Aruba Instant On Access Points vs Cisco Wireless comparison

Hewlett Packard Enterprise and Cisco are both solutions in the Wireless LAN category. Hewlett Packard Enterprise is ranked #8 with an average rating of 8.6, while Cisco is ranked #3 with an average rating of 8.6. Hewlett Packard Enterprise holds a 0.9% mindshare in Wireless LAN, compared to Cisco’s 11.4% mindshare. Additionally, 96% of Hewlett Packard Enterprise users are willing to recommend the solution, compared to 88% of Cisco users who would recommend it.

Aruba Instant On Access Points

Read 32 Aruba Instant On Access Points reviews

1,825 Views
941 Comparison Views

96% willing to recommend

Cisco Wireless

Read 153 Cisco Wireless reviews

14,290 Views
13,100 Comparison Views

88% willing to recommend

Aruba Instant On Access Points

Cisco Wireless

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Executive SummaryUpdated on Mar 9, 2025

Cisco Wireless and Aruba Instant On Access Points compete in the wireless networking category. Based on the feature set and scalability, Cisco seems to have the upper hand for large enterprises, while Aruba provides a cost-effective solution for smaller organizations that prioritize ease of use.

Features: Cisco Wireless offers advanced security features, seamless roaming, and centralized management, highlighted by technologies like Cisco CleanAir and DNA which optimize signal reliability. Aruba Instant On Access Points are known for their simplicity, with features focusing on ease of management through cloud integration, an ideal choice for small to medium-sized enterprises.

Room for Improvement: Cisco Wireless needs to address its high costs, complex licensing, and improve the user interface of their technical support. Aruba could enhance its product by expanding scalability, improving tool integration, and implementing AI-driven analytics for better performance insights.

Ease of Deployment and Customer Service: Cisco Wireless is known for on-premises deployment, often requiring experienced personnel due to its complexity. Customer service, while professional, has varying responsiveness. Alternatively, Aruba Instant On provides both on-premises and cloud options, praised for straightforward deployment and efficient technical support, making it attractive for users valuing simplicity.

Pricing and ROI: Cisco Wireless is often deemed expensive with significant upfront and licensing fees but offers solid ROI through its durability and features. In contrast, Aruba Instant On Access Points are more affordable, free from licensing costs, and offer fast ROI, making them appealing to budget-conscious buyers through competitive initial pricing.

To learn more, read our detailed Aruba Instant On Access Points vs. Cisco Wireless Report (Updated: April 2025).

Buyer's Guide

Aruba Instant On Access Points vs. Cisco Wireless

April 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

Aruba Instant On Access Points

Ranking in Wireless LAN

8th

Average Rating

8.6

Reviews Sentiment

6.5

Number of Reviews

Ranking in other categories

No ranking in other categories

Cisco Wireless

Ranking in Wireless LAN

3rd

Average Rating

8.2

Reviews Sentiment

6.5

Number of Reviews

153

Ranking in other categories

No ranking in other categories

Mindshare comparison

As of May 2025, in the Wireless LAN category, the mindshare of Aruba Instant On Access Points is 0.9%, down from 1.0% compared to the previous year. The mindshare of Cisco Wireless is 11.4%, down from 14.9% compared to the previous year. It is calculated based on PeerSpot user engagement data.

Wireless LAN

Featured Reviews

Ricardo Quintero

Infrastructure/Telcom Coordinator at Schnellecke Group AG & Co. KG

Affordable and offers an easy setup phase

I was working on the on-premises solutions, like IronNet, Aironet, and some other tools from Cisco, but not with Meraki. The last Aironet model that we have here in Mexico, in the corporate office, and in some of the other regions of Mexico is Cisco Aironet 3700 and Cisco Aironet 3800, so it is just two or three devices. Aruba Instant On Access Points was working with Aruba 2540 and Cisco 3850 In Cisco, I found some issues. I was working well with a vendor. I was working with Cisco Catalyst 9200 and Cisco Catalyst 9300, along with Cisco Catalyst 2916M XL Switch. With all devices, we got a report. During the immigration, we choose another vendor, which Aruba. We have some issues with Aruba Instant On Access Points in iOS that are targeting the devices, and I have seen some problems with the DHCP solution.

