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Broadcom StrataXGS vs Cisco Catalyst Switches comparison

 

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

Broadcom StrataXGS
Ranking in Ethernet Switches
29th
Average Rating
10.0
Reviews Sentiment
3.9
Number of Reviews
1
Ranking in other categories
No ranking in other categories
Cisco Catalyst Switches
Ranking in Ethernet Switches
3rd
Average Rating
8.6
Reviews Sentiment
6.3
Number of Reviews
187
Ranking in other categories
LAN Switching (1st), Data Center Networking (1st), AV Over IP Switching (1st)
 

Mindshare comparison

As of August 2026, in the Ethernet Switches category, the mindshare of Broadcom StrataXGS is 0.8%, down from 0.9% compared to the previous year. The mindshare of Cisco Catalyst Switches is 4.6%, up from 2.5% compared to the previous year. It is calculated based on PeerSpot user engagement data.
Ethernet Switches Mindshare Distribution
ProductMindshare (%)
Cisco Catalyst Switches4.6%
Broadcom StrataXGS0.8%
Other94.6%
Ethernet Switches
 

Featured Reviews

WILLIAM SANITATE - PeerSpot reviewer
Vice President Of Engineering at O & S Services LLC
Useful multi-processes, software compatibility, and flexible
The initial setup of Broadcom StrataXGS is complex. However, if you use reference design by Broadcom it can be easy. If you use something else that is not in the reference design you can start to have timing or other problems. If you are not using their hardware, such as Intel, the support might not be there.
MS
Electrical control system engineer at Dangote petroleum refinery and petrol chemicals
Reliable switching has delivered long‑term uptime, strong PoE support, and predictable performance
Cisco Systems Catalyst Switches are highly regarded for their performance, reliability, and enterprise-grade capabilities. My main reservation, however, is the pricing. The cost of Cisco Catalyst Switches—and Cisco products in general—is relatively high, especially in many African markets where organizations often need to balance budget constraints with required functionality. There are alternative vendors that offer comparable features at a lower price point. While they may not always match Cisco’s ecosystem, stability, or full feature depth, many businesses still choose them because of the significant cost savings. Another consideration is licensing, which can add to the overall total cost of ownership depending on the deployment model and required features. Overall, Cisco Catalyst Switches remain premium enterprise solutions, but when compared with other OEMs, their higher acquisition and licensing costs can be a major deciding factor for cost-conscious organizations.

Quotes from Members

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

Pros

"The most valuable feature of Broadcom StrataXGS is the multi-processes and software compatibility providing flexibility. There are plenty of options to choose from."
"We are very happy with what we are getting from our Cisco Catalyst Switches solution."
"The solution is highly scalable, and we have approximately 650 users using this solution in my organization."
"I never had downtime with Cisco Catalyst Switches in the last eight years, and I'm pretty impressed with its reliability."
"It was very easy to install."
"It is an infrastructure tool, so it is just providing a backend service. Its most useful feature is that it operates on a regular basis. It is reliable."
"Technical support is excellent; if there is one area where Cisco excels, it is in technical support."
"The solution is extremely stable and reliable, this has been proven from many years of use."
"They are pretty good. They are stable. Cisco has been around in the industry for a long time, so they are reliable, as well."
 

Cons

"The support could improve."
"The technical support, in some cases, should be faster and could improve."
"Any improvements that they make should be in the wireless area of the product."
"The pricing needs improvement. Price stops entries in Africa."
"While the solution was very good for its time, this may not be so, at present, for big, leading enterprises, such as a bank consisting of 10,000 people."
"Its price can be improved. It is currently expensive."
"The GUI should be addressed."
"The stability must be improved."
"The solution offers a bit of complexity and you need a specialized workforce."
 

Pricing and Cost Advice

"The price of Broadcom StrataXGS is high, but other solutions such as Cisco are more expensive."
"The price is in an affordable range and everything is included."
"The price of this solution is reasonable."
"You don't have to pay any additional costs while using the product."
"There is a one-time license, but we pay for the smart net license every three years for support."
"The prices of Cisco devices are too high."
"The price of the solution is expensive compared to other products from America or Europe. They should have more competitive pricing."
"Cisco Catalyst Switches is an affordable solution."
"It is expensive."
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Top Industries

By visitors reading reviews
Manufacturing Company
19%
Computer Software Company
13%
Financial Services Firm
9%
Outsourcing Company
6%
Manufacturing Company
10%
Financial Services Firm
10%
Construction Company
9%
Outsourcing Company
8%
 

Company Size

By reviewers
Large Enterprise
Midsize Enterprise
Small Business
No data available
By reviewers
Company SizeCount
Small Business83
Midsize Enterprise29
Large Enterprise85
 

Questions from the Community

Ask a question
Earn 20 points
Would you recommend replacing a Cisco Catalyst Switch by a D-link one?
Hello Mesfin It depends on the real scenario, the cisco 2960 is a very good device and they usually have routing functions but there are many different models within the same 2960 line, and on the ...
What is your experience regarding pricing and costs for Cisco Catalyst Switches?
My experience with pricing, setup costs, and licensing was not all good. Licensing is quite a nightmare in the Cisco world, and I wish we had simplified licensing.
What needs improvement with Cisco Catalyst Switches?
Regarding the impression of end-to-end visibility offered by Cisco, I would love to have more visibility. What I want to see in the future regarding Cisco Catalyst Switches is more integrations bet...
 

Also Known As

StrataXGS
Cisco Catalyst, Catalyst
 

Overview

 

Sample Customers

State Bank of India, Hill International, Coty
Afni, Anilana Hotels and Resorts, Baylor Scott & White Health, Beachbody, Bellevue, Del Papa Distributing, Explorer Pipeline, Mindtree, Omaha World Herald, Radio 538, Sony Corporation, Telecom Italia, Telenor Arena
Find out what your peers are saying about Hewlett Packard Enterprise, Cisco, Arista and others in Ethernet Switches. Updated: August 2026.
908,800 professionals have used our research since 2012.