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Meraki MS Switches vs Ubiquiti UniFi Switches comparison

 

Comparison Buyer's Guide

Executive SummaryUpdated on Oct 8, 2024

Review summaries and opinions

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

ROI

Sentiment score
6.2
Meraki MS Switches offer efficient management and reduced costs but ROI varies with cloud transition completeness and deployment strategy.
Sentiment score
7.0
Users highlight cost-effectiveness and quick deployment of UniFi Switches, with mixed ROI assessments and feature comparisons to competitors.
Another solution offered to us was more than double the price, making UniFi a cost-effective choice.
 

Customer Service

Sentiment score
8.5
Meraki MS Switches are praised for strong support and convenience, though some desire more senior engineers and improved communication.
Sentiment score
6.8
Ubiquiti UniFi Switches support is often seen as limited, with reliance on forums, self-service, and occasional user satisfaction.
If the devices are licensed, the support team will assist you depending on the severity level of the case.
Cisco's tech support is pretty good, and I would rate it an eight out of ten.
the manuals, installation videos, and resources on the website are very good and straightforward.
 

Scalability Issues

Sentiment score
7.9
Meraki MS Switches offer scalability for SMBs and cloud environments but lack features and options for large enterprises.
Sentiment score
7.6
Ubiquiti UniFi Switches offer scalability, effective integration, and strong performance, ideal for SMEs but challenging for large enterprises.
I rate the scalability as nine out of ten.
While we are satisfied with its use in small environments, other products may be needed in very large companies with more than 30 users.
 

Stability Issues

Sentiment score
8.6
Meraki MS Switches offer stable performance, reliability, and ease of use, with minor issues resolved quickly in complex environments.
Sentiment score
8.6
Ubiquiti UniFi Switches are reliable and stable in standard settings, with optimal performance depending on configuration and environment.
If something happens to the device or hardware, Cisco will automatically change the device by the next business day.
We faced issues following firmware updates, which we now handle by performing updates outside of working hours.
I did not experience any problems the whole year.
If the system is installed, it runs well, with no issues.
The switches are stable and there have been no outages.
 

Room For Improvement

Meraki MS Switches face pricing and cloud dependency issues, needing better licensing, scalability, security, and technical support features.
Ubiquiti UniFi Switches require improved power supply, technical support, user-friendly management, and enhanced features like security and scalability.
Meraki should also consider improvements in stacking features, particularly in the lower-end models like NS130, where stacking isn't supported, unlike with Cisco traditional switching.
There are compatibility issues with certain Power over Ethernet (PoE) devices, which we would like to see resolved.
Most people are familiar with the Cisco commands, and it would be beneficial if the switch could be accessed by GUI configuration and by normally accessing the console.
The current setup is closed and does not allow for integration with non-Ubiquiti VoIP devices or providers outside their ecosystem.
Controlling and reducing network traffic directly from the controller would be beneficial.
 

Setup Cost

Meraki MS Switches are costly but valuable for features and support, with complex licensing. Some see it as competitive.
Ubiquiti UniFi Switches are cost-effective, ideal for small businesses, though less feature-rich, with noted availability and price variations.
Meraki pricing is a little premium compared to other vendor products.
Pricing is affordable, and licenses for the cloud need to be purchased every three to five years.
Pricing is very favorable, with minimal licensing involved.
Many vendors mark up prices significantly.
The setup cost is reasonable, but there are companies in the business pushing more expensive solutions.
 

Valuable Features

Meraki MS Switches offer centralized cloud management, robust security, and scalability, making them ideal for efficient, distributed network operations.
Ubiquiti UniFi Switches provide reliable performance, centralized management, scalability, and affordability, ideal for small to medium businesses.
The control plane is in the cloud, and the data plane is local, allowing manageability from anywhere.
The most valuable feature is the ability to access devices from anywhere in the world through the cloud.
One of the most valuable features of Meraki MS Switches is its precise traffic analytics capabilities, allowing us to query the system for any place at any time.
I can manage user connectivity, limit bandwidth, apply MAC address filtering, and it offers POE capabilities.
One of the most valuable features of Ubiquiti UniFi switches is their graphical interface and plug-and-play capability.
The most valuable feature of UniFi Switches is the simple management via the UniFi console.
 

