Apstra Operating System vs Cisco DNA Center comparison

Juniper and Cisco are both solutions in the Network Automation category. Juniper is ranked #13, while Cisco is ranked #2 with an average rating of 8.2. Juniper holds a 1.7% mindshare in NA, compared to Cisco’s 12.5% mindshare. Additionally, 100% of Juniper users are willing to recommend the solution, compared to 90% of Cisco users who would recommend it.

Apstra Operating System

Read 1 Apstra Operating System review

329 Views
329 Comparison Views

100% willing to recommend

Cisco DNA Center

Read 43 Cisco DNA Center reviews

7,884 Views
1,577 Comparison Views

90% willing to recommend

Apstra Operating System

Cisco DNA Center

Comparison Buyer's Guide

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Executive Summary

We performed a comparison between Apstra Operating System and Cisco DNA Center based on real PeerSpot user reviews.

Find out what your peers are saying about Red Hat, Cisco, Broadcom and others in Network Automation.

To learn more, read our detailed Network Automation Report (Updated: August 2025).

Buyer's Guide

Network Automation

August 2025

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Helped 868,759 peers since 2012

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

Apstra Operating System

Ranking in Network Automation

13th

Average Rating

8.0

Reviews Sentiment

7.3

Number of Reviews

Ranking in other categories

No ranking in other categories

Cisco DNA Center

Ranking in Network Automation

2nd

Average Rating

8.0

Reviews Sentiment

6.2

Number of Reviews

Ranking in other categories

Network Management Applications (1st), Network Monitoring Software (11th)

Mindshare comparison

As of October 2025, in the Network Automation category, the mindshare of Apstra Operating System is 1.7%, down from 2.5% compared to the previous year. The mindshare of Cisco DNA Center is 12.5%, down from 16.3% compared to the previous year. It is calculated based on PeerSpot user engagement data.

Network Automation Market Share Distribution
Product	Market Share (%)
Cisco DNA Center	12.5%
Apstra Operating System	1.7%
Other	85.8%

Network Automation

Featured Reviews

Hezio Fernandes

Works at wolterskluwer

Highly secure, useful AB test, and stable

I am using Apstra Operating System for some classes and for my personal use Apstra Operating System's most important features are the security and AB test to define what approach we need to take in my company. Additionally, the solution does not take a lot of maintenance. The report data could…

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Ahmed Helmy

Sr. Director, Business Development & Sales Operations at connect professional services

Experience unified visibility and monitoring for enterprise campus and significant time savings and enhanced troubleshooting with reliable support

We have been working with Cisco DNA Center for ten years. Our clients use Cisco DNA Center for unified visibility/monitoring across Enterprise Campus both LAN & WLAN along with Access and fast technical issues troubleshooting The solution provides fast troubleshooting capabilities and fast…

Read full review

Quotes from Members

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

Pros

"Apstra Operating System's most important features are the security and AB test to define what approach we need to take in my company. Additionally, the solution does not take a lot of maintenance."

"The most valuable feature of Cisco DNA Center is the AI (Artificial Intelligence) that provides us with valuable information."

"The solution has the capability to scale."

"What I found valuable in Cisco DNA Center is the Software-Defined Access Network, so the entire LAN network can be centralized and managed from a single dashboard. Cisco DNA Center is suitable for centralized management and lets you deploy switches in a centralized fashion. You can also do multiple switch port configurations simultaneously and segregate your traffic into multiple fabrics. Another valuable feature of Cisco DNA Center is enhanced security through Scalable Group Tags. Cisco DNA Center can be integrated with your Cisco ISE to enhance the port securities, and this paves the way for Software-Defined Networking in the LAN segment, which is the main advantage of Cisco DNA Center. I also like that you can use Cisco DNA Center for data assurance or correlation. The solution shows your network and client health parameters, which I find convenient for troubleshooting."

"The most valuable feature of the solution stems from the fact that it gives some kind of ease in operations, especially since our company is moving from CLI to GUI-based configuration."

"The product offers an intuitive and automated way to manage user networks. It gives me an insight into the network health."

"It offers automation, security enforcement, analytics, and integration with other Cisco technologies, making it a key driver for efficient network operations and compliance with security protocols."

"Application Assurance works very well."

"The monitoring is very valuable to me."

More Cisco DNA Center pros

Cons

"The report data could improve in Apstra Operating System."

"In terms of the clustering part, there are some concerns."

"Integration with analytic tools and API integrations would be ideal."

"The product doesn’t have good monitoring capabilities."

"What could be improved is the licensing cost of Cisco DNA Center. It's a little bit expensive."

"Requires more focus on the digital side of things."

"The weaknesses primarily involve pricing and the ongoing need for increased bandwidth and data throughput."

"There is a limitation with the number of VRFs that you can have in your network, and this has caused us problems with some customers."

