Fortinet FortiWLM vs Mist AI and Cloud comparison

Fortinet and Juniper are both solutions in the Wireless LAN category. Fortinet is ranked #17 with an average rating of 9.0, while Juniper is ranked #9 with an average rating of 8.7. Fortinet holds a 1.9% mindshare in Wireless LAN, compared to Juniper’s 2.3% mindshare. Additionally, 95% of Fortinet users are willing to recommend the solution, compared to 76% of Juniper users who would recommend it.

Fortinet FortiWLM

Read 27 Fortinet FortiWLM reviews

2,259 Views
2,088 Comparison Views

95% willing to recommend

Mist AI and Cloud

Read 22 Mist AI and Cloud reviews

4,500 Views
3,050 Comparison Views

76% willing to recommend

Fortinet FortiWLM

Mist AI and Cloud

Comparison Buyer's Guide

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Executive SummaryUpdated on Oct 31, 2024

Fortinet FortiWLM and Mist AI and Cloud compete in the wireless network solutions category. Mist AI and Cloud seems to have the upper hand due to its superior automation capabilities and AI-driven network insights, enhancing user experience despite its higher pricing.

Features: Fortinet FortiWLM is praised for centralized management and integrated security features through the Fortinet Security Fabric, seamless roaming leveraging Virtual Cell, and strong hardware quality. Mist AI and Cloud stands out with its AI-driven automation, offering automated configuration suggestions, detailed user experience insights, and Wi-Fi Assurance, which enhances network optimization.

Room for Improvement: Fortinet FortiWLM could enhance its reporting and integration features, automate guest management, and address service contract policies for smaller organizations. Mist AI and Cloud could improve by expanding integration capabilities, addressing pricing concerns, and enhancing local support and documentation for broader accessibility and ease of use.

Ease of Deployment and Customer Service: Fortinet FortiWLM deploys on-premises, emphasizing stability within existing infrastructures, with generally favorable customer service acknowledged but variable in response times. Mist AI and Cloud offers deployment flexibility with cloud and on-premises options. Technical support is satisfactory, though complex issues sometimes require escalation, indicating a need for improving first-line support.

Pricing and ROI: Fortinet FortiWLM offers competitive pricing with reasonable licensing options, reducing costs through its unified security approach and contributing to a positive ROI. Mist AI and Cloud, while pricier, provides substantial automation features that may justify the investment. Pricing remains a concern for some, especially in regions with high taxation, yet ROI is generally viewed positively due to its capabilities.

To learn more, read our detailed Fortinet FortiWLM vs. Mist AI and Cloud Report (Updated: March 2025).

Buyer's Guide

Fortinet FortiWLM vs. Mist AI and Cloud

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

Fortinet FortiWLM

Ranking in Wireless LAN

17th

Average Rating

8.4

Reviews Sentiment

7.3

Number of Reviews

Ranking in other categories

No ranking in other categories

Mist AI and Cloud

Ranking in Wireless LAN

9th

Average Rating

7.8

Reviews Sentiment

8.2

Number of Reviews

Ranking in other categories

No ranking in other categories

Mindshare comparison

As of April 2025, in the Wireless LAN category, the mindshare of Fortinet FortiWLM is 1.9%, down from 2.1% compared to the previous year. The mindshare of Mist AI and Cloud is 2.3%, down from 3.4% compared to the previous year. It is calculated based on PeerSpot user engagement data.

Wireless LAN

Featured Reviews

Zachary Wheeler

President / CEO at Secure Solutions Center LLC

Impressive manufacturing quality, highly durable, and very easy to deploy

They need to do more with their marketing. That's what's wrong with them. Nobody knows they do all this other stuff. I love the product. For an enterprise-level system, you never have to explain why you're recommending Fortinet, whereas you might have to do that if you want to use the Ubiquiti Professional or the new Netgear line, but you don't have to explain Fortinet. It has been remarkable to work with. It would be nice if they had some smaller switches or hubs. They should offer two-port, three-port, or four-port devices so that you don't have to buy an eight-port switch, and you don't have to use an unmanaged element, but their product line is very complete, and I can't say enough about it.

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ALEXANDRE VIANNA

CTO at Redeswirelessbrasil

Scalable and AI-driven automation helps in quick implementation

I have a global customer who wants to start the design phase in a big warehouse, but we do not have the equipment to do a site survey. I need support for the access point to implement in a freezer area. I do not have it. The customer tried to send one piece of equipment to Brazil. However, we had a problem because the customer needed to implement it in three months, and it took two months to send one equipment to Brazil.

