Cisco IOS SSL VPN vs SonicWall Netextender comparison

Cisco and SonicWall are both solutions in the Enterprise Infrastructure VPN category. Cisco is ranked #12 with an average rating of 9.1, while SonicWall is ranked #10 with an average rating of 9.0. Cisco holds a 2.4% mindshare in EIV, compared to SonicWall’s 3.1% mindshare. Additionally, 100% of Cisco users are willing to recommend the solution, compared to 70% of SonicWall users who would recommend it.

Cisco IOS SSL VPN

Read 50 Cisco IOS SSL VPN reviews

1,530 Views
1,316 Comparison Views

100% willing to recommend

SonicWall Netextender

Read 14 SonicWall Netextender reviews

2,555 Views
2,555 Comparison Views

70% 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: December 2025).

Buyer's Guide

Cisco IOS SSL VPN vs. SonicWall Netextender

December 2025

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Helped 881,733 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

12th

Average Rating

8.6

Reviews Sentiment

7.2

Number of Reviews

Ranking in other categories

SSL VPN (4th)

SonicWall Netextender

Ranking in Enterprise Infrastructure VPN

10th

Average Rating

7.0

Reviews Sentiment

6.3

Number of Reviews

Ranking in other categories

No ranking in other categories

Mindshare comparison

As of February 2026, in the Enterprise Infrastructure VPN category, the mindshare of Cisco IOS SSL VPN is 2.4%, up from 1.0% compared to the previous year. The mindshare of SonicWall Netextender is 3.1%, down from 3.8% compared to the previous year. It is calculated based on PeerSpot user engagement data.

Enterprise Infrastructure VPN Market Share Distribution
Product	Market Share (%)
SonicWall Netextender	3.1%
Cisco IOS SSL VPN	2.4%
Other	94.5%

Enterprise Infrastructure VPN

Featured Reviews

Viktor Masnyy

student at a university with 1,001-5,000 employees

Cost efficiency and ease of setup define network management while potential improvements in complexity handling are noted

Optimizing and configuring for network segmentation is the biggest thing for helping with segmenting traffic management. Configuring QoS on Linksys is pretty easy, especially compared to Cisco QoS, which I am certified in, as it helps ensure that the bandwidth for voice or other applications doesn't bleed over into the data links. In the past, Linksys has been pretty good at network protection, segmenting off that protection for unauthorized access or cyber threats. Cost savings and ease of use are the benefits I've seen from Linksys. It's a little bit less complex to set up and configure compared to Cisco switching. I utilized the VLAN support feature in the Linksys switches. A lot of the networks I have were broken up by VLAN, and I definitely configured them for different VLANs. The best feature of Linksys in my opinion is cost, as they tend to be more cost-effective compared to larger switches or Cisco switches.

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Rich Darress

Chief Operating Officer at Darress Tech

Has provided secure remote access to multiple client networks with consistent performance

When buying the appliance itself, there is one downside that isn't exclusive to SonicWall. When you apply all the security settings, many people have one gig connections for internet ISP. If you're bringing in a one gig connection, you have to have a more robust SonicWall to handle that throughput with all your security settings turned on. It gets pretty pricey upfront if you're bringing in a one gig connection. If the customer starts with a two, three, four, or 500 meg connection and has a small unit, they have to replace the whole box when upgrading to a gig, so scalability there is atrocious. However, this issue exists with pretty much any appliance.

Read full review

Quotes from Members

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

Pros

"It is very effective and I am satisfied with how it works and with its performance."

"It is highly scalable, speedy, and reliable."

"It's a stable solution."

"A reliable and stable solution for remote network access."

"Cisco VPN is easy to connect."

"The solution's environment is stable and doesn't get disconnected every now and then."

"The platform provides value and benefits to our organization through efficient and effective communication."

"The product is very stable."

More Cisco IOS SSL VPN pros

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

"I found nothing of value in this solution."

"The best features of the SonicWall Netextender were its ease of use."

"My company opted for this solution because it can individually perform. Basically, we don't require load balancers and all those additional feature sets or additional devices that might be required. The solution can handle the certificate, DNS queries, and all that stuff individually."

"The SSL-VPN encryption has been fantastic for my organization's data confidentiality and integrity; we've done extensive testing with third-party cybersecurity testing while connected and it has passed with flying colors."

