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Technical manager at Djamboree
Real User
Top 5Leaderboard
Easy to setup, provides both CLI and GUI for management
Pros and Cons
  • "The initial setup is very straightforward. You can typically set them up in about 30 minutes."
  • "A central management platform would be great."

What is our primary use case?

We use them for running services, especially big PoE services and VLAN routing. We also use them at remote premises to provide quick Wi-Fi. For switching, we use them for regular switching and in places where we need a lot of fiber interfaces.

What is most valuable?

MikroTik Routers and Switches are very competitively priced, which is important. Also, they perform well and get the job done.

Additionally, I appreciate that they offer both a CLI and a user-friendly GUI for management.

What needs improvement?

A central management platform would be great.

For how long have I used the solution?

I have been using this solution for a couple of years. For routers, we use the 1036s and 1016s. For small businesses, we use the 1100s. For very small businesses, we use the Mikrotik 5-port switch, which is the 951. We use the whole range, basically.

Buyer's Guide
MikroTik Routers and Switches
March 2025
Learn what your peers think about MikroTik Routers and Switches. Get advice and tips from experienced pros sharing their opinions. Updated: March 2025.
845,040 professionals have used our research since 2012.

What do I think about the stability of the solution?

MikroTik routers and switches are quite stable. The older OS versions are very stable, but the newer ones like RouterOS 7 are still a work in progress and have had some challenges.

What do I think about the scalability of the solution?

MikroTik routers and switches are quite scalable, but with a centralized management solution, they could potentially be even more scalable.

We have around 5,000 switches in use. We deploy them in small offices with 10 to 20 people and even in enterprise offices with over a hundred people.

We have plans to increase the usage. We use MikroTik a lot due to its price and performance, and it's usually the top choice for our clients for routing and switching.

How are customer service and support?

We usually find answers in online forums, so we haven't dealt directly with their support.

How was the initial setup?

The initial setup is very straightforward. You can typically set them up in about 30 minutes, and we do it in-house.

What about the implementation team?

We do it in-house. We set out a plan, and our technicians take care of setting up the units and putting them online. We often have a senior technician do the final tuning. We have three senior technicians and a couple of junior technicians who help out.

What was our ROI?

It's definitely worth the investment.

What's my experience with pricing, setup cost, and licensing?

There are no licenses required; you simply purchase the units.

What other advice do I have?

I would definitely recommend using this solution. I would rate it a nine out of ten.

Which deployment model are you using for this solution?

On-premises
Disclosure: I am a real user, and this review is based on my own experience and opinions.

PeerSpot user
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    IT Manager at a educational organization with 51-200 employees
    Real User
    Top 20
    Has good hotspot, network address, registration, and firewall features but is hard to scale

    What is our primary use case?

    We use the solution to provide the same speed internet to 3,000 users, including students and teachers who are using this in school and college.

    What is most valuable?

    The valuable features are the hotspot, network address, registration, and firewall.

    What needs improvement?

    MikroTik Routers and Switches lack a user-friendly interface for applications or specific settings. For example, compared to a router from VGG Network, MikroTik's DNS and UI apps might require more technical knowledge to configure easily. While MikroTik offers certified support and clear website guides, some features, like Webex configuration, lack an intuitive interface for automatic setup.

    Additionally, MikroTik often requires manual tasks like uploading hotspot tickets and setting up certificates. This can be burdensome, unlike easier solutions like UniFi, especially for monthly updates.

    For how long have I used the solution?

    I have been using MikroTik Routers and Switches since 2010.

    What do I think about the stability of the solution?

    The product is stable.

    I rate the solution’s stability an eight out of ten.

    What do I think about the scalability of the solution?

    MikroTik doesn't have a simple solution. We have to bring a new one to upgrade the CPU's capacity. It's hard to scale.

    Around 2,000 users are using the solution.

    I rate the solution's scalability a three out of ten.

    Which solution did I use previously and why did I switch?

    We use Unifi Switches to deploy and manage access points on-site.

    How was the initial setup?

    The initial setup is complex.

    What's my experience with pricing, setup cost, and licensing?

