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Aruba Wireless vs Ubiquiti UniFi comparison

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Comparison Buyer's Guide

Executive Summary

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
6.7
Number of Reviews
151
Ranking in other categories
Wireless LAN (1st)
Ubiquiti UniFi
Average Rating
8.4
Reviews Sentiment
7.6
Number of Reviews
13
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 12.7%, down 15.7% compared to last year.
Ubiquiti UniFi, on the other hand, focuses on Wi-Fi Hotspot Software, holds 27.7% mindshare, down 34.7% since last year.
Wireless LAN Mindshare Distribution
ProductMindshare (%)
Aruba Wireless12.7%
Ruckus Wireless10.1%
Cisco Meraki Wireless LAN10.1%
Other67.1%
Wireless LAN
Wi-Fi Hotspot Software Mindshare Distribution
ProductMindshare (%)
Ubiquiti UniFi27.7%
Purple WiFi32.3%
Guest Internet Solutions28.3%
Other11.700000000000003%
Wi-Fi Hotspot Software
 

Featured Reviews

CK
Network Administrator at Nippon Express Canada Ltd.
Wireless network has supported long-term reliable access and simplifies RF optimization
I have experience with Cisco products and the Cisco brand. The product is mainly a hardware product. Regarding the software part, I don't have a lot of experience. Aruba Wireless was not too difficult to set up. When compared with other products such as Cisco, they also have products with wireless controllers, and it's similar to that. I think it should be recommended for both bigger and smaller companies based on the feedback and our experience. I believe there should be AI functions that might help us in some cases of cybersecurity matters, detecting threats regarding security would be better with AI. For this role, I have more than twenty years of experience. I would rate Aruba Wireless eight out of ten overall.
NN
IT Manager at Handi Quilter, Inc.
Has provided reliable long-term video storage without ongoing fees
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 overall by not paying monthly fees. I would rate Ubiquiti UniFi's support zero because they've always had inadequate support. Trying to get someone on the phone is nearly impossible, and although they now have a support plan, emergency help is frustratingly difficult to find when the company doesn't provide it.

Quotes from Members

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

Pros

"If you are interested in a solution that is straightforward in configuring and deploying choose Aruba solutions."
"I haven't had any issues with it to date, and it's a pretty robust product."
"The performance and the application monitor. You can select the applications you want to use and block on your network"
"If we really want to know where a specific user is connected, it gives us the ability to see that and how that user is actually receiving. We can know the speed and their IP, their MAC address and, most of the time, how much bandwidth they're using per day."
"The cost is pretty good. It's what draws in the clients."
"With Aruba Instant, we can use the access points independently, allowing us to position them in many places."
"The most valuable functions in Aruba Wireless are the AI-powered performance, which uses AI and machine learning to automatically detect any Wi-Fi issues and fix them, as well as managing all access points from a centralized single point, along with high speed and better performance."
"For my organization, the most critical feature of Aruba Wireless is guest management."
"The most valuable features are its easy access, the controller, and constant updates."
"Overall, the suite of tools is quite useful."
"The most beneficial aspects of Ubiquiti UniFi are pricing, because it is significantly cheaper compared to major enterprise vendors such as Cisco, Aruba, or Fortinet."
"The UniFi controller is user-friendly and it is very easy to manage."
"The solution is very stable."
"Functionality of the cloud key in terms of monitoring and managing the environment."
"Business is growing due to referrals."
"The level of reporting offered by the controller, when used with other Ubiquiti equipment, has been invaluable."
 

Cons

"It's too pricey, to be honest."
"One of the issues with Aruba Wireless is that when twenty or more people connect to the same access point, the device works too slowly."
"I believe more security options are needed."
"The support should be faster."
"The network times for protocol synchronization can be improved."
"There needs to be better visibility on the day-to-day monitoring."
"I used to have issues with DHCP. It is extremely buggy and difficult to upgrade with different firmware versions/models.​"
"Aruba doesn't match some competitors in wireless signal strength. It isn't in the same class as Cisco Meraki, so I would use Cisco Meraki in situations where I need to cover a large open space. Meraki has more powerful signals going out."
"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."
"The one bad part, it is almost nonexistent and relies on a user community."
"Software interfaces could be improved and there is a lack of documentation."
"You pay more upfront for Ubiquiti UniFi, but you don't receive substantial support, which is problematic."
"The major issue I see is connected with troubleshooting, which is my main concern."
"Integrate NanoBeams into the Controller Software."
"Setting up IP generation for something like guest access is pretty confusing and should be improved."
"Better pre-purchase docs, as I have to contact support via chat for some things that should already be in documents."
 

Pricing and Cost Advice

"The price of Aruba Wireless has a more competitive price than other solutions."
"Pricing is competitive. Licensing is needed to maintain access to the latest firmware, which wasn't made clear originally when we started with Arbua (or things changed, I'm not sure which). I would just say, make sure you budget for it."
"I would rate the cost as an eight out of ten, with ten being the most expensive."
"Aruba is probably cheaper than Cisco, and yet you get all the things that you want."
"The product is expensive."
"Pricing is very competitive."
"The pricing is fair and similar to other products."
"​AP signal strength and price. I know this is a competitive market, but APs should not cost so much if they do not cover a large area. ​"
Information not available
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Comparison Review

it_user212721 - PeerSpot reviewer
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…
 

Answers from the Community

Vinny Govender - PeerSpot reviewer
Technical Applications Specialist at bioMérieux
Jul 26, 2022
Jul 26, 2022
1 Ruckus 2 Aruba 3 Cambium It depends on your enviroment. Greetings
2 out of 9 answers
AH
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.
EK
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).
 

Top Industries

By visitors reading reviews
Manufacturing Company
10%
Outsourcing Company
8%
Financial Services Firm
7%
Comms Service Provider
7%
Comms Service Provider
16%
Computer Software Company
8%
Media Company
6%
Financial Services Firm
6%
 

Company Size

By reviewers
Large Enterprise
Midsize Enterprise
Small Business
By reviewers
Company SizeCount
Small Business77
Midsize Enterprise47
Large Enterprise77
By reviewers
Company SizeCount
Small Business8
Midsize Enterprise1
Large Enterprise2
 

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...
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...
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...
What is your experience regarding pricing and costs for Ubiquiti UniFi?
My experience with pricing, setup cost, and licensing for Ubiquiti UniFi was not too bad, as I think it was more simplified than I expected.
What needs improvement with Ubiquiti UniFi?
Regarding improvements for Ubiquiti UniFi, I think the price point is super nice, and I don't think it can be improved.
What is your primary use case for Ubiquiti UniFi?
My main use case for Ubiquiti UniFi is for small businesses, managing internet traffic of users and making sure that Wi-Fi is spread across the campus. I manage internet traffic using Ubiquiti UniF...
 

Also Known As

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

Overview

 

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: September 2026.
914,109 professionals have used our research since 2012.