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D-Link Ethernet Switches vs Meraki MS Switches comparison

 

Comparison Buyer's Guide

Executive SummaryUpdated on Nov 3, 2024

Review summaries and opinions

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

ROI

Sentiment score
1.0
D-Link Ethernet Switches offer cost-effective, Cisco-comparable features, achieving ROI in four years with up to 90% resource savings.
Sentiment score
7.6
Meraki MS Switches offer increased manageability, reduced costs, and efficient performance, despite initial cost concerns and incomplete cloud transitions.
 

Customer Service

Sentiment score
4.7
Most users manage D-Link issues independently, using online resources, with mixed support satisfaction and preference for quicker assistance.
Sentiment score
8.6
Meraki MS Switches support is praised for expertise and reliability, but needs improvement in response times and local support.
We have implemented these switches in 25 to 30 sites without significant problems.
Whenever there is an issue, the local technical team supports us, whether through physical presence or remotely.
The support is excellent and rated ten out of ten.
If the devices are licensed, the support team will assist you depending on the severity level of the case.
Cisco's tech support is pretty good, and I would rate it an eight out of ten.
 

Scalability Issues

Sentiment score
5.9
D-Link Ethernet Switches offer scalable solutions for various enterprises, balancing user growth, diverse deployment, and competitive pricing efficiently.
Sentiment score
7.7
Meraki MS Switches are praised for scalability and flexibility but may lack features for larger enterprise needs.
The pricing is competitive in the market, making D-Link Ethernet switches a good option for both middle-end and high-end brands.
There is not much scalability.
They're quite scalable for my environment.
 

Stability Issues

Sentiment score
7.8
D-Link Ethernet Switches are reliable and stable, with minimal issues, though older models may occasionally have performance concerns.
Sentiment score
8.6
Meraki MS Switches offer reliable performance, minimal downtime, and strong support, with occasional firmware and reboot challenges reported.
The integration has been successful with no security breaches or network disturbances.
There are no stability issues with D-Link Ethernet switches.
The stability of D-Link Ethernet Switches is good.
If something happens to the device or hardware, Cisco will automatically change the device by the next business day.
We faced issues following firmware updates, which we now handle by performing updates outside of working hours.
 

Room For Improvement

D-Link Ethernet Switches need better stability, cost-efficiency, software management, security, cloud integration, support, scalability, and advanced technology support.
Meraki MS Switches are criticized for high costs, cloud dependency, limited configurations, and need better management, compatibility, and stability.
Improvements in the voltage facility, like increasing from 360 watts to 400 or 450 watts, would make them more competitive with other vendors.
Currently, D-Link Ethernet Switches are often not used in large data centers due to issues with performance and scalability.
There are compatibility issues with certain Power over Ethernet (PoE) devices, which we would like to see resolved.
When a switch disconnects from the internet, you can't make any changes to that switch.
Most people are familiar with the Cisco commands, and it would be beneficial if the switch could be accessed by GUI configuration and by normally accessing the console.
 

Setup Cost

D-Link Ethernet Switches offer cost-effective, one-time purchase options without recurring fees, appealing to budget-conscious enterprise users.
Meraki MS Switches are costly but valued for their cloud management, stability, and support, despite high hardware and licensing fees.
The pricing of D-Link Ethernet Switches is cost-effective.
D-Link Ethernet Switches are 30% cheaper than Cisco switches.
High-end switches should be slightly cheaper.
Meraki MS Switches, including their licensing, are somewhat expensive, particularly when compared with competitor solutions like HP.
Pricing is affordable, and licenses for the cloud need to be purchased every three to five years.
Meraki pricing is a little premium compared to other vendor products.
 

Valuable Features

D-Link Ethernet Switches are user-friendly, cost-effective, support VLAN, and offer robust security with efficient management and green technology.
Meraki MS Switches excel in cloud management, ease of use, proactive monitoring, security, and reliability with advanced features and scalability.
The features of D-Link Ethernet Switches that have proven most beneficial in managing network traffic include their cost-effectiveness, which is suitable for small data centers.
It's especially valuable because Cisco and other products function similarly, but for smaller networks where high transfer rates aren't necessary.
With D-Link Ethernet Switches, I do not face any network load issues.
The control plane is in the cloud, and the data plane is local, allowing manageability from anywhere.
The most valuable feature is the ability to access devices from anywhere in the world through the cloud.
One of the most valuable features of Meraki MS Switches is its precise traffic analytics capabilities, allowing us to query the system for any place at any time.
 