    I rate the product’s pricing a six out of ten, where one is cheap and ten is expensive.

    What other advice do I have?

    Overall, I rate the solution a seven out of ten.

    Which deployment model are you using for this solution?

    Public Cloud
    Disclosure: I am a real user, and this review is based on my own experience and opinions.

    PeerSpot user
    Rich text editor
      Buyer's Guide
      MikroTik Routers and Switches
      March 2025
      Learn what your peers think about MikroTik Routers and Switches. Get advice and tips from experienced pros sharing their opinions. Updated: March 2025.
      845,040 professionals have used our research since 2012.
      IT Manager at ERL
      Real User
      Stable, scalable, easy to handle, and has a good interface
      Pros and Cons
      • "What I like best about MikroTik Routers and Switches is its easy handling. The product also has a significantly good interface."
      • "MikroTik Routers and Switches need a firewall policy to secure the network. I also want Mikrotic to add load balancing to the firewall policy, as it's currently hard to do in Mikrotik devices."

      What is our primary use case?

      We use MikroTik Routers and Switches for maintaining and controlling our network.

      How has it helped my organization?

      One benefit of MikroTik Routers and Switches is that it lets my company manage the network easily.

      What is most valuable?

      What I like best about MikroTik Routers and Switches is its easy handling. The product also has a significantly good interface.

      What needs improvement?

      MikroTik Routers and Switches need a firewall policy to secure the network. My company is looking for a new firewall device to secure the network.

      I also want Mikrotic to add load balancing to the firewall policy, as it's currently hard to do in Mikrotik devices.

      For how long have I used the solution?

      I've been using MikroTik Routers and Switches since 2015.

      What do I think about the stability of the solution?

      I found MikroTik Routers and Switches stable. Sometimes, the device runs for more than thirty days without restarting or switch-offs.

      What do I think about the scalability of the solution?

      You can scale MikroTik Routers and Switches. The product is scalable.

      How are customer service and support?

      I have yet to contact MikroTik Routers and Switches technical support.

      How was the initial setup?

      I found MikroTik Routers and Switches very easy to set up; plus, you'll find many resources on how to do it on the internet.

      After purchase, deploying MikroTik Routers and Switches only took one day.

      My company went through the tender process for purchasing MikroTik Routers and Switches and had a contract with the ISP vendor who took the fiber optic line to the office. It was the same day that the company received and set up the Mikrotik devices.

      What about the implementation team?

      An in-house team implemented MikroTik Routers and Switches with a lot of guidance from the ISP.

      What's my experience with pricing, setup cost, and licensing?

      Here in Bangladesh, MikroTik Routers and Switches cost 90,000 Taka, or converting that figure to dollars is $1,000.

      What other advice do I have?

      I'm on MikroTik Routers and Switches version CCR1016.

      Maintaining MikroTik Routers and Switches is straightforward, and there's always an update every four months.

      My company has almost two hundred users of the product, and there is a plan to purchase another and have more users.

      I'd tell people looking into using MikroTik Routers and Switches that the product is excellent but lacks a firewall solution. However, if you're a small to medium-sized company, I recommend it. For bigger organizations, you may have to look into another product.

      My rating for MikroTik Routers and Switches is eight out of ten.

      Disclosure: I am a real user, and this review is based on my own experience and opinions.

      PeerSpot user
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        Chief Solutions Architect at Tech2go Strategic IT Solutions
        Real User
        A cheaper solution that delivers the same performance and capabilities as the top brands
        Pros and Cons
        • "They are very good at providing the bandwidth for multi-tenants and multi-dwelling units. We're managing WiFi hotspots for hundreds of locations, and the speed and performance are quite there. They also have very cheap 10G products that come with really good and flexible software. They are way cheaper than the top brands, and they're able to deliver the same performance and capabilities."
        • "They lack the extended warranty for the equipment. They only provide a warranty for one year as compared to the other vendors who offer a warranty for three years, five years, and lifetime, etc."

        What is our primary use case?

        We manage wide area networks for our clients nationwide. We run a data center and provide internet services. We use MikroTik for our network operation centers. We also manage WiFi for hospitalities and a lot of multi-dwelling units. 