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GulfrazAhmad

Division Head Enterprise Infrastructure (SVP) at a financial services firm with 10,001+ employees

Integrates with ISE, and is secure, reliable, and easy to deploy

The main concern is the length and overlapping. We have to put on four to six access points on the same floor, and we face the issue of overlapping areas. If Cisco can extend the range of their indoor APs, we would need to install just one or two access points, and it would eliminate the problem of the overlapping area. They should provide built-in features for safe authentication. Right now, we integrate with ISE and FortiClient for this feature. We first check the NAC, and after the NAC and before the domain, a token password installed on their mobile or a physical token is required to join the network. If Cisco had built-in authentication, we would be able to eliminate one product from our network.

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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

"I would rate the stability of this solution a ten out of ten."

"Configuring everything in the cloud with Aruba Central and having all the devices be independent of a centralized controller has made it simple to deploy."

"The product's initial setup phase is too easy."

"The virtual Controller feature is valuable."

"The mobile app is good. We have many things that are connected through mobile. Most users use mobile to connect to the Wi-Fi."

"The most valuable feature of Aruba Instant On Access Points is they are easy to manage."

"I would recommend Aruba Instant On Access Points to others."

"When an error or alert happens, I receive it in the application. I do not have to be there to know if something is wrong."

More Aruba Instant On Access Points pros

"Our environment has many devices constantly moving within our environment—approximately 3,000 devices daily, many of which change locations every 45 minutes. Therefore, the tool's seamless handoff is valuable for us. It's one of the reasons we have stayed with the product."

"The solution is very good at supporting IoT applications."

"The ability to deploy wireless access points with templates."

"The stability of the solution is good."

"The feature that I have found most valuable is its durability because we can rely on this solution. It is also easy to configure. Lastly, if something happens, we get good support from Cisco."

"The speed and security are most valuable."

"The product offers educational licenses that are priced very reasonably."

"Cisco is one of the leading brands, particularly in the commercial sector. Other brands such as Extreme, cater to different categories at lower levels. Cisco maintains a comprehensive product range across all levels and excels in comparison to other networking sites. They also boast a team of highly qualified professionals, a feature that sets them apart from competitors like Netgear, which lacks such expertise."

More Cisco Wireless pros

Cons

"When there are a lot of people connected, especially during video streaming demonstrations, the connection can get a bit choppy."

"With Aruba, the documentation on the website is not too easy to use, and some information is not found."

"Stability largely depends on how access points are installed and managed. While Aruba cannot entirely ensure connection reliability, the deployment approach can minimize wireless link downtime."

"It is suitable for smaller organizations, but it may not be the best choice for large enterprises."

"The security aspect needs improvement."

"The solution's range could be better."

"The Unifi Controller is slower compared to other options like Aruba."

"Improvement as per customer requirements."

More Aruba Instant On Access Points cons

"I would like to see less dependency on other products such as ISE and Prime for certain implementations."

"The main concern is the length and overlapping. We have to put on four to six access points on the same floor, and we face the issue of overlapping areas. If Cisco can extend the range of their indoor APs, we would need to install just one or two access points, and it would eliminate the problem of the overlapping area."

"Cisco's architecture is becoming complex."

"The solution's pricing should be improved."

"An expensive solution that small companies cannot afford."

"And from an administration point of view, it is a very tedious job to check on each and every control. We have around 30 or 40 controls in our network."

"Cisco Wireless does not have a dashboard that would make it easier for people to manage the solution, such as Cisco Meraki where you are able to monitor the network through the dashboard and everything is visible making it easier."

"In the future, I would like to have Cisco add video documentation on configuring and overall learning of how to use the solutions. For example, in such areas as, security, authentication, and load balancing."

More Cisco Wireless cons

Pricing and Cost Advice

"You buy it for $165 an AP, which is what we paid."

"The product's price falls on the cheaper end of the spectrum. The price of the product is one of the biggest benefits that it offers."

"The price of Aruba Instant On Access Points is reasonable. They are competitively priced. I've even used it in my home at one time because of the low price."

"It's a cost-effective solution."

"Its price is fair. It is not really cheap, and it is also not expensive. It is in the middle."

"I would rate the solution's pricing an eight out of ten."