"It allows us to work remotely."

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

"One of the most valuable features of SonicWall Netextender is the integration of VPN accounts with Microsoft Identity Management, which enables us to enforce secure access through Microsoft Intune and conditional access policies. This helps ensure that only authorized individuals are able to access the VPN, rather than anyone with knowledge of a password."

More SonicWall Netextender pros

Cons

"The flexibility of configurations could be improved."

"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 think the administration can be improved to include web interfaces."

"Cisco device management is quite difficult. They should work to simplify this."

"When many people are using the internet at home, which is usually right after dinner, this type of service is a little bit hard to use. The internet becomes quite slow, and sometimes, I have to stop using this application. I am not sure if this issue is because of the application or my internet provider."

"I believe Cisco could support easier configuration and having tools that allow for easier management and configuration, as Linksys switches are a little bit easier to manage and set up compared to Cisco switches."

"The solution's graphical user interface is not very user-friendly."

"The system needs to be upgraded to replace the Token Authentication software, which will no longer be supported."

More Cisco IOS SSL VPN cons

"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."

"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."

"The UI could be a little better."

"The solution takes up a lot of bandwidth."

"The product does not work well."

"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."

"If the customer starts with a two, three, four, or 500 meg connection and has a small unit, they have to replace the whole box when upgrading to a gig, so scalability there is atrocious."

"There must be a multi-factor authentication enabled or integrated by default with it in order to be integrated with NetExtender."

More SonicWall Netextender cons

Pricing and Cost Advice

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

"It stands as the priciest solution available in the market."

"The licensing fee is expensive."

"With Cisco, there is a free solution or a licensed version of the solution with a set of endpoint services."

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

"FortiGate does not charge the client a licensing fee, although Cisco charges clients a couple of dollars per year for each license."

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

"The solution is reasonably priced, and we have around 50% to 60% discounts from Cisco."

More Cisco IOS SSL VPN pricing and cost advice

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

"The solution has a pretty good price."

"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."

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

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

"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."

"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."

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Top Industries

By visitors reading reviews

Computer Software Company

11%

Marketing Services Firm

10%

Healthcare Company

Financial Services Firm

Computer Software Company

11%

Comms Service Provider

Manufacturing Company

Outsourcing Company

Company Size

By reviewers

Large Enterprise

Midsize Enterprise

Small Business

By reviewers
Company Size	Count
Small Business	24
Midsize Enterprise	4
Large Enterprise	24

By reviewers
Company Size	Count
Small Business	10
Midsize Enterprise	2
Large Enterprise	2

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?

I am not sure about the pricing of Cisco IOS SSL VPN.

See all answers

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...

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

The pricing for my experience with the setup cost and licensing of SonicWall Netextender is fair. The Netextender itself has no cost. It's the SSL licensing that is attached to the SonicWall. It us...

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What needs improvement with SonicWall Netextender?

SonicWall Netextender has not helped with compliance, as it is not applicable for what I'm doing. I've put several feature requests in over the years and they've implemented them all, so it current...

See all answers

What is your primary use case for SonicWall Netextender?

Getting to local resources on a customer's network is my main use case with SonicWall Netextender or SonicWall SSL-VPN. As a managed service provider, all my customers have SonicWalls and I get int...

See all answers

Comparisons

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Sangfor SSL VPN vs Cisco IOS SSL VPN

Compared 9% of the time

Array AG Series vs Cisco IOS SSL VPN

Compared 9% of the time

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OpenVPN Access Server vs SonicWall Netextender

Compared 30% of the time

SonicWall Connect Tunnel vs SonicWall Netextender

Compared 14% of the time

SonicWall SMA vs SonicWall Netextender

Compared 10% of the time

SonicWall Mobile Connect vs SonicWall Netextender

Compared 9% of the time

Fortinet FortiClient vs SonicWall Netextender

Compared 9% of the time

More SonicWall Netextender Competitors

Product Reports

Buyer's Guide

Cisco IOS SSL VPN

February 2026

Download Cisco IOS SSL VPN product report

Buyer's Guide

SonicWall Netextender

January 2026

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

December 2025

Free Report: Cisco IOS SSL VPN vs. SonicWall Netextender

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