Cisco Ethernet Switches vs Juniper EX Series Ethernet Switches comparison

Cisco and Juniper are both solutions in the Ethernet Switches category. Cisco is ranked #1 with an average rating of 8.8, while Juniper is ranked #11 with an average rating of 8.4. Cisco holds a 12.8% mindshare in ES, compared to Juniper’s 2.8% mindshare. Additionally, 96% of Cisco users are willing to recommend the solution, compared to 91% of Juniper users who would recommend it.

Cisco Ethernet Switches

Read 135 Cisco Ethernet Switches reviews

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13,797 Comparison Views

96% willing to recommend

Juniper EX Series Ethernet ...

Read 71 Juniper EX Series Ethernet Switches reviews

3,450 Views
3,347 Comparison Views

91% willing to recommend

Cisco Ethernet Switches

Juniper EX Series Ethernet ...

Comparison Buyer's Guide

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Executive SummaryUpdated on Jun 29, 2025

Cisco Ethernet Switches and Juniper EX Series Ethernet Switches compete in the enterprise market with robust offerings. Cisco switches have the upper hand in support and extensive features, while Juniper stands out in cost-effectiveness and functionality.

Features: Cisco Ethernet Switches offer MACSec encryption, StackPower for increased power availability, and advanced QoS. Port aggregation, multi-layer switching, and comprehensive remote management protocols are key components that users value for high reliability and documentation. Juniper EX Series provides Virtual Chassis for streamlined administration, advanced security protocols, and interoperability with other vendors. Users commend the Junos OS for its command-line interface and rollback features.

Room for Improvement: Cisco faces criticism for its high prices and complex setup, with users desiring interface unification and better third-party tool integration. Juniper needs improvement in stability, comprehensive security features across models, and a more user-friendly GUI, with noted complexity in initial setup and OS differences.

Ease of Deployment and Customer Service: Both Cisco and Juniper support hybrid, private, and on-premises deployment. Cisco's customer support is generally strong despite mixed reviews on response times. Juniper's technical support is praised for efficient troubleshooting, despite a steep learning curve with its interface and command disparities.

Pricing and ROI: Cisco is recognized for high costs and a steep pricing structure, impacting ROI. While its pricing can be a barrier in competitive bids, the device's long lifespan provides value. Juniper is generally more affordable, with flexible licensing options enhancing ROI perception. Its lower upfront costs and lifetime warranty make it appealing in price-sensitive scenarios.

To learn more, read our detailed Cisco Ethernet Switches vs. Juniper EX Series Ethernet Switches Report (Updated: July 2025).

Buyer's Guide

Cisco Ethernet Switches vs. Juniper EX Series Ethernet Switches

July 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 Ethernet Switches

Ranking in Ethernet Switches

1st

Average Rating

8.6

Reviews Sentiment

7.2

Number of Reviews

135

Ranking in other categories

No ranking in other categories

Juniper EX Series Ethernet ...

Ranking in Ethernet Switches

11th

Average Rating

8.2

Reviews Sentiment

6.8

Number of Reviews

Ranking in other categories

No ranking in other categories

Mindshare comparison

As of August 2025, in the Ethernet Switches category, the mindshare of Cisco Ethernet Switches is 12.8%, down from 18.6% compared to the previous year. The mindshare of Juniper EX Series Ethernet Switches is 2.8%, down from 3.8% compared to the previous year. It is calculated based on PeerSpot user engagement data.

Ethernet Switches

Featured Reviews

Myint Aung

Head of the Solutions Department at BIM Group of Companies

Exceptional network support and AI integration drive performance while suggesting enhancements for future use cases

I work with both HyperFlex and other Cisco products. I prefer to make online support available because I can utilize my CCIE architect, solution consultant, and engineer team along with our account manager and product sales team. We can clarify requirements and decide how to support you. We should arrange a conference call about Cisco Ethernet Switches where I can invite my architect and consultant to clarify more about the features that are most beneficial for improving network efficiency. Today is AI day, and all the new firmware includes AI to optimize the performance, traffic, and security of Cisco Ethernet Switches. It's performing very well. With many solutions and vendors available, you have to decide on one. I am extremely satisfied with the licensing cost for Cisco Ethernet Switches. For the price of Cisco Ethernet Switches, I would rate it a 7. My overall rating for Cisco Ethernet Switches is 10 out of 10.

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FauzanRahmanto

Network Engineer at DCI Indonesia

Have achieved lower costs and gained reliability with some room for better scalability

The security capabilities of Juniper EX Series Ethernet Switches are comparable to other brands, so there are no additional points for Juniper regarding the security systems. I would rate the price of Juniper EX Series Ethernet Switches an eight out of ten. Regarding stability, I would rate Juniper EX Series Ethernet Switches a nine out of ten. I would recommend Juniper EX Series Ethernet Switches to other organizations because it is easy to use, the command is easy to learn, and it is very stable. I chose Juniper as my primary vendor because it is very stable, reliable, and the price is lower than competitors. I am the person who usually does the maintenance alone. In my office, my two colleagues and I are the network engineers directly responsible for the operation of the EX devices. The number of users in my organization who have access to Juniper EX Series Ethernet Switches is around 17 people. Overall, I would rate Juniper EX Series Ethernet Switches an eight out of ten.

