Aruba Wireless vs Ubiquiti UniFi comparison

The compared Hewlett Packard Enterprise and Ubiquiti solutions aren't in the same category. Hewlett Packard Enterprise is ranked #1 in Wireless LAN , with an average rating of 8.5, and holds a 13.9% mindshare in the category. Ubiquiti is ranked #1 in WFHS , with an average rating of 8.0, and holds a 31.8% mindshare. Additionally, 87% of Hewlett Packard Enterprise users are willing to recommend the solution, compared to 90% of Ubiquiti users who would recommend it.

Aruba Wireless

Read 150 Aruba Wireless reviews

14,632 Views
13,315 Comparison Views

87% willing to recommend

Ubiquiti UniFi

Read 12 Ubiquiti UniFi reviews

1,150 Views
219 Comparison Views

90% willing to recommend

Aruba Wireless

Ubiquiti UniFi

Comparison Buyer's Guide

Download the report

Executive Summary

We performed a comparison between Aruba Wireless and Ubiquiti UniFi based on real PeerSpot user reviews.

Find out what your peers are saying about Hewlett Packard Enterprise, Ruckus, Cisco and others in Wireless LAN.

To learn more, read our detailed Wireless LAN Report (Updated: January 2026).

Buyer's Guide

Wireless LAN

January 2026

Download the complete report

Helped 881,082 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

Aruba Wireless

Average Rating

8.4

Reviews Sentiment

6.8

Number of Reviews

150

Ranking in other categories

Wireless LAN (1st)

Ubiquiti UniFi

Average Rating

8.2

Reviews Sentiment

7.6

Number of Reviews

Ranking in other categories

Wi-Fi Hotspot Software (1st)

Mindshare comparison

While both are Enterprise Networking solutions, they serve different purposes. Aruba Wireless is designed for Wireless LAN and holds a mindshare of 13.9%, down 19.1% compared to last year.
Ubiquiti UniFi, on the other hand, focuses on Wi-Fi Hotspot Software, holds 31.8% mindshare, up 29.2% since last year.

Wireless LAN Market Share Distribution
Product	Market Share (%)
Aruba Wireless	13.9%
Ruckus Wireless	12.8%
Cisco Meraki Wireless LAN	10.5%
Other	62.8%

Wireless LAN

Wi-Fi Hotspot Software Market Share Distribution
Product	Market Share (%)
Ubiquiti UniFi	31.8%
Purple WiFi	30.4%
Guest Internet Solutions	26.4%
Other	11.400000000000006%

Wi-Fi Hotspot Software

Featured Reviews

Uma B.M

IT Infra Deputy Vice President at ESFB

Strong performance supports network team effectively but guest access compatibility needs improvement

We connect the network using Aruba Wireless. We connect our office network, and we use it primarily within our network team Aruba Wireless has many features, especially their state-of-the-art controller, which can be connected to the cloud. They also have an unlimited lifetime warranty, which is…

Read full review

VolodymyrKhorenzhyi

Network Engineer at SkyFall

Wireless network has reduced costs for enterprise sites but now needs better troubleshooting tools

The major issue I see is connected with troubleshooting, which is my main concern. Troubleshooting capabilities are limited, and some advanced features are missing. For example, enterprise Wi-Fi solutions include features that help administrators handle many sleeping devices that are connected but doing nothing while still utilizing airtime. As more of these devices connect, the harder it becomes for active devices using the Wi-Fi, which impacts their performance. More expensive solutions provide functionality to handle this, but Ubiquiti UniFi does not. I do not use the real-time statistics feature, so it does not help with my network monitoring. While the solution is scalable, I have about 30 sites in my enterprise, and it is difficult to quickly locate which site a particular device is connected to. Ubiquiti UniFi cannot answer this question efficiently, and I have to switch between network sites one by one to find the device. I do use guest management and client isolation, though I do not use hotspot features because my enterprise does not need them. The impact of Ubiquiti UniFi VLAN setup on my network traffic management is straightforward and simple. Access points work in bridge mode, not in tunnel mode, which the system does not support. I configure a trunk port for every port where the Wi-Fi access point is connected and that is all. From a technical standpoint, Aruba, Fortinet, and Juniper are higher in capability because they operate at a different level that I cannot compare. Some advanced features are missing, particularly handling sleeping devices. This is the most critical example because managing 50 connected devices where 45 are doing nothing and just utilizing airtime is complicated. I want to handle this in some way, and Ubiquiti UniFi does not support this feature or help in any manner.

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

"It has an aesthetically pleasing GUI for configuration."