"It is competitively priced. It was at a price point that made sense for me to put in my home, and that says something. The cost of the solution includes everything we need to manage and upgrade our Wi-Fi network, including the mobile management app. Having the licensing and all the functionality built into the base price of the product is really important for me. There are no extra costs for the security feature or automatic software/firmware updates, which is really important to me."

"Aruba Instant On Access Points are license-free. It's a very good and cheap solution for wireless networks. It can be compared with solutions from Ubiquiti and TP-Link, but it is in a different class. Aruba Instant On Access Points are cheaper than those from Cisco, Ruckus, and Motorola. It's perhaps the cheapest one. They do not use licenses, so it is a solution from the box. You don't need to pay extra money or deal with hidden payments."

More Aruba Instant On Access Points pricing and cost advice

"However, when you integrate the access point and the controller with the DNAT across multiple sites, you need a DNAT cluster, which is a costly solution. Every site has a controller, and a DNAT cluster is not a good option in a global framework. It's okay for a small office or a few offices. But when you're talking about 500 offices, the cost becomes enormous."

"This product's pricing is good. It's not too expensive."

"They have simplified the licensing, now there is a single license that is required. Earlier, multiple licenses were required. Single licensing is good. As a customer, I don't need to keep an inventory of multiple licenses."

"The solution does not come with a licensing fee."

"The price for this product is a little bit high, which is why I am not using the most recent version."

"It's expensive. The pricing is an obstacle."

"There are no subscription fees."

"There are annual subscriptions to use this solution. I have not been able to understand the licensing of Cisco. Some of the Cisco executives were not able to understand them either. When you first start out the price is zero but when it comes to a time of renewal you have to pay."

More Cisco Wireless pricing and cost advice

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Comparison Review

it_user212721

President at a tech services company with 51-200 employees

Mar 24, 2015

Cisco vs. Aruba Wireless Solutions

Cisco or Aruba Networks? If you are considering wireless access solutions, this is a common question that you are probably asking. You probably have sales people knocking at your door. How do you make sense of all the stories that you are presented with. If you have done any research, you are…

Read full review

Top Industries

By visitors reading reviews

Educational Organization

55%

Computer Software Company

Manufacturing Company

Construction Company

Computer Software Company

16%

Manufacturing Company

Financial Services Firm

University

Company Size

By reviewers

Large Enterprise

Midsize Enterprise

Small Business

Questions from the Community

What do you like most about Aruba Instant On Access Points?

It's really easy to set up. And, you don't have to pay for the cloud solution. That's really interesting for our clients. And the other thing is, the roaming is also quite good.

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What is your experience regarding pricing and costs for Aruba Instant On Access Points?

The cost of Aruba Instant On Access Points is reasonable; however, I do not have information on the exact pricing, such as cost per user or annual license fees.

See all answers

What needs improvement with Aruba Instant On Access Points?

We can improve Aruba Instant On Access Points by tuning some of the parameters of the radio. The default configuration can be overridden to enhance performance beyond the default settings.

See all answers

Which is better - Cisco Wireless or Cisco Meraki Wireless LAN?

Cisco Wireless is very robust, very rugged, and can handle indoor and outdoor coverage extremely well. We found it to be very reliable and to consistently run very efficiently. Cisco Wireless helpe...

See all answers

Which is better - Ruckus Wireless or Cisco Wireless?

Ruckus Wireless offers users the benefit of being both easy to set up and get running as well as being very user friendly. This user-friendly quality also renders it easy to learn how to use and ma...

See all answers

How does Cisco Wireless compare with Aruba Wireless?

On the most basic level, Cisco Wireless can offer a rather straightforward initial setup. In the span of about three hours, the basic framework can be set up. Step-by-step instructions are availabl...

