Try our new research platform with insights from 80,000+ expert users

Cisco Prime [EOL] vs SolarWinds Network Configuration Manager comparison

The compared Cisco and SolarWinds solutions aren't in the same category. SolarWinds is ranked #15 in CM , with an average rating of 7.7, and holds a 2.1% mindshare. Additionally, 91% of Cisco users are willing to recommend the solution, compared to 95% of SolarWinds users who would recommend it.
Cisco Prime [EOL]
Read 35 Cisco Prime [EOL] reviews
    91% willing to recommend
    SolarWinds Network Configur...
    Read 27 SolarWinds Network Configuration Manager reviews
    • 2,268 Views
    • 635 Comparison Views
    95% willing to recommend
     

    Comparison Buyer's Guide

    Download the report
    Executive Summary
    We performed a comparison between Cisco Prime [EOL] and SolarWinds Network Configuration Manager based on real PeerSpot user reviews.

    Find out in this report how the two Network Management Applications solutions compare in terms of features, pricing, service and support, easy of deployment, and ROI.

    DOWNLOAD THE COMPLETE REPORT
    To learn more, read our detailed Cisco Prime [EOL] vs. SolarWinds Network Configuration Manager Report (Updated: March 2023).
    Buyer's Guide
    Cisco Prime [EOL] vs. SolarWinds Network Configuration Manager
    March 2023
    Download the complete report
    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 Prime [EOL]
    Average Rating
    7.8
    Reviews Sentiment
    6.5
    Number of Reviews
    35
    Ranking in other categories
    No ranking in other categories
    SolarWinds Network Configur...
    Average Rating
    8.2
    Reviews Sentiment
    6.9
    Number of Reviews
    27
    Ranking in other categories
    Configuration Management (15th), Network Automation (5th)
     

    Featured Reviews

    AR
    AndrewRichardson
    Network Engineer at Edmonton Catholic School Board
    Has an easy implementation process, but the performance monitoring feature could be more intuitive
    The project implementation was easy overall. Adapting Cisco's solutions to our specific environment required effort, as their documentation only covers some network scenarios. The deployment didn't happen all at once; it was staged and controlled to ensure a smooth transition. We started with a small test environment before gradually rolling it out to all campuses. This gradual approach helped mitigate the risk of any issues arising across multiple locations simultaneously, especially on a critical day like Monday morning. We have a team of three executives working on the process. Their job roles included network specialists and a manager. It requires maintenance, which is included in the annual cost. We receive updates and support as part of the renewal process.
    Read full review
    AB
    Alastair Brand
    MD at Thembanet
    Flexibility and reliability enable effective network monitoring with integrations and compliance reporting
    The flexibility and reliability of SolarWinds Network Configuration Manager are particularly valuable. It allows for a significant amount of integrations, including with collaboration platforms like Microsoft Teams and Telegram, as well as ServiceNow and Microsoft BI. The solution facilitates compliance reporting through an NCM module, effectively generating out-of-the-box reports on software vulnerabilities and outdated software versions. Additionally, the real-time change detection feature significantly reduces the time to resolve issues by allowing alerts to be tracked through to resolution. The use of templates helps in deploying configuration standards, preventing configuration errors.
    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

    "Cisco Prime can help customers fix their Wi-Fi issues with scientific and digital data."
    "The most valuable feature of Cisco Prime is its excellent audio and video conferencing with clear quality and no interruptions."
    "The product's most valuable features are monitoring and configuration."
    "Cisco Prime, from a management perspective, has good reporting."
    "We use this solution to troubleshoot our wireless systems, specifically regarding signal strength."
    "What I found most beneficial from Cisco Prime is that it gives you an insight into what your network does, even when you're not actively monitoring what's going on with your network."
    "It gives you the ability to upgrade switches remotely, schedule the upgrade time, perform backups, and monitor the health of all networks."
    "Cisco Prime has been around for a long time, and it keeps getting better and better."
    More Cisco Prime [EOL] pros
    "We push all our configurations to the servers with ease and the logs capture almost all the transactions needed for an internal audit."
    "The network performance monitoring of SolarWinds Network Configuration Manager is a vital feature"
    "The installation is straightforward."
    "It is pretty straightforward to set up."
    "NCM also helps with vulnerability assessment and remediation."
    "The scanning features have proven to be highly valuable, particularly due to the comprehensive information they provide."
    "The solution's view is very nice, and they have a great customized dashboard."
    "The feature that I really enjoy is the ability to script changes across all of your devices."
    More SolarWinds Network Configuration Manager pros
     