"Support for both on-premises and cloud environments has proven effective for network management."

"Aruba is easier than Juniper."

"The product improved overall scalability and simplicity in configuring and replacing. The use of an Aruba Controller to configure multiple APs was game-changing."

"The most valuable feature is the client match."

"Aruba Central."

"The virtual controller has options for updating and remotely restarting any AP from one controller panel."

"Aruba is an industry leader. The hardware is on par, and its performance is also on par with anybody else. The Aruba brand really only focuses on wireless, so they're not competing their R&D for switching data center products and cloud security. They're really focused on that and their underlying key pieces. They provide a role-based authentication that is native to the controller. A lot of other systems don't do that. They won't provide you the ability to basically have everybody join the network, regardless of whether or not they share the same network space, the SSID, or the wireless LAN. You can segment it down to a specific user role based on any kind of attributes that you like. That's their differentiator. If you need per user, per device, or per port segmentation, you can get that with Aruba. There isn't another vendor who does it."

More Aruba Wireless pros

"Overall, the suite of tools is quite useful."

"Functionality of the cloud key in terms of monitoring and managing the environment."

"I like the centralized management console, where we can add all of the devices to the Unifi controller and then management them from a single point."

"The most valuable features are its easy access, the controller, and constant updates."

"The level of reporting offered by the controller, when used with other Ubiquiti equipment, has been invaluable."

"The cloud management has revolutionized the way we provide services to clients, onsite trips have almost ceased and once complicated changes are made in minutes."

"The most valuable feature of this solution is how it is centralized."

"Firmware can be pushed or manually updated."

Cons

"I would like to be able to customize Captive Portals."

"They should have more support for implementing Aruba Wireless in Smart Cities and outdoor applications."

"I had some problems with Wi-Fi coverage in the workshop, which required purchasing more devices."

"We are not facing any difficulty in convincing customers to have Aruba Wireless, and there are no specific features that customers are particularly looking for in wireless."

"They need to increase the number of routers on the controller."

"We would like to declare a specific number of devices that an employee or a user can use to access their Wi-Fi."

"One area for improvement in Aruba Wireless is its dashboard or interface because in some cases, it's not as easy to use as it should be, but overall, it's okay. Pricing for the product is also on the higher side. Another area for improvement in Aruba Wireless is technical support because it's hard to reach when issues arise and the speed of answer could be faster. Other areas for improvement in the product include integration and configuration."

"Customer service really needs to be improved. If the customer support was better, I would recommend it to others more than I do now. Considering that you have to pay yearly for support, I expect a higher level of support."

More Aruba Wireless cons

"Integrate NanoBeams into the Controller Software."

"A more powerful heatmapping application in the controller would assist in more reliable WiFi modeling."

"Better pre-purchase docs, as I have to contact support via chat for some things that should already be in documents."

"Setting up IP generation for something like guest access is pretty confusing and should be improved."

"They provide support via Chat ONLY, and moreover, they are not very knowledgeable."

"Software interfaces could be improved and there is a lack of documentation."

"If I could manage the W-LAN or other items without a UniFi switch, that would be very helpful. I have not tried, but I think some options are tied to the hardware, like the Ubiquiti switch."

"Documentation could be improved, especially regarding known issues or new features. It relies heavily on the user community to provide support and info. There is a vast user group with support groups on both the dedicated forums as well as most social media platforms."

More Ubiquiti UniFi cons

Pricing and Cost Advice

"We will be buying the ClearPass solution, which will be pricey. However, in the trial version, it has even more tools to manage a busy network."

"The system was very good, but we needed to upgrade in order to adapt for our needs, and doing so with Aruba would have been more expensive. "

"The price of Aruba Wireless is fairly reasonable. It was within our budget."

"Get multiple bids/quotes, and talk to the representatives about the limitations of the product; pretty standard."

"Aruba Wireless is very attractive cost-wise."

"My main concern about this product is the price. The cost is causing me to look at other vendors and competing products."

"We have some licenses for the solution, and we need not renew licenses. But we need to pay a hundred thousand if you want to renew our subscription and renew the hardware."

"Partner had been using Cisco. They switched to Aruba, because of price and functionality, also with an option for adding a SW, like AirWave, Meridian, ClearPass, and Central."

More Aruba Wireless pricing and cost advice

Information not available

See which vendors are best for you

Use our free recommendation engine to learn which Wireless LAN solutions are best for your needs.

See recommendations

881,082 professionals have used our research since 2012.

