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Cisco Meraki Wireless LAN vs Juniper WLC Series comparison

Cisco and Juniper are both solutions in the Wireless LAN category. Cisco is ranked #4 with an average rating of 8.2, while Juniper is ranked #17 with an average rating of 8.6. Cisco holds a 11.5% mindshare in Wireless LAN, compared to Juniper’s 1.1% mindshare. Additionally, 92% of Cisco users are willing to recommend the solution, compared to 100% of Juniper users who would recommend it.
Cisco Meraki Wireless LAN
Read 120 Cisco Meraki Wireless LAN reviews
  • 11,730 Views
  • 10,440 Comparison Views
92% willing to recommend
Juniper WLC Series
Read 14 Juniper WLC Series reviews
  • 799 Views
  • 791 Comparison Views
100% willing to recommend
 

Comparison Buyer's Guide

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Executive SummaryUpdated on Oct 31, 2024

Cisco Meraki Wireless LAN and Juniper WLC Series are strong contenders in the wireless network market. Cisco Meraki has the upper hand in ease of use due to its centralized cloud management, while Juniper WLC Series excels in performance and security for more technical enterprises.

Features: Cisco Meraki offers centralized cloud management, easy network segmentation, and user-friendly tracking and reporting tools, making it ideal for both small organizations and larger enterprises seeking intuitive solutions. Juniper WLC Series provides high-speed connectivity, strong security, and templates that ensure network consistency, appealing to technically inclined enterprises.

Room for Improvement: Cisco Meraki could improve its error logs, support process consistency, and connectivity to European privacy laws. Pricing and limited customization options are also concerns. Juniper WLC Series needs enhancements in traffic monitoring, ease of use, and security, along with assurance of future development for reliability.

Ease of Deployment and Customer Service: Cisco Meraki's deployment is straightforward across different cloud environments, with generally reliable technical support. However, some users mention delays. Juniper WLC Series provides on-premises solutions with efficient support, directly connecting users to technical staff, though integration with other products could be improved.

Pricing and ROI: Cisco Meraki's pricing is seen as high, with concerns about the subscription model impacting budgets. Despite this, its robust features deliver a positive ROI. Juniper WLC Series, also considered pricey, provides reliability and performance that justify the investment, with upfront and ongoing costs catering to varied business needs.

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To learn more, read our detailed Cisco Meraki Wireless LAN vs. Juniper WLC Series Report (Updated: September 2025).
Buyer's Guide
Cisco Meraki Wireless LAN vs. Juniper WLC Series
September 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 Meraki Wireless LAN
Ranking in Wireless LAN
4th
Average Rating
8.2
Reviews Sentiment
4.3
Number of Reviews
120
Ranking in other categories
No ranking in other categories
Juniper WLC Series
Ranking in Wireless LAN
17th
Average Rating
8.6
Reviews Sentiment
7.3
Number of Reviews
14
Ranking in other categories
No ranking in other categories
 

Mindshare comparison

As of October 2025, in the Wireless LAN category, the mindshare of Cisco Meraki Wireless LAN is 11.5%, down from 12.8% compared to the previous year. The mindshare of Juniper WLC Series is 1.1%, up from 0.9% compared to the previous year. It is calculated based on PeerSpot user engagement data.
Wireless LAN Market Share Distribution
ProductMarket Share (%)
Cisco Meraki Wireless LAN11.5%
Juniper WLC Series1.1%
Other87.4%
Wireless LAN
 

Featured Reviews

RezaPradipta - PeerSpot reviewer
Streamline network management with a unified dashboard for seamless device integration
The primary use case for Cisco Meraki Wireless LAN is mostly for enterprise wireless, including guest Wi-Fi and enterprise Wi-Fi. I use it across various industries with a focus on retail Cisco Meraki Wireless LAN offers a single pane of glass management. It only comes with a controller on the…
Read full review
Matilda Elwell - PeerSpot reviewer
Offers visibility and cost benefits
The tool has given us more visibility, but I'm not very technical, so I can't comment on specific features. However, the diagnostic tools for identifying system issues have greatly improved, which we appreciate. We still use Cisco ICE for authentication on the Juniper network, as we did before. We've seen cost benefits with the Juniper WLC Series, which was a key factor in our decision-making during the proof of concept. Besides cost improvements, we've also noticed better resolution of issues and faults in our help desk, thanks to the enhanced features.
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 cloud-based. It has a GUI rather than a command line, and it just works."
"Its ease of use and flexibility are most valuable. It is cloud-based software."
"The solution is trustworthy. I find it easy and secure."
"The solution is very easy to use."
"The product is super stable. I would rate the stability a ten."
"Its management is most valuable. It is the major feature of Meraki."
"The settings of Cisco Meraki Wireless LAN can be very granular. You can lock down and block devices with the controls. For example, we have four different wireless settings, such as guest, employee, security, and backup. For example, the settings for the employees, if they use laptops, they're required to have certain settings, such as an antivirus installed. If they do not then Cisco Meraki Wireless LAN will not let them connect. This is very good protection because the network works on the bringing your own device(BYOD) principle. It's a BYOD environment now, and you also don't want them to bring infection into the environment because these people are connecting to the LAN via wireless connections. We have to be careful because we're managing it, we have to be very strict with regards to the rules and policies."
"The initial setup of Cisco Meraki Wireless LAN was very easy."
More Cisco Meraki Wireless LAN pros
"The AI integration with Marvis is very valuable."
"It's easy to set up, and I feel it's very secure. I also prefer its reporting feature. The devices are quite good."
"The installation process is nice and easy."
"The Artificial Intelligence on offer is very useful."
"It prevents a large number of unauthorized modifications of access point devices."
"Juniper Wireless is reasonable, with a bit of complexity compared to Alibaba and SQL."
"The tool has given us more visibility, but I'm not very technical, so I can't comment on specific features. However, the diagnostic tools for identifying system issues have greatly improved, which we appreciate. We still use Cisco ICE for authentication on the Juniper network, as we did before. We've seen cost benefits with the Juniper WLC Series, which was a key factor in our decision-making during the proof of concept. Besides cost improvements, we've also noticed better resolution of issues and faults in our help desk, thanks to the enhanced features."
"There weren't any scalability issues, the product did what it had to do."
More Juniper WLC Series pros
 

