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Cisco Ethernet Switches vs MikroTik Routers and Switches comparison

 

Comparison Buyer's Guide

Executive SummaryUpdated on Nov 3, 2024

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
4.3
Cisco Ethernet Switches offer a high return on investment due to durability, despite potential increased renewal and scalability costs.
Sentiment score
7.1
MikroTik devices are cost-effective, reliable, and offer an impressive 80% return on investment with no licensing fees.
 

Customer Service

Sentiment score
5.7
Cisco Ethernet Switches support is praised for expertise and resources, despite some variable response times and integration challenges.
Sentiment score
4.3
MikroTik support receives mixed reviews; while knowledgeable, users face access challenges and documentation limitations compared to Cisco.
It takes two to three days for Cisco support to address issues.
Asst IT Manager at Ultra Engineers
Cisco support is quick and responsive, often answering within an hour.
Senior System Engineer & Project Manager at TechnoPeak
Currently, we don't have any technical support because our license doesn't allow for direct support.
Commercial Experience Supervisor at Jazz (previously known as Mobilink)
Their support team knows their product very well.
Content Specialist at PeerSpot
I sometimes need technical support from my ISP company, or else I gather information from YouTube.
IT Manager at ERL
 

Scalability Issues

Sentiment score
8.0
Cisco Ethernet Switches are praised for scalability and adaptability, with cost considerations and satisfaction varying by model.
Sentiment score
7.1
MikroTik Routers are seen as scalable, though some note hardware and security limitations in larger deployments.
Cisco mainly provides security, patch management, hardware reliability, durability, scalability, and security features supporting my organization's expansion.
Head of the Solutions Department at BIM Group of Companies
The latest products do not allow integration with the earlier environment.
Asst IT Manager at Ultra Engineers
The scalability depends on the model.
Commercial Experience Supervisor at Jazz (previously known as Mobilink)
I would rate their scalability ten out of ten.
Content Specialist at PeerSpot
It's easy to scale MikroTik Routers and Switches; you can add more and have a cluster.
IT Consultant at M-COM s.r.o
 

Stability Issues

Sentiment score
8.8
Cisco Ethernet Switches are highly reliable and durable, with users praising their performance and rating stability 9 or 10.
Sentiment score
7.4
MikroTik Routers and Switches are generally stable, but newer OS versions and the power system can cause issues.
The switches are very stable, rated ten out of ten.
Senior System Engineer & Project Manager at TechnoPeak
MikroTik Routers and Switches have very high stability.
Content Specialist at PeerSpot
MikroTik Routers and Switches are very stable.
IT Manager at ERL
 

Room For Improvement

Cisco Ethernet Switches face criticism for high costs; users desire improved security, ease of use, and better third-party integration.
MikroTik Routers and Switches need better interface, security, documentation, compatibility, advanced features, and support for improved user experience.
In the data center portion, we need to provide the fiber channel and Nexus switch to use a more reliable solution.
Head of the Solutions Department at BIM Group of Companies
The pricing and hardware warranty renewal costs are more expensive than other products.
Asst IT Manager at Ultra Engineers
For example, on switches, filtering specific sections isn't supported, whereas, on routers, you can do 'show run' with additional commands to filter.
Senior System Engineer & Project Manager at TechnoPeak
The most important thing is maintaining and enhancing their strong security features.
Content Specialist at PeerSpot
It would be better for me if I could establish filter rules within MikroTik.
IT Manager at ERL
 

Setup Cost

Cisco Ethernet Switches are reliable but often costly, prompting enterprises to consider alternatives due to high ongoing expenses.
MikroTik offers cost-effective routers with lifetime licenses, appealing to enterprises seeking affordable high-performance alternatives without hidden charges.
Cisco Ethernet switches are priced at a rating of nine, indicating they are expensive.
Asst IT Manager at Ultra Engineers
We need to pay for the subscription, as there are extra expenses after purchasing the product.
Head of the Solutions Department at BIM Group of Companies
Regarding the cost, Cisco Ethernet Switches have a competitive price.
IT Manager at Decorgel
MikroTik Routers and Switches are expensive, but they are the best products in terms of quality.
Content Specialist at PeerSpot
 