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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

"Security is the feature we like most from Fortinet. In general, their security architecture is really great, because it involves everything: firewalls, wireless LANs, the user. Everything is really secure."

"Seamless roaming by leveraging Virtual Cell is a major advantage which reduces roam times and issues related to roaming. Code stability has been excellent and the hardware quality is second to none."

"Although there are a few steps, the initial setup is pretty straightforward."

"The most valuable feature of the solution is the management."

"I use Fortinet FortiWLM for wireless communication and the internet."

"For me, the ease of setup and the rugged nature in harsh environments are most valuable. So, durability and ease of use have been its best features."

"The greatest advantage is the security fabric Fortinet offers."

"With Fortinet, there is a feature called Network-In-Control. It's the AP controller that decides what the clients are going to connect to... Even though your phone sees, let's say, two APs, since the wireless controller has visibility into and access across all the APs, it knows the best AP for the client to connect to. This way, the controller makes sure that none of the APs is over-crowded, and the spectrum is used properly."

More Fortinet FortiWLM pros

"AI is the most valuable feature."

"The triangulation feature can be used to determine where a person is in relation to the access point."

"It's really easy to provision and support. Those are its main features."

"The AI deployment process involves adding access points and placing them in the designated area. The AI system automatically adjusts channel selection and transmission power without any issues with stability or throughput. It has improved network performance."

"If you compare wired versus wireless, it's convenient. You don't need to have one place for connectivity. You can move around and it's easier. Sometimes it's a hassle to work with wires, which is why wireless is so convenient."

"Has an extremely good feature set."

"AI-driven automation helps implement the solution quickly."

"The cost is the most valuable aspect of this solution."

More Mist AI and Cloud pros

Cons

"In the next release, they could improve by adding a controller-less server, or architecture that is provided in other solutions, such as Aruba. This would be a great benefit for customers."

"I have used Cisco previously and I don't see any specific differences from Fortinet FortiWLM or other vendors."

"This solution should be easier to set up in a production environment."

"The initial setup is complex and has room for improvement."

"Improving support and firmware upgrades is necessary. Firmware upgrades and bug improvements need to be tested well."

"There are currently issues with Fortinet's software quality. We have concerns regarding the frequent updates needed because of short software cycles."

"There is very little publicly available information about Virtual Cell and Single Channel Architecture. Promotion of the overall technology is limited as well. Being more vocal about a product that has many advantages would go a long way to eliminating a lot of the confusion and negative perception about Virtual Cell and Single Channel Architecture."

"The pricing model can be improved to encourage use by small business and individuals and the hardware could stand to be redesigned."

More Fortinet FortiWLM cons

"Currently, the solution lacks the ability to configure with other solutions from other vendors."

"The solution has various licensing policies. It will be easy to use if it is an open single license."

"There could be more integration."

"If there's one thing I'd like to change, it's the pricing. They are quite expensive, but honestly, it's justified by the value they provide. However, for a simple Wi-Fi connectivity with basic security needs, there are alternatives in the market that offer comparable features at a more budget-friendly price."

"The solution doesn't provide mail notifications currently."

"Mist AI and Cloud should be marketed more and focus on making partners in the industry."

"There seems to be different versions of standards used in the wireless access points. In the future, it would be helpful if the solution could come up with some kind of universal standard for all devices and all access points."

"There are some technical issues that may require attention"

More Mist AI and Cloud cons

Pricing and Cost Advice

"To save yourself from increased setup and maintenance costs, I highly recommend undertaking a proper site survey from the beginning."

"The product is highly expensive. I rate the pricing a ten."

"For indoor access points, there is a one-time cost, upfront, whereas outdoor access points have an annual fee."

"There is a perpetual license required for this solution and the price could be reduced."

"Support contracts typically cost approximately $100.00 per year."

"The solution is fairly priced."

"Licensing costs are reasonable. There are so many different types of licenses with Fortinet, but the licensing and the 24/7/365 support are so reasonable that I automatically include it with every transaction. I never line item it without it. There are no additional costs."

"Fortinet would do something with their pricing model to attract smaller business users and eliminate the mandatory service contracts."

More Fortinet FortiWLM pricing and cost advice

"The price of Mist AI and Cloud is approximately 20 percent less than competitors, such as Aruba and Cisco. However, Cisco has a lifetime warranty for its solutions."

"I rate the pricing a seven on a scale of one to ten, where one is low and ten is high."

"The solution's price is too high for the end-users. My customers pay 1,000 USD towards the licensing cost of the solution every year."

