Cisco IOS SSL VPN vs SonicWall Netextender comparison

Cisco and SonicWall are both solutions in the Enterprise Infrastructure VPN category. Cisco is ranked #9 with an average rating of 8.8, while SonicWall is ranked #15 with an average rating of 6.0. Cisco holds a 1.3% mindshare in EIV, compared to SonicWall’s 3.7% mindshare. Additionally, 100% of Cisco users are willing to recommend the solution, compared to 66% of SonicWall users who would recommend it.

Cisco IOS SSL VPN

Read 49 Cisco IOS SSL VPN reviews

1,041 Views
770 Comparison Views

100% willing to recommend

SonicWall Netextender

Read 13 SonicWall Netextender reviews

2,771 Views
2,771 Comparison Views

66% willing to recommend

Cisco IOS SSL VPN

SonicWall Netextender

Comparison Buyer's Guide

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Executive SummaryUpdated on Aug 6, 2024

Cisco IOS SSL VPN and SonicWall Netextender are both widely used for secure remote access. Users favor SonicWall Netextender for its robust features, despite the higher cost, while Cisco IOS SSL VPN receives better feedback regarding support and pricing.

Features: Cisco IOS SSL VPN offers reliable VPN connectivity, compatibility with various devices, and strong support services. SonicWall Netextender provides advanced security measures, excellent performance under load, and great scalability.

Room for Improvement: Cisco IOS SSL VPN could enhance its documentation, simplify configuration processes, and improve ease of use. SonicWall Netextender needs better administrative tools, enhanced stability, and improved error handling during usage.

Ease of Deployment and Customer Service: Cisco IOS SSL VPN's deployment is generally straightforward, though some find the initial setup complex. SonicWall Netextender deployment is mostly smooth, yet some report minor technical difficulties. Cisco is known for prompt and helpful customer service, while SonicWall's support is satisfactory but less praised.

Pricing and ROI: Cisco IOS SSL VPN is cost-effective, balancing price and functionality well. SonicWall Netextender, though more expensive, is valued for its comprehensive features and security, making it worth the investment for many users.

To learn more, read our detailed Cisco IOS SSL VPN vs. SonicWall Netextender Report (Updated: July 2025).

Buyer's Guide

Cisco IOS SSL VPN vs. SonicWall Netextender

July 2025

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Helped 865,295 peers since 2012

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 Enterprise Infrastructure VPN

9th

Average Rating

8.6

Reviews Sentiment

7.8

Number of Reviews

Ranking in other categories

SSL VPN (3rd)

SonicWall Netextender

Ranking in Enterprise Infrastructure VPN

15th

Average Rating

6.6

Reviews Sentiment

7.0

Number of Reviews

Ranking in other categories

No ranking in other categories

Mindshare comparison

As of August 2025, in the Enterprise Infrastructure VPN category, the mindshare of Cisco IOS SSL VPN is 1.3%, up from 0.9% compared to the previous year. The mindshare of SonicWall Netextender is 3.7%, up from 3.3% compared to the previous year. It is calculated based on PeerSpot user engagement data.

Enterprise Infrastructure VPN

Featured Reviews

Rupesh Kolhapurkar

Manager at Reliance Industries Ltd

Offers easy setup phase but needs to improve connectivity

For our company's remote workforce connectivity, the tool was very useful during the COVID-19 situation. In general, the VPN functionality offered by the product was very useful during the COVID-19 situation. In terms of the product's ability to secure third-party access, the tool works very well. The most valuable feature of the product in terms of network security stems from the fact that the tool provides access to the whole network, and even if users give access to some special applications, it is still really helpful. The clientless access feature is not available for clients. My company installed the product for its clients. If the product offers a clientless access feature, then it is okay and can be very helpful for our company. I recommend the product to those who plan to use it. Cisco IOS SSL VPN is a reliable product. The product is very helpful for a work-from-home setup as the tool can be used to access our company's internal network, which Falls outside the network of our organization. I rate the tool a seven to eight out of ten.

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JayPrajapati

Senior Network Security Engineer at ITCG SOlutions Pvt Ltd

Allows using a custom port for the VPN connection and provides very satisfactory customer support

In the past, customers wanted an application that could run directly upon starting the PC, automatically connecting to the firewall. We were not able to do it in NetExtender. This was something customers wanted, but we couldn't provide due to NetExtender's limitations. I feel NetExtender might have rolled out this feature. In future releases, introductions of AI features would be really helpful. For example, we faced a situation where a customer wanted to allow Office 365 access without any kind of internet, just through the local internet. Office 365 has multiple dynamic IPs and URLs that can be updated daily, making it difficult to allow. If there were an AI-based solution that could bring those URLs and new IP addresses to the firewall and add them to the rule, that would be very helpful. That is just one scenario; there are multiple things AI could help with.

