Azure Network Watcher vs Meraki Dashboard comparison

Microsoft and Cisco are both solutions in the Network Monitoring Software category. Microsoft is ranked #47 with an average rating of 8.3, while Cisco is ranked #18 with an average rating of 8.4. Microsoft holds a 0.4% mindshare in NMS, compared to Cisco’s 1.1% mindshare. Additionally, 91% of Microsoft users are willing to recommend the solution, compared to 98% of Cisco users who would recommend it.

Azure Network Watcher

Read 12 Azure Network Watcher reviews

670 Views
630 Comparison Views

91% willing to recommend

Meraki Dashboard

Read 58 Meraki Dashboard reviews

2,277 Views
2,004 Comparison Views

98% willing to recommend

Azure Network Watcher

Meraki Dashboard

Comparison Buyer's Guide

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Executive SummaryUpdated on Oct 10, 2024

Meraki Dashboard and Azure Network Watcher both compete in the network management tools category. Azure Network Watcher appears to have the upper hand due to its focus on architecture and packet capture functionalities.

Features: Meraki Dashboard offers central management for multisite visibility, presence and user analytics, and intuitive monitoring tools. Azure Network Watcher specializes in packet capture and provides strong database security and connection diagnostics within Azure environments.

Room for Improvement: Meraki Dashboard could improve its licensing process, user guides, and device cloning capabilities. VPN setup and third-party device integration also need improvement. Azure Network Watcher requires additional tools for traffic analysis and better documentation. Improvements in diagnostics and log details would enhance troubleshooting.

Ease of Deployment and Customer Service: Meraki Dashboard supports diverse deployments across private, hybrid, and public clouds, with generally responsive customer service. Azure Network Watcher is cloud-focused, necessitating clearer initial setup and faster response from support teams.

Pricing and ROI: Meraki Dashboard uses a tiered license model which can be expensive, though its features justify the cost. Azure Network Watcher's pricing is considered reasonable but may be high for smaller enterprises, impacting budget-sensitive users.

To learn more, read our detailed Azure Network Watcher vs. Meraki Dashboard Report (Updated: September 2025).

Buyer's Guide

Azure Network Watcher vs. Meraki Dashboard

September 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

Azure Network Watcher

Ranking in Network Monitoring Software

47th

Average Rating

8.0

Reviews Sentiment

6.0

Number of Reviews

Ranking in other categories

No ranking in other categories

Meraki Dashboard

Ranking in Network Monitoring Software

18th

Average Rating

8.6

Reviews Sentiment

5.7

Number of Reviews

Ranking in other categories

No ranking in other categories

Mindshare comparison

As of October 2025, in the Network Monitoring Software category, the mindshare of Azure Network Watcher is 0.4%, down from 0.5% compared to the previous year. The mindshare of Meraki Dashboard is 1.1%, down from 1.7% compared to the previous year. It is calculated based on PeerSpot user engagement data.

Network Monitoring Software Market Share Distribution
Product	Market Share (%)
Meraki Dashboard	1.1%
Azure Network Watcher	0.4%
Other	98.5%

Network Monitoring Software

Featured Reviews

Bijoyendra Roychowdhury

Program Manager at Capgemini

Network monitoring provides comprehensive analytics while the interface requires further development

The quality of Azure Network Watcher is quite good in terms of the in-depth analysis you can create from these matrices. There are other monitoring tools such as New Relic, AppDynamics, and Dynatrace which provide very detailed network tracing. Cloud providers such as Azure or AWS do not have that kind of GUI-based capability at this point, but using PowerShell or Python, you can develop it yourself. From the GUI perspective, it still needs to evolve in terms of quality and standard, though overall, it is quite good for troubleshooting. Regarding areas for improvement, when comparing to other network tools beyond Azure Monitor or Azure Network Watcher, those tools can identify single failed packets. This level of granularity is not currently possible with cloud providers as they only go to a certain level rather than the granular level needed for deep troubleshooting, though they do provide hints with available matrices.

