Try our new research platform with insights from 80,000+ expert users

Cisco Catalyst Switches vs ExtremeSwitching comparison

 

Comparison Buyer's Guide

Executive SummaryUpdated on Mar 9, 2025

Review summaries and opinions

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

ROI

Sentiment score
6.7
Cisco Catalyst Switches offer excellent ROI and efficiency over time, though some users express concerns about pricing.
Sentiment score
6.4
ExtremeSwitching offers cost-effective solutions with varied returns, often realized within one to three years, despite high licensing costs.
From an investment standpoint, deploying Cisco Catalyst Switches offers tangible benefits, including cost reductions.
The return on investment is high.
 

Customer Service

Sentiment score
6.9
Cisco Catalyst Switches support is generally praised for responsiveness, though some users report slower responses and declining expertise.
Sentiment score
6.8
ExtremeSwitching support is generally helpful and knowledgeable but experiences delays, needing improvement compared to competitors like Cisco.
Cisco support is very good and responsive.
Cisco's support is good, one of the best supports that you will get.
I am paying for Cisco support and would rate it nine out of ten.
Requiring improvement in the technical support provided to customers.
 

Scalability Issues

Sentiment score
7.6
Cisco Catalyst Switches offer scalability, adaptability, and ease of integration, making them ideal for enterprises of all sizes.
Sentiment score
7.7
ExtremeSwitching excels in scalability, flexibility, and expansion, favored for handling large connections and users across environments.
The scalability of Cisco Catalyst Switches is very much scalable, as it supports the stacking feature and growth; for instance, with 94K modular switches, based on the requirement, we can even increase modules for more bandwidth.
Cisco Catalyst Switches are scalable, and I would rate them eight to nine out of ten for scalability.
ExtremeSwitching is highly scalable, and I would rate it as nine out of ten.
 

Stability Issues

Sentiment score
8.2
Cisco Catalyst Switches are highly reliable, with rare hardware issues, operating stably for years without significant downtime.
Sentiment score
7.9
ExtremeSwitching is reliable for small-medium firms, rated 7-9, with good support, but may struggle in large deployments.
 

Room For Improvement

Cisco Catalyst Switches face issues with pricing, integration, usability, stability, support, and require enhanced security, manageability, and cloud features.
ExtremeSwitching needs user-friendly enhancements, competitive pricing, improved hardware, expanded products, and better cybersecurity and latency solutions.
Currently, I don't see much AI integration with Cisco Catalyst Switches; though they've started, it still needs improvement.
Cisco Catalyst Switches could be a little bit cheaper as they are very costly.
There could be improvements in the repeat configuration with some file integration that is currently missing.
ExtremeSwitching's software stability could be improved, as it sometimes crashes.
 

Setup Cost

Cisco Catalyst Switches are expensive but praised for quality, with licensing complexities; bulk buying can reduce costs.
ExtremeSwitching offers competitive pricing with flexible models, appealing to budget-conscious enterprises appreciating no strict licensing.
Cisco provides unique features that justify their pricing.
Cisco usually is costly compared to other vendors.
Cisco Catalyst Switches are quite pricey.
ExtremeSwitching is priced in the mid-range, not too expensive nor too cheap.
 

Valuable Features

Cisco Catalyst Switches provide reliable performance, advanced features, and intuitive management for efficient, high-speed networking in various environments.
ExtremeSwitching provides robust performance, scalability, security, cloud management, and competitive pricing, enhancing network visibility, reliability, and integration.
Cisco Catalyst Switches are valuable for their reliability and performance.
Catalyst Switches are efficient and swift, which is valuable for my organization.
The most beneficial features for our network management are their stability and good customer support.
The most valuable feature of ExtremeSwitching is the Extreme Fabric, specifically the switching fabric.
 

Categories and Ranking

Cisco Catalyst Switches
Ranking in LAN Switching
1st
Ranking in Data Center Networking
1st
Ranking in AV Over IP Switching
1st
Average Rating
8.6
Reviews Sentiment
6.9
Number of Reviews
176
Ranking in other categories
Ethernet Switches (7th)
ExtremeSwitching
Ranking in LAN Switching
7th
Ranking in Data Center Networking
6th
Ranking in AV Over IP Switching
3rd
Average Rating
8.4
Reviews Sentiment
7.2
Number of Reviews
23
Ranking in other categories
No ranking in other categories
 

Mindshare comparison

As of May 2025, in the LAN Switching category, the mindshare of Cisco Catalyst Switches is 28.6%, down from 31.8% compared to the previous year. The mindshare of ExtremeSwitching is 6.2%, up from 5.3% compared to the previous year. It is calculated based on PeerSpot user engagement data.
LAN Switching
 

Featured Reviews

Joshua Odunsi - PeerSpot reviewer
Ensures efficient performance and supports network growth with optimal speed
Catalyst Switches are efficient and swift, which is valuable for my organization. I experience optimal speed and effective configuration, making them stand out compared to other switches. The PoE switches offer more ports on SFP, and it is efficient in use. Overall, the switches provide me with the value I expect in terms of speed and efficiency.
MURALI NIDAMANURI - PeerSpot reviewer
Outstanding performance with minimal maintenance and intuitive configuration
Our primary use case for ExtremeSwitching is for costing, access networking, routing, and meeting network requirements. We have sold it in defense, government, and IT industries ExtremeSwitching significantly adds value to customers because maintenance is minimal. Once the network is set up,…
report
Use our free recommendation engine to learn which LAN Switching solutions are best for your needs.
851,491 professionals have used our research since 2012.
 

Top Industries

By visitors reading reviews
Educational Organization
62%
Computer Software Company
7%
Manufacturing Company
3%
Financial Services Firm
3%
Manufacturing Company
17%
Computer Software Company
14%
Government
8%
Financial Services Firm
7%
 

Company Size

By reviewers
Large Enterprise
Midsize Enterprise
Small Business
 

Questions from the Community

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 do you like most about Cisco Catalyst Switches?
We are a vendor for the healthcare sector, especially hospitals, and normally, we use a full Cisco solution for stability, especially for the stability of the Access Points and the security of swit...
What is your experience regarding pricing and costs for Cisco Catalyst Switches?
Although Juniper is cheaper, Cisco provides unique features that justify their pricing.
What do you like most about ExtremeSwitching?
The product offers a single management platform for multiple models of switches. The tool also allows users to manage multiple sites from a single dashboard.
What is your experience regarding pricing and costs for ExtremeSwitching?
ExtremeSwitching is priced in the mid-range, not too expensive nor too cheap.
What needs improvement with ExtremeSwitching?
ExtremeSwitching's software stability could be improved, as it sometimes crashes.
 

Also Known As

Cisco Catalyst, Catalyst
No data available
 

Overview

 

Sample Customers

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
Blue Waters
Find out what your peers are saying about Cisco Catalyst Switches vs. ExtremeSwitching and other solutions. Updated: May 2025.
851,491 professionals have used our research since 2012.