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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 most valuable features of Cisco Ethernet Switches for our network are speed, latency, and reliability."

"Cisco Ethernet Switches have great enterprise features like Cisco DNA Assurance. Cisco DNA Assurance features advanced artificial intelligence and machine learning. Cisco AI Network Analytics, a capability within Cisco DNA Assurance, allows easy management of all devices and services, prioritizes and resolves network issues, and ensures a better user experience across the network."

"They are easy to use and have low maintenance requirements."

"It's for industry products, so it's easy to use."

"Multicast is a great feature of this product."

"You can tap into all of the features for your virtual workload environment."

"Cisco as a whole is flexible."

"The features that I have found most valuable are the core reliability and the switching group. All the features are very generic switching features with high reliability. That is the main key point I can highlight."

More Cisco Ethernet Switches pros

"The solution is certainly scalable."

"This solution is impeccable."

"We have multiple cases of the customers trying to upgrade their network from Cisco, Aruba and Huawei to Juniper. They do this basically because they want to modernise their network and have an increased capacity. This shift improves their functionality because the Juniper Ethernet switches are more advanced. We provide them with assistance to configure switches, access points and Wi-Fi."

"The solution is easy to use and has good integration."

"This is a lower cost product with better features than the competition."

"It's easy to use."

"It is easy to configure, and there are three routing switches."

"The Juniper Ethernet switch feature I find the most valuable is reliability."

More Juniper EX Series Ethernet Switches pros

Cons

"Up to a certain network size, it is easy to scale, but after that, it becomes difficult."

"It could be cheaper, especially the DNA license. One DNA license is around $3,000 for a three-year contract."

"The price of the solution has room for improvement."

"I don't like the fact that the product is very expensive."

"In terms of features, all features are there. I can't find anything new that needs to be added. Its price, however, is a bit higher than other brands and can be improved."

"Cisco Ethernet Switches is a very expensive solution."

"The platform's management features need improvement."

"I don't like that you have to have a license of 10 years to use the switch. I don't understand that policy."

More Cisco Ethernet Switches cons

"We are not very pleased with their performance."

"Juniper should consider reducing its pricing. The Mist licenses are quite expensive and should be more affordable."

"Improvements can be made in the web user interface and web management."

"Their web GUI interface needs to be a lot better, especially when compared to HP. The command line is good, but you have to know how to get around it. The GUI is clunky and very slow."

"The operating system could be better."

"One potential drawback of the Juniper EX Series has been that those without experience using a command-line interface (CLI) may find it intimidating. However, Junos is working on improving this by offering tools, such as Juniper Mist with Wired Assurance and Apstra. Additionally, the graphical user interface (GUI) could be improved as it has been considered lackluster across the board in Junos."

"Juniper Ethernet Switches' operating systems get corrupted when the power fails. They have to improve this issue. I may have to use a newer version."

"It would be nice to have a more available list of modules that you can get for this solution."

More Juniper EX Series Ethernet Switches cons

Pricing and Cost Advice

"Cisco is quite expensive. In our market, a lot of customers are forced to go with something else because they cannot afford a brand-new Cisco even though they know a Cisco switch will be more reliable."

"Its price is very high, but it is a good device. Cisco must work on its price. Other solutions provide a better price for similar functionalities."

"Not inexpensive. Price will vary widely depending on the chosen product and size of the deployment."

"The price is very high though it is priced right for the level of quality."

"The cost of the solution is by unit."

"Cisco Ethernet Switches are expensive, and you have to pay for a warranty and technical support."

"The last time I bought a 24-port switch, which was a while ago, I paid about five or six thousand Euros. In this part of the world, that's quite expensive for us."

"Price is a pain point for us. We've lost a lot of bids, and the reason has been that we majorly quoted Cisco devices. Some of our competitors quoted other devices like Ubiquity or Microchip. Some even quoted this Chinese product TP-Link, and they won the bid over us because we quoted Cisco. Meanwhile, the major reason why we quoted Cisco is reliability and stability from day one. They also last longer. The prices could be worked on so that they become more affordable. We had to deploy a city-wide WiFi network, and we were working in conjunction with Google. Because of the price, even Google recommended a product called Ruckus, so we used Ruckus over Cisco. Its price and license were the main reasons. You have to pay to renew the license every year. Even though you also renew the licenses for Ruckus, but they are much cheaper than Cisco. So, while I would recommend Cisco any time, the trouble remains with the pricing."

More Cisco Ethernet Switches pricing and cost advice

"The pricing of Juniper Ethernet Switches compared to equivalent switches from Aruba, Cisco, and others, Juniper Ethernet Switches are priced a little higher. They are approximately 20 to 50 percent higher. When we receive a new range of models, the prices can come down. The price can also vary by region."