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MURALI NIDAMANURI

Managing Director at a manufacturing company with 10,001+ employees

Dashboard provides comprehensive network security and management capabilities

I don't have specific handy names. Meraki Dashboard uses multiple functions where we can configure SSIDs, firewall policies, DHCP, multiple VLANs and DHCP configurations, VLAN configurations, access control policies, MAC binding, client access based on MAC authentication and certificate-based authentication. We have configured SSO for Windows Active Directory by configuring the RADIUS services. We have implemented many customer requirements in Meraki Dashboard. With the detailed visibility feature of Meraki Dashboard, I get connected clients information, including how much data each client downloaded and what applications they accessed. I can obtain detailed data including ISP links level monitoring and speed. I can perform speed tests, generate analytics reports, convert to Excel based on each user for each department, create dashboards, monitor and limit bandwidths, and restrict specific URLs. The advanced security configuration in Meraki Dashboard is useful for network security. Substantial security can be achieved within Meraki Dashboard itself, eliminating the need for additional firewalls to protect your network. You can configure WAN monitoring, users' ACLs, URL filtering, web filtering, and department-wise access configuration for specific client applications. It's completely cloud-managed, and in a simplified way, you don't need to visit any physical infrastructure to monitor activities. Apart from access points, everything is in the cloud. We have monitored IoT solutions, CCTV monitoring, and can detect and control intrusions. When people connect IoT devices to your network, Meraki Dashboard can detect what device it is and control those access controls, even with different operating systems.

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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 solution is stable."

"The most valuable feature of Azure Network Watcher is using the gateways with the connections. The monitoring is useful for the logs and application insights into the data. The traffic filtering issues when it comes to deploying those applications are helpful."

"The solution is good for monitoring device behavior."

"We use the solution to monitor network services. It helps to capture any network issues."

"The most valuable features I have found are typology, visualization, and capture."

"What I like most about Azure Network Watcher is that it's focused more on the architecture. I also like that it has a packet capture feature that tells you how the packet travels and whether it's exiting Azure, etc."

"I like the visibility."

"It provides good visibility."

More Azure Network Watcher pros

"It's really user-friendly."

"You don't have to be a network engineer to use it."

"The most valuable feature of Meraki Dashboard is we can manage our switches and access point in one place."

"The most valuable feature is its simplicity in navigating through the dashboard. It's well set out, and the layout is nice and user friendly. A lot of clients enjoy seeing layer 7 visibility. They get a good indication and insight into what is happening in their network and what applications are being used the most. They can then customize and give preference to business-critical applications."

"It is very stable and we have been using it for five years."

"Everything is in a single pane and you can look at your network in one centralized place."

"I find it pretty straightforward and easy to use, especially compared to old, traditional methods."

"The feature I find most valuable is the single pane of glass where you can configure a monitor view, all from one dashboard. For example, on the wireless side, you can configure it under the configuration panel, and then view statistics like location analytics, user analytics, etc."

More Meraki Dashboard pros

Cons

"Azure is good, however, the Fortinet GUI is more intuitive and I like it more than anything else."

"The solution could improve by limiting the need to clarify the logs. When the clarification is minimized, it is better for everyone involved."

"Lacks sufficient security features."

"Azure Network Watcher could improve by having other built-in applications. For example, an application to log activities for in and outbound traffic."

"Azure Network Watcher needs to have better documentation and it needs to capture information accurately."

"User experience could be improved."

"The initial setup and deployment could be improved to be simplified."

"Technical support from Microsoft needs significant improvement compared to other product vendors."

More Azure Network Watcher cons

"More integration would be an improvement."

"Meraki Dashboard could improve integration with non-Cisco platforms."

"The initial setup is complex and can be made more straightforward."

"Lacks an alert notification when there are IP or DNS issues."

"In general, how I add firewall rules is not great. It is just a little bit too simple the way it is right now."

"For instance, you should be able to see if something has been blocked by a firewall rule by looking at a live log of traffic moving through the device. It helps you troubleshoot issues and understand if your rules are working. You need to ensure the firewall is blocking the right things. That's unavailable in the Meraki Dashboard. You have to send the logs to a log server. We use SolarWinds locally, but it's not natively built into Meraki. We're also using Cisco ISA and another tool called Smoothwall."

"Meraki lacks their own software for connecting to the VPN which creates some issues."

"It is not appropriate for large, enterprise businesses."

More Meraki Dashboard cons

Pricing and Cost Advice

"The price of the solution is reasonable."

"Price-wise, I have no information on how much Azure Network Watcher costs."

"The pricing is good. It's not too expensive."

"Azure Network Watcher is a little bit expensive."

"You don't have to pay for the dashboard."

"Licensing is around under 1000 pounds. The licensing is either one year, three years, five years or ten years and during the licensing, we can choose to renew it per year or per every three years. We've got a license for three years. It's about 160 or about 200 pounds each."

"Meraki Dashboard's pricing is reasonable. It is sold yearly, typically for one, three, or five years. I rate its pricing a five out of ten."

"The licensing fees are $180 USD, per AP, for three years."

"My view is that it's expensive, but it's the best."