        We have experience in deploying MikroTik, NETGEAR, and HP products.

        What is most valuable?

        They are very good at providing the bandwidth for multi-tenants and multi-dwelling units. We're managing WiFi hotspots for hundreds of locations, and the speed and performance are quite there. They also have very cheap 10G products that come with really good and flexible software.  

        They are way cheaper than the top brands, and they're able to deliver the same performance and capabilities.

        What needs improvement?

        They lack the extended warranty for the equipment. They only provide a warranty for one year as compared to the other vendors who offer a warranty for three years, five years, and lifetime, etc.

        For how long have I used the solution?

        I have been using this solution for about eight years. 

        How was the initial setup?

        You need to learn how to use the software and run MikroTik Router OS or Switch OS. You have to be familiar with all these. If you're a network person, it's very easy for you to set it up. It is pretty much similar to setting up HPE, Juniper, Cisco, or NETGEAR. It's not for novice users. There's a learning curve.

        Our team has to get trained and certified in MikroTik.

        What's my experience with pricing, setup cost, and licensing?

        MikroTik is very cost-effective and quite good for the price. It performs very well.

        For one of our customers, the existing setup comprises Cisco Catalyst switches, and it is about 10 to 15 years old. We're looking into upgrading in a cost-effective way to get the performance and yet still be at par with the quality and expectations that customers have from Cisco.

        Price-wise, Cisco is really expensive, and customers are expecting something different than Cisco so that they can save on IT costs. They don't have the same budget that they had before when they installed Cisco products. That's why they're looking for a solution that can provide performance and features without too much money or investment. We're looking at some alternative brands, such as NETGEAR and MikroTik, to support our proposal.

        What other advice do I have?

        I would rate this solution a nine out of ten for the reliability and the performance that you get out of it. I wouldn't rate it a ten because of the warranty limitation. 

        There is also a learning curve to be able to successfully manage it, but once you do that, it's going to work wonders. It's also not that expensive.

        Disclosure: I am a real user, and this review is based on my own experience and opinions.

        PeerSpot user
        Rich text editor
          Director at Navyug Networks
          Real User
          Stable routers and switches with a useful GUI
          Pros and Cons
          • "I like MikroTik's GUI. It's completely handy and easy to handle because of its GUI. Despite other brands like Cisco urging me to switch, I didn't because they don't have a GUI. This is the most comfortable thing in my project that anyone can use easily. It's effortless to maintain MikroTik routers because both screens make it very easy in GUI mode. You can easily interact with your hardware."
          • "It could be more scalable. Product awareness could also be better. There's a lack of awareness when it comes to MikroTik. People only know about Cisco and others, and they won't rely on MikroTik. This is primarily because of hardware limitations. While this product is good economically, it's unsuitable for high-end projects. In the next release, I want this product to be more compatible."

          What is our primary use case?

          We're currently using MikroTik Routers and Switches for around six gigabytes, and we're upgrading to about 13 or 14 gigs. It's unable to handle that much upload, and that's why we're upgrading it.

          What is most valuable?

          I like MikroTik's GUI. It's completely handy and easy to handle because of its GUI. Despite other brands like Cisco urging me to switch, I didn't because they don't have a GUI. This is the most comfortable thing in my project that anyone can use easily.

          It's effortless to maintain MikroTik routers because both screens make it very easy in GUI mode. You can easily interact with your hardware.

          What needs improvement?

          It could be more scalable. Product awareness could also be better. There's a lack of awareness when it comes to MikroTik. People only know about Cisco and others, and they won't rely on MikroTik. This is primarily because of hardware limitations. While this product is good economically, it's unsuitable for high-end projects. In the next release, I want this product to be more compatible.

          For how long have I used the solution?

          I have been using MikroTik Routers and Switches for the last eight or nine years.

          What do I think about the stability of the solution?

          It's a completely reliable solution.

          What do I think about the scalability of the solution?

          MikroTik Routers and Switches aren't scalable. We have reached the scalability limit with MikroTik. Because MikroTik didn't design 40 gigs or 100 gig routers, it's not scalable. The last MikroTik model is only a ten-gig router. We have 32 or 33 MikroTik routers at the moment.