"Juniper Ethernet Switches are a less expensive solution than Cisco Ethernet Switches. There is only a one-time purchase for Juniper Ethernet Switches."

"The maintenance cost is approximately €2,000 ($2,200 USD) per year, including support, for our entire fleet."

"We don't need to pay for the solution's features."

"Juniper Ethernet Switches could be less expensive. There is not a license needed to use the solution."

"Juniper Ethernet Switches are cheaper than Cisco or HP."

"The pricing is very aggressive."

"There is a need to make a payment towards the perpetual licensing model offered by the product and also towards the subscription-based model for hardware replacement."

More Juniper EX Series Ethernet Switches pricing and cost advice

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Comparison Review

it_user82779

Engineer at a comms service provider with 10,001+ employees

Jan 29, 2014

Benefits of Juniper vs Cisco

Both are decent products. I prefer Juniper for the following reasons: 1) Cleaner separation of data plane from control plane. Higher end Cisco devices are better at this but most of the lower end products still seem to be more integrated than I like. 2) The Hierarchical config design means I can…

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Top Industries

By visitors reading reviews

Computer Software Company

12%

Manufacturing Company

Financial Services Firm

Government

Computer Software Company

11%

Manufacturing Company

University

Educational Organization

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 ...

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Which would you choose - Fortinet Fortiswitch secure access or Cisco Ethernet Switches?

We researched Cisco but ultimately chose Fortinet FortiSwitch Secure Access, mostly because of the price. Fortinet FortiSwitch is an ethernet switch solution that provides security and performance...

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In terms of ethernet switches, would you go with Cisco or Juniper?

Our organization ran comparison tests to determine whether Cisco or Juniper Ethernet switches were the better fit for us. We decided to go with Juniper. Juniper ethernet switches are a lesser-known...

See all answers

What advice do you have for others considering Juniper Ethernet Switches?

Juniper EX model is ok for the campus network as the ex4300 is EOL in a few years and the new ex4400 is the standard. Now for the QFX model, 5k/10k in CRB mode IP fabric Ethernet switching is horri...

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What is your primary use case for Juniper EX Series Ethernet Switches?

We deal mostly with Juniper EX Series Ethernet Switches products, as we are partners with Juniper products. We work with Juniper wireless. We deal with all the Juniper products and also Cisco and H...

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What do you like most about Juniper EX Series?

The setup phase was straightforward.

See all answers

Comparisons

Aruba Switches vs Cisco Ethernet Switches

Compared 19% of the time

Fortinet FortiSwitch - Secure Access vs Cisco Ethernet Switches

Compared 16% of the time

D-Link Ethernet Switches vs Cisco Ethernet Switches

Compared 9% of the time

NETGEAR Switches vs Cisco Ethernet Switches

Compared 7% of the time

Meraki MS Switches vs Cisco Ethernet Switches

Compared 3% of the time

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Aruba Switches vs Juniper EX Series Ethernet Switches

Compared 14% of the time

Arista Networks Platform vs Juniper EX Series Ethernet Switches

Compared 10% of the time

Ubiquiti UniFi Switches vs Juniper EX Series Ethernet Switches

Compared 8% of the time

NETGEAR Switches vs Juniper EX Series Ethernet Switches

Compared 6% of the time

Meraki MS Switches vs Juniper EX Series Ethernet Switches

Compared 5% of the time

More Juniper EX Series Ethernet Switches Competitors

Product Reports

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Cisco Ethernet Switches

August 2025

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Buyer's Guide

Juniper EX Series Ethernet Switches

August 2025

Juniper EX Series Ethernet Switches report

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Also Known As

Cisco Industrial Ethernet Switches

Juniper Ethernet Switches

Overview

Cisco Ethernet Switches scale to meet the needs of networks of all sizes. They are Secure, Reliable and Seamless.

Cisco

Juniper Ethernet Switches are made up of the EX Series product line. These EX Series Ethernet Switches provide branch, campus and data center networks with access, aggregation and core layer switching solutions. The end result is secure, fast and efficient application and data delivery.

Today's enterprise networks increasingly demand mobile access, optimal availability, virtualization, and unified communications. The Juniper Ethernet Switches EX Series caters for all of these requirements, ensuring business continuity, network flexibility and maximum productivity.

Juniper EX Series switches are AI-driven, operated and managed using the Mist AI cloud from Juniper. This gives EX customers simplified operations with insights, anomaly detection and automated troubleshooting, empowering IT teams to deliver the best user experience across the wired network.

Juniper

Sample Customers

Linz AG

BlackLotus, Staminus, Community Bank, BAS Group, Cloud Dynamics, Privalia, Fluidata, and Tesla Motors.

Buyer's Guide

Cisco Ethernet Switches vs. Juniper EX Series Ethernet Switches

July 2025

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