"Licensing fees are paid on a yearly basis."

"Typically, the license model is for one, three, and five years. They can just be a bit more flexible around it and look into providing an option for 24 months."

"I’m not sure of the exact cost, however, it’s my understanding the Meraki WiFi is around $800. That’s for a three-year license. It’s about $150 a year."

More Meraki Dashboard pricing and cost advice

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Top Industries

By visitors reading reviews

Financial Services Firm

17%

Computer Software Company

11%

Government

Comms Service Provider

Computer Software Company

16%

Educational Organization

Manufacturing Company

Government

Company Size

By reviewers

Large Enterprise

Midsize Enterprise

Small Business

By reviewers
Company Size	Count
Small Business	6
Large Enterprise	6

By reviewers
Company Size	Count
Small Business	22
Midsize Enterprise	13
Large Enterprise	25

Questions from the Community

What do you like most about Azure Network Watcher?

I like the visibility.

See all answers

What is your experience regarding pricing and costs for Azure Network Watcher?

Azure Network Watcher is affordable from the perspective of basic costing. It doesn't cost too much at this point unless you are requesting customizable detailed matrices. For the default configura...

See all answers

What needs improvement with Azure Network Watcher?

See all answers

What do you like most about Meraki Dashboard?

We greatly utilize the network because we can plug it into the DNS, VPN, or equipment. It's very good. Meraki Dashboard enhances wireless network management. We appreciate its flexibility, as it al...

See all answers

What is your experience regarding pricing and costs for Meraki Dashboard?

The cost of the Meraki solution is high, which may not be affordable for smaller companies, especially in developing countries.

See all answers

What needs improvement with Meraki Dashboard?

Improving the AI capabilities would be beneficial as the machine should learn more extensively. The future is AI-driven. Network availability is crucial based on machine understanding, so the machi...

See all answers

Comparisons

ThousandEyes vs Azure Network Watcher

Compared 30% of the time

Microsoft Network Monitor vs Azure Network Watcher

Compared 26% of the time

Nmap vs Azure Network Watcher

Compared 23% of the time

SolarWinds NPM vs Azure Network Watcher

Compared 21% of the time

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Cisco DNA Center vs Meraki Dashboard

Compared 19% of the time

Zabbix vs Meraki Dashboard

Compared 14% of the time

ThousandEyes vs Meraki Dashboard

Compared 8% of the time

SolarWinds NPM vs Meraki Dashboard

Compared 7% of the time

Mist AI and Cloud vs Meraki Dashboard

Compared 7% of the time

More Meraki Dashboard Competitors

Product Reports

Buyer's Guide

Azure Network Watcher

September 2025

Download Azure Network Watcher product report

Buyer's Guide

Meraki Dashboard

September 2025

Download Meraki Dashboard product report

Overview

Azure Network Watcher is a comprehensive network monitoring and diagnostic service offered by Microsoft Azure. It provides a range of tools and capabilities to help users monitor, diagnose, and gain insights into their Azure network infrastructure. With Network Watcher, users can capture and analyze network traffic, monitor network performance, troubleshoot connectivity issues, and gain visibility into network topology. It also offers features like packet capture, flow logs, connection monitoring, and VPN diagnostics to ensure the smooth operation of Azure networks. Network Watcher enables users to proactively identify and resolve network issues, optimize network performance, and enhance the overall reliability and security of their Azure network environment.

Microsoft

Meraki Dashboard is a comprehensive cloud-based platform that offers centralized management and control for all Meraki networking and security products. It provides a user-friendly interface, allowing administrators to easily monitor and configure their network infrastructure from anywhere. With real-time visibility, troubleshooting becomes effortless, ensuring optimal performance and minimizing downtime.

The intuitive dashboard offers a holistic view of the network, enabling quick identification of potential issues and proactive measures. It simplifies network deployment and scaling, with zero-touch provisioning and automatic firmware updates. The robust security features include advanced threat protection, content filtering, and VPN connectivity.

Meraki Dashboard also offers powerful analytics and reporting capabilities, providing valuable insights into network usage, application performance, and user behavior. With its seamless integration and scalability,

Meraki Dashboard is the ideal solution for organizations of all sizes, ensuring efficient network management and enhanced productivity.

Cisco

Sample Customers

Information Not Available

Coop eG, Peet's Coffee & Tea, Priefert Manufacturing, Century Care Management, Clifton College, Zürs Ski Resort, Capital FM Arena, MAXI Autohöfe

Buyer's Guide

Azure Network Watcher vs. Meraki Dashboard

September 2025

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