Cons

"Meraki leaves a lot to be desired when it comes to the technical capabilities in terms of throughput, spectrum, management, higher-level functions, etc"
"Updating the equipment and the scheme they use to bill for the license could be improved."
"The solution cannot be looked upon for one year or short term because you will pay back all the discounts they offer the next time you pay for renewal."
"I would like to see Cisco Meraki improve the accessibility by region level here in Latin America."
"In a future release, they should offer a next-generation UTM, where you can manage all items and the network, and have it include a lot of security features like fingerprinting functionality."
"Licensing is, in my opinion, the least appealing component. It can be difficult to keep licenses up to date in order for the system to function properly."
"This solution could benefit from a heat mapping ability so that you can tell where the hotspots are, and where the good signals are."
"Its price should be reduced."
More Cisco Meraki Wireless LAN cons
"There could be more information from the controller, and it could be easier to work with the controller lights. It's not easy to bring up the upgrades."
"The solution should create configuration documentation."
"The solution could offer more integration with other products."
"Juniper lacks a network access control agent similar to solutions like Alubakya Path and Cisco ISE."
"In my region, access to the product is very difficult and presents a logistical nightmare. Also, pricing is a big problem and a barrier to entry when selling Juniper against competitors."
"The network coverage of Juniper WLC Series and Cisco is different. We need to add additional access points."
"The support on offer to other vendors switching - like Aruba or Ruckus - could be improved."
"The biggest issue was that Juniper stopped developing, so we had to look for another solution."
More Juniper WLC Series cons
 

Pricing and Cost Advice

"The price is on the high side when compared to Aruba."
"This solution is slightly more expensive than others, such as Ruckus Wi-Fi."
"My client has made comments on the price, indicating it is expensive, however you do receive a lot for the money that you did spend on the solution. The price of the annual renewal of the licensing of Cisco Meraki Wireless LAN is a little high. We wish the price would drop."
"It is expensive."
"Its licensing is on a yearly basis. It can be for three, five, or ten years. I'm happy with the pricing. You basically pay for what you get. It is that simple. When you look at Ubiquiti or Aruba, Cisco Meraki Wireless LAN far outweighs what you get. If you're in the UK, Ubiquiti gives a three-year or five-year warranty, whereas here in the UAE, they only give a one-year warranty, which is no good to me. Who buys a piece of equipment with only one year warranty on it? It doesn't make sense."
"The platform is expensive."
"The product is expensive. I rate the pricing a nine out of ten."
"Its price is higher than other products. It is above the expectation of customers. So, every time we need to fight for a good price."
More Cisco Meraki Wireless LAN pricing and cost advice
"The licensing cost is quite high, but considering it's an enterprise solution, the complexity justifies the price."
"The product is relatively affordable for enterprise companies."
"Juniper WLC Series is a bit pricey but worth its cost."
"The solution's pricing is reasonable."
"There is a certain amount that needs to be paid towards the licensing charges associated with the product, but though I am not sure, I feel the licenses that we have in our company are for three years."
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Top Industries

By visitors reading reviews
Computer Software Company
16%
Manufacturing Company
8%
Comms Service Provider
8%
Educational Organization
7%
Computer Software Company
11%
Financial Services Firm
9%
Manufacturing Company
8%
Educational Organization
8%
 

Company Size

By reviewers
Large Enterprise
Midsize Enterprise
Small Business
By reviewers
Company SizeCount
Small Business68
Midsize Enterprise26
Large Enterprise31
By reviewers
Company SizeCount
Small Business7
Midsize Enterprise4
Large Enterprise4
 

