an issue."
"When you buy a license, it is for life and you don't need to buy another one every year."
"They are very cheap and not at all expensive."
"The tool is cheap."
"MikroTik Routers and Switches' pricing is reasonable."
"No fees are required for licensing."
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Top Industries

By visitors reading reviews
Computer Software Company
14%
Manufacturing Company
9%
Government
8%
Financial Services Firm
7%
Computer Software Company
16%
Comms Service Provider
13%
Hospitality Company
6%
Government
6%
 

Company Size

By reviewers
Large Enterprise
Midsize Enterprise
Small Business
 

Questions from the Community

Which would you choose - Fortinet Fortiswitch secure access or Cisco Ethernet Switches?
We researched Cisco but ultimately chose Fortinet FortiSwitch Secure Access, mostly because of the price. Fortinet FortiSwitch is an ethernet switch solution that provides security and performance...
What do you like most about Fortinet FortiSwitch - Secure Access?
With FortiSwitch, you can easily identify who is connected to each port, disable ports as needed, and retrieve configurations from FortiGate when required.
What is your experience regarding pricing and costs for Fortinet FortiSwitch - Secure Access?
Currently, I don't have an opinion about the price as I focus on implementation and am not informed about pricing in comparison to other vendors.
How do Cisco Enterprise routers compare with Mikrotik routers and switches?
Cisco Enterprise Routers are very stable and easy to use. They offer a very solid performance and are very secure. They also have a very good, long lifespan. We feel the command configuration is ve...
Which are better - Ubiquiti UniFi switches or MikroTik routers and switches?
Ubiquiti Unifi is a great solution. For starters, it is easy to configure and implement, and doesn’t require a learning curve because it is easy to use. It is also simple to reconfigure an AP or ga...
What do you like most about MikroTik Routers and Switches?
The price is a big factor. They are very affordable, and the quality is high.
 

Overview

 

Sample Customers

Black Gold Regional Schools, Amadeus Hospitality, Jefferson County, Chunghwa Telecom, City of Boroondara, Dimension Data
ABB, Boingo Wireless, JPL, HP, Allied Telesis, iPass, Mips Technologies, MicroAge, Matsushita, Telia, undp, WFP, NASA
Find out what your peers are saying about Fortinet FortiSwitch - Secure Access vs. MikroTik Routers and Switches and other solutions. Updated: March 2025.
842,388 professionals have used our research since 2012.