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Fortinet FortiWLM vs Mist AI and Cloud comparison

 

Comparison Buyer's Guide

Executive SummaryUpdated on Oct 31, 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 FortiWLM
Ranking in Wireless LAN
14th
Average Rating
8.4
Reviews Sentiment
7.3
Number of Reviews
27
Ranking in other categories
No ranking in other categories
Mist AI and Cloud
Ranking in Wireless LAN
18th
Average Rating
7.8
Reviews Sentiment
7.8
Number of Reviews
23
Ranking in other categories
No ranking in other categories
 

Mindshare comparison

As of July 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 1.9%, down from 3.1% compared to the previous year. It is calculated based on PeerSpot user engagement data.
Wireless LAN
 

Featured Reviews

Mohammad Talha Talkin Alam - PeerSpot reviewer
Reliable network creation and management with an efficient setup process
My primary use case involves creating SSIDs and defining VLANs within the VLAN using Fortinet FortiWLM. I have been working with Wi-Fi access points for network connectivity I primarily use Fortinet FortiWLM for creating SSIDs and defining VLANs. While there isn't much focus on security, layer…
RahulSivanandan - PeerSpot reviewer
Analytics and automation simplify wireless management and proactive troubleshooting
The analytics part of Mist AI and Cloud is really helpful, including correlation and event analysis. These features make Mist AI and Cloud stand out in the market. The automation capabilities are quite impressive, making it easy to manage and maintain. Mist AI and Cloud's orchestration is beneficial for troubleshooting and proactive analysis, offering proactive solutions before issues arise. Additionally, the platform is easy to deploy.

Quotes from Members

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

Pros

"Overall, I would rate the solution a ten out of ten."
"The greatest advantage is the security fabric Fortinet offers."
"Fortinet FortiWLM is good for tracking assets, monitoring, and overall management."
"The solution is controlled from one device and one GUI for all devices."
"The most valuable feature is the ability to connect and broadcast to different networks without using a VLAN or a layer two switch, which allows you to easily create guest networks."
"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."
"I found that It's really good when comparing it to any other product or it is much better in terms of features that the customer requires."
"I have not faced any issues with stability or downtime."
"It's really easy to provision and support. Those are its main features."
"AI-driven automation helps implement the solution quickly."
"The cost is the most valuable aspect of this solution."
"There are several valuable features. One of them is Cibas, and another one is Marvis."
"Regarding features, the solution seems to be very intuitive."
"Mist AI and Cloud have definitely improved the functioning of our organization. The access to the Internet, including its speed and reliability, has significantly improved."
"Mist AI and Cloud is ideal as we move towards the AI world."
"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."
 

Cons

"Licensing is the only area that I think they are below average. They need enterprise licensing, an all-encompassing license to cover all products for a company."
"The roaming of Fortinet FortiWLM could improve when comparing it to other solutions. We are missing some of the functionality in the controller. Additionally, they should offer more logs instead of using FortiAnalyzer because all the users will not be using the same thing."
"Technical support is very poor. We are not satisfied with the technical support because there is not any direct person from Fortinet for any troubleshooting, which we expected."
"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."
"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."
"The solution should improve user capacity."
"When using the FortiGate as the wireless controller, you cannot have automatic user registration, which is something that they should offer."
"There are currently issues with Fortinet's software quality. We have concerns regarding the frequent updates needed because of short software cycles."
"There are many aspects of AI, and how acquisitions are proceeding, particularly between Juniper and Aruba, remains unclear."
"The solution doesn't provide mail notifications currently."
"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."
"Mist AI and Cloud should improve its integrations."
"The user experience should be improved. It's not user-friendly."
"Mist AI and Cloud need to improve the configuration speed."
"In future releases, they need to add some router models. Because currently, it supports only SSR and WAN routers. But adding other routers would be good."
"Mist AI and Cloud should be marketed more and focus on making partners in the industry."
 

Pricing and Cost Advice

"For indoor access points, there is a one-time cost, upfront, whereas outdoor access points have an annual fee."
"The price of Fortinet FortiWLM is reasonable compared to the other vendors. We are using a five-year license."
"The solution is expensive. I give the solution a one out of ten for the price."
"There is a perpetual license required for this solution and the price could be reduced."
"In the last few years, due in part to the impact of COVID on the market, Fortinet has increased its prices by 35 percent."
"Support contracts typically cost approximately $100.00 per year."
"Fortinet FortiWLM's pricing is regular and competitive."
"The solution is fairly priced."
"The price is not cheap, but it's a reliable solution and very easy for management."
"I rate the pricing a seven on a scale of one to ten, where one is low and ten is high."
"The solution is expensive in Brazil."
"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 about the same compared to other vendors. There is an add-on license, but it's up to you if you want to buy it or not."
"Mist AI and Cloud is expensive."
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Top Industries

By visitors reading reviews
Computer Software Company
15%
Financial Services Firm
9%
Manufacturing Company
8%
Educational Organization
7%
Computer Software Company
17%
Educational Organization
13%
Financial Services Firm
7%
University
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 FortiWLM?
While the pricing of Fortinet FortiWLM is a bit high, it remains effective. However, the cost could be better if reduced.
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.
What do you like most about Mist AI and Cloud?
AI-driven automation helps implement the solution quickly.
What is your experience regarding pricing and costs for Mist AI and Cloud?
Compared with other solutions, Mist AI and Cloud is not that expensive and is considered moderate in pricing. The solution is priced per device.
What needs improvement with Mist AI and Cloud?
The support needs improvement. Since the merger or integration between Mist AI and Cloud and HP, it has affected service quality negatively. The reachability, access, and response time of the suppo...
 

Also Known As

FortiWLM, FortiAP, Fortinet AP/OAP, Meru Wireless LAN
Mist Access Points
 

Overview

 

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
Find out what your peers are saying about Fortinet FortiWLM vs. Mist AI and Cloud and other solutions. Updated: July 2025.
861,524 professionals have used our research since 2012.