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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 solution is quite transparent."

"The feature I find most valuable, is the management portal."

"It's a stable solution."

"I like to work with the CMD command line because it's easy and it doesn't take very long to configure."

"With Cisco IOS SSL VPN, you can access your corporate data safely and securely."

"It's a very stable solution and I'd say it works perfectly."

"The most valuable features are that it's reliable, convenient, and easy. It always works if configured well."

"It is stable."

More Cisco IOS SSL VPN pros

"The solution provides high availability."

"The most valuable feature for the Netextender is the ease with which we can integrate it with SAML."

"Employees can have access to the network from home."

"The initial setup is pretty easy."

"NetExtender works very well. I never had an issue with it, and it has been working well for me. In terms of management, you have good control over the destination. You can use NetExtender to set the policy and the static route for a client. You can modify it based on what your client needs or can access. You have good control over routing."

"The initial setup is pretty straightforward."

"It can support multifactor authentication. Also, it is a very basic application."

"It allows us to work remotely."

More SonicWall Netextender pros

Cons

"I would like for it to have support for the Dutch language. I typically use English in 99% of our communications but for some people, it matters."

"The servers should be more user-friendly."

"Compatibility can sometimes be a challenge. There have been issues with operating systems where newer updates cause problems with backward compatibility."

"The Secure Plus Connect product could be improved with many enhancements in any price license, especially for licensing. Cisco could simplify the licensing; it could make it easier to order and use the features."

"They could provide the cloud-based as-a-service model with monthly rental payments."

"The solution does not give us options if the connectivity to one server is not available."

"The solution's configuration could be made easier."

"It would be nice if we could use this not just on mobile, but on laptops and desktops as well."

More Cisco IOS SSL VPN cons

"The Netextender application itself doesn't really look pretty, however, we can still use it. We don't care what it looks like. That said, if they did a cosmetic update, that would be fine."

"In future releases, introductions of AI features would be really helpful."

"The solution takes up a lot of bandwidth."

"The initial setup of SonicWall Netextender is straightforward. The only issue we encountered was with relocating the VPN appliance. If we needed to move it from an on-premise to an on-cloud architecture, we had to start over and redeploy it from scratch. Unfortunately, it is not portable and any changes to its physical location often result in the need for a fresh deployment to ensure everything functions properly."

"They need to rewrite the software to make it a usable product."

"Sometimes you can get bounced around through the departments until you find the right one. Sometimes if you don't have the most current support contract or your license is out of date, they won't even talk to you."

"The only concern I do have is with the zero trust, and the solution is not coping with the newer technologies as much as it needs to do on that particular factor."

"The product does not work well."

More SonicWall Netextender cons

Pricing and Cost Advice

"The product costs less."

"Users have to pay a yearly licensing fee for Cisco IOS SSL VPN."

"The pricing of the solution is reasonable"

"Price flexibility could be improved in comparison to other vendors."

"It is an expensive product."

"My company makes payments on a quarterly basis to the vendor to cover the licensing costs attached to the product. Cisco IOS SSL VPN is an expensive product. There are no additional costs apart from the licensing costs attached to the product."

"The licensing cost of the solution is on a yearly basis, and it is expensive compared to other solutions in the market."

"There are no pricing programs for non-profit organizations and the product is otherwise expensive by comparison."

More Cisco IOS SSL VPN pricing and cost advice

"Compared to others, it is cheaper. When we compare it with Palo Alto, Check Point, or Fortinet, it is a little cheaper."

"You have to pay for its license. There are some other companies that provide a VPN client for free. When you buy NetExtender, its license is available for one, three, or five years."

"The solution is cheap itself, not too costly."

"Cost wise, it would be a few hundred dollars for the base appliance with the first five clients. Then from there, your cost per seat depends on how many you're getting. It's a one-time cost, and then you have a few hundred dollars a year for the maintenance contract once you get the one-time seat costs out of the way."

"After a certain number of users, you require extra licensing."

"The price of SonicWall Netextender is reasonable. Whether it's a small shop with only five users or a larger operation with 130 users, we have received no complaints or objections regarding cost from any of the clients we are looking to deploy it with."

"The solution has a pretty good price."

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Top Industries

By visitors reading reviews

Computer Software Company

22%

Financial Services Firm

Educational Organization

Manufacturing Company

Computer Software Company

14%

Educational Organization

Comms Service Provider

Outsourcing Company

Company Size

By reviewers

Large Enterprise

Midsize Enterprise

Small Business

Questions from the Community

What do you like most about Cisco IOS SSL VPN?