Questions from the Community

What are pros and cons of Aruba 515 Series AP vs. Cisco Meraki or Extreme Networks?
Depends. I have personally used both Cisco and Aruba so I am familiar with them. Extreme I am not, so unless they have some feature that I need or want, I wouldn't consider them. Do you have expe...
See all answers
Which is better - Cisco Wireless or Cisco Meraki Wireless LAN?
Cisco Wireless is very robust, very rugged, and can handle indoor and outdoor coverage extremely well. We found it to be very reliable and to consistently run very efficiently. Cisco Wireless helpe...
See all answers
How does Ruckus Wireless compare to Cisco Meraki Wireless LAN?
Cisco’s Meraki Virtual MX is a virtual instance of the Meraki SD-WAN appliance. We liked the Meraki. The Wifi APs are a great feature. The dashboard is a simple interface and easy to learn. It feat...
See all answers
What do you like most about Juniper WLC Series?
Juniper WLC Series is a very high-performance device designed for indoor wireless deployment.
See all answers
What needs improvement with Juniper WLC Series?
Juniper lacks a network access control agent similar to solutions like Alubakya Path and Cisco ISE. There should be a network access control engine. Some customers find it challenging as they do no...
See all answers
What is your primary use case for Juniper WLC Series?
I work with Juniper service provider solutions. I have a service provider customer and some enterprise customers in retail.
See all answers
 

Comparisons

Aruba Wireless vs Cisco Meraki Wireless LAN Logo
Aruba Wireless vs Cisco Meraki Wireless LAN
Compared 31% of the time
Juniper Mist Wireless Access Points vs Cisco Meraki Wireless LAN Logo
Juniper Mist Wireless Access Points vs Cisco Meraki Wireless LAN
Compared 12% of the time
Ruckus Wireless vs Cisco Meraki Wireless LAN Logo
Ruckus Wireless vs Cisco Meraki Wireless LAN
Compared 12% of the time
Fortinet FortiAP vs Cisco Meraki Wireless LAN Logo
Fortinet FortiAP vs Cisco Meraki Wireless LAN
Compared 6% of the time
Ubiquiti Wireless vs Cisco Meraki Wireless LAN Logo
Ubiquiti Wireless vs Cisco Meraki Wireless LAN
Compared 5% of the time
More Cisco Meraki Wireless LAN Competitors
Cisco Wireless vs Juniper WLC Series Logo
Cisco Wireless vs Juniper WLC Series
Compared 37% of the time
Aruba Wireless vs Juniper WLC Series Logo
Aruba Wireless vs Juniper WLC Series
Compared 30% of the time
Ruckus Wireless vs Juniper WLC Series Logo
Ruckus Wireless vs Juniper WLC Series
Compared 27% of the time
More Juniper WLC Series Competitors
 

Product Reports

Buyer's Guide
Cisco Meraki Wireless LAN
September 2025
Cisco Meraki Wireless LAN reportDownload Cisco Meraki Wireless LAN product report
Buyer's Guide
Wireless LAN
August 2025
Juniper WLC Series reportDownload Juniper WLC Series product report
 

Also Known As

MR18, MR26, MR32, MR34, MR66, MR72, Meraki Wireless LAN, Meraki WLAN
Juniper WLAN
 

Overview

Cisco Meraki access points are built from the highest grade components and carefully optimized for a seamless user experience. The outcome: faster connections, greater user capacity, more coverage, and fewer support calls. The Cisco Meraki dashboard gives visibility into the network users, their devices, and their applications. Armed with rich analytics, administrators can quickly create access control and application usage policies, optimizing both the end-user experience and network security.
Cisco
WLC Series Wireless LAN Controllers deliver and manage wireless local area networks with the highest level of reliability, performance, security, and management in the industry. They integrate secure, wireless LANs with any size wired infrastructures, from small branch offices to the largest enterprise or university campus.
Juniper
 

Sample Customers

Advanced Medical Transport, Banco de Guayaquil, Baylor Scott & White Health, BH Telecom, Bowling Green State University, Calligaris, Children's Hospital Colorado, City of Biel, Del Papa Distributing, Department of Justice, Dimension Data, Dualtec Cloud Builders, Electricity Authority of Cyprus, Grupo Industrial Saltillo (GIS), Hertz, K&L Gates , LightEdge, Lone Star College System, Management Science Associates, Mindtree, NBC Olympics, Quest, Sony Corporation, The Department of Education in Western Australia, Valley Proteins
Apollo Hotel Papendrecht, Armstrong Atlantic State University, Bajaj Capital, Baloise Insurance, BAS Group, Borealis, Danish Crown, Deloitte Belgium, Jan Yperman Hospital, Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca, MercaSID, S.A., NHTV Breda University, Parklands College and Christopher Robin Pre-Primary, San Antonio Community Hospital, Sandia National Laboratories, Springfield Public Schools (SPS), St. Catherine University, TalkTalk, The Education Village, University of Copenhagen, University of the Highlands and Islands, University of the West of Scotland (UWS), Valdosta State University, Waikato Institute of Technology (Wintec), zulily
Buyer's Guide
Cisco Meraki Wireless LAN vs. Juniper WLC Series
September 2025
Free Report: Cisco Meraki Wireless LAN vs. Juniper WLC Series
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