    Cons

    "The product is expensive compared to other vendors in the market."
    "We would like to see the inclusion of detailed alerts."
    "Maybe it could be a little cheaper."
    "It should be able to monitor Palo Alto, Juniper, and Check Point products - not just Cisco solutions."
    "I would rate the scalability of Cisco Prime a six out of ten. To scale up from a hundred to a thousand devices, the platform needs to be rebuilt logically. This process might require a downtime window and may involve changing the hardware or upgrading to a larger appliance."
    "There is room for improvement in the Access layer."
    "They can also improve the management of more enterprise devices."
    "The product's performance monitoring feature could be more intuitive."
    More Cisco Prime [EOL] cons
    "Its customer service response could be faster."
    "The third-party plugins available in the solution could improve. I have received some issues with the templates."
    "The solution could improve by being more secure."
    "The network flow is a problem for this solution."
    "We want to be able to store it in a data warehouse format and integrate it with Google single sign-on."
    "Further improvements in automation are needed. Currently, there are limitations in performing tasks without logging into routers directly, and we expect more comprehensive device control."
    "I would like to see more features in terms of wireless reporting and more historical information for client connectivity in SolarWinds Network Configuration Manager."
    "Improvements are needed in the automatic network mapping function."
    More SolarWinds Network Configuration Manager cons
     

    Pricing and Cost Advice

    "Cisco Prime is an expensive solution."
    "I rate the solution's pricing an eight out of ten."
    "If we have a license for Cisco DNA, we can use the same license for Cisco Prime."
    "I would rate the pricing of Cisco Prime a seven out of ten."
    "The product's performance monitoring feature could be more intuitive."
    "The product is expensive compared to other vendors in the market."
    "The cost is quite high."
    "We update the license every five years."
    More Cisco Prime [EOL] pricing and cost advice
    "We have to pay additionally for its support and maintenance."
    "Pricing is reasonable and competitive."
    "Available at a moderate price"
    "There is a license for the use of this solution and it is priced well, there is a lot of value for the money."
    "In Africa, the cost is a major factor in decision-making for many companies. As a result, some companies may choose cheaper solutions, even if they are open-source, over more expensive ones, such as SolarWinds Network Configuration Manager. However, as an engineer, I believe that the functionalities and services offered by SolarWinds justify the cost. Nonetheless, many companies in Africa may still view the prices as unaffordable."
    "The price of the solution is high compared to other solutions."
    "Additional costs beyond the standard licensing fee are inevitable."
    "There is a license needed to use SolarWinds Network Configuration Manager."
    More SolarWinds Network Configuration Manager pricing and cost advice
    report
    See which vendors are best for you
    Use our free recommendation engine to learn which Network Management Applications solutions are best for your needs.
    See recommendations
    881,733 professionals have used our research since 2012.
     

    Top Industries

    By visitors reading reviews
    Government
    13%
    Computer Software Company
    12%
    Manufacturing Company
    9%
    Healthcare Company
    8%
    Government
    13%
    Manufacturing Company
    10%
    Computer Software Company
    8%
    Comms Service Provider
    7%
     

    Company Size

    By reviewers
    Large Enterprise
    Midsize Enterprise
    Small Business
    By reviewers
    Company SizeCount
    Small Business9
    Midsize Enterprise4
    Large Enterprise24
    By reviewers
    Company SizeCount
    Small Business15
    Midsize Enterprise5
    Large Enterprise8
     

    Questions from the Community

    What do you like most about Cisco Prime?
    The most valuable features of Cisco Prime include its comprehensive functionality as a one-stop solution for basic SNMP port management.
    See all answers
    What needs improvement with Cisco Prime?
    The product's performance monitoring feature could be more intuitive.
    See all answers
    What is your primary use case for Cisco Prime?
    We use Cisco Prime for centralized configuration management backups and monitoring.
    See all answers
    What do you like most about SolarWinds Network Configuration Manager?
    The configuration compliance aspect of SolarWinds Network Configuration Manager allows for easy comparison of configuration settings across branches, ensuring adherence to security guidelines and b...
    See all answers
    What is your experience regarding pricing and costs for SolarWinds Network Configuration Manager?
    The licensing costs of SolarWinds Network Configuration Manager are expensive, but considering its reliability, feature enhancements, and support, it is worthwhile.
    See all answers
    What needs improvement with SolarWinds Network Configuration Manager?
    NCM could benefit from enhanced automation capabilities — for instance, enabling workflow-based configuration automation tasks. While regex and command-line scripting are available, they require sp...
    See all answers
     