"The annual cost is a significant issue for us, and it notably contributes to the overall price. We have a customer with nearly fifty-eight access points in a multifunctional building, and while the setup was relatively simple, the yearly licensing cost is substantial. For the specific features we utilize, the licensing amounts to about forty thousand euros annually. This is not a trivial expense and significantly impacts the overall cost, making it quite high."

"Depending on the features, I think it's quite reasonably priced, especially considering the facilities of the product."

"The price is not cheap, but it's a reliable solution and very easy for management."

"Mist AI and Cloud is expensive."

"The solution is expensive in Brazil."

More Mist AI and Cloud pricing and cost advice

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Top Industries

By visitors reading reviews

Computer Software Company

15%

Financial Services Firm

Comms Service Provider

Manufacturing Company

Educational Organization

32%

Computer Software Company

15%

Financial Services Firm

Retailer

Company Size

By reviewers

Large Enterprise

Midsize Enterprise

Small Business

Questions from the Community

What do you like most about Fortinet FortiWLM?

The security is a valuable feature.

See all answers

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

While the pricing of Fortinet FortiWLM is a bit high, it remains effective. However, the cost could be better if reduced.

See all answers

What needs improvement with Fortinet FortiWLM?

In terms of improvements, the price is higher than I would like. A reduction in pricing would be beneficial.

See all answers

What do you like most about Mist AI and Cloud?

AI-driven automation helps implement the solution quickly.

See all answers

What is your experience regarding pricing and costs for Mist AI and Cloud?

The price is very high in Brazil because of the high tax. The solution is expensive in Brazil.

See all answers

What needs improvement with Mist AI and Cloud?

There are many aspects of AI, and how acquisitions are proceeding, particularly between Juniper and Aruba, remains unclear. From a Juniper perspective, there is a need for further improvements in t...

See all answers

Comparisons

Aruba Wireless vs Fortinet FortiWLM

Compared 26% of the time

Cisco Wireless vs Fortinet FortiWLM

Compared 17% of the time

Cisco Meraki Wireless LAN vs Fortinet FortiWLM

Compared 12% of the time

Ruckus Wireless vs Fortinet FortiWLM

Compared 12% of the time

Cambium Networks Wireless LAN vs Fortinet FortiWLM

Compared 8% of the time

More Fortinet FortiWLM Competitors

Cisco Meraki Wireless LAN vs Mist AI and Cloud

Compared 34% of the time

Aruba Wireless vs Mist AI and Cloud

Compared 22% of the time

Cisco Wireless vs Mist AI and Cloud

Compared 10% of the time

Ruckus Wireless vs Mist AI and Cloud

Compared 5% of the time

ExtremeCloud IQ vs Mist AI and Cloud

Compared 4% of the time

More Mist AI and Cloud Competitors

Product Reports

Buyer's Guide

Fortinet FortiWLM

March 2025

Download Fortinet FortiWLM product report

Buyer's Guide

Mist AI and Cloud

March 2025

Download Mist AI and Cloud product report

Also Known As

FortiWLM, FortiAP, Fortinet AP/OAP, Meru Wireless LAN

Mist Access Points

Overview

Consolidate security and wireless LAN management with our integrated wireless solutions. Single-pane-of-glass management for security and access without the need to add point products simplifies deployment and reduces management complexity. These solutions are highly scalable to support even the largest organizations and distributed enterprises.

Fortinet

Mist AI uses a combination of artificial intelligence, machine learning, and data science techniques to optimize user experiences and simplify operations across the wireless access, wired access, and SD-WAN domains.

Data is ingested from numerous sources, including Juniper Mist Access Points, Switches, Session Smart Routers, and Firewalls for end-to-end insight into user experiences. These devices work in concert with Mist AI to optimize user experiences from client-to-cloud, including automated event correlation, root cause identification, Self-Driving Network™ operations, network assurance, proactive anomaly detection, and more.

Juniper also leverages Mist AI for next-generation customer support. It is the foundational element behind Marvis, the industry’s first AI-driven Virtual Network Assistant, which provides extensive insight and guidance to IT staff via a natural language conversational interface.

With Mist AI, operators save time and money with faster problem resolution and fewer onsite visits. Users benefit from a network infrastructure that is more predictable, reliable, and measurable.

Juniper

Sample Customers

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

Dartmouth, Hitachi, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, Nebraska Furniture Mart, NTT, Okta

Buyer's Guide

Fortinet FortiWLM vs. Mist AI and Cloud

March 2025

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