Aruba Instant vs WatchGuard Secure Wi‑Fi comparison

Hewlett Packard Enterprise and WatchGuard are both solutions in the Wireless LAN category. Hewlett Packard Enterprise is ranked #11 with an average rating of 8.4, while WatchGuard is ranked #24 with an average rating of 7.0. Hewlett Packard Enterprise holds a 2.0% mindshare in Wireless LAN, compared to WatchGuard’s 0.4% mindshare. Additionally, 97% of Hewlett Packard Enterprise users are willing to recommend the solution, compared to 83% of WatchGuard users who would recommend it.

Aruba Instant

Read 51 Aruba Instant reviews

2,729 Views
2,098 Comparison Views

97% willing to recommend

WatchGuard Secure Wi‑Fi

Read 7 WatchGuard Secure Wi‑Fi reviews

531 Views
431 Comparison Views

83% willing to recommend

Aruba Instant

WatchGuard Secure Wi‑Fi

Comparison Buyer's Guide

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Executive SummaryUpdated on Oct 31, 2024

Aruba Instant and WatchGuard Secure Wi-Fi are contenders in the wireless networking sector. WatchGuard Secure Wi-Fi takes the lead thanks to its comprehensive security features, even though Aruba Instant is more attractive in terms of pricing.

Features: Aruba Instant provides seamless scalability, intuitive management through a centralized platform, and advanced AI-driven security capabilities. It is well-suited for small to medium businesses seeking efficient network management. WatchGuard Secure Wi-Fi delivers superior security with advanced threat detection, robust cloud-managed controls, and exceptional features catering to enterprises focused on security.

Room for Improvement: Aruba Instant could enhance its feature set to match enterprise-grade security expectations and improve customization options for large deployments. WatchGuard Secure Wi-Fi could simplify its initial deployment process, refine user interface for ease of use, and enhance integration with third-party tools for broader application.

Ease of Deployment and Customer Service: Aruba Instant offers hassle-free setup and prompt customer support, allowing businesses to quickly adapt. However, WatchGuard Secure Wi-Fi, despite being slightly more complex to deploy, offers extensive documentation and training resources that support its feature-rich environment.

Pricing and ROI: Aruba Instant stands out with competitive setup costs and promising ROI due to its cost-effective structure. WatchGuard Secure Wi-Fi requires a higher initial investment but is justified by long-term reliability and enhanced security features, appealing to security-focused businesses that seek higher value ROI.

To learn more, read our detailed Aruba Instant vs. WatchGuard Secure Wi‑Fi Report (Updated: March 2025).

Buyer's Guide

Aruba Instant vs. WatchGuard Secure Wi‑Fi

March 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

Ranking in Wireless LAN

11th

Average Rating

8.6

Reviews Sentiment

6.4

Number of Reviews

Ranking in other categories

No ranking in other categories

WatchGuard Secure Wi‑Fi

Ranking in Wireless LAN

24th

Average Rating

7.8

Reviews Sentiment

6.4

Number of Reviews

Ranking in other categories

No ranking in other categories

Mindshare comparison

As of April 2025, in the Wireless LAN category, the mindshare of Aruba Instant is 2.0%, down from 2.2% compared to the previous year. The mindshare of WatchGuard Secure Wi‑Fi is 0.4%, down from 0.4% compared to the previous year. It is calculated based on PeerSpot user engagement data.

Wireless LAN

Featured Reviews

Prashant-Patel

Senior Presales Consultant - Networking Solutions at Mannai

A highly stable and easy-to-deploy solution that is free and provides excellent deployment guides

The setup is very straightforward. There is no complexity at all. It took us 15 minutes. We need IP address details, DNS, a gateway, DHCP servers, and SSIDs. Single access points can act as controller-based, controller-less, and cloud-based solutions. That is the beauty of Aruba. If I have an on-premise solution and want to move to the cloud, I don't need separate hardware. The same hardware can be utilized in the cloud. The deployment guides that we get from Aruba are excellent. We have every piece of detail.

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WarrenWilliams

Senior Account Manager at Bralin Technology Solutions

A solution that offers excellent support and makes it easy to manage networks

To utilize the solution properly, you need some training and guidance on that. Getting it working is easy, but if you're going to use it with feature sets that make WatchGuard worthwhile to use, it's probably not the easiest to set up. I'd rate the initial setup a seven out of ten. The time taken to deploy the solution depends on the project scope you're doing. Do you need ten WiFi access points or one? You could deploy the solution in an hour. We need one person to deploy the solution. But the number of people required for deployment depends on where the access points are deployed. Like, if it's the ceiling or whatever. The way we do it, we usually have an on-site technician who sets up the backend. We usually have two people when deploying the solution, but you can do it with one person. We have a team that manages the solution. But if you have ten people on a site to manage the solution, 15 minutes daily is enough.

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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

"The simplicity of the dashboard is one of the most valuable features. It's easy to use, and manage and the security features are robust. We can block unauthorized connections and create secure SSIDs."

"The product's initial setup phase was straightforward, considering that the tool offers a ZTP feature."

"The features I have found most valuable is that the solution creates a guest portal for guest networks, and setting up SSID authentication to the regular server."

"What I like best about Aruba Instant is that it serves as a virtual controller, so you don't need to buy other equipment to manage all your access points. I also like that the solution is easy to use."

"The quick setup and automatic code embedded in one access point is really useful."

"I can implement it at small sites, and I can also implement it at mid-sized locations. It is very flexible. It is really nice and useful for customers who have many small sites."