          How are customer service and support?

          MikroTik support is reliable, and I think that there is no issue with them. Their support is good. Time is a little, but they provide for their customers.

          How was the initial setup?

          The initial setup was straightforward. The installation was very easy because you are remote, and a beginner can also set it up easily.

          What about the implementation team?

          I implemented this solution by myself with the help of my team.

          What's my experience with pricing, setup cost, and licensing?

          In terms of the economic side, we're completely satisfied. The price is affordable for both SMEs and enterprises.

          What other advice do I have?

          I would recommend this solution to new users if they deal with two or three gigs of traffic. Beyond that, it can't handle the load.

          On a scale from one to ten, I would give MikroTik Routers and Switches an eight.

          Which deployment model are you using for this solution?

          On-premises
          Disclosure: I am a real user, and this review is based on my own experience and opinions.

          PeerSpot user
          Rich text editor
            Information Technology Supervisor at JLR Construction and Aggregates Inc.
            Real User
            Robust with lots of features and excellent pricing
            Pros and Cons
            • "It has a lot of features. I haven't explored them all yet."
            • "The interface for management could be improved."

            What is our primary use case?

            I've mostly been using the solution for mostly routing and user management.

            How has it helped my organization?

            It has rapidly improved the network capabilities of the company since all features are readily available with no pay walls. It up to your imagination and skill to deploy the said features. You also have the option to test out any of the modules you see fit for your organization.

            What is most valuable?

            We like that the solution is full-featured. I have access to all the functions that I need for routing without the cost involved of having those - compared to a Cisco device or other devices like HP. With those, you need to license some of the features just to access them. MikroTik has access to all the features of routing so you can customize or be flexible in your deployment.

            The solution is stable and the performance is good. 

            It has a lot of features. I haven't explored them all yet.

            What needs improvement?

            There are some bugs in the newer modules. For example, when it comes to Routing, which is already a very old module, it is very stable. However, Hotspot is a fairly new module. They still need to work on things regarding that module. It's not as reliable. 

            The interface for management could be improved. 

            For how long have I used the solution?

            I've been using the solution for about ten years. 

            What do I think about the stability of the solution?

            We're very satisfied with the performance. It is stable. I could say if you are using only mostly the core functionality of the device that was built in it - primarily routing, firewall, and then the basic ones, it's very stable. However, for the newer modules, they still have some bugs to fix.

            What do I think about the scalability of the solution?

            We have 200 or more users on the product currently. They are in administrative and operations positions in all areas of the office.

            The solution is very scalable. I would rate it a ten out of ten for scalability. 

            How are customer service and support?

            While technical support is available, I haven't tried it since the core functions are very stable. I haven't seen any major problems where I would need to call tech support.

            Which solution did I use previously and why did I switch?

            I've also used Ubiquiti.

            We did try TP-Link and Cisco previously. Those were the two types of routers that were in the office in production. The main reason we switched was due to the price, cost, and feature availability of the other options.

            This product comes in at a very low price compared to buying a Cisco router. I also had a bad experience with Cisco routers.

            How was the initial setup?

            The initial setup is more complex than Ubiquiti since it's more full-featured. It's up to you how you want to do things. You have to face a slight learning curve. You have to have a background in networking or routing.

            Currently, if I have to do a deployment for a simple office, it would be less than a day to have everything up and running.

            For our organization, when I started using it, it took maybe a month or two to get used to the features before I migrated fully to the device.

            I'm the one who is responsible for the network and therefore I handle any maintenance as well. 

            What about the implementation team?

            I set it up myself. I didn't have any help from third-party consultants or integrators. 

            What was our ROI?

            We have seen an ROI from MikroTik in that, for 12 years their equipment has been very robust. Even older versions I can still use now without any problems or stability issues.

            What's my experience with pricing, setup cost, and licensing?

            You just pay for licensing and you don't have to worry about add-ons or anything else. You don't pay yearly, you simply pay for the equipment. 

            What other advice do I have?

            I'm a customer and an end-user.

            I've mostly upgraded the product to the latest version. I have a few more left that are still on the older version.

