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Cisco IOS SSL VPN vs SonicWall Global VPN Client comparison

Why PeerSpot?
 

Comparison Buyer's Guide

Executive SummaryUpdated on May 21, 2025

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 IOS SSL VPN
Ranking in SSL VPN
4th
Average Rating
8.6
Reviews Sentiment
7.2
Number of Reviews
50
Ranking in other categories
Enterprise Infrastructure VPN (14th)
SonicWall Global VPN Client
Ranking in SSL VPN
9th
Average Rating
10.0
Reviews Sentiment
4.8
Number of Reviews
3
Ranking in other categories
No ranking in other categories
 

Mindshare comparison

As of September 2026, in the SSL VPN category, the mindshare of Cisco IOS SSL VPN is 10.7%, up from 9.2% compared to the previous year. The mindshare of SonicWall Global VPN Client is 3.0%, up from 2.3% compared to the previous year. It is calculated based on PeerSpot user engagement data.
SSL VPN Mindshare Distribution
ProductMindshare (%)
Cisco IOS SSL VPN10.7%
SonicWall Global VPN Client3.0%
Other86.3%
SSL VPN
 

Featured Reviews

VM
student at a university with 1,001-5,000 employees
Ease and speed of connectivity impress and recommend
I have not found any areas that could be improved so far. I am not sure how Cisco IOS SSL VPN can continue their improvements for the future, but I think it is a great product. To stay on top, they probably need updates to this product. I do not know what kind of improvements these updates are offering. It is a great product so far.
Winsley De Oliveira - PeerSpot reviewer
Owner at ANOC
Reliable and efficient remote access boosts our network management capabilities
The SonicWall Global VPN Client is a very good product. Once I was connected for four days in a row with no faults or interruptions. It's fast, stable, and works. It's simple and effective. We use robust encryption protocols with the SonicWall Global VPN Client. These protocols help with maintaining confidentiality and security of the network data across our organization. Today it's a fact that you have to cryptograph your servers, hard disks, desktops, everything. The VPN is just part of that. The experience with the setup process and user interface of the SonicWall Global VPN Client is very easy. With the SonicWall Global VPN Client, you create a connection to the firewall, set up the cryptographic settings, keys, and passwords. Then download, create a download file, import in the client, enter username and password, and it's done. It is absolutely very simple.

Quotes from Members

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

Pros

"The solution is very stable."
"The solution is very easy to work with; this is its most valuable feature, and they also did a good job surrounding how you configure the devices."
"The product is great because it is easy and simple."
"The multicast feature is useful for us."
"Overall performance and features of the device are great."
"The most valuable features are that it's reliable, convenient, and easy. It always works if configured well."
"While we know that SSL VPN is an advanced technological step towards achieving a more secured network against ever growing multiple networking threats, Cisco's SSL VPN device is definitely a wise choice to pick."
"It is stable."
"It simplifies connecting remote clients to secure networks without extensive configuration."
"The switch to SonicWall Global VPN was driven by its superior ease of use and more straightforward setup than previous solutions."
"This VPN has a secure tunnel created between the end user and the standard machine. This secure connection facilitates the transfer of data without compromising on security or speed."
 

Cons

"The graphical interface is old and needs to improve."
"It would be helpful if Cisco IOS SSL VPN could help us set up devices on our iPads and phones."
"The company sets the policies for the default location, and destination, which the VPN connects. If there is a problem with one of those locations, which happens sometimes when I travel I need to have an option to select a different available location. Currently, I am unable to see that from a user's point of view."
"I can't say that I would recommend this solution at this time because the support for the Token software is expiring soon and Cisco IOS SSL VPN would have to be upgraded to another solution similar to Token."
"I would like Cisco IOS SSL VPN to provide a faster connection."
"The solution needs to integrate password-less technology so that you don't have to remember passwords each time that you log in, which is otherwise tedious. We should be able to log in as long as our system is connected to the internet."
"They could provide the cloud-based as-a-service model with monthly rental payments."
"Cisco device management is quite difficult. They should work to simplify this."
"The product's integration process needs improvement with certain regional network configurations, especially in locations where ISP practices can affect performance."
"There is always a delay in response when I try to work on the VPN."
"When it comes to the Windows VPN client, I find security to be a significant concern. It's not secure and it's very unstable."
 

Pricing and Cost Advice

"Cisco IOS SSL VPN comes with a cost-effective subscription."
"The tool is expensive."
"The licensing fee is expensive."
"Users have to pay a yearly licensing fee for Cisco IOS SSL VPN."
"The product costs less."
"Cisco IOS SSL VPN is more expensive than the Aruba VPN, but it is worth the money."
"The licensing cost of the solution is on a yearly basis, and it is expensive compared to other solutions in the market."
"Price flexibility could be improved in comparison to other vendors."
"It is a cost-effective product."
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913,683 professionals have used our research since 2012.
 

Top Industries

By visitors reading reviews
Construction Company
19%
Outsourcing Company
11%
Financial Services Firm
9%
Manufacturing Company
8%
No data available
 

Company Size

By reviewers
Large Enterprise
Midsize Enterprise
Small Business
By reviewers
Company SizeCount
Small Business23
Midsize Enterprise4
Large Enterprise26
No data available
 

Questions from the Community

What needs improvement with Cisco IOS SSL VPN?
I have not found any areas that could be improved so far. I am not sure how Cisco IOS SSL VPN can continue their improvements for the future, but I think it is a great product. To stay on top, they...
What is your primary use case for Cisco IOS SSL VPN?
Currently, I use Cisco IOS SSL VPN to VPN in, but not with high frequency. We use Cisco IOS SSL VPN as our VPN client to connect to our network. This is for health.
What is your experience regarding pricing and costs for SonicWall Global VPN Client?
In terms of pricing, normally a firewall box or appliance comes with some licenses. When we develop a solution for a company with a hundred users, normally 10% of that has remote access. So 10 VPN ...
What needs improvement with SonicWall Global VPN Client?
The only thing that we don't really appreciate about SonicWall, not specifically SonicWall but in general, is the SSL VPNs. We're still using GVC, the SonicWall Global VPN Client. The SonicWall Glo...
What is your primary use case for SonicWall Global VPN Client?
I have been using the SonicWall Global VPN Client for thirty years. We have a company here in Brazil that has extensive access to our customers' networks, all through site-to-site VPNs for managing...
 

Also Known As

Cisco SSL VPN
No data available
 

Overview

 

Sample Customers

MST Systems
Information Not Available
Find out what your peers are saying about Cisco IOS SSL VPN vs. SonicWall Global VPN Client and other solutions. Updated: September 2026.
913,683 professionals have used our research since 2012.