Categories and Ranking

Meraki MS Switches
Ranking in Ethernet Switches
8th
Average Rating
8.4
Reviews Sentiment
7.2
Number of Reviews
94
Ranking in other categories
No ranking in other categories
Ubiquiti UniFi Switches
Ranking in Ethernet Switches
3rd
Average Rating
8.2
Reviews Sentiment
6.8
Number of Reviews
54
Ranking in other categories
No ranking in other categories
 

Mindshare comparison

As of December 2024, in the Ethernet Switches category, the mindshare of Meraki MS Switches is 4.6%, up from 4.0% compared to the previous year. The mindshare of Ubiquiti UniFi Switches is 6.3%, down from 8.2% compared to the previous year. It is calculated based on PeerSpot user engagement data.
Ethernet Switches
 

Featured Reviews

Jóhann G. Thorarensen - PeerSpot reviewer
Reliable and easily accessible switches with a plug and play setup
We used Cisco switches, then we decided to go with Meraki MS Switches for several reasons. One reason was that the Cisco switches were originally set up by a company that was in charge of the whole system, which was run from a company outside the school. Then, we had someone come in to take charge here in our school, then we transferred that responsibility to an outsider. I then came in, and I started learning the system, so the outsider became the backup plan. It turned out, once we started digging into things, that the system was set up in a cumbersome and closed way, much like a banking system, rather than a setup that would be good for a school, that can rely on switches rather than closing the school into units. Another reason was that our switches were getting outdated, so we had to do something. We started looking at various solutions, and we had to decided whether to continue the way we were doing things, which we did not like because it was cumbersome and it had to be done on-site, or if we could do it in a way that would be more accessible both inside and outside the school, while having the level of security and stability we need. For example, we looked at Ubiquiti UniFi which was a cheaper system, but it was less stable, though I know that some schools were using that system. It was really just a question of stability and accessibility, and these were deciding factors in the system that we chose. Even though Meraki MS Switches were more expensive than the other solutions, we ended up with Meraki.
Geoff Rubin - PeerSpot reviewer
Provides fixed wireless and Wi-Fi access points but has complex pricing
We sell most of the switches for projects that require PoE switches. 95% of the switches we sell are PoE The customers who buy the access points use the standard Ubiquiti management systems because they're freeware tools. We usually get all the requests and materials from the customer, who knows…
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Top Industries

By visitors reading reviews
Computer Software Company
19%
Manufacturing Company
8%
Retailer
7%
Educational Organization
6%
Computer Software Company
11%
Retailer
7%
Manufacturing Company
7%
Comms Service Provider
7%
 

Company Size

By reviewers
Large Enterprise
Midsize Enterprise
Small Business
 

Questions from the Community

What do you like most about Meraki MS Switches?
The most valuable features of Meraki MS Switches are their reliability and simplicity.
What is your experience regarding pricing and costs for Meraki MS Switches?
The solution is a bit expensive as it is on the high end. The cost depends on the model and the number of years of usage.
What needs improvement with Meraki MS Switches?
There are compatibility issues with certain Power over Ethernet (PoE) devices, which we would like to see resolved.
Which switches are better - Ubiquiti Unifi or Netgear?
Ubiquiti Unifi offers a great set of features. For starters, it is easy to configure and implement, and also doesn’t require a learning curve because it is easy to use. It is also simple to reconfi...
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 Ubiquiti UniFi Switches?
We have integrated the tool for PoE switches and non-PoE switches. Its most valuable feature is SD-WAN. UniFi SD-WAN can access all statistics and performance data in one interface, enabling us to...
 

Also Known As

MS220, MS320, MS420
UniFi Switches
 

Learn More

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Video not available
 

Overview

 

Sample Customers

Cisco Live Milan, Hyatt
Staypineapple
Find out what your peers are saying about Meraki MS Switches vs. Ubiquiti UniFi Switches and other solutions. Updated: December 2024.
824,053 professionals have used our research since 2012.