    Comparisons

    ExtremeCloud IQ vs Cisco Prime [EOL] Logo
    ExtremeCloud IQ vs Cisco Prime [EOL]
    Compared 15% of the time
    Fortinet FortiManager vs Cisco Prime [EOL] Logo
    Fortinet FortiManager vs Cisco Prime [EOL]
    Compared 12% of the time
    DX Spectrum vs Cisco Prime [EOL] Logo
    DX Spectrum vs Cisco Prime [EOL]
    Compared 11% of the time
    NetMaster Network Intelligence vs Cisco Prime [EOL] Logo
    NetMaster Network Intelligence vs Cisco Prime [EOL]
    Compared 10% of the time
    Junos Space Network Director vs Cisco Prime [EOL] Logo
    Junos Space Network Director vs Cisco Prime [EOL]
    Compared 10% of the time
    More Cisco Prime [EOL] Competitors
    Cisco DNA Center vs SolarWinds Network Configuration Manager Logo
    Cisco DNA Center vs SolarWinds Network Configuration Manager
    Compared 12% of the time
    Red Hat Ansible Automation Platform vs SolarWinds Network Configuration Manager Logo
    Red Hat Ansible Automation Platform vs SolarWinds Network Configuration Manager
    Compared 8% of the time
    Huawei eSight vs SolarWinds Network Configuration Manager Logo
    Huawei eSight vs SolarWinds Network Configuration Manager
    Compared 4% of the time
    OpenText Network Node Manager vs SolarWinds Network Configuration Manager Logo
    OpenText Network Node Manager vs SolarWinds Network Configuration Manager
    Compared 4% of the time
    HashiCorp Terraform vs SolarWinds Network Configuration Manager Logo
    HashiCorp Terraform vs SolarWinds Network Configuration Manager
    Compared 4% of the time
    More SolarWinds Network Configuration Manager Competitors
     

    Product Reports

    Buyer's Guide
    Cisco Prime [EOL]
    February 2026
    Cisco Prime [EOL] reportDownload Cisco Prime [EOL] product report
    Buyer's Guide
    SolarWinds Network Configuration Manager
    January 2026
    SolarWinds Network Configuration Manager reportDownload SolarWinds Network Configuration Manager product report
     

    Also Known As

    Cisco Prime Infrastructure
    SolarWinds NCM
     

    Overview

    Cisco Prime products deliver next-generation management by supporting an intuitive workflow-oriented user experience and integrated lifecycle operations across Cisco architectures, technologies, and networks.

    Cisco
    Before you monitor your network, configure it! A reliable and secure network starts with carefully planned, executed, and monitored network configuration and change management. SolarWinds Network Configuration Manager (NCM) saves time and improves network reliability and security by managing configurations, changes, and compliance for routers, switches, and other network devices from Cisco, Juniper, HP, Dell, Brocade, Aruba, Rukus, and more.
    SolarWinds
     

    Sample Customers

    Mohawk Industries, Universidad EAFIT, Halton Healthcare
    United Lincolnshire Hospitals, Air Rarotonga, NetSuite, Thai AirAsia, REA Group, 335th Signal Command, Agilisys, Marine Expeditionary Force
    Buyer's Guide
    Cisco Prime [EOL] vs. SolarWinds Network Configuration Manager
    March 2023
    Free Report: Cisco Prime [EOL] vs. SolarWinds Network Configuration Manager
    Find out what your peers are saying about Cisco Prime [EOL] vs. SolarWinds Network Configuration Manager and other solutions. Updated: March 2023.
    DOWNLOAD NOW
    881,733 professionals have used our research since 2012.
    See our Cisco Prime [EOL] vs. SolarWinds Network Configuration Manager report.

    We monitor all Network Management Applications reviews to prevent fraudulent reviews and keep review quality high. We do not post reviews by company employees or direct competitors. We validate each review for authenticity via cross-reference with LinkedIn, and personal follow-up with the reviewer when necessary.