"The task failure reporting or provisioning failure reporting could be a little bit better in the UI, with more information given to the user."

More Cisco DNA Center cons

Pricing and Cost Advice

"The price of the solution is competitive."

"The solution is expensive."

"The licensing cost for Cisco DNA Center is not more than that of other solutions."

"It is an expensive solution."

"The tool's licensing may not come across as something that may be friendly for users."

"Licensing for Cisco DNA Center is a little bit expensive, just like any Cisco solution. Its cost could still be improved."

"Affordability is a problem because it's created for large enterprises only. So, some customers, even if their engineers want the solution, might have problems with budget limitations."

"We get a yearly license at the time we buy the product."

"We have a three-year license with them."

More Cisco DNA Center pricing and cost advice

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Top Industries

By visitors reading reviews

Computer Software Company

21%

Financial Services Firm

10%

University

10%

Government

Computer Software Company

14%

Manufacturing Company

11%

Government

Financial Services Firm

Company Size

By reviewers

Large Enterprise

Midsize Enterprise

Small Business

No data available

By reviewers
Company Size	Count
Small Business	10
Midsize Enterprise	9
Large Enterprise	25

Questions from the Community

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What do you like most about Cisco DNA Center?

The most valuable feature of the solution stems from the fact that it gives some kind of ease in operations, especially since our company is moving from CLI to GUI-based configuration.

See all answers

What is your experience regarding pricing and costs for Cisco DNA Center?

After evaluating other solutions, we will provide feedback.

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What needs improvement with Cisco DNA Center?

We have utilized the software-defined access (SDA) feature of Cisco DNA Center. The AI-driven needs enhancements and Integration and unification of visibility and monitoring to include other areas ...

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Comparisons

VMware NSX vs Apstra Operating System

Compared 43% of the time

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Compared 16% of the time

Juniper Mist Wired Assurance vs Cisco DNA Center

Compared 6% of the time

SolarWinds Network Configuration Manager vs Cisco DNA Center

Compared 5% of the time

Cisco Identity Services Engine (ISE) vs Cisco DNA Center

Compared 5% of the time

Fortinet FortiManager vs Cisco DNA Center

Compared 5% of the time

More Cisco DNA Center Competitors

Product Reports

Buyer's Guide

Network Automation

August 2025

Download Apstra Operating System product report

Buyer's Guide

Cisco DNA Center

September 2025

Download Cisco DNA Center product report

Also Known As

Apstra OS, AOS

DNA Center

Overview

The Apstra Operating System (AOS) is a turn-key automation solution that dramatically simplifies the process of designing, deploying and operating data center networks. Apstra AOS provides a singular view into the relationships and interdependencies of millions of data center elements. With real continuous validation, Apstra AOS enables you to instantly pinpoint and quickly resolve issues across all infrastructure silos, regardless of vendor or hardware.

Juniper

Cisco DNA Center offers a comprehensive platform for network automation and management, providing detailed analytics, enhanced security, and streamlined operations for both wired and wireless networks.

Cisco DNA Center integrates with Cisco infrastructure to deliver efficient network automation and management, helping organizations improve network visibility, security, and control. It supports AI-driven analytics and automated workflows to enhance operational efficiency and reduce errors. Challenges include compatibility with third-party systems, steep learning curve, and complex deployment. Its interface facilitates centralized control, vital for troubleshooting, policy management, and configuration management, with support for zero-touch provisioning and SD-Access.

What are the key features of Cisco DNA Center?

Robust Analytics: Provides detailed insights into network health with AI-driven analytics.
Centralized Security: Integrates with ISE for comprehensive security management.
Automated Device Management: Simplifies device provisioning and configuration transfers.
Wi-Fi Analytics: Offers deep insights into wireless network performance.
Zero-Touch Provisioning: Streamlines new device deployments with minimal human intervention.
Scalable Segmentation: Efficiently segments network traffic ensuring security and performance.

What benefits should users consider?

Operational Efficiency: Automation reduces potential errors and streamlines workflow.
Enhanced Security: Integration with Cisco ISE bolsters security capabilities.
Network Visibility: Comprehensive dashboards and analysis tools enhance monitoring.
Troubleshooting: Real-time monitoring aids in identifying and resolving issues swiftly.

In sectors such as healthcare, finance, and retail, Cisco DNA Center is utilized for its ability to enhance security and compliance, manage large-scale networks, and provide detailed analytics for better operational decision-making. Its support for location tracking and policy automation ensures efficient network management across diverse environments.

Cisco

Sample Customers

Bloomberg Television, Energy Corporation, A mid-sized financial services company

Information Not Available

Find out what your peers are saying about Red Hat, Cisco, Broadcom and others in Network Automation. Updated: August 2025.

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