Cisco Catalyst Switches vs MikroTik Cloud Router Switch comparison

Cisco and MikroTik are both solutions in the Ethernet Switches category. Cisco is ranked #5 with an average rating of 8.4, while MikroTik is ranked #17 with an average rating of 7.9. Cisco holds a 3.5% mindshare in ES, compared to MikroTik’s 1.8% mindshare. Additionally, 95% of Cisco users are willing to recommend the solution, compared to 96% of MikroTik users who would recommend it.

Cisco Catalyst Switches

Read 178 Cisco Catalyst Switches reviews

5,802 Views
2,901 Comparison Views

95% willing to recommend

MikroTik Cloud Router Switch

Read 25 MikroTik Cloud Router Switch reviews

1,871 Views
1,385 Comparison Views

96% willing to recommend

Cisco Catalyst Switches

MikroTik Cloud Router Switch

Comparison Buyer's Guide

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Executive SummaryUpdated on Nov 3, 2024

Cisco Catalyst Switches and MikroTik Cloud Router Switch compete in the networking equipment category. Cisco Catalyst Switches seem to have the upper hand in terms of advanced security and routing features, while MikroTik Cloud Router Switch is favored for its cost-effectiveness and simpler configuration.

Features: Cisco Catalyst Switches offer advanced security features like Port Security, VLAN, and ACLs, making them suitable for high-demand enterprise environments. These switches support stackable modules and PoE, providing flexibility in deployment scenarios. MikroTik Cloud Router Switch provides user-friendly configuration and efficient VLAN handling, appealing to small to medium-sized businesses for its flexibility and affordability.

Room for Improvement: Cisco Catalyst Switches could benefit from better integration with non-Cisco solutions and simpler licensing. Additionally, their interfaces could be more user-friendly. MikroTik could improve by supporting enterprise standards more robustly, enhancing documentation, and stabilizing firmware to prevent unexpected resets.

Ease of Deployment and Customer Service: Cisco Catalyst Switches are well-regarded in on-premises settings with thorough documentation and strong customer support, though the support process can be lengthy. MikroTik is appreciated for straightforward setup across both cloud and on-premises environments, though support varies, with many users relying on forums for help.

Pricing and ROI: Cisco Catalyst Switches are known for their higher price, reflecting quality and reliability, with recurring costs for licenses and support. This price point can be prohibitive for smaller companies, although ROI is realized over time with stable performance. MikroTik offers a more budget-friendly solution with minimal licensing costs, providing quick ROI and low initial investment suited for small businesses.

To learn more, read our detailed Cisco Catalyst Switches vs. MikroTik Cloud Router Switch Report (Updated: December 2025).

Buyer's Guide

Cisco Catalyst Switches vs. MikroTik Cloud Router Switch

December 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

Cisco Catalyst Switches

Ranking in Ethernet Switches

5th

Average Rating

8.6

Reviews Sentiment

6.7

Number of Reviews

178

Ranking in other categories

LAN Switching (1st), Data Center Networking (2nd), AV Over IP Switching (1st)

MikroTik Cloud Router Switch

Ranking in Ethernet Switches

17th

Average Rating

8.0

Reviews Sentiment

6.3

Number of Reviews

Ranking in other categories

Routers (5th)

Mindshare comparison

As of January 2026, in the Ethernet Switches category, the mindshare of Cisco Catalyst Switches is 3.5%, up from 1.4% compared to the previous year. The mindshare of MikroTik Cloud Router Switch is 1.8%, up from 1.1% compared to the previous year. It is calculated based on PeerSpot user engagement data.

Ethernet Switches Market Share Distribution
Product	Market Share (%)
Cisco Catalyst Switches	3.5%
MikroTik Cloud Router Switch	1.8%
Other	94.7%

Ethernet Switches

Featured Reviews

Arun Giri

Unit Nos at Orange

Reliable support boosts confidence while initial setup complexities highlight improvement areas

Challenges I've encountered mostly involve the RMA part for hardware replacement, which doesn't happen regularly, but sometimes I face challenges due to limited parts in India; they offer different model devices as a stopgap arrangement. It's quite difficult to specify features I would want to see in future updates because that varies from model to model. I would definitely recommend Cisco Catalyst Switches to other users. We do maintenance for Cisco Catalyst Switches. For maintenance, we usually need three people from different regions working as a single team; our engineers handle both projects and maintenance, so there isn't a specific engineer just for maintenance. I work with firewalls and next-generation firewalls. Overall, I would rate the solution as an eight out of ten.