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

Answers from the Community

Vinny Govender

Technical Applications Specialist at bioMérieux

Jul 26, 2022

What is the best high-performance Wireless LAN device?

1 Ruckus 2 Aruba 3 Cambium It depends on your enviroment. Greetings

2 out of 9 answers

Abdu Hafeez

IT Admin at a educational organization with 51-200 employees

Nov 15, 2021

Hi, You can purchase WiFi access points from any of the above vendors. But it must be a commercial access point as in AP a few connect to the limited devices and a few can connect large devices with a single AP. It will totally depend on your work environment and access point signals covering the area. In the hall, AP can cover a large area but there is a concrete wall between two rooms or a corridor then it can down the signal to 50 DBM. So, when deciding on a WIFI/AP keep all these things in mind.

Read full answer

Ender Kefoglu

Partner / Owner at Bimel Elektronik Mamuller Paz. Ltd.

Nov 15, 2021

If you want high performance and stability, you should definitely go with Ruckus Wireless. Ruckus Wireless APs have: - Adaptive antenna technology (called BeamFlex) This technology analyzes different paths to reach the client and electronically turns itself to a directional antenna, choosing the path that gives the best performance to reach each specific client. If the client is mobile or if the environment changes (such as a warehouse) the selection of paths/direction also changes instantly. Transmitting in a directional way allows a good Signal-to-Noise Ratio and also causes less interference for other nearby APs outside the path of the directional transmission. - ChannelFly technology This technology chooses the best channel based on performance rather than background scanning for noise. - Polarization Diversity This technology allows the clients not to lose signal strength when held at different angles (important for mobile devices such as tablets and telephones). - Better receive sensitivity compared to the competitors All these features make Ruckus Wireless a better choice than any other competitor (better performance, better coverage area, more stable and surprise-free communication especially in not so easy conditions such as noise, too many clients, too much traffic).

Read full answer

See all 9 answers

Top Industries

By visitors reading reviews

No data available

Comms Service Provider

15%

Computer Software Company

12%

Educational Organization

University

Company Size

By reviewers

Large Enterprise

Midsize Enterprise

Small Business

By reviewers
Company Size	Count
Small Business	77
Midsize Enterprise	47
Large Enterprise	74

By reviewers
Company Size	Count
Small Business	8
Midsize Enterprise	1
Large Enterprise	1

Questions from the Community

What are pros and cons of Aruba 515 Series AP vs. Cisco Meraki or Extreme Networks?

Depends. I have personally used both Cisco and Aruba so I am familiar with them. Extreme I am not, so unless they have some feature that I need or want, I wouldn't consider them. Do you have expe...

See all answers

Aruba Wireless or Ruckus Wireless?

At my organization, we researched Ruckus Wireless among other solutions but ultimately chose Aruba wireless. What did we like about Ruckus? First, it was very easy to use, and anybody with minimal...

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...

See all answers

What needs improvement with Ubiquiti UniFi?

You pay more upfront for Ubiquiti UniFi, but you don't receive substantial support, which is problematic. They previously provided setup support but discontinued this service, though you save money...

See all answers

What is your primary use case for Ubiquiti UniFi?

I am using Ubiquiti UniFi exclusively for their video system, as I removed their wireless components. I utilize UniFi Protect, which is their video solution. They offer video cameras, Wi-Fi, and sw...

See all answers

What advice do you have for others considering Ubiquiti UniFi?

I deploy Ubiquiti UniFi products on-premise only, not with any cloud service. When I purchase Ubiquiti UniFi products, I don't waste time looking for a reseller; I directly search and buy from Amaz...

See all answers

Comparisons

Cisco Meraki Wireless LAN vs Aruba Wireless

Compared 25% of the time

Ruckus Wireless vs Aruba Wireless

Compared 15% of the time

Cisco Wireless vs Aruba Wireless

Compared 14% of the time

Juniper Mist Wireless Access Points vs Aruba Wireless

Compared 7% of the time

Ubiquiti Wireless vs Aruba Wireless

Compared 4% of the time

More Aruba Wireless Competitors

Purple WiFi vs Ubiquiti UniFi

Compared 15% of the time

Guest Internet Solutions vs Ubiquiti UniFi

Compared 9% of the time

More Ubiquiti UniFi Competitors

Product Reports

Buyer's Guide

Aruba Wireless

January 2026

Download Aruba Wireless product report

Buyer's Guide

Ubiquiti UniFi

January 2026

Download Ubiquiti UniFi product report

Also Known As

Aruba WLAN, HP WLAN, HP Wireless, Aruba Instant On AP Series Access Point

UniFi

Overview

Aruba Wireless is a secure, high-performance, multi-user wireless LAN supporting Wi-Fi 6. As workplaces and user expectations change, users can now maintain hybrid workplaces and IoT without compromising performance, reliability, or security. Aruba Wireless delivers better performance and capacity and greater AIOps visibility throughout all devices and users. In addition, through built-in network intelligence, network operations are made simpler while keeping everything secure through user and guest encryption.

