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Fortinet FortiSwitch - Data Center vs MikroTik Routers and 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:
 

Categories and Ranking

Fortinet FortiSwitch - Data...
Ranking in Ethernet Switches
15th
Average Rating
8.2
Reviews Sentiment
7.4
Number of Reviews
24
Ranking in other categories
No ranking in other categories
MikroTik Routers and Switches
Ranking in Ethernet Switches
5th
Average Rating
8.0
Reviews Sentiment
7.0
Number of Reviews
67
Ranking in other categories
Routers (1st)
 

Mindshare comparison

As of July 2025, in the Ethernet Switches category, the mindshare of Fortinet FortiSwitch - Data Center is 1.9%, up from 1.1% compared to the previous year. The mindshare of MikroTik Routers and Switches is 7.0%, up from 4.5% compared to the previous year. It is calculated based on PeerSpot user engagement data.
Ethernet Switches
 

Featured Reviews

Vishwajeet Pandey - PeerSpot reviewer
Management and monitoring efficiencies from a single platform increase network control and flexibility
Fortinet FortiSwitch - Data Center ( /products/fortinet-fortiswitch-data-center-reviews ) offers flexibility and control over the entire network from a single pane of management. It allows me to create VLANs, implement security measures, and push configurations using a single tool. These features make the solution accurate, flexible, and valuable for network management.
AnikIslam - PeerSpot reviewer
Cost-effective protocol support and a straightforward setup with room for login enhancements
In the network operations center, I manage our client's bandwidth. We connect with our clients through BGP and OSPF based on client demands. We also manage routing protocols, policies, internal firewalls, and other details like QE bandwidth, client manage bandwidth management, PoE, PPPoE, and DNS…

Quotes from Members

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

Pros

"A valuable feature of FortiGate is its management integrity."
"FortiSwitch Data Center allows for centralized management of both Fortinet switches and firewalls from a single interface."
"Fortinet FortiSwitch - Data Center's scalability is good."
"We are able to monitor everything that is happening on our network."
"What I like about the solution is that it can be accessed anywhere."
"Based on my use cases, Fortinet FortiSwitch - Data Center was a great product that was easy to manage and work with while being a powerful tool."
"All the features are necessary, like tracking evidence and IPS. However, I appreciate the ability to connect the logs and the dashboard functionality."
"The solution has made configuration and setup very, very easy."
"We're very happy with what we are getting out of the solution in general. The features are good. They're comparable to other brands such as Cisco and HP."
"The routing is nice and straightforward."
"They use wireless and wired connections that include all of the features."
"I've never had any issues with the solution."
"MikroTik Routers and Switches are stable"
"We have not had any downtime with it. It has been a solid performer that way."
"The most valuable feature is its bandwidth management ability."
"The most valuable feature is the ease of use."
 

Cons

"There is room for improvement in customer support and device speed. Sometimes, customer support does not provide prompt assistance, leaving projects hanging."
"The UI of the firewall and reporting could be improved."
"Managing the VLANs is an area where the solution lacks and needs to improve."
"When there are many switches being used, the speed declines noticeably."
"There is room to improve the integration between FortiSwitch and other third-party solutions, as challenges arise when integrating with different vendors."
"Compatibility with infrastructure from other vendors like Cisco and Sophos can be further improved."
"The solution could always benefit from more security. It's of critical importance to organizations right now."
"They could improve availability and security by detecting and preventing switch attacks."
"The initial setup is a bit complex."
"The manageability of the web-based UI needs to be improved."
"I would appreciate enhancements to impose more restrictions on VPN connections."
"The product needs to include more power."
"The product's setup process could be easier."
"It is slow, old and unfriendly."
"The CPU load is too high. This causes the Internet to lag."
"Improvements could be made in terms of SD-WAN capabilities and zero-touch provisioning."
 

Pricing and Cost Advice

"Fortinet FortiSwitch - Data Center is expensive."
"It is reasonably priced."
"The product is less expensive than one of its competitors."
"The tool's pricing is lower than Cisco's."
"The product has a mid-range price."
"The solution's pricing is a little high. The solution deserves the current price it receives from its users."
"This solution is expensive but it does not require a license."
"Cost-wise, Fortinet solutions are cheaper than those offered by Cisco."
"There is no licensing fee in addition to the hardware, but we do pay an annual fee for support."
"This product is cheaper than competing products by other vendors."
"MikroTik Routers and Switches' pricing is reasonable."
"The price is affordable."
"There is a one-time license fee for the use of this solution and it is less expensive than Cisco products."
"Here in Bangladesh, MikroTik Routers and Switches cost 90,000 Taka, or converting that figure to dollars is $1,000."
"There is a lifetime subscription already embedded when you buy the product."
"This product is a one-time purchase."
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Top Industries

By visitors reading reviews
Computer Software Company
18%
Government
9%
Financial Services Firm
9%
Manufacturing Company
6%
Comms Service Provider
15%
Computer Software Company
14%
Hospitality Company
6%
Financial Services Firm
6%
 

Company Size

By reviewers
Large Enterprise
Midsize Enterprise
Small Business
 

Questions from the Community

What is your experience regarding pricing and costs for Fortinet FortiSwitch - Data Center?
The Fortinet switches come with no additional cost as they are open source, with only hardware warranties applicable.
What needs improvement with Fortinet FortiSwitch - Data Center?
There is room for improvement in customer support and device speed. Sometimes, customer support does not provide prompt assistance, leaving projects hanging. Additionally, improving the speed of th...
How do Cisco Enterprise routers compare with Mikrotik routers and switches?
Cisco Enterprise Routers are very stable and easy to use. They offer a very solid performance and are very secure. They also have a very good, long lifespan. We feel the command configuration is ve...
Which are better - Ubiquiti UniFi switches or MikroTik routers and switches?
Ubiquiti Unifi is a great solution. For starters, it is easy to configure and implement, and doesn’t require a learning curve because it is easy to use. It is also simple to reconfigure an AP or ga...
What do you like most about MikroTik Routers and Switches?
The price is a big factor. They are very affordable, and the quality is high.
 

Overview

 

Sample Customers

Black Gold Regional Schools, Amadeus Hospitality, Jefferson County, Chunghwa Telecom, City of Boroondara, Dimension Data
ABB, Boingo Wireless, JPL, HP, Allied Telesis, iPass, Mips Technologies, MicroAge, Matsushita, Telia, undp, WFP, NASA
Find out what your peers are saying about Fortinet FortiSwitch - Data Center vs. MikroTik Routers and Switches and other solutions. Updated: June 2025.
860,592 professionals have used our research since 2012.