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Comparisons

Fortinet FortiAP vs Aruba Instant On Access Points

Compared 16% of the time

Cambium Networks Wireless LAN vs Aruba Instant On Access Points

Compared 14% of the time

Omada Access Points vs Aruba Instant On Access Points

Compared 13% of the time

Aruba Instant vs Aruba Instant On Access Points

Compared 11% of the time

NETGEAR Insight Access Points vs Aruba Instant On Access Points

Compared 6% of the time

More Aruba Instant On Access Points Competitors

Aruba Wireless vs Cisco Wireless

Compared 28% of the time

Ruckus Wireless vs Cisco Wireless

Compared 27% of the time

Huawei Wireless vs Cisco Wireless

Compared 8% of the time

Fortinet FortiAP vs Cisco Wireless

Compared 7% of the time

Cisco Meraki Wireless LAN vs Cisco Wireless

Compared 6% of the time

More Cisco Wireless Competitors

Product Reports

Buyer's Guide

Aruba Instant On Access Points

May 2025

Download Aruba Instant On Access Points product report

Buyer's Guide

Cisco Wireless

May 2025

Download Cisco Wireless product report

Also Known As

No data available

Cisco WLAN Controller

Overview

Ingredients for success.

Fast 802.11ac Wave 2, secure employee and guest access, easy-to-use web, and mobile app management.

Say yes to secure Wi-Fi access.

Pre-built access control lists (ACLs) and built-in firewall in the access points prevent malicious traffic from entering your network – we call it “hassle-free” security.

Never drop an important call.

With Instant On, voice and video business applications are automatically prioritized, so you stay connected with your peers.

Hewlett Packard Enterprise

Cisco Wireless is a comprehensive suite of wireless solutions designed to deliver secure, high-performance connectivity for enterprises of all sizes. Offering a range of access points, controllers, and advanced management tools, Cisco Wireless ensures seamless and reliable network access, enhancing mobility and productivity.

Cisco Wireless solutions provide robust, scalable wireless networks capable of supporting high-density environments and diverse applications. With features such as seamless roaming, advanced security protocols, and detailed analytics, Cisco Wireless addresses the needs of modern businesses. The solutions include the Cisco Catalyst and Aironet series access points, wireless LAN controllers, and the Cisco DNA Center for centralized management and automation.

What are the key features of Cisco Wireless?

High-Density Performance: Optimized for environments with a high number of devices, ensuring reliable connectivity and performance.
Advanced Security: Incorporates robust security measures such as WPA3, Secure Boot, and segmentation to protect data and devices.
Seamless Roaming: Enables uninterrupted connectivity as users move across different areas within the network.
Centralized Management: Cisco DNA Center provides a single pane of glass for managing and automating wireless networks, enhancing operational efficiency.
Flexible Deployment Options: Supports various deployment models, including on-premises, cloud-managed, and hybrid solutions.

What benefits should users look for in reviews when evaluating Cisco Wireless?

Improved Mobility and Productivity: Users often highlight how Cisco Wireless enhances user mobility and productivity through reliable and consistent connectivity.
Scalability: Reviews frequently mention the scalability of Cisco Wireless, making it suitable for growing businesses.
Ease of Management: Many users appreciate the centralized management capabilities, which simplify network administration and troubleshooting.
Enhanced Security: The advanced security features are often noted for providing peace of mind and compliance with industry standards.
User Experience: The overall user experience, including ease of use and seamless integration with other Cisco products, is a common point of praise.

Cisco Wireless solutions are implemented across various industries, including healthcare, education, retail, and manufacturing. In healthcare, they support critical applications like patient monitoring and electronic health records. Educational institutions use Cisco Wireless to provide reliable internet access for students and staff. Retailers benefit from enhanced customer experiences through in-store connectivity, while manufacturers use wireless networks to improve operational efficiency and automation.

Pricing and licensing for Cisco Wireless solutions are typically based on the scale of deployment and specific product selections. Cisco offers various support plans, including 24/7 customer service, technical support, and access to software updates and patches.

In summary, Cisco Wireless provides robust, scalable wireless networking solutions that enhance connectivity, security, and management for diverse enterprise environments.

Cisco

Sample Customers

Information Not Available

Aegean Motorway, Baylor Scott & White Health, Beachbody, Bellevue, Brunel University London, Bucks County Intermediate Unit , Chartwell School, Children's Hospital Colorado, Cisco Live Milan, City of Biel, City of Mississauga, Dundee Precious Metals, Electricity Authority of Cyprus, Erickson Living, Goldcorp, Great Ormond Street Hospital, Grupo Industrial Saltillo (GIS)

Buyer's Guide

Aruba Instant On Access Points vs. Cisco Wireless

April 2025

Free Report: Aruba Instant On Access Points vs. Cisco Wireless

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