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Andriejus Artamonovas

IT Specialist at a outsourcing company with 501-1,000 employees

Has supported deeper configuration through traffic mirroring and advanced VLAN setup

The main reason why MikroTik Cloud Router Switch is usually chosen is its raw performance to price ratio. In comparison to UniFi switches, MikroTik Cloud Router Switch can mirror all ports for traffic inspection for further traffic analysis, which UniFi cannot do. VLANs in MikroTik Cloud Router Switch are always useful. The way MikroTik implements VLAN-aware switching at the bridge level is hidden in the configuration. Making CRS work as a simple VLAN-aware switch requires deeper configuration, which is not intuitive. VLANs support individual interfaces not part of the bridge, allowing for double VLANing. You can create a VLAN interface in the interfaces context and also create a bridge interface, add physical ports, create VLANs for that bridge interface, and assign tagged and untagged ports and VLANs. Load balancing is one of the key components. The feature itself is quite efficient and works reliably on MikroTik Cloud Router Switch. The very basic setup is one of my favorites because they have their protocol where I can connect through the MAC address right on Layer 2, and I don't lose connectivity to the switch if I mess up with bridging or IP addressing.

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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

"This technology is a completely mature technology and I don't think anything needs to be changed."

"These switches are stable. They work well and are easy to use."

"It's got one feature, and that's handling extreme temperatures."

"The most valuable features are performance, speed, and durability."

"The network is secure."

"The most valuable feature is load balancing."

"It uses many protocols to ease operations, such as CDP and the interoperability of other Cisco products."

"The best feature is the technical support."

More Cisco Catalyst Switches pros

"The GUI is easy to use."

"A valuable aspect is its user-friendly configuration, making it accessible even for individuals with basic technical knowledge."

"Regarding security and visibility in monitoring, it is very good, the GUI is very intuitive, and it has many more features than those from major vendors."

"It is easy to set up."

"The main reason why MikroTik Cloud Router Switch is usually chosen is its raw performance to price ratio."

"It is easy to set up the solution."

"The performance has been good."

"This solution is very similar to the on-premises version making it easy to use for those who know the architect."

More MikroTik Cloud Router Switch pros

Cons

"Stability could be better."

"It would be helpful to have the ability to load new IOS software without performing a reboot or to be able to perform the reboot without disrupting end-users."

"Cisco is dedicated to providing their customers with the latest technology, but it comes with a price. It's expensive when compared to competitors' products."

"The product's high price is an area of concern where improvements are required."

"The switches could be improved."

"The prices are high. It's more expensive than other similar options."

"Cisco Catalyst Switches should have better performance and be easier to use. Additionally, they should add artificial intelligence features."

"There could be improvements in the repeat configuration with some file integration that is currently missing."

More Cisco Catalyst Switches cons

"While some customers use MikroTik Cloud Router Switch as a firewall, it's not at an industry-level, though the basic features are adequate for many users who prefer it over purchasing other reputed firewall solutions."

"Simplifying the documentation would be a good idea."

"Technical support could be better."

"It happens that you may find your network is down, if you reboot the switch, they come up. However, sometimes, they reset themselves. That's a big issue."

"Improvements are needed with respect to some of the security, especially for VPN links between vendors other than Cisco."

"The packet filtering, user log data, and user access log could all be improved."

"The bulk efficiencies and the control of traffic could be a bit better."

"There has to be more development in the OS. It's complex for this switch as compared to others like Cisco. For NetGear and Cisco, it's easy to adapt the VLAN concept but it should be simplified for MikroTik."

More MikroTik Cloud Router Switch cons

Pricing and Cost Advice

"The cost of this solution could be less expensive, and we are on an annual license."

"Cisco products are not that cheap."

"Could always be cheaper."

"Pricing of Cisco equipment is high, but I think these switches are worth the price."