            I'd rate the solution nine out of ten.

            MikroTik is very good, however, you need to know the fundamentals to use it. You have to have a solid foundation on the capabilities or concepts used in MikroTik for it to become very effective for your organization.

            Which deployment model are you using for this solution?

            On-premises
            Disclosure: I am a real user, and this review is based on my own experience and opinions.

            PeerSpot user
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              MarkBanks - PeerSpot reviewer
              Solution Architect Team Lead at MLL Telecom
              Real User
              Top 10
              Highly-Recommended Cost-Effective Solution with Commendable Features
              Pros and Cons
              • "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."
              • "Improvements could be made in terms of SD-WAN capabilities and zero-touch provisioning."

              What is our primary use case?

              We are a public sector medium-sized company. We use MikroTik's router part for managing internet circuits, particularly in cases where cost is paramount, ensuring cost-effective access for internet circuits.


              What is most valuable?

              The most valuable feature is the price because it's highly cost-effective concerning the functionalities provided within the box.


              What needs improvement?

              Improvements could be made in terms of SD-WAN capabilities and zero-touch provisioning.


              For how long have I used the solution?

              We’ve been using the solution for the past nine months.


              What do I think about the stability of the solution?

              The solution is stable.


              What do I think about the scalability of the solution?

              The solution is scalable. We have two customers using the solution.


              Which solution did I use previously and why did I switch?

              We opt for Fortinet in complex scenarios due to its SD-WAN and additional features, but for simpler cases, MikroTik Routers and Switches are preferred due to their significantly lower cost.


              How was the initial setup?

              The initial setup is straightforward. It can be executed within a couple of hours. Only one technical person was required to carry out the task.


              What's my experience with pricing, setup cost, and licensing?

              The pricing of the solution is significantly lower than other solutions. There are no additional costs involved.


              What other advice do I have?

              I would recommend the solution because it provides value for money.


              Which deployment model are you using for this solution?

              On-premises
              Disclosure: My company has a business relationship with this vendor other than being a customer: Integrator

              PeerSpot user
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                Consultant and technical support at joudeh center for computer and modern software
                Real User
                Top 5Leaderboard
                Although we received the product with no licensing costs, it needs to improve its stability
                Pros and Cons
                • "I have seen a return on investment since we didn't have to pay a licensing fee."
                • "I don't like the product's performance."

                What is our primary use case?

                We use MikroTik's fiber router for Internet access.

                What needs improvement?

                I don't like the product's performance. Sometimes, it disconnects my network. Sometimes, when browsing or downloading something, the download rate comes down to zero. I have to use a VPN to check my right to use the Internet. The telecommunication company using MikroTik to control this does not give me satisfaction. I would like to see the product improve its buffering time.

                For how long have I used the solution?

                I've used their products for three to four years.

                What do I think about the stability of the solution?

                MikroTik should improve the stability of their products.

                What do I think about the scalability of the solution?

                With scalability, from time to time, I need to replace routers. Thirty to 50 users are using the product.

                Which solution did I use previously and why did I switch?

                We used Cisco previously. We switched to MikroTik because it was made compulsory by our telecommunication company. I, however, do not recommend it to be used by internet service providers.

                How was the initial setup?

                The initial setup is not easy. It took one hour to set up. You cannot set up the product remotely. You have to go to the location. Some ports might be closed. You have to set up the product at the location first and then make some rules to get the connection. After that, you must set up the security, which takes time.

                We need two or three technical staff members to deploy and maintain the product. Sometimes more. One administrator, one engineer, and one or two developers.

                What was our ROI?

                I have seen a return on investment since we didn't have to pay a licensing fee.

                What's my experience with pricing, setup cost, and licensing?

                MikroTik makes some policies so we can get it for free. And if you disconnect the service from the telecommunication company, MikroTik asks you to pay a higher price. It's free at the start, but you will pay more and more if you don't like it.

                What other advice do I have?

                I rate MikroTik routers and switches a seven out of ten. We can't use all the product features due to telecommunications laws in my country.

                Disclosure: I am a real user, and this review is based on my own experience and opinions.

                PeerSpot user
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