The solution is pretty fast.

See all answers

What is your experience regarding pricing and costs for Cisco IOS SSL VPN?

The pricing for Cisco IOS SSL VPN is based on per user. For more than one hundred users, it costs about $60 per seat.

See all answers

What needs improvement with Cisco IOS SSL VPN?

It's hard for me to say how Linksys could be improved. I can't think of any specific improvements needed. I believe Cisco could support easier configuration and having tools that allow for easier m...

See all answers

What do you like most about SonicWall Netextender?

The solution provides high availability.

See all answers

What is your experience regarding pricing and costs for SonicWall Netextender?

Pricing is a simple thing. We have the key, and we need to enter it in the SonicWall official portal. That's all. Compared to others, it is cheaper. When we compare it with Palo Alto, Check Point, ...

See all answers

What needs improvement with SonicWall Netextender?

I cannot think of specific areas that could be improved with the SonicWall Netextender. The main focus should be on continuous improvements to address any CVEs or vulnerabilities to ensure they're ...

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Comparisons

OpenVPN Access Server Enterprise vs Cisco IOS SSL VPN

Compared 33% of the time

Ivanti Connect Secure vs Cisco IOS SSL VPN

Compared 22% of the time

F5 BIG-IP Access Policy Manager (APM) vs Cisco IOS SSL VPN

Compared 20% of the time

Citrix Gateway vs Cisco IOS SSL VPN

Compared 14% of the time

Fortinet FortiClient vs Cisco IOS SSL VPN

Compared 10% of the time

More Cisco IOS SSL VPN Competitors

OpenVPN Access Server Enterprise vs SonicWall Netextender

Compared 33% of the time

SonicWall Connect Tunnel vs SonicWall Netextender

Compared 18% of the time

SonicWall Mobile Connect vs SonicWall Netextender

Compared 14% of the time

Fortinet FortiClient vs SonicWall Netextender

Compared 12% of the time

Microsoft Azure VPN Gateway vs SonicWall Netextender

Compared 7% of the time

More SonicWall Netextender Competitors

Product Reports

Buyer's Guide

Cisco IOS SSL VPN

August 2025

Download Cisco IOS SSL VPN product report

Buyer's Guide

SonicWall Netextender

July 2025

Download SonicWall Netextender product report

Also Known As

Cisco SSL VPN

No data available

Overview

Cisco SSL VPN solutions help you easily and securely extend the network to users who have access to the Internet and a web browser. You can customize access and extend the reach of your corporate network to individuals based on their roles, including teleworker contractors and business partners.

Cisco

SonicWall Netextender provides secure remote access, supporting remote work with valuable features like two-factor authentication, low latency, and integration with Microsoft identity management.

SonicWall Netextender facilitates secure client-to-site VPN connections for remote staff, integrating seamlessly with Microsoft identity management and using existing credentials like Active Directory. Its cost-effectiveness and detailed documentation attract enterprises in sectors such as insurance, healthcare, and education. Despite excellent control over routing, the intuitive setup could be improved, with users experiencing performance and licensing flexibility issues, especially with multi-factor authentication. While integration with SAML ensures seamless authentication, high bandwidth consumption and the outdated interface are mentioned for enhancement. Overall, SonicWall Netextender supports remote file transfers and access to Microsoft 365 portals, although additional features like automatic connection on startup and AI integration would address current user demands.

What features does SonicWall Netextender offer?

Remote Work Support: Facilitates secure connections for remote staff
Integration with Microsoft Identity Management: Connects effortlessly using existing credentials
Two-Factor Authentication: Enhances security during remote access
Low Latency and High Stability: Ensures uninterrupted remote connections
Cost-effectiveness: Attracts organizations with budget-friendly options

What benefits should users look for in reviews?

Secure Access: Reliable protection for remote file transfers
Ease of Setup: Quick deployment with minimal IT disruption
Flexible Integration: Utilizes existing credentials for seamless user experience
Documentation: Comprehensive guides for efficient setup and use

Enterprises from insurance, healthcare, and education sectors benefit from SonicWall Netextender by enabling secure remote or hybrid work. Companies facilitate efficient management of remote work, providing access to corporate resources from any location. Challenges include the authentication setup, but its support for remote access to Microsoft 365 and secure file transfers offer substantial utility for these industries.

SonicWall

Sample Customers

MST Systems

Information Not Available

Buyer's Guide

Cisco IOS SSL VPN vs. SonicWall Netextender

July 2025

Free Report: Cisco IOS SSL VPN vs. SonicWall Netextender

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