"This is a very solid product. It is very powerful."

"The central management of multiple devices is the solution's most valuable aspect."

More Aruba Instant pros

"The configuration part of WatchGuard is very flexible."

"It makes it easy to obtain all information about the client experience."

"We like that WatchGuard works and integrates directly with the firewalls we use."

"Cloud analytics that provide all its attributes."

"The Wi-Fi security features of this solution have been great for our customers who need to strictly control access to their network."

"They're very easy to set up and get running."

"The solution has been stable."

Cons

"The management component is difficult to understand and not very user-friendly which increases deployment time."

"Aruba Instant does not currently offer a multi-gig switch or product, making it an area that requires improvement. Aruba Instant's competitors have multi-gig switches or products."

"The tool's customer service should improve."

"The product’s GUI must be improved."

"The product can be improved by adding a clear interface."

"I believe there's room for improvement in monitoring, especially when troubleshooting issues. Currently, there's limited intelligence around monitoring. It needs to improve stability and scalability."

"It is not powerful enough and lacks features recommended for larger dimensions, making it unsuitable for big companies with requirements like 100 access points."

"The tool needs to enhance its security features."

More Aruba Instant cons

"The price of this solution needs to reviewed, as it is currently high enough to deter customers from trying it."

"The solution can be scaled but it has limitations from my experience."

"The support response can be time-consuming because sometimes issues are very sensitive and require instant attention."

"If a client device had issues with authentication due to out of date browser or similar difficulties, it would be nice to have the ability to migrate the client onto the portal via one click."

"Inability to import a user with one click."

"I don't think they're available at the best price."

"One of the things is if you buy it with a certain subscription, you can't easily change the subscription level."

Pricing and Cost Advice

"I purchased the hardware and there are no monthly or yearly licenses to buy."

"The licensing cost is somewhere around $20,000."

"In terms of costs, Aruba Instant is cheap because it doesn't require a license, but you'll incur charges for the access points. Access point charges could be more affordable."

"The product is competitively priced"

"The cost was affordable."

"The setup cost varies based on each organization's requirements but it is within reason."

"Avoid the Central cloud license if you can."

"The customers do not have to pay for licensing."

More Aruba Instant pricing and cost advice

"The solution is priced high compared to competitors. However, for the features that are included in the solution, the price becomes more reasonable."

"Your licensing and cost, as would be required for many other solutions, being considered for eighty to two hundred and eighty different physical locations, is just about the same amount per access point."

"WatchGuard is on the upper scale for pricing."

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Top Industries

By visitors reading reviews

Computer Software Company

16%

Comms Service Provider

Financial Services Firm

Manufacturing Company

Computer Software Company

12%

Retailer

11%

Non Profit

10%

Comms Service Provider

10%

Company Size

By reviewers

Large Enterprise

Midsize Enterprise

Small Business

Questions from the Community

Which is better - Ubiquiti WLAN or Aruba Instant?

We researched Ubiquiti and Aruba when looking for a WLAN solution. Ubiquiti offers good WLAN access both indoors and outdoors. It provides an enterprise-level WIFI while remaining cost-effective. U...

See all answers

What do you like most about Aruba Instant?

I find network management features related to monitoring Wi-Fi usage and visited sites particularly valuable. Content filtering is also important to prevent access to malicious or inappropriate web...

See all answers

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

The licensing costs depend on the product. The smaller switch is around one hundred and twenty euros. We do not sell very expensive devices as we move to other products.

See all answers

What do you like most about WatchGuard Secure Wi‑Fi?

We like that WatchGuard works and integrates directly with the firewalls we use.

See all answers

What is your experience regarding pricing and costs for WatchGuard Secure Wi‑Fi?

WatchGuard is on the upper scale for pricing.

See all answers

What needs improvement with WatchGuard Secure Wi‑Fi?

The support response can be time-consuming because sometimes issues are very sensitive and require instant attention. Also, when an incident occurs, the impact can be significantly huge. A recent p...

See all answers

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Compared 11% of the time

ExtremeCloud IQ vs Aruba Instant

Compared 5% of the time

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Compared 40% of the time

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Compared 32% of the time

Aruba Wireless vs WatchGuard Secure Wi‑Fi

Compared 28% of the time

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Product Reports

Buyer's Guide

Aruba Instant

March 2025

Download Aruba Instant product report

Buyer's Guide

WatchGuard Secure Wi‑Fi

March 2025

Download WatchGuard Secure Wi‑Fi product report

Overview

Aruba Instant delivers the only controllerless Wi-Fi solution that is easy to set-up, and loaded with security and smarts needed to accelerate your business without breaking your budget.

Hewlett Packard Enterprise

WatchGuard is a global leader in network security, secure Wi-Fi, and network intelligence products and services for SMBs and Distributed Enterprises worldwide. Our mission is to make enterprise-grade security accessible to companies of all types and sizes through simplicity, making WatchGuard an ideal solution for distributed enterprises and SMBs. WatchGuard is headquartered in Seattle, Washington, with offices throughout North America, Europe, Asia Pacific, and Latin America.

WatchGuard

Sample Customers

Purdue University, Orlando Magic, Brussels Airport Company, Molecaten Holiday Parks

Portsmouth Grammar School, HILOTEC

Buyer's Guide

Aruba Instant vs. WatchGuard Secure Wi‑Fi

March 2025

Free Report: Aruba Instant vs. WatchGuard Secure Wi‑Fi

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