Valuable Features

Cisco Ethernet Switches deliver superior performance, scalability, and security, featuring advanced management options and strong customer support for efficient networking.
MikroTik devices combine affordability, scalability, and performance with features like flexible firewalls and user-friendly GUI for efficient networking.
Their stability and durability are essential features we've been looking for many years, and they are still working fine.
IT Manager at Decorgel
Cisco is mainly known for its security, patch management, hardware reliability, durability, scalability, and security features which support my organization's expansion.
Head of the Solutions Department at BIM Group of Companies
Cisco's intuitive management interfaces have helped reduce downtime.
Hardware Networking Engineer at a tech vendor with 10,001+ employees
MikroTik Routers and Switches are some of the best routers around, security-wise, followed by Cisco.
Content Specialist at PeerSpot
They simplify the process of creating access lists, allowing me to understand my network's activities effectively.
IT Manager at ERL
 

Categories and Ranking

Cisco Ethernet Switches
Ranking in Ethernet Switches
1st
Average Rating
8.6
Reviews Sentiment
6.7
Number of Reviews
137
Ranking in other categories
No ranking in other categories
MikroTik Routers and Switches
Ranking in Ethernet Switches
11th
Average Rating
8.0
Reviews Sentiment
6.9
Number of Reviews
68
Ranking in other categories
Routers (1st)
 

Mindshare comparison

As of February 2026, in the Ethernet Switches category, the mindshare of Cisco Ethernet Switches is 10.0%, down from 16.8% compared to the previous year. The mindshare of MikroTik Routers and Switches is 6.0%, up from 5.5% compared to the previous year. It is calculated based on PeerSpot user engagement data.
Ethernet Switches Market Share Distribution
ProductMarket Share (%)
Cisco Ethernet Switches10.0%
MikroTik Routers and Switches6.0%
Other84.0%
Ethernet Switches
 

Featured Reviews

Myint Aung - PeerSpot reviewer
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.
Rivka Alexander - PeerSpot reviewer
Content Specialist at PeerSpot
Routers and switches enhance network security and adaptability
We use MikroTik Routers and Switches for IT business, software development, networking, and tower infrastructure, although some areas are still in progress MikroTik Routers and Switches are some of the best routers around, security-wise, followed by Cisco. They are very accommodating with their…
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Use our free recommendation engine to learn which Ethernet Switches solutions are best for your needs.
881,821 professionals have used our research since 2012.
 

Comparison Review

it_user82779 - PeerSpot reviewer
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…
 

Top Industries

By visitors reading reviews
Manufacturing Company
11%
Computer Software Company
10%
Financial Services Firm
7%
University
7%
Comms Service Provider
17%
Computer Software Company
8%
Manufacturing Company
7%
Hospitality Company
6%
 

Company Size

By reviewers
Large Enterprise
Midsize Enterprise
Small Business
By reviewers
Company SizeCount
Small Business59
Midsize Enterprise35
Large Enterprise55
By reviewers
Company SizeCount
Small Business43
Midsize Enterprise16
Large Enterprise9
 

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 ...
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...
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...
How do Cisco Enterprise routers compare with Mikrotik routers and switches?
Cisco Enterprise Routers are very stable and easy to use. They offer a very solid performance and are very secure. They also have a very good, long lifespan. We feel the command configuration is ve...
Which are better - Ubiquiti UniFi switches or MikroTik routers and switches?
Ubiquiti Unifi is a great solution. For starters, it is easy to configure and implement, and doesn’t require a learning curve because it is easy to use. It is also simple to reconfigure an AP or ga...
What do you like most about MikroTik Routers and Switches?
The price is a big factor. They are very affordable, and the quality is high.
 

Also Known As

Cisco Industrial Ethernet Switches
No data available
 

Overview

 

Sample Customers

Linz AG
ABB, Boingo Wireless, JPL, HP, Allied Telesis, iPass, Mips Technologies, MicroAge, Matsushita, Telia, undp, WFP, NASA
Find out what your peers are saying about Cisco Ethernet Switches vs. MikroTik Routers and Switches and other solutions. Updated: February 2026.
881,821 professionals have used our research since 2012.