"I rate the product price a nine on a scale of one to ten, where one is low price and ten is high price."

"The licenses are definitely expensive. There is a need to make annual payments towards the subscription or licensing costs attached to the solution."

"The solution is probably the most expensive, but users who want the best need to pay the premium."

"It is expensive."

More Cisco Catalyst Switches pricing and cost advice

"I consider it to be a cost-effective solution."

"MikroTik is really cheap compared to the competitors."

"In Pakistan, if you buy this cloud router, it's approximately $700 for the device."

"The licensing for MikroTik is great. It's easy to enter, especially for small businesses. Their model is great."

"The price is competitive."

"I believe the price of the tool is high, but it is okay for the services we get from it."

"This product has a one-time cost and there is no licensing fee."

"They came with the licensing when we purchased them."

More MikroTik Cloud Router Switch pricing and cost advice

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Top Industries

By visitors reading reviews

Computer Software Company

11%

Manufacturing Company

11%

Comms Service Provider

Educational Organization

Comms Service Provider

14%

Educational Organization

14%

Computer Software Company

Manufacturing Company

Company Size

By reviewers

Large Enterprise

Midsize Enterprise

Small Business

By reviewers
Company Size	Count
Small Business	79
Midsize Enterprise	29
Large Enterprise	79

By reviewers
Company Size	Count
Small Business	19
Midsize Enterprise	5
Large Enterprise	2

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 ...

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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...

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What is your experience regarding pricing and costs for Cisco Catalyst Switches?

For pricing satisfaction, I'd say it will be six to seven because Cisco usually is costly compared to other vendors. Regarding pricing, there is indeed room for improvement.

See all answers

What do you like most about MikroTik Cloud Router Switch?

The tool has impacted our company's network costs and productivity in a perfect manner and percentage-wise, I can say it is 120 percent.

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What is your experience regarding pricing and costs for MikroTik Cloud Router Switch?

The Python solution pricing is on the lower side.

See all answers

What needs improvement with MikroTik Cloud Router Switch?

It can be difficult to identify key functions for MikroTik Cloud Router Switch. I experience functionality limitations, particularly when trying to find specific features. It would be beneficial to...

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Ubiquiti UniFi Switches vs Cisco Catalyst Switches

Compared 6% of the time

HPE ProCurve vs Cisco Catalyst Switches

Compared 5% of the time

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TP-Link Omada Switches vs MikroTik Cloud Router Switch

Compared 17% of the time

MikroTik Routers and Switches vs MikroTik Cloud Router Switch

Compared 11% of the time

Huawei Enterprise Routers vs MikroTik Cloud Router Switch

Compared 6% of the time

Aruba Switches vs MikroTik Cloud Router Switch

Compared 6% of the time

Juniper MX Series Routers vs MikroTik Cloud Router Switch

Compared 4% of the time

More MikroTik Cloud Router Switch Competitors

Product Reports

Buyer's Guide

Cisco Catalyst Switches

January 2026

Download Cisco Catalyst Switches product report

Buyer's Guide

MikroTik Cloud Router Switch

January 2026

Download MikroTik Cloud Router Switch product report

Also Known As

Cisco Catalyst, Catalyst

MikroTik CRS Series

Overview

Cisco Catalyst Switches are a reliable and scalable network switching and routing solution, focusing on VLANs and VLAN switching. They are used as access switches, distribution switches, and core switches in various environments, deployed on-premises, and used for long connections. The switches are easy to configure, install, and upgrade and offer good pricing.

The most valuable features include warranty and firmware support, stability, security, good performance, flexibility, etc. The Cisco Catalyst Switches have provided a stable solution for the organizations and are widely used, trusted, and well-known in the networking industry.

Cisco

MikroTik Cloud Router Switch is a new Smart Switch series. It combines the best features of a fully functional router and a Layer 3 switch, is powered by the familiar RouterOS. All the specific Switch configuration options are available in a special Switch menu, also ports can be removed from the switch configuration, and used for routing purposes.

MikroTik

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

Information Not Available

Buyer's Guide

Cisco Catalyst Switches vs. MikroTik Cloud Router Switch

December 2025

Free Report: Cisco Catalyst Switches vs. MikroTik Cloud Router Switch

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