Aruba Wireless, offered through Aruba Networks, is helping achieve digital transformation and IoT with seamless connectivity through multiple Wi-Fi access points. For the user’s convenience, Aruba Wireless provides indoor, outdoor, and remote access points to help boost faster and safer connectivity.

Choosing Aruba Wireless can help improve your organization’s user experience with wireless LAN in many ways, including:

Transforming hybrid workplaces: Employees can move seamlessly between home and office, with reliable internet and without compromising security.
Connect and protect IoT: With built-in AP support for BLE, Zigbee, and USB-port extensions, users can extend visibility, control, and connectivity to IoT devices and applications.
Expand the 5G experience to the enterprise network: Empower users to experience 5G with Wi-Fi 6 by automatically enabling cellular devices to join Aruba Wireless LAN securely and reliably.

Aruba Gateways and Controllers

Small organizations as well as large enterprises require excellent performance and security for cloud, mobility, and digital transformation. Therefore, in addition to the access points, Aruba Wireless also offers a variety of gateways and controllers, including:

9000 Series: With SD-WAN capabilities, it’s excellent for small campus networks looking for enhanced Wi-Fi scalability and security.
7200 Series: Perfect for campus WLAN scalability or branch SD-WAN and VPN Concentrator capabilities, the 7200 Series optimizes Wi-Fi performance to guarantee smooth roaming.
7000 Series: Acting as a controller or gateway to provide WAN intelligence, the 7000 Series is a policy-based router and an excellent solution for small to mid-sized campuses.
Mobility Controller Virtual Appliance: Maximizes Wi-Fi and network services in an economical, virtualized environment.
SD-WAN Virtual Gateways: Orchestrate virtual gateways in public cloud infrastructure, like Amazon Web Services (AWS).
Mobility Conductor Hardware Appliance: While enhancing the scalability and reliability for large campus WLANs, Aruba Mobility Conductors bring the full capability of ArubaOS.
Mobility Conductor Virtual Appliance: To scale large campus deployments, Aruba Mobility Conductors simplify the deployment and management of up to 1,000 Mobility Controllers.
ArubaOS Network Operating System: Great for remote workers in mid-sized and large companies who need seamless connectivity to and security over Wi-Fi.

Reviews from Real Users

Aruba Networks is aiding organizations in transforming to a hybrid work environment with Aruba Wireless. Users especially love its ability to work with many devices and its ability to group and manage access points.

A senior IT solutions architect at a manufacturing company says, "The most valuable feature is the fact that it can work with many devices. It supports everything that we need it to."

Gary F., a network administrator at wireless at Abilene Christian, notes, "I like the way it groups and manages access points."

Hewlett Packard Enterprise

Ubiquiti Networks UniFi AP, Featuring a clean industrial design, can be integrated seamlessly into any wall or ceiling surface (mounting kits included). The LED indicator simplifies deployment and configuration. With its software-based capabilities, the UniFi virtual control plane allows for unlimited scalability under one centralized controller. The UniFi Controller software is bundled with the UniFi AP hardware at no extra charge - no separate software, licensing or support fee.

Ubiquiti

Sample Customers

Consulate Health Care, Los Angeles Unified School District, Science Applications International Corp (SAIC), San Diego State University, KFC, ACTS Retirement-Life Communities

NASCAR Grand-AM, Maritime Parc, Outdoor Music Festival, One Republic Tour, British Armed Forces, Arcadia School District, Bartlett School District, Universidad del Azuay, Estelar Hotels, Intercontinental Bali, Moscow - Enforta, Miami - Sling Broadband, Manhattan - MST, Ecuador - Aire.EC

Find out what your peers are saying about Hewlett Packard Enterprise, Ruckus, Cisco and others in Wireless LAN. Updated: January 2026.

DOWNLOAD NOW

881,082 professionals have used our research since 2012.

We monitor all Wireless LAN reviews to prevent fraudulent reviews and keep review quality high. We do not post reviews by company employees or direct competitors. We validate each review for authenticity via cross-reference with LinkedIn, and personal follow-up with the reviewer when necessary.