Categories and Ranking

D-Link Ethernet Switches
Ranking in Ethernet Switches
14th
Average Rating
7.8
Reviews Sentiment
6.4
Number of Reviews
30
Ranking in other categories
No ranking in other categories
Meraki MS Switches
Ranking in Ethernet Switches
9th
Average Rating
8.4
Reviews Sentiment
7.3
Number of Reviews
96
Ranking in other categories
No ranking in other categories
 

Mindshare comparison

As of July 2025, in the Ethernet Switches category, the mindshare of D-Link Ethernet Switches is 5.4%, down from 5.7% compared to the previous year. The mindshare of Meraki MS Switches is 3.4%, down from 4.2% compared to the previous year. It is calculated based on PeerSpot user engagement data.
Ethernet Switches
 

Featured Reviews

Daniel Kivuthi - PeerSpot reviewer
Fits well in networks, integrate well but initial setup needs trained people
I did not face any major challenges, but the only thing is that D-Link has to invest in training technicians or engineers who install their products. They have to keep training them. D-Link can offer free training, or maybe even if they are charged, it's some fair charge. That way, D-Link encourages many technicians to take that training. And when the team has trained technicians or trained engineers, then it becomes very easy to install the devices and put them in the network. The solution integrates very well with our existing network infrastructure. The initial setup is straightforward. But, again, I will insist: If it is handled by trained personnel, then you find that the integration and installation are easy. But when people try to install the switches or the solutions and they do not have the technical know-how, then it becomes a challenge. People start saying that it's not a good solution, that they are not working. Yet, it is the technician who does not know how to handle them.
MajidKhan - PeerSpot reviewer
Remote access enhances troubleshooting with potential for more intuitive interface
We are working with Citrix and router, but in Cisco for Cisco vendor only. We are taking from them since 2015.  The main use case involves some small business customers needing one router, one switch, and two to three access points. It is easy to handle the devices with just a small knowledge of…
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Top Industries

By visitors reading reviews
Computer Software Company
13%
Comms Service Provider
9%
Healthcare Company
9%
Manufacturing Company
8%
Computer Software Company
17%
Manufacturing Company
9%
Financial Services Firm
6%
Educational Organization
6%
 

Company Size

By reviewers
Large Enterprise
Midsize Enterprise
Small Business
 

Questions from the Community

Would you recommend replacing a Cisco Catalyst Switch by a D-link one?
Hello Mesfin It depends on the real scenario, the cisco 2960 is a very good device and they usually have routing functions but there are many different models within the same 2960 line, and on the ...
What do you like most about D-Link Ethernet Switches?
D-Link has a good VPN feature and quality of service.
What is your experience regarding pricing and costs for D-Link Ethernet Switches?
D-Link Ethernet Switches are 30% cheaper than Cisco switches. Pricing has not been a concern since it is already included in the capex.
What do you like most about Meraki MS Switches?
The most valuable features of Meraki MS Switches are their reliability and simplicity.
What needs improvement with Meraki MS Switches?
What could be improved is that when a switch disconnects from the internet, you can't make any changes to that switch. Sometimes the switches lose internet connectivity, and we can't do anything to...
 

Also Known As

No data available
MS220, MS320, MS420
 

Overview

 

Sample Customers

George Mason University, Somerville House, Hiperwall, New Brunswick School District 16, The Fulcrum Group, Bremond Independent School District, University of Texas Health Science Center, Grand Canyon Skywalk, SUN Area Career & Technology Center, Abington Senior High School
Cisco Live Milan, Hyatt
Find out what your peers are saying about D-Link Ethernet Switches vs. Meraki MS Switches and other solutions. Updated: June 2025.
860,592 professionals have used our research since 2012.